Ambient Particulate Air Research Articles

Ambient air dry deposition and ionic species analysis by using various deposition collectors in Shalu, central Taiwan

This study describes the chemical composition of dry deposition collected at a highway traffic site in central Taiwan during daytime and nighttime periods by using a dry deposition plate (DDP) and water surface sampler (WSS). In addition, the characterization for mass and water-soluble species of total suspended particulate (TSP), both PM 2.5 and PM 10, was studied at the study site from August 22 to November 30, 2006. Dry deposition fluxes of ambient air particulates and inorganic species (Na +, NH 4 +, K +, Mg 2+, Ca 2+, Cl −, NO 3 − and SO 4 2−) were analyzed by Ion Chromatography (DIONEX-100). Results of the particulate dry deposition fluxes and mass concentrations are higher in the water surface sampler with respect to the dry deposition plate used in this study. Statistical results also showed the average dry deposition flux of the ionic species (Na +, NH 4 +, K +, Cl −, NO 3 − and SO 4 2−) obtained by the DDP and WSS displayed significant differences. Also, the average concentrations of Mg 2+ and, Ca 2+ were statistically the same at this study site.

미세먼지가 울산지역 초등학생의 폐기능에 미치는 영향

To evaluate the effect of air pollution on respiratory health in children, We conducted a longitudinal study in which children were asked to record their daily levels of Peak Expiratory Flow Rate(PEFR) using potable peak flow meter(mini-Wright) for 4 weeks. The relationship between daily PEFR and ambient air particle levels was analyzed using a mixed linear regression models including gender, age in year, weight, the presence of respiratory symptoms, and relative humidity as an extraneous variable. The daily mean concentrations of <TEX>$PM_{10}$</TEX> and <TEX>$PM_{2.5}$</TEX> over the study period were <TEX>$64.9{\mu}g/m^3$</TEX> and <TEX>$46.1{\mu}g/m^3$</TEX>, respectively. The range of daily measured PEFR in this study was <TEX>$182{\sim}481\;l/min$</TEX>. Daily mean PEFR was regressed with the 24-hour average <TEX>$PM_{10}(or\;PM_{2.5})$</TEX> levels, weather information such as air temperature and relative humidity, and individual characteristics including sex, weight, and respiratory symptoms. The analysis showed that the increase of air particle concentrations was negatively associated with the variability in PEFR. We estimated that the IQR increment of <TEX>$PM_{10}$</TEX> or <TEX>$PM_{2.5}$</TEX> were associated with 1.5 l/min (95% Confidence intervals -3.1, 0.1) and 0.8 l/min(95% CI -1.8, 0.1) decline in PEFR. Even though this study showed negative findings on the relationship between respiratory function and air particles, it was worth noting that the findings must be interpreted cautiously because exposure measurement based on monitoring of ambient air likely resulted in misclassification of true exposure levels and this was the first Korean study that <TEX>$PM_{2.5}$</TEX> measurement was applied as an index of air quality.

Mineralogy of Inhalable Particulate Matter (PM10) in the Atmosphere of Beijing, China

The study of mineral components in respirable particles (particulate matter with diameter less than 10 μm, PM10) in ambient air is important in understanding and improving air quality. In this study, PM10 samples were collected in various areas around Beijing during 2002∼2003, including an urban setting, a satellite city and a rural area. The mineralogical composition of these PM10 samples was studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD), environmental scanning electron microscopy / and energy-dispersive X-ray analyzer (ESEM/EDX). The results indicated that mineral composition of PM10 in different seasons and in different region varied significantly. Mineral mass concentration in Beijing PM10 reached the highest percentage in the spring and fell to the lowest level in the autumn. The minerals in the spring PM10 were dominated by clay minerals and quartz, followed by plagioclase, K-feldspar, calcite, dolomite, hematite, pyrite, magnesite, gypsum and laumontite as well as some unidentified materials. Fewer mineral types were collected in summer, however some new components, including K(NH4)Ca(SO4)2·H2O, NH4Cl and As2O3·SO3 were noted to be present, suggesting that atmospheric chemical reaction in Beijing air were more active in summer than in other seasons. Mineral components in Beijing urban air were at a higher percentage with fewer phases than that in satellite city air. In conclusion, there was considerable variation in mineral components in PM10 samples collected in different seasons and areas, which reflects the related air quality of sampling areas.

Monitoring and Assessment of Particulate Matter and Poly Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) around a Petroleum Refinery

Ambient air particulates, both total and respirable fraction collected at number of locations around a petroleum refinery in west coast of India, having crude processing capacity of 12.5 million metric tones per annum, were analyzed and associated PAH concentrations were determined. PAHs in SPM near the refinery varied from 12% to 45% while in urban cities, it varied from 0.45% to 0.65%. The percentage PAHs in RSPM near the refinery varied from 6% to 20% while in urban cities, it varied from 0.5% to 1.45%. The refinery contribution of 11.5%-44.3% PAHs to ambient TSP and 5.5%-18.5% PAHs to ambient RSPM was observed. Non-respirable fraction of ambient TSP near refinery contributed upto 25% PAHs.

Environmental exposure to carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons—The interpretation of cytogenetic analysis by FISH

The capital city of Prague is one of the most polluted localities of the Czech Republic. The effect of exposure to carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (c-PAHs) adsorbed onto respirable air particles (<2.5 μm) on chromosomal aberrations was studied in a group of city policemen (street patrol, aged 34 ± 8 years) working in the downtown area of Prague and spending daily >8 h outdoors ( N = 61) in months of January and March 2004. Ambient air particles (PM10, PM2.5) and c-PAHs were monitored using Versatile Air Pollution Sampler (VAPS), and personal exposure was evaluated using personal samplers during working shift. Chromosomal aberrations were analyzed by fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) and conventional cytogenetic analysis. Urinary cotinine, plasma levels of vitamins A, E and C, folate, total cholesterol, HDL, LDL cholesterols and triglycerides were also analyzed as possible effect modifiers. During the sampling period the particulate air pollution monitored by VAPS was in January versus March as follows: PM10 55.6 μg/m 3 versus 36.4 μg/m 3, PM2.5 44.4 μg/m 3 versus 24.8 μg/m 3, c-PAHs 19.7 ng/m 3 versus 3.6 ng/m 3, and B[a]P 4.3 ng/m 3 versus 0.8 ng/m 3. Significant differences were observed for all FISH endpoints studied for the sampling in January and March (%AB.C. = 0.27 ± 0.18 versus 0.16 ± 0.17, p < 0.001, F G/100 = 1.32 ± 1.07 versus 0.85 ± 0.95, p < 0.01, AB/1000 (aberrations/1000 cells) = 4.27 ± 3.09 versus 2.59 ± 2.79, p < 0.001) while conventional cytogenetic analysis did not reveal any differences in the frequency of chromosomal aberrations. Factors associated with an increased level of translocations by FISH indicated the effect of age, cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and vitamin C. We may conclude that FISH indicates that the city policemen in Prague represent a group of increased genotoxic risk. This is the first study reporting that translocations induced by c-PAHs in peripheral lymphocytes last only several weeks.

Advances in environmental and occupational disorders 2006

In 2006, there continued to be significant contributions to the Journal in the area of environmental and occupational allergy. In addition to very strong clinical observations, there were a number of studies that examined the effect of environmental agents on cellular and molecular processes in allergy, and molecular approaches were also used in investigations of allergen structure and biology. The Journal also received a number of very strong epidemiologic studies examining several aspects of environmental and occupational allergy. Thus, this particular area of our specialty thrives as a result of clinical, mechanistic, epidemiologic, and translational observations. This article reviews a number of these papers presented in the Journal in 2006.

Outdoor Air Pollution: Particulate Matter Health Effects

Numerous investigations studying multiple populations across a variety of environmental settings have demonstrated a strong association between ambient air particulate matter and cardiopulmonary morbidity and mortality. In most studies, the effect size of ambient air particulate pollution on health outcomes is small. However, the exposed population worldwide is very large. Accordingly, particulate air pollution appears to be an important public health hazard that makes an important contribution to the total burden of disease and death in populations across the world. Much of the evidence linking ambient air particulates with adverse health effects is derived from population-based, observational research with potential unidentified confounding exposures, precluding definitive assessments about causation and providing limited mechanistic insights. A growing body of research suggests particulate-associated adverse health effects result from the induction of proinflammatory responses in the lower respiratory tract. Ambient air particulates may increase lung cancer risk.

Chromosomal aberrations in environmentally exposed population in relation to metabolic and DNA repair genes polymorphisms

The capital city of Prague is one of the most polluted localities of the Czech Republic. Therefore, the effect of exposure to carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (c-PAHs) adsorbed onto respirable air particles (<2.5 μm) on chromosomal aberrations was studied in a group of policemen (males, aged 22–50 years) working in the downtown area of Prague and spending daily >8 h outdoors ( N = 53). Age- and sex-matched healthy volunteers spending > 90% daily time indoors were chosen as controls ( N = 52). Ambient air particles (PM10, PM2.5) and c-PAHs were monitored using versatile air pollution sampler (VAPS), and personal exposure was evaluated using personal samplers during working shift. Chromosomal aberrations were analyzed by conventional cytogenetic analysis and fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH). Urinary cotinine plasma levels of vitamins A, E and C, folate, total cholesterol, HDL, LDL cholesterols and triglycerides were also analyzed as possible effect modifiers. Genotypes CYP1A1*2A, CYP1A1*2C, GSTM1, GSTP1, GSTT1, EPHX1, NAT2, hOGG1, XRCC1, XPD, p53 BstI, p53 MspI, MTHFR677, and MS2656 were determined by PCR-based RFLP assays. The following levels of air pollution were recorded during the study period (mean from HiVol sampling): PM10 62.6 μg/m 3, c-PAHs 24.7 ng/m 3, B[ a]P 3.50 ng/m 3. The conventional cytogenetic analysis did not reveal any differences between the group of policemen exposed to the ambient air pollution and the control group. The cytogenetic analysis by FISH analysis used the whole chromosome painting probes for chromosomes #1 and #4 (Cambio, UK). It detected a significant increase in all studied endpoints in the policemen compared to controls (% AB.C. = 0.33 ± 0.25 versus 0.24 ± 0.18, p < 0.05, F G/100 = 1.72 ± 1.57 versus 1.25 ± 1.11, p < 0.05, AB/1000 (aberrations/1000 cells) = 5.58 ± 4.62 versus 3.90 ± 3.06, p < 0.05). CYP1A1*2C (Ile/Ile), XPD 23 (Lys/Lys), and XPD 6 (CC) genotypes were associated with an increase of aberrant cells by conventional method. Factors associated with an increased level of translocations by FISH included age, smoking, B[ a]P-like DNA adducts (corresponding to the exposure of c-PAHs), folate, polymorphisms of CYP1A1*2C, GSTP1, EPHX1, p53 MspI and MTHFR. Ambient air exposure to c-PAHs significantly increased FISH cytogenetic parameters in nonsmoking policemen. We may conclude that FISH indicates that the city policemen in Prague represent a group of increased genotoxic risk. This is the first study that has reported a relationship between DNA adducts (biomarker of exposure) and chromosomal aberrations by FISH (biomarker of effect).

Ambient Air Particulates and Related Ionic Species Study at Taichung Airport, Taiwan

The concentrations of total suspended particulate (TSP), fine particles (PM2.5) (with aerodynamic diameter < 2.5 μ m), coarse particles (PM2.5 − 10) (with aerodynamic diameter 2.5–10 μ m), and the related water-soluble ionic species (Cl−, NO2 −, NO3 −, SO4 2 −, Na+, NH4 +, K+, Mg2 +, and Ca2 +) were studied at the Taichung airport sampling site in central Taiwan during September to December 2005. The results showed that the TSP, PM2.5, and PM2.5 − 10 concentrations of particulate mass averaged 120.6, 38.1, and 24.2 μ g/m3, respectively. In general, the ionic species of SO4 2 −, NH4 +, and NO3 − were higher, being considered the major pollutants for traffic, suburban, rural, urban, and airport sampling sites in central Taiwan. Soil, secondary aerosol, and marine salt were the major pollutant sources at the Taichung harbor sampling site. In addition, the photochemical gas-phase oxidation is the predominant formation mechanism during summer at suburban and urban sampling sites. The secondary aerosol was the dominant factor responsible for this result for the traffic-sampling site. The results also reflected that the water-soluble ionic species in the coarse particulates occupied the major portions except for the ionic species of Na+ and Mg2 + at the Taichung airport sampling site in central Taiwan. Additionally, the results indicated that the sulfate has the highest average composition compared with the other ionic species in TSP and PM2.5 at this airport sampling site. Such information may be useful in forensic investigations at the studied site.

Methods for Bias Reduction in Time-Series Studies of Particulate Matter Air Pollution and Mortality

In many cities of the United States, measurements of ambient particulate matter air pollution (PM) are available only every sixth day. Time-series studies conducted in these cities that investigate the relationship between mortality and PM are restricted to using a single day's PM as the measure of PM exposure, rather than using measurements taken over several consecutive days. Studies showed that using a single-day PM as the measure of PM exposure can result in estimates that have a negative bias, sometimes in the order of over half of the value being estimated. In this article two methods are introduced that can be used to obtain estimates that can in some situations reduce the bias to negligible proportions when only every-sixth-day PM concentrations are available. Using one of these methods, the national average PM mortality effect estimates obtained for total mortality and cardiovascular and respiratory mortality, respectively, correspond to 0.27% and 0.39% increases in mortality per 10-μg/m3 increment in PM. The corresponding effect estimates obtained using the single-day lag-1 PM concentration are 0.18% and 0.23%. The estimates obtained using the lag-1 PM concentration were the most widely reported results from the recent multicity National Morbidity, Mortality, and Air Pollution Study (NMMAPS) analyses. The more accurate estimates obtained from the methods introduced in this article will enable more accurate quantification of the increased incidence in mortality due to elevation in PM levels and the benefit of current or more stringent regulatory standards.

Ambient air particulates, metallic elements, dry deposition and concentrations at Taichung Airport, Taiwan

The characterization of water-soluble species of dry deposition flux, total suspended particulates (TSPs), fine particles (particle matter with aerodynamic diameters < 2.5 μm (PM 2.5)), coarse particles (particle matter with aerodynamic diameter 2.5–10 μm (PM 2.5–10)), and dry deposition velocity were studied at Taichung Airport sampling sites in central Taiwan between Sept. and Dec. 2004. The average TSP concentrations at Taichung Airport were about 0.8 times that of the harbor sampling site in central Taiwan. Additionally, the average dry deposition velocities (for TSPs) for metallic elements Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, Pb, Cr and Mg were 1.54 ± 0.44, 0.86 ± 0.31, 0.77 ± 0.32, 0.62 ± 0.24, 1.21 ± 0.42, 0.82 ± 0.14 and 1.64 ± 0.26 (cm s − 1 ), respectively, at the airport sampling site. Furthermore, metallic element concentrations in fine and coarse particulate matter in air samples were also analyzed. The average ratios of fine to coarse for metallic elements Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, Pb, Cr and Mg were 5.04 ± 1.87, 1.80 ± 0.60, 1.80 ± 0.76, 2.89 ± 0.72, 1.75 ± 0.36, 1.58 ± 0.39 and 2.33 ± 1.87, respectively. The results indicated that the metallic elements in the fine particulate matter accounted for the majority of particulates at the Taichung Airport sampling site.

Characterization of size-differentiated particle composition of ionic species between Taichung Harbor (TH) and WuChi Traffic (WT) near Taiwan Strait during 2004–2005

The characteristics of the ionic species concentrations by using appropriate statistical analysis methods and ionic balance equation were investigated in this paper. Size-differentiated ambient air particulates (atmospheric particulate matter of total suspended particulate TSP), fine particle (particle matter with aerodynamical diameter <2.5 μm, PM 2.5), coarse particle (particle matter with aerodynamical diameter 2.5–10 μm, PM 2.5–10) were collected during March 2004–January 2005 in Taichung Harbor (TH) and WuChi Traffic (WT) near Taiwan Strait by using PS-1 sampler. The result indicated ionic species SO 4 2− was both the main components on the TSP and fine particulates at TH and WT sampling sites, and the ionic species Ca 2+ and NO 3 − were both the main components on the coarse particulates at TH and WT sampling sites during sampling period. By using the method of ionic balance, the results indicated that sulfate is mostly neutralized by ammonia at TH and WT sampling sites in the coarse particle mode. On the contrary, NH 4HSO 4 is the dominant component in the fine particle mode at TH and WT sampling sites.

Evidence of Health Impacts of Sulfate-and Nitrate-Containing Particles in Ambient Air

Ambient particulate matter (PM) is a complex mixture of inorganic and organic compounds. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulates PM as a criteria pollutant and promulgates National Ambient Air Quality Standards for it. The PM indicator is based on mass concentration, unspecified as to chemical composition, for specific size fractions. The numerical standards are based on epidemiologic evidence of associations between the various size-related particle mass concentrations as indicators and excess mortality and cardiorespiratory health effects as endpoints. The U.S. National Research Council has stated that more research is needed to differentiate the apparent health effects associated with different particle chemical constituents. Sulfate and nitrate constitute a significant portion of the particle mass in the atmosphere, but are accompanied by similar amounts of carbonaceous material, along with low concentrations of various species, including bioactive organic compounds and redox cycling metals. Extensive animal and human toxicology data show no significant effects for particles consisting only of sulfate and nitrate compounds at levels in excess of ambient air concentrations. A few epidemiologic studies, including both short-term time-series studies and long-term cohort studies, have included the sulfate content of PM as a specific variable in health effect analyses. There are much less data for nitrate. The results from the epidemiologic studies with PM sulfate are inconsistent. A detailed analysis of the time-series epidemiological studies shows that PM sulfate has a weaker “risk factor” than PM2.5 for health effects. Since sulfate is correlated with PM2.5, this result is inconsistent with sulfate having a strong health influence. However, there are many limitations with these types of studies that warrant caution for any comparison between a chemical component and mass concentration. In total, the epidemiologic and toxicologic evidence provide little or no support for a causal association of PM sulfate and health risk at ambient concentrations. For nitrate-containing PM, virtually no epidemiological data exist. Limited toxicological evidence does not support a causal association between particulate nitrate compounds and excess health risks. There are some possible indirect processes through which sulfate and nitrate in PM may affect health-related endpoints, including interactions with certain metal species and a linkage with production of secondary organic matter. There is insufficient evidence to include or exclude these processes as being potentially important to PM-associated health risk.

Alveolar macrophage cytokine response to air pollution particles: Oxidant mechanisms

Alveolar macrophages (AMs) primed with LPS and treated with concentrated ambient air particles (CAPs) showed enhanced release of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and provide an in vitro model for the amplified effects of air pollution particles seen in people with preexisting lung disease. To investigate the mechanism(s) by which CAPs mediate TNF release in primed rat AMs, we first tested the effect of a panel of antioxidants. N-Acetyl-l-cysteine (20 mM), dimethyl thiourea (20 mM) and catalase (5 microM) significantly inhibited TNF release by primed AMs incubated with CAPs. Conversely, when LPS-primed AMs were treated with CAPs in the presence of exogenous oxidants (H(2)O(2) generated by glucose oxidase, 10 microM/h), TNF release and cell toxicity was significantly increased. The soluble fraction of CAPs suspensions caused most of the increased bioactivity in the presence of exogenous H(2)O(2). The metal chelator deferoxamine (DFO) strongly inhibited the interaction of the soluble fraction with H(2)O(2) but had no effect on the bioactivity of the insoluble CAPs fraction. We conclude that CAPs can mediate their effects in primed AMs by acting on oxidant-sensitive cytokine release in at least two distinct ways. In the primed cell, insoluble components of PM mediate enhanced TNF production that is H(2)O(2)-dependent (catalase-sensitive) yet independent of iron (DFO-insensitive). In the presence of exogenous H(2)O(2) released by AMs, PMNs, or other lung cells within an inflamed alveolar milieu, soluble iron released from air particles can also mediate cytokine release and cell toxicity.

Spatial heterogeneity of personal exposure to airborne metals in French urban areas

The spatial distribution of urban population exposures to ambient air particles was investigated as part of the Genotox'ER study conducted in four metropolitan areas (Grenoble, Paris, Rouen and Strasbourg) in France. In each city, 60 to 90 non-smoking adult and children volunteers were selected. Subjects lived in three different urban sectors: one highly exposed to traffic emissions, one influenced by local industrial sources, and a background urban environment. The Harvard Chempass multi-pollutant personal sampler was used to sample PM10 and PM2.5 particles during 48 h during two different seasons ('hot' and 'cold'). The elemental composition of the filters was analysed by Particle-Induced X-ray Emission (PIXE). Sixteen elements were found to be over the method detection limits: Al, Si, P, S, Cl, K, Ca, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn and Pb. The relative concentrations of elements of crustal origin (Si, Al, Ca) were higher in the coarse fraction of PM10 filters, while elements associated with combustion processes (traffic emissions or industrial combustion) presented higher relative concentrations in the PM2.5 fraction (S, Ni, V, Pb). Spatial heterogeneity of elemental exposures by urban sector is substantial for some metals of health concern, with 20% to 90% greater exposure values, on average, in the traffic proximity or industrial sectors, compared to the background sector, for Fe, Zn, Cu, V and Cr. This spatial heterogeneity should not be overlooked in epidemiological or risk assessment studies.

Development of Appropriate Statistical Equations for Ambient Air Particulates and Pollutants at a Traffic Sampling Site

This study monitored the atmospheric pollutants at the WuChi traffic (WT) sampling site from March 2004 to January 2005 near the Taiwan Strait in central Taiwan. The distributions of the particle concentrations between the total suspended particulates and the particulate matter around roads (fine particles and inhaled particles) at the WT sampling site were also determined. The variations in the concentrations of metallic elements (Fe, Mg, Cr, Cu, Zn, Mn, and Pb) and ions species (Cl−, NO3 −, SO4 2 −, NH4 +, Mg2+, Ca2+ and Na+) in those particles were also analyzed with reference to meteorological conditions. A nonparametric (Spearman) correlation analysis indicated that the meteorological conditions are closely correlated with the largest total suspended particulates at the WT sampling site. The results also indicated that the temperature importantly affected the particulate matter and was more closely correlated with particulate matter than other meteorological parameters such as wind speed, relative humidity, and atmospheric pressure. Finally, the regression equations between the pollutants and the meteorological parameters are shown.

A Study on the Acute Effects of Fine Particles on Pulmonary Function of Schoolchildren in China

P-441 Introduction: To evaluate the health effects associated with air pollution is very important in Public Health. As information about the health risks associated with air pollution has become available, attention has focused increasingly on smaller air particles such as particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter to or less than a 10 or 2.5 μm (PM10 or PM2.5, respectively). Our objective was to evaluate the relationship between ambient air particles and pulmonary function measured by peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) among Chinese school children. This is a community-based diary study and used a classic design for the respiratory effects of ambient air particles and used longitudinal information for 40 days of follow-up starting from 6 April 2005 to 15 May 2005. Methods: 175 Chinese children were asked to record their daily levels of peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) using portable peak flow meter (mini-Wright) for 40 days and 3 time everyday (Qingdao: 6 April 2005 to 15 May 2005, Inner-Mongolia: 28 March 2005 to 6 May 2005). The atmospheric concentration of fine particles in study area was also determined everyday during same period. The relationship between fine particle levels and daily peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) was analysed using a mixed linear regression models including gender, age, height, the presence of respiratory symptoms, daily average air temperature, and daily average relative humidity as extraneous variables. Results: The analysis showed that the increase of fine particle concentrations was negatively associated with the variability in PEFR. The IQR (inter-quartile range) increments of PM10 or PM2.5 in Qingdao (91.3 μg/m3, 43.0 μg/m3, respectively) at 0-day time lag were significantly associated with 1.67L/min (95% Confidence intervals -2.86 ∼ -0.47) and 1.82L/min (95% CI -2.96 ∼ -0.69) decline in PEFR. The IQR increment of PM10 or PM2.5 in Inner-Mongolia (262.0 μg/m3, 100.0 μg/m3, respectively) at 0-day time lag were significantly associated with 0.29L/min (95% CI -0.53 ∼ -0.47) and 0.34L/min (95% CI -0.61 ∼ -0.08) decline in PEFR. Conclusions: The object of this study was to evaluate the relationship between ambient air particles and pulmonary function measured by PEFR among school children. The results were showed decrements of PEFR at 0-day time lag when the increase of fine particulate (PM2.5 and PM10) concentrations. These results suggest that fine particulate is statistically significant predictors for pulmonary function such as PEFR. Therefore, the levels of PEFR might be utilized as health effect indicator of fine particle air pollutants exposure. And further study is required quantitative evaluation of pulmonary health effect due to fine particles and Asian Dust.

Prospective Study of Atherosclerosis, Clinical Cardiovascular Disease, and Long-term Exposure to Ambient Particulate Matter and Other Air Pollutants in a Multi-ethnic Cohort

Prospective Study of Atherosclerosis, Clinical Cardiovascular Disease, and Long-term Exposure to Ambient Particulate Matter and Other Air Pollutants in a Multi-ethnic Cohort

Study of ambient air particulates pollutants near Taichung airport sampling site in central Taiwan

This study monitored the atmospheric pollutants at Taichung airport (TA) sampling site during September to December of 2005 near Taiwan Strait in central Taiwan. The distributions of the particle concentrations between the TSP, coarse and fine were also displayed at TA sampling site. Analysis the average percentage of various kinds of metallic elements, the data obtained here indicated that the average percentage concentrations of metallic elements Fe and Mg were higher in fine particulate than that of the coarse particulate at Taichung airport sampling site. These foundry factories were by the TA sampling site was the possible reason responsible for this result. In addition, by a non-parametric (Spearman) correlation analysis, the results indicated that Fe, Mn and Pb have high correlation coefficients of metallic elements in different particle size. The results indicate that the airport pollutants might come from similar pollutant sources at this airport sampling site. In addition, high correlation coefficients of non-airport pollutants were observed on the ionic species of SO 4 2−, NH 4 + and K +. The r sp correlate values between closed to r sp = 0.7 and 0.9 at different particles size mode. Besides, the ionic Ca 2+ has high negative values ( r sp = −0.66, −0.66 and 0.61) with the increasing of the temperature, relative humidity and wind speed, respectively at fine particle size.

Environmental Cardiology

Environmental factors are considered key determinants of cardiovascular disease. Although lifestyle choices such as smoking, diet, and exercise are viewed as major environmental influences, the contribution of pollutants and environmental chemicals is less clear. Accumulating evidence suggests that exposure to pollutants and chemicals could elevate the risk of cardiovascular disease. Many epidemiological studies report that exposure to fine particles present in ambient air is associated with an increase in cardiovascular mortality. Statistically significant relationships between particulate air pollution and ischemic heart disease, arrhythmias, and heart failure have been reported. Animal studies show that exposure to ambient air particles increases peripheral thrombosis and atherosclerotic lesion formation. Exposures to arsenic, lead, cadmium, pollutant gases, solvents, and pesticides have also been linked to increased incidence of cardiovascular disease. Mechanistically, these effects have been attributed to changes in the synthesis or reactivity of nitric oxide that may be caused by environmental oxidants or increased endogenous production of reactive oxygen species. Additional studies are urgently needed to: identify the contribution of individual pollutants to specific aspects of cardiovascular disease; establish causality; elucidate the underlying physiological and molecular mechanisms; estimate the relative susceptibility of diseased and healthy individuals and that of specific population groups; and determine whether pollutant exposure are risk correlates, that is, whether they influence major risk factors, such as hypertension, cholesterol, or diabetes, or whether they contribute to the absolute risk of heart disease. Collectively, these investigations could contribute to the emergent field of environmental cardiology.