Asian Dust Particles Research Articles

Association of Short-Term Exposure to Ambient Fine Particulate Matter with Skin Symptoms in Schoolchildren: A Panel Study in a Rural Area of Western Japan.

Numerous studies have unmasked the deleterious effects of particulate matter less than 2.5 μm (PM2.5) on health. However, epidemiologic evidence focusing on the effects of PM2.5 on skin health remains limited. An important aspect of Asian dust (AD) in relationship to health is the amount of PM2.5 contained therein. Several studies have demonstrated that AD can aggravate skin symptoms. The current study aimed to investigate the effects of short-term exposure to PM2.5 and AD particles on skin symptoms in schoolchildren. A total of 339 children recorded daily skin symptom scores during February 2015. Light detection and ranging were used to calculate AD particle size. Generalized estimating equation logistic regression analyses were used to estimate the associations among skin symptoms and the daily levels of PM2.5 and AD particles. Increases in the levels of PM2.5 and AD particles were not related to an increased risk of skin symptom events, with increases of 10.1 μg/m3 in PM2.5 and 0.01 km−1 in AD particles changing odds ratios by 1.03 and 0.99, respectively. These results suggest that short-term exposure to PM2.5 and AD does not impact skin symptoms in schoolchildren.

Chemical properties of significant Asian Dust particles observed at Himeji City from November 2009 to May 2012

In order to shed light on Asian Dust (AD) particles reaching the Japanese archipelago, we measured hourly PM[Formula: see text] and PM[Formula: see text] values by consecutive automatic monitoring during particulate matter (PM) surveillance conducted from 16 November 2009 to 14 May 2012 in Himeji City, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan, and investigated the characteristics of AD based on elemental and ionic analytical data from size-resolved PM with a one-week base sampling interval. We were able to detect three types of AD event based on the PM[Formula: see text] and PM[Formula: see text] values and the results of three-day backward trajectory analysis. The origin point of the AD events was the Gobi Desert for Event 1 and the Loess Plateau for Event 3. In the case of Event 2, AD originated in the northern Urals in Russia and reached the Japanese archipelago via the side of the Taklamakan and Gobi Deserts and through the Loess Plateau. As results of the research, it suggest that the chemical composition of AD event particles differs depending on the origin point and the course taken before reaching the Japanese archipelago.

Measurement of Asian Dust and Anthropogenic Particles with Laser

Measurement of Asian Dust and Anthropogenic Particles with Laser

Environmental pollution and allergies.

Environmental changes are thought to be the main factor in the rapid increase and worsening of allergic diseases. While there have been significant changes in many environmental factors, including in environments such as residential, health and sanitation, food, and water/soil/atmospheric environments, the root of each of these changes is likely an increase in chemical substances. In fact, various environmental pollutants, such as air pollutants and chemical substances, have been shown to worsen various allergies in experimental studies. For example, diesel exhaust particles (DEPs), which are an agglomeration of particles and a wide array of chemical substances, aggravate asthma, primarily due to the principle organic chemical components of DEPs. In addition, environmental chemicals such as phthalate esters, which are commonly used as plasticizers in plastic products, also aggravate atopic dermatitis. It has also become evident that extremely small nanomaterials and Asian sand dust particles can enhance allergic inflammation. While the underlying mechanisms that cause such aggravation are becoming clearer at the cellular and molecular levels, methods to easily and quickly evaluate (screen) the ever-increasing amount of environmental pollutants for exacerbating effects on allergies are also under development. To eliminate and control allergic diseases, medical measures are necessary, but it is also essential to tackle this issue by ameliorating environmental changes.

Optical and hygroscopic properties of Asian dust particles based on a horizontal Mie lidar: case study at Hefei, China

As an extension of the Mie lidar technique to measure the extinction coefficient of the surface particles, a horizontally pointing Mie lidar is used for determining the optical properties of Asian dust, which is an approach without knowing the actual lidar ratio. A long lasting dust event is observed based on this approach in May 2014. The “no dust,” “pure dust,” and “polluted dust” stage is observed during this event, and their optical and hygroscopic properties are discussed. Some new optical and hygroscopic features are observed, which benefit from the quantitative, multi-wavelength, and continuous measurement of the extinction related optical properties of dust particles.

Effects of Asian Dust Particles on the Early-Stage Antigen-Induced Immune Response of Asthma in NC/Nga Mice.

Asian dust (AD) can aggravate airway inflammation in asthma, but the association between AD and the development of asthma remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the effects of AD on the early stage of antigen sensitization using a mouse model of asthma, as well as the role of leukotrienes (LTs) in antigen-induced airway inflammation potentiated by AD particles. NC/Nga mice were co-sensitized by intranasal instillation of AD particles and/or Dermatophagoides farinae (Df) for five consecutive days. Df-sensitized mice were stimulated with an intranasal Df challenge at seven days. Mice were treated with the type 1 cysteinyl LT (CysLT1) receptor antagonist orally 4 h before and 1 h after the allergen challenge. At 24 h post-challenge, the differential leukocyte count, inflammatory cytokines, and LTs in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid were assessed, and airway inflammation was evaluated histopathologically. AD augmented neutrophilic and eosinophilic airway inflammation with increased CysLTs and dihydroxy-LT in a mouse model of asthma. The CysLT1 receptor antagonist was shown to attenuate both neutrophilic and eosinophilic airway inflammation augmented by AD. Therefore, exposure to AD may be associated with the development of asthma and LTs may play important roles in airway inflammation augmented by AD.

Investigation of bacterial effects of Asian dust events through comparison with seasonal variability in outdoor airborne bacterial community.

Atmospheric bacterial dispersion with aeolian dust has been reported to have a potential impact on public health and ecosystems. Asian dust is a major aeolian event that results in an estimated 4 million tons of Asian dust particles falling in Japan annually, 3,000–5,000 km away from their source regions. However, most studies have only investigated the effects of Asian dust during dust seasons. Therefore, in this study, outdoor bacterial abundance and community composition were determined by 16S rRNA quantitative PCR and amplicon sequencing, respectively, and compared on Asian and non-Asian dust days (2013–2015; 44 samples over four seasons). Seasonal variations in bacterial abundance of non-Asian dust days were not observed. Bacterial abundance of individual samples collected on non-Asian dust days changed dynamically relative to Asian dust days, with bacterial abundance occasionally reaching those of Asian dust days. The bacterial community composition on non-Asian dust days was rather stable seasonally, and did not differ from that on Asian dust days. These results indicate that bacteria in Asian dust does not immediately influence indigenous bacterial communities at the phylum/class level in distant downwind areas; accordingly, further studies of bacterial communities in downwind areas closer to the dust source are warranted.

Biological factor related to Asian sand dust particles contributes to the exacerbation of asthma.

Epidemiologic studies have revealed that Asian sand dust particles (ASDs) can affect respiratory and immune health represented by asthma. Factors responsible for the exacerbation of asthma remain unclear. The fungus Bjerkandera adusta (B.ad) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons such as benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) have been identified in ASDs collected from the atmosphere when an ASD event occurred. We investigated the effects of B.ad and BaP related to ASDs on respiratory and immune systems. Bone marrow-derived antigen-presenting cells (APCs) and splenocytes from atopic prone NC/Nga mice and human airway epithelial cells were exposed to the B.ad or to BaP in the presence and absence of heated-ASDs (H-ASDs). B.ad and BaP in both the presence and absence of H-ASDs increased the expression of cell surface molecules on APCs. H-ASDs alone slightly activated APCs. The expressions induced by B.ad were higher than those induced by BaP in the presence and absence of H-ASDs. There were no remarkable effects on the activation of splenocytes or the proinflammatory responses in airway epithelial cells. These results suggest that B.ad rather than BaP contributes to the exacerbation of asthma regardless of the presence or absence of sand particles, particularly by the activation of the immune system via APCs. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Chemically Aged Asian Dust Particles Proven by Traditional Spot Test and the Most Advanced micro-PIXE

A change in chemical compositions of Asian dust (AD) particles can dramatically alter their optical properties, cloud-forming properties, and health effects. The present study was undertaken to evaluate this aging of AD particles by means of two complementary methods (i.e., the traditional spot test and the most advanced micro-PIXE analytical technique) for single particle analysis. Size-classified particles were sampled at the rural peninsula of Korea (Byunsan, 35.37N; 126.27E) during AD event and non-AD period in 2004. Sulfate was principally enriched on the particles in the size range of 7.65-10.85 μm collected during AD event. The average number fraction of coarse particles (>2.05 μm) containing chloride was 16.2% during AD event. Relatively low particles containing nitrate compared to those containing sulfate and chloride were found in AD event. Micro-PIXE elemental maps indicated that a large number of AD particles were internally mixed with man-made zinc. The highest peaks of EC and OC concentrations were appeared at 0.01-0.43 μm particle aerodynamic diameter. High EC concentration in PM₁ was might be caused by the Saemangeum Seawall Project that was being conducted during our field measurement.

선포토미터 데이터를 이용한 편광소멸도 산출과 라이다 편광소멸도와의 비교

본 연구에서는 일본 오사카에서 AERONET 선포토미터로 관측된 데이터를 분석하여 440, 675, 870, 1020 nm 파장에서의 입자 편광소멸도를 산출하였다. 산출된 결과는 같은 지역에서 측정된 라이다 자료로부터 얻어진 532 nm에서의 입자 편광소멸도와 비교하였다. 두 값은 440 nm를 제외하고는 잘 일치되는 결과를 보였고, 상관계수(<TEX>$R^2$</TEX>)는 440, 675, 870, 1020 nm에서 각각 0.28, 0.81, 0.88 0.89의 값을 보였다. 가장 높은 상관계수를 보인 1020 nm에서의 입자 편광소멸도를 기준으로 값의 변화에 따른 입자의 혼합정도를 확인하였을 때, 순수 황사의 경우 높은 편광소멸도를 보이고 오염입자가 혼합될수록 값이 낮아짐을 보였다. 이는 단산란 알베도와 입자 크기 분포를 통하여 확인하였다. We present linear particle depolarization ratio at 440, 675, 870, and 1020 nm retrieved from measurements with an AERONET sun/sky radiometer at Osaka, Japan. The retrieved data were compared with lidar derived linear particle depolarization ratio at 532 nm at the same site. We find good agreement between linear particle depolarization ratios derived with Sun photometer and measured by lidar except for those at 440 nm. The coefficients of determination between lidar derived data and sun/sky radiometer derived data were 0.28, 0.81, 0.88, and 0.89 at 440, 675, 870, and 1020 nm, respectively. We find that the linear particle depolarization ratio derived with sun/sky radiometer varies by the mixing between Asian dust and pollution particles. As the mixing ratio of Asian dust and pollution particles is increased, the linear particle depolarization ratio values are lower than the values of pure Asian dust. It was confirmed by the value of single-scattering albedo and particle size distribution.

Correlation between acute conjunctivitis and Asian dust on ocular surfaces

ABSTRACTThe aim of this study was to determine the presence of Asian dust particles (ADP) in patients suffering from conjunctivitis and its correlation with clinical scores for conjunctivitis. Forty-five patients from the Fukuoka area who were newly diagnosed acute conjunctivitis were selected. The degrees of inflammatory reaction, itchy sensation, hyperemia, eye discharge, and foreign body sensation were clinically recorded and scored. Eyes were washed with physiological solution. Solid particles collected from the washing solution were observed using a scanning electron microscope. Of the 45 samples, 44 were positive for the elements silicon (Si) and aluminum (Al), which are components of ambient Asian dust. Higher conjunctivitis scores were found in the subgroup in which the Asian dust/whole particle ratio was greater than average. This is the first apparent report on the correlation between amount of ADP exposure at the ocular surface and severity of ocular symptoms.

Abundance and Community Structure of Bacteria on Asian Dust Particles Collected in Beijing, China, during the Asian Dust Season.

Approximately 180 t/km(2) of Asian dust particles are estimated to fall annually on Beijing, China, and there is significant concern about the influence of microbes transported by Asian dust events on human health and downwind ecosystems. In this study, we collected Asian dust particles in Beijing, and analyzed the bacterial communities on these particles by culture-independent methods. Bacterial cells on Asian dust particles were visualized first by laser scanning microscopy, which demonstrated that Asian dust particles carry bacterial cells to Beijing. Bacterial abundance, as determined by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR), was 10(8) to 10(9) cells/g, a value about 10 times higher than that in Asian dust source soils. Inter-seasonal variability of bacterial community structures among Asian dust samples, as compared by terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP), was low during the Asian dust season. Several viable bacteria, including intestinal bacteria, were found in Asian dust samples by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). Clone library analysis targeting 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene sequences demonstrated that bacterial phylogenetic diversity was high in the dust samples, and most of these were environmental bacteria distributed in soil and air. The dominant species in the clone library was Segetibacter aerophilus (Bacteroidetes), which was first isolated from an Asian dust sample collected in Korea. Our results also indicate the possibility of a change in the bacterial community structure during transportation and increases in desiccation-tolerant bacteria such as Firmicutes.

Molecular markers of biomass burning, fungal spores and biogenic SOA in the Taklimakan desert aerosols

Biogenic primary organic aerosols (POA) and secondary organic aerosols (SOA) are important organic constituents of atmospheric particulate matter (PM). In order to better understand the atmospheric abundances, molecular compositions and sources of the desert aerosols, biomass-burning tracers (e.g. levoglucosan), primary saccharides including fungal spore tracers, and SOA tracers from the oxidation of biogenic volatile organic compounds (e.g. isoprene, monoterpenes and sesquiterpene) have been studied in ambient aerosols from the Taklimakan desert, using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Results showed that the total concentrations of biomass-burning tracers at Hetian (177–359 ng m−3, mean 233 ng m−3 in PM2.5) in the south rim of the desert were much higher than those at Tazhong (1.9–8.8 ng m−3 in PM2.5 and 5.9–32 ng m−3 in TSP) in the central Taklimakan desert. Molecular markers of fungal spores were also detected in all the desert aerosols, highlighting the importance of primary bioaerosols in the Asian dust particles. A specific pattern of the dominance of 2-methylglyceric acid over 2-methyltetrols and C5-alkene triols was found in the Taklimakan desert aerosols, especially during the dust storm events, which is different from the 2-methyltetrols-dominated pattern in other ambient aerosols. Our results provide direct evidence on the biogenic POA and SOA tracers in the Taklimakan desert region, which help to better understand their impact on the aerosol chemistry in the down-wind regions.

Effects of dust particle internal structure on light scattering

Abstract. There is a large variety of internal structures inside atmospheric dust particles, making them inherently inhomogeneous. Such structures may have a large effect on ground-level and atmospheric radiation. So far, dust particle internal structures and their effect on the light scattering properties have proved to be hard to quantify, in part due to challenges in obtaining information about these structures. Recently, internal structures of individual dust particles were revealed through focused ion beam milling and analyzed. Here, we perform a sensitivity study to evaluate the optical impacts of some of the typical internal structures revealed. To obtain suitable model particles, the first step is to generate inhomogeneous particles with varying internal structures by using an algorithm that is based on three-dimensional Voronoi tessellation. The parameters for the particle generation are obtained from studies of real-world Asian dust particles. The second step is to generate homogeneous versions of the generated particles by using an effective-medium approximation, for comparison. Third, light scattering by both versions of these particles is simulated with discrete dipole approximation code. This allows us to see how different internal structures affect light scattering, and how important it is to account for these structures explicitly. Further, this allows us to estimate the potential inaccuracies caused by using only homogeneous model particles for atmospheric studies and remote-sensing measurements. The results show that the effects vary greatly between different kinds of internal structures and single-scattering quantity considered, but for most structure types the effects are overall notable. Most significantly, hematite inclusions in particles impact light scattering heavily. Furthermore, internal pores and hematite-rich coating both affect some form of light scattering noticeably. Based on this work, it seems that it is exceedingly important that the effects of dust particle internal structures on light scattering are accounted for in a wide variety of applications.

北陸地方におけるPM2.5および黄砂粒子の動態―大陸起源および火山噴煙由来の影響―

北陸地方におけるPM2.5および黄砂粒子の動態―大陸起源および火山噴煙由来の影響―

Toxicoproteomic approaches for analysis of microbial community inhabiting Asian dust particles

In this review, we provide an overview of the bio-analytical approaches for proteomic analysis of Asian dust storms. Asian dust has been known to travel with high-speed eastward winds and affects air quality over Japan and even the western coast of the U.S. during severe occurrences. Several reports have shown that Asian dust particles have a negative effect on a wide range of industries and human health activities. Here we give a short overview of Asian dust feature and its proteomic analysis approaches including 2-DE PAGE, metaproteomic analysis of large environmental samples, and automatic techniques for dust microbial analysis. Following this, we discuss the detection system of Asian dust particles that can be integrated with biosensor platform.

Guideline for the prevention and management of particulate matter/Asian dust particle-induced adverse health effect on the patients with pulmonary diseases

The aim of this study was to develop guidelines for the prevention and management of particulate matter (PM)/Asian dust particle (ADP)-induced adverse effects in patients with pulmonary diseases. The guideline development committee reviewed the literature on particulate matter, ADP, and pulmonary diseases. In adults, exposure to particulate matter with a diameter of 10 µm or less (PM10) induces a decline in lung function. PM exposure confers an increased risk of lung cancer, and PM10 is associated with increased hospital admission and mortality due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. ADP exposure is associated with increased hospital admission and emergency room visits due to chronic obstractive pulmonary disease exacerbation. Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis exacerbation may also be induced by pollution, although the evidence for this is very weak. There is no published study on the proper prevention or management of the exacerbation of pulmonary diseases due to PM or ADP exposure. The preventive use of a facial mask with a filter in patients with pulmonary disease should be considered carefully because there have been no clinical study of the efficacy and adverse effects of masks in pulmonary diseases. The committee created guidelines based on a discussion of the peer-reviewed literature. The proper management of PM- and ADP-induced exacerbation of pulmonary disease and the efficacy of facial mask use should be evaluated in future studies.

Evaluating the applicability of a semi-continuous aerosol sampler to measure Asian dust particles.

A Korean prototype semi-continuous aerosol sampler was used to measure Asian dust particles. During two dust-storm periods, concentrations of crustal and trace elements were significantly enriched. Dust storms are one of the most significant natural sources of air pollution in East Asia. The present study aimed to evaluate use of a Korean semi-continuous aerosol sampler (K-SAS) in observation of mineral dust particles during dust storm events. Aerosol slurry samples were collected at 60 min intervals using the K-SAS, which was operated at a sampling flow rate of 16.7 L min(-1) through a PM10 cyclone inlet. The measurements were made during dust storm events at an urban site, Gwangju in Korea, between April 30 and May 5, 2011. The K-SAS uses particle growth technology as a means of collecting atmospheric aerosol particles. Concentrations of 16 elements (Al, Fe, Mn, Ca, K, Cu, Zn, Pb, Cd, Cr, Ti, V, Ni, Co, As, and Se) were determined off-line in the collected slurry samples by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The sampling periods were classified into two types, based on the source regions of the dust storms and the transport pathways of the air masses reaching the sampling site. The first period "A" was associated with dust particles with high Ca content, originating from the Gobi desert regions of northern China and southern Mongolia. The second period "B" was associated with dust particles with low Ca content, originating from northeastern Chinese sandy deserts. The results from the K-SAS indicated noticeable differences in concentrations of crustal and trace elements in the two sampling periods, as a result of differences in the source regions of the dust storms, the air mass transport pathways, and the impact of smoke from forest fires. The concentrations of the crustal (Al, Ca, Ti, Mn, and Fe) and anthropogenic trace elements (Vi, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Se, and Pb) were enriched significantly during the two dust storm periods. However, the crustal elements were enriched more during dust storm period "A", whereas concentrations of the trace elements were higher during period "B". Higher concentrations of K during dust storm period "B" could be ascribed to smoke from forest fires, in addition to soil dust emissions. This result is supported by a strong correlation between the crustal elements and the K concentrations, higher K/Al and K/Fe ratios in period "B" than those detected in the soil samples from the Gobi desert regions and Chinese sandy deserts, and the smoke from forest fires. The results of this study indicate that the K-SAS is a good candidate for revealing the dynamics in the concentrations of elemental species in Asian dust particles, as well as in urban and industrial aerosols, and for developing insight into their sources.

Chemistry and mineralogy of clay minerals in Asian and Saharan dusts and the implications for iron supply to the oceans

Abstract. Mineral dust supplied to remote ocean regions stimulates phytoplankton growth through delivery of micronutrients, notably iron (Fe). Although attention is usually paid to Fe (hydr)oxides as major sources of available Fe, Fe-bearing clay minerals are typically the dominant phase in mineral dust. The mineralogy and chemistry of clay minerals in dust particles, however, are largely unknown. We conducted microscopic identification and chemical analysis of the clay minerals in Asian and Saharan dust particles. Cross-sectional slices of dust particles were prepared by focused ion beam (FIB) techniques and analyzed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) combined with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDXS). TEM images of FIB slices revealed that clay minerals occurred as either nano-thin platelets or relatively thick plates. Chemical compositions and lattice fringes of the nano-thin platelets suggested that they included illite, smectite, illite–smectite mixed layers, and their nanoscale mixtures (illite–smectite series clay minerals, ISCMs) which could not be resolved with an electron microbeam. EDXS chemical analysis of the clay mineral grains revealed that the average Fe content was 5.8% in nano-thin ISCM platelets assuming 14% H2O, while the Fe content of illite and chlorite was 2.8 and 14.8%, respectively. In addition, TEM and EDXS analyses were performed on clay mineral grains dispersed and loaded on micro-grids. The average Fe content of clay mineral grains was 6.7 and 5.4% in Asian and Saharan dusts, respectively. A comparative X-ray diffraction analysis of bulk dusts showed that Saharan dust was more enriched in clay minerals than Asian dust, while Asian dust was more enriched in chlorite. Clay minerals, in particular nanocrystalline ISCMs and Fe-rich chlorite, are probably important sources of Fe to remote marine ecosystems. Further detailed analyses of the mineralogy and chemistry of clay minerals in global mineral dusts are required to evaluate the inputs of Fe to surface ocean microbial communities.

Correction: Influence of Asian Dust Particles on Immune Adjuvant Effects and Airway Inflammation in Asthma Model Mice

Correction: Influence of Asian Dust Particles on Immune Adjuvant Effects and Airway Inflammation in Asthma Model Mice