Annual Average Levels Research Articles

Spatial Analysis and Probabilistic Risk Assessment of Exposure to Nitrate in Drinking Water of Abarkouh, Iran

Introduction: Several diseases, especially in infants such as some cancer and blue baby are related to the presence of nitrate in drinking water. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) specified the maximum contaminant level (MCL) of nitrate as 50 mg L-1 for regulated public water systems. This study aimed to evaluate the concentration of nitrate and to assess its probabilistic risk exposure in drinking water wells of Abarkouh city, Iran. Materials and Methods: The average annual nitrate level was studied from 18 wells around Abarkouh in 2017. The Hazard Quotient (HQ) was also investigated as health risk assessment and sensitivity analysis was carried out for effective variables. Results: Average concentration of nitrate was 27.57 ± 6.80 mg L-1 and all measured concentrations were below the permitted maximum standard (50 mg L-1) according to the National Standard of Iran. The HQ value for children and adults were more than 1 (1.81) and less than 1, respectively. In calculating HQ for children, the most important variable was the concentration of nitrate in drinking water. Conclusion: According to the results, children health is highly at risk in these areas and exposure to nitrate should be reduced for at-risk populations

Tendencies of long-term changes of temperature fields, salinity and water level of the North-Western part of the Black Sea

The paper analyzes the variability of hydrological characteristics of the North-Western part of the Black for different temporal scales: long-term, seasonal and synoptic. The traditional methods of geographic investigations, such as comparative-geographic, retrospective and cartographic methods, were used. When analyzing sea level data packages and thermohaline characteristics mathematical methods, including statistical, correlation and regression analysis, were used. As a result of the conducted research quantitative estimates of tendencies of long-term changes of the thermohaline characteristics and level in the North-Western part of the Black Sea were received. Over the period of 1982-2005 an increase of water temperature in the North-Western part of the Black Sea was observed: in winter water temperature in the surface layer increased by 2оC, in the bottom layer – by more than 2оC. Over the period of 1990-2005 an increase of an average annual water temperature in Odesa area constituted 1,2°C. The most considerable and statistically significant temperature increase took place during the summer hydrological season: an average summer temperature increased during this period by 2,7оC. During transitional seasons (autumn and spring) there was also a tendency of temperature increase, however, statistically significant trend was observed only during the autumn period. There is a statistically significant negative trend observed for long-term changes of salinity. For the period of 1990-2005 an average annual salinity decreased by 1.36 ‰. A tendency of salinity decrease was observed for all seasons of the year, however, statistically significant trends are observed only in winter and summer. A close relationship between long-term changes in water salinity and runoff of the Dnieper River was also established. A sea level rise is observed at all stations of the North-Western part of the Black Sea. Over the period of 1947-2012 an average annual sea level in Odesa increased by 14 cm. An analysis of climatic changes of wind-induced sea level fluctuations showed that the frequency of surges of varying intensity remained almost unchanged, however, the frequency of sweeps changed significantly. Over the period of 1980-2012, as opposed to the period of 1947-1979, the frequency of minor sweeps (no more than 30 cm) increased, and the frequency of significant (more than 30 cm) and very significant (more than 50 cm) sweeps, on the contrary, decreased by about 5%-6%. Changes of wind-induced sea level fluctuations' character harmonize with wind direction and wind speed over the North-Western part of the Black Sea.

INVESTMENT LEVELS IN AGRICULTURAL BUSINESSES SPECIALIZING IN DAIRY CATTLE PRODUCTION IN POLISH FADN REGIONS IN 2004-2016

Investment levels in agricultural businesses specializing in dairy cattle production in Polish FADN regions were compared based on data for 2004-2016. The analysis included gross and net investments (variables FADN SE516 and SE521) and investment subsidies (variable SE406). The research shows that agricultural holdings specializing in dairy cattle farming in the years 2004-2016 in the FADN Wielkopolska and Śląsk region and in the region of Pomerania and Masuria have reached the level of gross investment per one farm on average annually higher than the average annual level of gross investment in Poland. Farms specializing in dairy cattle farming in the FADN regions of Mazowsze and Podlasie, as well as Małopolska and Pogórze have achieved a lower level of gross investment per farm than on average per year in Poland. The average level of net investment per one agricultural holding specializing in dairy cattle farming in the regions of FADN Wielkopolska and Śląsk, Pomorze and Mazury as well as Mazowsze and Podlasie was of a positive value, whereas in the Małopolska and Pogórze region it was negative. Studies have shown that agricultural farms specializing in dairy cattle farming in the Wielkopolska and Śląsk regions developed the fastest among all farms in Poland, while the fastest growing farms specializing in dairy cattle farming are found in the Małopolska and Pogórze regions.

The dynamics, causes of mortality and lethality of population of the Perm krai because of diabetes mellitus

The academician E.A. Wagner Perm State Medical University, Perm, 614000, Russian Federation The article presents the results of analysis of dynamics, causes of mortality and lethality in consequence of diabetes mellitus ofpopulation of the Perm krai. The materials of official statistics were used provided by the regional medical informational analytical center for 13 years, the state register of diabetes mellitus (2015) and primary documentation of the municipal endocrinological department for 25 years. According the official statistics data, in total number of the deceased in the Perm krai percentage of patients with diseases of endocrine system consisted 0.4%. The average annual level of mortality is 7.1 per 100 thousand of population. According the state register of diabetes mellitus, every third patient (30.6%) died because of chronic cardiovascular inefficiency, 14.3% because of acute disturbed cerebral circulation, 5.2% because of acute myocardium infarction and 0.8% because of chronic renal inefficiency. The oncological pathology comprised 7.8% of all causes of death. The age and gender differences of indices of mortality are established. The rate of cases of death increased with age. The females died in 1.9 times more often than males. The average level of hospital lethality comprised 2.2 of 100 and daily lethality - 0.5 of 100 underwent patients. The macro-vascular complications are registered as leading causes of death. The positive dynamics of hospital lethality because of acute disturbed cerebral circulation (5 times decreasing of indicator in 25 years) was established.

Assessment of cutaneous microcirculation by laser Doppler flowmetry in type 1 diabetes

BackgroundThe burden of type 1 diabetes (T1D) is growing worldwide, stressing the requirement to limit the threat of its long-term complications. In this regard, the development of methods for the early diagnosis and non-invasive monitoring of vascular abnormalities is widely recognized as one of the greatest priorities of the clinical research in this field. ObjectiveTo assess the deterioration of physiological properties extracted from laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF) signals of microvascular perfusion and, secondly, to investigate their association with the quality of long-term metabolic control. MethodsMicrovascular perfusion was recorded at the hallux of 63 control subjects and 47 T1D patients, whose glycaemic control was characterized in terms of the annual average levels of glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c). Pulse Decomposition Analysis was applied to the LDF data, in order to derive non-invasive markers of vascular stiffness based on a multi-Gaussian representation of the peripheral pulse waveforms; furthermore, wavelet transform analysis was used to evaluate the microvascular myogenic vasomotion and, finally, a physiological model of the reactive hyperaemia to a local thermal stimulus at 43 was used to test the integrity of the neurovascular pathways. ResultsCompared to the control group, T1D patients showed a lower microvascular perfusion at baseline, and a larger vasodilatory reserve upon local heating, but no significant difference in myogenic activity. Moreover, the results of the PDA carried out on the LDF pulse waves, indicate the presence of a significant strong relation between large artery stiffness and the overall loss of glycaemic control over the past year.

Impact of Environmental Conditions on the Health of the Far Eastern Region Population

The population of the Far Eastern region is under stress due to daily exposure to harmful and carcinogenic substances in the air, with average annual levels exceeding health standards. The purpose of this study is to assess the medical and environmental situation in the Far Eastern region and to identify relationships between environmental factors and the incidence in the population. For four years, studies have been conducted to assess the impact of environmental pollution on public health using basic demographic and morbidity indicators for the emissions of harmful substances, according to the data from State reports “On the sanitary-epidemiological situation in the Russian Federation” and statistical data from the Federal Statistics Service of the Russian Federation. In the course of this research, it was found that the increase in the incidence of malignant neoplasms was promoted by an increase in the amount of air-polluting emissions and an increase in the proportion of people employed in heavy work under conditions that do not meet health requirements. Using the regression equation, the impact of the amount of wastewater discharges and the amount of pollutants emitted into the atmosphere demonstrated an increase in respiratory diseases. As a preventive measure against negative environmental factors, the mandatory use of local adaptogens in everyday food products has been proposed.

Impact of Long-Term Exposures to Ambient PM2.5 and Ozone on ARDS Risk for Older Adults in the United States

Chronic exposures to particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter< 2.5 μm (PM2.5) and ozone pollution can affect respiratory function. ARDS, an often lethal respiratory failure, is most common among older adults. However, few epidemiology studies have investigated an association between air pollution and the risk of ARDS. This observational study was conducted to estimate air pollution exposures at theZIP code level and hospital admissions with ARDS among US Medicare beneficiaries aged≥ 65 years from 2000 to 2012. A two-pollutant generalized linear mixed model, adjusting for sex, age, race, median household income, smoking, and weather, was applied. There were a total of 1,164,784 hospital admissions with ARDS in the cohort. Increases of 1 µg/m3 in annual average PM2.5 and of 1 parts per billion in annual average ozone were associated with increases in annual hospital admission rates for ARDS of 0.72%(95%CI, 0.62-0.82) and 0.15%(95%CI, 0.08-0.22), respectively. In low-pollution regions (annual average PM2.5 level< 12 µg/m3 and annual average ozone level< 45 parts per billion), the same annual increase in PM2.5 and ozone were associated with increases in annual hospital admission rates for ARDS of 1.50%(95%CI, 1.27-1.72) and 0.27%(95%CI, 0.16-0.38). Long-term exposures to PM2.5 and ozone were associated with increased risk of ARDS among older adults in the United States, including exposures below current annual US National Ambient Air Quality Standards.

Air Pollution, Clustering of Particulate Matter Components and Breast Cancer

Abstract To evaluate the relationship between air pollution, particulate matter (PM) components and breast cancer risk in a U.S.-wide prospective cohort. Methods. We estimated annual average ambient outdoor residential levels of PM2.5, PM10 and NO2 using a land- use regression model for 49,533 Sister Study participants (breast cancer-free women with a sister with breast cancer) living in the contiguous U.S. Predictive k-means was used to assign participants to clusters defined by PM2.5 components profile to evaluate the impact of heterogeneity in the air pollution mixture. Participants were also separately clustered by geographic region, without regard to air pollution mixture. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for invasive breast cancer risk associated with an interquartile range (IQR) increase in pollutants (PM2.5: 3.6 μg/m3, PM10: 5.8 μg/m3, NO2: 5.8 parts per billion (ppb)). For PM2.5, the association was stratified by component cluster membership. Results. During follow-up (mean = 8.4 years), 2,349 invasive cases were identified. There was little to no increase in risk for invasive breast cancer overall in relation to these air pollutants. However, we observed a higher risk of invasive breast cancer associated with an IQR increase in PM2.5 (HR IQR = 1.15, 95% CI 1.03–1.28), PM10 (HRIQR = 1.05, 95% CI 0.99–1.11) and NO2 (HRIQR = 1.10, 95% CI 1.10–1.21) for women in the Western U.S. Associations also varied by clusters derived from PM2.5 component profiles. PM2.5 was associated with a 28% higher risk of invasive breast cancer (95% CI: 1.00–1.64) in a California-based cluster characterized by low sulfur fractions and high fractions of sodium and nitrate. An elevated, although less precise, risk was observed for another Western U.S. cluster (HR = 1.63, 95% CI: 0.92–2.88), characterized by high fractions of Si, Ca, K and Al. Conclusions. Air pollution measures were related to invasive breast cancer for certain subgroups of women, defined by geographic region and PM component profiles. Particulate matter (PM) is a complex mixture and consideration of geographic variability and mixture components may impact observed associations with breast cancer.

Вплив систем основного обробітку та удобрення на гумусовий стан ґрунту і продуктивність сорго зернового у сівозміні на зрошенні

У статті представлено результати дослідження впливу різних доз внесення мінеральних добрив із загортанням листостеблової маси сільськогосподарських культур сівозміни у ґрунт знаряддями із різною конструкцією робочих органів на гумусовий стан, поживний режим ґрунту й продуктивність сорго зернового. Дослідження проводили у стаціонарному досліді відділу зрошуваного землеробства ІЗЗ НААН України впродовж 2016 – 2018 рр. У сівозміні досліджували п’ять систем основного обробітку ґрунту із різними способами і глибиною розпушування на фоні трьох органо-мінеральних систем удобрення. Встановлено, що під час вирощуванні сорго зернового в умовах Південного Степу України в зернопросапній сівозміні на зрошенні доцільно застосовувати комбінований обробіток (диференційована-1 система обробітку), який поєднує мілке (12–14 см) дискове розпушування із щілюванням на 38–40 см та використовувати на добриво післяжнивні рештки попередника (пшениці озимої) на фоні внесення мінеральних добрив дозою N 90 P 60 , що створює сприятливий поживний режим і формує урожайність зерна, залежно від гідротермічних умов років досліджень, в межах 6,27–8,54 т/га, рівень рентабельності – 210–218 %. Використання на добриво післяжнивних решток (листостеблових і кореневих) сорго зернового (10,27 т/га) у варіанті диференційованої-1 системи основного обробітку забезпечило середньорічний розрахунковий приріст гумусу +1,11 т/га та накопичення у шарі ґрунту 0–40 см N – 49,2 кг/га, P 2 О 5 – 24,6, K 2 О – 59 кг/га.

Techno-Economic Assessment of Turboexpander Application at Natural Gas Regulation Stations

During the natural gas pipeline transportation process, gas stream pressure is reduced at natural gas regulation stations (GRS). Natural gas pressure reduction is accompanied by energy dissipation which results in irreversible exergy losses in the gas stream. Energy loss depends on the thermodynamic parameters of the natural gas stream on inlet and outlet gas pressure regulation and metering stations. Recovered energy can be used for electricity generation when the pressure regulator is replaced with an expander to drive electric energy generation. To ensure the correct operation of the system, the natural gas stream should be heated, on inlet to expander. This temperature should be higher than the gas stream during choking in the pressure regulator. The purpose of this research was to investigate GRS operational parameters which influence the efficiency of the gas expansion process and to determine selection criteria for a cost-effective application of turboexpanders at selected GRS, instead of pressure regulators. The main novelty presented in this paper shows investigation on discounted payback period (DPP) equation which depends on the annual average natural gas flow rate through the analyzed GRS, average annual level of gas expansion, average annual natural gas purchase price, average annual produced electrical energy sale price and CAPEX.

Hazard assessment of glacial lake outburst floods in Southeast Tibet based on RS and GIS technologies

ABSTRACTGlacial lakes are widely distributed across glaciated mountainous regions such as Southeast Tibet (ST). As a result of climate change, glacial lakes have expanded continually in ST over recent five decades, and ST is seriously suffering from glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs). Hence, glacial lake investigations and hazard assessments of GLOFs are very necessary to perform and are of great practical significance for this area. The region running from Ranwu to Tongmai (RTR) in ST was selected as a study area. To assess hazard degrees of GLOFs, nine factors (F1–F9) were selected from glacial characteristics: the scale of glacial lakes, meteorological conditions, moraine dam parameters and downstream gullies. Average monthly (May to September) land surface temperatures (LSTs), temperature change rates, and average annual precipitation levels were first calculated using Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) LST product and Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) precipitation data. Then, glacial lake areas, downstream gully slopes, distances to glacial lakes, upper glacier areas, average gradients of upper glaciers, and terminal moraine dam widths were obtained based on Thematic Mapper (TM) and Operational Land Imager (OLI) images and Digital Elevation Model (DEM) data. Finally, the fuzzy comprehensive assessment (FCA) method was used to assess hazard degrees of GLOFs in the study area. According to the results, 135 glacial lakes existed during the study periods, five new glacial lakes formed due to lake collapse and snow and ice melt, and one disappeared due to GLOFs. The number of glacial lakes in the area increased from 130 in 1986 to 134 in 2015, and the total area of glacial lakes increased from 832.77 ha in 1986 to 850.51 ha in 2015 due to lake expansion and GLOFs. Of the 134 glacial lakes present in 2015, 10 are identified as high hazardous lakes, eight are identified as medium hazardous lakes, two are considered low hazardous lakes, and 114 are considered extremely low hazardous lakes. The results illustrate hazard levels of GLOFs in ST, which can help guide future hazard prevention in the area.

Long-term trend detection and spatiotemporal analysis of groundwater levels using GIS techniques in Lower Bhavani River basin, Tamil Nadu, India

Groundwater resources are used in various parts of the world to meet out drinking water supply, irrigational practices and industrial applications. These valuable resources are naturally replenished by rainfall infiltration. Due to population growth and industrialization, groundwater resources are often overexploited in different parts of the world particularly in the hard rock areas. It leads to rapid declination in the groundwater level. Therefore, groundwater fluctuation with respect to space and time governs attention throughout the world for the purpose of sustainable management of water resources. In the present study, long-term trend detection and spatiotemporal variation of groundwater levels were analyzed using Geographical Information System (GIS) and performing statistical tests for the Lower Bhavani River basin, Tamil Nadu, India. For this purpose, 32 years long-term groundwater-level data (1984–2015) of 57 observation wells spread over the study area were collected from the government departments. Seasonal variation of groundwater levels was plotted spatially for pre-monsoon (March to May), post-monsoon (January and February), southwest (SW) monsoon (June to September) and northeast (NE) monsoon (October to December) seasons using GIS. The trend variation of groundwater levels was predicted by performing statistical tests such as Mann–Kendall test and Sen’s slope estimator. The present study indicates that the average annual groundwater level has lowered beyond 15 m (below ground level) during all the monsoon seasons in the year 2003 and 2004, which highlights less rainfall infiltration and overexploitation of groundwater. This leads the hard rock aquifer into stress. The study also shows that the groundwater fluctuation is very high in the southeastern and northeastern parts of the basin, and it is moderate in the northern and northwestern parts of the basin. However, the fluctuation is comparatively less in the central part of the basin because of replenishment of groundwater by the Bhavani River. The trend analysis highlights that declining water table is mostly found during SW monsoon season (summer season), which is observed more than 50% area of the basin. The places such as Emmampoondi, Kumbapanai, Kandisalai, Alukuli, Perikoduveri, P.Mettupalayam, Pudupalayam, Sathyamangalam, Nallagoundanpudur, Kullampalayam and Baguthampalayam are mostly affected by the declining trend in the groundwater level. Therefore, this study recommends for the implementation of large-scale rainwater harvesting system in the Lower Bhavani River basin to augment groundwater resources.

Passive sampling of polar emerging contaminants in Irish catchments.

Passive sampling (PS) is a very useful approach for the monitoring of emerging contaminants in environmental matrices, showing greater sensitivity than can be achieved by current best practice - grab sampling - and is applicable to a wide variety of compounds. An EU Directive (2013/39/EC) has added substances to the existing Water Framework Directive (WFD) Priority Substance list. Investigation into PS in the monitoring of these compounds is necessary to show the potential of this technique in supporting monitoring requirements under the WFD. A catchment-based approach evaluated the occurrence of these compounds in Irish surface waters. This work deals with the challenges associated with the use of PS in a legislative context, and for routine monitoring of emerging contaminants. Looking at a number of sites across Ireland, upstream and downstream of wastewater treatment plants, the focus was on polar analytes and polar PS (POCIS). With method limits of detection (LODs) of 0.001 mg L-1 pharmaceuticals and endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) were found in water and passive samples alike, whereas the polar pesticides were not often detected or were below the annual average environmental quality standard levels. The results of this study show the potential for PS as a monitoring technique for emerging and watch-list chemicals.

Water level characteristics of Lake Caizi, lower reaches of the Yangtze River during wintering period based on long-term hydrological alteration

湖泊生态水位过程对维持湖泊生态系统结构、过程和功能的完整性具有重要意义，也是当今湖泊科学领域面临的重要科学问题.基于菜子湖湖区水位站（车富岭水位站）1956-2018年日水位资料，采用pettitt突变检验法分析水位的突变性特征.结合年保证率法得到菜子湖车富岭水位站低水位值，并在此基础上分析了低水位发生时间及历时、候鸟越冬期水位变化速率及其生态水位的区间阈值.主要结论有：菜子湖车富岭水位站1956-2018年年均水位无显著突变.菜子湖车富岭水位站低水位发生时间均值为年内的344 d，年际标准差为27 d，低水位的年均历时为69 d，标准差为49 d，有6年（1978、1997、2015-2018年）未发生低水位事件.菜子湖候鸟越冬期水位变化速率的均值为-0.009 m/d，年均值为-0.034~0.009 m/d，日均值为-0.051~0.016 m/d.菜子湖低水位发生时间的区间阈值为332~351 d，历时的区间阈值为33~98 d，变化速率的区间阈值为-0.070~0.020 m/d.加强菜子湖候鸟越冬期湿地生境保护适应性调度试验研究及生态环境监测，为菜子湖输水水位优化控制和菜子湖湿地生态保护提供科学依据.;The ecological water level process of lakes is of great significance for maintaining the integrity of the lake ecosystem structures, processes and functions, and is also an important scientific issue of lake science field nowadays. Based on the daily water level data, pettitt test was used to analyze the abrupt change characteristics of water level of Lake Caizi at Chefuling Station from 1956-2018. The low water level of Lake Caizi at Chefuling Station was obtained using the annual guaranteed frequency method. The starting time and duration of low water level, the water level change rate during the overwintering period of migratory birds and the interval threshold of ecological water level were analyzed accordingly. The main conclusions are as follows:there is no significant abrupt change point in the average annual water level of Lake Caizi at Chefuling Station from 1956 to 2018. The average occurrence time of low water level of Lake Caizi at Chefuling Stations is day 344, with the inter-annual standard deviation 27 days. The average duration time of annual low water level is 69 days with the standard deviation 49 days. Among the calculated 63 years, there are 6 years (1978, 1997, 2015-2018) without low water level event. The average rate of water level change during the overwintering period of migratory birds is -0.009 m/d, the annual average rate is -0.034-0.009 m/d, and the daily average rate is -0.051-0.016 m/d. The interval threshold of the occurrence of low water level of Lake Caizi is 332-351 d, the interval threshold of the duration time is 33-98 d, and the interval threshold of water level change rate is -0.070-0.020 m/d. Strengthening experimental study on habitat adaptation and ecological environment monitoring during the overwintering period of migratory birds to provide scientific basis for water level regulation and wetland protection of the Lake Caizi.

The World’s Largest Lakes Water Level Changes in the Context of Global Warming

The article is focused on the assessment of changes in the average annual water levels of large lakes of the planet in the changing climate conditions characteristic of the recent decades. Eight large lakes, i.e.Baikal, Balkhash, Superior, Issyk-Kul, Ladoga, Onega, Ontario, and Erie, located on the territory of Eurasia and North America, were chosen as the research objects. They were selected because of the availability of a long-term observations series of the water level. As is known, long-term changes in the lakes water level result from variation in the water volume. The latter depends on the ratios between the water balance components of the lake that have developed during a given year, which, in turn, reflect the climatic conditions of the respective years. The features of the water balance structure of the above-mentioned lakes and the intra-annual course of the water level are considered. The available long-term records of observational data on all selected lakes and their stations were divided into two periods: from 1960 to 1979 (the period of stationary climatic situation) and from 1980 to 2008 (the period of non-stationary climatic situation). The homogeneity and significance of trends in the long-term water level series of records have been estimated. It has been established that over the second period the nature and magnitude of the lakes water levels variations differ significantly. For lakes Balkhash, Issyk-Kul, Ladoga, Superior, and Erie, there is a general tendency for a decrease in water levels. For the remaining three lakes (Baikal, Onega, and Ontario), the opposite tendency has been noted: the levels of these lakes increased. Quantitatively, the range of changes in water levels on the lakes in question over the period of 1980-2008 ranged from -4 cm to +26 cm.

The association between high ambient air pollution exposure and respiratory health of young children: A cross sectional study in Jinan, China

There is growing concern about health effects of high air pollution in less-developed countries. Children represent a population at increased risk for air pollution–related respiratory conditions. This study investigated the relationship between high ambient air pollution exposure and respiratory health of young schoolchildren. From 2014 to 2016 in Jinan, China, 2532 primary school children in grades three to five from two different schools with different levels of air pollution were included in the study. Levels of ambient air pollution exposure including PM10, PM2.5, NO2, SO2, CO and O3 were measured continuously at the two schools. A questionnaire about children's respiratory health was conducted every year. Among them, about 150 randomly selected children also performed lung function tests two times a year at the beginning of November and middle of December. Annual average exposure levels of PM2.5 (66.8–79.1 vs 90.0–107.7 μg/m3), PM10 (129.5–177.3 vs 198.1–218.6 μg/m3), NO2 (45.3–53.2 vs 45.0–56.2 μg/m3), SO2 (29.8–56.5 vs 40.5–80.3 μg/m3), CO (1.3–1.5 vs 1.4–1.7 mg/m3) and O3 (84.8–120.2 vs 61.1–128.1 μg/m3) in the heavy pollution primary school were significantly higher than the light one. The higher air pollution exposure was related to increased prevalence of respiratory diseases of young children in the last year, especially allergic rhinitis. The increased odds of lung function impairment associated with exposure to higher air pollution, could be up to 171.5% (aOR = 2.715; 95% CI = 1.915–3.849) for PEF < 75% predicted in 2014. However, after short-term exposure for 1.5 month or a week, paired comparison for parameters of the same child showed different results. The association between high ambient air pollution exposure and respiratory health of young children is closely related to exposure time and dose and may be fluctuate and complex.

Population Exposure to Ambient PM2.5 at the Subdistrict Level in China.

Fine-particulate pollution is a major public health concern in China. Accurate assessment of the population exposed to PM2.5 requires high-resolution pollution and population information. This paper assesses China’s potential population exposure to PM2.5, maps its spatiotemporal variability, and simulates the effects of the recent air pollution control policy. We relate satellite-based Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD) retrievals to ground-based PM2.5 observations. We employ block cokriging (BCK) to improve the spatial interpolation of PM2.5 distribution. We use the subdistrict level population data to estimate and map the potential population exposure to PM2.5 pollution in China at the subdistrict level, the smallest administrative unit with public demographic information. During 8 April 2013 and 7 April 2014, China’s population-weighted annual average PM2.5 concentration was nearly 7 times the annual average level suggested by the World Health Organization (WHO). About 1322 million people, or 98.6% of the total population, were exposed to PM2.5 at levels above WHO’s daily guideline for longer than half a year. If China can achieve its Action Plan on Prevention and Control of Air Pollution targets by 2017, the population exposed to PM2.5 above China’s daily standard for longer than half a year will be reduced by 85%.

Analysis of sea level changes in the Caspian Sea related to Cosmo-geophysical processes based on satellite and terrestrial data

Analysis results of the average annual sea levels in the Caspian Sea obtained from ground and satellite observations, corresponding to solar activity characteristics, magnetic field data, and length of day are presented. Spectra of the indicated processes were investigated and their approximation models were also built. Previously assumed statistical relationships between space-geophysical processes and Caspian Sea level (CSL) changes were confirmed. A close connection was revealed between the low-frequency models of the solar and geomagnetic activity parameters and the CSL changes. Predictions extending into the next decades showed a high probability of an increase in the CSL and a decrease of the compared space-geophysical parameters.

CHANGES IN PROSNA WATER LEVELS (BOGUSŁAW PROFILE) IN 1973-2017

The paper presents long-term changes in water levels of Prosna, one of the main rivers in Wielkopolska, i.e. the region which is widely regarded as one of the least abundant in water in Poland. It was established that during the last 40 years the average annual water levels of Prosny showed a downward trend at the level of 7.8 cm-dec-1 and were statistically significant at the level of p=0.05 and also p=0.01. In all months a decrease in the water level was noted, although it was statistically significant in seven cases. The highest decrease in average monthly water levels (statistically significant, p=0.05) occurred in August and December and progressed at a rate of 13.2 and 12.3 cm-dec-1. The consequence of the ongoing trend may be, among others, worsening of ichthyofauna living conditions or worse quality of Prosny's water.

PHP101 - SOCIO-ECONOMIC AND SOCIO-DEMOGRAPHIC DRIVERS INFLUENCING PREVALENCE OF ANTIBIOTIC USE: AN ANALYSIS IN SOUTHERN ITALY SETTING

To analyze the geographic variation in systemic antibiotic prescription at a regional level and to explore the influence of socioeconomic and sociodemographic variables. Retrospective analysis of reimbursement pharmacy records in the outpatient settings of Italy’s Campania Region in 2016. Standardized antibiotic prescription rates were calculated at municipality and Local Health Unit (LHU) level. Antibiotic consumption was analyzed as DDD/1000 inhabitants per day. Average antibiotic prevalence rate was 46.8%. At LHU level, the age-adjusted prevalence rates ranged from 41.1% in Benevento to 51.0% in Naples2. Significant differences were found among municipalities: from 15.2% in Omignano (Sa-LHU) to 61.9% in Moschiano (Av-LHU). The geographic distribution also showed significant differences in terms of antibiotic consumption: from 6.7 DDD/1000 inhabitants/day in Omignano to 41.6 in San Marcelino (Ce-LHU). Logistic regression showed that both municipality type and average annual income level were the main determinants of antibiotic prescription. Urban municipalities were more than eight times as likely to have antibiotic high prevalence rates compared to rural municipalities [adjusted OR: 8.62 (95%CI: 4.06 – 18.30, P < 0.001)]. Municipalities with low average annual income level were more than eight times as likely to have antibiotic high prevalence rates compared to high average annual income level municipalities [adjusted OR: 8.48 (95%CI: 3.45 – 20.81, P < 0.001)]. We provide a snapshot of Campania’s antibiotic consumption, evidencing the impact of both socioeconomic and sociodemographic factors on the prevalence of antibiotic prescription. The observed intraregional variability underlines the lack of shared therapeutic protocols and the need of a careful monitoring. Our results can be useful for decision-makers to plan educational interventions, thus optimizing health resources and improving rational drug use.