Pollution Burden Research Articles

Air quality and health effects of a transition to ammonia–fueled shipping in Singapore

Ammonia has been proposed to replace heavy fuel oil (HFO) in the shipping industry by 2050. When produced with low-carbon electricity, ammonia can reduce greenhouse gas emissions. However, ammonia emissions also contribute to local air pollution via the formation of secondary particulate matter. We estimate the potential ammonia emissions from storage and bunkering operations for shipping in Singapore, a port that accounts for 20% of global bunker fuel sales, and their impacts on air quality and health. Fuel storage and bunkering can increase total gaseous ammonia emissions in Singapore by up to a factor of four and contribute to a 25%–50% increase in ambient PM2.5 concentration compared to a baseline scenario with HFO, leading to an estimated 210–460 premature mortalities in Singapore (30%–70% higher than the baseline). Proper abatement on storage and bunkering can reduce these emissions and even improve ambient PM2.5 concentrations compared to the baseline. Overall, while an energy transition from HFO to ammonia in the shipping industry could reduce global greenhouse gas and air pollutant burdens, local policies will be important to avoid negative impacts on the communities living near its supply chain.

Modelling health effects of air pollution in Ukraine

Abstract Background Air pollution places a burden on health, climate, national economies and well-being in the European Union (EU) and EU candidate countries. Ukraine was the country with most deaths per 100,000 inhabitants attributable to atmospheric air pollution in 2017 according to the World Health Organisation. Harmonisation of air quality monitoring regulations and control methods with EU standards is important to lower the burden of air pollution in Ukraine. Methods This study applies the JRC-Fast Scenario Screening Tool (JRC-FASST) with ground air quality measurement data in order to study how premature mortality in Ukrainian cities is affected by the pollutant PM2.5 pre- and during COVID-19. Furthermore, a scenario analysis at country level is carried out to evaluate past and projected trends of mortality in Ukraine under three different air quality policy scenarios. Results The preliminary results show that estimated PM2.5 attributable mortality is significantly lower in the year 2020 compared to 2019 in all studied cities. Both at a country level and at a city level, ischemic heart disease is the main cause of death associated with PM2.5 attributable all-cause mortality. Conclusions Increasing the body of research on the health effects and costs of air pollution in Ukraine is important to acquire evidence in support of further alignment of Ukrainian air quality policies with those of the EU.

Air pollution costs in Western Balkans’ cities

Abstract Poor air quality is responsible for increased risk of mortality which global cost in in 2019 was associated with 4.1 million premature deaths globally. The Western Balkans were selected for this study because the levels of particulate matter and ozone are frequently above the EU Air Quality Directive guidelines. Air pollution health impact (mortality and morbidity) assessment was carried out using the attributable fraction approach based on different relative risk attribution methodologies: concentration response functions (CRF) and integrated exposure responses (IER). Air pollution costs were estimated using the value of statistical life (VSL) and the value of life year (VOLY) attributable to air pollution obtained with the benefit transfer method (BT) from a global database of non-market welfare-based unit costs. The health impact and related external costs attributable to air pollution in 2019 were assessed in 30 urban areas of the Western Balkans region, one of Europe's air pollution hot spots. The evaluation was based on PM2.5, O3 and NO2 concentrations in 2019. The average cost of mortality attributable to PM2.5 in 26 urban areas was above 200 million Euro per city while the ones of O3 and NO2 were 4 times lower than PM2.5. The study results suggest that the economic burden of air pollution per capita and compared to the GDP in the Western Balkans is higher than the one observed in EU27 in the same time window.

Coexistence across space and time: Social‐ecological patterns within a decade of human‐coyote interactions in San Francisco

Abstract Global change is increasing the frequency and severity of human‐wildlife interactions by pushing people and wildlife into increasingly resource‐limited shared spaces. To understand the dynamics of human‐wildlife interactions and what may constitute human‐wildlife coexistence in the Anthropocene, there is a critical need to explore the spatial, temporal, sociocultural and ecological variables that contribute to human‐wildlife conflicts in urban areas. Due to their opportunistic foraging and behavioural flexibility, coyotes (Canis latrans) frequently interact with people in urban environments. San Francisco, California, USA hosts a very high density of coyotes, making it an excellent region for analysing urban human‐coyote interactions and attitudes toward coyotes over time and space. We used a community‐curated long‐term data source from San Francisco Animal Care and Control to summarise a decade of coyote sightings and human‐coyote interactions in San Francisco and to characterise spatiotemporal patterns of attitudes and interaction types in relation to housing density, socioeconomics, pollution and human vulnerability metrics, and green space availability. We found that human‐coyote conflict reports have been significantly increasing over the past 5 years and that there were more conflicts during the coyote pup‐rearing season (April–June), the dry season (June–September) and the COVID‐19 pandemic. Conflict reports were also more likely to involve dogs and occur inside of parks, despite more overall sightings occurring outside of parks. Generalised linear mixed models revealed that conflicts were more likely to occur in places with higher vegetation greenness and median income. Meanwhile reported coyote boldness, hazing and human attitudes toward coyotes were also correlated with pollution burden and human population vulnerability indices. Synthesis and applications: Our results provide compelling evidence suggesting that human‐coyote conflicts are intimately associated with social‐ecological heterogeneities and time, emphasizing that the road to coexistence will require socially informed strategies. Additional long‐term research articulating how the social‐ecological drivers of conflict (e.g. human food subsidies, interactions with domestic species, climate‐induced droughts, socioeconomic disparities, etc.) change over time will be essential in building adaptive management efforts that effectively mitigate future conflicts from occurring. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.

The Impacts of Air Pollution on Human Health and Well-Being: A Comprehensive Review

Air pollution is a pressing global environmental challenge with far-reaching consequences for human health and well-being. This research paper presents an extensive examination of air pollution, its diverse sources, and its detrimental effects on both individual and community health. The paper explores the various types of pollutants found in the atmosphere, their origins, and the mechanisms through which they impact human health. Additionally, it delves into the global burden of air pollution, shedding light on the alarming scale of its impact, and emphasizes the urgent need for effective mitigation strategies to safeguard public health and preserve the environment. Also, this paper will review various existing literature related to the topic and review it. The study also identifies some of the key factors that moderate this relationship, such as socio-demographic variables, perception of health risks, and coping strategies. The findings of this study have important implications for policymakers, urban planners, and public health officials, who must consider the impact of air pollution on health while formulating policies and interventions to address this critical issue.

Estimating background concentrations of PM2.5 for urban air quality modelling in a data poor environment

Atmospheric dispersion models are widely applied to simulate pollutant concentrations such as PM2.5 for use in long- and short-term health studies. A significant proportion of PM2.5 originates outside urban areas in which many people live. It is important to reflect this ‘background’ component in the modelling process in order to provide an accurate representation of the total pollution load experienced by human populations. To be credible, model outputs must be verified against available monitoring data, which, in the case of PM2.5, may be limited to a small number of monitoring sites across a large urban area. Here we evaluate four different approaches to representing background PM2.5 in an atmospheric dispersion model (ADMS-Urban) for Nottingham, UK. A directional approach, based on multiple urban background monitoring sites located outside the study area provides the most robust estimates. Our adopted approach allows us to model both short- and long-term air quality conditions, whilst accounting for local- and regional-scale variations in the pollution burden, and will ultimately enable us to assess short- and long-term effects of air pollution on health.

The Burden of Air Pollution: A Perspective on Global Health Inequalities

The aim of the research presented here is to assess the magnitude of the burden of health limitations due to air pollution on the world’s economies. This burden was determined by the estimated number of premature years of life lost (YLLs) or years of health lost (YLDs) due to air-pollution-related diseases in the working-age population. Attention was drawn to the problem of existing inequalities in the global burden between economies with different income levels. The hypothesis of persistently high levels of inequality was tested by analysing the convergence process in a group of 204 countries over the period 1990–2019. The results indicate a high degree of variation in the level of health problems caused by air pollution. The analysis of the catching-up process of the most disadvantaged countries (with the highest level of health impacts from air pollution) did not show a positive convergence effect in the study group.

Air Pollution Burden and Three Population Health Indicators in 58 Counties Comprising the State of California, USA

Air pollution is a major risk factor in human health causing premature death disease and ranks fifth among the top five leading causes of death worldwide. In California, air pollution attracts significant attention due to increased pollution from fossil fuel burning, industry, transportation, and the state’s drought record and fire-proneness. Data used in this analysis was obtained from the CalEnviroScreen pollution monitoring tool. There is significant variation in air pollution across counties and racial groups. Hispanic populations, followed by Caucasians, predominantly occupy areas with the highest pollution levels above 40%. Most counties had low average scores in population parameters that determine population health. Pollution burden predicted asthma and CVD prevalence but not low-birth-weight babies. Asthma was closely associated with traffic density, PM2.5, cleanup sites, and ozone levels; low-birth-weight babies were associated with traffic density and release of toxic substances; and CVD was associated with PM2.5, toxic release, and cleanup sites. Low HPI scores (<40%) were associated with incidences of asthma and CVD but not low-birth-weight babies. The increased population health compromises in California caused by the effects of air pollution call for a paradigm shift in the way population health is evaluated and effects of air pollution mitigated.

The challenge of population aging for mitigating deaths from PM2.5 air pollution in China

Estimating the health burden of air pollution against the background of population aging is of great significance for achieving the Sustainable Development Goal 3.9 which aims to substantially reduce the deaths and illnesses from air pollution. Here, we estimated spatiotemporal changes in deaths attributable to PM2.5 air pollution in China from 2000 to 2035 and examined the drivers. The results show that from 2019 to 2035, deaths were projected to decease 15.4% (6.6%–20.7%, 95% CI) and 8.4% (0.6%–13.5%) under the SSP1-2.6 and SSP5-8.5 scenario, respectively, but increase 10.4% (5.1%–20.5%) and 18.1% (13.0%–28.3%) under SSP2-4.5 and SSP3-7.0 scenarios. Population aging will be the leading contributor to increased deaths attributable to PM2.5 air pollution, which will counter the positive gains achieved by improvements in air pollution and healthcare. Region-specific measures are required to mitigate the health burden of air pollution and this requires long-term efforts and mutual cooperation among regions in China.

Pollutant Burden on Pollution Sources in the Wai Batu Merah Watershed, Sirimau District, Ambon City

This study aims to identify sources of pollution and determine the magnitude of the potential pollution load from pollutant sources in the Wai Batu Merah watershed, Sirimau District, Ambon City. The method for identifying sources of pollution is carried out by using saturated or census sampling methods, calculating pollutant loads using direct methods for point source pollutant sources and indirect methods for non-point sources . The direct calculation method uses wastewater discharge data and the results of wastewater quality analysis results from measurements directly at the point source pollutant wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). The wastewater sampling technique uses the grab sampling method. While the indirect method uses effluent factors and supporting data from non-point source pollution sources that have been identified in the Wai Batu Merah watershed. The results showed that the pollutant sources found in the Wai Batu Merah watershed were point sources originating from hotel and health facility activities and non-point sources originating from domestic activities from residential areas, agricultural and livestock businesses, non-point source land (forest and open land), micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), small scale industries and waste. The dominant pollutant source in the Wai Batu Merah watershed comes from domestic non-point sources. The highest point source pollution loads for BOD, COD and TSS parameters in the Wai Batu Merah watershed came from hotel activities in segment 6 with the contribution of each parameter of 17.82 kg/day, 23.82 kg/day and 0.029 kg/day. Meanwhile, the highest non-point source pollution load for BOD, COD and TSS parameters came from non-point source waste in segment 6 with the contribution of each parameter of 2825.3 kg/day, 3884.8 kg/day and 2684.03 kg/day.

The influence of air pollution on gestational age at delivery and birthweight in patients with or without respiratory allergy: A nested case-control study.

Air pollution is a current major health issue. The burden of airborne pollutants and aeroallergen levels varies throughout the year, as well as their interaction and consequences. Prenatal exposure during pregnancy has been associated with adverse perinatal outcomes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of air pollutants on perinatal outcomes in patients with or without respiratory allergy. Nested case-control retrospective study on 3006 pregnant women. Correlations between concentrations of common pollutants in each trimester of pregnancy and on average during the whole pregnancy and both gestational age at delivery and birthweight were studied. Pearson's correlation coefficient and binary logistic regression were used. In general, pollutants correlated more strongly with birthweight than with gestational age at delivery. Nine-month NO2 , SO2 , CO, and benzene, and second-trimester CO negatively correlated with birthweight, whereas only first-trimester NO2 showed a very mild correlation with gestational age at delivery. Negative correlations between pollutants and birthweight were much stronger in the respiratory allergy group (n = 43; 1.4%) than in the non-allergic group. After adjustments, the most significant predictive pollutant of birthweight was SO2 in both groups. The best predictive model was much stronger in the allergic group for third-trimester SO2 (R2 = 0.12, p = 0.02) than in the non-allergic group for total SO2 (R2 = 0.002, p = 0.02). For each unit that SO2 increased, birthweight reduced by 3.22% vs. 1.28% in each group, respectively. Air pollutant concentrations, especially SO2 , negatively influenced birthweight. The impact of this association was much stronger and more relevant in the group of women with respiratory allergies.

Circularity in cities: A comparative tool to inform prevention of plastic pollution

Cities bear a large burden of plastic management and pollution, which is not consistently recognized. The ‘circular economy’ has become an aspiration for reducing pollution and increasing sustainability, though quantification and monitoring methods are not consistent. We compare data from six cities participating in the Urban Ocean® program that utilized the Circularity Assessment Protocol (CAP) in India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Panama, and Vietnam. CAP is a standardized methodology used to quantify circular materials management and collect community-level data to inform decision-making. Results show that plastic items and packaging represent over 90% of fast-moving consumer goods, 78% of to-go items, and 69% of all litter items, presenting challenges to local formal and informal waste management systems. These results support solutions that meet an individual city's needs and reflect the materials and challenges present. City-level data facilitates knowledge exchange between communities, which can lead to an effective network of more circular cities worldwide.

Biogenesis of nanoparticles using microorganisms: A Review

Bionanoparticles are synthesized using novel strategies through environmentally benign approaches. Emphasis is on synthesizing nanoparticles using green chemistry principles to reduce the burden of pollution on the environment. The biological approach for the synthesis of metallic nanoparticles is also described as green synthesis (bioprocess) of nanoparticles, is now being looked at as an alternative to physio-chemical approaches and generally uses biological components like plants and microbes (bacteria, fungi, algae and yeast) and cause minimal harm to the nature. The naturally occurring potential biodegradable agents like enzymes (secreted by microbes) act as reducing agents and play a very distinct role in the synthesis of nanoparticles. Most bioprocesses occur under normal air pressure and temperature, resulting in vast energy savings and reducing the use of expensive chemicals making the green approach less costly. This process of synthesis of nanoparticles using biological systems is referred to as nanobiotechnology. Nanobiotechnology has emerged as an integration between biotechnology and nanotechnology for developing biosynthetic and environmentally friendly technology for nanoparticle synthesis. This review is mainly focused on the microbial synthesis of nanoparticles utilizing the extract of bacteria and algae. In the present review, the bio-reduction capacity of various bacteria and algae is highlighted in detail, which has yet to be discussed earlier. This is a comprehensive work underlining the synthesis of nanoparticles, their bio-reduction ability, and application of nanoparticles.

Environmental Pollution and its Effects on Human Health

Environmental pollution poses a widespread issue with significant implications for the well-being of individuals and populations worldwide. The escalating utilization of fossil fuels, improper sewage disposal practices, and indiscriminate use of agricultural pesticides contribute to the pervasive presence of environmental pollution across the globe. To assess the state of environmental pollution and its impact on human health on a global scale, a comprehensive review of relevant scholarly articles was undertaken. The deleterious effects of pollution manifest in elevated rates of cancer, cardiovascular disease, respiratory ailments, mental disorders, and diarrhea. Each year, approximately 7 million individuals succumb to air pollution-related causes, while an additional 1.6 million people perish due to diseases stemming from water pollution. Environmental pollution emerges as a principal determinant of human morbidity and mortality worldwide, with low-income nations displaying heightened vulnerability. Given the escalating burden of pollution in the modern era, concerted and collaborative efforts by all relevant entities and nations are imperative to mitigate the extent and consequences of pollution on the global environment and human health.

Respiratory deposition dose of PM2.5 and PM10 during night and day periods at an urban environment

Abstract Inhalation of particulate matter (PM) has been extensively associated with the worsening and onset of cardiorespiratory diseases, being responsible for millions of deaths annually. Assessment of PM deposition in the human respiratory tract is critical to better understand the health risks from environmental exposure of vulnerable age groups. In this study, PM2.5 and PM10 day-night monitoring campaigns during the cold season were carried out in Bragança, Portugal. The multiple-path particle dosimetry (MPPD) model was used to quantify total and regional depositions in the human respiratory tract for four different age groups: infant (3 months), child (9 years), adult (21 years) and elderly (65 years). The results showed that concentrations for both PM fractions were higher during the night, a period marked by the burning of biomass for residential heating. Regional deposition fractions (DF) for PM2.5 were in the ranges 17–38% (head), 4–14% (tracheobronchial) and 20–28% (pulmonary), while for PM10 were 24–67% (head), 4–27% (tracheobronchial) and 12–22% (pulmonary). Children and the elderly were found to be the most vulnerable groups to PM deposition, especially for the TB and H regions, respectively. The lifetime cancer and non-cancer risks associated with exposure to PM2.5 exceeded the recommended limits, especially for children <10 years old. These findings provide useful information to alert authorities to the need to take action to reduce the pollution burden and protect the health, in particular of those most susceptible. Graphical Abstract

Umfahrung Weyer – Tunnelbau im Lockergestein unter Bebauung

AbstractThe small town of Weyer is located in Upper Austria on the B121 Weyerer Straße. The B121 leads through the historic market square of Weyer, which is characterised by confusing bottlenecks that can only be passed in one lane. For decades, these bottlenecks have caused congestion, mainly due to heavy traffic. For residents, the burden of air pollution and noise is high. The roads department of the Upper Austrian Government has been planning the construction of a bypass for many years. Construction finally started in the summer of 2022. The Weyer bypass construction lot is 1.2 km long and includes the construction of two NATM tunnels, a vertical escape shaft, a bridge over the river Dürnbach, two roundabouts, and one traffic junction. The tunnel construction works are carried out in urban areas, in loose material with little overburden and partly under existing buildings. These boundary conditions make the project a challenge for all involved at every stage.

Sea turtle egg yolk and albumen as biomonitoring matrices for maternal burdens of organic pollutants

To establish the use of eggs as biomonitoring tools for maternal body burdens, we investigated the mother-to-egg ratio of 56 PCB, 12 OCP and 34 PBDE unique compounds from maternal plasma into replicate egg yolk and albumen samples in the loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta) as a case study of a threatened migratory marine species. We applied robust Regression on Order Statistics to fully account for the information in both censored and uncensored data. Our results added new insights into the use of yolk as a suitable biomonitoring matrix; the difference between yolk and albumen which were previously analysed as a homogeneous mixture; and the value of accounting for censored data. Overall, compound-specific mother-to-egg ratios need to be considered when translating yolk levels back to maternal pollution burdens, and when assessing the risk to the subsequent generations of turtle embryos.

Key Themes, Trends, and Drivers of Mobile Ambient Air Quality Monitoring: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Mobile ambient air quality monitoring is rapidly changing the current paradigm of air quality monitoring and growing as an important tool to address air quality and climate data gaps across the globe. This review seeks to provide a systematic understanding of the current landscape of advances and applications in this field. We observe a rapidly growing number of air quality studies employing mobile monitoring, with low-cost sensor usage drastically increasing in recent years. A prominent research gap was revealed, highlighting the double burden of severe air pollution and poor air quality monitoring in low- and middle-income regions. Experiment-design-wise, the advances in low-cost monitoring technology show great potential in bridging this gap while bringing unique opportunities for real-time personal exposure, large-scale deployment, and diversified monitoring strategies. The median value of unique observations at the same location in spatial regression studies is ten, which can be used as a rule-of-thumb for future experiment design. Data-analysis-wise, even though data mining techniques have been extensively employed in air quality analysis and modeling, future research can benefit from exploring air quality information from nontabular data, such as images and natural language.

Burden of fine air pollution on mortality in the desert climate of Kuwait

BackgroundMiddle Eastern desert countries like Kuwait are known for intense dust storms and enormous petrochemical industries affecting ambient air pollution. However, local health authorities have not been able to assess the health impacts of air pollution due to limited monitoring networks and a lack of historical exposure data.ObjectiveTo assess the burden of PM2.5 on mortality in the understudied dusty environment of Kuwait.MethodsWe analyzed the acute impact of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) on daily mortality in Kuwait between 2001 and 2016. To do so, we used spatiotemporally resolved estimates of PM2.5 in the region. Our analysis explored factors such as cause of death, sex, age, and nationality. We fitted quasi-Poisson time-series regression for lagged PM2.5 adjusted for time trend, seasonality, day of the week, temperature, and relative humidity.ResultsThere was a total of 70,321 deaths during the study period of 16 years. The average urban PM2.5 was estimated to be 46.2 ± 19.8 µg/m3. A 10 µg/m3 increase in a 3-day moving average of urban PM2.5 was associated with 1.19% (95% CI: 0.59, 1.80%) increase in all-cause mortality. For a 10 µg/m3 reduction in annual PM2.5 concentrations, a total of 52.3 (95% CI: 25.7, 79.1) deaths each year could be averted in Kuwait. That is, 28.6 (95% CI: 10.3, 47.0) Kuwaitis, 23.9 (95% CI: 6.4, 41.5) non-Kuwaitis, 9.4 (95% CI: 1.2, 17.8) children, and 20.9 (95% CI: 4.3, 37.6) elderly deaths each year.Impact StatementThe overwhelming prevalence of devastating dust storms and enormous petrochemical industries in the Gulf and the Middle East has intensified the urgency to address air pollution and its detrimental health effects. Alarmingly, the region’s epidemiological research lags behind, hindered by a paucity of ground monitoring networks and historical exposure data. In response, we are harnessing the power of big data to generate predictive models of air pollution across time and space, providing crucial insights into the mortality burden associated with air pollution in this under-researched yet critically impacted area.

The risk of being bitten by a dog is higher on hot, sunny, and smoggy days

Humans commit more violent crimes when temperature and air pollution is higher. Here, we investigate if also the day-to-day rates of dogs biting humans is influenced by environmental factors. 69,525 reports of dogs biting humans, sourced from public records on animal control requests and from ER records, were analyzed. The impact of temperature and air pollutants were evaluated with a zero-inflated Poisson generalized additive model, while controlling for regional and calendar effects. Exposure–response curves were used to assess the association between outcome and major exposure variables. We find that the rates of dogs biting humans increases with increasing temperature and ozone, but not PM2.5 exposure. We also observed that higher UV irradiation levels were related to higher rats of dog bites. We conclude that dogs, or the interactions between humans and dogs, are more hostile on hot, sunny, and smoggy days, indicating that the societal burden of extreme heat and air pollution also includes the costs of animal aggression.