Pollution Burden Research Articles

KAJIAN DAYA TAMPUNG BEBAN PENCEMAR SUNGAI CIUJUNG KABUPATEN SERANG PROVINSI BANTEN

This Final research was conducted in Ciujung River where this research was conducted in Serang Regency with its head in Nagara Village, Serang Regency, and downstream in Tirtayasa Village, Serang Regency. The research was conducted for 3 months from October – December 2022 starting from 09.00 – 12.00 and continuing from 12.00 – 13.45. The purpose of the study is to identify and determine the sources of pollution that have the potential to pollute the Ciujung River, analyze water quality, water quality status, and pollutant levels in the Ciujung River, and analyze the carrying capacity of polluter loads in the Ciujung River. And analyze the burden of pollutants in the Ciujung River. The length of the Ciujung River studied is 31.3 km. The parameters used for this study are pH, Temperature, DO, BOD, COD, Nitrate, Phosphate, and Total Coliform. The method used in identifying the source of pollution contained in the Ciujung River is carried out by conducting field observations and taking samples of Ciujung River water. Sampling in the Ciujung River was carried out by the grab sampling method. which is done at 6 sampling points. Analysis of river water quality was carried out at the Trisakti University Laboratory. The results of the analysis are then compared with the quality standards of PP No. 22 of 2021 in Attachment VI. Water Quality Status is calculated by the Polluter Index method. Nonpoint sources of pollution are dominated by residential areas, stalls, garbage, shops, mosques/prayer rooms, schools, and markets. Point sources of pollution are obtained from industrial areas. Measurement of river characteristics is carried out in October, November, and December by measuring distance, width, depth, cross-sectional area of the river, river speed, and river discharge. The results of the analysis of water quality in the river stated that for phosphate parameters almost all exceeded quality standards due to domestic waste from the environment, the runoff of agricultural fertilizers, livestock waste, and very high industrial activities. The BOD parameters at point 2 and point 5 exceed the quality standards due to the content of organic waste. The load capacity of BOD pollutants is 3.64 kg/day – 20.20 kg/day, COD is 42.63 kg/day – 144.22 kg/day, Nitrate is 1.67 kg/day – 3.47 kg/day, Phosphate 0.79 kg/day – 3.11 kg/day, Total Coliform is 8694.19 kg/day – 33042.56 kg/day. BOD Pollution Load of 314.26 kg/day- 1744.99 kg/day COD of 2365.46 kg/day - 12460.37 kg/day Nitrate of 144.55 kg/day- 423.16 kg/day Phosphate of Total Coliform of 454133.37 kg/day – 2854876.86 kg/day.

Responsibility-sharing and compensation scheme of transboundary water pollution embodied in China's inter-provincial trade: a perspective from economic value capturing.

Transboundary water pollution induced by inter-regional trade is a complex and challenging issue due to the multiple jurisdictions involved. This study combined water pollution discharge inventory, multi-regional input-output analysis, discharge responsibility-sharing, and ecological compensation model to advance the collaborative control of water pollution embodied in China's inter-provincial trade. Over a fifth of China's water pollution discharges in 2017, equivalent to 1376 Kt, were a result of inter-provincial trade, which primarily flowed from wealthier coastal provinces to less developed ones. Moreover, the analysis demonstrates a mismatch between economic gains and environmental costs. In particular, Jiangxi and Guangxi bear the greatest environmental impact (64 and 58 Kt, respectively) while only receiving meager economic returns (131 and 80 billion Yuan). The economic benefit shared responsibility results for the great majority of provinces fell between production- and consumption-based discharges, and this compromise-based allocation of responsibility is more likely to gain acceptance across various regions. Provinces such as Shanghai, Jiangsu, and Beijing necessitate the highest compensation volumes to others, with 31 Kt, 25 Kt, and 20 Kt, respectively, while provinces including Guangxi, Jiangxi, and Ningxia require the largest inflows of compensation, totaling 26 Kt, 23 Kt, and 18 Kt, respectively. The compensation outcomes ensure that less developed regions, bearing a greater pollution burden, receive compensation from more developed regions with lower pollution burdens. The compensation values aligned with compensation volumes, with a few exceptions driven by variations in shadow prices of water pollution. Our study sheds light on the inter-provincial water pollution burdens and benefits and provides a quantitative basis for optimizing the responsibility-sharing and compensation strategies in China, thereby promoting regional cooperation on water pollution control.

Sustained use of marine subsidies promotes niche expansion in a wild felid

The use of marine subsidies by terrestrial predators can facilitate substantial transfer of nutrients between marine and terrestrial ecosystems. Marine resource subsidies may have profound effects on predator ecology, influencing population and niche dynamics. Expanding niches of top consumers can impact ecosystem resilience and interspecific interactions, affecting predator-prey dynamics and competition. We investigate the occurrence, importance, and impact of marine resources on trophic ecology and niche dynamics in a highly generalist predator, the caracal (Caracal caracal), on the Cape Peninsula, South Africa. Caracals have flexible diets, feeding across a wide range of terrestrial and aquatic prey. We use carbon and nitrogen stable isotope analysis of fur samples (n = 75) to understand trophic position and niche shifts in coastal and inland foragers, as well as the implications of a diet rich in marine resources. We found significant differences in isotope signatures between these groups, with higher δ13C (P < 0.05) and δ15N values (P < 0.01) in coastal foragers. Isotope mixing models reveal that these elevated signatures were due to non-terrestrial food subsidies, where approximately a third of coastal foraging caracal diet comprised marine prey. The addition of marine prey species to diet increased both the trophic level and isotope niche size of coastal foraging caracals, with potential impacts on prey populations and competition. Our results suggest that marine prey are an important dietary resource for coastal foraging caracals, where seabirds, including two endangered species, are a major component of their diet. However, there are likely risks associated with these resource benefits, as routine consumption of seabirds is linked with higher pollutant burdens, particularly metals. Increased encounters between this terrestrial predator and seabirds may be a result of increased mainland colonies due to changes in habitat availability and the highly opportunistic and generalist foraging behaviour of a native predator.

Assessing the disease burden of air pollution on children and adolescents in China from 1990 to 2019

&lt;p&gt;Air pollution is a pressing concern in China, particularly its adverse effects on vulnerable populations such as children and adolescents. This study aimed to elucidate the disease burden in children and adolescents attributable to air pollution in geographical areas across China from 1990 to 2019. We used the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study 2019 methodology to estimate disease burden attributable to air pollution in 33 areas of China, including provinces, autonomous regions, municipalities, and special administrative regions. In 2019, approximately 10,511 childhood deaths and 932,095 disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) were attributable to air pollution in China. The DALYs was higher for boys and infants &lt;1 year than it was for girls. Lower respiratory infections, neonatal preterm birth, and neonatal encephalopathy caused by birth asphyxia and trauma were the main air pollution-related diseases. The disease burden attributable to air pollution in children and adolescents decreased significantly from 1990 to 2019; with the average annual percent change (AAPC) of ?9.11% ([95%CI, ?9.61% to ?8.60%], P&lt;0.001) for death rate, and ?9.09% ([?9.59% to ?8.58%], P&lt;0.001) for DALYs rate. Disease burden attributable to air pollution in children and adolescents varied across provinces, with DALYs rate per 100,000 population ranged from 16.88 in Hong Kong to 2,152.54 in Tibet, peaking in the health area five. These findings highlight the necessity for province-specific research into the impacts of air pollution on childhood health in China, as well as improved air pollution control measures.&lt;/p&gt;

Polyurethane-Degrading Potential of Alkaline Groundwater Bacteria.

Plastic waste is a global environmental burden and long-lasting plastic polymers, including ubiquitous and toxic polyurethanes (PUs), rapidly accumulate in the water environments. In this study, samples were collected from the three alkaline groundwater occurrences in the geotectonic regions of the Pannonian basin of northern Serbia (Torda and Slankamen Banja) and Inner Dinarides of western Serbia (Mokra Gora) with aim to isolate and identify bacteria with plastic- and lignocellulose-degrading potential, that could be applied to reduce the burden of environmental plastic pollution. The investigated occurrences belong to cold, mildly alkaline (pH: 7.6-7.9) brackish and hyperalkaline (pH: 11.5) fresh groundwaters of the SO4 - Na + K, Cl - Na + K and OH, Cl - Ca, Na + K genetic type. Full-length 16S rDNA sequencing, using Oxford Nanopore sequencing device, was performed with DNA extracted from colonies obtained by cultivation of all groundwater samples, as well as with DNA extracted directly from one groundwater sample. The most abundant genera belong to Pseudomonas, Acidovorax, Kocuria and Methylotenera. All screened isolates (100%) had the ability to grow on at least 3 of the tested plastic and lignocellulosic substrates, with 53.9% isolates degrading plastic substrate Impranil® DLN-SD (SD), a model compound for PUs degradation. Isolates degrading SD that were identified by partial 16S rDNA sequencing belong to the Stenotrophomonas, Pseudomonas, Paraburkholderia, Aeromonas, Vibrio and Acidovorax genera. Taking into account that plastics, including commonly produced PUs, are widespread in groundwater, identification of PUs-degrading bacteria may have potential applications in bioremediation of groundwater polluted with this polymer.

Economic burden of transport related pollution in Australia

IntroductionAir pollution is a significant global concern due to its adverse impact on public health even at low levels. In Australia, the transportation sector is a major contributor to greenhouse gas and other air pollution emissions, which are known to increase the risk of heat stress, cause respiratory illness, and spread infectious diseases. Hence, evaluating the economic burden is important for policy decision-making and mitigation efforts made on clean energy technologies. MethodsThis study employed an epidemiology-based exposure-response function to estimate the number of health cases attributed to transport-related air pollution. PM10 was chosen to capture the overall health effect of transportation emission-related pollutant. The value of statistical life was computed using a refined human-capital approach that considers the loss of productivity at formal workplaces, as well as the loss of household and community production. The total economic burden combined the costs of mortality and morbidity cases. ResultsThe analysis results suggested that in 2018, based on the assumptions of this study, transport emissions contributed towards 1,000 to 2,550 premature deaths and approximately 26,700 incidences of cardiovascular hospitalisations, asthma attacks, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease episodes, resulting in a total economic burden of A$910 million. ConclusionThe cost estimation provides an estimate of the economic burden due to transport-related pollution. With more up-to-date emission measurements, more detailed assessment of utilising surrogate pollutant, and more accurate pollutant threshold level for health effect, the current estimation can be updated in the future.

Organic contaminants levels, distribution and risk assessment in Jeddah marine coastal zone sediments

Herein, various organic contaminants were determined in surface sediments collected from the Jeddah coastal zone, Saudi Arabia, to assess their levels, origin and probable toxic effects on marine organisms. High hydrocarbons concentrations, indicative of an enhanced pollutant burden, were recorded in the Jeddah Lagoon (mean value 4100 mg/kg for total aliphatic hydrocarbons (∑AHC) and 5800 μg/kg for total polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (∑PAH)), whereas mean values in Mena Jeddah were 258 mg/kg for ∑AHC and 615 μg/kg for ∑PAH. By using molecular diagnostic ratios/indices and applying Positive Matrix Factorization, petroleum related pollution seems to predominate in Jeddah lagoons, whereas carcinogenic contaminants of pyrolytic origin were dominant in Mena Jedda. Additionally, municipal wastewaters were identified as a major source of pollution in Jeddah lagoons. Comparison of the concentrations of individual PAHs and polychlorinated biphenyls with sediment quality guidelines indicates that, despite their high total values, adverse biological effects are unlikely to occur.

Corridor-Level Impacts of Battery-Electric Heavy-Duty Trucks and the Effects of Policy in the United States.

Electrifying freight trucks will be key to alleviating air pollution burdens on disadvantaged communities and mitigating climate change. The United States plans to pursue this aim by adding vehicle charging infrastructure along specific freight corridors. This study explores the coevolution of the electricity grid and freight trucking landscape using an integrated assessment framework to identify when each interstate and drayage corridor becomes advantageous to electrify from a climate and human health standpoint. Nearly all corridors achieve greenhouse gas emission reductions if electrified now. Most can reduce health impacts from air pollution if electrified by 2040 although some corridors in the Midwest, South, and Mid-Atlantic regions remain unfavorable to electrify from a human health standpoint, absent policy support. Recent policy, namely, the Inflation Reduction Act, accelerates this timeline to 2030 for most corridors and results in net human health benefits on all corridors by 2050, suggesting that near-term investments in truck electrification, particularly drayage corridors, can meaningfully reduce climate and health burdens.

Emissions of Sulphur Dioxide (SO2) from Coal-Fired Power Plants in Serbia and Bosnia-Herzegovina: First Attempts of a Validation of TROPOMI Satellite Products with Airborne In Situ Measurements

The Western Balkan region is known for emitting alarmingly high sulphur dioxide amounts from coal-fired power plants. Though a number of environmental regulations have been introduced in recent years (e.g. desulphurisation installations, construction of modern power plants), the pollution burden is still much higher than recommended by the authorities. A number of different montoring systems are required to observe the growing pollution situation in the Western Balkan region, partly caused by a high energy demand from outside (e.g. Western Europe).Several of the top ten SO2 polluters in Europe are located in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Serbia. Here we present the first in situ measurements of sulphur dioxide in this region conducted with a German research aircraft in cooperation with local scientists in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Serbia. Two of the strongtest emitting coalfired power plants were selected for the measurements in autumn 2020: Tuzla in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Nikola Tesla in Serbia (Nikola Tesla). The measurements were mainly conducted in the boundary layer (below ~1 km altitude in winter). Downwind of the power plants, extremely high SO2 mixing ratios exceeding 100 parts per billion (ppb = nmol mol-1 ) were measured at a distance of ~20-40 km from the sources. The SO2 plumes from the power plants were trapped in well-defined inversion layers between ~500-1000 m altitude. The airborne measurements can be used to validate synchronous spaceborne SO2 measurements from the TROPOspheric Monitoring Instrument (TROPOMI) onboard the Sentinel-5P satellite. A first intercomparison indicates some problems with dense smoke clouds frequently covering these countries in the winter months. However, it turned out that the Nikola Tesla flight is to some extent suited for a TROPOMI-SO2 validation, since it was obtained during cloud-free conditions with a well-defined vertical extension of the probed SO2 plume (needed to estimate the Vertical Column Density, VCD, measured by the satellite). In addition, these airborne measurements accompanied by model simulations can be used to determine the SO2 emission strength of the power plants and to compare it to the source strength reported by the power plant operators. The results indicate a reasonable agreement between the airborne measurements, model results, emission inventories, and satellite measurements for the Nikola Tesla power plants.

The Burden of Air Pollution on Skin Health: a Brief Report and Call to Action.

Air pollution in North America has intensified due to wildfires in recent years. In 2023, the wildfires in the Canadian province of Quebec caused a southward spread of pollutants, negatively affecting air quality and thereby aggravating certain health conditions in northeastern USA. This study examines the impact of air pollution on atopic dermatitis (AD) and skin health and how wildfires can exacerbate the burden of disease. Carbon monoxide levels measured by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the Boston region during the months following the Canadian wildfires of 2023 were collected from the U.S. EPA Outdoor Air Quality webpage. Patient records on dermatology clinic visits for dermatitis and eczema at the Mass General Brigham (MGB) hospital system, 300 miles from the wildfires, were examined, and the data compared with data from the corresponding months in 2019-2022 for historical control. No individual patient data were collected. A notable rise and atypical summer peak in carbon monoxide (CO) levels in the Boston region during 2023 correlated with a spike in AD, dermatitis, and eczema-related dermatology clinic visits within the MGB hospital system, as compared with the prior 4 years. The synchronized atypical peaks of CO levels and AD-related visits during the summer of 2023 highlight the potential impact of acute air pollution events such as wildfires on air quality and the consequences for skin health. Air pollution, exacerbated by wildfires, can damage the skin through the smoke and chemicals utilized for extinguishing fires, which contain multiple potential allergens and irritants to the skin, such as CO, particulate matter (PM2.5), and ammonium phosphates, triggering airway and skin inflammation and flares of AD. This issue disproportionately affects vulnerable populations, including low-income communities and the geriatric and pediatric populations. Healthcare professionals and government agencies must work together to improve air quality and purification policies and initiatives to lower the burden of skin disease, especially for vulnerable communities.

Impact of face masks weathering on the mussels Mytilus galloprovincialis

The COVID-19 pandemic has triggered an unprecedented need for single-use face masks, leading to an alarming increase in plastic waste globally. Consequently, the improper disposal of face masks has added to the existing burden of plastic pollution in the oceans. However, the complete environmental and marine ecotoxicological impact remains unclear. This study aims to investigate the ecotoxicological impact caused by the weathering of disposable face masks (DFMs) in the marine environment on mussels Mytilus galloprovincialis (M. galloprovincialis ) by assessing biochemical, cytotoxic, and genotoxic effects. The mask leachate was analysed for the presence of nano and microplastics. Furthermore, the leachate was used in in vivo and in vitro toxicity bioassays to assess its impacts on M. galloprovincialis . The in vivo exposure of M. galloprovincialis to face mask leachate for 14 days induced a significant increase in catalase (CAT) activity in mussel gills, although not enough to prevent oxidative damage to cell membranes. DNA damage was also registered in mussel haemocytes after in vivo exposure to mask leachate. The in vitro Neutral Red (NR) cytotoxicity assay indicated that leachate concentrations ≤ 0.5 g/L-1 pose a significant risk to the health of mussel haemocytes, which seems a reliable tool for the cytotoxicity impact assessment of face masks in the marine environment. Therefore, the leachate obtained from face masks in seawater causes oxidative stress, oxidative damage, cytotoxicity, and genotoxicity in M. galloprovincialis , indicating that the plastic burden generated by DFMs in the ocean and its subsequent weathering represents a ubiquitous and invisible threat to the marine biota.

California’s zero-emission vehicle adoption brings air quality benefits yet equity gaps persist

Zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) adoption is a key climate mitigation tool, but its environmental justice implications remain unclear. Here, we quantify ZEV adoption at the census tract level in California from 2015 to 2020 and project it to 2035 when all new passenger vehicles sold are expected to be ZEVs. We then apply an integrated traffic model together with a dispersion model to simulate air quality changes near roads in the Greater Los Angeles. We found that per capita ZEV ownership in non-disadvantaged communities (non-DACs) as defined by the state of California is 3.8 times of that in DACs. Racial and ethnic minorities owned fewer ZEVs regardless of DAC designation. While DAC residents receive 40% more pollutant reduction than non-DACs due to intercommunity ZEV trips in 2020, they remain disproportionately exposed to higher levels of traffic-related air pollution. With more ZEVs in 2035, the exposure disparity narrows. However, to further reduce disparities, the focus must include trucks, emphasizing the need for targeted ZEV policies that address persistent pollution burdens among DAC and racial and ethnic minority residents.

WHO air quality database: relevance, history and future developments.

Air pollution is the second most important risk factor for noncommunicable diseases, but air quality monitoring is lacking in many low- and middle-income countries. The World Health Organization (WHO) recently released its 2022 updated air quality database status report. This report contains data from about 6743 human settlements, a sixfold increase from 1102 settlements in its first publication in 2011, which shows that air pollution is increasingly recognized as a health priority at global and national levels. However, progress varies across the world. More than 90% of the settlements in the database are in high- and middle-income countries and areas mainly in China, Europe, India and North America. The database is crucial for increasing awareness of air pollution, and for calculating global exposures and the corresponding burden of disease attributable to air pollution. This article describes the progress made and challenges in collecting air quality data. The database uses official data sources which can be difficult to access and assess, because air quality monitoring is done by different government bodies or uses varying monitoring methods. These air quality data can be used by the health sector to engage in discussions on monitoring air quality to protect public health, and facilitate multisectoral engagement of United Nations agencies to support countries to conform with the 2021 WHO air quality guidelines. Although air pollution levels in most countries are higher than those recommended in the guidelines, any action policy-makers take to reduce air pollution will help reduce the burden of air pollution on health.

STATUS MUTU AIR DAERAH ALIRAN SUNGAI DI KABUPATEN BERAU PROVINSI KALIMANTAN TIMUR

The watershed in Berau Regency is used as an economic route and means of transportation of goods from mining, plantations, and agriculture as well as a source of raw materials for making drinking water. the water quality of the Berau watershed based on the value of the River Water Pollution Index in Berau Regency includes light pollution. This is a concern to conduct research in the Berau watershed, where this study aims to analyze the status of water quality according to the IP (Pollution Index) method and the economic value of watersheds in Berau Regency for the people of Berau Regency and compile recommendations for pollution control and watershed utilization in Berau Regency.The calculation uses the Pollution Index (IP) method of watershed quality status in Berau Regency consisting of Segah River, Kelay River, and Sungi Berau is in Light Pollution condition with a value of (1.75 ≤ IP ≤ 4.97) with a tendency for Berau River to have a greater pollution burden.

Assessment of health impacts and costs attributable to air pollution in urban areas using two different approaches. A case study in the Western Balkans

In this study, two different air quality impact assessment methodologies were adopted and combined with a sensitivity analysis to estimate the unit costs. Air pollution health impact (mortality) assessment was carried out using one methodology based on log-linear concentration response functions (CRF) and another relying on the integrated exposure response curve (IER) from the Global Burden of Disease. Morbidity impacts were estimated with the CRF approach only. To assess the inequalities between low and high income countries, an area of low-medium income countries with a critical air pollution situation, was selected. 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 background sites from official monitoring networks. In 2019, the cost of mortality attributable to PM2.5 in 26 urban areas was 7.8 and 9.0 billion Euro according to IER and CRF methodologies, respectively. The cost of O3 associated with all-cause mortality estimated with the CRF methodology in 17 urban areas was 1.0 billion Euro while the one attributable to NO2 pollution in 28 urban areas was 1.5 billion Euro. The study results suggest that the economic burden of air pollution in the Western Balkans is higher in terms of GDP than the one observed in EU27 in the same time window. The study concludes that CRF and IER methodologies are coherent, because the discrepancy in the results are explained by the differences in the assessed health outcomes. The two approaches are complementary because the combination of them makes it possible to obtain a wider range of outcomes. In addition, despite the different causes of death considered, the comparison between them is useful for cross-validation.

Nanoplastic Stimulates the Amyloidogenesis of Parkinson's Alpha-Synuclein NACore.

Environmental plastic wastes are potential health hazards due to their prevalence as well as their versatility in initiating physical, chemical, and biological interactions and transformations. Indeed, recent research has implicated the adverse effects of micro- and nano-plastics, including their neurotoxicity, yet how plastic particulates may impact the aggregation pathway and toxicity of amyloid proteins pertinent to the pathologies of neurological diseases remains unknown. Here, electrospray ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (ESI-TOF-MS) is employed to reveal the polymorphic oligomerization of NACore, a surrogate of alpha-synuclein that is associated with the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease. These data indicate that the production rate and population of the NACore oligomers are modulated by their exposure to a polystyrene nanoplastic, and these cellular assays further reveal an elevated NACore toxicity in microglial cells elicited by the nanoplastic. These simulations confirm that the nanoplastic-NACore association is promoted by their hydrophobic interactions. These findings are corroborated by an impairment in zebrafish hatching, survival, and development in vivo upon their embryonic exposure to the nanoplastic. Together, this study has uncovered the dynamics and mechanism of amyloidogenesis elevated by a nanoplastic trigger, shedding a new light on the neurological burden of plastic pollution.

Modelling the air pollution induced health effects of energy consumption across varied spaces in OECD countries: An asymmetric analysis

The air pollution-induced health effects of energy consumption remain a grey area in the extant literature. As of yet, there are very limited studies on the subject matter for countries in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). To this end, we employ panel data from 1990 to 2019 for 37 OECD countries and panel estimation techniques that control for distributional asymmetry. We also utilize a composite variable of mortality and morbidity to capture the full spectrum of air pollution-induced health burdens. Our findings reveal that renewable energy ameliorates the health burden of air pollution in indoor spaces, evidence for the ameliorating effects of renewable energy in outdoor and occupational spaces was however weak. We also show that income has an ameliorating effect on air pollution-induced health burdens across all spaces and that the effect of non-renewable energy is asymmetric and disparate across all spaces. Furthermore, while technological innovation ameliorates the health burden of air pollution in indoor spaces, it exacerbates the health burden of air pollution in both occupational and outdoor spaces. These findings thus show that the positive health implications of renewable energy policy interventions have more traction in indoor spaces. Capacity needs to be built in the renewable energy sector to reduce the pollution-inducing health burdens emanating from ambient and occupational spaces.

Beyond common urban air quality assessment: Relationship between PM2.5 and black carbon during haze and non-haze periods in Bangkok

The atmospheric pollution burden in Bangkok, Thailand, is likely to be similar to that of other large urban agglomerations. Black carbon (BC) aerosol is one of the key components of PM2.5 (particulate matter with equivalent diameter ≤2.5 μm) pollutants; jointly they adversely affect humans and the environment. This study assessed the BC and PM2.5 ambient concentrations in Bangkok over nine months (November 1, 2020, to July 27, 2021), focusing on seasonal differences during the haze period (Hp; december 2020 to February 2021) and non-haze period (NHP; remaining months). PM2.5 data were measured optically, together with filter sampling of particles at heights of 30, 75, and 110 m above ground level (AGL). A thermal/optical carbon analysis method was used to determine the BC mass concentrations in the collected samples. The results showed that the vertically averaged BC concentration within PM2.5 increased more than 3-fold from 2.82 to 9.09 μg/m3 from the NHP to the HP. The vertical dependence of BC concentration was characterized by an increase in the height AGL in the NHP. In contrast, the opposite trend was observed for the HP. The average values of the PM2.5/BC ratio at all heights AGL showed a seasonal trend, with the BC mass concentration accounting for over 25% of PM2.5 concentration during the peak of the haze season.

The Short-Term Effects and Burden of Ambient Air Pollution on Hospitalization for Type 2 Diabetes: Time-Stratified Case-Crossover Evidence From Sichuan, China.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), a complicated metabolic disease, might be developed or exacerbated by air pollution, resulting in economic and health burden to patients. So far, limited studies have estimated associations between short-term exposure to air pollution and disease burden of T2DM in China. Hence, we aimed to estimate the associations and burden of ambient air pollutants (NO2, PM10, PM2.5, SO2, and CO) on hospital admissions (HAs) for T2DM using a time-stratified case-crossover design. Data on HAs for T2DM during 2017-2019 were collected from hospital electronic health records in nine cities in Sichuan Province using conditional poisson regression. Totally, 92,381 T2DM hospitalizations were recorded. There were significant short-term effects of NO2, PM10, PM2.5, SO2 and CO on HAs for T2DM. A 10μg/m3 increment of NO2, PM10, PM2.5, SO2 and CO as linked with a 3.39% (95% CI: 2.26%, 4.54%), 0.33% (95% CI: 0.04%, 0.62%), 0.76% (95% CI: 0.35%, 1.16%), 12.68% (95% CI: 8.14%, 17.42%) and 79.00% (95% CI: 39.81%, 129.18%) increase in HAs for T2DM at lag 6. Stratified analyses modified by age, sex, and season showed old (≥65years) and female patients linked with higher impacts. Using WHO's air quality guidelines of NO2, PM10, PM2.5, and CO as the reference, the attributable number of T2DM HAs exceeding these pollutants exposures were 786, 323, 793, and 2,127 during 2017-2019. Besides, the total medical costs of 25.83, 10.54, 30.74, and 67.78 million China Yuan were attributed to NO2, PM10, PM2.5, and CO. In conclusion, short-term exposures to air pollutants were associated with higher risks of HAs for T2DM.

The health burden of air pollution in the UK: a modelling study using updated exposure-risk associations

BackgroundLong-term exposure to ambient air pollution, in particular fine particles or PM2·5, is a leading global disease burden. PM2·5 in the UK, dominated by agricultural emissions of ammonia (NH3), has been estimated to be responsible for 29 000–34 000 adult early deaths a year. These estimates use models that relate exposure to health risk that predate cohort studies that have identified a supralinear relationship between exposure and risk at relatively low PM2·5 concentrations typical of the UK (5–12 mg m−3). Here we used this new knowledge to estimate adult premature mortality in the UK in 2019. MethodsFor this modelling study, we used the GEOS-Chem model nested over the UK to simulate ambient PM2·5 concentrations, UK Office for National Statistics (ONS) health data provided by the Global Burden of Disease (GBD), and a hybrid health-risk assessment model. The hybrid model fuses a well established linear relationship between PM2·5 and risk for PM2·5 exceeding 10 mg m−3 with a supralinear curve at lower concentrations that is constrained with cohort studies conducted in Canada and confirmed with similar relationships from cohort studies in the USA and Europe. FindingsWe estimated that adult premature mortality attributable to exposure to ambient PM2·5 in the UK totalled 48 625 deaths in 2019 (95% CI 45 118–52 595); 15 000–20 000 more deaths than those estimated using outdated health-risk assessment models. Older people (aged 65 years or older) account for most UK deaths (86%). All adult premature mortality (in people aged 25 years and older) in Greater London (4861, 95% CI 4549–5247) exceeded that in Scotland (3673, 3214–4073), Wales (2462, 2270–2660), and Northern Ireland (1052, 934–1156). InterpretationAccording to our findings, PM2·5 is more hazardous to UK adults than previously reported, but a supralinear exposure-response curve also suggests that there are substantial public health gains in targeting dominant source contributors to PM2·5, in particular the unregulated agricultural sector. FundingDepartment for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).