Effects Of Air Contaminants Research Articles

Effect of Air Pollution on the Occurrences and Death of COVID-19

Air contamination continues to be the leading environmental risk factor for all causes of death, leading to substantial years of lives and economic decline adapted to incapacity increased deaths in air pollution in past pandemics, in 1918, Spanish Flu and in 2003 with SARS-CoV-1. The host susceptibility and respiratory virulence are increased and viral clearance is decreased. Therefore, there is a question about the effect of air contamination on the current 2019 coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19). History and research have until now been concerned with the huge potential consequences of the COVID-19 air pollution pandemic. In order to validate this correlation, more epidemiological and environmental research is necessary. Moreover, countries must leverage air emissions reduction funds to benefit their wellbeing and enhance their possible impact on future pandemics.

Study of the effect of air contamination on heat transfer characteristics of a two-phase closed thermosyphon using water.

Study of the effect of air contamination on heat transfer characteristics of a two-phase closed thermosyphon using water.

Effect of air contamination by sulfur dioxide on the high temperature PEM fuel cell

High temperature PEM fuel cells (HT-PEMFCs) are attractive for applications from mobile to stationary fields and are characterized by enhanced tolerances against impurities like carbon monoxide. In this study, consequences of SO2-contaminated air were investigated systematically during 500 h of operation. After supplying 10 ppm SO2 the cathode was evidenced to be exposed to a stronger acidic environment. The bipolar plate showed an acid uptake in the gas outlet region 8 times higher than inside an uncontaminated cell. Furthermore, electrochemical oxidation of SO2 to SO42− was revealed. The catalyst showed a 5 times larger growth of Pt nanoparticles than the reference catalyst of the uncontaminated cell being attributed to larger Pt dissolution at lower pH. Although the cell showed good performance during 500 h, cell components were exposed to more corrosive conditions in presence of SO2. Last, the poisoning was shown to linearly decrease the voltage with decreasing temperatures.

4-18 固体高分子電解質型燃料電池の運転条件による不純物の影響度解析((5)燃料電池1,Session 4 新エネルギー)

4-18 固体高分子電解質型燃料電池の運転条件による不純物の影響度解析((5)燃料電池1,Session 4 新エネルギー)

Environmental pollutants: genetic damage and epigenetic changes in male germ cells.

About a quarter of the human diseases occurs for exposure to air pollution. The male reproductive system, and especially spermatogenesis, seems to be particularly sensitive. As result, male infertility is increasing in industrial countries becoming a top priority for public health. In addition to psychological distress and economic constraints, poorer semen quality may have trans-generational effects including congenital malformations in the offspring and predispose to later onset adult diseases. Genetic and epigenetic alterations are involved in the failure of spermatogenesis. In this paper, we reviewed the major evidences of the effects of air pollutants on male infertility as well as the role of sperm DNA damage and epigenetic changes in affecting spermatogenesis. A better knowledge on the effects of air contaminants on the molecular mechanisms leading to infertility is of huge importance to help clinicians in identifying the cause of infertility but above all, in defining preventive and therapeutic protocols.

Development of open air silicon deposition technology by silane-free atmospheric pressure plasma enhanced chemical transport under local ambient gas control

Open air silicon deposition was performed by combining silane-free atmospheric pressure plasma-enhanced chemical transport and a newly developed local ambient gas control technology. The effect of air contamination on silicon deposition was investigated using a vacuum chamber, and the allowable air contamination level was confirmed to be 3 ppm. The capability of the local ambient gas control head was investigated numerically and experimentally. A safe and clean process environment with air contamination less than 1 ppm was achieved. Combining these technologies, a microcrystalline silicon film was deposited in open air, the properties of which were comparable to those of silicon films deposited in a vacuum chamber.

Detoxification, endocrine, and immune responses of tree swallow nestlings naturally exposed to air contaminants from the Alberta oil sands

Changes in environmental and wildlife health from contaminants in tailings water on the Canadian oil sands have been well-studied; however, effects of air contaminants on wildlife health have not. A field study was conducted to assess biological costs of natural exposure to oil sands-related air emissions on birds. Nest boxes for tree swallows (Tachycineta bicolor) were erected at two sites; within 5km of active oil sands mining and extraction, and ≥60km south, at one reference site. Passive air monitors were deployed at the nest boxes to measure nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, ozone, volatile organic compounds, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Nestlings were examined at day 9 post hatching to assess T cell function and morphometry. At day 14 post hatching, a subset of nestlings was euthanized to measure detoxification enzymes, endocrine changes, and histological alterations of immune organs. Except for ozone, all air contaminants were higher at the two oil sands sites than the reference site (up to 5-fold). Adult birds had similar reproductive performance among sites (p>0.05). Nestlings from industrial sites showed higher hepatic ethoxyresorufin O-dealkylase (EROD) induction (p<0.0001) with lower relative hepatic mass (p=0.0001), a smaller T cell response to the phytohemagglutinin skin test (p=0.007), and smaller bursae of Fabricius (p<0.02); a low sample size for one site indicating lower body condition scores (p=0.01) at day 14 warrants cautious interpretation. There were no differences among nestlings for feather corticosterone (p>0.6), and no histological alterations in the spleen or bursa of Fabricius (p>0.05). This is the first report examining toxicological responses in wild birds exposed to air contaminants from industrial activity in the oil sands. It is also the first time that small, individual air contaminant monitors have been used to determine local contaminant levels in ambient air around nest boxes of wild birds.

Influence of air contaminants on planar, self-breathing hydrogen PEM fuel cells in an outdoor environment

In this study, the effects of air contaminants on the operation of air-breathing fuel cells in an outdoor environment are investigated. For this purpose, a unique testing platform, which allows continuous operation of 30 cells at different locations, was developed. Three of these testing platforms were placed at different sites in Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany, with high variances of weather and pollution patterns. These locations range from a highly polluted place next to a busy highway to a location with virtually pure air at an altitude of 1205 m. The fuel cells were tested at all sites for over 4500 h in continuous operation. The degradation of the cells due to air pollutants was measured as a voltage decrease for three different operation loads and membranes from two different manufactures. As the temperature of the fuel cells has not been regulated, the irreversible degradation of the cell voltages could not be isolated from the dominant influence of the temperature in the raw data. With the use of the measured data, the impact of real mixtures of air contaminants was observed to be mainly reversible.

Performance of a small prototype of the CMS Barrel Muon Chambers

A small prototype of the CMS Barrel Muon Chambers has been exposed to a muon beam at CERN during 1995 and 1996 to study the detector performance in various working conditions, determined by the high voltage settings, the track incidence angle and the magnetic field intensity and direction. The effect of air contamination in the gas has also been studied.

Different Pathways of Phase Transition in a V–Si System Driven by Mechanical Alloying

Solid state reactions induced by mechanical alloying of an elemental powder mixture of V and Si with a composition of V 75Si 25 were investigated using X-ray diffraction and scanning and transmission electron microscopy. It was found that the phase transitions in this system are closely related to the milling intensity. High-energy milling mainly causes the formation of intermetallic compounds, whereas low-energy milling leads to amorphization. The thermodynamics and kinetics related to the different pathways of V–Si phase transition are briefly discussed in this paper. The effect of air contamination on phase transition is also addressed.

Air bubbles and co-oximetry � a pilot study

The pre-analytical error potential of air bubbles contaminating blood gas samples has been well recognized for blood gas tension and pH measurements [1], and is thus considered in present recommendations for blood gas sample handling [2]. The effect of air contamination on the oxygen saturation of haemoglobin (HbO), measured by co-oximetry, has however, scarcely been appreciated [1]. With increased reliance on directly measured HbO for the evaluation of blood oxygen content [3,4], a closer look at possible errors of this parameter is warranted. This study was undertaken to estimate the early effect of graded air contamination in conditions simulating pre-analytical sample handling in clinical practice.

Comparative Studies on Xanthoria Parietina, a Pollution Resistant Lichen, and Ramalina Duriaei, a Sensitive Species. I. Effects of Air Pollution on Physiological Processes

Xanthona parietina thalli were collected from a ‘clean-air’ location and from a polluted area. Ramalina duriaei thalli were collected from the same ‘clean-air’ location and some thalli were transplanted to air polluted locations, where R. duriaei no longer occurs. The effects of air contaminants on these two lichens were compared under controlled laboratory conditions and in field experiments. Air contaminants and exposure to bisulphite ions had little or no damaging effect on X. parietina, whereas severe damage was caused to R. duriaei, as judged by chlorophyll degradation, autofluorescence of photobionts, photosynthetic activity, membrane integrity and ATP content. The different responses presented confirm the sensitivity of R. duriaei and resistance of X. parietina to air pollution.

COMPARATIVE STUDIES ON XANTHORIA PARIETINA, A POLLUTION-RESISTANT LICHEN, AND RAMALINA DURIAEI, A SENSITIVE SPECIES. I. EFFECTS OF AIR POLLUTION ON PHYSIOLOGICAL PROCESSES

Xanthoria parietinathalli were collected from a ‘ clean-air ’ location and from a polluted area. Ramalina duriaeithalli were collected from the same ‘ clean-air ’ location and some thalli were transplanted to air-polluted locations, where R. duriaeino longer occurs. The effects of air contaminants on these two lichens were compared under controlled laboratory conditions and in field experiments. Air contaminants and exposure to bisulphite ions had little or no damaging effect on X. parietina, whereas severe damage was caused to R. duriaei, as judged by chlorophyll degradation, autofluorescence of photobionts, photosynthetic activity, membrane integrity and ATP content. The different responses presented confirm the sensitivity of R. duriaeiand resistance of X. parietinato air pollution.

Ecology of Free-Living Amoebae

Small free-living amoebae (FLA) are the main predators controlling bacterial populations in soils. They are distributed in the rhizospheric zone and the surrounding bulk soil; however, they may spread deeper, reaching the vadose zone of groundwater systems, especially where bacterial populations get to high densities. Soil texture is the physical factor controlling the distribution of FLA because it determines the mean bore pore of soil aggregates and other important physical factors. FLA help maintain the high bacterial mineralization rate of organic matter through predation. As attachment onto a surface is necessary for feeding, the quantity of available surfaces is very important for developing this activity. However, the role of protozoa on plant growth promotion is still unclear because they may increase this effect by feeding on both fungi and bacteria. Small FLA are found in soils or sediments, as well as attached to suspended particulate matter in water columns, in the first 30 microns of water surface, or on the bodies of submerged animals and plants. These microorganisms do not distinguish between terrestrial or aquatic environments because they live in the interfaces between them. However, their importance in aquatic systems has been considered as negligible because they are outcompeted by free swimmers. The water conditions affecting amoebae survival are pH, temperature, concentration of sulfhydric acid and salinity. These factors have a strong influence on the structure of amoebae communities in aquatic environments. FLA are considered cosmopolitan as a group, and they live inside vertebrates, in soils, freshwater, marine waters, and on the aerial parts of plants and animals. These microbes, are spread by wind and water currents. Once in the air, cysts and trophozoites behave like any other suspended particulate matter. Therefore, suspension transportation, and removal depend on atmospheric dynamics rather than on their own mechanisms. Ultraviolet light and drought are the main causes of losing viability, but much needs to be learned about the effects of air contaminants on amoebal survival. Naked amoebae also live in the phyllosphere as part of phylloplane community, but their importance and participation in this environment remain unknown. Some species belonging to the genera Acanthamoebae, Naegleria, and Balamuthia cause fatal diseases in humans and are carriers of other pathogens such as Legionella pneumophilia. However, FLA communities can be of some utility in sewage treatment works based in soil filters. FLA's predatory activity in the root zone method may be of greater importance than previously thought, because this is their natural or more favorable environment.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Effects of air pollutants on pollen

In vivo and in vitro pollen germination and pollen tube growth are affected by air pollutants. The stimulation and inhibition of these pollen characteristics depend on the pollen species as well as on the pollutant and its concentration, the exposure time, the relative humidity during exposure and some other factors. Mitosis, gas exchange, size and chemistry of pollen can also be influenced by air contaminants. Pollen germination and tube elongation differ in their response to air pollution stress, and both are more susceptible in vitro compared to the in vivo situation. Some possible mechanisms of action are reported in this review study. The effects of air contaminants on pollen are discussed in relation to sexual reproduction, gametophytic selection and adaptation to stress. Pollen may be used as sensitive biological indicators of pollution

Studies of forest floor biological activities in an area previously damaged by sulphur dioxide emissions

As part of an environmental control program aimed to assess possible future effects of air contaminants from a new destruction plant for hazardous chemical residuals in Central Sweden, a study was undertaken the year before the plant went into operation to collect base-line information on biological activities in the soils of the surrounding forests. Measurements were made of N-mineralization, respiration, phosphatase-, dehydrogenase-, and nitrogenase activity on sieved samples from the forest floor (0 to 3 cm).

AIR POLLUTION AND ASTHMA.

The rapid growth of population and industry during the last 25 years has resulted in a marked increase of emissions into the atmosphere of a complex mixture of gaseous and solid materials which react not only with each other but with the atmosphere itself. These substances in the atmosphere breathed by man have become a subject of increasing concern to health authorities. The effects of air contaminants on health are difficult to assess. The concentration of air pollutants varies both chronologically and spatially, depending upon climate and atmospheric conditions. Individuals are exposed to varying levels of various pollutants during the course of a single day. It would appear reasonable to suppose that among those who might be most susceptible to the aspiration of pollutants would be those individuals who suffer from asthma. Until recently, allergists have been concerned with the most frequently recognized causes of allergic asthma, namely airborne molds, spores, pollens and dusts. More recently, in addition to these, the allergists are now giving consideration to industrial and urban air contaminants such as sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, oxides of nitrogen, ozone, many kinds of particulate matter, and other air pollutants. The sources from which these pollutants emanate are many and varied. A few of the more common ones are automobile traffic fumes, chemicals, vapors of dry-cleaning fluids, naphthalene flakes, paints, and gases from leaky heating, cooking and refrigerating equipment.l That there has been an increase in the variety of such substances discharged into the atmosphere is unquestioned. According to Criep, this increase in air pollution has been contributing indirectly to the severity of bronchial asthma and its complications.2 The effects of air pollution on asthmatics is especially evident in industry. Most cases of asthma found in industry have been attributed directly to inorganic and organic mineral dusts, fumes, and ~apors.~ Much of the information concerning the effects of air pollution upon allergy and asthma has been based on observations made in private clinical practice. More recently, epidemiological studies have been conducted in an effort to relate air pollution, and in some cases specific air-borne agents, to the causation of asthma.

Medical research and control in air pollution.

THE effects of air contaminants on the public health are the subject of widespread interest today. Despite the fact that there has been no extensive clinical or laboratory research in this field, large segments of the population in industrial areas believe their health is being impaired. The Donora incident and repeated accounts of smog attacks in various parts of the United States have increased the public's interests and its fears. More than 50 per cent of the complainants about smog who record their views with officials in Los Angeles County express a firm belief in the hazards to health involved. The aroused public interest and the increase in the release of air contaminants in large industrial centers and densely populated areas have led in the past two years to the creation of several state commissions to study the problem. In numerous instances the public health ,officer is making the investigation. In Los Angeles County, where pollution frequently accumulates for prolonged periods because of meteorological conditions, the individual's fear is increased whenever medical opinion attributes a patient's ills to the polluted air. Once this diagnosis has been given, the person receiving the information is convinced. Telephone calls and letters -on this subject are a definite problem

Effects of Air Contaminants on the Natural Light of Cities

Effects of Air Contaminants on the Natural Light of Cities H. B. Meller, and Mary E. Warga CopyRight*Read before the Public Health Engineering Section of the American Public Health Association at the Sixty-first Annual Meeting in Washington, D. C., October 25, 1932. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.23.3.217 Published Online: August 29, 2011