Effects Of Airborne Pollutants Research Articles

Modeling health outcomes of air pollution in the Middle East by using support vector machines and neural networks

This study investigates the impact of air pollution on health outcomes in Middle Eastern countries, a region facing severe environmental challenges. As such, these are important in an effort to add up to policy-level as well as interventional changes that can be put in practice in the area of public health. Numeration analysis and association with health parameters was carried out by using Analytical tools such as, AIR Data, ARIMA,ANN, SVM and Exponential smoothing. Amongst the models, Support Vector Machine came again on top, with high accuracy yielding Mean Absolute Percentage Error of approximately 1%. Mortality of Air pollution in Qat from the case of Mortality of Air Pollution in Qatar is 959 while Auto regressive Integrated Moving average is 11.096, Exponential Smoothing 9.892 and Artificial Neural Networks are the source of inspiration for the development of this paper 4.61. The above perceptions indicate that there is need to adapt modeling strategies depending on the context and establish that it is possible to implement ML models in public health planning basket. This paper publishes the methodological frameworks for the purpose of modeling and analysis of the EHDs and serves as policy prescription for the policy makers to intending to reduce the effects of air borne pollution on health.

Respiratory effects of running in urban areas with high and low ambient air pollution: A scoping review

Running is a popular way for people to keep fit and healthy. With the majority of people living in urban areas, this popular method for staying fit may be a double-edged sword. Running in areas of high ambient air pollution causes a higher dose of inhaled pollutants. We sought to establish the degree to which this increased dose of pollution is detrimental to respiratory health or performance and if it outweighs the benefits of running in urban areas. We conducted a scoping review of the literature using PubMed, Scopus, Embase and the Cochrane library. While there were mixed results on the effect of running in high ambient air pollution, most of the evidence indicates that it is hazardous for respiratory health. Reports of falls in lung function, inflammatory markers and impaired nasal mucociliary clearance were some of the reported significant effects in the respiratory system of runners in highly polluted areas. There were also studies that reported non-significant effects. Other secondary effects were also reported in some studies such as increased systolic blood pressure and impaired cognition. Some studies found that reduced running performance was associated with running in high ambient air pollution, while others only found a significant association in female runners. Running is a cheap and convenient way for staying fit and healthy and should be promoted to reduce the incidence of non-communicable diseases, but more greenways and parks should be provided for runners in cities to mitigate against the effects of airborne pollutants

877 Focusing on the effects of airborne pollution on hair and scalp skin

877 Focusing on the effects of airborne pollution on hair and scalp skin

Effects of airborne pollutants on the neonatal mice lung, after exposure at a heavy traffic site in northern Greece

Effects of airborne pollutants on the neonatal mice lung, after exposure at a heavy traffic site in northern Greece

Characterization of atmospheric aerosols in the Adirondack Mountains using PIXE, SEM/EDX, and Micro-Raman spectroscopies

We are making detailed measurements of the composition of atmospheric aerosols collected in the Adirondack Mountains as a function of particle size using proton-induced X-ray emission, scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and Micro-Raman spectroscopy. These measurements provide valuable data to help identify the sources and understand the transport, transformation, and effects of airborne pollutants in upstate New York. Preliminary results indicate significant concentrations of sulfur in small particles that can travel great distances, and that this sulfur may be in the form of oxides that can contribute to acid rain.

The Impact of the Clean Air Act

We seldom think about the air we breathe, but a catastrophe seventy years ago revealed the threat of air pollution to our health. During a five-day period in 1948, twenty people were killed and thousands sickened by a cloud of air pollution from a local factory that formed over the town of Donora, Pennsylvania [1]. This tragedy set into motion meaningful efforts to ensure that our air is life-sustaining and not life-threatening. The Clean Air Act, signed into law in1970 and strengthened in 1990, gave the federal government the authority to enforce regulations that limit air pollution. We have learned much about the relationship between air pollution and health through thousands of epidemiologic and controlled studies. Air pollution, including particulate matter, ozone, heavy metals and acid gases, is harmful and can exacerbate respiratory conditions in children, such as asthma. In this Commentary, we will provide the facts regarding the many effects of airborne pollution on childhood lung disease. We will review the history of the current air pollution regulations, describe current initiatives that threaten these standards, and summarize the scientific evidence that demonstrates the importance for maintaining, and even strengthening, air pollution standards for the health of children.

The Design, Construction, and Operation of a Whole-Body Inhalation Chamber for Use in Avian Toxicity Studies

Environmental risk assessments are broadening to include evaluations of avian species exposed to gaseous and particulate materials (; ; ). Since the avian respiratory tract is fundamentally different from the respiratory tract of rodents, the effects of gaseous materials on birds cannot validly be extrapolated from data derived from rodent exposure studies (; ). To address the lack of avian-specific lowest observable effect levels used to calculate reference concentrations for airborne pollutants, a system was designed to facilitate research on inhalation toxicology in small birds. Birds have long been used as early indicators of poor air quality (), and various chambers have been designed for head only exposures of larger birds (). Smaller birds with short tracheal lengths and hooked beaks however require less restrictive exposure apparatus, thus warranting the proposed design. The chamber described in this article was designed to accommodate a small falcon, the American kestrel, a species frequently used in toxicological risk assessments (Wiemeyer & Lincer, 1987a; ; ; ). To accomplish this, a 41-L closed inhalation system capable of exposing 12 adult American kestrels was constructed primarily of galvanized steel, polyvinyl chloride, and copper tubing. Humidified air was passed over the birds and subsequently decontaminated by an activated carbon filter and released to a HEPA filtration system. The proposed inhalation chamber was successfully used in 2005 and 2006 to expose a total of 55 male American kestrels to benzene and toluene. Measurements of various biochemical endpoints associated with benzene and toluene toxicity allowed us to study the effects of airborne pollutants on small nondomesticated birds in a controlled laboratory setting.

Airborne pollutants and the immune system

The effects of airborne pollutants on the immune system have been most widely studied in the respiratory tract. Entry may occur as a volatile gas (ozone, benzene), as liquid droplets (sulfuric acid, nitrogen dioxide), or as particulate matter (diesel exhaust, aromatic hydrocarbons). The subsequent interaction with the immune system may result in local and systemic responses, and studies have shown examples of disease occurring from both overactive immune responses and immunosuppression. For the most part, airborne pollutants (small molecular weight chemicals) have to be coupled with other substances (proteins or conjugates) before they can be recognized by the immune system and exert their effects. Fortunately, this encounter rarely causes immunologically mediated human disorders. The following briefly reviews some of the disorders that may occur. Immunologically nonspecific inflammation of the lung can occur after inhalation of ozone in anyone given sufficient dose and time of exposure. Immunologically specific cell-mediated (T lymphocyte) reactions appear to predominate in chronic beryllium disease, which results in a granulomatous form of lung disease. Beryllium alone does not appear to be antigenic but requires chemical linkage with a larger molecule. Mercury-induced autoimmune disease (immune system attacks self-antigens) affecting kidneys and lungs has been demonstrated in animal models (changes similar to those seen in people with Goodpasture's syndrome). Immunosuppression can be demonstrated after exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin). Hypersensitivity (or allergic) reactions can occur after exposure to toluene diisocyanate (occupational asthma). In summary, airborne pollutants may cause a wide spectrum of immunologically mediated disorders. There is clearly an underlying genetic basis for the susceptibility to immunologic disease resulting from exposure to pollutants, but knowledge in this area is rudimentary at present. Studies have been impeded by lack of appropriate in vitro models, as well as difficulties in identifying the biologically active substance. (Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 1996;114:232-8.)

Airborne pollutants and the immune system.

The effects of airborne pollutants on the immune system have been most widely studied in the respiratory tract. Entry may occur as a volatile gas (ozone, benzene), as liquid droplets (sulfuric acid, nitrogen dioxide), or as particulate matter (diesel exhaust, aromatic hydrocarbons). The subsequent interaction with the immune system may result in local and systemic responses, and studies have shown examples of disease occurring from both overactive immune responses and immunosuppression. For the most part, airborne pollutants (small molecular weight chemicals) have to be coupled with other substances (proteins or conjugates) before they can be recognized by the immune system and exert their effects. Fortunately, this encounter rarely causes immunologically mediated human disorders. The following briefly reviews some of the disorders that may occur. Immunologically nonspecific inflammation of the lung can occur after inhalation of ozone in anyone given sufficient dose and time of exposure. Immunologically specific cell-mediated (T lymphocyte) reactions appear to predominate in chronic beryllium disease, which results in a granulomatous form of lung disease. Beryllium alone does not appear to be antigenic but requires chemical linkage with a larger molecule. Mercury-induced autoimmune disease (immune system attacks self-antigens) affecting kidneys and lungs has been demonstrated in animal models (changes similar to those seen in people with Goodpasture's syndrome). Immunosuppression can be demonstrated after exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin). Hypersensitivity (or allergic) reactions can occur after exposure to toluene diisocyanate (occupational asthma). In summary, airborne pollutants may cause a wide spectrum of immunologically mediated disorders. There is clearly an underlying genetic basis for the susceptibility to immunologic disease resulting from exposure to pollutants, but knowledge in this area is rudimentary at present. Studies have been impeded by lack of appropriate in vitro models, as well as difficulties in identifying the biologically active substance.

Effects of Airborne Pollutants on Deterioration and Aging Behavior of Materials

Among natural atmospheric influences, gaseous pollutants effect the deterioration of working materials and technical products. Recent calculations estimate the total cost of material damage caused by pollutants to be several billion dollars (US) annually in the Federal Republic of Germany. More precise calculations are not available because there is a lack of information about the contribution of airborne pollutants. In combination with humidity, temperature and solar radiation pollutants like sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitric oxide (NOx) and ozone (O3) act onto surfaces of materials exposed to the atmosphere, especially stone, glass, paint coatings, and modern polymeric materials. This article deals with the results of a study sponsored by the German, Federal Agency for the Environment (Umweltbundesamt). The experimental weathering of some polymers under laboratory conditions will be described in detail. The test items are exposed in pollution chambers to changes in temperature, humidity, solar radiation with and without single and mixed pollutants. The concentrations used (5000 μg/m3 SO2, 5000 μg/m3 NOx, and 2500 μg/m3 O3), were one order of magnitude higher than those measured in industrial areas. The duration of exposure was more than 2 yrs. A projected network of free weathered test sites at different places in Germany served as a reference.

Effects of Airborne Pollutants on Mucociliary Clearance

Effects of Airborne Pollutants on Mucociliary Clearance

Effects of airborne pollutants on mucociliary clearance.

The mucociliary clearance system is a first line of defense against inhaled agents, and so its compromise can adversely affect health. The purpose of this paper is to provide a review of data on the effect of in vivo air pollutant exposures on the clearance of test particles from airways. Data from both animals and humans are compared whenever possible, so that estimates of human health effects may be made. Mechanisms of action are also discussed, presenting the view that for low level exposures, changes in secretions are probably responsible for most observed changes in clearance. The pollutants pertinent to this review are those that are common in the environment and most likely to have impacts on large numbers of people: sulfur oxides, sulfuric acid mist, O3, NO2, particulates, diesel exhaust, and cigarette smoke.

The Environmental Impact of Coal Mining and Combustion in South Africa

Tonnagewise, airborne pollutants from coal combustion by far exceed waterborne pollutants from coal mining and washing. About 1 mil.t/a of SO2, probably 1 mil.t/a of fly-ash, about 0,3 mil.t/a of NOx and a few 1000 t/a of trace elements are presently emitted by ESCOM and SASOL power stations as compared with 0,1 to 0,2 mil. t/a of waterborne total dissolved solids from all coalfields. The non-quantifiable amount of airborne pollution from burning discard dumps which is not included in the above estimate can be eliminated by proper stacking methods. Insufficient information is available to ascertain the effects of airborne pollution originating mainly from the Transvaal Highveld, and thereby to obtain guidance for the course of action to be taken. The water in the Loskop Dam receiving all mine drainage from coalfields supplying over half total tonnage of coal mined in Southern Africa is still of good, but probably deteriorating quality.

Mutagenicity of the environments in the vicinity of an oil refinery and a petrochemical complex.

The mutagenicity of the vicinity of an oil-refining complex and a petrochemical complex was examined using the germinal revertant frequency of Zea mays waxy-C W22 and the somatic stamen hair system of Tradescantia. A 3-year study was conducted at Wood River, Illinois, in 1978, 1979, and 1980, and a 1-year study in 1979 at Beaumont, Texas. The studies conducted in 1978 registered the effects of airborne pollutants and possible soil pollutants. The studies in 1979 and 1980 registered only the effects of airborne pollutants. Elevated mutation frequencies of Zea mays compared to various controls occurred in 1978, 1979, and 1980 at both complexes. The mutation frequencies of Zea mays were particularly high, up to 26-times control values. By contrast, the mutation frequencies of Tradescantia were much lower, with maximum mutation frequencies five times control value.

Important Prospect: Symposium on the Effects of Airborne Pollution on Vegetation, to be held in Warsaw, Poland, during 20–24 August 1979

Important Prospect: Symposium on the Effects of Airborne Pollution on Vegetation, to be held in Warsaw, Poland, during 20–24 August 1979