High Levels Of Air Pollution Research Articles

Assessment of aerogenic risks for people living in close proximity to Ulba Metallurgical Plant

In this study, our aim was to assess public health risks caused by ambient air pollution in close proximity to production facilities of “Ulba Metallurgical Plant” JSC (JSC “UMP”) located in Ust-Kamenogorsk, Kazakhstan. The study relied on the health risk assessment methodology under exposure to chemical environmental factors. Our research objects were chemical pollution in ambient air in close proximity to production facilities of “Ulba Metal-lurgical Plant” JSC and its effects on public health. We assessed public health risks caused by chemical pollution in ambient air in close proximity to production facilities of JSC “UMP”. The assessment relied on data obtained at monitoring posts of RSE “Kazhydromet” between 2018 and 2021. We identified six carcinogens in the analyzed area that created unacceptable public health risks. High non-carcinogenic risks were typically caused by exposure to particulate matter (dust), РМ2.5 and РМ10, sulfur dioxide and sulfuric acid. Our assessment of non-accidental mortality risks caused by exposure to РМ2.5 in ambient air established unacceptable relative risks (RR: 1.27–1.78), individual risks of non-accidental (1.5–2.1•10-3) and cardiopulmonary mortality (between 8.3•10-4 and 1.0•10-3). Unfavorable meteorological factors and geographic location can promote high levels of ambient air pollution and created aerogenic health risks for people living in the analyzed industrial area. The established risks require developing and implementing scheduled health-improving activities aimed at raising quality of the environment.

If Smoking Were Eliminated, Which US Counties Would Still Have High Rates of Smoking-Related Cancers?

to characterize the county variability of the impact of smoking elimination on rates of smoking-related cancers and explore whether common environmental indices predicted which metropolitan counties would experience high rates of smoking-related cancers even after smoking was eliminated. Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program (SEER) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) data were obtained. County level cancer rates for 257 metropolitan SEER counties, including the observed rates and those predicted after eliminating smoking, were derived via multilevel regression modeling and age standardized to the 2016 SEER population. Associations between the EPA's Environmental Quality Index (EQI) scores and "Low Benefit" counties (counties that remain above the top 20th percentile of post-smoking elimination incidence rates) were explored via logistic regression. Reductions in smoking-related cancer incidence ranged from 58.4 to 3.2%. The overall EQI (OR = 1.96, 95% CI [1.34, 2.86]) and the air quality index (OR = 5.99, 95% CI [3.20, 11.22]) scores predicted higher odds of being a "Low Benefit" county. Substantial inequities in the post-smoking elimination cancer rates were observed; air pollution appears to be a primary explanation for this. Cancer prevention in metropolitan counties with high levels of air pollution should prioritize pollution control at least as much as tobacco control.

Exploring the Spatial Distribution of Air Pollution and Its Association with Socioeconomic Status Indicators in Mexico City

Air pollution is one of the most challenging global sustainability problems in the world. Roughly 90% of global citizens live in areas that exceed the acceptable air pollution levels according to the World Health Organization air quality guidelines. However, socially disadvantaged groups are disproportionately located in areas exposed to higher levels of air pollution. Understanding the association between risk exposure to air pollutants and the underlying socio-economic factors determining risk is central for sustainable urban planning. The purpose of this study was to explore environmental inequalities in Mexico City, specifically the spatial association between air pollutants and socioeconomic status (SES) indicators. We propose that SES indicators will be expected to spatially cluster vulnerable individuals and groups into heavily polluted areas. To test this hypothesis, we used 2017–2019 data from governmental records to perform spatial interpolations to explore the spatial distribution of criteria pollutants. We carried out spatial autocorrelations of air pollutants and SES indicators using the bivariate Moran’s I index. Our findings provide strong evidence of spatial heterogeneity in air pollution exposure in Mexico City. We found that socially deprived areas located in the southern periphery of Mexico City were exposed to higher ozone concentrations. On the contrary, wealthiest areas concentrated in the city center were exposed to greater concentrations of nitrogen dioxide and carbon monoxide. Our findings highlight the need for policy-driven approaches that take into consideration not only the geographic variability and meteorological dynamics associated with air pollution exposure, but also the management of socioeconomic risk factors aimed at reducing disparate exposure to air pollution and potential health impacts.

Time Trends of Greenspaces, Air Pollution, and Asthma Prevalence among Children and Adolescents in India.

The prevalence of childhood asthma contributes to the global burden of the disease substantially. Air pollution in India has increased. In this study, we examine the associations among greenspaces, air pollution, and asthma prevalence in children and adolescents over a large, diverse population in India. We used state-wide global burden of disease data on asthma from age 0 to 19 years in 2005, 2011, and 2017. For greenspace, we used the normalized differential vegetation index (NDVI), which is the surface reflectance of light during photosynthetic activity. NDVI, air pollutants (PM2.5, PM10, SO2, NO2, and O3), weather, and socio-demographic factors were included in generalized estimating equation (GEE) models to estimate their associations with childhood asthma prevalence over time. Novel data visualization illustrated the complex spatial distributions. NDVI was associated with asthma prevalence (β = 0.144; 95% CI = 0.10, 0.186; p < 0.0001) for high PM2.5, along with high levels of both gaseous air pollutants, SO2, and NO2 ((β = 0.12; 95% CI = 0.08, 0.16; p < 0.0001) and (β = 0.09; 95% CI = 0.05, 0.13; p < 0.0001)). However, NDVI and high O3, had a strong negative association with asthma prevalence (β = -0.19; 95% CI = -0.26, -0.11; p < 0.0001). We observed additional effects of the interaction between the NDVI and high concentrations of PM2.5, PM10, NO2, and O3, assuming that these associations share a common pathway, and found interaction effects for asthma prevalence. Given the changing environmental conditions that interplay over geographical characteristics on the prevalence of asthma, further studies may elucidate a better understanding of these complex associations.

Exploring the Spatial-temporal dynamics of travel patterns and air pollution exposure of E-scooters

Dockless mobility has been the biggest disruptive force in the shared mobility industry solving the “first-last” mile issue. With their high adoption levels combined with little to no regulation regarding their usage, these users have been driving along with motorized vehicles exposing them to major concerns. The users are exposed to high levels of traffic-related air pollution (TRAP) due to their direct exposure to vehicle exhaust. This study aims to understand the spatial and temporal dimensions of this emerging transportation mode in terms of travel behavior patterns, geographical aspects of travel, interactions between the travel route taken with the existing vehicle traffic, and resulting air pollution and exposure. The travel behavior patterns are evaluated through spatial-temporal analysis of a sample of e-scooter trip data collected in 2018 in the City of Austin and an online travel behavior survey. The analysis identified areas with peak usage, and peak ridership time. The survey results found the e-scooter user demographics to be mostly white males, in the 26–45 age range, with an undergraduate degree and working full-time. Secondly, key responded in influencing the use of an e-scooter are trip length, connectivity to transit, congestion and parking issues, and pollution reduction. Thirdly, e-scooter predominantly replaced personal vehicles and shared ridership in case of home-to-work trips and replaced walking for connecting to transit stops. The exposure to TRAP was obtained by integrating the spatial-temporal dynamics of e-scooter trips with spatial-temporal dynamics of pollutant concentrations modeled from traffic. Exposure analysis found peak exposure levels during midday and evening periods focused in the Central Austin area. This area houses the University of Texas campus and several neighborhoods with lots of shopping, restaurants, bars, and live music avenues. The findings are useful for policymakers and planners when planning for infrastructure changes air pollution control measures, incentive programs, and policies to motivate shared mobility.

Association of physical activity and air pollution exposure with the risk of type 2 diabetes: a large population-based prospective cohort study

BackgroundThe interplay between physical activity (PA) and air pollution in relation to type 2 diabetes (T2D) remains largely unknown. Based on a large population-based cohort study, this study aimed to examine whether the benefits of PA with respect to the risk of T2D are moderated by exposure to air pollution.MethodsUK Biobank participants (n = 359,153) without diabetes at baseline were included. Information on PA was obtained using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire short form. Exposure to air pollution, including PM2.5, PMcoarse (PM2.5−10), PM10, and NO2, was estimated from land use regression models. Cox regression models were used to estimate the hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs).ResultsDuring a median of 8.9 years of follow-up, 13,706 T2D events were recorded. Compared with a low PA level, the HRs for the risk of T2D among individuals with moderate and high PA were 0.82 (95% CI, 0.79–0.86) and 0.73 (95% CI, 0.70–0.77), respectively. Compared with low levels of air pollution, the HRs for risk of T2D for high levels of air pollution (PM2.5, PMcoarse, PM10, and NO2) were 1.19 (1.14–1.24), 1.06 (1.02–1.11), 1.13 (1.08–1.18), and 1.19 (1.14–1.24), respectively. There was no effect modification of the associations between PA and T2D by air pollution (all P-interactions > 0.05). The inverse associations between PA and T2D in each air pollution stratum were generally consistent (all P for trend < 0.05).ConclusionA higher PA and lower air pollution level were independently associated with a lower risk of T2D. The beneficial effects of PA on T2D generally remained stable among participants exposed to different levels of air pollution. Further studies are needed to replicate our findings in moderately and severely polluted areas.

Early-life exposure to air pollution associated with food allergy in children: Implications for ‘one allergy’ concept

BackgroundThe rapid increase of food allergy (FA) has become the “second wave” of allergy epidemic and is now a major global public health concern. Mounting evidence indicates that early life exposure to air pollution is associated with the “first wave” of allergy epidemic (including asthma, allergic rhinitis and eczema) in children, but little is known about its association with FA. ObjectivesWe hypothesize FA has triple exposure pathways, gut-skin-airway, and investigate the effects of airway exposure to outdoor and indoor air pollution on childhood FA. MethodsA cohort study of 2598 preschool children aged 3–6 years old was conducted in Changsha, China. The prevalence of FA was surveyed using a standard questionnaire by International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC). Exposure to indoor air pollution was assessed by four indicators: new furniture, redecoration, mold or dampness, and window condensation. Exposure to outdoor air pollution was evaluated by the concentrations of PM10, SO2 and NO2, which were obtained from the monitored stations. Both prenatal and postnatal exposure windows were considered. The association between exposure to outdoor/indoor air pollution and childhood FA was estimated by multiple logistic regression models using odds ratio (OR) and a 95% confidence interval (CI). ResultsA total of 14.9% children reported FA. The prevalence was significantly associated with exposure to indoor air pollution, OR (95% CI) = 1.93 (1.35–2.75) for prenatal exposure to mold/dampness and 1.49 (1.07–2.10) and 1.41 (1.04–1.89) respectively for postnatal exposure to new furniture and window condensation. The prevalence of FA was also associated with prenatal and postnatal exposure to outdoor air pollution, particularly the traffic-related air pollutant NO2, with adjusted ORs (95% Cls) respectively 1.24 (1.00–1.54) and 1.38 (1.03–1.85) per interquartile range (IQR) increase. Sensitivity analysis showed that the association between outdoor/indoor air pollution and childhood FA was significant only in young children aged 3–4 years. ConclusionEarly-life exposure to high levels of outdoor and indoor air pollution in China due to the rapid economic growth and fast urbanization in the past decades may contribute to the rapid increase of food allergy (FA) in children. Our study indicates that, in addition to gut and skin, airway may be a new route of food sensitization. Air pollution leads to the first and second waves of allergy epidemics, suggesting a concept of ‘one allergy’ disease.

Computational fluid dynamics-based optimal installation strategy of air purification system to minimize NOX exposure inside a public bus stop.

At public bus stops, NOX pollutants discharged by regularly stopping buses quickly accumulate, exposing waiting passengers to high levels of air pollutants, which creates a threat to public health. The environmental protection agency (EPA) presents air quality standards for NOX, a significant pollutant that causes lung diseases such as asthma when exposed to the human body. To handle this problem, air purification systems are installed inside bus stops in many public places. However, it is challenging to maintain a low concentration of NOX inside public bus stops due to the persistent inflow of bus exhaust gas. Therefore, it is crucial to design an optimal location for an air purification system to meet air environment standards for respiratory areas. This study proposed a computational fluid dynamics (CFD)-based optimal installation strategy for an air purification system to minimize NOX exposure inside a public bus stop. The CFD model was developed to numerically analyze NO2 exposure with the actual design value for a public bus stop in Ulsan, South Korea. The local NO2 concentration was evaluated in the human breathing zone. The case study was performed according to the locations of the inlet and outlet of the air purification system. A transient CFD simulation was performed to analyze the effect of the air purification system on pollutants generated from the stationary bus by time flow in various cases. NO2 concentration and exposure reduction effectiveness (ERE) were analyzed and compared for each case in the breathing zone. In the optimal case, the ERE of NO2 was confirmed to be 35.9%, and the NO2 concentration according to the air quality standards of EPA could be maintained at 0.1ppm or less. The theoretical framework proposed in this study can be generalized to design air purification systems for general external facilities.

Urban tree bark analysis for monitoring of air pollution level in Jakarta business district

Jakarta has become one of the cities with the highest air pollution levels among emerging countries. In urban areas such as Jakarta, trees on the roadside have the potential for biomonitoring due to significant pollutants sourced from the traffic. The bark provides information about air pollution due to its furrowed surface and collects atmospheric particle matter (PM). Therefore, the structure of the bark and surface pollutants of 20 rain trees (Samanea saman (Jacq.) Merr.) in the four lots at Sudirman Central Business District (SCBD) Jakarta were assessed. The study aimed to evaluate of air condition in the SCBD area based on the analysis of the bark structure and concentrations of important pollutant elements of Pb (plumbum), Cd (cadmium), Cu (cuprum), Cr (chromium), Mn (manganese), and Zn (zinc) on the bark. The results showed the bark thickness ranges from 3-9 mm with an average of 6.13 mm. The cuticula was gray-black in color, the phloem was brownish, and the cambium layer was very thin. Cu, Cr, Mn, and Zn were detected based on the analysis of the elements. However, Cd was not found in all trees in these four lots. Furthermore, Mn is the dominant pollutant in all trees, more than 40 ppm or more than 69% of the total, followed by Cu, Zn, and Cr. Based on the result, pollutant analysis through accumulated matter on the bark have the potential to be used as biomonitoring in urban areas.

Transport of Particulate Matter Due to Meteorological Changes Analyzed by HYSPLIT

The air quality in the urban region varies based on the sources of air pollution from regions near and far. Any pollution produced in the urban region affects the locality near the pollution source and also adjacent distant regions. The study of the interaction between the local weather patterns of a region and the pollutants in the air is needed for air quality management. It is explicit that Chennai city has a high level of air pollution. But the unavailability of the relevant data on the air pollution sources makes the management difficult. If the data on air pollution in the region of Chennai is known, it will be helpful to provide control measures. Between January 2017 and December 2017, the particulate matter below the size of 2.5 micron (PM2.5) was assessed. It was quite concentrated in the metropolitan city of Chennai situated at the shores of the Bay of Bengal. This assessment is to study the transport phenomenon and expansion of the pollutant particles initially emanating from Chennai. This occurs mainly due to the westerly winds originating in the Bay of Bengal. The time duration of the analysis showed an average PM2.5 concentration of 63.524 � 18.942 �g/m3. This far exceeds the regulations of the World Health Organization (WHO). Various regions of the country as affected by different distant sources of pollution in and around Chennai were evaluated by the trajectory modeling. The pollution in the regions of the vicinity is assessed using the Hybrid Single-Particle Lagrangian Integrated Approach (HYSPLIT) software. The method and results are fruitful for similar estimates elsewhere.

Ambient air pollution associated with incidence and dynamic progression of type 2 diabetes: a trajectory analysis of a population-based cohort

BackgroundThough the association between air pollution and incident type 2 diabetes (T2D) has been well documented, evidence on the association with development of subsequent diabetes complications and post-diabetes mortality is scarce. We investigate whether air pollution is associated with different progressions and outcomes of T2D.MethodsBased on the UK Biobank, 398,993 participants free of diabetes and diabetes-related events at recruitment were included in this analysis. Exposures to particulate matter with a diameter ≤ 10 μm (PM10), PM2.5, nitrogen oxides (NOx), and NO2 for each transition stage were estimated at each participant’s residential addresses using data from the UK’s Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. The outcomes were incident T2D, diabetes complications (diabetic kidney disease, diabetic eye disease, diabetic neuropathy disease, peripheral vascular disease, cardiovascular events, and metabolic events), all-cause mortality, and cause-specific mortality. Multi-state model was used to analyze the impact of air pollution on different progressions of T2D. Cumulative transition probabilities of different stages of T2D under different air pollution levels were estimated.ResultsDuring the 12-year follow-up, 13,393 incident T2D patients were identified, of whom, 3791 developed diabetes complications and 1335 died. We observed that air pollution was associated with different progression stages of T2D with different magnitudes. In a multivariate model, the hazard ratios [95% confidence interval (CI)] per interquartile range elevation in PM2.5 were 1.63 (1.59, 1.67) and 1.08 (1.03, 1.13) for transitions from healthy to T2D and from T2D to complications, and 1.50 (1.47, 1.53), 1.49 (1.36, 1.64), and 1.54 (1.35, 1.76) for mortality risk from baseline, T2D, and diabetes complications, respectively. Generally, we observed stronger estimates of four air pollutants on transition from baseline to incident T2D than those on other transitions. Moreover, we found significant associations between four air pollutants and mortality risk due to cancer and cardiovascular diseases from T2D or diabetes complications. The cumulative transition probability was generally higher among those with higher levels of air pollution exposure.ConclusionsThis study indicates that ambient air pollution exposure may contribute to increased risk of incidence and progressions of T2D, but to diverse extents for different progressions.

Investigating the Effect of an Open Window vs. A Closed Window on the Concentrations of Suspended Particulate Matter in the Indoors with respect to the Outdoors

Background: A study was conducted in New Delhi during peak winter to investigate the impact of open versus closed windows on indoor levels of PM2.5 and PM10, given the high ambient air pollution levels during this time. Purpose: The aim was to determine whether opening windows affected indoor concentrations of PM2.5 and PM10, despite the prevailing belief that outdoor air quality significantly influences indoor air quality. Method: A PM2.5 and PM10 air quality meter was used near a window at a single location for 10 days, with measurements taken nine times daily during working hours. The experiment involved alternating between open and closed window conditions to observe any significant changes. Result: Contrary to expectations, opening or closing windows did not substantially alter indoor PM2.5 and PM10 levels. The study indicated that outdoor air might not significantly contribute to indoor particulate matter, suggesting minimal diffusion through open windows. Conclusion: The findings suggest that isolation measures alone may not effectively reduce indoor PM2.5 and PM10 levels, as outdoor sources do not significantly influence indoor air quality even when windows are opened.

Impacts of Land Use and Land Cover Changes on Land Surface Temperature over Cachar Region, Northeast India—A Case Study

The promptness of industrialisation and expanding urbanisation to achieve targets of economics are resulting in the transfiguration of permeable surfaces into impervious ones through LULC adaptation, leaving a herculean footprint on the ecosystem. The LULC escalates land surface temperature (LST), which further stimulates urban heat islands (UHIs), ultimately remaining in tune with high levels of air pollution, energy use, and corresponding health hazards. The present evaluation first used Landsat TM/OLI satellite data to identify the labyrinth of the LULC rotation and, secondly, gauged its effects on the LST in the Cachar district of Assam, India, for the years 1990, 2000, 2010, and 2020. It embraces Cellular Automata (CA) and GIS methodologies to pull out the urbanization pattern and its ramifications in various LULC brackets of Cachar, India. It also embraces spatiotemporal LULC monitoring (1990–2020) and urban growth modelling (2030–2040). From the period 1990 to 2020, satellite-based LULC showed a net urban expansion of 269.43 km2 (7.13% increase). Some correlations were developed to show the relationship between spatial indices such as NDVI, NDBI, and NDWI with Land Surface Temperature (LST). Resultantly, a positive relation exists between LST and NDBI, but a negative correlation prevails between LST and NDVI, as well as NDWI. This evaluation will be of service to urban and environmental planners, providing them with detailed knowledge on how land cover is changing uniquely in northeast India.

Biomass Smoke Exposure and Atopy among Young Children in the Western Highlands of Guatemala: A Prospective Cohort Study.

Women and children in rural regions of low-income countries are exposed to high levels of household air pollution (HAP) as they traditionally tend to household chores such as cooking with biomass fuels. Early life exposure to air pollution is associated with aeroallergen sensitization and developing allergic diseases at older ages. This prospective cohort study assigned HAP-reducing chimney stoves to 557 households in rural Guatemala at different ages of the study children. The children's air pollution exposure was measured using personal CO diffusion tubes. Allergic outcomes at 4-5 years old were assessed using skin prick tests and International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC)-based questionnaires. Children assigned to improved stoves before 6 months old had the lowest HAP exposure compared to the other groups. Longer exposure to the unimproved stoves was associated with higher risks of maternal-reported allergic asthma (OR = 2.42, 95% CI: 1.11-5.48) and rhinitis symptoms (OR = 2.01, 95% CI: 1.13-3.58). No significant association was found for sensitization to common allergens such as dust mites and cockroaches based on skin prick tests. Reducing HAP by improving biomass burning conditions might be beneficial in preventing allergic diseases among children in rural low-income populations.

Effects of air pollutants and temperature on the number of asthma outpatient visits in Hohhot, China

ABSTRACT Although numerous studies have linked asthma to air temperature and pollution, few studies have examined their interactive effects on asthma outpatient visits. This study investigated how air pollutants and their interactions with temperature affect asthma outpatient visits in a city in northern Chinaduring the time period 2018 - 2020 . . As the results, 24,163 asthma outpatients were recorded, a 10-μg/m3 increase in PM10, PM2.5, SO2, and NO2 concentrations was associated with significant increases in visits of 3.47% (95% CI: 2.35%–4.60%), 0.83% (95% CI: 0.36%–1.30%), 3.17% (95% CI: 1.47%–4.90%), and 8.90% (95% CI: 6.09%–11.79%), respectively. The effect was stronger in females than males, and stronger in the elderly (≥65 years) than among the young. The interaction between low temperatures and high air pollution levels significantly increased the number of asthma outpatient visits. This study emphasizesthe importance of reducing air pollution in order to lessen the effects of cold.

Air pollution, climate conditions and risk of hospital admissions for psychotic disorders in U.S. residents

BackgroundThe physical environmental risk factors for psychotic disorders are poorly understood. This study aimed to examine the associations between exposure to ambient air pollution, climate measures and risk of hospitalization for psychotic disorders and uncover potential disparities by demographic, community factors. MethodsUsing Health Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) State Inpatient Databases (SIDs), we applied zero-inflated negative binomial regression to obtain relative risks of hospitalization due to psychotic disorders associated with increases in residential exposure to ambient air pollution (fine particulate matter, PM2.5; nitrogen dioxide, NO2), temperature and cumulative precipitation. The analysis covered all-age residents in eight U.S. states over the period of 2002–2016. We additionally investigated modification by age, sex and area-level poverty, percent of blacks and Hispanics. ResultsOver the study period and among the covered areas, we identified 1,211,100 admissions due to psychotic disorders. For each interquartile (IQR) increase in exposure to PM2.5 and NO2, we observed a relative risk (RR) of 1.11 (95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.09, 1.13) and 1.27 (95% CI = 1.24, 1.31), respectively. For each 1 °C increase of temperature, the RR was 1.03 (95% CI = 1.03, 1.04). Males were more affected by NO2. Older age residents (≥30 yrs) were more sensitive to PM2.5 and temperature. Population living in economically disadvantaged areas were more affected by air pollution. ConclusionsThe study suggests that living in areas with higher levels of air pollutants and ambient temperature could contribute to additional risk of inpatient care for individuals with psychotic disorders.

Sanitary condition of poultry houses during broiler growing

In modern poultry farming, the problem of controlling microbiological contamination of poultry housing is essential and relevant. High levels of microbiological air pollution and abundant contamination of poultry production surfaces can be powerful and dangerous risk factors for the spread of opportunistic and pathogenic microflora. The health of poultry and its performance depends on the health and welfare of poultry houses іndustrial zone. Sanitary condition is an integral part of the overall operation of the process poultry farms. In the practice of industrial poultry entered, the term “biological fatigue”. We assessed the sanitary-bacteriological condition of poultry houses by the indicators of the total number of microorganisms in the air and by the isolation of pathogenic microorganisms. We determined the rates of bacterial contamination of surfaces and the air of poultry houses during the technological break-rearing broiler. The objects of the study were bacterial contamination of air and object poultry houses. Scientific research has been conducted on the technological break and release of objects from poultry. According to our study, we established high levels of microbiological air pollution in poultry houses on the 14th, 28-th, and 42-th day of broiler breeding. The total microbial count air of poultry houses does not meet sanitary standards. On the 14-th, 28-th and 42-th day, breeding broilers for meat in the poultry house bacterial contamination were 184.33 ± 43.52 thousand CFU/m3; 376.25 ± 84.84 thousand CFU/m3 and 786.68 ± 214.91 thousand CFU/m3. The article presents research results on poultry houses' sanitary and bacteriological indicators of leaching. We have established a high level of contamination of production surfaces. The isolates were: E. coli – (39.3 %), Salmonella spp., and Campylobecter spp. – (14.5 %), Streptococcus spp., S. aureus – 23.6 % Proteus ssp., Enterobacter ssp. – 22.6 %. The qualitative and quantitative composition of isolated microflora from poultry farms indicates significant risks of reducing the natural non-specific protective forces of the bird, the emergence of infectious diseases, and reduced productivity of birds. Thus, the sanitary condition of poultry houses is one of the main criteria for stable epizootic well-being in poultry and a guarantee of effective agribusiness.

Burned area mapping using satellite data – a tool for monitoring effects on environment

Abstract Background Significant crop residue burning not only negatively affects local communities but is becoming an important public health issue for global climate change mitigation efforts. This practice is linked with air quality impairment, water contamination, soil degradation, fauna destruction. Chronic exposure to a high level of air pollution may cause permanent health injuries such as the development of lung diseases. The intentional burning of crop residues is a well-known practice across Romania even it is restricted by law. Methods We propose a generic software model capable of detecting burned areas based on a time series of multi-spectral optical images together with a multi-step algorithm that uses a pre-trained Gaussian Naive-Bayes classifier to map burned crop fields, named BCMA (Burned Crop Mapping Algorithm), using Copernicus Sentinel-2 acquisitions. BCMA can be trained and extended to recognize other user-defined burned areas and it can be used to produce burned crop fields maps at a global scale in near-real-time at high resolution. We focused on two restrained geographical areas where burned areas were signalized in local press as massive burning vegetation events. Results We provide burned area maps generated with an implementation of BCMA over two sites in Romania: Ostroveni - Dolj county and Domogled - Mehedinti county, based on acquisitions from July 2020. Conclusions This model provides a fast and reliable tool for detection of burned areas regardless of the landscape and vegetation that could help stakeholders to react and make a proper intervention. Our study highlights the meaningful implications of using this tool to track crop fields burning and to organize large scale awareness campaigns around sustainable crop residues management with positive impact on environment, human health, and agriculture. Further government agencies’ positions regarding using satellite monitoring of burning vegetables might be crucial. Key messages

Ethnic and socioeconomic inequalities in relation to air pollution exposure in the Netherlands

Abstract Background Air pollution (AP) contributes to a large disease burden and some populations are disproportionately exposed. It is unclear to what extent AP exposure differs across ethnic groups in the Netherlands and how this intersects with socioeconomic position (SEP). First, we identified differences in AP exposures between ethnic groups in the Netherlands. Second, we examined the interrelationships between ethnicity and SEP in relation to AP exposures. Methods We assessed AP exposures for residents of the Netherlands in 2019 (N = 17,251,511). Home address AP levels were estimated by dispersion models of the National Institute of Public Health and the Environment (RIVM). We linked exposure estimations of particulate matter &amp;lt;10 or &amp;lt; 2.5 μm (PM10, PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and elemental carbon (EC) to demographic data gathered by Statistics Netherlands. Absolute and relative differences in AP levels across ethnic groups were assessed. We conducted multivariable linear regression analyses and estimated marginal mean exposures to evaluate differences by ethnicity, SEP, age and sex within urban and rural areas. We tested for interactions and stratified accordingly. Results For the 40 largest minority ethnic groups (N &amp;gt; 18,314 per group), exposure to all pollutants was higher than for ethnic Dutch, with up to 1.5-fold differences for NO2. After stratification for urbanity and SEP, ethnic exposure inequalities persisted. For ethnic Dutch and some migrant groups, we found the lowest AP exposures in the middle SEP group (i.e. U-shaped trends), while we found linear patterns in other large migrant groups, with higher exposures at lower SEP. Conclusions Exposure to PM10, PM2.5, NO2, and EC was consistently higher in minority ethnic groups compared to ethnic Dutch. The association between SEP and AP levels showed different patterns between the majority ethnic Dutch and some of the largest minority ethnic groups. Further research is needed to define the equity and health implications. Key messages • Minority ethnic groups in the Netherlands are consistently exposed to higher levels of air pollution (PM10, PM2.5, NO2, and EC) than the ethnic Dutch population. • Depending on the ethnic group, the association between SEP and air pollution exposure was either linear (i.e. lower exposures at higher SEP) or U-shaped (i.e. lower exposures in the middle SEP group).

Air pollution and possible risk of dementia in the Czech Republic

A review of recent literature indicates a significant effect of air pollution on the increased incidence of dementia, particularly Alzheimer’s disease. A possible mechanism is related to oxidative damage and inflammation. In the Czech Republic in previous decades the mining districts of Northern Bohemia suffered from very high air pollution levels, while during the last period in Northern Moravia this problem was also noted. This specific situation could be used to study the impact of air pollution on dementia, using new methods of molecular epidemiology together with the complex analysis of the lifestyle of the population living in the polluted regions.