Human Activities Research Articles

Thinking through ACAD - learning to see theory in action

The Activity-Centred Analysis and Design (ACAD) has been developed as a meta-theoretical framework for understanding and improving complex networked learning situations (Goodyear et al., 2021; Goodyear & Carvalho, 2014). ACAD helps to foreground two distinct moments related to the design of complex learning situations. The first entails advanced planning – and it involves design time – when an educator may consider the selection of specific tasks, tools, and complementary social arrangements of a learning situation. The second involves learning time – or what happens as a learning activity unfolds. When designing for networked learning educators need to anticipate a certain form of human activity and consider how designable elements may influence what students do (first view). But educators also need to channel what actually happens on the day, as activity unfolds, noticing how designable elements influence (or not) the intended learning activity (second view). One difficulty for teachers or educational designers relates to being able to draw connections between what has been designed (planned) and what learners actually do (learn).

RNA-Seq and metabolomic analysis reveal dynamic response mechanism to hypoxia in the pearl oyster Pinctada fucata martensii

Hypoxia is becoming a stressor in aquatic environments due to human activities and climate change. To reveal the dynamic response mechanisms of pearl oyster, this study investigated transcriptomic and metabolomic changes in pearl oyster (Pinctada fucata martensii) exposed to hypoxia for 2 and 25 days. In total, 488 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were detected between 2 and 25 days of hypoxia stress. The identified DEGs were primarily associated with Gene Ontology (GO) terms such as "histone H4 acetylation", "DNA methylation", "histone (H3-K9/H4-K20/H3-K27/H3-K4) trimethylation", "positive regulation of ATPase activity", "myosin complex", “microtubule-based processes", "actin cytoskeleton", and "glutathione peroxidase activity", as well as KEGG pathways such as "neuroactive ligand-receptor interactions", "ECM-receptor interactions", and "apoptosis". We also identified 77 significantly differential metabolites (SDMs), which were associated with 32 metabolic pathways, including arginine and proline metabolism, glycerophospholipid metabolism, aminoacyl-tRNA biosynthesis, and sphingolipid metabolism. Integrated DEGs and SDMs analyses showed that pearl oysters were found to suffer from reduced biomineralization, hindered cytoskeletal reorganization, decreased neuronal excitability, apoptosis, immune inhibition, and oxidative stress after 25 days of hypoxic stress. Overall, these results help to elucidate the complex responses of pearl oysters to hypoxic conditions.

Fungal spore air pollution in selected environments in Nairobi, Kenya

ABSTRACT Fungal spores constitute major bioaerosols and are important indicators of bio-pollution. The rural–urban migration has increased human activity, causing air pollution concerns globally. This study explored the seasonal load, distribution, and diversity of fungal spores at different strategic sites in Nairobi, Kenya. The fungal air spores were systematically collected from markets, roads, and recreational, and dumping sites within Nairobi City County. Briefly, Sabouraud Dextrose Agar (SDA) plates were exposed on site for 5 minutes, and transported for incubation at 28°C for 7 days. Temperature, humidity, and wind speed data were recorded using the AccuWeather mobile app. Fungal cultures were identified using standard macro and micro-phenotypic features. The relationship between the fungal concentration and meteorological parameters was analyzed using multiple regression and PNiger. The wet season had the highest number of fungal spores (5318.88 CFU m− 3) compared to the dry season (1929.58 CFU m− 3.) We identified 502 isolates across two seasons; 16 genera and 38 species comprising Ascomycota 426 (89.31%), Basidiomycota 21 (4.40%), Deuteromycota 17 (3.56%), Muromycota 7(1.47%) and Zycomycota 6(1.26%). The most isolated fungal genera included Candida (17.13%), followed by Penicillium 66 (13.15%), Fusarium 62 (12.35%), Aspergillus 61 (12.15%) and Cladosporium 60 (11.95%). Temperature, humidity and windspeed significantly affected airborne fungal concentration (p = .000), (p = .0280) and (p = .000), respectively. Pearson correlation analysis showed that the temperature negatively correlated with the fungal concentration significantly (p = .000), humidity positively correlated with the fungal concentration significantly (p = .001), and wind speed negatively correlated with the fungal concentration significantly (p = .000). Our findings highlight the significance of fungal air pollution and the possible risks of human mycoses. The significance of fungal spore pollutants and human mycoses to climate change needs to be explored.

Cumulative characteristics and ecological risk source analysis of soil potentially toxic elements in the northern margin of the Tibetan Plateau.

To understand the soil toxic and hazardous elements content, pollution level, and ecological risk status in the northern margin of the Tibetan Plateau, we collected and analyzed 8273 sets of surface soil samples. Evaluations were conducted using the single-factor pollution index, geo-accumulation, pollution load, and potential ecological risk indices, and source identification correlation and principal component analysis. The results revealed that, compared with the background levels in China, the accumulation of soil arsenic, cadmium, nickel, and chromium was greater in the surface soil of the study area. Additionally, in comparison with Qinghai Province, more mercury accumulated in the surface soil of the study area and owing to the influence of anthropogenic activities. Benchmarking against soil environmental quality standards, the study area exhibited pollution control zones primarily dominated by arsenic and cadmium (3.9%). The spatial distribution revealed distinct zones: a ridge mountain type characterized by arsenic-cadmium-chromium-nickel, a Daban mountain type with solely cadmium presence, and a Longyangxia-Jianzha South type dominated by arsenic. Compared with the Qinghai Province soil background values, evaluations using the Pollution loading index, Geological Cumulative Index, and Potential Ecological Risk Index methods revealed varying degrees of potentially toxic element content exceedance. From an ecological risk perspective, the individual element with the highest potential ecological risk coefficients were mercury, followed by cadmium and arsenic; however, the region's overall ecological risk index was classified as low. Three distinct sources were identified: natural sources leading to high background levels of chromium, nickel, copper, zinc, and mercury; mixed natural and industrial/agricultural sources contributing to elevated cadmium levels; and human activity-related mercury enrichment. Based on the evaluation results, synergistic monitoring of soil and biota in naturally occurring risk zones is recommended to ensure the safety of agricultural and pastoral products. Additionally, ecological impact assessments and pollution source mitigation studies should be conducted in regions influenced by human activities to curb the further degradation of soil ecological quality.

Influence of Human Activity on Radon Concentration, Indoor Air Quality, and Thermal Comfort in Small Office Spaces

This article focuses on the influence of occupants on the concentration of contaminants (radon Rn-222 and CO2) as well as the thermal comfort parameters. A series of sensors were placed to measure the concentration of the contaminants, temperature, and relative humidity in the test room at the Institute of Nuclear Physics PAN in Krakow (IFJ PAN), Poland. The test room is an office that is typical of the offices used in the facility. The occupants that used the space kept a detailed diary of their entry, exit, and number of people entering. The results showed that the accumulation of contaminants in such spaces may be severe and risks the health and safety of occupants. The accumulation of CO2 was extremely noticeable and did not diminish to the background level between the re-entry of the occupants to the office. The same was consistent for the radon concentration. The study shows how ventilation methods and small changes in occupant work strategy may influence the contaminant concentration within a test zone.

THE ELABORATION OF SACRED AND PROFANE IN FINE ART WORK ENTITLED "WHEN HANDS AND FEET ARE TALKING”

The article "Sacred and Profane Elaboration in a Work of Art Titled When Hands and Feet Speak" by Much. Sofwan Zarkasi and Bening Tri Suwasono explores the intersection of sacred and profane elements in art, a convergence rarely seen in modern works that typically separate art and religion. This meeting of sacred and profane is grounded in Islamic prophetic values derived from Quranic knowledge. The authors argue that since the purpose of human life is to worship, and art is a part of human activity, art should also encompass the concept of worship. Thus, art becomes a blend of sacred and profane activities, presenting visual beauty and values that remind humans to protect the world from harm. The method used in creating "When Hands and Feet Speak" follows the stages of creation by L.H. Chapman: a) finding ideas, b) refining, developing, and solidifying initial ideas, and c) visualizing in the medium. This process is enhanced by adding d) the intention to work for worship at the beginning and including evaluation and gratitude at the end. The technique combines printmaking and collage to produce the final artwork. Keywords: Elaboration, Sacred, Profane, Fine Arts

Potentially toxic elements of lake and wetland in Northeastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau: Distribution, potential sources and risk assessment

The accumulation of toxic elements from sediments poses imminent threats to both the environment and humans. The variation of elements in different sedimentary systems within the same watershed is of significant importance for distinguishing the human activities and adopting relevant management strategies. Based on the surface sediment samples from the Lake Keluke and its wetland, the content and grain size of elements were analyzed. The human health risk indicated in the area the potentially toxic elements (PTEs: Cr, Cu, Zn, Cd and Pb) were at no non-carcinogenic risk to adults or children. Except for Cd, the pollution levels of other PTEs were clean, and potential ecological risk with a low level. However, the pollution of Cd implicated a moderate to heavy pollution intensity and a high ecological risk. According to principal component analysis (PCA), and self-organizing maps (SOM), the main sources of PTEs were of the weathering and leaching of bedrocks; transportation and human agriculture activities. The watershed should reduce pollution caused by human activities and implement efficient agricultural practices.

Human proprioceptive gaze stabilization during passive body rotations underneath a fixed head

The present study explored the presence of torsional gaze-stabilization to proprioceptive neck activation in humans. Thirteen healthy subjects (6 female, mean age 25) were exposed to passive body rotations while maintaining a head-fixed, gravitationally upright, position. Participants were seated in a mechanical sled, their heads placed in a chin rest embedded in a wooden beam while wearing an eye tracker attached to the beam using strong rubber bands to ensure head stability. The body was passively rotated underneath the head both in darkness and while viewing a projected visual scene. Static torsional gaze positions were compared between the baseline position prior to the stimulation, and immediately after the final body tilt had been reached. Results showed that passive neck flexion produced ocular torsion when combined with a visual background. The eyes exhibited rotations in the opposite direction of the neck’s extension, matching a hypothetical head tilt in the same direction as the sled. This corresponded with a predicted head rotation aimed at straightening the head in relation to the body. No such response was seen during trials in darkness. Altogether, these findings suggest that proprioception may produce a predictive gaze-stabilizing response in humans.

Microbial communities on microplastics from seawater and mussels: Insights from the northern Adriatic Sea

Microplastics, synthetic solid particles of different sizes (< 5 mm), pose a major challenge to marine ecosystems. Introducing microplastics into the marine environment leads to the formation of complex microbial communities, a topic of growing interest in environmental research. For this study, we selected an area in the northern Adriatic Sea, less affected by human activities, to understand how pristine environmental conditions influence microbial colonization of microplastics. Samples of coastal seawater and Mediterranean mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) were collected in a mussel farm near Debeli rtič of the Slovenian coast. Microplastics were isolated, visually and chemically analyzed and DNA was extracted for metagenomics. In the marine water column, 12.7 microplastics per m3 water column and 0.58 microplastics per individual mussel were found. Sufficient DNA was available to analyze six particles, five originating from seawater, and one from a mussel. This was the first-ever sequenced microplastic particle from a mussel. Genera of Pseudomonas and Serratia were identified in all samples. In one of the samples, the most abundant was a marine genus Pseudoalteromonas, while in another sample Campylobacter was present with >30 % abundance. The microbiomes of the mussel- and seawater-isolated particles were similar, suggesting a common microbial colonization pattern, which may have implications for the transfer of microplastic-associated microbes, including potential pathogens, through the food web to the consumers. Microplastic pollution is a complex issue requiring further research, especially regarding microbial biofilms, pathogen colonization and the potential of pathogen transmission via microplastic particles. Our findings enhance the understanding of microplastic pollution in the Adriatic Sea and stress the necessity for comprehensive strategies to mitigate the impact on marine ecosystems.

Phosphorus controls symbiotic nitrogen fixation in fire‐dependent longleaf pine savannas

Abstract Symbiotic nitrogen (N) fixation has the potential to replenish fire‐induced N losses in frequently burned ecosystems. A strong relationship between fire and fixation may exist because fire volatilizes N and mineralizes phosphorus (P), creating N‐poor, P‐rich soils that favour plants capable of N‐fixation. However, human activities have enriched ecosystems with N, which may complicate the interplay among fire, fixation and soil P. We evaluated how N and P modulate the relationship between fire and symbiotic N fixation in longleaf pine savannas, where it was previously documented that N fixation fails to replenish N losses from fire. Across gradients of stand age and fire frequency, we investigated how N and P availability influence fixation, and we established a nutrient addition experiment to evaluate the effects of N and P on legume growth, fixation and mycorrhizal investment. We uncovered a clear signal of P limitation of herbaceous legumes. Legume growth and fixation were linked to the availability of soil mineral P and were further stimulated by P additions. In contrast, neither soil N availability nor N additions affected legume growth or fixation. Synthesis. Our findings suggest that symbiotic N fixation in sandhill longleaf pine savannas is controlled by soil P availability, which varies according to soil age and parent material. Therefore, fixation may only counterbalance N losses from fire if there is enough P in the soil to support this process. Nonetheless, recent N enrichment in contemporary longleaf pine ecosystems may have reduced the importance of N fixation as a post‐fire recovery mechanism.

Projecting LUCC dynamics and ecosystem services in an emerging urban agglomeration under SSP-RCP scenarios and their management implications

Improving our knowledge of future dynamics of ecosystem services (ESs) in the face of climate change and human activities provides a crucial foundation to navigate complex environmental challenges, which are essential to attaining sustainable development particularly in urban regions. However, an existing dearth persists in thoroughly forecasting the intricate interplay of trade-offs and synergies, as well as ecosystem services bundling under distinct future scenarios. This study adopts an integrated research framework to understand the spatiotemporal dynamics of ESs in the Changsha-Zhuzhou-Xiangtan Urban Agglomeration (CZTUA) under three Shared Socioeconomic Pathway and Representative Concentration Pathway (SSP-RCP) scenarios (i.e., SSP126, SSP245 and SSP585). Our future scenarios suggest that the core urban area of CZTUA is projected to expand at the cost of forests and croplands by 2050. Furthermore, human-induced urbanization, particularly the high-intensity LUCC along the Xiangjiang river, significantly impacts ESs, resulting in lower ESs values. The trade-off effects between ESs are primarily observed between WY (water yield) and other ESs. Ecosystem service bundles (ESB) previously dominated by WY have significantly transitioned to CS (carbon storage)-HQ (habitat quality) bundle, especially in the urban core of CZTUA, which serves as an early warning of potential challenges related to water resources. Our study utilizes the latest climate and land use change predictions to evaluate ecosystems in urban agglomerations, and adopts a layered zoning strategy based on ESs, which provides decision-makers with reproducible tools to explore ecosystem changes.

Comparative functional analysis reveals differential nucleotide sensitivity between human and mouse UCP1.

Mitochondrial uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) is a unique protein of brown adipose tissue. Upon activation by free fatty acids, UCP1 facilitates a thermogenic net proton flux across the mitochondrial inner membrane. Non-complexed purine nucleotides inhibit this fatty acid-induced activity of UCP1. The most available data have been generated from rodent model systems. In light of its role as a putative pharmacological target for treating metabolic disease, in-depth analyses of human UCP1 activity, regulation, and structural features are essential. In the present study, we established a doxycycline-regulated cell model with inducible human or murine UCP1 expression and conducted functional studies using respirometry comparing wild-type and mutant variants of human UCP1. We demonstrate that human and mouse UCP1 exhibit similar specific fatty acid-induced activity but a different inhibitory potential of purine nucleotides. Mutagenesis of non-conserved residues in human UCP1 revealed structural components in α-helix 56 and α-helix 6 crucial for uncoupling function. Comparative studies of human UCP1 with other orthologs can provide new insights into the structure-function relationship for this mitochondrial carrier and will be instrumental in searching for new activators.

Progress in Ecosystem Services Research Under the Evolution of Land Use Landscape Patterns

Land use change (LUUC) is the most intuitive reflection of human activities and a key driver causing changes in ecosystem types and landscape pattern evolution [162]. Changes in land use patterns, structure, composition, intensity, and spatial patterns due to natural and anthropogenic factors affect ecosystem processes such as species movement, soil erosion, and patterns of biodiversity distribution, which in turn affect a wide range of ecosystem services, such as food provisioning, flood storage, soil retention, and soil and water conservation, and ultimately affect human well-being. Most studies have shown that changes in land use landscape patterns affect ecosystem services through multiple pathways, including changes in biodiversity, ecosystem processes and habitats. Land use change and ecosystem services have a reciprocal relationship, and the evolution of land use landscape pattern will directly affect or change the structure and function of ecosystems, which ultimately affects ecosystem services, while the results of the ecosystem services assessment can also provide a scientific basis for the formulation of relevant policies. Therefore, understanding the relationship between the evolution of land-use landscape patterns and the response of ecosystem services can not only clearly reveal the process of land-use landscape evolution, but also more accurately assess the function of ecosystem services, which can promote the scientific formulation and effective implementation of relevant planning and protection policies.

Widespread exposure to SARS-CoV-2 in wildlife communities

Pervasive SARS-CoV-2 infections in humans have led to multiple transmission events to animals. While SARS-CoV-2 has a potential broad wildlife host range, most documented infections have been in captive animals and a single wildlife species, the white-tailed deer. The full extent of SARS-CoV-2 exposure among wildlife communities and the factors that influence wildlife transmission risk remain unknown. We sampled 23 species of wildlife for SARS-CoV-2 and examined the effects of urbanization and human use on seropositivity. Here, we document positive detections of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in six species, including the deer mouse, Virginia opossum, raccoon, groundhog, Eastern cottontail, and Eastern red bat between May 2022–September 2023 across Virginia and Washington, D.C., USA. In addition, we found that sites with high human activity had three times higher seroprevalence than low human-use areas. We obtained SARS-CoV-2 genomic sequences from nine individuals of six species which were assigned to seven Pango lineages of the Omicron variant. The close match to variants circulating in humans at the time suggests at least seven recent human-to-animal transmission events. Our data support that exposure to SARS-CoV-2 has been widespread in wildlife communities and suggests that areas with high human activity may serve as points of contact for cross-species transmission.

Evaluating inequality divides in urban development intensity between the Global North and South

As the significance of cities worldwide with regard to human activities increases, Urban Development Intensity (UDI) becomes an increasingly critical factor for achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Target 11.3 and serves as a scientific foundation for establishing urban land development guidelines. However, the existing literature lacks systematic quantification of fine-scale UDI on the global scale. In this study, we propose a comprehensive framework for evaluating UDI globally, utilizing multi-source surveys to compare spatial variations between the Global North and South. We created structured grided UDI layers at a 1-km resolution covering urban areas worldwide, considering various aspects of urban development on land surface characterized by three-dimensional (3D) building metrics, population density, nighttime lights, and transport constructions. By employing composite models and the inequality index, we assessed UDI disparities across 6986 cities and metropolitan areas globally to investigate variations in UDI levels and heterogeneity among the Global North–South regions, inter-city, and intra-city contexts. Furthermore, the bivariate local Moran’s I statistic and k-medoid algorithm were utilized to identify spatial and pattern clusters of UDI among global cities. Our findings revealed diverse spatial distribution of multi-source UDI differences globally, with urban areas in the Global North generally exhibiting higher and more equitable intensity than that exhibited by urban areas in the Global South, where the intensity tends to be lower at the urban peripheries and highly concentrated in city centers. Recognizing the disparities and clustering patterns of UDI levels of global cities underscore the importance of promoting urban equalization to ensure containment and drive improvement in UDI towards diverse models under local urban circumstances for effective implementation of sustainable urbanization development across cities both in the Global North and South.

Closing the loop: Structural, environmental and regional assessments of industrial symbiosis

Regional symbiosis, based on industrial symbiosis principles, is one possible strategy for managing the environmental impact of human activities and the increasing risks associated with resource availability. An assessment is needed to ensure the benefits of implementing synergies in a region. Current research focuses on the environmental and structural analysis of symbiosis networks but lacks frameworks that consider the benefits of symbiosis at the regional scale. By combining ecological network analysis (ENA), circularity metrics and the life cycle assessment (LCA) approach, this study intends to analyze the benefits brought by expanding industrial symbiosis to a broader region. Through the analysis of different symbiosis scenarios under two energetic cases (electricity and biomethane production), the study showed that implementing regional symbiosis was a lever to improve the robustness, the circularity and the environmental impact of the system. The environmental dimension was lowly affected by the scenario changes, but they provided a wider effect on regional metrics. The change in energetic production did not bring significant differences in the results. This study also showed that the structural metrics followed a different trend than the regional and environmental metrics, revealing the complementary views that were brought by the multidimensional analysis. It advocates for a holistic assessment of systems and highlights network structural organization, which should be accounted for in regional sustainability planning.

Current state of the problem of assessing the quality of life in patients with cervical cancer after organ-preserving treatment

An indicator of the effectiveness of treatment of cancer patients, in addition to oncological results, is also the preservation of their quality of life. Quality of life assessment is a modern research method that allows identifying even minor changes in any spheres of human activity in order to comprehensively determine the effectiveness of treatment. The quality of life of cancer patients is a priority and promising area of modern medicine.The article presents information about the current state of the problem of quality of life of patients with cervical cancer after organ-preserving treatment. The results of a number of foreign studies published on this topic are presented. In addition, the results of a prospective study conducted in the Department of Gynecology of the Tomsk Oncology Research Institute are presented. In conclusion, the need for additional study of reproductive results and determining which factors need to be further evaluated, speaking of a comprehensive assessment, is shown.

Impact of engineering measures on water exchange and water quality in semi-closed bay: A model study in Zhelin Bay

Coastal aquatic environments are increasingly polluted due to human activities such as engineering, fishing, and agriculture. Semi-enclosed bays are particularly vulnerable to this issue due to weaker tidal currents and water circulation than open coastal areas. Although engineering measures, such as tidal channel dredging, have been implemented, their impact on semi-enclosed bays remains inadequately quantified. This study aimed to investigate the water exchange and water quality of Zhelin Bay, a semi-enclosed bay, after the implementation of two engineering measures: dredging the LG (Ligang) Channel and upgrading the SBM (Sanbaimen) Gate. The finite element model TELEMAC was used to simulate hydrodynamic processes before and after these two measures. The LG Channel dredging project increased flow velocity and tracer discharge during ebbing tides. The watergate project significantly reduced the semi-exchange time of adjacent waters. The combined two measures could enhance water exchange by up to 15 %. Furthermore, the projects slightly impacted spatial distribution of COD, while TP and TN levels near the SBM Gate decreased over by 80 %. This study represents the first effort to evaluate the water exchange improvement strategy of Zhelin Bay, a semi-enclosed bay with multiple tidal channels, and provides valuable insights for future research in marine ecology protection.

Restored vegetation dominates the decrease in surface and subsurface runoff on the Loess Plateau

Understanding the runoff generation response to environmental changes at the basin scale can provide insights into the evolution of hydrological processes. The objective of this study is to detect and attribute the changes in surface and subsurface runoff in the Chinese Loess Plateau, a region with significant environmental and hydrological changes in the past several decades, to understand how and to what extent the runoff generation can be changed. Taking 13 basins (comprising 56 hydrological stations) on the Chinese Loess Plateau as the study area, we identified rainfall-runoff events and established indicators (event surface runoff coefficient, event timescale, normalized event peak discharge, baseflow, and baseflow index) to characterize the runoff generation, and further attributed the changes in runoff generation characteristics before (1961–2000) and after (2001–2019) the revegetation project. In particular, we inversely estimated the parameters of Soil Conservation Service Curve Number (SCS-CN) to analyze the initial abstraction and potential maximum retention under changing environment. Surface and subsurface runoff significantly decreased, with the surface runoff coefficient and baseflow decreasing by 34 % ± 24 % and 26 % ± 23 %, respectively. The surface runoff hydrograph became flatter with a 75 % decrease in the normalized event peak discharge and 82 % increase in the timescale of surface runoff, respectively. Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (32 %) and population (34 %) dominated the increase in the potential maximum retention, with 84 % of stations experiencing growth exceeding 100 %. The reduction in surface runoff can be primarily attributed to the enhanced soil infiltration due to revegetation and other human activities. Higher evapotranspiration resulting from revegetation was likely the dominant factor leading to the decrease in subsurface runoff. This study detailed the impacts of revegetation on surface and subsurface runoff generation, which can enhance our understanding of hydrological changes.

The influence of air pollution on asthma in athletes – a brief review of the literature

Introduction and purpose Air pollution, stemming from natural occurrences and human activities, significantly threatens global health, particularly impacting respiratory conditions like asthma. Air pollution substantially influences asthma exacerbation in athletes, a group particularly vulnerable due to their high physical activity levels and increased respiratory demands. Key pollutants, including particulate matter (PM), ground-level ozone (O3), sulfur dioxide (SO2), and nitrogen dioxide (NO2), play critical roles in asthma development and exacerbation. The State of Knowledge Asthma, a chronic inflammatory disease influenced by genetic predisposition and environmental factors like air pollution, is characterized by airway hyperresponsiveness, obstruction, and chronic inflammation, leading to symptoms such as shortness of breath, coughing, wheezing, and chest tightness. Research highlights the link between air pollution exposure and asthma development, with PM2.5 exposure associated with increased asthma risk and pollutants exacerbating symptoms, especially in children. Athletes inhaling air pollutants during exercise face increased airway inflammation, mucus production, and bronchospasm, worsening asthma symptoms like wheezing and shortness of breath. Chronic exposure decreases lung function, increasing reliance on medication and limiting outdoor training on polluted days. Summary Effective asthma management amidst air pollution requires personal, community, and governmental measures. Patients should minimize exposure by wearing N95 masks and choosing low-traffic routes. Governments must monitor pollution, inform the public, and control emissions through alternative fuels and technologies. Adhering to WHO air quality guidelines could prevent many new asthma cases, emphasizing comprehensive air quality management's importance, especially among vulnerable populations like children.