Individual Pollutants Research Articles

Changes in Biochemical Parameters, Antioxidative Enzymes and Histopathology of Liver Induced by Cadmium (Cd) and Chlorpyrifos (CPF) in Wistar Rats

Background: Cd and CPF intoxication may occur directly through drinking water. Since the population tend to receive combination of multiple intoxicants through environment contamination, there is need for conducting studies to assess the impact of individual and combined environmental pollutants. The present research work was designed to study hepatotoxicity induced by Cd, CPF and their combination.Methods: The experiment was carried out for 28 days in Wistar rats. G1: Control. G-2:CdCl2 @ 22.5mg/ kg b.wt / oral. G3: CPF @ 25 mg/ kg b.wt /per oral. G4:CdCl2@22.5 mg + CPF @ 25 mg/ kg b.wt /per oral. Biochemical parameters ware estimated from serum and liver samples were processed for tissue antioxidative parameters and histopathological examination. Result: Higher mean values of AST, ALT, ALP and lower liver GSH and SOD were observed in G2, 3 and 4 on 15th and 29th day when compared with G1. Liver in G2 and 3 showed mild degenerative changes, areas of necrosis and loss of architecture. In G4, lesions were moderate in severity. In addition, moderate perivascular fibrosis of portal triad was observed. The effects in combined group were severe than individual groups due to synergistic action of the combined pollutants.

Statistical Evaluation of Quantities Measured in the Detection of Soil Air Pollution of the Environmental Burden

The article highlights the investigation of the relationships between measured quantities during the atmospheric geochemical survey of contaminated soil and the environmental burden of the industrial establishment in eastern Slovakia. Statistical data processing was undertaken from the measured values of pollutants. The basic statistical characteristics of the monitored indicators were defined here. With the help of regressive and correlative analysis, dependency was confirmed between examined values, further expressed by a mathematical relationship. We analysed variability of the measured variables due to the influence of changed input quantities by the non-parametric Wilcox test. The statistical data processing helps us to identify the dependency between the measured values and improves valorization of the pollution of a given environmental burden. This was due to the handling of organic pollutants and the production of basic organic and inorganic chemicals stated for other industries. Chemical analysis of soil air helps us to determine the extent and amount of soil contamination by pollutants. Individual pollutants have their own characteristic properties and their negative effects on biota, the environment and humans are different.

Could Air Quality Get Better during Epidemic Prevention and Control in China? An Analysis Based on Regression Discontinuity Design

Though many scholars and practitioners are paying more attention to the health and life of the public after the COVID-19 outbreak, extant literature has so far failed to explore the variation of ambient air quality during this pandemic. The current study attempts to fill the gap by disentangling the causal effects of epidemic prevention on air quality in China, measured by the individual pollutant dimensionless index, from other confounding factors. Using the fixed effects model, this article finds that five air indicators, PM2.5, PM10, CO, NO2, and SO2, significantly improved during the shutdown period, with NO2 showing the most improvement. On the contrary, O3 shows an inverse pattern, that is, O3 gets worse unexpectedly. The positive impact of epidemic prevention on air quality, especially in terms of PM2.5, PM10, and NO2, become manifest five days after the resumption of labor, indicated by the result of a regression discontinuity design. These findings are still robust and consistent after the dataset of 2019 as a counterfactual sample is utilized. The findings of this paper make contributions to both environmental governance and pandemic prevention, with relevant guidelines regarding the health and life of the public and governmental behavioral management strategies discussed.

Source apportionment and health risk assessment of potentially toxic elements in soil from mining areas in northwestern China.

Soil contaminated with toxic elements from mining activities is a public health concern. In order to obtain a comprehensive understanding of the status and potential risks of inorganic toxic elements in soil resulting from mining activities, Cu, Pb, Cr, Zn, Ni, As, and Cd were selected to evaluate a total of 42 soil samples collected from Gannan mining areas in northwestern China. The concentrations of As and Cd were much higher than their respective background values, while the concentrations of the other elements fluctuated around their background values. Results of combined multivariate statistical analyses and the distribution patterns of the individual pollutants imply that the toxic elements were originated from different sources even for one element in different sampling locations. The pollution index values indicated that As and Cd have a moderate to high pollution levels. The geo-accumulation indexes (Igeo) indicated that Cu, Pb, Cr, Zn, and Ni are likely of geologic origin, while As and Cd have been significantly affected by anthropogenic activities. Potential ecological risk indexes further showed that soils from mining areas within the study area pose a high potential ecological risk, and As and Cd were major risk contributors. Based on the calculated Hazard Index, the ingestion of soil particles appeared to be the main exposure route resulting in a higher risk, followed by dermal contact. The potential health risks of children and adults for As were greater than the safe level. The carcinogenic risk associated with As for local residents was also higher than the accepted levels, indicating a serious health risk to local residents. These results suggest that proper management strategies and various remediation practices should be implemented in the Gannan mining area in northwestern China.

A novel causality-centrality-based method for the analysis of the impacts of air pollutants on PM2.5 concentrations in China

In this paper, we analyzed the spatial and temporal causality and graph-based centrality relationship between air pollutants and PM2.5 concentrations in China from 2013 to 2017. NO2, SO2, CO and O3 were considered the main components of pollution that affected the health of people; thus, various joint regression models were built to reveal the causal direction from these individual pollutants to PM2.5 concentrations. In this causal centrality analysis, Beijing was the most important area in the Jing-Jin-Ji region because of its developed economy and large population. Pollutants in Beijing and peripheral cities were studied. The results showed that NO2 pollutants play a vital role in the PM2.5 concentrations in Beijing and its surrounding areas. An obvious causality direction and betweenness centrality were observed in the northern cities compared with others, demonstrating the fact that the more developed cities were most seriously polluted. Superior performance with causal centrality characteristics in the recognition of PM2.5 concentrations has been achieved.

Air Pollution Status in 10 Mega-Cities in China during the Initial Phase of the COVID-19 Outbreak.

Over the past decades, urbanization and industrialization have led to a change in air quality, bringing researchers to a full realization of the damaging effects of human activities on the environment. This study focused on describing air quality during the initial phase of the Novel Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic (since there were fewer anthropogenic activities) in 10 Chinese mega-cities. Using the independent t-test, the means of air quality index (AQI) scores and individual air pollutants concentration during the outbreak were compared with the means before the outbreak. Cohen’s d was estimated to quantify how much difference was observed. Based on the AQI score, the air quality in these 10 cities ranged from excellent (Shenzhen) to light pollution (Xi’an) with 44.8 μg m−3 and 119.7 μg m−3, respectively. In comparison to the 2019 air quality, Guangzhou and Wuhan noted major differences in air quality during the outbreak. Indicators of traffic pollution, particularly NO2, were significantly lower during the outbreak in all cities. Particulate matter pollution varied, with some cities observing lower concentrations and other higher concentrations during the outbreak. There was a significant decrease in air pollution levels during the outbreak. More researchers should observe changes in air quality during peculiar or major events. Implementation of stringent regulation on vehicle use should be considered in mega-cities. Relevant findings should be employed in emphasizing the detrimental effects of anthropogenic activities and support the need for stringent emission control regulations.

Effects of Outdoor Temperature on Blood Pressure in a Prospective Cohort of Northwest China

ObjectiveThe relationship between outdoor temperature and blood pressure (BP) has been inconclusive. We analyzed data from a prospective cohort study in northwestern China to investigate the effect of outdoor temperature on BP and effect modification by season. MethodsA total of 32,710 individuals who participated in both the baseline survey and the first follow-up in 2011–2015 were included in the study. A linear mixed-effect model and generalized additive mixed model (GAMM) were applied to estimate the association between outdoor temperature and BP after adjusting for confounding variables. ResultsThe mean differences in systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) between summer and winter were 3.5 mmHg and 2.75 mmHg, respectively. After adjusting for individual characteristics, meteorological factors and air pollutants, a significant increase in SBP and DBP was observed for lag 06 day and lag 04 day, a 0.28 mmHg (95% CI: 0.27–0.30) per 1 °C decrease in average temperature for SBP and a 0.16 mmHg (95% CI: 0.15–0.17) per 1 °C decrease in average temperature for DBP, respectively. The effects of the average temperature on both SBP and DBP were stronger in summer than in other seasons. The effects of the average temperature on BP were also greater if individuals were older, male, overweight or obese, a smoker or drinker, or had cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), hypertension, and diabetes. ConclusionsThis study demonstrated a significant negative association between outdoor temperature and BP in a high-altitude environment of northwest China. Moreover, BP showed a significant seasonal variation. The association between BP and temperature differed by season and individuals’ demographic characteristics (age, gender, BMI), unhealthy behaviors (smoking and alcohol consumption), and chronic disease status (CVDs, hypertension, and diabetes).

Saving Liberalism through Meaningful Choices. Restating the Case for an Individual Carbon Card

ABSTRACT Contrary to the narrative of sustainability, the article departs from the position that there is a tension between environmental regulation and liberalism as we commonly understand it. The article argues that this tension emerges because effectively addressing climate change will require to alter profoundly the way we live. The article analyses this tension in terms of two explanans: first, there are physical limits to the actions people can perform without endangering the environment; second, consumption has become a language with which is possible to express one’s identity and, it will be argued, cannot be easily regulated. The article advances the argument that the introduction of a carbon card policy could ease this tension: it allows a limit to be placed on individual polluting activities while safeguarding a realm of choice over the goods and services that people want to acquire, thus allowing them to retain the social meaning of consumption. Finally, the article argues that a carbon card policy could also have other ‘positive externalities.’

Incubation in Wastewater Reduces the Multigenerational Effects of Microplastics in Daphnia magna.

The aging of microplastics in the environment changes their physicochemical properties. While this may affect their toxicity, comparative data on the effects of aged compared to pristine microplastics are scarce. One of those aging processes is the sorption of chemicals, which has mainly been studied for individual pollutants present in marine ecosystems. To investigate how the sorption of a complex mixture of freshwater pollutants affects the toxicity of microplastics, we incubated irregular polystyrene particles (≤63 μm) in either wastewater or ultrapure water. We exposed Daphnia magna to these aged microplastics and their pristine counterparts (80, 400, 2000, and 10,000 particles mL–1) over four generations using food limitation as an additional, environmentally realistic stressor. Both particle types affect the survival, reproduction, adult and neonate body lengths, and growth. An exposure to pristine microplastics results in the extinction of the third generation of daphnids. In contrast, wastewater-incubated particles induced a lower mortality. The incubation with wastewater does not change the microplastics’ size, surface charge, and structure. Consistent with the literature, we assume that the adsorption of dissolved organic matter is a key aging process reducing the toxicity of microplastics. Consequently, toxicity testing using pristine microplastics may overestimate the effects of plastic particles in nature.

Spatiotemporal impact of major events on air quality based on spatial differences-in-differences model: big data analysis from China.

In an attempt to investigate the impact of major events on urban air quality in terms of the extent, duration and spatial scope, data on the daily air quality index and the concentrations of individual pollutants are collected in 140 cities of China from January 2, 2015, to November 28, 2017. Based on a spatial differences-in-differences, the impact of major events, such as political conferences, sporting events at the national level, on urban air quality in the dimensions of time and space are explored. It is concluded that major events not only affected the air quality of the host city, but also exercised influence on the air quality of the surrounding areas. Recommendations for mitigating the impact of major events on urban air quality have been proposed, such as establish regional atmospheric environment management system and formulate regional unified standards for pollutant discharge, industrial access and law enforcement.

Controlling non-point source pollution in Cournot oligopolies with hyperbolic demand

This paper constructs an n-firm Cournot oligopoly in which the price function is hyperbolic. It provides a game-theoretic approach to characterize the ambient charge’s impact on NPS pollution’s total and individual emission levels. The main findings are as follows: (1) the positivity of individual Cournot output depends on the marginal production cost, the average abatement technology and the number of firms in the industry; (2) the ambient charge is effective for controlling the total amount of NPS pollution when the average marginal production cost is less than the average emission coefficient; (3) the ambient charge is also effective for controlling the individual pollution when the tax rate and the average pollution level are sufficiently high; (4) assuming hyperbolic rather than linear demand, stronger parametric conditions are necessary for the effectiveness of the ambient charge.

ТЯЖЕЛЫЕ МЕТАЛЛЫ В ГОРОДСКИХ ПОЧВАХ: ОЦЕНКА СОДЕРЖАНИЯ И ЭКОЛОГИЧЕСКОГО РИСКА

Актуальность исследования обусловлена необходимостью выявления особенностей накопления тяжелых металлов в почвах урболандшафтов Владивостока и Уссурийска и установления величины потенциального экологического риска. Целью работы является оценка геохимического состояния почв различных функциональных зон урболандшафтов с использованием нескольких индексов загрязнения. Методы. Валовое содержание элементов в почвах определяли методом рентгенфлуоресцентного анализа на спектрометре EDX-800HS (Shimadzu). Результаты. Под влиянием сильной техногенной нагрузки в верхних горизонтах почв урболандшафтов в наибольшей степени накапливаются хром, медь, цинк и свинец. Содержание ванадия, кобальта и никеля сравнимо с кларком или ниже его. Средние и максимальные значения комплексных коэффициентов загрязнения PLI и NPI свидетельствуют о деградации поверхностного слоя городских почв и сильной степени загрязнения тяжелыми металлами. Потенциальный экологический риск колеблется от незначительного до среднего. Степень загрязнения почв различных функциональных зон увеличивается в следующем ряду: рекреационная<многоэтажной застройки<транспортно-селитебная<малоэтажной застройки, уровень загрязнения варьирует от оценки «чиста почва» до оценки «сильно загрязненная почва». В некоторых почвах рекреационной зоны выявлена слабая аккумуляция хрома, цинка и меди. В почвах зоны многоэтажной застройки во Владивостоке обнаружено накопление хрома, меди, свинца и цинка (от слабого до среднего), а в Уссурийске отмечено только накопление меди. В почвах транспортно-селитебной зоны и зоны малоэтажной застройки с разной степенью интенсивности аккумулируются хром, медь, свинец и цинк. Более высокие значения как индивидуальных (Igeo, EF, PI), так и комплексных показателей загрязнения (NPI, PLI, PERI) выявлены в почвах Владивосток.

The risk assessment of inorganic and organic pollutant levels in an urban area affected by intensive industry.

The city of Litvínov (North Bohemia, Czech Republic) is seriously affected by coal mining, coal processing, and intensive industrial activities. Within the urban area, the potential environmental hazard of risk elements (in soil and vegetation) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs, in soils) was estimated using selected environmental and human health hazard indices. In total, 24 sites were sampled, including the city center, residential areas, industrialized zone, and areas close to operating and/or abandoned coal mines. The results showed elevated values of As, Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn in soils (the maximum levels of individual pollution indices varied between 3 and 5 for As, Pb, and Zn); the risk assessment code (RAC) values indicated high bioaccessibility of Cd and Zn. The high mobility of Cd was confirmed by their bioaccumulation factors (BAF) in the aboveground biomass of Taraxacum sect. Ruderalia and Polygonum aviculare, reaching up to 1.9 and 2.9, respectively. The Cd content in plants presents a substantial health hazard for herbivores such as Oryctolagus cuniculus living within the urban area. The PAH levels in the soils also showed elevated values; the contents of benzo(a)pyrene exceeded more than 2-fold the indicative values for potential health risk for biota, especially near the abandoned coal mines. The incremental lifetime cancer risks (ILCR) for ingestion of the contaminated soil showed only low or negligible cancerogenic risk, varying between 6.7 × 10-7 and 1.6 × 10-5 for children, and between 9.9 × 10-7 and 2.7 × 10-6 for adults. However, the potential health impact of the inhalation of the contaminated particulate matter should be included in the further research. Although the contamination level in the investigated area does not represent an imminent environmental and health risk, the potential remediation measures should be considered in the future.

Road and railway noise and risk for breast cancer: A nationwide study covering Denmark

ObjectivePrevious studies have suggested that transportation noise may increase risk for breast cancer, but existing literature is scarce and inconclusive. We aimed to investigate associations between road traffic and railway noise and risk for breast cancer across the entire Danish female population. MethodsFor all 2.8 million residential addresses across Denmark, we modelled road and railway noise at the most and least exposed façades for the period 1990–2017. We calculated 10-year time-weighted mean noise exposure for 1.8 million women aged >35 years, of whom 66,006 developed breast cancer during follow-up from 2000 to 2017. We analysed data using Cox proportional hazards models with noise exposure included as 10-year running means and adjusted for a number of individual and area-level socioeconomic co-variates and air pollution with fine particles estimated for all addresses. ResultsFor exposures at the least exposed façade, we found that a 10 dB increase in 10-year time-weighted noise was associated with incidence rate ratios (IRRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for breast cancer of 1.032 (1.019–1.046) for road noise and 1.023 (0.993–1.053) for railway noise. For exposures at the most exposed façade, the IRRs (95% CIs) were 1.012 (1.002–1.022) for road noise and 1.020 (1.001–1.039) for railway noise. Associations were strongest among women with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 negative breast cancer. ConclusionsRoad traffic and railway noise were associated with higher risk for breast cancer, especially noise at the least exposed façade, which is a proxy for noise exposure during sleep.

Impact of long-term exposure to ambient air pollution on the incidence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: It is well known that air pollution causes respiratory morbidity and mortality by inducing airway inflammation. However, whether long-term exposure to air pollution is associated with increased incidence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is controversial. Methods: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis with a random-effects model to calculate the pooled risk estimates of COPD development per 10 μg/m3 increase in individual air pollutants. PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library were searched from the date of their inception to August 2019 to identify long-term (at least three years of observation) prospective longitudinal studies that reported the risk of COPD development due to exposure to air pollutants. The air pollutants studied included particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2). Results: Of the 436 studies identified, seven met our eligibility criteria. Among the seven studies, six, three, and five had data on PM2.5, PM10, and NO2, respectively. The meta-analysis results showed that a 10 μg/m3 increase in PM2.5 is associated with increased incidence of COPD (pooled HR 1.18, 95% CI 1.13–1.23). We also noted that a 10 μg/m3 increase in NO2 is marginally associated with increased incidence of COPD (pooled HR 1.07, 95% CI 1.00–1.16). PM10 seems to have no significant impact on the incidence of COPD (pooled HR 0.95, 95% CI 0.83–1.08), although the number of studies was too small. Meta-regression analysis found no significant effect modifiers. Conclusions: Long-term exposure to PM2.5 and NO2 can be associated with increased incidence of COPD.

Inorganic pollutants in used windows

Although the circular economy and use of secondary raw materials are becoming increasingly important, recycled wood is currently still very poorly utilised, with most used to produce energy. One potential sources of recycled wood is old wooden windows. Many wooden windows are now being replaced due to inadequate energy characteristics, while such wood is often still in good condition, without signs of decay. The main problem with the use of wood from used windows for the production of new products is surface coatings. The study examined the influence of age, type and surface treatment on the proportion of inorganic pollutants. First, all non-wood materials were removed from the window profiles. Afterwards, the profiles were cut into the 5 mm thick slides, to measure how deeply the inorganic contaminants penetrated into the wood. The wood was analysed with an X-ray fluorescent spectrometer, and the concentrations of individual inorganic pollutants were determined (Cr, Cu, Cl, Fe, Zn, Pb). The results showed that the concentrations of inorganic pollutants depended on the age of the windows and the surface protection used. This study has shown that used windows can be a raw material for the production of new products and materials, provided that the surface layer is removed before use.

Associations of residential and occupational history with the distribution of persistent pollutant mixtures in adipose tissue samples

This research aims to explore clusters of a mixture of 15 Persistent Toxic Substances (PTSs) in the adipose tissue of 227 individuals of an adult cohort from Granada Province (Southern Spain). Information about residence and occupation during participants lifetime was gathered by means of validated questionnaires. Clusters of pollutants in the study population were identified by Principal Component Analyses (PCA). PCA analyses revealed three major clusters of pollutants: PC1, representing predominantly an assortment of metal(loid)s, namely aluminium, arsenic, chromium, nickel and lead; PC2, including mostly Organochlorine Pesticides (OCPs), such as HCB, β-HCH and p,p’-DDE; and PC3, gathering mainly a mixture of Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCB-138, PCB-153 and PCB-180) and metals (cadmium, cobalt and chromium). The patterns of distribution of individual pollutants and their mixtures were explored through Geographic Information Systems and multivariable linear regression models. Living in rural areas was associated with decreased levels of the mixture of PCBs and metals. Residents of industrial and heavy traffic areas showed increased levels of the mixture of metal(loid)s. Those living in rural and semi-rural areas at recruitment had decreased levels of the OCP mixture. Occupational history related to agriculture and food industry was associated with increased levels of the mixture of metal(loid)s, whereas those who had been involved in motor and industrial activities showed increased levels of the OCP mixture. Participants who had worked in cleaning and housekeeping activities for long periods showed decreased levels of the mixture of PCBs and metals. Our research revealed suggestive clusters of exposure, that emphasized the need for further epidemiological studies to address the effect of environmental pollutants from a mixture perspective. Results also highlight the potential of adipose tissue as a matrix for exposure assessment to combinations of different families of contaminants.

Effects of AIR pollution on cardiopuLmonary disEaSe in urban and peri-urban reSidents in Beijing: protocol for the AIRLESS study

Abstract. Beijing, as a representative megacity in China, is experiencing some of the most severe air pollution episodes in the world, and its fast urbanization has led to substantial urban and peri-urban disparities in both health status and air quality. Uncertainties remain regarding the possible causal links between individual air pollutants and health outcomes, with spatial comparative investigations of these links lacking, particularly in developing megacities. In light of this challenge, Effects of AIR pollution on cardiopuLmonary disEaSe in urban and peri-urban reSidents in Beijing (AIRLESS) was initiated, with the aim of addressing the complex issue of relating multi-pollutant exposure to cardiopulmonary outcomes. This paper presents the novel methodological framework employed in the project, namely (1) the deployment of two panel studies from established cohorts in urban and peri-urban Beijing, with different exposure settings regarding pollution levels and diverse sources; (2) the collection of detailed measurements and biomarkers of participants from a nested case (hypertensive) and control (healthy) study setting; (3) the assessment of indoor and personal exposure to multiple gaseous pollutants and particulate matter at unprecedented spatial and temporal resolution with validated novel sensor technologies; (4) the assessment of ambient air pollution levels in a large-scale field campaign, particularly the chemical composition of particulate matter. Preliminary results showed that there is a large difference between ambient and personal air pollution levels, and the differences varied between seasons and locations. These large differences were reflected on the different health responses between the two panels.

Detection of emissions from the combustion of wood-based materials being furniture industry waste

The inappropriate combustion of furniture-industry waste can be a source of serious environmental problems. We proposed a method which is capable to distinguish the emission resulting from the combustion of wood-based materials, the essential component of such waste. The originality of the approach consists in the classification of gas mixtures instead of focussing on the individual pollutants emitted to the atmosphere. The classification of emission was based on the measurements applying differential ion mobility spectrometry (DMS) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometry, for comparison. There were successfully distinguished emissions associated with combustion of wood-based materials: OSB board, MDF board and plywood (≥95% correct classifications in the class (ccc)) and wood: pellet and kindling wood (≥92% ccc). Results of classification based on DMS and FTIR measurements were similar. Emissions from the combustion of individual materials were best distinguished using DMS (100% ccc), as compared with FTIR, which offered lower performance, mostly >90% ccc. Regarding pairwise classification, the most distinctive were emissions from the combustion of plywood (DMS: 99% ccc; FTIR: 99% ccc), MDF board (DMS: 99% ccc; FTIR: 99% ccc) and OSB board (DMS: 99% ccc; FTIR: 98% ccc). Emissions form kindling wood (DMS: 100% ccc; FTIR: 95% ccc) and pellet (DMS: 97% ccc; FTIR: 98% ccc) caused a bit more confusion. In most cases, results of classification based on DMS and FTIR measurements were comparable. The success of classification based on DMS measurements proved that it is possible to detect the harmful emission without determining the chemical composition of the flue gas. This solution represents a new approach to air quality monitoring, which recently attracts increasing attention.

INSIDE Project: Individual Air Pollution Exposure, Extracellular Vesicles Signaling and Hypertensive Disorder Development in Pregnancy.

Hypertensive disorders are common complications during pregnancy (HDP) with substantial public health impact. Acute and chronic particulate matter (PM) exposure during pregnancy increases the risk of HDP, although the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) may be the ideal candidates for mediating the effects of PM exposure in pregnancy as they are released in response to environmental stimuli. The INSIDE project aims to investigate this mechanism in pregnancy outcomes. The study population is enrolled at the Fetal Medicine Unit of Fondazione IRCCS Ca’Granda—Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico at 10–14 weeks of gestation. Exposure to PM10 and PM2.5 is assessed using the flexible air quality regional model (FARM) and Bayesian geostatistical models. Each woman provides a blood sample for EV analysis and circulating biomarker assessment. Moreover, a subgroup of recruited women (n = 85) is asked to participate in a cardiovascular screening program including a standard clinical evaluation, a non-invasive assessment of right ventricular function, and pulmonary circulation at rest and during exercise. These subjects are also asked to wear a personal particulate sampler, to measure PM10, PM2.5, and PM1. The INSIDE study is expected to identify the health impacts of PM exposure on pregnancy outcomes.