Mean Concentrations Of PM2 Research Articles

Adverse impacts of Asian dust events on human health and the environment—A probabilistic risk assessment study on particulate matter-bound metals and bacteria in Seoul, South Korea

This study aimed to assess the impact of Asian dust (AD) on the human health and the environment. Particulate matter (PM) and PM-bound trace elements and bacteria were examined to determine the chemical and biological hazards associated with AD days and compared with non-AD days in Seoul. On AD days, the mean PM10 concentration was ∼3.5 times higher than that on non-AD days. Elements generated from the Earth's crust (Al, Fe, and Ca) and anthropogenic sources (Pb, Ni, and Cd) were identified as major contributors to coarse and fine particles, respectively. During AD days, the study area was recognized as “severe” for pollution index and pollution load index levels, and “moderately to heavily polluted” for geoaccumulation index levels. The potential cancer risk (CR) and non-CR were estimated for the dust generated during AD events. On AD days, total CR levels were significant (in 1.08 × 10−5–2.22 × 10−5), which were associated with PM-bound As, Cd, and Ni. In addition, inhalation CR was found to be similar to the incremental lifetime CR levels estimated using the human respiratory tract mass deposition model. In a short exposure duration (14 days), high PM and bacterial mass deposition, significant non-CR levels, and a high presence of potential respiratory infection-causing pathogens (Rothia mucilaginosa) were observed during AD days. Significant non-CR levels were observed for bacterial exposure, despite insignificant levels of PM10-bound elements. Therefore, the substantial ecological risk, CR, and non-CR levels for inhalation exposure to PM-bound bacteria, and the presence of potential respiratory pathogens, indicate that AD events pose a significant risk to both human lung health and the environment. This study provides the first comprehensive examination of significant non-CR levels for bacteria and carcinogenicity of PM-bound metals during AD events.

Source apportionment of potentially toxic PM10 near a vast metallic ore mine and health risk assessment for residents exposed

Mining is an economic activity that traditionally releases large amounts of particulate matter into the atmosphere because of the procedures required to process the mineral. In particular, polymetallic ores are environmentally harmful as they can enrich potentially toxic elements, which may cause adverse effects to humans and ecosystems due to their toxicity. The aim was to assess the impact on health of this type of mining on nearby populations. Accordingly, it was conducted an extensive PM10 sampling campaign during the entirety of 2021 through a total of 248 filters placed in three villages close to the Rio Tinto district (Southwest Spain), which is one of the largest Cu mines in the world. A total of 58 major and trace elements were analysed, along with organic carbon/elemental carbon, cations, and anions. The mean PM10 concentrations were high during spring (47 μgPM10⋅m−3) and summer (56 μgPM10⋅m−3) in the population closest to the mine, wherein values surpassed the annual and daily limit values, but were lower in the other two villages. Moreover, high enrichment of As (annual maximum mean of 6.2 ng⋅m−3), Cu (70 ng⋅m−3), Pb (19 ng⋅m−3), and Zn (50 ng⋅m−3) was observed in all locations. A positive matrix factorization (PMF) was primarily used to assess the origins of this particulate matter, revealing that the impact of the mine reduced considerably over a long distance, with contributions ranging from 36% at the mine's outskirts to 8% further away from it, which coincides with the features of the mine during the abandonment phase (2001–2015). Despite this, the risk assessment revealed that the carcinogens were within the permissible exposure limits even in the closest village, indicating a minor concern for the inhabitants from a toxicological perspective.

Air pollution and decreased bone mineral density among Women's Health Initiative participants.

Osteoporosis heavily affects postmenopausal women and is influenced by environmental exposures. Determining the impact of criteria air pollutants and their mixtures on bone mineral density (BMD) in postmenopausal women is an urgent priority. We conducted a prospective observational study using data from the ethnically diverse Women's Health Initiative Study (WHI) (enrollment, September 1994-December 1998; data analysis, January 2020 to August 2022). We used log-normal, ordinary kriging to estimate daily mean concentrations of PM10, NO, NO2, and SO2 at participants' geocoded addresses (1-, 3-, and 5-year averages before BMD assessments). We measured whole-body, total hip, femoral neck, and lumbar spine BMD at enrollment and follow-up (Y1, Y3, Y6) via dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. We estimated associations using multivariable linear and linear mixed-effects models and mixture effects using Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) models. In cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses, mean PM10, NO, NO2, and SO2 averaged over 1, 3, and 5 years before the visit were negatively associated with whole-body, total hip, femoral neck, and lumbar spine BMD. For example, lumbar spine BMD decreased 0.026 (95% CI: 0.016, 0.036) g/cm2/year per a 10% increase in 3-year mean NO2 concentration. BKMR suggested that nitrogen oxides exposure was inversely associated with whole-body and lumbar spine BMD. In this cohort study, higher levels of air pollutants were associated with bone damage, particularly on lumbar spine, among postmenopausal women. These findings highlight nitrogen oxides exposure as a leading contributor to bone loss in postmenopausal women, expanding previous findings of air pollution-related bone damage. US National Institutes of Health.

Indoor Air Quality and Smoking Control in Healthcare Environments in Northern China

Background: Air pollution has adverse effects on human health, while people experience regular contact with air pollutants in a high concentration via inhalation and ingestion. Nowadays, the average person spends more than 90% of their lifetime inside both private and public buildings, and this figure can reach close to 100% for the sick or elderly who cannot take care of themselves. Attention should be paid to indoor air quality (IAQ), especially for certain groups in specific places. Purpose: This study intends to investigate indoor air quality in a large general hospital in Northern China, where people desire clean air for good nursing, and then propose solutions to any air pollution present. Methods: Some influential factors related to air pollution, including PM2.5 and PM10, were measured in winter. Observations were applied to indicate that the smoking behaviors of medical staff were an important contributor to air pollution. Experimental measurements were designed to test the concentration of airborne nicotine. Questionnaire surveys and follow-up interviews were conducted to understand attitudes towards smoking behaviors and offer design strategies. Results: The scopes of 24 h mean concentrations of PM2.5 (10.2~57.8 µg/m3, 17.5~45.5 µg/m3, and 20.5~91.1 µg/m3) and PM10 (17.7~81.8 µg/m3, 13.0~83.8 µg/m3, and 31.7~188.1 µg/m3) exceeded relevant guideline values, and the airborne nicotine concentrations (1.29 µg/m3 and 1.62 µg/m3) confirmed that smoking behaviors occurred in the consulting room. Conclusions: To control tobacco to ensure good indoor air quality, smoking behaviors should be managed instead of forbidden. This will also provide greater satisfaction to medical staff. Smoking behavior management requires a comprehensive consideration based on ambient conditions and psychological demands. As there is a lack of specific requirements in relevant design regulations that are tailored to ensure the environmental satisfaction of medical staff, the findings from this study can be used as evidence to inform the design of healthcare environments for public health in future.

Possible Future Risks of Pollution Consequent to the Expansion of Oil and Gas Operations in Qatar

The air, water, and lands of the Arabian Gulf countries are exposed to contamination involving organic and inorganic components resulting from industrial energy sector activities. In Qatar, marine life and air are the primary elements of the ecosystem that pollution has negatively affected since the discovery and exportation of oil and gas. For example, the mean concentration of PM2.5 reached 105 µg/m3 in 2016. This poor air quality has been attributed to several factors: dust storms, vehicle emissions, and industrial emissions. Marine life around the peninsula of Qatar has been threatened by many factors, including discharge of desalinated seawater, oil and gas activities, and the impact of climate change. Studies conducted after multiple major events showed that levels of various types of pollutants were at acceptable levels. Some areas in the Arabian Gulf, such as the coasts of Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, are still considered chronically polluted and need continual monitoring in the long term. This review discusses the pollution status on the Qatari coastlines and the reasons behind the persistence of current levels of pollution in Arabian Gulf water. The role of microorganisms (bacteria, algae, and fungi) in a biological approach for environmental manipulation of pollution problems is discussed. The agricultural lands in Qatar are possible sites of pollution due to the potential expansion of the energy, industry, and construction sectors in the future. Currently, industrial wastewater is pumped deep into the ground, and seawater is intruding into the main-land, which is causing significant contamination of soils used for the cultivation of various crops. Possible measures are reported, and practical solutions to future pollution risks are discussed.

Personal PM2.5 Exposure Monitoring of Informal Cooking Vendors at Indoor and Outdoor Markets in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Air pollutants of concern include particulate matter (PM) in fine size fractions. Thus far, a few studies have been conducted to study the adverse health effects of environmental and occupational air pollutants among informal vendors in big cities in South Africa. Informal vendors in these cities may experience higher exposure to road dust, cooking fumes, and air pollution. This exposure assessment was part of a health risk assessment study of vendors. The objective of this exposure assessment was to determine the differences between outdoor and indoor informal vendors' personal PM2.5 exposures during trading hours. A walkthrough survey was conducted to map the homogeneous exposure groups (HEGs) at vendor markets for sampling purposes, and one market was selected from each of the three identified HEGs. Twenty-five informal cooked food vendors from both indoor (inside buildings) and outdoor (street or roadside vendors) markets in the inner city of Johannesburg, South Africa, participated in the study. HEG-1 were vendors from indoor stalls who used electricity and gas for cooking (10 vendors), HEG-2 was composed of informal outdoor vendors at a fenced site market who used open fire for cooking (10 vendors), and HEG-3 (5 vendors) were roadside vendors who used gas for cooking. Cooking vendors from outdoor markets recorded higher TWA concentrations than indoor market vendors. The vendors' PM2.5 concentrations ranged from <0.01 mg/m3 to 0.77 mg/m3. The mean concentrations of PM2.5 were found to be 0.12 mg/m3, and 0.18 mg/m3 for HEG-2, and HEG-3, respectively. HEG-2 recorded the highest PM2.5 TWA concentrations, followed by HEG-3 and HEG-1. All concentrations were below the South African occupational exposure limit. The findings point to the need for further research into the health risks associated with outdoor cooking vendors, particularly those who utilize open fires.

Spatiotemporal Assessment of PM2.5 Exposure of a High-risk Occupational Group in a Southeast Asian Megacity

Drivers of open-air public utility jeepneys (PUJs) in the Philippines are regularly exposed to severe levels of fine particulate pollution (PM2.5), making them the appropriate sub-population for investigating the health impacts of PM2.5 on populations chronically exposed to these kinds of unique sources. Real-time PM2.5 exposures of PUJ drivers for a high-traffic route in Metro Manila, Philippines were assessed using Academia Sinica-LUNG (AS_LUNG) portable sensing devices. From all 15-second measurements obtained, the mean concentration of PM2.5 is 36.4 µg m–3, seven times greater than the mean annual guideline value (5.0 µg m–3) set by the World Health Organization (WHO). Elevated levels of PM2.5 were observed at key transportation microenvironments (TMEs) such as a transport terminal and near a shopping mall. The occurrence of hotspots along the route is mainly attributed to traffic-promoting factors like stoplights and traffic rush hours. Multiple linear regression (MLR) analysis revealed that the area by the shopping mall had the highest contribution (β = 52 µg m–3) to PUJ driver exposure. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first in the country to perform a detailed characterization of the exposure of a high-risk occupational group to PM2.5. These results reveal information that is normally undetected by fixed site monitoring (FSM), underscoring the importance of mobile measurements as a complement to FSM in assessing the exposure of urban populations to air pollution more extensively. Furthermore, this study demonstrates the heavy influence of traffic-promoting factors on air pollution, and the feasibility of high-resolution mobile sensing for quantifying pollution characteristics in rapidly developing nations with unique air pollution sources. Gaps in our knowledge of their health impacts may be closed through quantifying exposure using reliable sensing devices and methods presented in this work.

An Assessment of Seasonal Variation of Carbon Emission and Carbon Sequestration in Rural Areas of Belagavi District, Karnataka

Introduction: Carbon emission cause climate change by trapping heat and they also contribute to respiratory disease from smog and air pollution. Therefore, reducing carbon emission is important because it mitigates the effects of global climate change, improves public health and maintains biodiversity. In carbon sequestration process atmospheric carbon is taken up by trees, grasses and plants through photosynthesis.&#x0D; Aim: Analyse the carbon emissions and estimate the carbon sequestration.&#x0D; Methodology: The study was conducted at Golihalli and Bidi village of Belagavi district, Karnataka in India to measure the carbon emission level through Air Quality Monitor and CO meter for one year. The carbon sequestration was assessed by non-destructive method.&#x0D; Results: An annual mean concentration of CO2 in Golihalli village was 924.33 ppm while in Bidi village 929.9 ppm and also the mean concentration of CO was 25.7 ppm in Golihalli village whereas 25.8 ppm in Bidi village. The mean concentration of PM2.5 was 57.8 μm3 and PM10 was 107.5 μm3 in Golihalli village however PM2.5 was 57.9 μm3 and PM10 was 108 μm3 in Bidi village. During the observation period, the maximum carbon emission concentration was measured in summer season and the minimum in rainy season. The largest value of carbon sequestration was seen in Tamarindus indica (530.22 gm) in Bidi village and Azdirachta indica (519.77 gm) in Golihalli village.&#x0D; Conclusion: The carbon emission concentration was exceeding the safe level in both villages because of rural people’s day-today activities and vehicular pollution. The trees with higher age and DBH have more carbon sequestration which could help in mitigate the effects of carbon emitted in the village.

Relationship Between Synoptic Weather Pattern and Surface Particulate Matter (PM) Concentration During Winter and Spring Seasons Over South Korea

AbstractRegional air quality over East Asia, including South Korea, has recently become a center of public attention because of a few episodes of very high particulate matter (PM) concentrations. Predicting PM variation with lead time of a few hours up to days is one of the key areas that the governments are working on because it can benefit from an early warning system to short‐term mitigation effort. In this study, the influence of synoptic weather conditions on regional air quality was investigated with the occurrence frequencies of PM episodes as a function of various synoptic weather patterns during winter and spring. During winter, dry moderate (DM) types occur frequently alongside high PM cases (24 hr mean PM10 concentration &gt;). The composite weather map showed a weak northwesterly wind field as a potential cause. On the contrary, it is interesting to note that dry polar types can be associated with low PM cases (24 hr mean PM10 concentration &lt;) as well as high PM depending on near‐surface wind speed. Furthermore, DM and dry tropical types were found to be highly correlated with high (higher) PM concentrations during spring season, likely because of the enhanced static stability in the lower troposphere. It should be noted that PM concentration depends on the lower atmospheric stability. The close relationship between synoptic weather patterns and PM concentration suggests that synoptic weather can play an important role in regional air quality.

Commuter's personal exposure to air pollutants after the implementation of a cable car for public transport: Results of the natural experiment TrUST

Commuters in urban settlements are frequently exposed to high concentrations of air pollutants due to their proximity to mobile sources, making exposure to traffic-related air pollutants an important public health issue. Recent trends in urban transport towards zero- and low-tailpipe emission alternatives will likely result in decreased exposure to air pollutants. The TrUST (Urban transformations and health) study offers a unique opportunity to understand the impacts of a new cable car (TransMiCable) in underserved communities within Bogotá, Colombia. The aims of this study are to assess the personal exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5), equivalent Black Carbon (eBC), and Carbon Monoxide (CO) in transport micro-environments and to estimate the inhaled dose per trip during mandatory multimodal trips before and after the implementation of the TransMiCable. We collected personal exposure data for Bus-Rapid-Transit (BRT) feeder buses, regular buses, informal transport, pedestrians, and TransMiCable. TransMiCable showed lower exposure concentration compared to BRT feeder and regular buses (PM2.5: 23.6 vs. 87.0 μg m−3 (P ≤ 0.001) and eBC: 5.2 vs. 28.2 μg m−3 (P ≤ 0.001), respectively). The mean concentration of PM2.5 and eBC inside the TransMiCable cabins were 62 % and 82 % lower than the mean concentrations in buses. Furthermore, using a Monte Carlo simulation model, we found that including the TransMiCable as a feeder is related to a 54.4 μg/trip reduction in PM2.5 inhaled dose and 35.8 μg/trip in eBC per trip. Those changes represent a 27 % and 34 % reduction in an inhaled dose per trip, respectively. Our results show that PM2.5, eBC, and CO inhaled dose for TransMiCable users is reduced due to lower exposure concentration inside its cabins and shorter travel time. The implementation of a cable car in Bogotá is likely to reduce air pollution exposure in transport micro-environments used by vulnerable populations living in semi-informal settlements.

Abstract 9899: Effects of Ambient Air Pollutants on Progression of Cardiac Structure and Function in the Echocardiographic Study of Latinos (Echo-SOL)

Background: Air pollutants may affect cardiac function; effects preceding clinical diagnosis of heart failure are not understood. We assessed longitudinal associations between fine particulate matter (PM 2.5 ), nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 ) and cardiac structure and function among 1,660 participants in the Echocardiographic Study of Latinos, in the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos. Hypothesis: Air pollution is associated with longitudinal changes in subclinical structure/function. Methods: Left ventricular (LV) mass index, relative wall thickness, average global longitudinal strain (GLS), LV ejection fraction, e’, left atrial (LA) volume index, E/e’ ratio, and diastolic function grades were assessed by echocardiogram. Air pollution concentrations were estimated from validated spatio-temporal models at home locations, as mean concentrations of PM 2.5 and NO 2 for the year prior to clinical visit 1 (V1, 2008-2011) and 2 (V2, 2015-2018). A mixed effects model was used to jointly model cross-sectional and longitudinal relationships between time-varying air pollution and continuous measures of CF, adjusted for baseline physical activity, gender, education, age, BMI, SBP, DBP, statin use, diabetes, and hypertension status and time-varying smoking and alcohol use, with random intercepts for clinical center and primary sampling unit. Results: Participants’ mean age was 56.4 years at V1; mean follow-up was 6.52 years. Mean PM 2.5 was 10.3 μg/m 3 at V1 and 8.8 μg/m 3 at V2. Mean NO 2 was 17.4 ppb at V1 and 14.3 at V2. Per interquartile range of pollutant, higher PM 2.5 and NO 2 were associated with a 0.52% (95% CI -0.16, 1.11) and 0.98% (95% CI 0.13, 1.23) increase in GLS, respectively. NO 2 was associated with -1.07% (95% CI -2.24, 0.10) decrease in LV ejection fraction. PM 2.5 was associated with a 0.75 (95% CI 0.39, 1.12) increase in e’ and a 1.25 (95% -1.95, -0.56) decrease in E/e’ ratio. No other associations with air pollution and echo measures were found. Conclusion: These findings suggest that air pollution is associated with longitudinal changes in GLS, LV ejection fraction, e’, and E/e’ ratio in a US Hispanic/Latino cohort, an important understudied population. Air pollution may represent a modifiable risk factor in the development of clinical heart failure.

Ambient air pollution exposure and depressive symptoms: Findings from the French CONSTANCES cohort

Background and AimFew studies have reported the association between air pollution exposure with different dimensions of depression. We aimed to explore this association across different dimensions of depressive symptoms in a large population. MethodsData from the enrollment phase of the French CONSTANCES cohort (2012–2020) were analyzed cross-sectionally. Annual concentrations of particulate matter with a diameter < 2.5 µm (PM2.5), black carbon (BC), and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) from the land-use regression models were assigned to the residential addresses of participants. Total depressive symptoms and its four dimensions (depressed affect, disturbed interpersonal relations, low positive affect, somatic complaints) were measured using Centre of Epidemiologic Studies Depression questionnaire (CES-D). We reported results of negative binomial regression models (reported as Incidence Rate Ratio (IRR) and 95 % confidence interval (CI) for an interquartile range (IQR) increase in exposure), for each pollutant separately. Stratified analyses were performed by sex, income, family status, education, and neighborhood deprivation. ResultsThe study included 123,754 participants (mean age, 46.50 ± 13.61 years; 52.4 % women). The mean concentration of PM2.5, BC and NO2 were 17.14 µg/m3 (IQR = 4.89), 1.82 10-5/m (IQR = 0.88) and 26.58 µg/m3 (IQR = 17.41) respectively. Exposures to PM2.5, BC and NO2 were significantly associated with a higher CES-D total (IRR = 1.022; 95 % CI = 1.002: 1.042, IRR = 1.027; 95 % CI = 1.013: 1.040, and IRR = 1.029; 95 % CI = 1.015: 1.042 respectively), and with depressed affect, and somatic complaints. For all pollutants, a higher estimate was observed for depressed affect. We found stronger adverse associations for men, lower-income participants, low and middle education groups, those living in highly deprived areas, and single participants. ConclusionOur finding could assist the exploration of the etiological pathway of air pollution on depression and also considering primary prevention strategies in the areas with air pollution.

Tác động của bụi PM 2.5 lên gánh nặng bệnh tật liên quan đến tử vong tại Hà Nội năm 2019

Aims: The study is to evaluate burden of diseases related to mortality due to PM 2.5 exposure in Hanoi in 2019. Methods: We used the health impact assessment approach with the input data including annual mean concentration of PM 2.5 , mortality collected from A6 death registers, and the population data in 2019. Outcomes: In Hanoi, comparing to the QCVN 05:2015 (5 µg/m 3 ), the number of premature deaths attributed to PM 2.5 exposure was 2,633 cases (32.70 cases per 100,000). Years of life lost (YLL) and loss of life expectancy (LLE) due to PM 2.5 exposure were 73,353 and 833 years, respectively. When comparing to the WHO Air Quality guideline (5 µg/m 3 ), the number of attributable deaths was 4,711 (58.50 cases per 100.000). In this case, Years of life lost (YLL) and loss of life expectancy (LLE) due to PM 2.5 exposure were 139,608 and 1.617 years. Conclusion: It is needed to establish and implement a mechanism to share open air quality data from monitoring stations, together with improve the quality of health data for future research. Key words: PM 2.5 , air pollution, mortality

Measuring TrafficRelated Air Pollution Using Smart Sensors In Sri Lanka: Before And During A New Traffic Plan

Motor vehicle emissions are the primary air pollution source in cities worldwide. Changes in traffic flow in a city can drastically change overall levels of air pollution. The level of air pollution may vary significantly in some street segments compared to others, and a small number of stationary ambient air pollution monitors may not capture this variation. This study aimed to evaluate air pollution before and during a new traffic plan established in March 2019 in the city of Kandy, Sri Lanka, using smart sensor technology. Street level air pollution data (PM2.5 and NO2 ) was acquired using a mobile air quality sensor unit before and during the implementation of the new traffic plan. The sensor unit was mounted on a police traffic motorcycle that travelled through the city four times per day. Air pollution in selected road segments was compared before and during the new traffic plan, and the trends at different times of the day were compared using data from a stationary smart sensor. Both PM2.5 and NO2 levels were well above the World Health Organization (WHO) 24-hour guidelines during the monitoring period, regardless of the traffic plan period. Most of the road segments had comparatively higher air pollution levels during compared to before the new traffic plan. For any given time (morning, midday, afternoon, evening), day of the week, and period (before or during the new traffic plan), the highest PM2.5 and NO2 concentrations were observed at the road segment from Girls High School to Kandy Railway Station. The mobile air pollution monitoring data provided evidence that the mean concentration of PM2.5 during the new traffic plan (116.7 µg m-3) was significantly higher than before the new traffic plan (92.3 µg m-3) (p &lt; 0.007). Increasing spatial coverage can provide much better information on human exposure to air pollutants, which is essential to control traffic related air pollution. Before implementing a new traffic plan, careful planning and improvement of road network infrastructure could reduce air pollution in urban areas.

A Time-Series Analysis on the Covid-19 Mortality, PM2.5 Levels, and Weather Variables in Denpasar City, Indonesia

The objective of this study is to explore the relationship between Covid-19 mortality cases and environmental variables, namely PM2.5 concentration and weather variables, in Denpasar City, Indonesia. Regression models were used. The response variable was the monthly Covid-19 mortality from March 2020 to December 2021 and the predictor variables were the mean concentration of PM2.5, temperature, wind speed, rainfall and duration of sunshine. All data analyzed were provided by the Indonesian Government. Simple linear regression (SLR) and dynamic regression with ARIMA error models were used. Further, of the 22 monthly data, the first 19 months data were used to train the models and the remaining data were used as the test data. It is found that both wind speed and the interaction between PM2.5 concentration and wind speed have statistically significant relationships with Covid-19 mortality. The estimates of SLR and ARIMA (0,1,1) with interaction models show that on average, in case of 0.5 m/s wind speed, an increase of 1 \U0001d707g/m3 in the monthly mean of daily PM2.5 concentrations associates with 17.4 and 16.3 increase in the monthly Covid-19 mortality case, respectively. Although this study is observational, its findings suggest the importance of controlling PM2.5 concentration.

Assessment of Ambient Air Pollution Pattern in Ikpeshi Community Edo State Nigeria Using Geostatistical Analysis

Understanding the Spatial distribution of ambient air quality in an active mining and solid mineral processing community is important in order to determine pollution hot spots and cold spots, as well as the trend. This will help Air Quality Managers to evaluate areas that are highly exposed to air pollution for mitigation purposes. In this study, dust particles in the form of ambient PM2.5, and PM10 were measured on weekly basis for a period of one year at 73 sampling points located in Ikpeshi, a mining and mineral processing community in Edo State, Nigeria using Double Parameter HoldPeak HP-5800D model Laser PM2.5 Meter. Geospatial data was also collected by means of Garmin GPSmap 78s model. The PM2.5 and PM10 data were preprocessed in MS Excel 2010 computer software to obtain the mean pollutant concentrations for the two parameters. The mean PM concentrations were analyzed and mapped using ArcGIS 10.0 software to generate various geostatistical surfaces to describe the ambient air pollution pattern and spatial distribution of pollutants in the community. The predicted mean concentrations ranged from 5.25 to 88.75µg/m3 for PM2.5 and 8.15 to 552.85µg/m3 for PM10. Mann-Kendall’s test showed that the observed pattern in ambient air quality exhibits a linear trend at 5% significant level with pollution hot spots found in the South-Eastern part of the community where the mills and quarries are domiciled while the cold spots appeared in the residential areas found in the North-Western part of the community. It was therefore concluded that the ambient air pollution pattern in the study area exhibits a linear south-east to north-west trend which is statistically significant at 5% level.

Evaluation of Urban Air Quality Monitoring Stations in Ulsan using Geographic Information System

To manage particulate matter (PM&lt;sub&gt;2.5&lt;/sub&gt;) in Ulsan, this study evaluated the current status of the emissions and concentrations of PM&lt;sub&gt;2.5&lt;/sub&gt; and the number and spatial distribution of urban air quality monitoring stations (AQMSs). The major emission sources of PM&lt;sub&gt;2.5&lt;/sub&gt; in Ulsan are industrial activities (production process, manufacturing combustion, and ships), and the annual mean concentration of PM 2.5 in Ulsan is not higher than those in other large megacities. However, the toxicity of PM&lt;sub&gt;2.5&lt;/sub&gt; in Ulsan seems to be high owing to the presence of hazardous air pollutants. Although the AQMSs in Ulsan have been well operated, and the number of stations is sufficient, further evaluation of the roles and spatial distribution of some of these stations is required. This study proposed the priority areas for installing new AQMSs using Geographic Information System (GIS) tools based on the population distribution and PM&lt;sub&gt;2.5&lt;/sub&gt; pollution levels. The method developed in this study can be used for other cities, as well as for expanding urban areas and new downtown areas in Ulsan to assess the existing monitoring network and suggest the optimum locations of new stations.

Air pollution, metabolomic response, and bone mineral density among Women’s Health Initiative participants

BACKGROUND: Ambient air pollution has been associated with bone damage. However, no studies have evaluated the metabolomic changes linked to air pollutants and their potential influence on bone damage in postmenopausal women. METHODS: We analyzed data available among Woman’s Health Initiative (WHI) participants. We used log-normal, ordinary kriging to estimate daily mean concentrations of PM10 (&amp;#x3bc;g/m3) and NOx, NO2, and SO2 (ppm) at their geocoded addresses. We averaged the means over 1-, 3-, and 5-year periods before metabolomic assessments. We measured whole-body, total hip, femoral neck, and spine bone mineral density (BMD) via dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. We processed 2,129 plasma samples using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS) to estimate the concentration of approximately 500 metabolites. We used multivariable linear models adjusted for age, body mass index, ethnicity, education, and coronary heart disease to identify metabolome-wide significant cross-sectional associations between air pollutants, metabolites, and BMD at an FDR-corrected threshold of 0.05. We then used a hypergeometric enrichment test hosted on Metaboanalyst to conduct pathway analysis with the KEGG metabolic map as reference. RESULTS: The mean (standard deviation) age of participants was 67.0 (7.1) years. Air pollutants were associated with several metabolite concentrations. For example, 1-year mean NOx exposure was associated with 104 metabolites after adjusting for multiple comparisons, including homoarginine, sphingosine-1-phosphate, uridine diphosphate glucose (UDP), UDP-galactose, alpha-glycerophosphate, kynurenine, cytidine monophosphate, malonylcarnitine, docosatrienoic acid, carboxybuprofen, and others. These NOx-associated metabolites enriched the arachidonic acid, purine, glycerophospholipid, and arginine metabolic pathways. Likewise, 17 metabolites were significantly associated with BMD, particularly total hip and whole body. Homoarginine was associated with both NOx and BMD. CONCLUSIONS: This initial study of air pollutant-associated metabolites and bone mineral density in the Women’s Health Initiative highlights potential metabolomic mechanisms by which air pollution may negatively affect bone health among postmenopausal women. KEYWORDS: Air pollution, Metabolomics, BMD, Postmenopausal, Women.

Air pollution and bone mineral density among Women’s Health Initiative participants: A mixture analysis

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Ambient air pollution has been associated with bone damage, but no studies have examined the role of mixtures (i.e., biological effective components) on bone mineral density (BMD) in postmenopausal women. METHODS: We conducted a prospective study using data from the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI, N=9,041 at baseline, postmenopausal women aged 50 to 79 years from 1993 to 1998). We included participants in both the Clinical Trials (CT) and Observational Study (OS), but only those with BMD and air pollution data were included. We used log-normal, ordinary kriging to estimate daily mean PM10 concentrations, NOx, NO2, and SO2 at geocoded participant addresses. We averaged the mean concentrations over 1-, 3-, and 5-year periods before BMD assessments (and T-scores) at the whole-body, total hip, femoral neck, and spine using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. After multiple imputation of missing covariates data, we estimated air pollutant-BMD associations in multivariable linear and linear mixed-effects models controlling for correlation of repeated measures and adjusting for several covariates. We also estimated air pollutant mixture-BMD associations using Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR). RESULTS: At baseline, women were on average 63.29 years old (SD: 7.39 years). In cross-sectional analyses, 1-, 3-, and 5-year mean PM10, NOx, NO2, and SO2 were inversely associated with all BMD sites as well as T-scores. In longitudinal analyses, 1- and 5-year mean PM10, NOx, NO2, and SO2 were associated with whole-body BMD. These results suggest that, for example, lumbar spine BMD decreased 0.023 (95%CI: 0.017, 0.028) g/cm2/year per 10% increase in 5-year mean NO2 concentration. Similar associations were observed at other BMD sites. BKMR suggested that only NO2 was inversely associated with BMD at all sites. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest air pollution, particularly NO2, has clinically relevant effects on BMD and potentially fracture risk in postmenopausal women. KEYWORDS: Air pollution, bone, osteoporosis.

Health impact assessment of air pollution in Lisbon, Portugal

ABSTRACT Background: Lisbon has about 500,000 inhabitants and it’s the capital and the main economic hub of Portugal. Studies have demonstrated that exposure to Particulate Matter with an aerodynamic diameter<2.5 μm (PM2.5) have strong association with health effects. Researchers continue to identify new harmful air pollutants effects in our health even in low levels. Objectives: This study evaluates air pollution scenarios considering a Health Impact Assessment approach in Lisbon, Portugal. Methods: We have studied abatement scenarios of PM2.5 concentrations and the health effects in the period from 2015 to 2017 using the APHEKOM tool and the associated health costs were assessed by Value of Life Year. Results: The mean concentration of PM2.5 in Lisbon was 23 μg/m3 ± 10 μg/m3 (±Standard Deviation). If we consider that World Health Organization (WHO) standards of PM2.5 (10 μg/m3) were reached, Lisbon would avoid more than 423 premature deaths (equivalent to 9,172 life years’ gain) and save more than US$45 million annually. If Lisbon city could even diminish the mean of PM2.5 by 5 μg/m3, nearly 165 deaths would be avoided, resulting in a gain of US$17 million annually. Conclusion: According to our findings, if considered the worst pollution scenario, levels of PM2.5 could improve the life’s quality and save a significant amount of economic resources. Implications: The manuscript addresses the health effects and costs of air pollution and constitutes an important target for improving public policies on air pollutants in Portugal. Although Portugal has low levels of air pollution, there are significant health and economic effects that, for the most part, are underreported. The health impact assessment approach associated with costs had not yet been addressed in Portugal, which makes this study more relevant in the analysis of policies aimed to drive stricter control on pollutants’ emissions. Health costs are a fundamental element to support decision-making process and to orientate the trade-offs in investments for improving public policies so that to diminish health effects, which can impact the management of the local health services and the population’s quality of life, especially after the pandemic period when resources are scarce.