Polluted Environments Research Articles

Burden of disease due to ambient particulate matter pollution in Germany from 2010 to 2021

Abstract Background Worldwide, according to the global burden of disease (GBD) study, around 118 million disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) were attributable to ambient particulate matter (PM2.5) in 2019. Further, 97% of Europe’s urban population are exposed to annual average levels of PM2.5 above the World Health Organization’s guideline value of 5 µg/m³. In Germany, considerable efforts have been made to reduce PM2.5-emissions, which resulted in a continuous decrease of exposure. We estimated the burden of disease attributable to PM2.5-exposure in Germany for a time series from 2010 to 2021. Methods We used the environmental burden of disease (EBD) methodology developed by the WHO. For the exposure assessment we combined annual average measured and modelled PM2.5-concentrations with information on population density at a 2-by-2 km² grid. Using the exposure-response functions from GBD 2019, we estimated the EBD for chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases, type 2 diabetes mellitus, lung cancer, stroke and ischemic heart diseases (IHD). National surveys and register data were used to estimate the baseline burden of disease. Results In total, we estimated 232,863 (95%-CI: 153,716-314,882) DALYs attributable to PM2.5 in 2021. We observed a reduction of about 50% compared to 2010. The highest attributable burden was estimated for IHD with 70,197 (95%-CI: 42,609-101,785) DALYs, which is about 8% of the overall IHD-burden. The mortality-to-morbidity ratio revealed that years lost due to death (YLLs) had a higher share (69.9%) of overall DALYs with 162,561 (95%-CI: 106,918-222,567) YLLs. Discussion Despite a decreasing trend of the EBD for PM2.5 in Germany since 2010, our results show that there is still a long way to a pollutant free environment as envisaged by the EU’s zero pollution ambition. Using EBD as a standardized methodology and the DALYs as the core measure allows to have a comprehensive and comparable overview of the impact of PM2.5 on population health. Key messages • Ambient particulate matter pollution is an important environmental risk factor in Germany. • The decreasing trends is encouraging but there is still a long way to go to meet the objectives of the EU’s zero pollution ambition.

Host-associated microbes mitigate the negative impacts of aquatic pollution.

Pollution can negatively impact aquatic ecosystems, aquaculture operations, and recreational water quality. Many aquatic microbes can sequester or degrade pollutants and have been utilized for bioremediation. While planktonic and benthic microbes are well-studied, host-associated microbes likely play an important role in mitigating the negative impacts of aquatic pollution and represent an unrealized source of microbial potential. For example, aquatic organisms that thrive in highly polluted environments or concentrate pollutants may have microbiomes adapted to these selective pressures. Understanding microbe-pollutant interactions in sensitive and valuable species could help protect human well-being and improve ecosystem resilience. Investigating these interactions using appropriate experimental systems and overcoming methodological challenges will present novel opportunities to protect and improve aquatic systems. In this perspective, we review examples of how microbes could mitigate negative impacts of aquatic pollution, outline target study systems, discuss challenges of advancing this field, and outline implications in the face of global changes.

Engaging Communities in Energy Transitions: A Study on Attitudes Towards Sustainable Heating Technologies and the Role of Peer Effects in Southern Chile

This study investigates the role of peer effects in shaping the adoption of sustainable heating systems in two highly polluted communes in Southern Chile. Despite policies promoting cleaner alternatives, wood-burning stoves, a major source of particulate matter emissions, remain widespread. This research work addresses a critical gap in the literature by examining how peer influence—typically studied in relation to visible technologies like solar panels or electric vehicles—affects the adoption of less visible but essential sustainable heating technologies. The main objective of this study is to understand how peer networks can influence the attitudes of residents towards sustainable heating technologies in highly polluted urban environments. Employing a non-experimental, cross-sectional design with a sample of 244 participants, this study reveals that peer effects and health risk perception are significant predictors of positive attitudes towards sustainable heating systems. These findings contribute valuable insights for policymakers seeking to accelerate energy transitions in polluted regions.

Rural Roads to Cognitive Resilience (RRR): A prospective cohort study protocol.

Ambient air pollution, detrimental built and social environments, social isolation (SI), low socioeconomic status (SES), and rural (versus urban) residence have been associated with cognitive decline and risk of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD). Research is needed to investigate the influence of ambient air pollution and built and social environments on SI and cognitive decline among rural, disadvantaged, ethnic minority communities. To address this gap, this cohort study will recruit an ethnoracially diverse, rural Florida sample in geographic proximity to seasonal agricultural burning. We will (1) examine contributions of smoke-related fine particulate matter (PM2.5) exposures to SI and cognitive function; (2) determine effects of built and social environments on SI and cognitive function; and (3) contextualize SI and cognitive function among residents from different ethnoracial groups during burn and non-burn seasons. Methods: We will recruit 1,087 community-dwelling, dementia-free, >=45-year-olds from five communities in Florida's Lake Okeechobee region. Over 36 months, participants will complete baseline visits to collect demographics, health history, and health measurements (e.g., blood pressure, body mass index) and 6-month follow-ups assessing cognitive function and social isolation at each visit. A subsample of 120 participants representative of each community will wear smartwatches to collect sensor data (e.g., heart rate) and daily routine and predefined activities (e.g., GPS-captured travel, frequent destinations) over two months. Ecological momentary assessments (EMA) (e.g., whether smoke has bothered participant in last 30 minutes) will occur over two months during agricultural burning and non-burning months. PurpleAir monitors (36 total) will be installed in each community to continuously monitor outdoor PM2.5 levels. Ethics and expected impact: This study received Florida Atlantic University's Institutional Review Board approval and will require participant informed consent. We expect to identify individual- and community-level factors that increase the risk for SI and cognitive decline in a vulnerable rural population.

Two different approaches for source apportionment of ambient black carbon in highly polluted environments

The aethalometer model (AM) is widely used for source apportionment (SA) of black carbon (BC) in regions with mixed BC sources despite being initially developed for a relatively simplistic and low-pollution environments. The present study interrogates the applicability of AM in highly polluted metropolitan environments by comparing its results with the more nuanced Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF) model. The measurements were conducted in Delhi during the winter and summer season. PMF apportions the BC into diverse sources by taking help from complementary trace elemental measurements, thereby acknowledging the complex pollution landscape of the Delhi region. The AM estimates BCbb (BC from biomass burning) and BCff (BC from fossil fuel combustion) contributions as 48.3% and 51.7% during the winter and 16.6% and 83.4% during the summer, respectively.In contrast, the PMF model-derived biomass burning factor is the dominant source of BC during both winter and summer seasons, contributing 53.9% and 44% of the total BC, respectively. The decrease in light absorption at UV wavelengths of biomass-burning aerosols owing to escalated ambient aging is posited to be the reason for BCbb underprediction by the AM model during summers. Furthermore, while the AM model identifies fossil fuel combustion as the only other BC source apart from biomass burning, the PMF model apportions BC to five additional sources during winter, including vehicle emissions (22.9%), Pb-rich factor (10%), power plant (5.7%), waste incineration (4%) and industrial emission (3.6%). The contribution of these BC sources during summer is vehicular emission (16.5%), power plant (14.5%), waste incineration (11.5%), Pb-rich factor (9.5%), and industrial emission (4%). Additionally, the spectral variation of the light absorption properties of black carbon (bBCabs) and brown carbon (bBrCabs), delta-C effect, and sensitivity of the AM are reported for the study period. The present study cautions that BC source apportionment can be complex in highly polluted metropolitan environments, and complementary tracer measurements are recommended for reliable results.

Efficient and Controllable Preparation of Super-Hydrophobic Alumina-Based Ceramics Coating on Aviation Al-Li Alloy Surface for Corrosion Resistance and Anti-Icing Behavior

Al-Li alloys have been widely applied in aircraft structural component and shell material. However, Al-Li alloys are prone to corrosion failure, which leads to a considerable safety risk in the aerospace field and greatly limits their industrial application. Herein, a simple, low-cost, and large-scale air-spraying technique is developed for the preparation of an alumina-based ceramics coating with enhanced corrosion resistance and anti-icing behavior. The results show that the static contact angle of the as-prepared coating is 157.2 ± 0.4°, and the rolling angle is only 9.8°, suggesting a super-hydrophobic surface. Meanwhile, the electrochemical corrosion potential of the coating is 70 mV higher than that of the substrate, and the corrosion current density of the coating also decreases by 1 order of magnitude, indicating a significantly improved corrosion resistance. In addition, the fabricated super-hydrophobic coating also shows excellent anti-pollution and anti-icing characteristics. This work provides positive guidance for expanding the application of hydrophobic coating in the aerospace industry, especially in some complex corrosion, icing, and pollution environments.

The relationship between the inhalation bioaccessibility of potentially toxic elements in road dust from a heavily polluted industrial area and the source of their pollution

One of the sources of chronic exposure to potentially toxic elements (PTE), especially in polluted environments, is the inhalation of resuspended road dust (RD). The aim of this study is to assess the inhalation bioaccessibility of PTE in RD from highly polluted environments from mining/smelting industries and traffic, and to identify any correlations between the bioaccessibility fraction of PTE and the physicochemical characteristics of the particles. RD from the studied area contains extremely high total concentrations of Cr, V, and Mn, which are likely due to pollution from the smelting industry. Additionally, elevated total concentrations of other elements associated with traffic emissions including Zn, Cu, Pb, Sb, and Sn were also measured. The bioaccessibility of PTE was assessed using two synthetic extraction solutions - Gamble's solution (GS) and Artificial Lysosomal Fluid (ALF). The majority of elements showed negligible bioaccessibility in GS. However, quite high inhalation bioaccessibility was observed for Zn, Pb, Sb, Cd, and Mn in the ALF solution, with a mean bioaccessible fraction of 49, 51.5, 41, 50, and 40% respectively. The highest bioavailable fraction was measured for Cd (97%) in a sample collected near a steel production facility and for Pb (95%) in a sample collected near the highway. These results indicate that increased mobility of the elements in inhaled particles occurs only in the case of phagocytosis. The lowest inhalation bioavailability was measured for Cr (mean is 3%). Differential individual particle analysis revealed that about 60% of phases, mostly major (Cr,Ti,V)-bearing metallic alloys, silicates, oxides and sulphides, are stable in ALF solution, while 40% of phases, mostly (Fe,Ca,Mn)-bearing oxides, silicates, sulphides, metals and metallic alloys originating from steel production, ferrochrome, ferrosilicon and vanadium production and from traffic emissions have been heavily corroded or completely dissolved. The study provides valuable information to further assess health hazards from various emission sources.

Exercise-Induced Bronchoconstriction in Children: State of the Art from Diagnosis to Treatment.

Exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB) is a common clinical entity in people with asthma. EIB is characterized by postexercise airway obstruction that results in symptoms such as coughing, dyspnea, wheezing, chest tightness, and increased fatigue. The underlying mechanism of EIB is not completely understood. "Osmotic theory" and "thermal or vascular theory" have been proposed. Initial assessment must include a specific work-up to exclude alternative diagnoses like exercise-induced laryngeal obstruction (EILO), cardiac disease, or physical deconditioning. Detailed medical history and clinical examination must be followed by basal spirometry and exercise challenge test. The standardized treadmill running (TR) test, a controlled and standardized method to assess bronchial response to exercise, is the most adopted exercise challenge test for children aged at least 8 years. In the TR test, the goal is to reach the target heart rate in a short period and maintain it for at least 6 min. The test is then followed by spirometry at specific time points (5, 10, 15, and 30 min after exercise). In addition, bronchoprovocation tests like dry air hyperpnea (exercise and eucapnic voluntary hyperpnea) or osmotic aerosols (inhaled mannitol) can be considered when the diagnosis is uncertain. Treatment options include both pharmacological and behavioral approaches. Considering medications, the use of short-acting beta-agonists (SABA) just before exercise is the commonest option strategy, but daily inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) can also be considered, especially when EIB is not controlled with SABA only or when the patients practice physical activity very often. Among the behavioral approaches, warm-up before exercise, breathing through the nose or face mask, and avoiding polluted environments are all recommended strategies to reduce EIB risk. This review summarizes the latest evidence published over the last 10 years on the pathogenesis, diagnosis using spirometry and indirect bronchoprovocation tests, and treatment strategies, including SABA and ICS, of EIB. A specific focus has been placed on EIB management in young athletes, since this condition can not only prevent them from practicing regular physical activity but also competitive sports.

Prenatal and early-life air pollutant exposure and epigenetic aging acceleration

BackgroundThis study investigated the association of prenatal and early childhood exposure to air pollution with epigenetic age acceleration (EAA) at six years of age using the Environment and Development of Children Cohort (EDC Cohort) Materials & methodsAir pollution, including particulate matter [< 2.5 µm (PM2.5) and < 10 µm (PM10) in an aerodynamic diameter], nitrogen dioxide (NO2), ozone (O3), carbon monoxide (CO), and sulfur dioxide (SO2) were estimated based on the residential address for two periods: 1) during the whole pregnancy, and 2) for one year before the follow-up in children at six years of age. The methylation levels in whole blood at six years of age were measured, and the methylation clocks, including Horvath’s clock, Horvath’s skin and blood clock, PedBE, and Wu’s clock, were estimated. Multivariate linear regression models were constructed to analyze the association between EAA and air pollutants. ResultsA total of 76 children in EDC cohort were enrolled in this study. During the whole pregnancy, interquartile range (IQR) increases in exposure to PM2.5 (4.56 μg/m3) and CO (0.156 ppm) were associated with 0.406 years and 0.799 years of EAA (Horvath’s clock), respectively. An IQR increase in PM2.5 (4.76 μg/m3) for one year before the child was six years of age was associated with 0.509 years of EAA (Horvath’s clock) and 0.289 years of EAA (Wu’s clock). PM10 (4.30 μg/m3) and O3 (0.003 ppm) exposure in the period were also associated with EAA in Horvath’s clock (0.280 years) and EAA in Horvath’s skin and blood clock (0.163 years), respectively. ConclusionWe found that prenatal and childhood exposure to ambient air pollutants is associated with EAA among children. The results suggest that air pollution could induce excess biological aging even in prenatal and early life.

Contact/non-contact control of electromagnetic shielding performances of flexible graphite nanoplatelet/carbonyl iron-polylactic acid/carbonyl iron shape memory composite film

To cope with the complex electromagnetic interference and electromagnetic pollution environment, it is necessary to develop the electromagnetic interference shielding products with adjustable shielding efficiency. One of the solutions is to modulate the shielding efficiency by changing a shape of the products. In this work, the polylactic acid-graphite nanoplatelets Janus films with both high and modulated shielding efficiency were prepared by hot pressing method. The shape-memory organic polymer Polylactic Acid (PLA) was used as the base material, whose morphology can be adjusted by changing the ambient temperature. The highly conductive Graphite Nanoplatelets (GNPs) was used as efficient electromagnetic shielding layer. And, a small amount of carbonyl iron particles (CIP) was added into the Janus films to enhance the conductivity of GNPs layer, while realize the pre-deformation state of PLA layer under the non-contact magnetic force. As the GNPs layer thickness increased, the maximum electromagnetic shielding performance of the Janus film reached around 68 dB in the frequency range of 8–26.5 GHz. The surface temperature of the Janus film can be regulated by applying contact current and non-contact light irradiation, to realize the deformation of the Janus film. The electromagnetic shielding performance of Janus film can be manually adjusted to a certain expected value (10–50 dB) by controlling the applied current and irradiation time. The GNPs-PLA Janus films can be applied in complex electromagnetic environments and have enormous research value and development potential in the field of controllable electromagnetic interference shielding.

Variations in the leaf economics spectrum, anatomical, ultrastructural, and stomatal traits of five tree species in the urban-rural air pollution environment

Rapid urbanization has contributed to global increases in air pollution derived from urban areas. Unlike natural forests, urban forests are exposed to higher concentrations of airborne pollutants due to the strong urban-suburban-rural pollutant emission gradients. However, there remains a pressing lack of available information pertaining to the urban air pollution-related effects on the leaf economics spectrum, anatomical, ultrastructural, and stomatal traits of tree species along an urban-rural gradient. Here, the degree to which urban air pollution impacts the adaption of greening tree species and associated service functions was assessed by sampling five common tree species (Acer pictum, Fraxinus chinensis, Koelreuteria paniculata, Salix babylonica, Sophora japonica) along urban-rural-natural forests in the Beijing metropolitan region of China. These analyses revealed a significant reduction in leaf mass per unit area (–13.4 %), leaf thickness (–16.7 %), and stomatal area (–27.5 %) with increasing proximity to areas of greater air pollution that coincide with significant increases in leaf tissue density (+12.6 %), leaf nitrogen content (+10.1 %), relative chlorophyll content (+2.7 %), and stomatal density (+11.9 %). Higher air pollution levels were associated with organelle changes including gradual disintegration of chloroplasts, larger intercellular spaces and apparent starch and plastoglobuli deposition. Air pollution was conducive to the strengthening of the trade-off potential and adaptation strategies of trees in urban ecosystems, which are associated with trees with a rapid investment return strategy associated with thick leaves and strong photosynthetic capacity. These results provide strong empirical evidence of the profound air pollution-induced changes in leaf functional traits and adaption ability of urban forest tree species.

Remediation of Neonicotinoid Polluted Environment by Silica Hybrid Nanosorbents

Remediation of Neonicotinoid Polluted Environment by Silica Hybrid Nanosorbents

Contribution of greenness, air pollution, and residential food environment to excess gestational weight gain: A cross-sectional study in Wuhan, China

ObjectivesOur goal was to explore how greenness, air pollution, and residential food environment were linked to excessive gestational weight gain (EGWG), and to estimate their combined effects on this condition. MethodThis cross-sectional analysis included 51,507 pregnant women from the Wuhan Maternal and Child Health Management Information System between 2016 and 2019. Generalized linear mixed regression models were employed to explore the relationships between greenness, air pollution, residential food environmental exposure, and EGWG; and the combined effects were further estimated by cluster analysis and principal components analysis. ResultWe only found a significant association between convenience store density within the 250 m buffer zone (OR = 1.03 and 95% CI: 1.01,1.05) and EGWG. In terms of air pollution, sulfur dioxide(SO2), particulate matter with a diameter of 10 μm or less(PM10), and particulate matter with a diameter of 2.5 μm or less(PM2.5) were substantially correlated with a higher prevalence of EGWG and higher GWG, with (OR = 1.16 and 95% CI: 1.12,1.21; OR = 1.12 and 95% CI: 1.08,1.16; OR = 1.17 and 95% CI: 1.14,1.21, respectively) per interquartile range(IQR) increase. Cluster analysis revealed the presence of three clusters representing urban exposures. In contrast to urban environment clusters characterized by favourable conditions, those exhibiting elevated air pollution levels, high-density residential food environment and low levels of greenness were found to have increased odds of EGWG (OR = 1.10, 95% CI: 1.03, 1.19). ConclusionThis study emphasizes that exposure to elevated air pollution, high-density residential neighbourhood food environments, and low levels of greenness is a neighbourhood obesogenic environment for pregnant women.

Fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) among school children in Java and Sumatra, Indonesia: associations with respiratory symptoms, house dust mite sensitization and the home environment

Objective To study associations between fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) and asthma, airway symptoms, sensitization to common allergens, outdoor pollution and home environment among 380 students in eight junior high schools in two areas in Indonesia. Methods Data on health and home were collected by a face-to face interview before measuring FeNO and performing skin prick test against common allergens. Exploratory linear mixed and logistic regression models were employed. Results Geometric mean of FeNO was 17.8 ppb (GSD 2.09) and 139 students (36.6%) had elevated FeNO (>20 ppb). In total, 107 students (28.2%) were sensitized to house dust mite (HDM) (Der p1 or Der f1), 4 (1.1%) to cat and 3 (0.8%) to mold (Cladosporium or Alternaria). Moreover, 20 students (5.3%) had diagnosed asthma, 38 (10.0%) had current wheeze, and 107 (28.2%) had current rhinitis. HDM sensitization, diagnosed asthma, current wheeze, and current rhinitis were associated with FeNO. In total, 281 students (73.9%) had mold or dampness, 232 (61.1%) had environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) and 43 (11.3%) had other odor at home. Indoor mold or dampness and other odor at home were associated with FeNO. ETS was negatively associated with FeNO. Conclusion HDM sensitization and elevated FeNO can be common among children in this part of Indonesia. The high prevalence of elevated FeNO indicate that undiagnosed childhood asthma is common. Dampness, mold and odor at home can be associated with increased FeNO while ETS can be associated with decreased FeNO.

Vadose-zone characteristic pollutants distribution, microbial community structure and functionality changes in response to long-term leachate pollution of an informal landfill site

The study embarked on a comprehensive examination of the evolution and diversity of microorganisms within long-term leachate pollution environments, with a focus on varying depths and levels of contamination, and its linkage to soil characteristics and the presence of heavy metals. It was observed that microbial diversity presented distinct cross-depth trend, where archaeal communities were found to be particularly sensitive to alterations in soil depth. Noteworthily, Euryarchaeota increased by 4.82 %, 7.64 % and 9.87 % compared with topsoil. The abundance of Tahumarchaeota was successively reduced by 5.79 %, 9.58 %, and 12.66 %. The bacterial community became more sensitive to leachate pollution, and the abundance of Protebacteria in contaminated soil decreased by 10.27 %, while the abundance of Firmicutes increased by 7.46 %. The bacterial genus Gemmobacter, Chitinophaga and Rheinheimera; the archaeal genus Methanomassiliicoccus and Nitrosopumilus; along with the fungal genus Goffeauzyma, Gibberella, and Setophaeosphaeria emerged as pivotal biological markers for their respective domains, underpinning the biogeochemical dynamics of these environments. Furthermore, the study highlighted that geochemical factors, specifically nitrate (NO₃−-N) levels and humic acid (HA) fractions, played crucial roles in modulating the composition and metabolic potential of these communities. Predictive analyses of functional potentials suggested that the N functional change of archaea was more pronounced, with anaerobic ammonia oxidation and nitrification decreased by 15.78 % and 14.62 %, respectively. Overall, soil characteristics alone explained 57.9 % of the total variation in the bacterial community structure. For fungal communities within contaminated soil, HMs were the primary contributors, explaining 46.9 % of the variability, while soil depth accounting for 6.4 % of the archaeal variation. This research enriches the understanding of the complex interrelations between heavy metal pollution, soil attributes, and microbial communities, paving the way for informed strategies in managing informal landfill sites effectively.

Synergistic interactions in core microbiome Rhizobiales accelerate 1,4-dioxane biodegradation

Next-generation sequencing (NGS) has revolutionized taxa identification within contaminant-degrading communities. However, uncovering a core degrading microbiome in diverse polluted environments and understanding its associated microbial interactions remains challenging. In this study, we isolated two distinct microbial consortia, namely MA-S and Cl-G, from separate environmental samples using 1,4-dioxane as a target pollutant. Both consortia exhibited a persistent prevalence of the phylum Proteobacteria, especially within the order Rhizobiales. Extensive analysis confirmed that Rhizobiales as the dominant microbial population (> 90 %) across successive degradation cycles, constituting the core degrading microbiome. Co-occurrence network analysis highlighted synergistic interactions within Rhizobiales, especially within the Shinella and Xanthobacter genera, facilitating efficient 1,4-dioxane degradation. The enrichment of Rhizobiales correlated with an increased abundance of essential genes such as PobA, HpaB, ADH, and ALDH. Shinella yambaruensis emerged as a key degrader in both consortia, identified through whole-genome sequencing and RNA-seq analysis, revealing genes implicated in 1,4-dioxane degradation pathways, such as PobA and HpaB. Direct and indirect co-cultivation experiments confirmed synergistic interaction between Shinella sp. and Xanthobacter sp., enhancing the degradation of 1,4-dioxane within the core microbiome Rhizobiales. Our findings advocate for integrating the core microbiome concept into engineered consortia to optimize 1,4-dioxane bioremediation strategies.

Isolation, and Characterization of Petroleum Oil-Degrading Bacteria from Petroleum Contaminated Soil

Petroleum serves as a vital energy source, but extensive exploration can lead to frequent accidents, resulting in soil contamination from oil spills, which poses risks to both ecosystems and human health. Bioremediation emerges as a potent method for addressing polluted environments, involving the deliberate selection and application of microorganisms. In the present study, bacteria present in the petroleum oil contaminated soil were isolated by enrichment culture technique using Bushnall Hass (BS) media supplemented with petroleum oil as a sole carbon source. The isolated bacterial strains were characterized by morphological and biochemical tests and further characterized through molecular tools ie, sequencing method. Three bacterial isolates were morphologically characterized as gram-positive, spherical, cocci, and rod shaped further 16S rRNA sequence analysis revealed that the isolates are closely related to Staphylococcus hominis, Staphylococcus sp., and Bacillus pumilus, respectively. The optimum growth was at pH 7.0 and temperature 37 °C. All strains were susceptible to various antibiotics, and resistant to various heavy metals and have no antagonistic effect with oil degrading bacteria. All strains were grown in five different concentrations of petroleum oil (1%, 1.50%, 2%, 2.50%, and 3%), respectively. Study revealed that all the isolates showed their degradation efficacy in 3% v/v petroleum oil. So, this research clearly demonstrates that the isolated bacterial strains could be effectively used for bioremediation of petroleum-contaminated areas.

The effect of human heterogeneity on the transmission of viral respiratory diseases under air pollution

The impact of air pollutants on the human respiratory system has received more and more attention. However, due to the differences in human characteristics and the strength of protective measures, different people have different symptoms in air pollution and viral infection environments. In this paper, an SI1I2P dynamic model of respiratory diseases infected by virus under air pollution is established by introducing air pollutant concentration compartment. Qualitative research shows that there are seven equilibria in the system, the daily average emission and clearance rate of pollutants are the key parameters affecting the existence and stability of equilibria. In this paper, by using Sotomayor’s theorem and center manifold theory, it is proved that the system undergoes saddle–node bifurcation or Bogdanov–Takens bifurcation of co-dimension 3 at the boundary equilibrium, and exhibits saddle–node bifurcation at the endemic equilibrium. Numerical simulation results show that wearing masks in haze weather can not only reduce the number of allergic patients, but also reduce the number of viral patients. In addition, reducing the daily average emission of air pollution and increasing its clearance rate can also reduce the number of allergic patients. It is worth mentioning that this measure is more effective in controlling viral respiratory diseases.

Corporate Criminal Liability Against Pollution Environment Life

Corporate Criminal Liability Against Pollution Environment Life

The Preliminary Application of Spectral Microphysics in Numerical Study of the Effects of Aerosol Particles on Thunderstorm Development

Progress in numerical models and improved computational capabilities have significantly advanced our comprehension of how aerosol particles impact thunderstorm clouds. Yet, much of this research has focused on employing bulk microphysics models to explain the impacts of aerosol particles acting as cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) on electrical activities in thunderstorm clouds. The bulk thunderstorm models use mean sizes of particles and terminal-fall velocities. This causes calculation deviation in the electrification simulation, which in turn leads to deviations in the simulation of lightning processes. Developing this further, we established a three-dimensional high-resolution cloud–aerosol bin thunderstorm model with electrification and lightning to provide more accurate microphysics and dynamic fields for studying electrical activities. For evaluating the impacts of aerosol particles, specifically CCN, on the properties of continental thunderclouds, aerosols from both clean and polluted continental environments were selected. Cloud simulations indicate that droplets develop a narrower spectrum in polluted continental conditions, and weakened ice crystal growth increases the number of small ice crystals compared to clean conditions. Smaller droplets and ice crystals result in less effective riming and decreased graupel concentration and mass. Consequently, a significant decrease in large ice particles leads to a weakened process of charge separation under conditions of pollution. As a direct result, there is about a 43% reduction in lightning frequency and a delay of approximately 5 min in the lightning process under polluted conditions.