Adverse Effects Of Pollutants Research Articles

Unraveling the Role of Contaminants Reshaping the Microflora in Zea mays Seeds from Heavy Metal–Contaminated and Pristine Environment

Heavy metal (HM) contaminants are the emerging driving force for reshaping the microflora of plants by eradicating the non-tolerance and non-resistant microbes via their lethal effects. Seeds served as a prime source of ancestral microbial diversity hereditary transfer from generation to generation. However, the problem arises when they got exposed to metal contamination, does metal pollutant disrupt the delicate balance of microbial communities within seeds and lead to shifts in their microflora across generations. In this study, the endophytic community within Zea mays seeds was compared across three distinct regions in Yunnan province, China: a HM-contaminated site Ayika (AK), less-contaminated site Sanduoduo (SD), and a non-contaminated Site Dali (DL). High-throughput sequencing techniques were employed to analyze the microbial communities. A total of 492,177 high-quality reads for bacterial communities and 1,001,229 optimized sequences for fungal communities were obtained. These sequences were assigned to 502 and 239 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) for bacteria and fungi, respectively. A higher diversity was recorded in AK samples than in SD and DL. Microbial community structure analysis showed higher diversity and significant fluctuation in specific taxa abundance in the metal-polluted samples exhibiting higher response of microbial flora to HM. In AK samples, bacterial genera such as Gordonia and Burkholderia-Caballeronia-Paraburkholderia were dominant, while in SD Pseudomonas and Streptomyces were dominant. Among the fungal taxa, Fusarium, Saccharomycopsis, and Lecanicillium were prevalent in HM-contaminated sites. Our finding revealed the influential effect of HM contaminants on reshaping the seed microbiome of the Zea mays, showing both the resilience of certain important microbial taxa as well the shifts in the diversity in the contaminated and pristine conditions. The knowledge will benefit to develop effective soil remediation, reclamation, and crop management techniques, and eventually assisting in the extenuation of metal pollution's adverse effects on plant health and agricultural productivity.

Investigating Respiratory Disease Transmission Patterns Around the Figuil Cement Works

The objective of this research is to examine the dissemination of respiratory illnesses, exacerbated by the airborne pollutants emitted by the Figuil cement works, among the local population residing in the vicinity. The primary objective is to examine the impact of pollution, particularly the emission of fine particles and noxious gases, on the transmission of respiratory diseases such as asthma, chronic bronchitis and other lung disorders. The modified SEIR (Susceptible-Exposed-Infected-Recovered) epidemiological model is employed for the analysis of transmission dynamics within the community. This model incorporates environmental, health and demographic variables, thereby enabling the simulation of disease transmission as a function of varying pollution levels. Particular emphasis is placed on vulnerable groups, such as children and the elderly, due to immunosenescence, who are more likely to suffer from the adverse effects of pollution. The results will facilitate the formulation of efficacious strategies, including the implementation of awareness-raising campaigns and the introduction of sophisticated systems for the filtration and capture of pollutants at their source, such as fine particle filters or devices for the reduction of nitrogen oxides (NOx), with the objective of limiting the spread of respiratory diseases in at-risk areas and the formulation of suitable control measures.

Effects of major air pollutants on angina hospitalizations: a correlation study

BackgroundAngina is a crucial risk signal for cardiovascular disease. However, few studies have evaluated the effects of ambient air pollution exposure on angina.ObjectiveWe aimed to explore the short-term effects of air pollution on hospitalization for angina and its lag effects.MethodsWe collected data on air pollutant concentrations and angina hospitalizations from 2013 to 2020. Distributed lag nonlinear model (DLNM) was used to evaluate the short-term effects of air pollutants on angina hospitalization under different lag structures. Stratified analysis by sex, age and season was obtained.ResultsA total of 39,110 cases of angina hospitalization were included in the study. The results showed a significant positive correlation between PM2.5, SO2, NO2, and CO and angina hospitalization. Their maximum harmful effects were observed at lag0-7 (RR = 1.042; 95% CI: 1.017, 1.068), lag0-3 (RR = 1.067; 95% CI: 1.005, 1.133), lag0-6 (RR = 1.078; 95% CI: 1.041, 1.117), and lag0-6 (RR = 1.244; 95% CI: 1.109, 1.397), respectively. PM10 did not have an overall risk effect on angina hospitalization, but it did have a risk effect on women and the elderly. O3 was significantly negatively correlated with angina hospitalization, with the most pronounced effect observed at lag0-6 (RR = 0.960; 95% CI: 0.940, 0.982). Stratified analysis results showed that women and the elderly were more susceptible to pollutants, and the adverse effects of pollutants were stronger in the cold season.ConclusionShort-term exposure to PM2.5, SO2, NO2, and CO increases the risk of hospitalization for angina.

Identification of dust sources inside and outside of Iran affecting air quality in the Tehran region

Introduction: Recent climate changes and droughts have exacerbated the impact of dust sources globally, necessitating a thorough understanding of their influence on air quality. In Tehran, the interaction between internal dust sources from Iran and external sources from neighboring countries significantly affects air quality. Materials and methods: This study spans a 20-year period (2003-2022), utilizing satellite data and advanced algorithms to analyze dust event trends and patterns. The material and methods section outlines the use of Aqua satellite MODIS sensor data alongside two algorithms to identify dust sources, focusing on Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD) data during peak dust event seasons. Statistical analysis of dust events in 2022 supplements the investigation. Results: The analysis reveals distinct patterns in dust particle origin and transport, highlighting the predominant contribution of internal dust sources from Iran's southern Semnan province and significant input from external sources in Iraq and northern Saudi Arabia. Examining meteorological conditions during severe dust events highlights the role of synoptic conditions, particularly the presence of a tropospheric trough, in facilitating dust transport. Increased convective motions and downburst occurrences in specific regions further exacerbate the spread of dust particles, particularly those originating from external countries and provinces. Conclusion: The conclusion emphasizes the complex interplay between internal and external dust sources and the necessity of understanding dust emission dynamics for effective mitigation strategies. It calls for proactive measures involving local and regional cooperation to mitigate dust pollution's adverse effects on air quality in Tehran and similar urban centers.

Potential Early Effect Biomarkers for Ambient Air Pollution Related Mental Disorders.

Air pollution is one of the greatest environmental risks to health, with 99% of the world's population living where the World Health Organization's air quality guidelines were not met. In addition to the respiratory and cardiovascular systems, the brain is another potential target of air pollution. Population- and experiment-based studies have shown that air pollution may affect mental health through direct or indirect biological pathways. The evidence for mental hazards associated with air pollution has been well documented. However, previous reviews mainly focused on epidemiological associations of air pollution with some specific mental disorders or possible biological mechanisms. A systematic review is absent for early effect biomarkers for characterizing mental health hazards associated with ambient air pollution, which can be used for early warning of related mental disorders and identifying susceptible populations at high risk. This review summarizes possible biomarkers involved in oxidative stress, inflammation, and epigenetic changes linking air pollution and mental disorders, as well as genetic susceptibility biomarkers. These biomarkers may provide a better understanding of air pollution's adverse effects on mental disorders and provide future research direction in this arena.

Innovative approaches for accurate ozone prediction and health risk analysis in South Korea: The combined effectiveness of deep learning and AirQ+

Short-term exposure to ground-level ozone (O3) poses significant health risks, particularly respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, and mortality. This study addresses the pressing need for accurate O3 forecasting to mitigate these risks, focusing on South Korea. We introduce Deep Bias Correction (Deep-BC), a novel framework leveraging Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs), to refine hourly O3 forecasts from the Community Multiscale Air Quality (CMAQ) model. Our approach involves training Deep-BC using data from 2016 to 2019, including CMAQ's 72-hour O3 forecasts, 31 meteorological variables from the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model, and previous days' station measurements of 6 air pollutants. Deep-BC significantly outperforms CMAQ in 2021, reducing biases in O3 forecasts. Furthermore, we utilize Deep-BC's daily maximum 8-hour average O3 (MDA8 O3) forecasts as input for the AirQ+ model to assess O3's potential impact on mortality across seven major provinces of South Korea: Seoul, Busan, Daegu, Incheon, Daejeon, Ulsan, and Sejong. Short-term O3 exposure is associated with 0.40 % to 0.48 % of natural cause and respiratory deaths and 0.67 % to 0.81 % of cardiovascular deaths. Gender-specific analysis reveals higher mortality rates among men, particularly from respiratory causes. Our findings underscore the critical need for region-specific interventions to address air pollution's detrimental effects on public health in South Korea. By providing improved O3 predictions and quantifying its impact on mortality, this research offers valuable insights for formulating targeted strategies to mitigate air pollution's adverse effects. Moreover, we highlight the urgency of proactive measures in health policies, emphasizing the significance of accurate forecasting and effective interventions to safeguard public health from the deleterious effects of air pollution.

Pollutants and weathering compounds on medieval bricks of historic buildings from Brasov (Transylvania, Romania)

Urban pollution significantly influences historic building preservation via chemical, physical, and biological processes. To plan heritage structure restoration, we must study fired brick mineralogy and its correlation with firing temperature. We must also examine how atmospheric pollutants have affected surface composition over time. This study analyzes medieval bricks from seven medieval buildings in Brașov, Romania. We used physicochemical methods (XRD, SEM-EDS, and FTIR-ATR) to identify brick minerals, estimate firing temperatures, and investigate weathering compounds due to pollutants. Samples show quartz, clay minerals (muscovite, illite, palygorskite/smectite anh., kaolinite anh.), feldspars (microcline, orthoclase, albite, andesine), and carbonates (calcite) (for the bricks estimated to be fired at ∼800 °C); sanidine, gelhenite (for the bricks estimated to be fired at ∼950 °C); anorthite, wollastonite, diopside, spinel, mullite (for the bricks estimated to be fired at ∼1100 °C). Weathering varies by mineralogy, firing temperature, location, and pollutants, including efflorescence (CaCO3), black crust (gypsum, calcite), and organic/bio-organic compounds. Mitigation strategies based on physicochemical studies aim to protect cultural heritage from pollution's adverse effects for future generations. This study is vital globally for preserving cultural heritage, offering insights into mitigating the impact of pollution on historic buildings. It aids in developing universal conservation strategies, ensuring our shared past's longevity and aesthetic value.

Air pollution and cardiovascular diseases

This comprehensive literature review explores the intricate relationship between air pollution and cardiovascular diseases, emphasizing the global significance of this environmental concern. The study delves into key air pollutants, including Particulate Matter (PM), Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2), Ozone (O3), and Sulfur Dioxide (SO2), revealing their associations with cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The detrimental effects involve systemic inflammation, oxidative stress, endothelial dysfunction, and atherosclerosis. The review meticulously analyzes epidemiological studies, such as the UK Biobank study, linking long-term exposure to ambient air pollution, specifically PM2.5, PM10, NO2, and NOx, with increased risks of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality. Specific populations, characterized as susceptible or vulnerable, are identified, including adults over 60 and individuals with pre-existing health conditions. Studies examining genetic variations, blood pressure changes, and meteorological variables contribute to understanding individual susceptibility. The review highlights the role of air pollution in influencing sleep patterns, physical activity, and temperature-related cardiovascular strain. Furthermore, it emphasizes the importance of recognizing air pollution as a modifiable risk factor, providing evidence of its association with cardiovascular risk factors and Dyslipidemia. The impact of air pollution on diverse cardiovascular outcomes, including heart failure, stroke, and ischemic heart disease, is discussed. The review underscores the urgent need for public health interventions and policy recommendations to mitigate air pollution's adverse effects. Recognizing air pollution as a significant risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, the study advocates for proactive measures to reduce pollution, promoting cardiovascular health and creating a cleaner environment for future generations.

Comparative Analysis of Efficiency and Environmental Impact of Various Marine Oil Cleanup Technologies

Marine oil pollution, stemming from human activities, poses severe threats to ecosystems and coastal areas globally. This study assesses and compares various marine oil cleanup technologies, examining their efficiency and environmental impacts. The overview covers mechanical methods (e.g., skimming, barriers) and chemical/biological approaches (e.g., bioremediation, chemical agents). Evaluation criteria include effectiveness in diverse environments, cleanup speed, scalability, and cost/resource requirements. Case studies like the Dalian Port 7·16 Oil Leak and the Bohai Bay Oil Spill shed light on applied technologies and their outcomes. Recommendations emphasize enhancing cleanup strategies and regulatory frameworks for efficient responses to oil spill events. This study advocates for understanding cleanup technology limitations and ecological impacts while promoting sustainable strategies to combat marine oil pollution's adverse effects.

Challenges and Way Forward to Maintain Air Quality Standard in Urban Areas

This thesis explores the intricate relationship between urban air pollution, economic growth, population dynamics, and energy consumption. Addressing impacts on climate change, biodiversity, agriculture, and human health, it emphasizes compromised urban air quality due to pollution sources such as power generation, vehicle traffic, and construction. Key pollutants like particulate matter, carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide pose significant health risks. The study identifies road transportation as a primary contributor, underlining alarming statistics from WHO on global air quality, particularly impacting low-level socio-economic regions. Legislations and policies dating back over a century form the foundation for global air pollution control efforts. The research highlights innovative solutions like urban green spaces, smart traffic management, and renewable energy investments. It stresses the importance of public transportation, electric vehicles, clean construction practices, and initiatives to reduce industrial emissions. In response to challenges, the thesis proposes a comprehensive mitigation plan covering strategy such as promoting public transport, energy conservation, recycling, and afforestation. It outlines a way forward, emphasizing integrated urban planning, public awareness campaigns, government policies, and international collaboration. In conclusion, the thesis calls for collective responsibility to address urban air pollution's adverse effects on public health and the environment. The proposed roadmap aims to create sustainable, resilient, and healthier urban environments through a holistic and collaborative approach.

Determination of the ecological status of an Aegean river (Türkiye) using benthic macroinvertebrates as an indicator of water quality.

Bakırçay is one of the important rivers of Western Anatolia, Türkiye. The objectives of this study are (a) to determine the diversity of benthic invertebrates distributed in Bakırçay, (b) to evaluate the obtained data using various biological indices, (c) to determine the interactions of species with environmental variables, and (d) to estimate the water quality level of the river using BMWP and ASPT analyses. Samplings were carried out at 15 stations between October 2017 and July 2018, seasonally. A total of 11,897 specimens belonging to 136 benthic macroinvertebrate taxa were determined. Diptera and Oligochaeta were the dominant groups with 32 (24%) and 25 taxa (18%), respectively. Station 4 has the highest species richness with 49 taxa (36%). The highest individual number (3421) was at the 14th station. Tubifex tubifex and Physella acuta have the highest dominancy (25.76%) and frequency (51.67) values, respectively. Diversity (H') values of the stations fluctuated between 1.367 (st. 13) and 3.154 (st. 12). Similarity analysis showed that the 3rd and 11th stations have the highest similarity (> 90%), while the 14th station was an outgroup and has 28% similarity ratio. BMWP and ASPT scores gave similar results, and there was no 1st class water quality in the river. On the other hand, the results of the TR-BMWP score suggested that the 1st, 4th, and 6th stations had 1st class water quality. Although some stations are classified as "good conditions," the adverse effects of pollution were mainly observed in the main channel and downstream of the river.

Industrial Pollution Effects on the Lives of Residents: A Case Study of Korangi Industrial Area

The rapid industrialization in the Korangi Industrial Area has led to increased levels of pollution, posing significant challenges to the lives and livelihoods of the residents. The release of harmful pollutants, such as toxic gases and industrial waste, has raised concerns about the health, environment, and socio-economic well-being of the local population. The present research study aims to explore the extent of pollution, its impact on the health and well-being of individuals, and the associated socio-economic consequences. By examining the case of Korangi Industrial Area, the study seeks to contribute to the understanding of industrial pollution's adverse effects on residents and provide recommendations for mitigating these effects. The present research study employed a quantitative technique. Data was collected through a survey based on five points Likert scale. A stratified random sampling technique was used to select a representative sample of 150 residents from different areas within the Korangi Industrial Area of 2 Km in the surrounding. Data is analysed through SPSS 26 and results are presented in descriptive and inferential statistics. The present research study concludes that industrial pollution in the Korangi Industrial Area has severe detrimental effects on the lives of residents. The high levels of pollution adversely affect their health, well-being, and socio-economic conditions.

Urban/rural differences in air pollution impacts on deaths in Scotland: A comparison study on different pollution data sources

The long-term air pollution health effects can be estimated by utilizing geographical and temporal contrasts in air pollution and disease risk across n contiguous small areas, where one main challenge lies in the assessment of the exposure of air pollution for each small area. In this paper, we study the air pollution health effects in Scotland, by using either the gridded concentrations from a dispersion model or the predictions from the proposed fusion model which combines both monitoring observations and gridded concentrations to obtain a better estimation. In addition, we consider using the population-weighted air pollution exposure and also investigate the potential different effects for urban and rural areas. The results show that both the particulate matter with a diameter of 10μm or less (PM10) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) were significantly associated with all-cause deaths in either rural or urban areas in Scotland, regardless of the types of exposures used, and the estimated impacts were similar from using either population-weighted or un-weighted exposures. Another finding is that the adverse effects of pollutants in rural areas seem to be more harmful to human health than those in urban areas. Finally, it is shown that the exposures estimated from our proposed fusion model tended to give slightly larger adverse effects than those from using gridded concentrations.

Effects of Anthropic Pollutants Identified in Pampas Lakes on the Development and Reproduction of Pejerrey Fish Odontesthes bonariensis

Anthropic activities can seriously affect the health of the organisms inhabiting them, and the observation of any alteration in the reproduction of fish could be associated with the presence of endocrine disruptors. In this manuscript we have collected information on the adverse effects of pollutants (heavy metals, environmental steroids, and agrochemicals), present in Chascomús lake, Argentina, either at environmentally relevant and pharmacological concentrations on reproduction, embryonic development, and larval survival of pejerrey fish Odontesthes bonariensis. During development, it has been reported that 17β-estradiol (E2) feminized and reduced larval survival, while 17α-ethinyl-estradiol (EE2) not only feminized but also affected both embryo and larval survival. In adult male fish, treatments with EE2 and E2 + EE2 were able to increase mRNA abundance of gnrh3 and cyp19a1b and decreased those of gonadotropin receptors (fshr and lhcgr). Heavy metals such as cadmium, chromium, and copper negatively affected sperm quality, diminishing the motility. Also, a decrease in the percentage of hatching rate and larval survival was also observed with the same metals, highlighting zinc as the most detrimental metal. Furthermore, all these metals altered the expression of hypothalamic and pituitary genes related to reproduction in male pejerrey (gnrh1,2,3; cyp19a1b; fshb; lhb; fshr and, lhcgr). Moreover, in all cases pyknotic cells, corresponding to the degeneration of the germ cells, were observed in the testes of exposed fish. For agrochemicals, exposure of male pejerrey to environmental concentrations of glyphosate did not cause alterations on the endocrine reproductive axis. However, male pejerrey with gonadal abnormalities such as the presence of intersex (testis-ova) gonads were found in other Pampa´s lakes with high concentrations of atrazine and glyphosate associated with soybean and corn crops near their coasts. These types of studies demonstrate that pejerrey, an endemic species with economic importance inhabiting the Pampas shallow lakes, can be used as a sentinel species. It should be noted that increased pollution of aquatic ecosystems and the effects on the reproduction of organisms can lead to a decline in fish populations worldwide. Which, added to overfishing and other external factors such as global warming, could cause an eventual extinction of an emblematic species.

Assessment of Lung Function of People, Chronically Exposed to Air Pollution in Delhi/NCR, India

Background: Air pollution in India is a serious issue with the major sources being motor vehicle emissions, thermal power stations, cooling towers, biomass burning, fuel adulteration, factory smoke, and stubble burning. Chronic exposure to ambient air pollution has obtunded effects on the development of lung function in children and detrimental effects on lung function of adults. The adverse effects of pollution on lung function increase the development of lung diseases in the future. Aims and Objective: The aim of the study was a comparison of lung function between two groups of population with different occupations, one group with outdoor occupation (high exposure) and second group with indoor occupation (low exposure). Settings and Design: It was a cross-sectional study and the sampling approach was Quota sampling. Quota sampling is a type of non-probabilistic sampling. There are certain groups of people who are particularly vulnerable to ambient air pollution because of their sustained high exposure like traffic police personnel deputed at traffic junctions, auto rickshaw driver/Taxi driver, E-Rickshaw driver plying in this area, and road side vendors this group. Low exposure group chosen were employee of offices and showrooms who are working indoor. Methods and Materials: This study was a two groups of 245 participants in each. First group with outdoor occupation and second group with indoor occupation having different level of exposure to air pollution due to their nature of occupation. Lung function parameters FEV1, FVC, FEV1/FVC, PEFR, and FEF were compared between two groups. Statistical Analysis: SPSS 26 software was used. Independent “T” test for continuous data type for different population, paired “T” test within the group, and Chi-square test for categorical data were applied. Results: Among high exposure group, 62.7% and 9.4% were found to have restrictive and normal lung function pattern, respectively. In comparison, among low exposure group, 31% and 59.5% were found to have restrictive and normal lung function pattern, respectively. Among outdoor group, there was a significant decline of lung function parameters such as FEV1, FVC, FEV1/FVC, PEFR, and FEF in comparison to indoor group. Conclusion: In this study, the lung function parameters were decreased in population working outdoor and chronically exposed to air pollution, in comparison to indoor subjects.

Short term effects of air pollutants on hospital admissions for respiratory diseases among children: A multi-city time-series study in China

Evidence concerning short-term acute association between air pollutants and hospital admissions for respiratory diseases among children in a multi-city setting was quite limited. We conducted a time-series analysis to evaluate the association of six common air pollutants with hospital admissions for respiratory diseases among children aged 0-14 years in 4 cities (Guangzhou, Shanghai, Wuhan and Xining), China during 2013-2018. We used generalized additive models incorporating penalized smoothing splines and random-effect meta-analysis to calculate city-specific and pooled estimates, respectively. The exposure-response relationship curves were fitted using the cubic spline regression. Subgroup analyses by gender, age, season and disease subtype were also performed. A total of 183,036 respiratory diseases hospitalizations were recorded during the study period, and 94.1% of the cases were acute respiratory infections. Overall, we observed that increased levels of air pollutants except O3, were significantly associated with increased hospital admissions for respiratory disease. Each 10μg/m3 increase in PM2.5, SO2 and NO2 at lag 07, PM10 at lag 03 and per 1mg/m3 increase in CO at lag 01 corresponded to increments of 1.19%, 3.58%, 2.23%, 0.51% and 6.10% in total hospitalizations, respectively. Generally, exposure-response relationships of PM2.5 and SO2 in Guangzhou, SO2, NO2 and CO in Wuhan, as well as SO2 and NO2 in Xining with respiratory disease hospitalizations were also found. Moreover, the adverse effects of these pollutants apart from PM2.5 in certain cities remained significant even at exposure levels below the current Chinese Ambient Air Quality Standards (CAAQS) Grade II. Children aged 4-14 years appeared to be more vulnerable to the adverse effects of PM2.5, SO2 and NO2. Furthermore, with the exception of O3, the associations were stronger in cold season than in warm season. Short-term exposure to PM2.5, SO2, NO2 and CO were associated, in dose-responsive manners, with increased risks of hospitalizations for childhood respiratory diseases, and adverse effects of air pollutants except PM2.5 held even at exposure levels below the current CAAQS Grade II in certain cities.

Hardware System for Environmental Diagnosis of Air Pollution

Introduction. The existing scientific and technical problem was shown that, on the one hand, in accordance with legislation and international obligations (for example, under the Aarhus Convention), the population can request data on the current state of the environment, and on the other, monitoring systems existing today unable to timely ensure their provision. The paper presents the results of studies on selection and justification of sensors for air pollution, pressure, temperature and humidity. Aim. The development of hardware for environmental monitoring of atmospheric air pollution and its testing when choosing the optimal safe route for people to move. Materials and methods. For data transmission, the GSM wireless module was selected; to determine the location - GPRS. Hardware system was based on the Arduino Nano microcomputer, to which these sensors were connected. Studies were conducted in Minsk, Republic of Belarus. Results. The developed hardware combined air pollution, humidity, temperature sensors with GSM and GPRS modules was based on a microcomputer, which allowed it to be used both stationary and with an unmanned aerial vehicle (drone), and to carry out mobile monitoring. The data transmitted by the device were processed in order to build maps of air pollution. For this, sets of points gained by interpolation by the method of linear averaging of neighboring values were plotted on the map. Pollution values were displayed on the map by color coding. Conclusion. The maps thus gained can be used, for example, to select an optimal route for people to move in the city from the point of view of minimizing the adverse effects of pollution on human health and in technological emergencies. At the time of development, the proposed solution has no analogs.

Heavy metal concentrations in the outdoor and indoor air of high-traffic areas in Tehran, Iran

Tehran is a polluted metropolitan and the capital of Iran, where heavy traffic and excessive energy consumption (especially gasoline) are the major sources of heavy metal emissions. This study aimed to investigate the variations in heavy metal concentrations on the aerosols of the outdoor and indoor environments in the high-traffic regions of Tehran. This was a descriptive, applied research in terms of methodology. Six internal-external stations were specified in three high-traffic regions. Sampling was performed in six replications for each station during fall 2018(n=36). After the extraction of the heavy metals from the fiberglass filters using acidic digestion based on the ASTM method, their concentrations were measured via ICP-OES. Data analysis was performed in SPSS using MANOVA. According to the results, regions 2, 3, and 15 had the highest traffic in Tehran during the study, with the traffic rate estimated at 25-27% hours per day on average. A significant difference was observed between the outdoor and indoor regions in terms of heavy metal concentrations (P Fe>Pb>Mn>Cu>Zn>Cr>As>Ni>Cd. Aluminum and cadmium had the highest and lowest concentrations, respectively. In addition, the high concentration of lead and heavy traffic was alarming in Afsariyeh Street (region 15). Considering the adverse effects of pollution on the health of citizens, serious measures should be taken to control traffic in Tehran. Keywords: Heavy metals, Traffic volume, Tehran metropolitan, Indoor and outdoor environment

Air pollution and health: Evidence from epidemiological studies and population impact

Outdoor air pollution —in particular particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide and ozone— can exert its effects on health after acute (short-term) and chronic (long-term) exposures. Short-term exposures increase the probability of the onset of acute diseases within a few days, such as myocardial infarction or stroke, or even death in the case of susceptible individuals. Long-term exposures are associated with decreased survival and incidence of several non-communicable diseases, including cardiorespiratory conditions and lung cancer. In Europe, the large ESCAPE project (European Study of Cohorts for Air Pollution Effects — www.escapeproject.eu) evaluated the chronic effects of air pollution in the cohorts of adult subjects. The results of ESCAPE show an association between chronic exposure to air pollutants and natural mortality, cardiovascular events, lung, brain, breast and digestive tract cancer. The recent joint statement of the European Respiratory Society and the American Respiratory Society clarifies the wide spectrum of adverse effects of pollution, including “new” diseases such as neurological and metabolic syndrome previously not studied. The estimates by the Global Burden of Disease provide nowadays indications that air pollution causes illness and mortality, just after diet, smoking, hypertension and diabetes: 4.2 million premature deaths a year worldwide. Ischemic heart disease, stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, acute lower respiratory infections are the main conditions associated with air-pollution–related mortality.

Testing the impact of contaminated sediments from the southeast marine coast of Tunisia on biota: a multibiomarker approach using the flatfish Solea senegalensis.

Coastal marine areas are highly vulnerable to the exposure to various types of stressors and impact of chemical pollution resulting from increasing anthropogenic activities, namely pollution by metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). To assess ecosystem quality and functions, biomarkers can provide information about the presence and adverse effects of pollutants. Accordingly, the present study was conducted to evaluate the chronic (28 days) biologic effects of putatively contaminated sediments from the Zarzis area, located in the south of the Gulf of Gabes on the Southern Tunisian coast, on the marine flatfish Solea senegalensis. Sediments were collected at three sampling sites, impacted by wastewater discharges, aquaculture activities, and industrial contamination, and then surveyed for metals (Cd, Cu, Cr, Hg, Zn, and Pb) and organic contaminants (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons). The quantified biomarkers involved the determination of oxidative stress, phase II metabolism, and the extent of lipid peroxidation (catalase, CAT; glutathione peroxidase activity: total and selenium-dependent, T-GPx and Se-GPx; activities of glutathione-S-transferases, GSTs; levels of lipid peroxidation, by means of the thiobarbituric acid reactive substances assay, TBARS) and neurotoxicity (activity of acetylcholinesterase, AChE). S. senegalensis exposed to potentially contaminated sediments, collected near the aquaculture facility, presented the highest values for the generality of biomarkers tested, and a significant inhibition of AChE activity. A few lesions have been also recorded in the gills and liver tissues of S. senegalensis following chronic exposure. However, the observed lesions in gills (e.g., epithelial lifting, lamellar fusion, gills hyperplasia and hypertrophy, and leukocyte infiltration) and liver (cytoplasmic vacuolation, enlargement of sinusoids, foci of necrosis, and eosinophilic bodies) were of minimal pathological importance and/or low prevalence that did not significantly affect the weighted histopathological indices. Finally, the biological responses evidenced by this flatfish can be potentially caused by metal and PAH pollution occurring in specific areas in the southeast of Tunisia. The type and extent of the observed biochemical alterations strongly suggest that the contaminated sediments from the surveyed areas could cause early adverse biological effects on exposed biota.