scholarly journals Biomarker as a Research Tool in Linking Exposure to Air Particles and Respiratory Health

2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nur Faseeha Suhaimi ◽  
Juliana Jalaludin
Keyword(s):  
Particulate Matter ◽  
Health Effects ◽  
Respiratory System ◽  
Ultrafine Particles ◽  
Respiratory Health ◽  
Fine Particulate Matter ◽  
Epidemiological Studies ◽  
Environmental Toxicants ◽  
Respiratory Problems ◽  
System Data

Some of the environmental toxicants from air pollution include particulate matter (PM10), fine particulate matter (PM2.5), and ultrafine particles (UFP). Both short- and long-term exposure could result in various degrees of respiratory health outcomes among exposed persons, which rely on the individuals’ health status.Methods. In this paper, we highlight a review of the studies that have used biomarkers to understand the association between air particles exposure and the development of respiratory problems resulting from the damage in the respiratory system. Data from previous epidemiological studies relevant to the application of biomarkers in respiratory system damage reported from exposure to air particles are also summarized.Results. Based on these analyses, the findings agree with the hypothesis that biomarkers are relevant in linking harmful air particles concentrations to increased respiratory health effects. Biomarkers are used in epidemiological studies to provide an understanding of the mechanisms that follow airborne particles exposure in the airway. However, application of biomarkers in epidemiological studies of health effects caused by air particles in both environmental and occupational health is inchoate.Conclusion. Biomarkers unravel the complexity of the connection between exposure to air particles and respiratory health.

scholarly journals Assessment of Population Exposure to Coarse and Fine Particulate Matter in the Urban Areas of Chennai, India

2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ramachandran Prasannavenkatesh ◽  
Ramachandran Andimuthu ◽  
Palanivelu Kandasamy ◽  
Geetha Rajadurai ◽  
Divya Subash Kumar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Particulate Matter ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Respiratory Health ◽  
Fine Particulate Matter ◽  
Population Data ◽  
Epidemiological Studies ◽  
World Health ◽  
Population Exposure ◽  
Fine Particulates ◽  
Fine Particulate

Research outcomes from the epidemiological studies have found that the course (PM10) and the fine particulate matter (PM2.5) are mainly responsible for various respiratory health effects for humans. The population-weighted exposure assessment is used as a vital decision-making tool to analyze the vulnerable areas where the population is exposed to critical concentrations of pollutants. Systemic sampling was carried out at strategic locations of Chennai to estimate the various concentration levels of particulate pollution during November 2013–January 2014. The concentration of the pollutants was classified based on the World Health Organization interim target (IT) guidelines. Using geospatial information systems the pollution and the high-resolution population data were interpolated to study the extent of the pollutants at the urban scale. The results show that approximately 28% of the population resides in vulnerable locations where the coarse particulate matter exceeds the prescribed standards. Alarmingly, the results of the analysis of fine particulates show that about 94% of the inhabitants live in critical areas where the concentration of the fine particulates exceeds the IT guidelines. Results based on human exposure analysis show the vulnerability is more towards the zones which are surrounded by prominent sources of pollution.

scholarly journals Respiratory Health Effects of Wildfire Smoke during Summer of 2018 in the Jämtland Härjedalen Region, Sweden

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (13) ◽  
pp. 6987
Author(s):  
Andreas Tornevi ◽  
Camilla Andersson ◽  
Ana Cristina Carvalho ◽  
Joakim Langner ◽  
Nikolai Stenfors ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Effects ◽  
Transport Model ◽  
Respiratory Health ◽  
Fine Particulate Matter ◽  
Weather Conditions ◽  
Daily Maximum ◽  
Potential Health ◽  
Respiratory Problems ◽  
Wildfire Smoke ◽  
Long Term Trends

During the summer of 2018 Sweden experienced a high occurrence of wildfires, most intense in the low-densely populated Jämtland Härjedalen region. The aim of this study was to investigate any short-term respiratory health effects due to deteriorated air quality generated by the smoke from wildfires. For each municipality in the region Jämtland Härjedalen, daily population-weighted concentrations of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) were calculated through the application of the MATCH chemistry transport model. Modelled levels of PM2.5 were obtained for two summer periods (2017, 2018). Potential health effects of wildfire related levels of PM2.5 were examined by studying daily health care contacts concerning respiratory problems in each municipality in a quasi-Poisson regression model, adjusting for long-term trends, weekday patterns and weather conditions. In the municipality most exposed to wildfire smoke, having 9 days with daily maximum 1-h mean of PM2.5 > 20 μg/m3, smoke days resulted in a significant increase in daily asthma visits the same and two following days (relative risk (RR) = 2.64, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.28–5.47). Meta-estimates for all eight municipalities revealed statistically significant increase in asthma visits (RR = 1.68, 95% CI: 1.09–2.57) and also when grouping all disorders of the lower airways (RR = 1.40, 95% CI: 1.01–1.92).

Particulate matter properties and health effects: consistency of epidemiological and toxicological studies

2006 ◽  
Vol 25 (10) ◽  
pp. 559-579 ◽  
Author(s):  
P E Schwarze ◽  
J Øvrevik ◽  
M Låg ◽  
M Refsnes ◽  
P Nafstad ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Data ◽  
Particulate Matter ◽  
Health Effects ◽  
Ultrafine Particles ◽  
Allergic Sensitization ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Epidemiological Studies ◽  
Coarse Fraction ◽  
Adverse Health Effects ◽  
Toxicological Studies

Identifying the ambient particulate matter (PM) fractions or constituents, critically involved in eliciting adverse health effects, is crucial to the implementation of more cost-efficient abatement strategies to improve air quality. This review focuses on the importance of different particle properties for PM-induced effects, and whether there is consistency in the results from epidemiological and experimental studies. An evident problem for such comparisons is that epidemiological and experimental data on the effects of specific components of ambient PM are limited. Despite this, some conclusions can be drawn. With respect to the importance of the PM size-fractions, experimental and epidemiological studies are somewhat conflicting, but there seems to be a certain consistency in that the coarse fraction (PM10-2.5) has an effect that should not be neglected. Better exposure characterization may improve the consistency between the results from experimental and epidemiological studies, in particular for ultrafine particles. Experimental data indicate that surface area is an important metric, but composition may play an even greater role in eliciting effects. The consistency between epidemiological and experimental findings for specific PM-components appears most convincing for metals, which seem to be important for the development of both pulmonary and cardiovascular disease. Metals may also be involved in PM-induced allergic sensitization, but the epidemiological evidence for this is scarce. Soluble organic compounds appear to be implicated in PM-induced allergy and cancer, but the data from epidemiological studies are insufficient for any conclusions. The present review suggests that there may be a need for improvements in research designs. In particular, there is a need for better exposure assessments in epidemiological investigations, whereas experimental data would benefit from an improved comparability of studies. Combined experimental and epidemiological investigations may also help answer some of the unresolved issues.

scholarly journals Exposure to Atmospheric Particulate Matter-Bound Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons and Their Health Effects: A Review

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 2177
Author(s):  
Lu Yang ◽  
Hao Zhang ◽  
Xuan Zhang ◽  
Wanli Xing ◽  
Yan Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons ◽  
Particulate Matter ◽  
Real Time ◽  
Health Effects ◽  
Aromatic Hydrocarbons ◽  
Anthropogenic Activities ◽  
Personal Exposure ◽  
Epidemiological Studies ◽  
Atmospheric Particulate Matter ◽  
Polycyclic Aromatic

Particulate matter (PM) is a major factor contributing to air quality deterioration that enters the atmosphere as a consequence of various natural and anthropogenic activities. In PM, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) represent a class of organic chemicals with at least two aromatic rings that are mainly directly emitted via the incomplete combustion of various organic materials. Numerous toxicological and epidemiological studies have proven adverse links between exposure to particulate matter-bound (PM-bound) PAHs and human health due to their carcinogenicity and mutagenicity. Among human exposure routes, inhalation is the main pathway regarding PM-bound PAHs in the atmosphere. Moreover, the concentrations of PM-bound PAHs differ among people, microenvironments and areas. Hence, understanding the behaviour of PM-bound PAHs in the atmosphere is crucial. However, because current techniques hardly monitor PAHs in real-time, timely feedback on PAHs including the characteristics of their concentration and composition, is not obtained via real-time analysis methods. Therefore, in this review, we summarize personal exposure, and indoor and outdoor PM-bound PAH concentrations for different participants, spaces, and cities worldwide in recent years. The main aims are to clarify the characteristics of PM-bound PAHs under different exposure conditions, in addition to the health effects and assessment methods of PAHs.

scholarly journals Long-term Particulate Matter Modeling for Health Effects Studies in California – Part II: Concentrations and Sources of Ultrafine Organic Aerosols

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jianlin Hu ◽  
Shantanu Jathar ◽  
Hongliang Zhang ◽  
Qi Ying ◽  
Shu-Hua Chen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Particulate Matter ◽  
Health Effects ◽  
Waste Disposal ◽  
Size Fraction ◽  
Organic Aerosols ◽  
Epidemiological Studies ◽  
Anthropogenic Sources ◽  
Major Constituent ◽  
Spatial Distributions ◽  
Mobile Emissions

Abstract. Organic aerosol (OA) is a major constituent of ultrafine particulate matter (PM0.1). Recent epidemiological studies have identified associations between PM0.1 OA and premature mortality and low birth weight. In this study, the source-oriented UCD/CIT model was used to simulate the concentrations and sources of primary organic aerosols (POA) and secondary organic aerosols (SOA) in PM0.1 in California for a 9-year (2000–2008) modeling period with 4 km horizontal resolution to provide more insights about PM0.1 OA for health effects studies. As a related quality control, predicted monthly average concentrations of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) total organic carbon at six major urban sites had mean fractional bias of −0.31 to 0.19 and mean fractional errors of 0.4 to 0.59. The predicted ratio of PM2.5 SOA/OA was lower than estimates derived from chemical mass balance (CMB) calculations by a factor of 2 ~ 3, which suggests the potential effects of processes such as POA volatility, additional SOA formation mechanism, and missing sources. OA in PM0.1, the focus size fraction of this study, is dominated by POA. Wood smoke is found to be the single biggest source of PM0.1 OA in winter in California, while meat cooking, mobile emissions (gasoline and diesel engines), and other anthropogenic sources (mainly solvent usage and waste disposal) are the most important sources in summer. Biogenic emissions are predicted to be the largest PM0.1 SOA source, followed by mobile sources and other anthropogenic sources, but these rankings are sensitive to the SOA model used in the calculation. Air pollution control programs aiming to reduce the PM0.1 OA concentrations should consider controlling solvent usage, waste disposal, and mobile emissions in California, but these findings should be revisited after the latest science is incorporated into the SOA exposure calculations. The spatial distributions of SOA associated with different sources are not sensitive to the choice of SOA model, although the absolute amount of SOA can change significantly. Therefore, the spatial distributions of PM0.1 POA and SOA over the 9-year study period provide useful information for epidemiological studies to further investigate the associations with health outcomes.

scholarly journals Daily Exposure to Air Pollution Particulate Matter Is Associated with Atrial Fibrillation in High-Risk Patients

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (17) ◽  
pp. 6017
Author(s):  
Elisa Gallo ◽  
Franco Folino ◽  
Gianfranco Buja ◽  
Gabriele Zanotto ◽  
Daniele Bottigliengo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Atrial Fibrillation ◽  
Particulate Matter ◽  
Fine Particulate Matter ◽  
Epidemiological Studies ◽  
World Health ◽  
Cardiac Resynchronization ◽  
Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators ◽  
Daily Exposure ◽  
Incidence And Mortality ◽  
Pm2.5 And Pm10

Several epidemiological studies found an association between acute exposure to fine particulate matter of less than 2.5 μm and 10 μm in aerodynamic diameter (PM2.5 and PM10) and cardiovascular diseases, ventricular fibrillation incidence and mortality. The effects of pollution on atrial fibrillation (AF) beyond the first several hours of exposure remain controversial. A total of 145 patients with implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs), cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillators (ICD-CRT), or pacemakers were enrolled in this multicentric prospective study. Daily levels of PM2.5 and PM10 were collected from monitoring stations within 20 km of the patient’s residence. A Firth Logistic Regression model was used to evaluate the association between AF and daily exposure to PM2.5 and PM10. Exposure levels to PM2.5 and PM10 were moderate, being above the World Health Organization (WHO) PM2.5 and PM10 thresholds of 25 μg/m3 and 50 μg/m3, respectively, on 26% and 18% of the follow-up days. An association was found between daily levels of PM2.5 and PM10 and AF (95% confidence intervals (CIs) of 1.34–2.40 and 1.44–4.28, respectively) for an increase of 50 µg/m3 above the WHO threshold. Daily exposure to moderate PM2.5 and PM10 levels is associated with AF in patients who are not prone to AF.

scholarly journals Source contributions and potential reductions to health effects of particulate matter in India

2018 ◽  
Vol 18 (20) ◽  
pp. 15219-15229 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hao Guo ◽  
Sri Harsha Kota ◽  
Kaiyu Chen ◽  
Shovan Kumar Sahu ◽  
Jianlin Hu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Particulate Matter ◽  
Health Effects ◽  
Fine Particulate Matter ◽  
Uttar Pradesh ◽  
Premature Mortality ◽  
Chronic Obstructive ◽  
Years Of Life Lost ◽  
Obstructive Pulmonary Disease ◽  
Multi Scale ◽  
Source Contributions

Abstract. Health effects of exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in India were estimated in this study based on a source-oriented version of the Community Multi-scale Air Quality (CMAQ) model. Contributions of different sources to premature mortality and years of life lost (YLL) were quantified in 2015. Premature mortality due to cerebrovascular disease (CEVD) was the highest in India (0.44 million), followed by ischaemic heart disease (IHD, 0.40 million), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD, 0.18 million), and lung cancer (LC, 0.01 million), with a total of 1.04 million deaths. The states with highest premature mortality were Uttar Pradesh (0.23 million), Bihar (0.12 million), and West Bengal (0.10 million). The highest total YLL was 2 years in Delhi, and the Indo-Gangetic plains and eastern India had higher YLL (∼1 years) than other regions. The residential sector was the largest contributor to PM2.5 concentrations (∼40 µg m−3), total premature mortality (0.58 million), and YLL (∼0.2 years). Other important sources included industry (∼20 µg m−3), agriculture (∼10 µg m−3), and energy (∼5 µg m−3) with their national averaged contributions of 0.21, 0.12, and 0.07 million to premature mortality, and 0.12, 0.1, and 0.05 years to YLL. Reducing PM2.5 concentrations would lead to a significant reduction of premature mortality and YLL. For example, premature mortality in Uttar Pradesh (including Delhi) due to PM2.5 exposures would be reduced by 79 % and YLL would be reduced by 83 % when reducing PM2.5 concentrations to 10 µg m−3.

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