Air pollutants and early origins of respiratory diseases

Quantification of the effects of climatic conditions on French hospital admissions and deaths induced by SARS-CoV-2

An estimation of the impact of climatic conditions-measured with an index that combines temperature and humidity, the IPTCC-on the hospitalizations and deaths attributed to SARS-CoV-2 is proposed. The present paper uses weekly data from 54 French administrative regions between March 23, 2020 and January 10, 2021. Firstly, a Granger causal analysis is developed and reveals that past values of the IPTCC contain information that allow for a better prediction of hospitalizations or deaths than that obtained without the IPTCC. Finally, a vector autoregressive model is estimated to evaluate the dynamic response of hospitalizations and deaths after an increase in the IPTCC. It is estimated that a 10-point increase in the IPTCC causes hospitalizations to rise by 2.9% (90% CI 0.7-5.0) one week after the increase, and by 4.1% (90% CI 2.1-6.4) and 4.4% (90% CI 2.5-6.3) in the two following weeks. Over ten weeks, the cumulative effect is estimated to reach 20.1%. Two weeks after the increase in the IPTCC, deaths are estimated to rise by 3.7% (90% CI 1.6-5.8). The cumulative effect from the second to the tenth weeks reaches 15.8%. The results are robust to the inclusion of air pollution indicators.

Identification and Characterization of mRNA Biomarkers for Sodium Cyanide Exposure

Biomarkers in exposure assessment are defined as the quantifiable targets that indicate the exposure to hazardous chemicals and their resulting health effect. In this study, we aimed to identify, validate, and characterize the mRNA biomarker that can detect the exposure of sodium cyanide. To identify reliable biomarkers for sodium cyanide exposure, critical criteria were defined for candidate selection: (1) the expression level of mRNA significantly changes in response to sodium thiocyanate treatment in transcriptomics results (fold change > 2.0 or <0.50, adjusted p-value < 0.05); and (2) the mRNA level is significantly modulated by sodium cyanide exposure in both normal human lung cells and rat lung tissue. We identified the following mRNA biomarker candidates: ADCY5, ANGPTL4, CCNG2, CD9, COL1A2, DACT3, GGCX, GRB14, H1F0, HSPA1A, MAF, MAT2A, PPP1R10, and PPP4C. The expression levels of these candidates were commonly downregulated by sodium cyanide exposure both in vitro and in vivo. We functionally characterized the biomarkers and established the impact of sodium cyanide on transcriptomic profiles using in silico approaches. Our results suggest that the biomarkers may contribute to the regulation and degradation of the extracellular matrix, leading to a negative effect on surrounding lung cells.

Assessing Adverse Drug Reactions Reported for New Respiratory Medications in the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System Database

BACKGROUND

Between 2012 and 2017, 25 new medications or combination products were approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in treatment of chronic lower respiratory diseases (CLRDs). With limited data on post-marketing patient exposure to these drugs, their safety profiles remain unknown. This study aims to provide post-marketing surveillance of these medications.

METHODS

A list of new CLRD medications approved between 2012 and 2017 was generated through searches on Drugs.com (https://www.drugs.com), FDA.gov (https://www.fda.gov), and IBM Micromedex (https://www.micromedexsolutions.com/home/dispatch/ssl/true). Data describing adverse drug reactions (ADRs) were collected from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System for analysis. Of the 25 identified medications, we selected 4 medications indicated for asthma or COPD with at least 500 reports. Only ADRs catalogued with these medications as the primary suspect were analyzed. Reporting odds ratios were calculated for the top 10 ADRs of each CLRD medication.

RESULTS

A total of 61,682 ADR reports were collected for newly approved CLRD medications (n = 27,190 older adults; n = 30,502 male). Reports of COPD medications (umeclidinium and umeclidinium/vilanterol) indicate that umeclidinium/vilanterol yielded a higher reporting odds ratio than umeclidinium alone for reports of pain. Fluticasone furoate/vilanterol had higher reporting odds ratios for cough, pain, and dizziness than budesonide/formoterol and fluticasone propionate/salmeterol.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that the incidence of different adverse events experienced by patients in post-marketing reports resembles the incidence reported in pre-marketing clinical trials for COPD medications, except for fluticasone furoate/vilanterol, which has several differences.

Chemical and morpho-structural characterization of atmospheric aerosol (PM10 and PM2.5) in a city of São Paulo state, Brazil

To access the sources of air pollutants is crucial to control atmospheric pollution in urban areas, minimizing human exposure. Particulate matter is a pollutant of great concern making its chemical and morpho-structural characterization of enormous importance. The present work aims at the characterization of atmospheric PM₁₀ and PM_2.5. Data of the aerosol mass concentration was correlated by multivariate analysis with water-soluble ion fraction composition accessed by ion chromatography (IC), as well as with meteorological information and air mass backward trajectories. The gravimetric analysis presented average values 3 to 4 times higher than the guide values recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). A morpho-structural analysis by SEM/FEG coupled to EDS was also carried out identifying the coarse fraction elements from minerals and from soil resuspension organic spherical particles that originated from combustion processes as well as Ti, associated with long-distance transportation. In the fine fraction, Zn with origin probably in tires and vehicle brakes was found. These origins were confirmed by the air masses' backward trajectories obtained by the HYSPLIT model (NOAA). This study contributes to a better understanding of the complex composition of the particulate material in the atmosphere of Araraquara City, resulting from the combination of local and long-distance sources, and serves as a basis for the comparison with future studies related to the air quality at this and other regions in Brazil and in the world.

Can Air Quality Citizen-Sensors Turn into Clean Air Ambassadors? Insights from a Qualitative Study

While the figure of ambassador is being increasingly called upon in the field of environmental health, its scope remains fuzzy and its success factors have been little studied. This article presents the results of a qualitative study performed over three years on a French citizen-sensor scheme for air quality. The scheme draws on volunteer citizens to measure fine particles by means of micro-sensors. Volunteers are also tasked with raising awareness in their entourage about environmental issues with the aim of changing people's behaviour. We investigated this strategy and sought to identify the conditions that enable citizens to become effective clean air ambassadors. The scheme's intervention logic was first reconstructed and a literature review of similar projects was conducted. Then, three surveys were carried out with the scheme's volunteers. Each survey consisted of an observation of the volunteers' practices and individual interviews (70 in all) in order to understand these citizen-sensors motivations and experiences, and characterize how they fulfilled their role. We concluded that, for citizen sensing, the scope and role of ambassador should be reconsidered insofar as these citizens serve as peer leaders and mediators. In this respect, we try to define the success factors for citizen-sensing-based ambassadors programmes.

The Study of Airborne Particulate Matter in Dalnegorsk Town

Mines, quarries, dumps, and tailings are the sources of air pollution. In the Dalnegorsk District (Primorsky Krai, Russia), there are 20 polymetallic deposits. This study aimed to evaluate the particle size and material composition of ambient particulate matter (PM) in Dalnegorsk town and verify the influence of mining and chemical industry facilities on the composition of PM. Ambient particulates were analyzed in samples of snow cover and washout from vegetation (conifer tree needles). According to particle size distribution data, the relative content of particles with a diameter up to 10 microns (PM₁₀) reaches 40% in three snow samples taken in the central part of the town. Among ore minerals, pyrite and arsenopyrite predominated in the samples. In addition, sphalerite, galena, cassiterite, and iron–chromium–nickel formations of various shapes were found in the studied particles. The presence of these metals in airborne PM can negatively affect the incidence rate of PM-associated diseases and the determination of their levels are very useful for air pollution prevention strategies.

Effect of sulfur dioxide exposure on histopathology and morphometry of pancreatic islet cells and glycemic indices in Wistar rats

Sulfur dioxide (SO₂) is a ubiquitous air pollutant. Recent studies suggest that SO₂ is a momentous risk factor for diabetes mellitus (DM). The present investigation aimed to evaluate the effects of SO₂ exposure on histopathology and morphometry of pancreatic islet cells and serum glycemic indices in rats. Sixteen male Wistar rats were divided equally into SO₂ and control groups. SO₂ group was exposed to 10 parts per million (ppm) SO₂ for 5 weeks (6 days a week, 3 h/day) and control group to filtered air for the same time as SO₂ group. Blood serums were collected and pancreatic tissue isolated. Glycemic indices were measured. Pathological and morphometric changes were studied in the pancreatic tissues. Exposure to SO₂ caused a significant increase in blood glucose but did not significantly change insulin and HbA1c serum levels and HOMA-IR. There were significant differences in vascular congestion (p= 0.02) and insulitis (p= 0.04) between the groups. SO₂ inhalation significantly reduced beta cell number and beta-alpha cell ratio compared with the control group (p=0.03 and p<0.0001, respectively). These findings suggest that SO₂ exposure damages pancreatic tissue which subsequently influences either the incidence of DM or the trend of diabetic complications.

Exploring short term spatio-temporal pattern of PM2.5 and PM10 and their relationship with meteorological parameters during COVID-19 in Delhi

Present study aims to examine the impact of lockdown on spatio-temporal concentration of PM2.5 and PM10 - categorized and recorded based on its levels during pre-lockdown, lockdown and unlock phases while noting the relationship of these levels with meteorological parameters (temperature, wind speed, relative humidity, rainfall, pressure, sun hour and cloud cover) in Delhi. To aid the study, a comparison was made with the last two years (2018 to 2019), covering the same periods of pre-lockdown, lockdown and unlock phases of 2020. Correlation analysis, linear regression (LR) was used to examine the impact of meteorological parameters on particulate matter (PM) concentrations in Delhi, India. The findings showed that (i) substantial decline of PM concentration in Delhi during lockdown period, (ii) there were substantial seasonal variation of particulate matter concentration in city and (iii) meteorological parameters have close associations with PM concentrations. The findings will help planners and policy makers to understand the impact of air pollutants and meteorological parameters on infectious disease and to adopt effective strategies for future.

Experimental and clinical studies on the effects of Portulaca oleracea L. and its constituents on respiratory, allergic, and immunologic disorders, a review

Various pharmacological effects for Portulaca oleracea were shown in previous studies. Therefore, the effects of P. oleracea and its derivatives on respiratory, allergic, and immunologic diseases according to update experimental and clinical studies are provided in this review article. PubMed/Medline, Scopus, and Google Scholar were searched using appropriate keywords until the end of December 2020. The effects of P. oleracea and its constituents such as quercetin and kaempferol on an animal model of asthma were shown. Portulaca oleracea and its constituents also showed therapeutic effects on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and chronic bronchitis in both experimental and clinical studies. The possible bronchodilatory effect of P. oleracea and its ingredients was also reported. Portulaca oleracea and its constituents showed the preventive effect on lung cancer and a clinical study showed the effect of P. oleracea on patients with lung adenocarcinoma. In addition, a various constituents of P. oleracea including, quercetin and kaempferol showed therapeutic effects on lung infections. This review indicates the therapeutic effect of P. oleracea and its constituents on various lung and allergic disorders but more clinical studies are required to establish the clinical efficacy of this plant and its constituents on lung and allergic disorders.

Significance between air pollutants, meteorological factors, and COVID-19 infections: probable evidences in India

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) disease represents the causative agent with a potentially fatal risk which is having great global human health concern. Earlier studies suggested that air pollutants and meteorological factors were considered as the risk factors for acute respiratory infection, which carries harmful pathogens and affects the immunity. The study intended to explore the correlation between air pollutants, meteorological factors, and the daily reported infected cases caused by novel coronavirus in India. The daily positive infected cases, concentrations of air pollutants, and meteorological factors in 288 districts were collected from January 30, 2020, to April 23, 2020, in India. Spearman's correlation and generalized additive model (GAM) were applied to investigate the correlations of four air pollutants (PM2.5, PM10, NO2, and SO2) and eight meteorological factors (Temp, DTR, RH, AH, AP, RF, WS, and WD) with COVID-19-infected cases. The study indicated that a 10 μg/m3 increase during (Lag0-14) in PM2.5, PM10, and NO2 resulted in 2.21% (95%CI: 1.13 to 3.29), 2.67% (95% CI: 0.33 to 5.01), and 4.56 (95% CI: 2.22 to 6.90) increase in daily counts of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID 19)-infected cases respectively. However, only 1 unit increase in meteorological factor levels in case of daily mean temperature and DTR during (Lag0-14) associated with 3.78% (95%CI: 1.81 to 5.75) and 1.82% (95% CI: -1.74 to 5.38) rise of COVID-19-infected cases respectively. In addition, SO2 and relative humidity were negatively associated with COVID-19-infected cases at Lag0-14 with decrease of 7.23% (95% CI: -10.99 to -3.47) and 1.11% (95% CI: -3.45 to 1.23) for SO2 and for relative humidity respectively. The study recommended that there are significant correlations between air pollutants and meteorological factors with COVID-19-infected cases, which substantially explain the effect of national lockdown and suggested positive implications for control and prevention of the spread of SARS-CoV-2 disease.

Estimating Short- and Long-Term Associations Between Air Quality Index and COVID-19 Transmission: Evidence From 257 Chinese Cities

Objectives: To evaluate the long- and short-term effects of air pollution on COVID-19 transmission simultaneously, especially in high air pollution level countries.

Methods: Quasi-Poisson regression was applied to estimate the association between exposure to air pollution and daily new confirmed cases of COVID-19, with mutual adjustment for long- and short-term air quality index (AQI). The independent effects were also estimated and compared. We further assessed the modification effect of within-city migration (WM) index to the associations.

Results: We found a significant 1.61% (95%CI: 0.51%, 2.72%) and 0.35% (95%CI: 0.24%, 0.46%) increase in daily confirmed cases per 1 unit increase in long- and short-term AQI. Higher estimates were observed for long-term impact. The stratifying result showed that the association was significant when the within-city migration index was low. A 1.25% (95%CI: 0.0.04%, 2.47%) and 0.41% (95%CI: 0.30%, 0.52%) increase for long- and short-term effect respectively in low within-city migration index was observed.

Conclusions: There existed positive associations between long- and short-term AQI and COVID-19 transmission, and within-city migration index modified the association. Our findings will be of strategic significance for long-run COVID-19 control.

Multiple performances and paradoxical effects of China's vehicle emission reduction policy

As the living standards of urban residents in China continue to improve, the number of motor vehicle trips is increasing, thus aggravating air pollution. Such pollution causes great harm to human health and the global environment. Using a system dynamics approach, this study analyzed the effect of implementation mode on China's air pollution charging fee (APCF) policy and identified potentially negative medium- and long-term effects. The results indicated that the APCF policy has a dual effect under the single-charge mode (i.e., fees are charged on a daily basis). On the one hand, it has multiple effects of reducing emissions, relieving traffic congestion, and improving the happiness index. On the other hand, the higher the charge, the stronger the trip demand (possibly due to the sunk-cost fallacy and loss-aversion effect), which encourages motorists to weaken the cost of losses (i.e., from air pollution fees) by increasing the number of trips per day to seek short-term psychological balance, regardless of the extra costs and the amount of pollution generated. It was also found that APCF implementation mode significantly affected passenger car trips but not truck trips (perhaps because truck trips are mainly based on the demand of supply, and the daily number of trips is relatively stable). Overall, as APCF increases, it can have some paradoxical long-term effects on emissions, congestion, the happiness index, and road bearing capacity. This study's findings can help the Chinese government improve and optimize its long-term air pollution control strategies.

Algae-Derived Anti-Inflammatory Compounds against Particulate Matters-Induced Respiratory Diseases: A Systematic Review

Air pollution has recently become a subject of increasing concern in many parts of the world. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that nearly 4.2 million early deaths are due to exposure to fine particles in polluted air, which causes multiple respiratory diseases. Algae, as a natural product, can be an alternative treatment due to potential biofunctional properties and advantages. This systematic review aims to summarize and evaluate the evidence of metabolites derived from algae as potential anti-inflammatory agents against respiratory disorders induced by atmospheric particulate matter (PM). Databases such as Scopus, Web of Science, and PubMed were systematically searched for relevant published full articles from 2016 to 2020. The main key search terms were limited to "algae", "anti-inflammation", and "air pollutant". The search activity resulted in the retrieval of a total of 36 publications. Nine publications are eligible for inclusion in this systematic review. A total of four brown algae (Ecklonia cava, Ishige okamurae, Sargassum binderi and Sargassum horneri) with phytosterol, polysaccharides and polyphenols were reported in the nine studies. The review sheds light on the pathways of particulate matter travelling into respiratory systems and causing inflammation, and on the mechanisms of actions of algae in inhibiting inflammation. Limitations and future directions are also discussed. More research is needed to investigate the potential of algae as anti-inflammatory agents against PM in in vivo and in vitro experimental models, as well as clinically.

Overview of Biodiesel Combustion in Mitigating the Adverse Impacts of Engine Emissions on the Sustainable Human–Environment Scenario

Air pollution is a precursor to many health issues such as difficulty breathing, asthma, lung and heart diseases, and cancer. This study presents a concise view of biodiesel combustion in mitigating pollutant emissions which are generated by the combustion of fossil fuels, thereby eliminating the negative effects on human health and the environment. Gaseous pollutants such as carbon monoxide, unburned hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxides, particulate matter, and carbon dioxide are found to be major exhaust emissions from vehicles running on fossil fuels. Excessive exposure to these pollutants was found to be a precursor to reductions in life expectancy via health complications in humans. Greenhouse gas emissions from the transport sector were found to be 24% of total annual emissions, 74.5% of which came from the combustion of fossil fuel in road vehicles. Biodiesel combustion in vehicular engines is established to be a control technology in reducing gaseous pollutants toward building a sustainable and healthy human–environment scenario. The emissions reduction index from the United States National Biodiesel Board showed that the combustion of biodiesel wholly as a transportation fuel decreased total hydrocarbons, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, carbon, and sulfur emissions by 67%, 80%, 48%, and 100%, respectively. Evaluation of emission results from topical literature strongly suggests that the use of biodiesel is effective in the reduction in pollutants, which is beneficial to human and environmental sustainability.

Traffic generated emissions alter the lung microbiota by promoting the expansion of Proteobacteria in C57Bl/6 mice placed on a high-fat diet

Air pollution has been documented to contribute to severe respiratory diseases like asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD). Although these diseases demonstrate a shift in the lung microbiota towards Proteobacteria, the effects of traffic generated emissions on lung microbiota profiles have not been well-characterized. Thus, we investigated the hypothesis that exposure to traffic-generated emissions can alter lung microbiota and immune defenses. Since a large population of the Western world consumes a diet rich in fats, we sought to investigate the synergistic effects of mixed vehicle emissions and high-fat diet consumption. We exposed 3-month-old male C57Bl/6 mice placed either on regular chow (LF) or a high-fat (HF: 45% kcal fat) diet to mixed emissions (ME: 30 µg PM/m³ gasoline engine emissions+70 µg PM/m³ diesel engine emissions) or filtered air (FA) for 6 h/d, 7 d/wk for 30 days. Levels of pulmonary immunoglobulins IgA, IgG, and IgM were analyzed by ELISA, and lung microbial profiling was done using qPCR and Illumina 16 S sequencing. We observed a significant decrease in lung IgA in the ME-exposed animals, compared to the FA-exposed animals, both fed a HF diet. Our results also revealed a significant decrease in lung IgG in the ME-exposed animals both on the LF diet and HF diet, in comparison to the FA-exposed animals. We also observed an expansion of Enterobacteriaceae belonging to the Proteobacteria phylum in the ME-exposed groups on the HF diet. Collectively, we show that the combined effects of ME and HF diet result in decreased immune surveillance and lung bacterial dysbiosis, which is of significance in lung diseases.

Transwell Insert-Embedded Microfluidic Devices for Time-Lapse Monitoring of Alveolar Epithelium Barrier Function under Various Stimulations

This paper reports a transwell insert-embedded microfluidic device capable of culturing cells at an air-liquid interface (ALI), mimicking the in vivo alveolar epithelium microenvironment. Integration of a commercially available transwell insert makes the device fabrication straightforward and eliminates the tedious device assembly processes. The transwell insert can later be detached from the device for high-resolution imaging of the cells. In the experiments, the cells showing type-I pneumocyte markers are exploited to construct an in vitro alveolar epithelium model, and four culture conditions including conventional liquid/liquid culture (LLC) and air-liquid interface (ALI) cell culture in normal growth medium, and ALI cell culture with inflammatory cytokine (TNF-α) stimulation and ethanol vapor exposure are applied to investigate their effects on the alveolar epithelium barrier function. The barrier permeability is time-lapse monitored using trans-epithelial electrical resistance (TEER) measurement and immunofluorescence staining of the tight junction protein (ZO-1). The results demonstrate the functionalities of the device, and further show the applications and advantages of the constructed in vitro cell models for the lung studies.

Interstitial Lung Diseases and Air Pollution: Narrative Review of Literature

Air pollution has been associated with respiratory diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and lung malignancies. The aim of this narrative review is to analyze the current data on the possible association between air pollution and interstitial lung disease (ILD). There are multiple studies showing the association of ILD with air pollution but the mechanism remains unclear. Although some of the environmental factors have been associated with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP), and pneumoconiosis, data about other ILDs are scarce and not well known. Air pollution as an etiology for ILD may act in multiple ways, leading to disease pathogenesis or exacerbation of underlying ILD. Clinical implications of this association are manifold; limiting the exposure to poor-quality air could possibly reduce the fall in lung functions and the risk of acute exacerbations of the underlying ILD.

Air pollution is a major problem worldwide. Pollutants are vented out in the ambient air by sources like vehicular fume exhaust, factory pollution, combustion by burning of biomass fuels, and indoor pollution. The probable constituents responsible for respiratory diseases are particulate matter 2.5 and 10, nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), and ozone present in polluted air. The role of these pollutants in pathogenesis of interstitial lung disease (ILD) is complex. The probable pathways include: oxidative stress, inflammation, and telomere shortening. ILD is a heterogeneous group of diseases, and the effect of pollution on various types is also varied. Air pollution has been associated with poor lung function and exacerbations in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), increased prevalence of hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP), and presence of pulmonary fibrosis in healthy adults and children. The incidence rate of IPF has also been associated with pollutant levels such as NO₂. Thus, patients with ILD should be cautious during bad-quality air days and they are advised to avoid outdoor activities and use facemasks during this period.

Environmental Determinants of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

Purpose for Review

Since the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 outbreak in China in late 2019 turned into a global pandemic, numerous studies have reported associations between environmental factors, such as weather conditions and a range of air pollutants (particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide, ozone, etc.) and the first wave of COVID-19 cases. This review aims to offer a critical assessment of the role of environmental exposure risk factors on SARS-CoV-2 infections and COVID-19 disease severity.

Recent Findings

In this review, we provide a critical assessment of COVID-19 risk factors, identify gaps in our knowledge (e.g., indoor air pollution), and discuss methodological challenges of association and causation and the impact lockdowns had on air quality. In addition, we will draw attention to ethnic and socioeconomic factors driving viral transmission related to COVID-19. The complex role angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) plays in COVID-19 and future promising avenues of research are discussed.

Summary

To demonstrate causality, we stress the need for future epidemiologic studies integrating personal air pollution exposures, detailed clinical COVID-19 data, and a range of socioeconomic factors, as well as in vitro and in vivo mechanistic studies.

NO2 levels as a contributing factor to COVID-19 deaths: The first empirical estimate of threshold values

This study represents the first empirical estimation of threshold values between nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) concentrations and COVID-19-related deaths in France. The concentration of NO₂ linked to COVID-19-related deaths in three major French cities were determined using Artificial Neural Networks experiments and a Causal Direction from Dependency (D2C) algorithm. The aim of the study was to evaluate the potential effects of NO₂ in spreading the epidemic. The underlying hypothesis is that NO₂, as a precursor to secondary particulate matter formation, can foster COVID-19 and make the respiratory system more susceptible to this infection. Three different neural networks for the cities of Paris, Lyon and Marseille were built in this work, followed by the application of an innovative tool of cutting the signal from the inputs to the selected target. The results show that the threshold levels of NO₂ connected to COVID-19 range between 15.8 μg/m³ for Lyon, 21.8 μg/m³ for Marseille and 22.9 μg/m³ for Paris, which were significantly lower than the average annual concentration limit of 40 μg/m³ imposed by Directive 2008/50/EC of the European Parliament.

Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor is Essential in the Control of Lung Club Cell Homeostasis

BACKGROUND

Club cells play an important role in maintaining lung homeostasis and aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is known to be important in xenobiotic metabolism, but its role in regulating club cells is currently unknown.

METHODS

To this end, mice with club cell-specific AhR deficiency were generated and evaluated in a model of antigen (ovalbumin, OVA)-induced airway inflammation for the number of infiltrating inflammatory cells, the levels of cytokines and CC10 and Notch signaling by standard methods.

RESULTS

After OVA sensitization and challenge, Scgb1a1-Cre; Ahrflox/flox mice showed aggravated levels of pulmonary inflammation with increased levels of inflammatory cells and cytokines 1 day after challenge as compared to those seen in their littermate controls, but in contrast to the littermate controls, no significant change in the levels of CC10 and SP-D was noted in Scgb1a1-Cre; Ahrflox/flox mice. Surprisingly, 7 days after the challenge, while, as expected, wild-type mice recovered from acute inflammation, significantly increased lymphocytic infiltration was noted in Scgb1a1-Cre; Ahrflox/flox mice, suggesting their defective mechanism of recovery. Mechanistically, this was due, in part, to the decreased Notch1 signaling and expression of its downstream gene, HES5, while AhR was shown to positively regulate Notch1 expression via its transactivating activity targeting the xenobiotic response element in the promoter region of Notch1 gene.

CONCLUSION

Under the condition of pulmonary inflammation, AhR is critical in controlling lung club cell homeostasis via targeting Notch1 signaling and the generation of anti-inflammatory mediators.

The Combined Effects of Fine Particulate Matter and Temperature on Preterm Birth in Seoul, 2010-2016

Background: Preterm birth contributes to the morbidity and mortality of newborns and infants. Recent studies have shown that maternal exposure to particulate matter and extreme temperatures results in immune dysfunction, which can induce preterm birth. This study aimed to evaluate the association between fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) exposure, temperature, and preterm birth in Seoul, Republic of Korea. Methods: We used 2010–2016 birth data from Seoul, obtained from the Korea National Statistical Office Microdata. PM_2.5 concentration data from Seoul were generated through the Community Multiscale Air Quality (CMAQ) model. Seoul temperature data were collected from the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA). The exposure period of PM_2.5 and temperature were divided into the first (TR1), second (TR2), and third (TR3) trimesters of pregnancy. The mean PM_2.5 concentration was used in units of ×10 µg/m³ and the mean temperature was divided into four categories based on quartiles. Logistic regression analyses were performed to evaluate the association between PM_2.5 exposure and preterm birth, as well as the combined effects of PM_2.5 exposure and temperature on preterm birth. Result: In a model that includes three trimesters of PM_2.5 and temperature data as exposures, which assumes an interaction between PM_2.5 and temperature in each trimester, the risk of preterm birth was positively associated with TR1 PM_2.5 exposure among pregnant women exposed to relatively low mean temperatures (<3.4 °C) during TR1 (OR 1.134, 95% CI 1.061–1.213, p < 0.001). Conclusions: When we assumed the interaction between PM_2.5 exposure and temperature exposure, PM_2.5 exposure during TR1 increased the risk of preterm birth among pregnant women exposed to low temperatures during TR1. Pregnant women should be aware of the risk associated with combined exposure to particulate matter and low temperatures during TR1 to prevent preterm birth.

Impact of COVID-19 lockdown on NO2, O3, PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations and assessing air quality changes in Baghdad, Iraq

Covid-19 was first reported in Iraq on February 24, 2020. Since then, to prevent its propagation, the Iraqi government declared a state of health emergency. A set of rapid and strict countermeasures have taken, including locking down cities and limiting population's mobility. In this study, concentrations of four criteria pollutants, NO₂, O₃, PM_2.5 and PM₁₀ before the lockdown from January 16 to February 29, 2020, and during four periods of partial and total lockdown from March 1 to July 24, 2020, in Baghdad were analysed. Overall, 6, 8 and 15% decreases in NO₂, PM_2.5, and PM₁₀ concentrations, respectively in Baghdad during the 1st partial and total lockdown from March 1 to April 21, compared to the period before the lockdown. While, there were 13% increase in O₃ for same period. During the 2nd partial lockdown from June 14 to July 24, NO₂ and PM_2.5 decreases 20 and 2.5%, respectively. While, there were 525 and 56% increase in O₃ and PM₁₀, respectively for same period. The air quality index (AQI) improved by 13% in Baghdad during the 1st partial lockdown from March 1 to April 21, compared to its pre-lockdown. The results of NO₂ tropospheric column extracted from the Sentinel-5P satellite shown the NO₂ emissions reduced up to 35 to 40% across Iraq, due to lockdown measures, between January and July, 2020, especially across the major cities such as Baghdad, Basra and Erbil. The lockdown due to COVID-19 has drastic effects on social and economic aspects. However, the lockdown also has some positive effect on natural environment and air quality improvement.

The use of Pinus nigra as a biomonitor of pesticides and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in Lebanon

Among the various species of vegetation, conifers play an important role as a biomonitor of air pollution. The current study presents the determination of pesticides and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in 15 conifer samples collected in August 2018 (summer season) from different regions in north Lebanon (Tripoli, Koura, Bcharre, and Akkar). Pollutants were extracted based on QuEChERS-SPME followed by liquid and gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Results showed that the samples collected from Bcharre region had the lowest concentration in both pesticides and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons with a total concentration of 50 and 66 ng g^-1, while the samples collected from the regions widely known by their agriculture (Akkar, Tripoli, and Koura areas) were the most polluted with concentrations of 231 and 422 ng g^-1, 192 and 370 ng g^-1, and 127 and 98 ng g^-1 for pesticides and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons respectively. This study revealed that conifers are suggested to be efficient biomonitors of contamination levels in the air.

Air pollution aggravating COVID-19 lethality? Exploration in Asian cities using statistical models

The present work estimates the increased risk of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 by establishing the linkage between the mortality rate in the infected cases and the air pollution, specifically Particulate Matters (PM) with aerodynamic diameters ≤ 10 µm and ≤ 2.5 µm. Data related to nine Asian cities are analyzed using statistical approaches, including the analysis of variance and regression model. The present work suggests that there exists a positive correlation between the level of air pollution of a region and the lethality related to COVID-19, indicating air pollution to be an elemental and concealed factor in aggravating the global burden of deaths related to COVID-19. Past exposures to high level of PM_2.5 over a long period, is found to significantly correlate with present COVID-19 mortality per unit reported cases (p < 0.05) compared to PM₁₀, with non-significant correlation (p = 0.118). The finding of the study can help government agencies, health ministries and policymakers globally to take proactive steps by promoting immunity-boosting supplements and appropriate masks to reduce the risks associated with COVID-19 in highly polluted areas.

Low-Cost Benzene Toluene Xylene Measurement Gas System Based on the Mini Chromatographic Cartridge

Benzene, toluene and xylene (BTX) are an important part of the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) to be detected and monitored in the air, due to their toxicity towards human health. One of the most reliable technique used in BTX detection is gas chromatography (GC), which presents a high sensitivity. On the other hand, it has important drawbacks, such as high costs, the need for qualified personnel and frequent maintenance. To overcome these drawbacks, this work reports the development of a low cost and portable BTX gas detection system based on a mini chromatographic cartridge, a photo ionization detector (PID), a simple control unit (based on Arduino architecture) and a mini pump. In order to separate the BTX components, we propose the use of a cartridge 80 mm in length, composed of several commercial chromatographic column sections. To test the system performances, we have injected different amounts (from about 0.3 to 5.3 µg) of benzene, toluene and xylene and two of the most frequent possible interferents (ethanol, acetone). Experimental results have shown different retention time values (i.e., 25 ± 0.5 s, 51 ± 1.2 s and 117 ± 4 s, respectively) for benzene, toluene and xylene.

Air Pollution-An Overlooked Risk Factor for Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

Air pollution is a major environmental risk to health and a global public health concern. In 2016, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), ambient air pollution in cities and rural areas was estimated to cause 4.2 million premature deaths. It is estimated that around 91% of the world’s population lives in places where air pollution exceeds the limits recommended by the WHO. Sources of air pollution are multiple and context-specific. Air pollution exposures are established risk factors for development and adverse health outcomes in many respiratory diseases, including asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), or lung cancer. However, possible associations between air pollution and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) have not been adequately studied and air pollution seems to be an underrecognized risk factor for IPF. This narrative review describes potential mechanisms triggered by ambient air pollution and their possible roles in the initiation of the pathogenic process and adverse health effects in IPF. Additionally, we summarize the most current research evidence from the clinical studies supporting links between air pollution and IPF.

The relationship between air pollution and COVID-19-related deaths: An application to three French cities

Being heavily dependent to oil products (mainly gasoline and diesel), the French transport sector is the main emitter of Particulate Matter (PMs) whose critical levels induce harmful health effects for urban inhabitants. We selected three major French cities (Paris, Lyon, and Marseille) to investigate the relationship between the Coronavirus Disease 19 (COVID-19) outbreak and air pollution. Using Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) experiments, we have determined the concentration of PM_2.5 and PM₁₀ linked to COVID-19-related deaths. Our focus is on the potential effects of Particulate Matter (PM) in spreading the epidemic. The underlying hypothesis is that a pre-determined particulate concentration can foster COVID-19 and make the respiratory system more susceptible to this infection. The empirical strategy used an innovative Machine Learning (ML) methodology. In particular, through the so-called cutting technique in ANNs, we found new threshold levels of PM_2.5 and PM₁₀ connected to COVID-19: 17.4 µg/m³ (PM_2.5) and 29.6 µg/m³ (PM₁₀) for Paris; 15.6 µg/m³ (PM_2.5) and 20.6 µg/m³ (PM₁₀) for Lyon; 14.3 µg/m³ (PM_2.5) and 22.04 µg/m³ (PM₁₀) for Marseille. Interestingly, all the threshold values identified by the ANNs are higher than the limits imposed by the European Parliament. Finally, a Causal Direction from Dependency (D2C) algorithm is applied to check the consistency of our findings.

Socioeconomic Disparities and Gender Inequalities in Dementia: a Community-Dwelling Population Study from a Middle-Income Country

The proportion of the world's older adults and of its dementia cases is increasing in low and middle-income countries. This is particularly true in Colombia. There, the number of individuals with dementia may increase five-fold by 2050. Yet research is lacking on dementia in such settings. This work estimates the prevalence of dementia in a community-dwelling population in Colombia. It also assesses how gender-based differences in cardiovascular conditions and socioeconomic disparities affect dementia. This work analyzes data on 2000 respondents at least 60 years of age in the Health, Well-Being, And Aging (SABE) study in Bogota. Respondents with dementia are those who have cognitive impairment and at least two limitations in instrumental activities of daily living. The SABE study finds 8.4% of respondents have dementia. Age, cardiovascular risks, and socioeconomic disparities contributed to higher odds of dementia. The contributors to dementia can differ for men and women. For example, socioeconomic disparities were a larger contributor to dementia for women than men. The findings support the cognitive reserve hypothesis on dementia. This holds that pre-existing cognitive processes and compensatory mechanisms influence dementia. Women in Latin America are more likely to suffer from socioeconomic disparities that limit their cognitive reserve. This research points to several policy implications that can help offset these disparities and reduce the prevalence of dementia.

Effects of meteorological conditions and air pollution on COVID-19 transmission: Evidence from 219 Chinese cities

The spatial distribution of the COVID-19 infection in China cannot be explained solely by geographical distance and regulatory stringency. In this research we investigate how meteorological conditions and air pollution, as concurring factors, impact COVID-19 transmission, using data on new confirmed cases from 219 prefecture cities from January 24 to February 29, 2020. Results revealed a kind of nonlinear dose-response relationship between temperature and coronavirus transmission. We also found that air pollution indicators are positively correlated with new confirmed cases, and the coronavirus further spreads by 5-7% as the AQI increases by 10 units. Further analysis based on regional divisions revealed that in northern China the negative effects of rising temperature on COVID-19 is counteracted by aggravated air pollution. In the southern cities, the ambient temperature and air pollution have a negative interactive effect on COVID-19 transmission, implying that rising temperature restrains the facilitating effects of air pollution and that they jointly lead to a decrease in new confirmed cases. These results provide implications for the control and prevention of this disease and for the anticipation of another possible pandemic.

Single-day and cumulative effects of ambient particulate matter exposure on emergency department visits for respiratory disease in South Korea

Background:

Along with the industrialization, the air pollutants have gained more attention and studies especially about respiratory diseases were conducted. Emergency visit reflects acute aggravation of disease rather than chronic exacerbation.

Objectives:

The objective of this study was to evaluate the relationship between the ambient particulate matter and the emergency visits with respiratory disease in South Korea.

Methods:

Patients diagnosed with respiratory disease in the emergency department in 2018 were enrolled. The data of meteorological factors and air pollutants between 4 December 2017 and 31 December 2018 were acquired. Poisson regression was used with daily emergency visits as the response variable and single-day particulate matter concentration as the explanatory variable.

Results:

A total of 4207 patients were enrolled. In Poisson regression analysis of all respiratory diseases, the effects of [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] were strongest at day before 8 and 26. Age older than 65 group and chronic respiratory disease group had earlier lag effect than the all-diseases group. Cumulative effect was peaked at 14 lag day. The split point of prediction was 87 µg/m3 before 3 days for [Formula: see text] and 37 µg/m3 before 8 days for [Formula: see text].

Conclusion:

The results can be used to predict the increase of emergency visits and need for medical resources when the ambient particulate matter concentration rises.

Lung Health in Children in Sub-Saharan Africa: Addressing the Need for Cleaner Air

Air pollution is increasingly recognized as a global health emergency with its impacts being wide ranging, more so for low- and middle-income countries where both indoor and outdoor pollution levels are high. In Africa, more than 80% of children live in households which use unclean sources of energy. The effects of both indoor and outdoor pollution on lung health on children who are the most vulnerable to their effects range from acute lower respiratory tract infections to long-term chronic health effects. We reviewed the literature on the effects of air pollution in children in Sub-Saharan Africa from prenatal exposure, infancy and school-going children. Data from Sub-Saharan Africa on quantification of exposures both indoor and outdoor mainly utilizes modelling or self-reporting. Exposures to biomass not only increases the risk of acute respiratory tract infections in young children but also increases the risk of carriage of pathogenic bacteria in the upper respiratory tract. Although there is limited evidence of association between asthma and pollution in African children, airway hyper-responsiveness and lower lung function has been demonstrated in children with higher risk of exposure. Interventions at a policy level to both quantify the exposure levels at a population level are urgently needed to address the possible interventions to limit exposure and improve lung health in children in Sub-Saharan Africa.

The COVID-19 Pandemic: Does Our Early Life Environment, Life Trajectory and Socioeconomic Status Determine Disease Susceptibility and Severity?

A poor socioeconomic environment and social adversity are fundamental determinants of human life span, well-being and health. Previous influenza pandemics showed that socioeconomic factors may determine both disease detection rates and overall outcomes, and preliminary data from the ongoing coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic suggests that this is still true. Over the past years it has become clear that early-life adversity (ELA) plays a critical role biasing the immune system towards a pro-inflammatory and senescent phenotype many years later. Cytotoxic T-lymphocytes (CTL) appear to be particularly sensitive to the early life social environment. As we understand more about the immune response to SARS-CoV-2 it appears that a functional CTL (CD8+) response is required to clear the infection and COVID-19 severity is increased as the CD8+ response becomes somehow diminished or exhausted. This raises the hypothesis that the ELA-induced pro-inflammatory and senescent phenotype may play a role in determining the clinical course of COVID-19, and the convergence of ELA-induced senescence and COVID-19 induced exhaustion represents the worst-case scenario with the least effective T-cell response. If the correct data is collected, it may be possible to separate the early life elements that have made people particularly vulnerable to COVID-19 many years later. This will, naturally, then help us identify those that are most at risk from developing the severest forms of COVID-19. In order to do this, we need to recognize socioeconomic and early-life factors as genuine medically and clinically relevant data that urgently need to be collected. Finally, many biological samples have been collected in the ongoing studies. The mechanisms linking the early life environment with a defined later-life phenotype are starting to be elucidated, and perhaps hold the key to understanding inequalities and differences in the severity of COVID-19.

Analysis on the Temporal Distribution Characteristics of Air Pollution and Its Impact on Human Health under the Noticeable Variation of Residents' Travel Behavior: A Case of Guangzhou, China

During the large-scale outbreak of COVID-19 in China, the Chinese government adopted multiple measures to prevent the epidemic. The consequence was that a sudden variation in residents' travel behavior took place. In order to better evaluate the temporal distribution of air pollution, and to effectively explore the influence of human activities on air quality, especially under the special situation, this study was conducted based on the real data from a case city in China from this new perspective. Two case scenarios were constructed, in which the research before the changes of residents' travel behavior was taken as case one, and the research after the changes in residents' travel behavior as case two. The hourly real-time concentrations of PM_2.5, PM₁₀, SO₂, NO₂, CO and O₃ that have passed the augmented Dickey-Fuller (ADF) test were employed as a data source. A series of detailed studies have been carried out using the correlation method, entropy weight method and the Air Quality Index (AQI) calculation method. Additionally, the research found that the decrease rate of NO₂ concentration is 61.05%, and the decrease rate of PM₁₀ concentration is 53.68%. On the contrary, the average concentration of O₃ has increased significantly, and its growth rate has reached to 9.82%. Although the air quality in the first week with fewer travels was in the excellent category, and chief pollutant (CP), as well as excessive pollutant (EP), were not found, as traffic volume increased, it became worse in the second and third weeks. In addition to that, special attention should still be paid to the development trend of O₃, as its average hourly concentration has increased. The findings of this study will have some guiding significance for the study of air pollution prevention, cleaner production, and indoor environmental safety issues, especially for the study of abnormal traffic environments where residents' travel behaviors have changed significantly.

Organ-on-a-Chip: Opportunities for Assessing the Toxicity of Particulate Matter

Recent developments in epidemiology have confirmed that airborne particulates are directly associated with respiratory pathology and mortality. Although clinical studies have yielded evidence of the effects of many types of fine particulates on human health, it still does not have a complete understanding of how physiological reactions are caused nor to the changes and damages associated with cellular and molecular mechanisms. Currently, most health assessment studies of particulate matter (PM) are conducted through cell culture or animal experiments. The results of such experiments often do not correlate with clinical findings or actual human reactions, and they also cause difficulty when investigating the causes of air pollution and associated human health hazards, the analysis of biomarkers, and the development of future pollution control strategies. Microfluidic-based cell culture technology has considerable potential to expand the capabilities of conventional cell culture by providing high-precision measurement, considerably increasing the potential for the parallelization of cellular assays, ensuring inexpensive automation, and improving the response of the overall cell culture in a more physiologically relevant context. This review paper focuses on integrating the important respiratory health problems caused by air pollution today, as well as the development and application of biomimetic organ-on-a-chip technology. This more precise experimental model is expected to accelerate studies elucidating the effect of PM on the human body and to reveal new opportunities for breakthroughs in disease research and drug development.

Distribution of the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic and Its Monthly Forecast Based on Seasonal Climate Patterns

This paper investigates whether the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome CoronaVirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic could have been favored by specific weather conditions and other factors. It is found that the 2020 winter weather in the region of Wuhan (Hubei, Central China)—where the virus first broke out in December and spread widely from January to February 2020—was strikingly similar to that of the Northern Italian provinces of Milan, Brescia and Bergamo, where the pandemic broke out from February to March. The statistical analysis was extended to cover the United States of America, which overtook Italy and China as the country with the highest number of confirmed COronaVIrus Disease 19 (COVID-19) cases, and then to the entire world. The found correlation patterns suggest that the COVID-19 lethality significantly worsens (4 times on average) under weather temperatures between 4 °C and 12 °C and relative humidity between 60% and 80%. Possible co-factors such as median population age and air pollution were also investigated suggesting an important influence of the former but not of the latter, at least, on a synoptic scale. Based on these results, specific isotherm world maps were generated to locate, month by month, the world regions that share similar temperature ranges. From February to March, the 4–12 °C isotherm zone extended mostly from Central China toward Iran, Turkey, West-Mediterranean Europe (Italy, Spain and France) up to the United State of America, optimally coinciding with the geographic regions most affected by the pandemic from February to March. It is predicted that in the spring, as the weather gets warm, the pandemic will likely worsen in northern regions (United Kingdom, Germany, East Europe, Russia and North America) while the situation will likely improve in the southern regions (Italy and Spain). However, in autumn, the pandemic could come back and affect the same regions again. The Tropical Zone and the entire Southern Hemisphere, but in restricted colder southern regions, could avoid a strong pandemic because of the sufficiently warm weather during the entire year and because of the lower median age of their population. Google-Earth-Pro interactive-maps covering the entire world are provided as supplementary files.

Human Neutrophil Elastase Activated Fluorescent Probe for Pulmonary Diseases Based on Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer Using CdSe/ZnS Quantum Dots

There is an increasing demand for effective noninvasive diagnosis against common pulmonary diseases, which are rising sharply due to the serious air pollution. Human neutrophil elastase (HNE), a typical protease highly involved in pulmonary inflammatory diseases and lung cancer, is a potential predictor for disease progression. Currently, few of the HNE-targeting probes are applicable in vivo due to the limitation in sensitivity and biocompatibility. Herein, we reported the achievement of in vitro detection and in vivo imaging of HNE by incorporating the HNE-specific peptide substrate, quantum dots (QDs), and organic dyes into the fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) system. The refined nanoprobe, termed QDP, could specifically measure the HNE with excellent sensitivity of 7.15 pM in aqueous solution and successfully image the endogenous and exogenous HNE in living cells. In addition, this nanoprobe enabled HNE imaging in mouse models of lung cancer and acute lung injury, and the HNE activity at high temporal and spatial resolution was continuously monitored. Most importantly, QDP successfully discriminated the serums of patients with lung diseases from those of the healthy controls based on the HNE activity determination. Overall, this study demonstrates the advantages of a FRET-system-based nanoprobe in imaging performance and provides an applicable tool for in vivo HNE detection and pulmonary disease diagnosis.

Indoor Air Pollution, Related Human Diseases, and Recent Trends in the Control and Improvement of Indoor Air Quality

Indoor air pollution (IAP) is a serious threat to human health, causing millions of deaths each year. A plethora of pollutants can result in IAP; therefore, it is very important to identify their main sources and concentrations and to devise strategies for the control and enhancement of indoor air quality (IAQ). Herein, we provide a critical review and evaluation of the major sources of major pollutant emissions, their health effects, and issues related to IAP-based illnesses, including sick building syndrome (SBS) and building-related illness (BRI). In addition, the strategies and approaches for control and reduction of pollutant concentrations are pointed out, and the recent trends in efforts to resolve and improve IAQ, with their respective advantages and potentials, are summarized. It is predicted that the development of novel materials for sensors, IAQ-monitoring systems, and smart homes is a promising strategy for control and enhancement of IAQ in the future.

Acute Effects of Air Pollution on Hospital Admissions for Asthma, COPD, and Bronchiectasis in Ahvaz, Iran

Background and Aim

Although air pollution is a serious problem in Ahvaz, the association between air pollution and respiratory diseases has not been studied enough in this area. The aim of this study was to determine the relation between short-term exposure to air pollutants and the risk of hospital admissions due to asthma, COPD, and bronchiectasis in Ahvaz.

Methods

Hospital admissions data and air pollutants including O3, NO, NO2, SO2, CO, PM10, and PM2.5 were obtained from 2008 to 2018. Adjusted Quasi-Poisson regression with a distributed lag model, controlled for trend, seasonality, weather, weekdays, and holidays was used for data analysis.

Results

The results showed a significant increase in hospital admissions for asthma (RR=1.004, 95% CI: 1.002-1.007) and COPD (RR=1.003, 95% CI: 1.001-1.005) associated with PM2.5. PM10 was associated with increased hospital admissions due to bronchiectasis in both genders (Men: RR=1.003, 95% CI: 1.001-1.006) (Female: RR=1.003, 95% CI: 1.000-1.006). NO2 was also associated with an increased risk of hospital admissions for asthma (RR=1.040, 95% CI: 1.008-1.074) and COPD (RR=1.049, 95% CI: 1.010-1.090). SO2 was associated with the risk of hospital admissions of asthma (RR=1.069, 95% CI: 1.017-1.124) and bronchiectasis (RR=1.030, 95% CI: 1.005-1.056). Finally, CO was associated with COPD (RR=1.643, 95% CI: 1.233-2.191) and bronchiectasis (RR=1.542, 95% CI: 1.035-2.298) hospital admissions.

Conclusion

Short-term exposure to air pollutants significantly increases the risk of hospital admissions for asthma, COPD, and bronchiectasis in the adult and elderly population.

Impact of economic crises on offspring health and the developmental origins of health and disease concept

There is emerging evidence that economic crises may impact long-term health. Furthermore, adversity experienced by women and their offspring might be transmitted to next generations. The Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD) approach emphasises the importance of early life events for the state of health and risk for disease later in life. In this review, we discuss current evidence on the possible impact of economic crises on offspring health through the DOHaD framework and highlight the importance of critical periods of development for future disease risk. Therefore, successful interventions should prioritise strategies that address early life risk factors.

A model for estimating the lifelong exposure to PM2.5 and NO2 and the application to population studies

Numerous epidemiological studies have confirmed the negative influences of air pollutants on human health, where fine particles (PM2.5) and nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) cause the highest health risks. However, the traditional studies have only involved the ambient concentration for a short to medium time period, which ignores the influence of indoor sources, the individual time-activity pattern, and the fact that the health status is impacted by the long-term accumulated exposure. The aim of this paper is to develop a methodology to simulate the lifelong exposure (rather than outdoor concentration) to PM2.5 and NO₂ for individuals in Europe. This method is realized by developing a probabilistic model that integrates an outdoor air quality model, a model estimating indoor air pollution, an exposure model, and a life course trajectory model for predicting retrospectively the employment status. This approach has been applied to samples of two population studies in the frame of the European Commission FP7-ENVIRONMENT research project HEALS (Health and Environment-wide Associations based on Large Population Surveys), where socioeconomic data of the participants have been collected. Results show that the simulated exposures to both pollutants for the samples are influenced by socio-demographic characteristics, including age, gender, residential location, employment status and smoking habits. Both outdoor concentrations and indoor sources play an important role in the total exposure. Moreover, large variances have been observed among countries and cities. The application of this methodology provides valuable insights for the exposure modelling, as well as important input data for exploring the correlation between exposure and health impacts.

Protective Effect of Breastfeeding on the Adverse Health Effects Induced by Air Pollution: Current Evidence and Possible Mechanisms

Air pollution is a major social, economic, and health problem around the world. Children are particularly susceptible to the negative effects of air pollution due to their immaturity and excessive growth and development. The aims of this narrative review were to: (1) summarize evidence about the protective effects of breastfeeding on the adverse health effects of air pollution exposure, (2) define and describe the potential mechanisms underlying the protective effects of breastfeeding, and (3) examine the potential effects of air pollution on breastmilk composition and lactation. A literature search was conducted using electronic databases. Existing evidence suggests that breastfeeding has a protective effect on adverse outcomes of indoor and outdoor air pollution exposure in respiratory (infections, lung function, asthma symptoms) and immune (allergic, nervous and cardiovascular) systems, as well as under-five mortality in both developing and developed countries. However, some studies reported no protective effect of breastfeeding or even negative effects of breastfeeding for under-five mortality. Several possible mechanisms of the breastfeeding protective effect were proposed, including the beneficial influence of breastfeeding on immune, respiratory, and nervous systems, which are related to the immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, and neuroprotective properties of breastmilk. Breastmilk components responsible for its protective effect against air pollutants exposure may be long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC PUFA), antioxidant vitamins, carotenoids, flavonoids, immunoglobins, and cytokines, some of which have concentrations that are diet-dependent. However, maternal exposure to air pollution is related to increased breastmilk concentrations of pollutants (e.g., Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) or heavy metals in particulate matter (PM)). Nonetheless, environmental studies have confirmed that breastmilk's protective effects outweigh its potential health risk to the infant. Mothers should be encouraged and supported to breastfeed their infants due to its unique health benefits, as well as its limited ecological footprint, which is associated with decreased waste production and the emission of pollutants.

Evidence for Nanoparticle-Induced Lysosomal Dysfunction in Lung Adenocarcinoma (A549) Cells

Background: Polystyrene nanoparticles (PNP) are taken up by primary rat alveolar epithelial cell monolayers (RAECM) in a time-, dose-, and size-dependent manner without involving endocytosis. Internalized PNP in RAECM activate autophagy, are delivered to lysosomes, and undergo [Ca²⁺]-dependent exocytosis. In this study, we explored nanoparticle (NP) interactions with A549 cells. Methods: After exposure to PNP or ambient pollution particles (PM0.2), live single A549 cells were studied using confocal laser scanning microscopy. PNP uptake and egress were investigated and activation of autophagy was confirmed by immunolabeling with LC3-II and LC3-GFP transduction/colocalization with PNP. Mitochondrial membrane potential, mitophagy, and lysosomal membrane permeability (LMP) were assessed in the presence/absence of apical nanoparticle (NP) exposure. Results: PNP uptake into A549 cells decreased in the presence of cytochalasin D, an inhibitor of macropinocytosis. PNP egress was not affected by increased cytosolic [Ca²⁺]. Autophagy activation was indicated by increased LC3 expression and LC3-GFP colocalization with PNP. Increased LMP was observed following PNP or PM0.2 exposure. Mitochondrial membrane potential was unchanged and mitophagy was not detected after NP exposure. Conclusions: Interactions between NP and A549 cells involve complex cellular processes leading to lysosomal dysfunction, which may provide opportunities for improved nanoparticle-based therapeutic approaches to lung cancer management.

Impact of air pollution on hospital admissions with a focus on respiratory diseases: a time-series multi-city analysis

Together with the growing availability of data from electronic records from healthcare providers and healthcare systems, an assessment of associations between different environmental parameters (e.g., pollution levels and meteorological data) and hospitalizations, morbidity, and mortality has become possible. This study aimed to assess the association of air pollution and hospitalizations using a large database comprising almost all hospitalizations in Poland. This time-series analysis has been conducted in five cities in Poland (Warsaw, Białystok, Bielsko-Biała, Kraków, Gdańsk) over a period of almost 4 years (2014-2017, 1255 days), covering more than 20 million of hospitalizations. The hospitalizations have been extracted from the National Health Fund registries as daily summaries. Correlation analysis and distributed lag nonlinear models have been used to investigate for statistically relevant associations of air pollutants on hospitalizations, trying by various methods to minimize potential bias from atmospheric parameters, days of the week, bank holidays, etc. A statistically significant increase of respiratory disease hospitalizations has been detected after peaks of particulate matter concentrations (particularly PM_2.5, between 0.9 and 4.5% increase per 10 units of pollutant increase, and PM₁₀, between 0.9 and 3.5% per 10 units of pollutant increase), with a typical time lag between the pollutant peak and the event of 2 to 6 days. For other pollution parameters and other types of hospitalizations (e.g., cardiovascular events, eye and skin diseases, etc.), a weaker and ununiform correlations were recorded. Ambient air pollution exposure increases are associated with a short-term increase of hospitalizations due to respiratory tract diseases. The most prominent effect was recorded with the correlation of PM_2.5 and PM₁₀. There is only weak evidence indicating that such short-term associations exist between peaks of air pollution concentrations and increased hospitalizations for other (e.g., cardiovascular) diseases. The obtained information could be used to better predict hospitalization patterns and costs for the healthcare system and perhaps trigger additional vigilance on particulate matter pollution in the cities.