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Rawat P, Naja M. Remote sensing study of ozone, NO 2, and CO: some contrary effects of SARS-CoV-2 lockdown over India. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 29:22515-22530. [PMID: 34792768 PMCID: PMC8598935 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-17441-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2021] [Accepted: 11/05/2021] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Escalating emissions of several air pollutants over South Asia could play a detrimental role in the regional and global atmosphere. Therefore, it is necessary to investigate these emissions within the boundary layer and at higher heights utilizing satellite data that are more inclusionary, where limited in situ observations are available. Here, we utilize the Infrared Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer (IASI), Ozone Monitoring Instruments (OMI), TROPOspheric Monitoring Instrument (TROPOMI), and Global Ozone Monitoring Experiment (GOME-2) hyperspectral satellite data to assess the changes in emission sources during Indian lockdown with a primary focus on the tropospheric profiles of ozone and carbon monoxide (CO). A significant reduction (> 20%) in the tropospheric ozone was seen over northern and northeast regions compared to 2018, while a dramatic increase (> 20%) compared to 2019 was seen. The subtropical dynamics mainly contributed to the increased ozone over the northern region. An analysis of the ozone production regime showed mostly NO2 limited regime over the major part of India and VOC limited regime over thermal power plants regions. Unlike in the boundary layer, where CO showed reduction (15-20%), CO profiles showed a consistent increase (as high as 31%) in the free troposphere over the majority of cities and thermal power plants. The CO total column also showed an increase (~ 20%) over central and western India and a slight decrease (5%) over northern India. Similar to CO, an increase (~ 15%) of NO2 column over the western region was observed particularly compared to 2019. However, unlike ozone and CO, reduction of tropospheric NO2 columns was seen over the major part of India, with the highest reduction over northern regions (20-52%). Furthermore, homogeneous yearly differences (> 30%) between OMI and TROPOMI NO2 observations were also seen distinctly over the remote areas. Contrary to surface-based studies, the present study shows an increase in CO, ozone (decrease), and NO2 at several locations and in the free troposphere during the lockdown.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prajjwal Rawat
- Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences, Manora Peak, Nainital, 263001, India
| | - Manish Naja
- Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences, Manora Peak, Nainital, 263001, India.
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2
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Huang G, Brown PE, Fu SH, Shin HH. Daily mortality/morbidity and air quality: Using multivariate time series with seasonally varying covariances. J R Stat Soc Ser C Appl Stat 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/rssc.12525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Guowen Huang
- Department of Statistical Sciences University of Toronto Toronto Ontario Canada
- Centre for Global Health Research St Michael’s Hospital Toronto Ontario Canada
| | - Patrick E. Brown
- Department of Statistical Sciences University of Toronto Toronto Ontario Canada
- Centre for Global Health Research St Michael’s Hospital Toronto Ontario Canada
| | - Sze Hang Fu
- Centre for Global Health Research St Michael’s Hospital Toronto Ontario Canada
| | - Hwashin Hyun Shin
- Environmental Health Science and Research Bureau Health Canada Ottawa Ontario Canada
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics Queen’s University Kingston Ontario Canada
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3
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Rouadi PW, Idriss SA, Naclerio RM, Peden DB, Ansotegui IJ, Canonica GW, Gonzalez-Diaz SN, Rosario Filho NA, Ivancevich JC, Hellings PW, Murrieta-Aguttes M, Zaitoun FH, Irani C, Karam MR, Bousquet J. Immunopathological features of air pollution and its impact on inflammatory airway diseases (IAD). World Allergy Organ J 2020; 13:100467. [PMID: 33042360 PMCID: PMC7534666 DOI: 10.1016/j.waojou.2020.100467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2020] [Revised: 08/31/2020] [Accepted: 09/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Air pollution causes significant morbidity and mortality in patients with inflammatory airway diseases (IAD) such as allergic rhinitis (AR), chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS), asthma, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Oxidative stress in patients with IAD can induce eosinophilic inflammation in the airways, augment atopic allergic sensitization, and increase susceptibility to infection. We reviewed emerging data depicting the involvement of oxidative stress in IAD patients. We evaluated biomarkers, outcome measures and immunopathological alterations across the airway mucosal barrier following exposure, particularly when accentuated by an infectious insult.
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Key Words
- AR, Allergic rhinitis
- Air pollution
- Antioxidant
- COPD, Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
- CRS, Chronic rhinosinusitis
- DEP, Diesel exhaust particles
- IAD, Inflammatory airway diseases
- IL, Interleukin
- ILC, Innate lymphoid cells
- Inflammatory airway disease
- NOx, Nitrogen oxides
- Oxidative stress biomarkers
- PAH, Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
- PM, Particulate matter
- ROS, Reactive oxygen species
- TBS, Tobacco smoke
- TLR, Toll-like receptors
- Tobacco smoke
- Treg, Regulatory T cell
- VOCs, Volatile organic compounds
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Affiliation(s)
- Philip W. Rouadi
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Eye and Ear University Hospital, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Samar A. Idriss
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Eye and Ear University Hospital, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Robert M. Naclerio
- Johns Hopkins University Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - David B. Peden
- UNC Center for Environmental Medicine, Asthma, and Lung Biology, Division of Allergy, Immunology and Rheumatology, Department of Pediatrics UNS School of Medicine, USA
| | - Ignacio J. Ansotegui
- Department of Allergy and Immunology, Hospital Quironsalud Bizkaia, Bilbao, Spain
| | | | - Sandra Nora Gonzalez-Diaz
- University Autonoma de Nuevo Leon Facultad de Medicina y Hospital Universitario U.A.N.L, Monterrey, NL, c.p. 64460, México
| | | | - Juan Carlos Ivancevich
- Faculty of Medicine, Universidad del Salvador, Buenos Aires, Argentina and Head of Allergy and Immunology at the Santa Isabel Clinic, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Peter W. Hellings
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Academic Medical Center Amsterdam, The Netherlands - Department Otorhinolaryngology, University Hospital Ghent, Belgium
| | | | - Fares H. Zaitoun
- LAUMC Rizk Hospital, Otolaryngology-Allergy Department, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Carla Irani
- Department of Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases, St Joseph University, Hotel Dieu de France Hospital, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Marilyn R. Karam
- Division of Rheumatology, Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Department of Internal Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Jean Bousquet
- INSERM U 1168, VIMA: Ageing and Chronic Diseases Epidemiological and Public Health Approaches, Villejuif, France
- University Versailles St-Quentin-en-Yvelines, France
- Allergy-Centre-Charité, Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
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Ali MU, Liu G, Yousaf B, Ullah H, Abbas Q, Munir MAM. A systematic review on global pollution status of particulate matter-associated potential toxic elements and health perspectives in urban environment. ENVIRONMENTAL GEOCHEMISTRY AND HEALTH 2019; 41:1131-1162. [PMID: 30298288 DOI: 10.1007/s10653-018-0203-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2018] [Accepted: 09/29/2018] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Airborne particulate matter (PM) that is a heterogeneous mixture of particles with a variety of chemical components and physical features acts as a potential risk to human health. The ability to pose health risk depends upon the size, concentration and chemical composition of the suspended particles. Potential toxic elements (PTEs) associated with PM have multiple sources of origin, and each source has the ability to generate multiple particulate PTEs. In urban areas, automobile, industrial emissions, construction and demolition activities are the major anthropogenic sources of pollution. Fine particles associated with PTEs have the ability to penetrate deep into respiratory system resulting in an increasing range of adverse health effects, at ever-lower concentrations. In-depth investigation of PTEs content and mode of occurrence in PM is important from both environmental and pathological point of view. Considering this air pollution risk, several studies had addressed the issues related to these pollutants in road and street dust, indicating high pollution level than the air quality guidelines. Observed from the literature, particulate PTEs pollution can lead to respiratory symptoms, cardiovascular problems, lungs cancer, reduced lungs function, asthma and severe case mortality. Due to the important role of PM and associated PTEs, detailed knowledge of their impacts on human health is of key importance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Ubaid Ali
- CAS-Key Laboratory of Crust-Mantle Materials and the Environments, School of Earth and Space Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, People's Republic of China
- State Key Laboratory of Loess and Quaternary Geology, Institute of Earth Environment, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xi'an, 710075, Shaanxi, People's Republic of China
| | - Guijian Liu
- CAS-Key Laboratory of Crust-Mantle Materials and the Environments, School of Earth and Space Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, People's Republic of China.
- State Key Laboratory of Loess and Quaternary Geology, Institute of Earth Environment, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xi'an, 710075, Shaanxi, People's Republic of China.
| | - Balal Yousaf
- CAS-Key Laboratory of Crust-Mantle Materials and the Environments, School of Earth and Space Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, People's Republic of China
- State Key Laboratory of Loess and Quaternary Geology, Institute of Earth Environment, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xi'an, 710075, Shaanxi, People's Republic of China
| | - Habib Ullah
- CAS-Key Laboratory of Crust-Mantle Materials and the Environments, School of Earth and Space Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, People's Republic of China
| | - Qumber Abbas
- CAS-Key Laboratory of Crust-Mantle Materials and the Environments, School of Earth and Space Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, People's Republic of China
| | - Mehr Ahmad Mujtaba Munir
- CAS-Key Laboratory of Crust-Mantle Materials and the Environments, School of Earth and Space Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, People's Republic of China
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Rider CF, Carlsten C. Air pollution and resistance to inhaled glucocorticoids: Evidence, mechanisms and gaps to fill. Pharmacol Ther 2018; 194:1-21. [PMID: 30138638 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2018.08.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Substantial evidence indicates that cigarette smoke exposure induces resistance to glucocorticoids, the primary maintenance medication in asthma treatment. Modest evidence also suggests that air pollution may reduce the effectiveness of these critical medications. Cigarette smoke, which has clear parallels with air pollution, has been shown to induce glucocorticoid resistance in asthma and it has been speculated that air pollution may have similar effects. However, the literature on an association of air pollution with glucocorticoid resistance is modest to date. In this review, we detail the evidence for, and against, the effects of air pollution on glucocorticoid effectiveness, focusing on results from epidemiology and controlled human exposure studies. Epidemiological studies indicate a correlation between increased air pollution exposure and worse asthma symptoms. But these studies also show a mix of beneficial and harmful effects of glucocorticoids on spirometry and asthma symptoms, perhaps due to confounding influences, or the induction of glucocorticoid resistance. We describe mechanisms that may contribute to reductions in glucocorticoid responsiveness following air pollution exposure, including changes to phosphorylation or oxidation of the glucocorticoid receptor, repression by cytokines, or inflammatory pathways, and epigenetic effects. Possible interactions between air pollution and respiratory infections are also briefly discussed. Finally, we detail a number of therapies that may boost glucocorticoid effectiveness or reverse resistance in the presence of air pollution, and comment on the beneficial effects of engineering controls, such as air filtration and asthma action plans. We also call attention to the benefits of improved clean air policy on asthma. This review highlights numerous gaps in our knowledge of the interactions between air pollution and glucocorticoids to encourage further research in this area with a view to reducing the harm caused to those with airways disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher F Rider
- Respiratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chan-Yeung Centre for Occupational and Environmental Respiratory Disease (COERD), University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
| | - Chris Carlsten
- Respiratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chan-Yeung Centre for Occupational and Environmental Respiratory Disease (COERD), University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada; Institute for Heart and Lung Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada; School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
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6
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Kim SE, Bell ML, Hashizume M, Honda Y, Kan H, Kim H. Associations between mortality and prolonged exposure to elevated particulate matter concentrations in East Asia. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2018; 110:88-94. [PMID: 29097051 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2017.10.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2017] [Revised: 08/13/2017] [Accepted: 10/19/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Previous epidemiological studies regarding mortality and particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter of <10μm (PM10) have considered only absolute concentrations of PM10 as a risk factor. However, none have evaluated the durational effect of multi-day periods with high PM10 concentrations. To evaluate the durational effect (i.e., number of days) of high PM10 concentrations on mortality, we collected data regarding 3,662,749 deaths from 28 cities in Japan, South Korea, and China (1993-2009). Exposure was defined as consecutive days with daily PM10 concentrations ≥75μg/m3. A Poisson model was used with duration as the variable of interest, while controlling for daily PM10 concentrations, meteorological variables, seasonal trends, and day of the week. The increase in mortality risk for each additional consecutive day with PM10 concentrations ≥75μg/m3 was 0.68% in Japan (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.35-1.01%), 0.48% in South Korea (95% CI: 0.30-0.66%), and 0.24% in China (95% CI: 0.14-0.33%). The annual average maximum number of consecutive days with high PM10 in Japan (2.40days), South Korea (6.96days), and China (42.26days) was associated with non-accidental death increases of 1.64% (95% CI: 1.31-1.98%), 3.37% (95% CI: 3.19-3.56%), and 10.43% (95% CI: 10.33-10.54%), respectively. These findings may facilitate the planning of public health interventions to minimize the health burden of air pollution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Satbyul Estella Kim
- Center for Social and Environmental Systems Research, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Tsukuba, Japan; Institute of Health and Environment, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
| | - Michelle L Bell
- School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Masahiro Hashizume
- Department of Paediatric Infectious DiseasesX, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Yasushi Honda
- Faculty of Health and Sport Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Haidong Kan
- Department of Environmental Health, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ho Kim
- Graduate School of Public Health and Asian Institute for Energy, Environment & Sustainability, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea.
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7
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Particle (Soot) Pollution in Port Harcourt Rivers State, Nigeria—Double Air Pollution Burden? Understanding and Tackling Potential Environmental Public Health Impacts. ENVIRONMENTS 2017. [DOI: 10.3390/environments5010002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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8
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Abstract
Changes in atmosphere and temperature are affecting multiple environmental indicators from extreme heat events to global air quality. Workers will be uniquely affected by climate change, and the occupational impacts of major shifts in atmospheric and weather conditions need greater attention. Climate change-related exposures most likely to differentially affect workers in the USA and globally include heat, ozone, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, other chemicals, pathogenic microorganisms, vector-borne diseases, violence, and wildfires. Epidemiologic evidence documents a U-, J-, or V-shaped relationship between temperature and mortality. Whereas heat-related morbidity and mortality risks are most evident in agriculture, many other outdoor occupational sectors are also at risk, including construction, transportation, landscaping, firefighting, and other emergency response operations. The toxicity of chemicals change under hyperthermic conditions, particularly for pesticides and ozone. Combined with climate-related changes in chemical transport and distribution, these interactions represent unique health risks specifically to workers. Links between heat and interpersonal conflict including violence require attention because they pose threats to the safety of emergency medicine, peacekeeping and humanitarian relief, and public safety professionals. Recommendations for anticipating how US workers will be most susceptible to climate change include formal monitoring systems for agricultural workers; modeling scenarios focusing on occupational impacts of extreme climate events including floods, wildfires, and chemical spills; and national research agenda setting focusing on control and mitigation of occupational susceptibility to climate change.
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9
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Wang W. Progress in the impact of polluted meteorological conditions on the incidence of asthma. J Thorac Dis 2016; 8:E57-61. [PMID: 26904253 DOI: 10.3978/j.issn.2072-1439.2015.12.64] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Abstract
It has been revealed by many studies that air pollution is one of the important inducements of asthma exacerbations. In addition, meteorological conditions such as high atmospheric pressure, low temperature, low humidity and large diurnal amplitude can directly induce asthma. Meanwhile, meteorological conditions play an important role in the diffusion, dilution and accumulation of air pollution. This article reviewed research progress in the impact of polluted meteorological conditions on the incidence of asthma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen Wang
- 1 Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100020, China ; 2 Beijing Institute of Respiratory Medicine, Beijing Key Laboratory of Respiratory and Pulmonary Circulation Disorders, Beijing 100020, China
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Goudarzi G, Geravandi S, Foruozandeh H, Babaei AA, Alavi N, Niri MV, Khodayar MJ, Salmanzadeh S, Mohammadi MJ. Cardiovascular and respiratory mortality attributed to ground-level ozone in Ahvaz, Iran. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT 2015; 187:487. [PMID: 26141926 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-015-4674-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2014] [Accepted: 06/09/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Ahvaz, the capital city of Khuzestan Province, which produces Iran's most oil, is on the rolls of fame in view of air pollution. It has also suffered from dust storm during the recent two decades. So, emissions from transportation systems, steel, oil, black carbon, and other industries as anthropogenic sources and dust storm as a new phenomenon are two major concerns of air pollution in Ahvaz. Without any doubt, they can cause many serious problems for the environment and humans in this megacity. The main objective of the present study was to estimate the impact of ground-level ozone (GLO) as a secondary pollutant on human heath. Data of GLO in four monitoring stations were collected at the first step and they were processed and at the final step they were inserted to a health effect model. Findings showed that cumulative cases of cardiovascular and respiratory deaths which attributed to GLO were 43 and 173 persons, respectively. Corresponding RR for these two events were 1.008 (95% CI) and 1.004 (95% CI), respectively. Although we did not provide a distinction between winter and summer in case of mentioned mortalities attributed to GLO, ozone concentrations in winter due to more fuel consumption and sub adiabatic condition in tropospheric atmospherewere higher than those GLO in summer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gholamreza Goudarzi
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Environmental Technologies Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
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Wanka ER, Bayerstadler A, Heumann C, Nowak D, Jörres RA, Fischer R. Weather and air pollutants have an impact on patients with respiratory diseases and breathing difficulties in Munich, Germany. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOMETEOROLOGY 2014; 58:249-262. [PMID: 24091656 DOI: 10.1007/s00484-013-0730-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2012] [Revised: 08/27/2013] [Accepted: 09/02/2013] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
This study determined the influence of various meteorological variables and air pollutants on airway disorders in general, and asthma and/or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in particular, in Munich, Bavaria, during 2006 and 2007. This was achieved through an evaluation of the daily frequency of calls to medical and emergency call centres, ambulatory medical care visits at general practitioners, and prescriptions of antibiotics for respiratory diseases. Meteorological parameters were extracted from data supplied by the European Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecast. Data on air pollutant levels were extracted from the air quality database of the European Environmental Agency for different measurement sites. In addition to descriptive analyses, a backward elimination procedure was performed to identify variables associated with medical outcome variables. Afterwards, generalised additive models (GAM) were used to verify whether the selected variables had a linear or nonlinear impact on the medical outcomes. The analyses demonstrated associations between environmental parameters and daily frequencies of different medical outcomes, such as visits at GPs and air pressure (-27 % per 10 hPa change) or ozone (-24 % per 10 μg/m(3) change). The results of the GAM indicated that the effects of some covariates, such as carbon monoxide on consultations at GPs, or humidity on medical calls in general, were nonlinear, while the type of association varied between medical outcomes. These data suggest that the multiple, complex effect of environmental factors on medical outcomes should not be assumed homogeneous or linear a priori and that different settings might be associated with different types of associations.
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Affiliation(s)
- E R Wanka
- Institute for Emergency Medicine and Management in Medicine, University Hospital of Munich, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Schillerstr. 53, 80336, Munich, Germany,
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Ojha N, Naja M, Singh KP, Sarangi T, Kumar R, Lal S, Lawrence MG, Butler TM, Chandola HC. Variabilities in ozone at a semi-urban site in the Indo-Gangetic Plain region: Association with the meteorology and regional processes. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2012. [DOI: 10.1029/2012jd017716] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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Clearing the air: a review of the effects of particulate matter air pollution on human health. J Med Toxicol 2012; 8:166-75. [PMID: 22194192 DOI: 10.1007/s13181-011-0203-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 700] [Impact Index Per Article: 58.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The World Health Organization estimates that particulate matter (PM) air pollution contributes to approximately 800,000 premature deaths each year, ranking it the 13th leading cause of mortality worldwide. However, many studies show that the relationship is deeper and far more complicated than originally thought. PM is a portion of air pollution that is made up of extremely small particles and liquid droplets containing acids, organic chemicals, metals, and soil or dust particles. PM is categorized by size and continues to be the fraction of air pollution that is most reliably associated with human disease. PM is thought to contribute to cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease by the mechanisms of systemic inflammation, direct and indirect coagulation activation, and direct translocation into systemic circulation. The data demonstrating PM's effect on the cardiovascular system are strong. Populations subjected to long-term exposure to PM have a significantly higher cardiovascular incident and mortality rate. Short-term acute exposures subtly increase the rate of cardiovascular events within days of a pollution spike. The data are not as strong for PM's effects on cerebrovascular disease, though some data and similar mechanisms suggest a lesser result with smaller amplitude. Respiratory diseases are also exacerbated by exposure to PM. PM causes respiratory morbidity and mortality by creating oxidative stress and inflammation that leads to pulmonary anatomic and physiologic remodeling. The literature shows PM causes worsening respiratory symptoms, more frequent medication use, decreased lung function, recurrent health care utilization, and increased mortality. PM exposure has been shown to have a small but significant adverse effect on cardiovascular, respiratory, and to a lesser extent, cerebrovascular disease. These consistent results are shown by multiple studies with varying populations, protocols, and regions. The data demonstrate a dose-dependent relationship between PM and human disease, and that removal from a PM-rich environment decreases the prevalence of these diseases. While further study is needed to elucidate the effects of composition, chemistry, and the PM effect on susceptible populations, the preponderance of data shows that PM exposure causes a small but significant increase in human morbidity and mortality. Most sources agree on certain "common sense" recommendations, although there are lonely limited data to support them. Indoor PM exposure can be reduced by the usage of air conditioning and particulate filters, decreasing indoor combustion for heating and cooking, and smoking cessation. Susceptible populations, such as the elderly or asthmatics, may benefit from limiting their outdoor activity during peak traffic periods or poor air quality days. These simple changes may benefit individual patients in both short-term symptomatic control and long-term cardiovascular and respiratory complications.
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Bauer AK, Rondini EA, Hummel KA, Degraff LM, Walker C, Jedlicka AE, Kleeberger SR. Identification of candidate genes downstream of TLR4 signaling after ozone exposure in mice: a role for heat-shock protein 70. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2011; 119:1091-7. [PMID: 21543283 PMCID: PMC3237361 DOI: 10.1289/ehp.1003326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2010] [Accepted: 05/04/2011] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) is involved in ozone (O3)-induced pulmonary hyperpermeability and inflammation, although the downstream signaling events are unknown. OBJECTIVES The aims of our study were to determine the mechanism through which TLR4 modulates O3-induced pulmonary responses and to use transcriptomics to determine potential TLR4 effector molecules. METHODS C3H/HeJ (HeJ; Tlr4 mutant) and C3H/HeOuJ (OuJ; Tlr4 normal) mice were exposed continuously to 0.3 ppm O3 or filtered air for 6, 24, 48, or 72 hr. We assessed inflammation using bronchoalveolar lavage and molecular analysis by mRNA microarray, quantitative RT-PCR (real-time polymerase chain reaction), immunoblots, immunostaining, and ELISAs (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays). B6-Hspa1a/Hspa1btm1Dix/NIEHS (Hsp70-/-) and C57BL/6 (B6; Hsp70+/+ wild-type control) mice were used for candidate gene validation studies. RESULTS O3-induced TLR4 signaling occurred through myeloid differentiation protein 88 (MyD88)-dependent and -independent pathways in OuJ mice and involved multiple downstream pathways. Genomewide transcript analyses of lungs from air- and O3-exposed HeJ and OuJ mice identified a cluster of genes that were significantly up-regulated in O3-exposed OuJ mice compared with O3-exposed HeJ mice or air-exposed controls of both strains; this cluster included genes for heat-shock proteins (e.g., Hspa1b, Hsp70). Moreover, O3-induced inflammation, MyD88 up-regulation, extracellular-signal-related kinase-1/2 (ERK1/2) and activator protein-1 (AP-1) activation, and kerotinocyte-derived chemokine (KC) protein content were significantly reduced in Hspa1a/Hspa1btm1Dix (Hsp70-/-) compared with Hsp70+/+ mice (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS These studies suggest that HSP70 is an effector molecule downstream of TLR4 and is involved in the regulation of O3-induced lung inflammation by triggering similar pathways to TLR4. These novel findings may have therapeutic and preventive implications for inflammatory diseases resulting from environmental exposures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alison K Bauer
- Department of Pathobiology and Diagnostic Investigation, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA.
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15
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Sacks JD, Stanek LW, Luben TJ, Johns DO, Buckley BJ, Brown JS, Ross M. Particulate matter-induced health effects: who is susceptible? ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2011; 119:446-54. [PMID: 20961824 PMCID: PMC3080924 DOI: 10.1289/ehp.1002255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 351] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2010] [Accepted: 10/20/2010] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Epidemiological, controlled human exposure, and toxicological studies have demonstrated a variety of health effects in response to particulate matter (PM) exposure with some of these studies indicating that populations with certain characteristics may be disproportionately affected. OBJECTIVE To identify populations potentially at greatest risk for PM-related health effects, we evaluated epidemiological studies that examined various characteristics that may influence susceptibility, while using results from controlled human exposure and toxicological studies as supporting evidence. Additionally, we formulated a definition of susceptibility, building from the varied and inconsistent definitions of susceptibility and vulnerability used throughout the literature. DATA SYNTHESIS We evaluated recent epidemiological studies to identify characteristics of populations potentially susceptible to PM-related health effects. Additionally, we evaluated controlled human exposure and toxicological studies to provide supporting evidence. We conducted a comprehensive review of epidemiological studies that presented stratified results (e.g., < 65 vs. ≥ 65 years of age), controlled human exposure studies that examined individuals with underlying disease, and toxicological studies that used animal models of disease. We evaluated results for consistency across studies, coherence across disciplines, and biological plausibility to assess the potential for increased susceptibility to PM-related health effects in a specific population or life stage. CONCLUSIONS We identified a diverse group of characteristics that can lead to increased risk of PM-related health effects, including life stage (i.e., children and older adults), preexisting cardiovascular or respiratory diseases, genetic polymorphisms, and low-socioeconomic status. In addition, we crafted a comprehensive definition of susceptibility that can be used to encompass all populations potentially at increased risk of adverse health effects as a consequence of exposure to an air pollutant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason D Sacks
- National Center for Environmental Assessment, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711, USA.
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Newcomb P, Hunt A, Rast P, Cauble D, Rowe N, Li J. Acute effects of walking environment and GSTM1 variants in children with asthma. Biol Res Nurs 2010; 14:55-64. [PMID: 21196426 DOI: 10.1177/1099800410389167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Exercise in air polluted by traffic emissions may aggravate airway inflammation in children with asthma, particularly those who produce decreased glutathione-S transferase (GST) as a result of GSTM1 gene deletion. OBJECTIVES This pilot crossover study investigated whether children with asthma experience more airway changes when exercising outdoors near roadways than when exercising indoors. It also examined differences in risk between children with and without GSTM1 deletion. METHOD Children between the ages of 5 and 12 years were assigned to groups and walked daily for 1 week in each exercise condition. Airway inflammation indicated by exhaled nitric oxide (eNO) and pulmonary functions measured as forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) and mid-expiratory flow rate were measured at baseline and at three intervals during the walking program. Independent variables of interest included walking condition (place), time of walking, genotype, and particulate matter (PM) exposure. RESULTS A linear mixed models approach was used to investigate the contributions of targeted variables to respiratory outcomes. Results indicated that walking location and ambient level of ultrafine particulates during walking influenced function of small airways. Absence of one or both alleles for the GSTM1 gene did not influence airway function acutely. DISCUSSION Mid-expiratory flow (FEF(25-75)) may be more informative than FEV1 in studies of acute lung function changes in children with asthma. Further study of the effects of varied environmental conditions on lower airway function of children is needed to optimize exercise experiences for urban children with asthma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia Newcomb
- College of Nursing, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX 76019, USA.
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Kumar R, Naja M, Venkataramani S, Wild O. Variations in surface ozone at Nainital: A high-altitude site in the central Himalayas. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2010. [DOI: 10.1029/2009jd013715] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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Macintosh DL, Minegishi T, Kaufman M, Baker BJ, Allen JG, Levy JI, Myatt TA. The benefits of whole-house in-duct air cleaning in reducing exposures to fine particulate matter of outdoor origin: a modeling analysis. JOURNAL OF EXPOSURE SCIENCE & ENVIRONMENTAL EPIDEMIOLOGY 2010; 20:213-224. [PMID: 19319161 DOI: 10.1038/jes.2009.16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2008] [Accepted: 01/23/2009] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Health risks of fine particle air pollution (PM(2.5)) are an important public health concern that has the potential to be mitigated in part by interventions such as air cleaning devices that reduce personal exposure to ambient PM(2.5). To characterize exposure to ambient PM(2.5) indoors as a function of residential air cleaners, a multi-zone indoor air quality model was used to integrate spatially resolved data on housing, meteorology, and ambient PM(2.5), with performance testing of residential air cleaners to estimate short-term and annual average PM(2.5) of outdoor origin inside residences of three metropolitan areas. The associated public health impacts of reduced ambient PM(2.5) exposure were estimated using a standard health impact assessment methodology. Estimated indoor levels of ambient PM(2.5) varied substantially among ventilation and air cleaning configurations. The median 24-h average indoor-outdoor ratio of ambient PM(2.5) was 0.57 for homes with natural ventilation, 0.35 for homes with central air conditioning (AC) with conventional filtration, and 0.1 for homes with central AC with high efficiency in-duct air cleaner. Median modeled 24-h average indoor concentrations of PM(2.5) of outdoor origin for those three configurations were 8.4, 5.3, and 1.5 microg/m(3), respectively. The potential public health benefits of reduced exposure to ambient PM(2.5) afforded by air cleaning systems were substantial. If the entire population of single-family homes with central AC in the modeling domain converted from conventional filtration to high-efficiency in-duct air cleaning, the change in ambient PM(2.5) exposure is estimated to result in an annual reduction of 700 premature deaths, 940 hospital and emergency room visits, and 130,000 asthma attacks in these metropolitan areas. In addition to controlling emissions from sources, high-efficiency whole-house air cleaner are expected to reduce exposure to particles of outdoor origin and are projected to be an effective means of managing public health impacts of ambient particle pollution.
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Affiliation(s)
- David L Macintosh
- Environmental Health & Engineering Inc., Needham, MA 02494-2725, USA.
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Newcomb P, Li J. Predicting admissions for childhood asthma based on proximity to major roadways. J Nurs Scholarsh 2009; 40:319-25. [PMID: 19094146 DOI: 10.1111/j.1547-5069.2008.00245.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE This retrospective study is an investigation of the relationship between traffic exposure and childhood asthma exacerbations in a previously unstudied geographic area. We hypothesized that, controlling for selected demographic and social factors, exposure to traffic emissions would allow the prediction of hospital utilization for children with asthma. DESIGN Using hospital and emergency department (ED) records, we investigated the relationship between proximity to major roadways and admissions for asthma exacerbations in the Fort Worth metropolitan area, designated as not attaining federal air health standards. The sample included 2,357 children from 1 to 12 years of age admitted for emergency or inpatient treatment in a 288-bed, nonprofit children's medical center in Fort Worth, Texas from January 1, 2004 to December 31, 2005. Data were analyzed using GIS mapping and logistic regression. METHODS Deidentification data were collected from hospital databases after IRB approval and waiver of parental permission or patient consent. Student's t test was used to compare groups with and without primary asthma diagnosis on admission in respect to distance from major roadways. Logistic regression was used to model relationships between asthma admission and patients' characteristics, exposure to traffic, and social environment. FINDINGS Controlling for several demographic factors, asthma occurrences were positively related to traffic exposures. On average, patients with asthma lived closer to major roadways than did patients who did not have asthma. Patients with asthma also tended to live in neighborhoods with more roads than did those who did not have asthma; 3/4 of the children admitted for asthma during the study period and less than 1/3 of the children admitted for nonasthma diagnoses lived within 1,500 meters of a major roadway (p=.0001). Controlling for other factors, every meter increase in proximity to major roadways produced 0.1% increase in likelihood of admission. CLINICAL RELEVANCE Knowledge of risk factors and their relative magnitudes enable nurses to better tailor symptom management for individual patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia Newcomb
- University of Texas-Arlington, School of Nursing, Arlington, TX, USA.
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Qian Z, Lin HM, Chinchilli VM, Lehman EB, Duan Y, Craig TJ, Wilson WE, Liao D, Lazarus SC, Bascom R. Interaction of ambient air pollution with asthma medication on exhaled nitric oxide among asthmatics. ARCHIVES OF ENVIRONMENTAL & OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH 2009; 64:168-76. [PMID: 19864219 PMCID: PMC3713465 DOI: 10.1080/19338240903240616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
The interaction between ambient air pollution and asthma medication remains unclear. The authors compared airway inflammation response to air pollution among asthmatics. Increases of 10 ppb of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and of 10 microg/m3 of particulate matter < 10 micron in diameter (PM10) daily concentrations were associated with an increase in exhaled nitric oxide (eNO) of 0.13 ppb (95% confidence interval = 0.06, 0.19) and of 0.07 ppb (95% confidence interval = 0.02, 0.12), respectively, in models adjusted for important covariates. The results show that the medication could not counteract airway inflammation effects of air pollution. Specifically, the patients on triamcinolone decreased the sensitivity to PM10 but increased the sensitivity to NO2. The patients on salmeterol were more vulnerable to both NO2 and PM10. This study indicates that the current pollution levels may still enhance airway inflammation among patients with persistent asthma even when they are on asthma medications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhengmin Qian
- Department of Public Health Sciences, Penn State University and the Geisinger Center for Health Research, USA.
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Qian Z, Lin HM, Chinchilli VM, Lehman EB, Stewart WF, Shah N, Duan Y, Craig TJ, Wilson WE, Liao D, Lazarus SC, Bascom R. Associations between air pollution and peak expiratory flow among patients with persistent asthma. JOURNAL OF TOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH. PART A 2009; 72:39-46. [PMID: 18979353 PMCID: PMC2848818 DOI: 10.1080/15287390802445517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Responses of patients with persistent asthma to ambient air pollution may be different from those of general populations. For example, asthma medications may modify the effects of ambient air pollutants on peak expiratory flow (PEF). Few studies examined the association between air pollution and PEF in patients with persistent asthma on well-defined medication regimens using asthma clinical trial data. Airway obstruction effects of ambient air pollutants, using 14,919 person-days of daily self-measured peak expiratory flow (PEF), were assessed from 154 patients with persistent asthma during the 16 wk of active treatment in the Salmeterol Off Corticosteroids Study trial. The three therapies were an inhaled corticosteroid, an inhaled long-acting beta-agonist, and placebo. The participants were nonsmokers aged 12 through 63 yr, recruited from 6 university-based ambulatory care centers from February 1997 to January 1999. Air pollution data were derived from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Aerometric Information Retrieval System. An increase of 10 ppb of ambient daily mean concentrations of NO2 was associated with a decrease in PEF of 1.53 L/min (95% confidence interval [CI] -2.93 to -0.14) in models adjusted for age, gender, race/ethnicity, asthma clinical center, season, week, daily average temperature, and daily average relative humidity. The strongest association between NO2 and PEF was observed among the patients treated with salmeterol. Negative associations were also found between PEF and SO2 and between PEF and PM(10), respectively. The results show that the two medication regimens protected against the effects of PM(10). However, salmeterol increased the sensitivity to NO2 and triamcinalone enhanced the sensitivity to SO2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhengmin Qian
- Department of Public Health Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA.
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Mikerov AN, Haque R, Gan X, Guo X, Phelps DS, Floros J. Ablation of SP-A has a negative impact on the susceptibility of mice to Klebsiella pneumoniae infection after ozone exposure: sex differences. Respir Res 2008; 9:77. [PMID: 19055785 PMCID: PMC2655296 DOI: 10.1186/1465-9921-9-77] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2008] [Accepted: 12/04/2008] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Surfactant protein A (SP-A) enhances phagocytosis of bacteria, including Klebsiella pneumoniae, by alveolar macrophages. Ozone, a major air pollutant, can cause oxidation of surfactant and may influence lung immune function. Immune function may also be affected by sex-specific mechanisms. We hypothesized that ablation of SP-A has a negative impact on the susceptibility of mice to Klebsiella pneumoniae infection after ozone exposure, and that sex differences in the effect of ozone do exist. Methods Male and female SP-A (-/-) mice on the C57BL/6J background were exposed to ozone or to filtered air (FA) used as a control and then infected intratracheally with K. pneumoniae bacteria. Survival rate was monitored during a 14-day period. In addition, protein oxidation levels and in vivo phagocytosis were checked 1 h after inoculation of PBS used as a sham control and after inoculation of K. pneumoniae bacteria in PBS, respectively. Results We found: 1) ozone exposure followed by K. pneumoniae infection decreases survival and alveolar macrophage phagocytic function of SP-A (-/-) mice compared to filtered air exposure (p < 0.05), and females are more affected than males; 2) SP-A (-/-) mice (exposed either to ozone or FA) are more susceptible to infection with K. pneumoniae than wild type (WT) mice regarding their survival rate and macrophage phagocytic function; the phagocytic function of FA SP-A(-/-) is similar to that of ozone exposed WT. 3) ozone exposure appears to increase infiltration of PMNs, total protein, and SP-A oxidation in WT mice; infiltration of PMNs and total protein oxidation appears to be more pronounced in female mice in response to ozone; 4) ozone exposure increases SP-A oxidation in WT females significantly more than in males. Conclusion Absence (i.e. ablation of SP-A in SP-A (-/-) mice) or reduction of functional activity of SP-A (i.e. oxidation of SP-A in WT mice) increases the susceptibility of mice to experimental pneumonia after ozone exposure, and in both cases females are more affected by ozone exposure than males.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anatoly N Mikerov
- The Penn State Center for Host defense, Inflammation, and Lung Disease Research, Department of Pediatrics, The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17033, USA.
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Rage E, Siroux V, Künzli N, Pin I, Kauffmann F. Air pollution and asthma severity in adults. Occup Environ Med 2008; 66:182-8. [PMID: 19017701 DOI: 10.1136/oem.2007.038349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES There is evidence that exposure to air pollution affects asthma, but the effect of air pollution on asthma severity has not been addressed. The aim was to assess the relation between asthma severity during the past 12 months and home outdoor concentrations of air pollution. METHODS Asthma severity over the past 12 months was assessed in two complementary ways among 328 adult asthmatics from the French Epidemiological study on the Genetics and Environment of Asthma (EGEA) examined between 1991 and 1995. The four-class severity score integrated clinical events and type of treatment. The five-level asthma score is based only on the occurrence of symptoms. Nitrogen dioxide (NO(2)), sulphur dioxide (SO(2)) and ozone (O(3)) concentrations were assigned to each residence using two different methods. The first was based on the closest monitor data from 1991 to 1995. The second consisted of spatial models that used geostatistical interpolations and then assigned air pollutants to the geo-coded residences (1998). RESULTS Higher asthma severity score was significantly related to the 8-hour average of ozone during April-September (O(3)-8 h) and the number of days (O(3)-days) with 8-hour ozone averages above 110 microg.m(-3) (for a 36-day increase, equivalent to the interquartile range, in O(3)-days, odds ratio 2.22 (95% confidence interval 1.61 to 3.07) for one class difference in score). Adjustment for age, sex, smoking habits, occupational exposure, and educational level did not alter results. Asthma severity was unrelated to NO(2). Both exposure assessment methods and severity scores resulted in very similar findings. SO(2) correlated with severity but reached statistical significance only for the model-based assignment of exposure. CONCLUSIONS The observed associations between asthma severity and air pollution, in particular O(3), support the hypothesis that air pollution at levels far below current standards increases asthma severity.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Rage
- INSERM U780, 16 avenue Paul-Vaillant Couturier, Villejuif Cedex, France.
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Ma L, Shima M, Yoda Y, Yamamoto H, Nakai S, Tamura K, Nitta H, Watanabe H, Nishimuta T. Effects of airborne particulate matter on respiratory morbidity in asthmatic children. J Epidemiol 2008; 18:97-110. [PMID: 18490839 PMCID: PMC4771604 DOI: 10.2188/jea.je2007432] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The effects of airborne particulate matter (PM) are a major human health concern. In this panel study, we evaluated the acute effects of exposure to PM on peak expiratory flow (PEF) and wheezing in children. Methods Daily PEF and wheezing were examined in 19 asthmatic children who were hospitalized in a suburban city in Japan for approximately 5 months. The concentrations of PM less than 2.5 µm in diameter (PM2.5) were monitored at a monitoring station proximal to the hospital. Moreover, PM2.5 concentrations inside and outside the hospital were measured using the dust monitor with a laser diode (PM2.5(LD)). The changes in PEF and wheezing associated with PM concentration were analyzed. Results The changes in PEF in the morning and evening were significantly associated with increases in the average concentration of indoor PM2.5(LD) 24 h prior to measurement (-2.86 L/min [95%CI: -4.12, -1.61] and -3.59 L/min [95%CI: -4.99, -2.20] respectively, for 10-µg/m3 increases). The change in PEF was also significantly associated with outdoor PM2.5(LD) concentrations, but the changes were smaller than those observed for indoor PM2.5(LD). Changes in PEF and concentration of stationary-site PM2.5 were not associated. The prevalence of wheezing in the morning and evening were also significantly associated with indoor PM2.5(LD) concentrations (odds ratios = 1.014 [95%CI: 1.006, 1.023] and 1.025 [95%CI: 1.013, 1.038] respectively, for 10-µg/m3 increases). Wheezing in the evening was significantly associated with outdoor PM2.5(LD) concentration. The effects of indoor and outdoor PM2.5(LD) remained significant even after adjusting for ambient nitrogen dioxide concentrations. Conclusion Indoor and outdoor PM2.5(LD) concentrations were associated with PEF and wheezing among asthmatic children. Indoor PM2.5(LD) had a more marked effect than outdoor PM2.5(LD) or stationary-site PM2.5.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lu Ma
- Department of Public Health, Hyogo College of Medicine, Japan
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Fleming LE, Kirkpatrick B, Backer LC, Bean JA, Wanner A, Reich A, Zaias J, Cheng YS, Pierce R, Naar J, Abraham WM, Baden DG. Aerosolized red-tide toxins (brevetoxins) and asthma. Chest 2007; 131:187-94. [PMID: 17218574 PMCID: PMC2683400 DOI: 10.1378/chest.06-1830] [Citation(s) in RCA: 95] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND With the increasing incidence of asthma, there is increasing concern over environmental exposures that may trigger asthma exacerbations. Blooms of the marine microalgae, Karenia brevis, cause red tides (or harmful algal blooms) annually throughout the Gulf of Mexico. K brevis produces highly potent natural polyether toxins, called brevetoxins, which are sodium channel blockers, and possibly histamine activators. In experimental animals, brevetoxins cause significant bronchoconstriction. In humans, a significant increase in self-reported respiratory symptoms has been described after recreational and occupational exposures to Florida red-tide aerosols, particularly among individuals with asthma. METHODS Before and after 1 h spent on beaches with and without an active K brevis red-tide exposure, 97 persons >or= 12 years of age with physician-diagnosed asthma were evaluated by questionnaire and spirometry. Concomitant environmental monitoring, water and air sampling, and personal monitoring for brevetoxins were performed. RESULTS Participants were significantly more likely to report respiratory symptoms after K brevis red-tide aerosol exposure than before exposure. Participants demonstrated small, but statistically significant, decreases in FEV(1), midexpiratory phase of forced expiratory flow, and peak expiratory flow after exposure, particularly among those participants regularly using asthma medications. No significant differences were detected when there was no Florida red tide (ie, during nonexposure periods). CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrated objectively measurable adverse changes in lung function from exposure to aerosolized Florida red-tide toxins in asthmatic subjects, particularly among those requiring regular therapy with asthma medications. Future studies will assess these susceptible subpopulations in more depth, as well as the possible long-term effects of these toxins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lora E Fleming
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences Marine and Freshwater Biomedical Sciences Center, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA.
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Abstract
"Would you tell me please, which way I ought to go from here," asked Alice. "That depends a good deal on where you want to go to," said the cat. (Lewis Carroll, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland) A large number of epidemiological studies show positive correlations between increasing levels of particulate matter (PM) in urban air and short-term morbidity and mortality for diverse acute cardiopulmonary diseases. Brought about by PM increments, inflammation is thought to exacerbate preexisting inflammatory diseases. Experimental evidence suggests a hierarchical oxidative stress model, in which a weakened antioxidant defense, as observed in disease or induced by inhaled particles, increases the PM ability to cause lung inflammation, accounting for exacerbations that occur in asthmatics and in patients with chronic obstructive lung disease. The role of PM-induced inflammation leading to acute cardiovascular events such as arrhythmia, heart failure, and myocardial infarction is more speculative. There is neither clear-cut evidence in humans that inhaled PM could get as far as blood circulation nor that proinflammatory mediators are significantly released from inflamed lung tissues, nor that blood coagulability is critically altered. As a whole, data in humans indicate that short-term inflammatory responses to PM are not always detected; they are usually mild and loosely correlated with functional changes. Among these studies, the diversity of PM characteristics, dose metrics, and endpoints hampers a clear discerning of inflammatory mechanism(s). Thus, the question arises as to whether inflammation represents the mechanism of acute cardiopulmonary PM toxicities in susceptible individuals, or rather an event that may coexist with other relevant mechanism(s). This review article discusses the evidence in humans linking short-term PM increments to inflammation and to exacerbations of cardiopulmonary diseases. Although there is a large amount of data available, there still remains a gulf between the number of epidemiological and panel studies and that of controlled exposures. Research on controlled exposure needs expanding, so that the results of time-series and panel studies will be better understood and short-term standards for human exposure may be more confidently allocated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Luisa Scapellato
- Dipartimento di Medicina Ambientale e Sanità Pubblica, Università degli Studi di Padova, Padova, Italy.
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Bennett CM, Simpson P, Raven J, Skoric B, Powell J, Wolfe R, Walters EH, Abramson MJ. Associations between ambient PM2.5 concentrations and respiratory symptoms in Melbourne, 1998-2005. JOURNAL OF TOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH. PART A 2007; 70:1613-8. [PMID: 17763079 DOI: 10.1080/15287390701434695] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
Particulate matter (PM) has been widely associated with adverse effects on respiratory health, both overseas and in Australia. This study aimed to investigate the impacts of ambient particles of <2.5 microm diameter (PM2.5) in Melbourne on adverse respiratory symptoms. Two cohorts of adults were recruited in 1992-1998, and completed detailed respiratory questionnaires in 1998-1999 and 2004-2005. The mean age at baseline was 37.2 years, 55% were female, and the mean time lapsed between the baseline and follow-up questionnaires was 5.2 years. PM2.5 exposure was assessed from gravimetric data and routine nephelometry at monitoring stations located centrally with respect to the residence of most participants. Daily exposures to PM2.5 were averaged over the previous 12 months and mean daily exposure was 6.8 microg/m3. Logistic regression models were used to examine associations between PM2.5 exposure and adverse respiratory symptoms. Adjustment was made for age, gender, current smoking status, and medication use, but further adjustment for atopy did not alter the results. There was insufficient variability in PM2.5 exposure among participants over the study period to provide convincing evidence for or against associations between PM2.5 and adverse respiratory symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charmian M Bennett
- Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
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Michaud JP, Krupitsky D, Grove JS, Anderson BS. Volcano Related Atmospheric Toxicants in Hilo and Hawaii Volcanoes National Park: Implications for Human Health. Neurotoxicology 2005; 26:555-63. [PMID: 16112321 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuro.2004.12.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2004] [Accepted: 12/06/2004] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Volcanic fog (vog) from Kilauea volcano on the island of Hawaii includes a variety of chemical species including sulfur compounds and traces of metals such as mercury. The metal species seen tended to be in the nanograms per cubic meter range, whereas oxides of sulfur: SO2 and SO3 and sulfate aerosols, were in the range of micrograms per cubic meter and rarely even as high as a few milligrams per cubic meter of air (nominally ppb to ppm). These sulfur species are being investigated for associations with both acute and chronic changes in human health status. The sulfate aerosols tend to be less than 1 microm in diameter and tend to dominate the mass of this submicron size mode. The sulfur chemistry is dynamic, changing composition from predominantly sulfur dioxide and trioxide gasses near the volcano, to predominantly sulfate aerosols on the west side of the island. Time, concentration and composition characteristics of submicron aerosols and sulfur dioxide are described with respect to the related on-going health studies and public health management concerns. Exposures to sulfur dioxide and particulate matter equal to or less than 1 microm in size were almost always below the national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS). These standards do not however consider the acidic nature and submicron size of the aerosol, nor the possibility of the aerosol and the sulfur dioxide interacting in their toxicity. Time series plots, histograms and descriptive statistics of hourly averages give the reader a sense of some of the exposures observed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jon-Pierre Michaud
- Chemistry, Natural Sciences Division, University of Hawaii at Hilo, 200 West Kawili Street W18, Hilo, HI 96720, USA.
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Fleming LE, Kirkpatrick B, Backer LC, Bean JA, Wanner A, Dalpra D, Tamer R, Zaias J, Cheng YS, Pierce R, Naar J, Abraham W, Clark R, Zhou Y, Henry MS, Johnson D, Van De Bogart G, Bossart GD, Harrington M, Baden DG. Initial evaluation of the effects of aerosolized Florida red tide toxins (brevetoxins) in persons with asthma. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2005; 113:650-7. [PMID: 15866779 PMCID: PMC1257563 DOI: 10.1289/ehp.7500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 87] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
Florida red tides annually occur in the Gulf of Mexico, resulting from blooms of the marine dinoflagellate Karenia brevis. K. brevis produces highly potent natural polyether toxins, known as brevetoxins, that activate voltage-sensitive sodium channels. In experimental animals, brevetoxins cause significant bronchoconstriction. A study of persons who visited the beach recreationally found a significant increase in self-reported respiratory symptoms after exposure to aerosolized Florida red tides. Anecdotal reports indicate that persons with underlying respiratory diseases may be particularly susceptible to adverse health effects from these aerosolized toxins. Fifty-nine persons with physician-diagnosed asthma were evaluated for 1 hr before and after going to the beach on days with and without Florida red tide. Study participants were evaluated with a brief symptom questionnaire, nose and throat swabs, and spirometry approved by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. Environmental monitoring, water and air sampling (i.e., K. brevis, brevetoxins, and particulate size distribution), and personal monitoring (for toxins) were performed. Brevetoxin concentrations were measured by liquid chromatography mass spectrometry, high-performance liquid chromatography, and a newly developed brevetoxin enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Participants were significantly more likely to report respiratory symptoms after Florida red tide exposure. Participants demonstrated small but statistically significant decreases in forced expiratory volume in 1 sec, forced expiratory flow between 25 and 75%, and peak expiratory flow after exposure, particularly those regularly using asthma medications. Similar evaluation during nonexposure periods did not significantly differ. This is the first study to show objectively measurable adverse health effects from exposure to aerosolized Florida red tide toxins in persons with asthma. Future studies will examine the possible chronic effects of these toxins among persons with asthma and other chronic respiratory impairment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lora E Fleming
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences Marine and Freshwater Biomedical Sciences Center, University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, Miami, FL 33136, USA.
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Michaud JP, Grove JS, Krupitsky D. Emergency department visits and "vog"-related air quality in Hilo, Hawai'i. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2004; 95:11-19. [PMID: 15068926 DOI: 10.1016/s0013-9351(03)00122-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2003] [Revised: 05/17/2003] [Accepted: 06/05/2003] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Emergency department (ED) visits in Hilo, Hawai'i, from January 1997 to May 2001, were examined for associations with volcanic fog, or "vog", measured as sulfur dioxide (SO(2)) and submicrometer particulate matter (PM(1)). Exponential regression models were used with robust standard errors. Four diagnostic groups were examined: asthma/COPD; cardiac; flu, cold, and pneumonia; and gastroenteritis. Before adjustments, highly significant associations with vog-related air quality were seen for all diagnostic groups except gastroenteritis. After adjusting for month, year, and day of the week, only asthma/COPD had consistently positive associations with air quality. The strongest associations were for SO(2) with a 3-day lag (6.8% per 10 ppb; P=0.001) and PM(1), with a 1-day lag (13.8% per 10 microg/m(3); P=0.011). The association of ED visits for asthma/COPD with month of the year was stronger than associations seen with air quality. Although vog appears influential, non-vog factors dominated associations with the frequency of asthma/COPD ED visits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jon-Pierre Michaud
- Natural Sciences Division, Department of Chemistry, University of Hawaii at Hilo, 200 West Kawili Street W18, Hilo, HI 96728, USA.
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El Mekki F, Taktak S, Mechaal S, Hamzaoui A, Ghedira H. [Asthma and atmospheric pollution]. REVUE DE PNEUMOLOGIE CLINIQUE 2004; 60:13-21. [PMID: 15107664 DOI: 10.1016/s0761-8417(04)72078-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Alteration of the air we breathe, due mainly to the transformation of the environment by mankind, is a increasing cause of concern for physicians, public health deciders and government agencies responsible for environmental protection. Modifications of air composition have a proven harmful effect on health and provoke predominantly respiratory symptoms. Asthma is considered as a disease resulting from complex interactions between genetic and environmental factors. Since asthma-related morbidity and mortality have risen constantly over the past decades, many studies were conducted to identify and evaluate the factors responsible for the onset and/or aggravation of the underlying inflammation. Various atmospheric toxic compounds appear to be responsible, and some experts think that asthmatics are excellent indicators for atmospheric pollution and its intensity. Doses and conditions of experimental exposure are however often quite different from real population exposure, implicating very critical evaluation of demonstrated effects and extreme prudence when extrapolating results.
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Affiliation(s)
- F El Mekki
- Service de Pneumologie III (Pr Ghedira), Hôpital de Pneumo-Phtisiologie Abderrahman-Mami, 2080 Ariana-Tunis, Tunisie.
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