The ground-level ozone concentration in beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) forests in the West Carpathian Mountains

The ground-level ozone concentration in forest and urban environments in central Slovakia

This paper analyses data by summarising the concentration values of ground-level ozone (GLO). The study area is situated in central Slovakia and is part of the Western Carpathians. These measurements were carried out between 2015 and 2020, implementing Werner's method working with passive samplers. The highest average and the highest absolute GLO deposition values were 30.93 ppb and 61.06 ppb, respectively, recorded in August 2015 in the forest in the Kremnické vrchy Mts. The lowest average GLO value in the whole measuring period was 17.72 ppb, measured in the town of Zvolen; the absolute minimum was 4.43 ppb, recorded in April 2016 on an open plot in the Kremnické vrchy Mts. The GLO formation over the study area has not yet reached a steady rate. Since 2007, the developmental trend has been increasing. Statistically significant differences in GLO concentrations were confirmed between the localities with different airborne pollutions. However, the analysis of the existing ozone concentration values showed considerable differences, especially related to the time pattern. The spatial variability was equalised. The extreme values, while remarkable, were dangerous, especially in the forest stands in the Kremnické vrchy Mts., where they were 14 times above the critical level of 32.5 ppb O3. The dominant factor influencing the GLO concentration was global radiation. The effects of average temperature and rainfall total were less important.

Long-Term Exposure to Ozone and Fine Particulate Matter and Risk of Premature Coronary Artery Disease: Results from Genetics of Atherosclerotic Disease Mexican Study

(1) Background: Epidemiological studies have identified associations between fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and ozone exposure with cardiovascular disease; however, studies linking ambient air pollution and premature coronary artery disease (pCAD) in Latin America are non-existing. (2) Methods: Our study was a case−control analysis nested in the Genetics of Atherosclerotic Disease (GEA) Mexican study. We included 1615 participants (869 controls and 746 patients with pCAD), recruited at the Instituto Nacional de Cardiología Ignacio Chávez from June 2008 to January 2013. We defined pCAD as history of myocardial infarction, angioplasty, revascularization surgery or coronary stenosis > 50% diagnosed before age 55 in men and age 65 in women. Controls were healthy individuals without personal or family history of pCAD and with coronary artery calcification equal to zero. Hourly measurements of ozone and PM2.5 from the Atmospheric Monitoring System in Mexico City (SIMAT in Spanish; Sistema de Monitero Atmosférico de la Ciudad de México) were used to calculate annual exposure to ozone and PM2.5 in the study participants. (3) Results: Each ppb increase in ozone at 1-year, 2-year, 3-year and 5-year averages was significantly associated with increased odds (OR = 1.10; 95% CI: 1.03−1.18; OR = 1.17; 95% CI: 1.05−1.30; OR = 1.18; 95% CI: 1.05−1.33, and OR = 1.13; 95% CI: 1.04−1.23, respectively) of pCAD. We observed higher risk of pCAD for each 5 µg/m3 increase only for the 5-year average of PM2.5 exposure (OR = 2.75; 95% CI: 1.47−5.16), compared to controls. (4) Conclusions: Ozone exposure at different time points and PM2.5 exposure at 5 years were associated with increased odds of pCAD. Our results highlight the importance of reducing long-term exposure to ambient air pollution levels to reduce the burden of cardiovascular disease in Mexico City and other metropolitan areas.