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Anyanwu C, Bikomeye JC, Beyer KM. The impact of environmental conditions on non-communicable diseases in sub-Saharan Africa: A scoping review of epidemiologic evidence. J Glob Health 2024; 14:04003. [PMID: 38419464 PMCID: PMC10902803 DOI: 10.7189/jogh.14.04003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Background The burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is increasing. Environmental conditions such as heavy metals and air pollution have been linked with the incidence and mortality of chronic diseases such as cancer, as well as cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. We aimed to scope the current state of evidence on the impact of environmental conditions on NCDs in SSA. Methods We conducted a scoping review to identify environmental conditions linked with NCDs in SSA by identifying studies published from January 1986 through February 2023. We searched African Index Medicus, Ovid Medline, Scopus, Web of Science, and Greenfile. Using the PICOS study selection criteria, we identified studies conducted in SSA focussed on physical environmental exposures and incidence, prevalence, and mortality of NCDs. We included only epidemiologic or quantitative studies. Results We identified 6754 articles from electronic database searches; only 36 met our inclusion criteria and were qualitatively synthesised. Two studies were conducted in multiple SSA countries, while 34 were conducted across ten countries in SSA. Air pollution (58.3%) was the most common type of environmental exposure reported, followed by exposure to dust (19.4%), meteorological variables (13.8%), heavy metals (2.7%), soil radioactivity (2.7%), and neighbourhood greenness (2.7%). The examined NCDs included respiratory diseases (69.4%), cancer (2.7%), stroke (5.5%), diabetes (2.7%), and two or more chronic diseases (19.4%). The study results suggest an association between environmental exposures and NCDs, particularly for respiratory diseases. Only seven studies found a null association between environmental conditions and chronic diseases. Conclusions There is a growing body of research on environmental conditions and chronic diseases in the SSA region. Although some cities in SSA have started implementing environmental monitoring and control measures, there remain high levels of environmental pollution. Investment can focus on improving environmental control measures and disease surveillance.
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Howlett-Downing C, Boman J, Molnár P, Shirinde J, Wichmann J. Case-crossover study for the association between increased hospital admissions for respiratory diseases and the increase in atmospheric PM 2.5 and PM 2.5-bound trace elements in Pretoria, South Africa. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH RESEARCH 2024; 34:1551-1565. [PMID: 37384843 DOI: 10.1080/09603123.2023.2229256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 07/01/2023]
Abstract
Outdoor PM2.5 was sampled in Pretoria, 18 April 2017 to 28 February 2020. A case-crossover epidemiology study was associated for increased PM2.5 and trace elements with increased hospital admissions for respiratory disorders (J00-J99). The results included a significant increase in hospital admissions, with total PM2.5 of 2.7% (95% CI: 0.6, 4.9) per 10 µg·m-3 increase. For the trace elements, Ca of 4.0% (95% CI: 1.4%-6.8%), Cl of 0.7% (95% CI: 0.0%-1.4%), Fe of 3.3% (95% CI: 0.5%-6.1%), K of 1.8% (95% CI: 0.2-3.5) and Si of 1.3% (95% CI: 0.1%-2.5%). When controlling for PM2.5, only Ca of 3.2% (95% CI: 0.3, 6.1) and within the 0-14 age group by 5.2% (95% CI: 1.5, 9.1). Controlling for a co-pollutant that is highly correlated with PM2.5 does reduce overestimation, but further studies should include deposition rates and parallel sampling analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chantelle Howlett-Downing
- School of Health Systems and Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Gezina, South Africa
| | - Johan Boman
- Department of Chemistry and Molecular Biology, Atmospheric Science Division, University of Gothenburg, Göteborg, Sweden
| | - Peter Molnár
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Göteborg, Sweden
| | - Joyce Shirinde
- School of Health Systems and Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Gezina, South Africa
| | - Janine Wichmann
- School of Health Systems and Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Gezina, South Africa
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Shirinde J, Wichmann J. Temperature modifies the association between air pollution and respiratory disease mortality in Cape Town, South Africa. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH RESEARCH 2023; 33:1122-1131. [PMID: 35581190 DOI: 10.1080/09603123.2022.2076813] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2021] [Accepted: 05/06/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The aim of this 10-year study was to investigate whether and how temperature modifies the association between daily ambient PM10, NO2, SO2 air pollution and daily respiratory disease mortality in Cape Town. A time-stratified case-crossover epidemiological design was applied. Susceptibility by sex and age groups (15-64 years and ≥65 years) was also investigated. On days with medium Tapp levels, NO2 displayed a stronger association with respiratory mortality than PM10 or SO2. Females appeared to be more susceptible to NO2 at medium Tapp levels to males. The 15-64-year-old age group seemed to be more vulnerable to NO2 and PM10 at medium Tapp levels compared to the elderly (≥65 years). At high Tapp levels, females were more susceptible to PM10. The 15-64-year-old group were more vulnerable to NO2 and SO2. The results can be used in present-day early warning systems and in risk assessments to estimate the impact of increased air pollution and temperature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joyce Shirinde
- School of Health Systems and Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Janine Wichmann
- School of Health Systems and Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
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Adebayo-Ojo TC, Wichmann J, Arowosegbe OO, Probst-Hensch N, Schindler C, Künzli N. A New Global Air Quality Health Index Based on the WHO Air Quality Guideline Values With Application in Cape Town. Int J Public Health 2023; 68:1606349. [PMID: 37936875 PMCID: PMC10625908 DOI: 10.3389/ijph.2023.1606349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2023] [Accepted: 10/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Objectives: This study developed an Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) based on global scientific evidence and applied it to data from Cape Town, South Africa. Methods: Effect estimates from two global systematic reviews and meta-analyses were used to derive the excess risk (ER) for PM2.5, PM10, NO2, SO2 and O3. Single pollutant AQHIs were developed and scaled using the ERs at the WHO 2021 long-term Air Quality Guideline (AQG) values to define the upper level of the "low risk" range. An overall daily AQHI was defined as weighted average of the single AQHIs. Results: Between 2006 and 2015, 87% of the days posed "moderate to high risk" to Cape Town's population, mainly due to PM10 and NO2 levels. The seasonal pattern of air quality shows "high risk" occurring mostly during the colder months of July-September. Conclusion: The AQHI, with its reference to the WHO 2021 long-term AQG provides a global application and can assist countries in communicating risks in relation to their daily air quality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Temitope Christina Adebayo-Ojo
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Janine Wichmann
- Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Health Systems and Public Health, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Oluwaseyi Olalekan Arowosegbe
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
- MRC Centre for Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Nicole Probst-Hensch
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Christian Schindler
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Nino Künzli
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), Zürich, Switzerland
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Dagestani AA, Qing L, Abou Houran M. What Remains Unsolved in Sub-African Environmental Exposure Information Disclosure: A Review. JOURNAL OF RISK AND FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT 2022; 15:487. [DOI: 10.3390/jrfm15100487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/02/2023]
Abstract
Background: Africa comprises the bulk of struggling economies. However, Sub-Saharan Africa is experiencing rapid industrialization and urbanization. Excessive resource use, pollution, and the absence of relevant environmental disclosure are factors that contribute to these human-made damages. Environmental pollution as a threat to sustainable development results from these damages. Although it has been established that Sub-Saharan Africa would benefit from resource-management development, sustainable environmental strategies, and a reduction in urbanization and persistent poverty, the information on these issues has not been made public. Objective: To provide a full account of the level of environmental-exposure disclosure in Sub-Saharan African countries, including the current level of progress, gaps, and prospects, we reviewed the literature on environmental exposure information research in African populations. Methodology: We searched PubMed and Google Scholar for peer-reviewed research articles, reviews, or books examining environmental exposure and information disclosure in human populations in Africa. Results: In total, 89 full-text articles were eligible for the inclusion criteria. A quality assessment of the retrieved articles using the PRISMA guidelines resulted in the exclusion of 40 articles; therefore, 49 studies were included in the final analysis. In Sub-Saharan Africa, the environmental exposure information on household injuries, the use of chemicals such as pesticides in farming, industry-linked vectors and diseases, laboratory chemical exposure, industrial exposure, and epigenetic factors are not well-disclosed to the population. Conclusion: Environmental information disclosure standards should be incorporated into central-government policy recommendations. Standards should identify polluting industries, and companies should refrain from the voluntary disclosure of environmental information to manage their reputation. Heavy-pollution industries should be made sufficiently transparent to lessen the company–media collusion on information disclosure.
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Adebayo-Ojo TC, Wichmann J, Arowosegbe OO, Probst-Hensch N, Schindler C, Künzli N. Short-Term Effects of PM10, NO2, SO2 and O3 on Cardio-Respiratory Mortality in Cape Town, South Africa, 2006–2015. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19138078. [PMID: 35805737 PMCID: PMC9265394 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19138078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2022] [Revised: 06/26/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Background: The health effect of air pollution is rarely quantified in Africa, and this is evident in global systematic reviews and multi-city studies which only includes South Africa. Methods: A time-series analysis was conducted on daily mortality (cardiovascular (CVD) and respiratory diseases (RD)) and air pollution from 2006–2015 for the city of Cape Town. We fitted single- and multi-pollutant models to test the independent effects of particulate matter (PM10), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulphur dioxide (SO2) and ozone (O3) from co-pollutants. Results: daily average concentrations per interquartile range (IQR) increase of 16.4 µg/m3 PM10, 10.7 µg/m3 NO2, 6 µg/m3 SO2 and 15.6 µg/m3 O3 lag 0–1 were positively associated with CVD, with an increased risk of 2.4% (95% CI: 0.9–3.9%), 2.2 (95% CI: 0.4–4.1%), 1.4% (95% CI: 0–2.8%) and 2.5% (95% CI: 0.2–4.8%), respectively. For RD, only NO2 showed a significant positive association with a 4.5% (95% CI: 1.4–7.6%) increase per IQR. In multi-pollutant models, associations of NO2 with RD remained unchanged when adjusted for PM10 and SO2 but was weakened for O3. In CVD, O3 estimates were insensitive to other pollutants showing an increased risk. Interestingly, CVD and RD lag structures of PM10, showed significant acute effect with evidence of mortality displacement. Conclusion: The findings suggest that air pollution is associated with mortality, and exposure to PM10 advances the death of frail population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Temitope Christina Adebayo-Ojo
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Kreuzstrasse 2, Allschwil, 4123 Basel, Switzerland; (O.O.A.); (N.P.-H.); (C.S.); (N.K.)
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Basel, 4056 Basel, Switzerland
- Correspondence:
| | - Janine Wichmann
- Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Health Systems and Public Health, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa;
| | - Oluwaseyi Olalekan Arowosegbe
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Kreuzstrasse 2, Allschwil, 4123 Basel, Switzerland; (O.O.A.); (N.P.-H.); (C.S.); (N.K.)
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Basel, 4056 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Nicole Probst-Hensch
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Kreuzstrasse 2, Allschwil, 4123 Basel, Switzerland; (O.O.A.); (N.P.-H.); (C.S.); (N.K.)
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Basel, 4056 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Christian Schindler
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Kreuzstrasse 2, Allschwil, 4123 Basel, Switzerland; (O.O.A.); (N.P.-H.); (C.S.); (N.K.)
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Basel, 4056 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Nino Künzli
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Kreuzstrasse 2, Allschwil, 4123 Basel, Switzerland; (O.O.A.); (N.P.-H.); (C.S.); (N.K.)
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Basel, 4056 Basel, Switzerland
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Short-Term Joint Effects of PM 10, NO 2 and SO 2 on Cardio-Respiratory Disease Hospital Admissions in Cape Town, South Africa. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19010495. [PMID: 35010755 PMCID: PMC8744938 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19010495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2021] [Revised: 12/23/2021] [Accepted: 12/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/10/2022]
Abstract
Background/Aim: In sub-Sahara Africa, few studies have investigated the short-term association between hospital admissions and ambient air pollution. Therefore, this study explored the association between multiple air pollutants and hospital admissions in Cape Town, South Africa. Methods: Generalized additive quasi-Poisson models were used within a distributed lag linear modelling framework to estimate the cumulative effects of PM10, NO2, and SO2 up to a lag of 21 days. We further conducted multi-pollutant models and stratified our analysis by age group, sex, and season. Results: The overall relative risk (95% confidence interval (CI)) for PM10, NO2, and SO2 at lag 0–1 for hospital admissions due to respiratory disease (RD) were 1.9% (0.5–3.2%), 2.3% (0.6–4%), and 1.1% (−0.2–2.4%), respectively. For cardiovascular disease (CVD), these values were 2.1% (0.6–3.5%), 1% (−0.8–2.8%), and −0.3% (−1.6–1.1%), respectively, per inter-quartile range increase of 12 µg/m3 for PM10, 7.3 µg/m3 for NO2, and 3.6 µg/m3 for SO2. The overall cumulative risks for RD per IQR increase in PM10 and NO2 for children were 2% (0.2–3.9%) and 3.1% (0.7–5.6%), respectively. Conclusion: We found robust associations of daily respiratory disease hospital admissions with daily PM10 and NO2 concentrations. Associations were strongest among children and warm season for RD.
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Li G, Wu H, Zhong Q, He J, Yang W, Zhu J, Zhao H, Zhang H, Zhu Z, Huang F. Six air pollutants and cause-specific mortality: a multi-area study in nine counties or districts of Anhui Province, China. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 29:468-482. [PMID: 34331645 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-15730-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2021] [Accepted: 07/26/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Air pollution and its negative effects on health of people have been a global concern. Many studies had found a strong association between air pollutants and risk of death, but few had focused on the effects of six pollutants and rural areas. Our study aimed to investigate the effects of six air pollutants (CO, NO2, O3, PM2.5, PM10, and SO2) on non-accidental and respiratory deaths in rural areas of Anhui Province by adjusting for confounding factors, and to further clarify which populations were susceptible to death associated with air pollution. In the first phase of the analysis, the generalized additive models were combined with the distributed lag non-linear models to evaluate the individual effects of air pollution on death in each area. In the second stage, random-effects models were used to aggregate the associations between air pollutants and mortality risk in nine areas. Overall, six pollutants had the strongest effects on the risk of death on the lag 07 days. The associations between PM2.5 and NO2 and daily non-accidental deaths were strongest, with maximum RR (lag 07): 1.63 (1.37-1.88) and 1.67 (1.37-1.96). The maximum pooled effects of association between six air pollutants and RD were PM2.5, with RR (lag 07): 1.89 (1.45-2.34). PM2.5 and PM10 had significant differences between the elderly and the non-elderly with respectively, RRR: 1.22 (1.04-1.41) and 1.26 (1.11-1.42). In general, we found that six air pollutants were the important risk factors for deaths (deaths from respiratory disease and non-accidental) in rural areas of Anhui Province. PM10 and PM2.5 had a considerable impact on the elderly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guoao Li
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, 81 Meishan Road, Shushan District, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China
| | - Huabing Wu
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, 81 Meishan Road, Shushan District, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China
| | - Qi Zhong
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, 81 Meishan Road, Shushan District, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China
| | - Jialiu He
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, 81 Meishan Road, Shushan District, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China
| | - Wanjun Yang
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, 81 Meishan Road, Shushan District, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China
| | - Jinliang Zhu
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, 81 Meishan Road, Shushan District, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China
| | - Huanhuan Zhao
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, 81 Meishan Road, Shushan District, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China
| | - Hanshuang Zhang
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, 81 Meishan Road, Shushan District, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China
| | - Zhenyu Zhu
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, 81 Meishan Road, Shushan District, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China
| | - Fen Huang
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, 81 Meishan Road, Shushan District, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China.
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Yang X, Wang Y, Chen D, Tan X, Tian X, Shi L. Does the "Blue Sky Defense War Policy" Paint the Sky Blue?-A Case Study of Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Region, China. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph182312397. [PMID: 34886123 PMCID: PMC8657255 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph182312397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2021] [Revised: 11/22/2021] [Accepted: 11/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Improving air quality is an urgent task for the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei (BTH) region in China. In 2018, utilizing 365 days' daily concentration data of six air pollutants (including PM2.5, PM10, SO2, NO2, CO and O3) at 947 air quality grid monitoring points of 13 cities in the BTH region and controlling the meteorological factors, this paper takes the implementation of the Blue Sky Defense War (BSDW) policy as a quasi-natural experiment to examine the emission reduction effect of the policy in the BTH region by applying the difference-in-difference method. Results show that the policy leads to the significant reduction of the daily average concentration of PM2.5, PM10, SO2, O3 by -1.951 μg/m3, -3.872 μg/m3, -1.902 μg/m3, -7.882 μg/m3 and CO by -0.014 mg/m3, respectively. The results of the robustness test support the aforementioned conclusions. However, this paper finds that the concentration of NO2 increases significantly (1.865 μg/m3). In winter heating seasons, the concentration of SO2, CO and O3 decrease but PM2.5, PM10 and NO2 increase significantly. Besides, resource intensive cities, non-key environmental protection cities and cities in the north of the region have great potential for air pollutant emission reduction. Finally, policy suggestions are recommended; these include setting specific goals at the city level, incorporating more cities into the list of key environmental protection cities, refining the concrete indicators of domestic solid fuel, and encouraging and enforcing clean heating diffusion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuan Yang
- School of Environment and Natural Resources, Renmin University of China, Beijing 100872, China; (X.Y.); (Y.W.); (D.C.); (X.T.)
| | - Yue Wang
- School of Environment and Natural Resources, Renmin University of China, Beijing 100872, China; (X.Y.); (Y.W.); (D.C.); (X.T.)
| | - Di Chen
- School of Environment and Natural Resources, Renmin University of China, Beijing 100872, China; (X.Y.); (Y.W.); (D.C.); (X.T.)
| | - Xue Tan
- Energy Strategy and Planning Research Department, State Grid Energy Research Institute Co., Ltd., Beijing 102209, China;
| | - Xue Tian
- School of Environment and Natural Resources, Renmin University of China, Beijing 100872, China; (X.Y.); (Y.W.); (D.C.); (X.T.)
| | - Lei Shi
- School of Environment and Natural Resources, Renmin University of China, Beijing 100872, China; (X.Y.); (Y.W.); (D.C.); (X.T.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +86-10-82502696
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Combined Effect of Hot Weather and Outdoor Air Pollution on Respiratory Health: Literature Review. ATMOSPHERE 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/atmos12060790] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Association between short-term exposure to ambient air pollution and respiratory health is well documented. At the same time, it is widely known that extreme weather events intrinsically exacerbate air pollution impact. Particularly, hot weather and extreme temperatures during heat waves (HW) significantly affect human health, increasing risks of respiratory mortality and morbidity. Concurrently, a synergistic effect of air pollution and high temperatures can be combined with weather–air pollution interaction during wildfires. The purpose of the current review is to summarize literature on interplay of hot weather, air pollution, and respiratory health consequences worldwide, with the ultimate goal of identifying the most dangerous pollution agents and vulnerable population groups. A literature search was conducted using electronic databases Web of Science, Pubmed, Science Direct, and Scopus, focusing only on peer-reviewed journal articles published in English from 2000 to 2021. The main findings demonstrate that the increased level of PM10 and O3 results in significantly higher rates of respiratory and cardiopulmonary mortality. Increments in PM2.5 and PM10, O3, CO, and NO2 concentrations during high temperature episodes are dramatically associated with higher admissions to hospital in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, daily hospital emergency transports for asthma, acute and chronic bronchitis, and premature mortality caused by respiratory disease. Excessive respiratory health risk is more pronounced in elderly cohorts and small children. Both heat waves and outdoor air pollution are synergistically linked and are expected to be more serious in the future due to greater climate instability, being a crucial threat to global public health that requires the responsible involvement of researchers at all levels. Sustainable urban planning and smart city design could significantly reduce both urban heat islands effect and air pollution.
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