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Tu IC, Yuan CS, Tseng YL, Lee CW, Lin C. Spatiotemporal variation and inter-transport of atmospheric speciated mercury between Kaohsiung Harbor and neighboring urban areas. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 342:123039. [PMID: 38040182 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.123039] [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: 09/21/2023] [Revised: 11/13/2023] [Accepted: 11/23/2023] [Indexed: 12/03/2023]
Abstract
This study investigated the spatiotemporal variation, gas-particle partition, and source resolution of atmospheric speciation mercury (ASM) in Kaohsiung Harbor and neighboring Metro Kaohsiung. Four sampling sites were selected to determine the pollution characteristics and inter-transport of ASM between the port and urban areas. The yearly average GEM, GOM, and PBM concentrations were 7.13 ± 2.2 ng/m3, 331 ± 190 pg/m3, and 532 ± 301 pg/m3, respectively. Notably, GEM emerged as the predominant ASM species (85-94%), primarily originating from anthropogenic emissions from the harbor area and nearby industrial complex. The study revealed a distinct seasonal variation in ASM concentrations in the Kaohsiung Area in the following order: winter > fall > spring > summer. Concerning spatial distribution, ASM concentrations in the port areas were generally higher than those in the urban areas. This disparity was chiefly attributed to the influence of the prevailing winds, local sources, and atmospheric dispersion. Backward trajectory simulation revealed that polluted air masses blown from the northeast in winter and spring, moving along the western in-land part of Taiwan Island, were likely influenced by local sources and long-range transport (LRT). In summer, air pollutants originating from the south were likely transported from the coastal industrial sources. During fall, air masses blown from the western offshore waters transported air pollutants from Kaohsiung Harbor to neighboring Metro Kaohsiung. The results obtained from principle component analysis (PCA) indicated that primary sources in the port areas included ship emissions, vehicular exhausts, and nearby industrial complex, which align with the primary source factors identified by positive matrix factorization (PMF), which were mobile sources and coal-fired industrial boilers. Meanwhile, mobile sources and sulfur-containing fuel/waste combustion were identified as the primary sources in the urban areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- I-Chieh Tu
- Institute of Environmental Engineering, National Sun Yat-Sen University, No. 70, Lian-Hai Road, Kaohsiung, 80424, Taiwan
| | - Chung-Shin Yuan
- Institute of Environmental Engineering, National Sun Yat-Sen University, No. 70, Lian-Hai Road, Kaohsiung, 80424, Taiwan.
| | - Yu-Lun Tseng
- Institute of Environmental Engineering, National Sun Yat-Sen University, No. 70, Lian-Hai Road, Kaohsiung, 80424, Taiwan
| | - Chia-Wei Lee
- Department of Safety, Health and Environmental Engineering, National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology, No. 1, University Road, Kaohsiung, 81148, Taiwan
| | - Chitsan Lin
- Department of Marine Environmental Engineering, National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology, No. 142, Haijhuan Road, Kaohsiung, 81157, Taiwan
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2
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Guo SE, Ratner PA, Tseng SC, Lin CM, Chi MC, Lee CW, Yu YC. Exposure to incense burning, biomarkers, and the physical health of temple workers in Taiwan. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 30:101804-101816. [PMID: 37659022 PMCID: PMC10542283 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-29420-w] [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: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 08/17/2023] [Indexed: 09/05/2023]
Abstract
Incense burning releases heavy particulate matter (PM) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2), known to have adverse effects on human health. Long-term exposure to PM and NO2 increases inflammatory cytokine levels and can induce respiratory diseases. This study examined the association between incense burning exposure and the health status, especially inflammatory biomarkers, of temple workers and volunteers in Taiwan. The longitudinal observational study compared adult temple workers and volunteers, with long-term incense burning exposure, to residents from outpatient clinics in the Chiayi area. Forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) and serum and exhaled breath condensate (EBC) cytokines were assessed. Nonparametric Mann-Whitney U tests were used to compare cytokine levels of the exposure and control groups during the cold and hot weather seasons. FEV1 was significantly more diminished in the exposed group than in the control group during the cold season. Exposure status was associated with greater hot-cold seasonal differences in serum interleukins (IL)-1β (regression coefficient (B) = 6.6, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 5.0 to 8.3, p < .001), IL17-A (B = 2.4, 95% CI = 0.3 to 4.5, p = .03), and plasminogen activator inhibitor [PAI]-1 (B = 5.4, 95% CI = 1.5 to 9.3, p = .009). After adjusting for confounders, the groups' serum levels of IL-1β, IL-17A, and PAI-1 significantly differed. EBC cytokines did not show significant differences. Elevated levels of IL-1β, IL17-A, and PAI-1 have been associated with various autoinflammatory syndromes and diseases. Given the cultural significance of incense burning, culturally sensitive interventions, including education, policy development, and program implementation, are crucial to protect individuals' health, especially temple workers, from the adverse effects of exposure, addressing the manufacture, importation, and sale of incense.
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Affiliation(s)
- Su-Er Guo
- Department of Nursing and Graduate Institute of Nursing, College of Nursing, Chang Gung University of Science and Technology (CGUST), Chiayi County, 613016, Taiwan.
- Chronic Diseases and Health Promotion Research Center, CGUST, Chiayi County, 613016, Taiwan.
- Department of Neurology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital (CGMH) Chiayi Branch, Chiayi County, 613, Taiwan.
- Department of Safety Health and Environmental Engineering, Ming Chi University of Technology, New Taipei City, 24301, Taiwan.
| | - Pamela A Ratner
- School of Nursing, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 2B5, Canada
| | - Sung-Chih Tseng
- Family Medicine Department, CGMH Chiayi Branch, Chiayi County, 61363, Taiwan
| | - Chieh-Mo Lin
- Department of Nursing and Graduate Institute of Nursing, College of Nursing, Chang Gung University of Science and Technology (CGUST), Chiayi County, 613016, Taiwan
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, CGMH Chiayi Branch, Chiayi County, 61363, Taiwan
- Graduate Institute of Clinical Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University (CGU), Taoyuan City, 33302, Taiwan
| | - Miao-Ching Chi
- Chronic Diseases and Health Promotion Research Center, CGUST, Chiayi County, 613016, Taiwan
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, CGMH Chiayi Branch, Chiayi County, 61363, Taiwan
- Department of Respiratory Care, CGUST, Chiayi County, 613016, Taiwan
| | - Chiang-Wen Lee
- Department of Nursing and Graduate Institute of Nursing, College of Nursing, Chang Gung University of Science and Technology (CGUST), Chiayi County, 613016, Taiwan
- Chronic Diseases and Health Promotion Research Center, CGUST, Chiayi County, 613016, Taiwan
- Department of Neurology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital (CGMH) Chiayi Branch, Chiayi County, 613, Taiwan
- Division of Basic Medical Sciences, CGMH Chiayi Branch, Chiayi County, 61363, Taiwan
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, CGMH Chiayi Branch, Chiayi County, 61363, Taiwan
- College of Medicine, CGU, Taoyuan City, 33302, Taiwan
| | - Ying-Chun Yu
- Department of Nursing and Graduate Institute of Nursing, College of Nursing, Chang Gung University of Science and Technology (CGUST), Chiayi County, 613016, Taiwan
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3
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Chi MC, Lin ZC, Lee CW, Huang CCY, Peng KT, Lin CM, Lee HC, Fang ML, Chiang YC. Tanshinone IIA suppresses burning incense-induced oxidative stress and inflammatory pathways in astrocytes. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2023; 258:114987. [PMID: 37172407 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2023.114987] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2023] [Revised: 05/02/2023] [Accepted: 05/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
The burning incense (BI) behavior could be widely observed in Asia families. Incense sticks are often believed to be made from natural herbs and powders, and to have minimal impact on human health; however, there is limited research to support this claim. The current study aimed to identify the components of BI within the particulate matter 2.5 µm (PM2.5) range and explore if BI has bio-toxicity effects on rat astrocytes (CTX-TNA2). The study also examined the protective effects and underlying molecular mechanisms of tanshinone IIA, a primary lipid-soluble compound found in the herb danshen (Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge), which has been shown to benefit the central nervous system. Results showed that despite the differences in BI components compared to the atmospheric particulate matter (PM) standards, BI still had a bio-toxicity on astrocytes. BI exposure caused early and late apoptosis, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, MAPKs (JNK, p38, and ERK), and Akt signaling activation, and inflammation-related proteins (cPLA2, COX-2, HO-1, and MMP-9) increases. Our results further exhibit that the tanshinone IIA pre-treatment could significantly avoid the BI-induced apoptosis and inflammatory signals on rat astrocytes. These findings suggest that BI exposure may cause oxidative stress in rat astrocytes and increase inflammation-related proteins and support the potential of tanshinone IIA as a candidate for preventing BI-related adverse health effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miao-Ching Chi
- Department of Respiratory Care, Chang Gung University of Science and Technology, Puzi City, Chiayi County 61363, Taiwan; Chronic Diseases and Health Promotion Research Center, Chang Gung University of Science and Technology, Puzi City, Chiayi County 61363, Taiwan; Department of Safety Health and Environmental Engineering, Ming Chi University of Technology, New Taipei City 243, Taiwan; Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Chiayi Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chiayi County 61363, Taiwan
| | - Zih-Chan Lin
- Chronic Diseases and Health Promotion Research Center, Chang Gung University of Science and Technology, Puzi City, Chiayi County 61363, Taiwan
| | - Chiang-Wen Lee
- Chronic Diseases and Health Promotion Research Center, Chang Gung University of Science and Technology, Puzi City, Chiayi County 61363, Taiwan; Department of Nursing, Division of Basic Medical Sciences, Chang Gung University of Science and Technology, Puzi City, Chiayi County 61363, Taiwan; Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Puzi City, Chiayi County 61363, Taiwan
| | | | - Kuo-Ti Peng
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Puzi City, Chiayi County 61363, Taiwan; Graduate Institute of Clinical Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan
| | - Chieh-Mo Lin
- Chronic Diseases and Health Promotion Research Center, Chang Gung University of Science and Technology, Puzi City, Chiayi County 61363, Taiwan; Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Chiayi Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chiayi County 61363, Taiwan; Graduate Institute of Clinical Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan
| | - Hui-Chun Lee
- Department of Respiratory Care, Chang Gung University of Science and Technology, Puzi City, Chiayi County 61363, Taiwan; Chronic Diseases and Health Promotion Research Center, Chang Gung University of Science and Technology, Puzi City, Chiayi County 61363, Taiwan; Department of Nursing, Division of Basic Medical Sciences, Chang Gung University of Science and Technology, Puzi City, Chiayi County 61363, Taiwan
| | - Mei-Ling Fang
- Center for Environmental Toxin and Emerging-Contaminant Research, Cheng Shiu University, Kaohsiung 833, Taiwan; Super Micro Research and Technology Center, Cheng Shiu University, Kaohsiung 833, Taiwan
| | - Yao-Chang Chiang
- Chronic Diseases and Health Promotion Research Center, Chang Gung University of Science and Technology, Puzi City, Chiayi County 61363, Taiwan; Department of Nursing, Division of Basic Medical Sciences, Chang Gung University of Science and Technology, Puzi City, Chiayi County 61363, Taiwan.
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Lin C, Huang RJ, Duan J, Zhong H, Xu W, Wu Y, Zhang R. Large contribution from worship activities to the atmospheric soot particles in northwest China. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2022; 299:118907. [PMID: 35091017 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.118907] [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: 10/15/2021] [Revised: 01/04/2022] [Accepted: 01/24/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Worship activities like burning joss paper during the Chinese Hanyi festival is a common, traditional custom in northwest China. However, the pollutants of e.g., soot particles, released from joss paper burning and the corresponding impacts on urban air quality were poorly investigated, which can be a particular concern since these activities are conducted in an uncontrolled manner. In this study, a long time-of-flight (LToF) soot particle aerosol mass spectrometry (SP-AMS) was deployed to characterize the refractory black carbon (rBC) emitted from the joss paper burning, as well as crop residue, coal combustion, and traffic during the Hanyi Festival in mid-November 2020 in the northwestern city of Xi'an in China. Large difference (from <5% to >100%) in the fragmentation patterns (Cn+) for the measured rBC from different source emissions were found when compared to the reference Regal Black. Using the receptor model of positive matrix factorization (PMF) with the multilinear engine (ME-2) algorithm, the obtained rBC mass spectra were used as the anchoring profiles to evaluate the emission strengths of different source types to the atmospheric rBC. Our results show that the burning of joss paper accounted for up to 42% of the atmospheric rBC mass, higher than traffic (14-17%), crop residue (10-17%), coal (18-20%) during the Hanyi festival in northwest China. Moreover, we show that the overall air quality can be worsened due to the practice of uncontrolled burning of joss paper during the festival, which is not just confined to the people who do the burning. Although worship activities occur mainly during festival periods, the pollution events contributed by joss paper burning may pose an acute exposure risk for public health. This is particularly important since burning joss paper during worship activities is common in China and most Asian countries with similar traditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunshui Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Loess and Quaternary Geology (SKLLQG), Center for Excellence in Quaternary Science and Global Change, and Key Laboratory of Aerosol Chemistry and Physics, Institute of Earth Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xi'an, 710061, China
| | - Ru-Jin Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Loess and Quaternary Geology (SKLLQG), Center for Excellence in Quaternary Science and Global Change, and Key Laboratory of Aerosol Chemistry and Physics, Institute of Earth Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xi'an, 710061, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China; Open Studio for Oceanic-Continental Climate and Environment Changes, Pilot National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology (Qingdao), Qingdao, 266061, China.
| | - Jing Duan
- State Key Laboratory of Loess and Quaternary Geology (SKLLQG), Center for Excellence in Quaternary Science and Global Change, and Key Laboratory of Aerosol Chemistry and Physics, Institute of Earth Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xi'an, 710061, China
| | - Haobin Zhong
- State Key Laboratory of Loess and Quaternary Geology (SKLLQG), Center for Excellence in Quaternary Science and Global Change, and Key Laboratory of Aerosol Chemistry and Physics, Institute of Earth Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xi'an, 710061, China
| | - Wei Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Loess and Quaternary Geology (SKLLQG), Center for Excellence in Quaternary Science and Global Change, and Key Laboratory of Aerosol Chemistry and Physics, Institute of Earth Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xi'an, 710061, China
| | - Yunfei Wu
- Key Laboratory of Middle Atmosphere and Global Environment Observation (LAGEO), Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100029, China
| | - Renjian Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Middle Atmosphere and Global Environment Observation (LAGEO), Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100029, China
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5
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Chen KC, Tsai SW, Shie RH, Zeng C, Yang HY. Indoor Air Pollution Increases the Risk of Lung Cancer. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19031164. [PMID: 35162188 PMCID: PMC8834322 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19031164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2021] [Revised: 01/07/2022] [Accepted: 01/14/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
(1) Background: Cooking and burning incense are important sources of indoor air pollutants. No studies have provided biological evidence of air pollutants in the lungs to support this association. Analysis of pleural fluid may be used to measure the internal exposure dose of air pollutants in the lung. The objective of this study was to provide biological evidence of indoor air pollutants and estimate their risk of lung cancer. (2) Methods: We analyzed 14 common air pollutants in the pleural fluid of 39 cases of lung adenocarcinoma and 40 nonmalignant controls by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. (3) Results: When we excluded the current smokers and adjusted for age, the adjusted odds ratios (ORs) were 2.22 (95% confidence interval CI = 0.77-6.44) for habitual cooking at home and 3.05 (95% CI = 1.06-8.84) for indoor incense burning. In females, the adjusted ORs were 5.39 (95% CI = 1.11-26.20) for habitual cooking at home and 6.01 (95% CI = 1.14-31.66) for indoor incense burning. In pleural fluid, the most important exposure biomarkers for lung cancer were naphthalene, ethylbenzene, and o-xylene. (4) Conclusions: Habitual cooking and indoor incense burning increased the risk of lung adenocarcinoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ke-Cheng Chen
- Division of Thoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei 100, Taiwan;
- Department of Surgery, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei 100, Taiwan
| | - Shih-Wei Tsai
- Institute of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, National Taiwan University College of Public Health, Taipei 10055, Taiwan;
- Department of Public Health, National Taiwan University College of Public Health, Taipei 10055, Taiwan
| | - Ruei-Hao Shie
- Green Energy & Environmental Research Laboratories, Industrial Technology Research Institute, Hsinchu 31040, Taiwan;
| | - Chian Zeng
- Institute of Occupational Medicine and Industrial Hygiene, National Taiwan University College of Public Health, Taipei 10055, Taiwan;
| | - Hsiao-Yu Yang
- Institute of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, National Taiwan University College of Public Health, Taipei 10055, Taiwan;
- Department of Public Health, National Taiwan University College of Public Health, Taipei 10055, Taiwan
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei 100, Taiwan
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +886-2-3366-8102
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6
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Associations between Incense-Burning Temples and Respiratory Mortality in Hong Kong. ATMOSPHERE 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/atmos12060774] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Incense burning is an important topic facing many countries in Asia. As a highly urbanized area, the overlapping of urban functional blocks in Hong Kong has resulted in many temples being located near residential and commercial areas. Therefore, the pollutants emitted by temples’ incense burning could cause severe health problems to the population. This study identified 366 Hong Kong temples and classified them into four categories: open, semi-closed, closed, and non-active, according to their incense burning characteristics. Among them, open temples have the largest average area and least quantity. Principal component analysis (PCA) indicated that building density, greenery density, water density, and temple weight are the most highly influencing factors. The temple weight is the only loading factor with a contributing factor from PC2, especially in 2006 and 2011. Furthermore, the linear regression model has been applied to analyze the correlation between variables. Although this study did not reach conclusive results about the actual impact of each temple type, the model results confirm that the temple is a sub-factor to respiratory mortality. This provides the theoretical foundation for government policy establishment of temple construction planning and community optimization in Asian cities.
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Current State of Indoor Air Phytoremediation Using Potted Plants and Green Walls. ATMOSPHERE 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/atmos12040473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Urban civilization has a high impact on the environment and human health. The pollution level of indoor air can be 2–5 times higher than the outdoor air pollution, and sometimes it reaches up to 100 times or more in natural/mechanical ventilated buildings. Even though people spend about 90% of their time indoors, the importance of indoor air quality is less noticed. Indoor air pollution can be treated with techniques such as chemical purification, ventilation, isolation, and removing pollutions by plants (phytoremediation). Among these techniques, phytoremediation is not given proper attention and, therefore, is the focus of our review paper. Phytoremediation is an affordable and more environmentally friendly means to purify polluted indoor air. Furthermore, studies show that indoor plants can be used to regulate building temperature, decrease noise levels, and alleviate social stress. Sources of indoor air pollutants and their impact on human health are briefly discussed in this paper. The available literature on phytoremediation, including experimental works for removing volatile organic compound (VOC) and particulate matter from the indoor air and associated challenges and opportunities, are reviewed. Phytoremediation of indoor air depends on the physical properties of plants such as interfacial areas, the moisture content, and the type (hydrophobicity) as well as pollutant characteristics such as the size of particulate matter (PM). A comprehensive summary of plant species that can remove pollutants such as VOCs and PM is provided. Sources of indoor air pollutants, as well as their impact on human health, are described. Phytoremediation and its mechanism of cleaning indoor air are discussed. The potential role of green walls and potted-plants for improving indoor air quality is examined. A list of plant species suitable for indoor air phytoremediation is proposed. This review will help in making informed decisions about integrating plants into the interior building design.
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Guo SE, Chi MC, Hwang SL, Lin CM, Lin YC. Effects of Particulate Matter Education on Self-Care Knowledge Regarding Air Pollution, Symptom Changes, and Indoor Air Quality among Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2020; 17:E4103. [PMID: 32526832 PMCID: PMC7312676 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17114103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2020] [Revised: 05/23/2020] [Accepted: 06/01/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The burden of illness resulting from adverse environmental exposure is significant. Numerous studies have examined self-care behaviors among patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), but seldom assess these behaviors in relation to air pollution. The study aims to examine the effects of particulate matter (PM) education on prevention and self-care knowledge regarding air pollution, symptom changes, and indoor PM concentration levels among patients with COPD. A longitudinal, quasi-experimental design using a generalized estimating equation examined the effectiveness of the education intervention. Participants were 63 patients with COPD, of whom only 25 received intervention. Levels of PM2.5 and PM10 decreased in the first-month follow-up in the experimental group. Improvement of knowledge and prevention regarding PM in the first and third months were also greater in the experimental group compared to the control. Regarding the COPD assessment test and physical domain scores, the experimental group exhibited a greater improvement in the first-month follow-up. Scores on the psychological domain significantly changed in the sixth-month follow-up. The PM education coordinated by nurses improved the health of participants, maintaining six-month effects. Further studies should evaluate the practice barriers and effects of health education on preventive self-care behaviors regarding indoor PM among patients with COPD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Su-Er Guo
- Department of Nursing and Graduate Institute of Nursing, College of Nursing, Chang Gung University of Science and Technology (CGUST), Chiayi County 613016, Taiwan;
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chiayi County 613016, Taiwan; (M.-C.C.); (C.-M.L.); (Y.-C.L.)
- Chronic Diseases and Health Promotion Research Center, Chang Gung University of Science and Technology (CGUST), Chiayi County 613016, Taiwan
- Department of Safety Health and Environmental Engineering, Ming Chi University of Technology, New Taipei City 243303, Taiwan
| | - Miao-Ching Chi
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chiayi County 613016, Taiwan; (M.-C.C.); (C.-M.L.); (Y.-C.L.)
- Chronic Diseases and Health Promotion Research Center, Chang Gung University of Science and Technology (CGUST), Chiayi County 613016, Taiwan
- Department of Safety Health and Environmental Engineering, Ming Chi University of Technology, New Taipei City 243303, Taiwan
- Department of Respiratory Care, Chang Gung University of Science and Technology, Chiayi County 613016, Taiwan
| | - Su-Lun Hwang
- Department of Nursing and Graduate Institute of Nursing, College of Nursing, Chang Gung University of Science and Technology (CGUST), Chiayi County 613016, Taiwan;
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chiayi County 613016, Taiwan; (M.-C.C.); (C.-M.L.); (Y.-C.L.)
- Chronic Diseases and Health Promotion Research Center, Chang Gung University of Science and Technology (CGUST), Chiayi County 613016, Taiwan
| | - Chieh-Mo Lin
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chiayi County 613016, Taiwan; (M.-C.C.); (C.-M.L.); (Y.-C.L.)
- Department of Respiratory Care, Chang Gung University of Science and Technology, Chiayi County 613016, Taiwan
- Graduate Institute of Clinical Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan City 333324, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Ching Lin
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chiayi County 613016, Taiwan; (M.-C.C.); (C.-M.L.); (Y.-C.L.)
- Department of Respiratory Care, Chang Gung University of Science and Technology, Chiayi County 613016, Taiwan
- School of Medicine, Colledge of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan City 333324, Taiwan
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9
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Lyman SN, Cheng I, Gratz LE, Weiss-Penzias P, Zhang L. An updated review of atmospheric mercury. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 707:135575. [PMID: 31784172 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.135575] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2019] [Revised: 11/14/2019] [Accepted: 11/15/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The atmosphere is a key component of the biogeochemical cycle of mercury, acting as a reservoir, transport mechanism, and facilitator of chemical reactions. The chemical and physical behavior of atmospheric mercury determines how, when, and where emitted mercury pollution impacts ecosystems. In this review, we provide current information about what is known and what remains uncertain regarding mercury in the atmosphere. We discuss new ambient, laboratory, and theoretical information about the chemistry of mercury in various atmospheric media. We review what is known about mercury in and on solid- and liquid-phase aerosols. We present recent findings related to wet and dry deposition and spatial and temporal trends in atmospheric mercury concentrations. We also review atmospheric measurement methods that are in wide use and those that are currently under development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seth N Lyman
- Bingham Research Center, Utah State University, 320 N Aggie Blvd., Vernal, UT, USA; Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Utah State University, 4820 Old Main Hill, Logan, UT, USA.
| | - Irene Cheng
- Air Quality Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, 4905 Dufferin St., Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Lynne E Gratz
- Environmental Studies Program, Colorado College, 14 East Cache la Poudre St., Colorado Springs, CO, USA
| | - Peter Weiss-Penzias
- Chemistry and Biochemistry Department, University of California, Santa Cruz, 1156 High St, Santa Cruz, CA, USA; Microbiology and Environmental Toxicology Department, University of California, Santa Cruz, 1156 High St, Santa Cruz, CA, USA
| | - Leiming Zhang
- Air Quality Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, 4905 Dufferin St., Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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10
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Ramanathan S, Gopinath SCB, Md Arshad MK, Poopalan P, Anbu P, Lakshmipriya T. Aluminosilicate Nanocomposites from Incinerated Chinese Holy Joss Fly Ash: A Potential Nanocarrier for Drug Cargos. Sci Rep 2020; 10:3351. [PMID: 32099019 PMCID: PMC7042258 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-60208-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2019] [Accepted: 02/10/2020] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
An incredible amount of joss fly ash is produced from the burning of Chinese holy joss paper; thus, an excellent method of recycling joss fly ash waste to extract aluminosilicate nanocomposites is explored. The present research aims to introduce a novel method to recycle joss fly ash through a simple and straightforward experimental procedure involving acidic and alkaline treatments. The synthesized aluminosilicate nanocomposite was characterized to justify its structural and physiochemical characteristics. A morphological analysis was performed with field-emission transmission electron microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy revealed the size of the aluminosilicate nanocomposite to be ~25 nm, while also confirming a uniformly spherical-shaped nanostructure. The elemental composition was measured by energy dispersive spectroscopy and revealed the Si to Al ratio to be 13.24 to 7.96, showing the high purity of the extracted nanocomposite. The roughness and particle distribution were analyzed using atomic force microscopy and a zeta analysis. X-ray diffraction patterns showed a synthesis of faceted and cubic aluminosilicate crystals in the nanocomposites. The presence of silica and aluminum was further proven by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and the functional groups were recognized through Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The thermal capacity of the nanocomposite was examined by a thermogravimetric analysis. In addition, the research suggested the promising application of aluminosilicate nanocomposites as drug carriers. The above was justified by an enzyme-linked apta-sorbent assay, which claimed that the limit of the aptasensing aluminosilicate-conjugated ampicillin was two-fold higher than that in the absence of the nanocomposite. The drug delivery property was further justified through an antibacterial analysis against Escherichia coli (gram-negative) and Bacillus subtilis (gram-positive).
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Affiliation(s)
- Santheraleka Ramanathan
- Institute of Nano Electronic Engineering, Universiti Malaysia Perlis, 01000, Kangar, Perlis, Malaysia
| | - Subash C B Gopinath
- Institute of Nano Electronic Engineering, Universiti Malaysia Perlis, 01000, Kangar, Perlis, Malaysia.
- School of Bioprocess Engineering, Universiti Malaysia Perlis, 02600, Arau, Perlis, Malaysia.
| | - M K Md Arshad
- Institute of Nano Electronic Engineering, Universiti Malaysia Perlis, 01000, Kangar, Perlis, Malaysia
- School of Microelectronic Engineering, Universiti Malaysia Perlis, Pauh Putra, 02600, Arau, Perlis, Malaysia
| | - Prabakaran Poopalan
- School of Microelectronic Engineering, Universiti Malaysia Perlis, Pauh Putra, 02600, Arau, Perlis, Malaysia
| | - Periasamy Anbu
- Department of Biological Engineering, College of Engineering, Inha University, Incheon, 402-751, Republic of Korea
| | - Thangavel Lakshmipriya
- Institute of Nano Electronic Engineering, Universiti Malaysia Perlis, 01000, Kangar, Perlis, Malaysia
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Emissions Characteristics of Hazardous Air Pollutants from the Incineration of Sacrificial Offerings. ATMOSPHERE 2019. [DOI: 10.3390/atmos10060332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The incineration of sacrificial offerings generates numerous hazardous air pollutants, including particulate matter (PM), CO, SO2, NOx and non-methane hydrocarbons (NMHC), which has significant effects on the environment and human health. However, due to the concealment of sacrificial offerings incineration, the emission of such pollutants has not received sufficient attention. Relevant quantification of the emission, emission factors and pollution control measures for this pollution source are lacking. To address these problems, herein, we quantified the particulate matter and its chemical composition and the emission levels of gaseous pollutants, including SO2, NOx, NMHC and CO, by performing incineration experiments of four typical sacrificial offerings (Joss paper, Funeral wreath, Taoist paper art and Yuanbao paper), and obtained the emission factors and emission characteristics for the incineration of sacrificial offerings. Therefore, this study lays the foundation and provides support for establishing an emission inventory of the air pollutants from the incineration of sacrificial offerings and introducing corresponding pollution control measures. The results show that the emission concentrations of CO and total suspended particulate (TSP) from the incineration of sacrificial offerings greatly exceed the emission standard, with averages of 621.4 mg m−3 and 142.9 mg m−3 at 11% oxygen content, respectively. The average emission factors of SO2, NOx, NMHC, CO, PM10 and PM2.5 for the incineration of the four offerings are (0.47 ± 0.17) kg t−1, (2.46 ± 0.35) kg t−1, (5.78 ± 2.41) kg t−1, (32.40 ± 8.80) kg t−1, (4.23 ± 0.71) kg t−1 and (2.62 ± 0.48) kg t−1, respectively, among which the emission intensities of NMHC and CO are relatively high. Among the different types of sacrificial offerings, the overall average emission factor of air pollutants generated from the incineration of Yuanbao paper is the highest, which is mainly due to the low burning efficiency and the coating material. For the chemical composition of the particulate matters, ions, OC, EC and metal elements account for proportions of the PM2.5 at (23.55 ± 10.37) %, (29.74 ± 9.95) %, (14.83 ± 6.55) % and (13.45 ± 4.88) %, respectively, indicating that the organic pollution is severe
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Yuan S, Chen J, Cai H, Yuan W, Wang Z, Huang Q, Liu Y, Wu X. Sequential samples reveal significant variation of mercury isotope ratios during single rainfall events. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2018; 624:133-144. [PMID: 29248703 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.12.082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2017] [Revised: 12/04/2017] [Accepted: 12/07/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Although the investigation of mercury (Hg) isotopes in precipitation has largely improved our knowledge of the source and transformation of Hg in the atmosphere, rainwater investigated in previous studies were integrated samples collected over an event and could obscure key information about the physiochemical transformation and deposition dynamics of Hg (and its isotopes) in short precipitation events. In this study, we investigated Hg isotopic composition of filtered (HgF) and particulate Hg (HgPM) in sequential rain samples from three single rainfall events in Guiyang, China. All samples showed a decrease of total Hg concentration, as well as HgF and HgPM with time in each rainfall event, and large variation of both mass-dependent fractionation (MDF) and mass-independent fractionation of odd Hg isotopes (odd-MIF) for both phases. Isotopic data indicated variable contributions of different sources triggered by the instant change of meteorological conditions, rather than internal atmospheric processes. The rapid response of MDF and odd-MIF of precipitation samples to the incense burning on the Tomb Sweeping Day implied that Hg isotopic composition was very sensitive to the momentary anthropogenic emission, which could have at least a regional short-lived effect and should be taken into account in future studies. Hg isotopes are a powerful tool for investigating both atmospheric transformation and instant deposition dynamic of Hg, and like stable H and O isotopes, could provide useful information about local or regional meteorological changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shengliu Yuan
- State Key laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 99 Linchengxi Road, Guiyang, Guizhou 550081, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Jiubin Chen
- State Key laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 99 Linchengxi Road, Guiyang, Guizhou 550081, China.
| | - Hongming Cai
- State Key laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 99 Linchengxi Road, Guiyang, Guizhou 550081, China
| | - Wei Yuan
- State Key laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 99 Linchengxi Road, Guiyang, Guizhou 550081, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Zhongwei Wang
- State Key laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 99 Linchengxi Road, Guiyang, Guizhou 550081, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Qiang Huang
- State Key laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 99 Linchengxi Road, Guiyang, Guizhou 550081, China
| | - Yujie Liu
- State Key laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 99 Linchengxi Road, Guiyang, Guizhou 550081, China
| | - Xingyang Wu
- Meteorological Information Center of Guizhou, Guiyang 550002, China
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