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Association Between Air Pollution, Climate Change, and COVID-19 Pandemic: A Review of the Recent Scientific Evidence. HEALTH SCOPE 2022. [DOI: 10.5812/jhealthscope-122412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Background: Recent studies indicated the possible relationship between climate change, environmental pollution, and Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. This study reviewed the effects of air pollution, climate parameters, and lockdown on the number of cases and deaths related to COVID-19. Methods: The present review was performed to determine the effects of weather and air pollution on the number of cases and deaths related to COVID-19 during the lockdown. Articles were collected by searching the existing online databases, such as PubMed, Science Direct, and Google Scholar, with no limitations on publication dates. Afterwards, this review focused on outdoor air pollution, including PM2.5, PM10, NO2, SO2, and O3, and weather conditions affecting severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)/COVID-19. Results: Most reviewed investigations in the present study showed that exposure to air pollutants, particularly PM2.5 and NO2, is positively related to COVID-19 patients and mortality. Moreover, these studies showed that air pollution could be essential in transmitting COVID-19. Local meteorology plays a vital role in coronavirus spread and mortality. Temperature and humidity variables are negatively correlated with virus transmission. The evidence demonstrated that air pollution could lead to COVID-19 transmission. These results support decision-makers in curbing potential new outbreaks. Conclusions: Overall, in environmental perspective-based COVID-19 studies, efforts should be accelerated regarding effective policies for reducing human emissions, bringing about air pollution and weather change. Therefore, using clean and renewable energy sources will increase public health and environmental quality by improving global air quality.
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Li X, Yi H. Sulfur dioxide-enhanced asthma susceptibility is involved with inhibition of bitter taste transduction in mouse lung. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND PHARMACOLOGY 2022; 95:103938. [PMID: 35907486 DOI: 10.1016/j.etap.2022.103938] [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: 01/08/2022] [Revised: 07/12/2022] [Accepted: 07/26/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Sulfur dioxide (SO2) may induce asthma-like symptoms or worsen existing asthma, but the underlying mechanism is still unclear. In this study, the relationship between SO2 exposure, asthma development, and bitter taste transduction was analyzed using ovalbumin (OVA)-induced and SO2-aggravated asthma models. The results showed that twenty-seven and twelve bitter taste receptors (Tas2rs) were detectable in mouse trachea and lung, respectively, and that all of them were nearly down-regulated in OVA-induced BALB/c and C57BL/6 asthmatic mice. SO2 exposure alone did not trigger a distinct asthma-like phenotype, but the combination of SO2 and OVA allergen caused more severe asthma symptoms in mice including enhanced inflammatory cells infiltration, thickened airway walls, increased mucus secretion, and elevated expression of proinflammatory and Th2 cytokines (TNF-α, IL-4, IL-5, IL-13). Furthermore, SO2 enhanced the transcriptional repression of Tas2rs in OVA-induced asthmatic mice. These results indicated that the occurrence of mice asthma was correlated with the inhibition of bitter taste transduction, and more severe airway inflammation and injury were accompanied with an enhanced inhibition of bitter taste transduction. Our findings suggest that SO2 inhalation may amplify Th2 inflammatory responses in the lung of asthmatic mice by inhibiting bitter taste transduction, and thereby exacerbate asthma symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- XiuJuan Li
- School of Life Science, College of Environment and Resource, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, China; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Shanxi Key Laboratory of Birth Defect and Cell Regeneration, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan 030001, China
| | - HuiLan Yi
- School of Life Science, College of Environment and Resource, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, China.
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Kanannejad Z, Shomali M, Esmaeilzadeh H, Nabavizadeh H, Nikaein K, Ghahramani Z, Ghatee MA, Alyasin S. Geoclimatic risk factors for childhood asthma hospitalization in southwest of Iran. Pediatr Pulmonol 2022; 57:2023-2031. [PMID: 35560812 DOI: 10.1002/ppul.25971] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2021] [Revised: 04/22/2022] [Accepted: 05/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Asthma is a chronic respiratory disease resulting from a complex interaction between genetic and environmental factors. Among environmental factors, climatic and geographical variations have an important role in increasing asthma hospitalization. The current study aimed to investigate the effect of geoclimatic factors on the occurrence of childhood asthma hospitalization in Fars province, southwest Iran. METHOD We mapped the addresses of 211 hospitalized patients with childhood asthma (2016-2019) and investigated the effects of different temperature models, mean annual rainfall and humidity, number of frosty and rainy days, evaporation, slope, and land covers on the occurrence of childhood asthma hospitalization using a geographical information system. The Kriging and Spline methods have been used for generating interpolated models. Data were analyzed using logistic regression. RESULTS In the multivariate model, urban setting was recognized as the most important childhood asthma hospitalization predictor (p < 0.001, odds ration [OR] = 35.044, confidence interval [CI] = 9.096-135.018). The slope was considered the determinant of childhood asthma hospitalization when analyzed independently and its increase was associated with decreased childhood asthma hospitalization (p = 0.01, OR = 0.914, CI = 0.849-0.984). CONCLUSION In the current study, the urban setting was the most important risk factor associated with increased childhood asthma hospitalization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zahra Kanannejad
- Allergy Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Mohammad Shomali
- Department of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Namazi Hospital, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Hossein Esmaeilzadeh
- Allergy Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.,Department of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Namazi Hospital, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Hesamedin Nabavizadeh
- Allergy Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.,Department of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Namazi Hospital, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Koorosh Nikaein
- Student Research Committee, Yasuj University of Medical Sciences, Yasuj, Iran
| | - Zahra Ghahramani
- Allergy Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Mohammad Amin Ghatee
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Yasuj University of Medical Sciences, Yasuj, Iran
| | - Soheila Alyasin
- Allergy Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.,Department of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Namazi Hospital, Shiraz, Iran
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Zhu S, Chen G, Ye Y, Zhou H, He G, Chen H, Xiao J, Hu J, Zeng F, Yang P, Liu C, He Z, Wang J, Cao G, Chen Y, Feng H, Ma W, Liu T. Effect of maternal ozone exposure before and during pregnancy on wheezing risk in offspring: A birth cohort study in Guangzhou, China. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2022; 212:113426. [PMID: 35550810 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.113426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2022] [Revised: 04/28/2022] [Accepted: 05/02/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Ozone (O3) exposure may lead to the development and exacerbation of asthma or wheezing in postnatal children; however, it has rarely been studied before and during pregnancy. Wheezing is one of the most common symptoms when diagnosing of asthma; thus, we investigated the associations of O3 exposure before and during pregnancy with wheezing in preschool children and the potential susceptible exposure windows from a heavily polluted city in China. This population-based birth cohort study, which included 3725 mother-child pairs from Guangzhou, began in 2016, and the follow-up period ended on July 31, 2020. We used a spatiotemporal land-use-regression model combined with activity patterns to estimate the daily O3 exposure levels during the pre-pregnancy period and each trimester, and wheezing was recorded by reviewing medical records. We used the Cox proportional hazard model to quantify the effects of O3 exposure on childhood wheezing adjusted for potential confounders. No significant association was detected between pre-pregnancy exposure to O3 and childhood wheezing. However, increased ambient O3 exposures throughout pregnancy and in the second trimester were positively associated with the risk of childhood wheezing, with hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confident intervals (CIs) per interquartile range (IQR) increment of 1.22 (95% CI: 1.04-1.44) and 1.31 (95% CI: 1.09-1.58), respectively. The effects of maternal O3 exposure on childhood wheezing risk was stronger when the exposure occurred in the warm conception season (P < 0.05). Significant childhood wheezing risk could be attributable to maternal O3 exposure, especially during the second trimester and with warm-season conception in Guangzhou. Further cohorts of children, particularly school age children who have more robust asthma diagnoses, should be investigated in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sui Zhu
- Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Guimin Chen
- School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China; Guangdong Provincial Institute of Public Health, Guangdong Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Guangzhou, 511430, China
| | - Yufeng Ye
- Guangzhou Panyu Central Hospital, Guangzhou, 511400, China
| | - He Zhou
- Guangdong Provincial Institute of Public Health, Guangdong Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Guangzhou, 511430, China; School of Public Health, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Guanhao He
- Guangdong Provincial Institute of Public Health, Guangdong Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Guangzhou, 511430, China
| | - Hanwei Chen
- Guangzhou Panyu Central Hospital, Guangzhou, 511400, China
| | - Jianpeng Xiao
- Guangdong Provincial Institute of Public Health, Guangdong Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Guangzhou, 511430, China
| | - Jianxiong Hu
- Guangdong Provincial Institute of Public Health, Guangdong Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Guangzhou, 511430, China
| | - Fangfang Zeng
- Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Pan Yang
- Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Chaoqun Liu
- Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Zhongrong He
- School of Public Health, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 510080, China; School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Jiong Wang
- School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China; Guangdong Provincial Institute of Public Health, Guangdong Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Guangzhou, 511430, China
| | - Ganxiang Cao
- Guangdong Provincial Institute of Public Health, Guangdong Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Guangzhou, 511430, China; School of Public Health, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Yumeng Chen
- Guangdong Provincial Institute of Public Health, Guangdong Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Guangzhou, 511430, China; School of Public Health, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Hao Feng
- Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Wenjun Ma
- Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510080, China; Disease Control and Prevention Institute of Jinan University, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Tao Liu
- Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510080, China; Disease Control and Prevention Institute of Jinan University, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China.
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Toolabi A, Bonyadi Z, Ramavandi B. Health impacts quantification attributed to ambient particulate matter in the nearest Iranian city to the main dust source. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT 2022; 194:666. [PMID: 35962291 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-022-10329-9] [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: 01/10/2022] [Accepted: 07/25/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Urban air contamination is one of the ten most dangerous parameters for human health, which causes cardiovascular disease, respiratory, metabolic diseases, and decreased lung function. Air Q is a reliable software for studying the impacts of atmospheric contaminants on human health, and today, it is widely used in the environment. The purpose of this research was to quantify the mortality and morbidity rates that corresponded to ambient particulate matter (PM) in Rigan City. To perform this, the Air Q software was used. The findings reflected that the yearly mean values of PM10 and PM2.5 are 264.83 and 50.45 μg/m3. The findings indicated that the PM10 and PM2.5 content in Rigan was above standard levels described by WHO. The total number of deaths, cardiovascular deaths, and respiratory deaths due to PM in Rigan were estimated as 70.3, 45.8, and 10.7 persons, respectively. Hospital admissions for cardiovascular and respiratory diseases correlated to PM10 were estimated at 154.2 and 59 persons, respectively. Acute myocardial infarction associated with PM2.5 was 2.7 persons. Overall, the data in this study may be helpful to national and regional policymakers who are responsible for managing and preventing atmospheric contamination and assessing the costs of health risks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali Toolabi
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Bam University of Medical Sciences, Bam, Iran
| | - Ziaeddin Bonyadi
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Faculty of Health, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
| | - Bahman Ramavandi
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Faculty of Health, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, Iran.
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A Review of Studies Using Air Q Software for Prediction of Air Pollution Health Effects in Iran. Curr Environ Health Rep 2022; 9:386-405. [PMID: 35729411 DOI: 10.1007/s40572-022-00362-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Exposure to air pollutants may lead to various health effects and is a major public health issue. Concerns about these effects exist in both developed and developing countries. The Air Q software was developed to estimate the health impacts of air pollution based on reported levels of air pollutants in real world studies. In Iran several studies have been conducted to estimate human morbidity and mortality based on this software. We conducted this review to summarize articles which have predicted the effects of air pollution on human health in Iran using Air Q. We conducted a systematic search for relevant studies published until 24 April 2021 in Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, and SID (Scientific Information Database which includes articles in Farsi language). We applied no time or language restrictions. RECENT FINDINGS A total of 44 studies out of 525 identified articles met our inclusion criteria. The main air pollutants under investigation were particulate matter (PM), NO2, O3, and SO2. Most studies were conducted in metropolitan areas, such as Ahvaz (9 studies), Tehran (9 studies), and Shiraz (7 studies). In all studies, the levels of most air pollutants were higher than the 2005 WHO guideline levels and were predicted to be related to considerable health effects. However, it was not possible to aggregate the results and report the total number of casualties during these years, because studies were done in different cities with fluctuating levels of multiple pollutants and in different years and time frames. This systematic review showed that air pollution remains at unacceptably high levels resulting in substantial detrimental health effects in various Iranian cities. Using clean renewable energies, increasing human capital, and increasing green spaces and vegetation can help improve air pollution and decrease human casualties in Iran.
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Phytoremediation: The Sustainable Strategy for Improving Indoor and Outdoor Air Quality. ENVIRONMENTS 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/environments8110118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Most of the world’s population is exposed to highly polluted air conditions exceeding the WHO limits, causing various human diseases that lead towards increased morbidity as well as mortality. Expenditures on air purification and costs spent on the related health issues are rapidly increasing. To overcome this burden, plants are potential candidates to remove pollutants through diverse biological mechanisms involving accumulation, immobilization, volatilization, and degradation. This eco-friendly, cost-effective, and non-invasive method is considered as a complementary or alternative tool compared to engineering-based remediation techniques. Various plant species remove indoor and outdoor air pollutants, depending on their morphology, growth condition, and microbial communities. Hence, appropriate plant selection with optimized growth conditions can enhance the remediation capacity significantly. Furthermore, suitable supplementary treatments, or finding the best combination junction with other methods, can optimize the phytoremediation process.
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Chen Y, Chen R, Chen Y, Dong X, Zhu J, Liu C, van Donkelaar A, Martin RV, Li H, Kan H, Jiang Q, Fu C. The prospective effects of long-term exposure to ambient PM 2.5 and constituents on mortality in rural East China. CHEMOSPHERE 2021; 280:130740. [PMID: 34162086 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.130740] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2020] [Revised: 04/25/2021] [Accepted: 04/28/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Few cohort studies explored the associations of long-term exposure to ambient fine particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter of 2.5 μm or less (PM2.5) and its chemical constituents with mortality risk in rural China. We conducted a 12-year prospective study of 28,793 adults in rural Deqing, China from 2006 to 2018. Annual mean PM2.5 and its constituents, including black carbon (BC), organic carbon (OC), ammonium (NH4+), nitrate (NO3-), sulfate (SO42-), and soil dust were measured at participants' addresses at enrollment from a satellite-based exposure predicting model. Cox proportional hazard model was used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CIs) of long-term exposure to PM2.5 for mortality. A total of 1960 deaths were identified during the follow-up. We found PM2.5, BC, OC, NH4+, NO3-, and SO42- were significantly associated with an increased risk of non-accidental mortality. The HR for non-accidental mortality was 1.17 (95%CI: 1.07, 1.28) for each 10 μg/m3 increase in PM2.5. As for constituents, the strongest association was found for BC (HR = 1.21, 95%CI: 1.11, 1.33), followed by NO3-, NH4+, SO42-, and OC (HR = 1.14-1.17 per interquartile range). A non-linear relationship was found between PM2.5 and non-accidental mortality. Similar associations were found for cardio-cerebrovascular and cancer mortality. Associations were stronger among men and ever smokers. Conclusively, we found long-term exposure to ambient PM2.5 and its chemical constituents (especially BC and NO3-) increased mortality risk. Our results suggested the importance of adopting effective targeted emission control to improve air quality for health protection in rural East China.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yun Chen
- School of Public Health, Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety, NHC Key Laboratory of Health Technology Assessment, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Renjie Chen
- School of Public Health, Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety, NHC Key Laboratory of Health Technology Assessment, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Yue Chen
- School of Epidemiology and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, K1G 5Z3, Canada
| | - Xiaolian Dong
- Deqing County Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Deqing, 313299, China
| | - Jianfu Zhu
- Deqing County Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Deqing, 313299, China
| | - Cong Liu
- School of Public Health, Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety, NHC Key Laboratory of Health Technology Assessment, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Aaron van Donkelaar
- Department of Physics and Atmospheric Science, Dalhousie University, B3H 4R2, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada; Department of Energy, Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Randall V Martin
- Department of Physics and Atmospheric Science, Dalhousie University, B3H 4R2, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada; Department of Energy, Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Huichu Li
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Haidong Kan
- School of Public Health, Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety, NHC Key Laboratory of Health Technology Assessment, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.
| | - Qingwu Jiang
- School of Public Health, Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety, NHC Key Laboratory of Health Technology Assessment, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Chaowei Fu
- School of Public Health, Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety, NHC Key Laboratory of Health Technology Assessment, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.
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