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Sellaro F, Pernetti R, Oddone E. Early biological effects in outdoor workers exposed to urban air pollution: A systematic review. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 362:124985. [PMID: 39299637 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.124985] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2023] [Revised: 08/29/2024] [Accepted: 09/16/2024] [Indexed: 09/22/2024]
Abstract
Urban outdoor workers (OWs), identified as professionals spending most of their working shifts in an urban environment, are exposed for at least 8 h/day to traffic air pollution, leading to potential health risks. This paper reports the results of a systematic review aimed at identifying the potential health outcomes of exposure to air pollutants for OWs, focusing mainly on police officers, drivers and street vendors. Health outcomes were analysed in terms of early biological effects quantified with specific measured indicators. The main inclusion criterion was the assessment of at least one early biological effect (genetic and epigenetic damage/alterations, inflammation or oxidative stress indicators, or hormonal imbalance) in a population of OWs exposed to urban air pollution. By applying the PRISMA workflow, 82 papers were included in this study. The results showed that the measured pollutant concentrations were significantly below the current occupational limit values, while exceeds the indications of WHO for urban air pollution. This exposure led to significant alterations of biological markers in OWs with respect to non-exposed subjects. In particular, OWs presented an increased frequency of micronuclei and DNA adducts as the main DNA alterations, while police officers (a category of highly exposed OWs) showed hormonal alterations affecting mainly the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. Concerning oxidative stress and inflammation, all the analysed matrices (i.e. blood, sputum, urine and lachrymal fluids) showed increased indices for OWs respect to non-exposed groups. Therefore, the evaluation of effect biomarkers to detect early alterations provides crucial information for supporting the occupational risk management of OWs and, at broader level, allows for an insight of the early-stage health outcomes due to urban air pollution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Sellaro
- Department of Public Health, Experimental and Forensic Medicine - University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy; National Biodiversity Future Center, Italy
| | - Roberta Pernetti
- Department of Public Health, Experimental and Forensic Medicine - University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy; National Biodiversity Future Center, Italy.
| | - Enrico Oddone
- Department of Public Health, Experimental and Forensic Medicine - University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy; Hospital Occupational Medicine Unit, ICS Maugeri IRCCS, Pavia, Italy; National Biodiversity Future Center, Italy
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Chacón-Mateos M, Remy E, Liebers U, Heimann F, Witt C, Vogt U. Feasibility Study on the Use of NO 2 and PM 2.5 Sensors for Exposure Assessment and Indoor Source Apportionment at Fixed Locations. SENSORS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2024; 24:5767. [PMID: 39275677 PMCID: PMC11398243 DOI: 10.3390/s24175767] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2024] [Revised: 09/01/2024] [Accepted: 09/02/2024] [Indexed: 09/16/2024]
Abstract
Recent advances in sensor technology for air pollution monitoring open new possibilities in the field of environmental epidemiology. The low spatial resolution of fixed outdoor measurement stations and modelling uncertainties currently limit the understanding of personal exposure. In this context, air quality sensor systems (AQSSs) offer significant potential to enhance personal exposure assessment. A pilot study was conducted to investigate the feasibility of the NO2 sensor model B43F and the particulate matter (PM) sensor model OPC-R1, both from Alphasense (UK), for use in epidemiological studies. Seven patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or asthma had built-for-purpose sensor systems placed inside and outside of their homes at fixed locations for one month. Participants documented their indoor activities, presence in the house, window status, and symptom severity and performed a peak expiratory flow test. The potential inhaled doses of PM2.5 and NO2 were calculated using different data sources such as outdoor data from air quality monitoring stations, indoor data from AQSSs, and generic inhalation rates (IR) or activity-specific IR. Moreover, the relation between indoor and outdoor air quality obtained with AQSSs, an indoor source apportionment study, and an evaluation of the suitability of the AQSS data for studying the relationship between air quality and health were investigated. The results highlight the value of the sensor data and the importance of monitoring indoor air quality and activity patterns to avoid exposure misclassification. The use of AQSSs at fixed locations shows promise for larger-scale and/or long-term epidemiological studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miriam Chacón-Mateos
- Department of Flue Gas Cleaning and Air Quality Control, University of Stuttgart, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Erika Remy
- Institute of Physics and Meteorology, University of Hohenheim, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Uta Liebers
- Institute of Physiology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany
- Department of Pneumology, Evangelische Lungenklinik Berlin Buch, 13125 Berlin, Germany
| | - Frank Heimann
- Ambulante Pneumologie mit Allergie Zentrum, 70178 Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Christian Witt
- Institute of Physiology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Ulrich Vogt
- Department of Flue Gas Cleaning and Air Quality Control, University of Stuttgart, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany
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Herting MM, Bottenhorn KL, Cotter DL. Outdoor air pollution and brain development in childhood and adolescence. Trends Neurosci 2024; 47:593-607. [PMID: 39054161 PMCID: PMC11324378 DOI: 10.1016/j.tins.2024.06.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2024] [Revised: 05/26/2024] [Accepted: 06/27/2024] [Indexed: 07/27/2024]
Abstract
Exposure to outdoor air pollution has been linked to adverse health effects, including potential widespread impacts on the CNS. Ongoing brain development may render children and adolescents especially vulnerable to neurotoxic effects of air pollution. While mechanisms remain unclear, promising advances in human neuroimaging can help elucidate both sensitive periods and neurobiological consequences of exposure to air pollution. Herein we review the potential influences of air pollution exposure on neurodevelopment, drawing from animal toxicology and human neuroimaging studies. Due to ongoing cellular and system-level changes during childhood and adolescence, the developing brain may be more sensitive to pollutants' neurotoxic effects, as a function of both timing and duration, with relevance to cognition and mental health. Building on these foundations, the emerging field of environmental neuroscience is poised to further decipher which air toxicants are most harmful and to whom.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan M Herting
- Department of Populations and Public Health Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
| | - Katherine L Bottenhorn
- Department of Populations and Public Health Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Department of Psychology, Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Devyn L Cotter
- Department of Populations and Public Health Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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Bousada GM, Nogueira da Silva V, Fernandes de Souza B, de Oliveira RS, Machado Junior I, da Cunha CHF, Astruc D, Teixeira RR, Lopes Moreira RP. Niobic acid as a support for microheterogeneous nanocatalysis of sodium borohydride hydrolysis under mild conditions. RSC Adv 2024; 14:19459-19471. [PMID: 38887643 PMCID: PMC11182415 DOI: 10.1039/d4ra01879f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2024] [Accepted: 05/30/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024] Open
Abstract
This study explores the stabilization by niobic acid, of Pt, Ni, Pd, and Au nanoparticles (NPs) for the efficient microheterogeneous catalysis of NaBH4 hydrolysis for hydrogen production. Niobic acid is the most widely studied Nb2O5 polymorph, and it is employed here for the first time for this key reaction relevant to green energy. Structural insights from XRD, Raman, and FTIR spectroscopies, combined with hydrogen production data, reveal the role of niobic acid's Brønsted acidity in its catalytic activity. The supported NPs showed significantly higher efficiency than the non-supported counterparts regarding turnover frequency, average hydrogen production rate, and cost. Among the tested NPs, PtNPs and NiNPs demonstrate the most favorable results. The data imply mechanism changes during the reaction, and the kinetic isotope assay indicates a primary isotope effect. Reusability assays demonstrate consistent yields over five cycles for PtNPs, although catalytic efficiency decreases, likely due to the formation of reaction byproducts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guilherme Mateus Bousada
- Department of Chemistry, Universidade Federal de Viçosa Viçosa Minas Gerais 36570-000 Brazil
- Institut des Sciences Moléculaires, Université de Bordeaux, UMR CNRS 5255 Talence 33405 Cedex France
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Didier Astruc
- Institut des Sciences Moléculaires, Université de Bordeaux, UMR CNRS 5255 Talence 33405 Cedex France
| | - Robson Ricardo Teixeira
- Department of Chemistry, Universidade Federal de Viçosa Viçosa Minas Gerais 36570-000 Brazil
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Conway F, Portela A, Filippi V, Chou D, Kovats S. Climate change, air pollution and maternal and newborn health: An overview of reviews of health outcomes. J Glob Health 2024; 14:04128. [PMID: 38785109 PMCID: PMC11117177 DOI: 10.7189/jogh.14.04128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Climate change represents a fundamental threat to human health, with pregnant women and newborns being more susceptible than other populations. In this review, we aimed to describe the current landscape of available epidemiological evidence on key climate risks on maternal and newborn health (MNH). Methods We sought to identify published systematic and scoping reviews investigating the impact of different climate hazards and air pollution on MNH outcomes. With this in mind, we developed a systematic search strategy based on the concepts of 'climate/air pollution hazards, 'maternal health,' and 'newborn health,' with restrictions to reviews published between 1 January 2010 and 6 February 2023, but without geographical or language restriction. Following full text screening and data extraction, we synthesised the results using narrative synthesis. Results We found 79 reviews investigating the effects of climate hazards on MNH, mainly focussing on outdoor air pollution (n = 47, 59%), heat (n = 24, 30%), and flood/storm disasters (n = 7, 9%). Most were published after 2015 (n = 60, 76%). These reviews had consistent findings regarding the positive association of exposure to heat and to air pollution with adverse birth outcomes, particularly preterm birth. We found limited evidence for impacts of climate-related food and water security on MNH and did not identify any reviews on climate-sensitive infectious diseases and MNH. Conclusions Climate change could undermine recent improvements in maternal and newborn health. Our review provides an overview of key climate risks to MNH. It could therefore be useful to the MNH community to better understand the MNH needs for each climate hazard and to strengthen discussions on evidence and research gaps and potential actions. Despite the lack of comprehensive evidence for some climate hazards and for many maternal, perinatal, and newborn outcomes, we observed repeated findings of the impact of heat and air pollutants on birth outcomes, particularly preterm birth. It is time for policy dialogue to follow to specifically design climate policy and actions to protect the needs of MNH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Conway
- World Health Organization, Department of Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health and Ageing, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Anayda Portela
- World Health Organization, Department of Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health and Ageing, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Veronique Filippi
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London, United Kingdom
| | - Doris Chou
- UNDP/UNFPA/UNICEF/WHO/The World Bank Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction (HRP), World Health Organization, Department of Sexual and Reproductive Health, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Sari Kovats
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, NIHR Health Protection Research Unit in Environmental Change and Health, London, United Kingdom
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Vilcins D, Christofferson RC, Yoon JH, Nazli SN, Sly PD, Cormier SA, Shen G. Updates in Air Pollution: Current Research and Future Challenges. Ann Glob Health 2024; 90:9. [PMID: 38312715 PMCID: PMC10836163 DOI: 10.5334/aogh.4363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 02/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Background The United Nations has declared that humans have a right to clean air. Despite this, many deaths and disability-adjusted life years are attributed to air pollution exposure each year. We face both challenges to air quality and opportunities to improve, but several areas need to be addressed with urgency. Objective This paper summarises the recent research presented at the Pacific Basin Consortium for Environment and Health Symposium and focuses on three key areas of air pollution that are important to human health and require more research. Findings and conclusion Indoor spaces are commonly places of exposure to poor air quality and are difficult to monitor and regulate. Global climate change risks worsening air quality in a bi-directional fashion. The rising use of electric vehicles may offer opportunities to improve air quality, but it also presents new challenges. Government policies and initiatives could lead to improved air and environmental justice. Several populations, such as older people and children, face increased harm from air pollution and should become priority groups for action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dwan Vilcins
- The University of Queensland, Child Health Research Centre, South Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Rebecca C. Christofferson
- Louisiana State University, School of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Pathobiological Sciences, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA
| | - Jin-Ho Yoon
- School of Earth Sciences and Environmental Engineering, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, Gwangju, 61005, Korea
| | - Siti Nurshahida Nazli
- The University of Queensland, Child Health Research Centre, South Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Teknologi MARA Cawangan Pulau Pinang, Kampus Bertam, 13200 Kepala Batas, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
| | - Peter D. Sly
- The University of Queensland, Child Health Research Centre, South Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Stephania A. Cormier
- Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University A&M College and the Pennington Biomedical Research Institute, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 70803, USA
| | - Guofeng Shen
- College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
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Lu C, Li Q, Qiao Z, Liu Q, Wang F. Effects of pre-natal and post-natal exposures to air pollution on onset and recurrence of childhood otitis media. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2023; 459:132254. [PMID: 37572606 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.132254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2023] [Revised: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 08/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite mounting evidence linking outdoor air pollution with otitis media (OM), the role of air pollutant(s) exposure during which critical window(s) on childhood OM remains unknown. OBJECTIVES We sought to identify the key air pollutant(s) and critical window(s) associated with the onset and recurrent attacks of OM in kindergarten children. METHODS A combined cross-sectional and retrospective cohort study involving 8689 preschoolers aged 3-6 years was performed in Changsha, China. From 2013-2020, data on air pollutants were collected from ambient air quality monitoring stations in Changsha, and the exposure concentration to each child at their home address was calculated using the inverse distance weighted (IDW) method. The relationship between air pollution and OM in kindergarten children was studied using multiple logistic regression models. RESULTS Childhood lifetime OM was associated with PM2.5, SO2 and NO2, with ORs (95% CI) of 1.43 (1.19-1.71), 1.18 (1.01-1.37) and 1.18 (1.00-1.39) by per IQR increase in utero exposure and with PM2.5, PM2.5-10 and PM10, with ORs = 1.15 (1.00-1.32), 1.25 (1.13-1.40) and 1.49 (1.28-1.74) for entire post-natal exposure, respectively. The 2nd trimester in utero and the post-natal period, especially the 1st year, were key exposure time windows to PM2.5 and PM10 associated with lifetime OM and the onset of OM. Similarly, the 4th gestational month was a critical window for all pollutants except CO exposure in relation to lifetime OM and OM onset, but not recurrent OM attacks. PM2.5 exposure during the nine gestational months and PM10 exposure during the first three years had cumulative effects on OM development. Our subgroup analysis revealed that certain children were more susceptible to the OM risk posed by air pollution. CONCLUSIONS Early-life exposure to air pollution, particularly PM2.5 during the middle of gestation and PM10 during the early post-natal period, was associated with childhood OM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chan Lu
- XiangYa School of Public Health, Central South University, Changsha 410028, China.
| | - Qin Li
- XiangYa School of Public Health, Central South University, Changsha 410028, China
| | - Zipeng Qiao
- XiangYa School of Public Health, Central South University, Changsha 410028, China
| | - Qin Liu
- XiangYa School of Public Health, Central South University, Changsha 410028, China
| | - Faming Wang
- Division of Animal and Human Health Engineering, Department of Biosystems, KU Leuven, Leuven 3001, Belgium
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de Moura FR, da Silva Júnior FMR. Letter to the editor: "Gaps and future directions in research on health effects of air pollution". EBioMedicine 2023; 96:104786. [PMID: 37652854 PMCID: PMC10589417 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2023.104786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 09/02/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Fernando Rafael de Moura
- LEFT - Laboratório de Ensaios Farmacológicos e Toxicológicos, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande - FURG, Av. Itália, Km 8, Campus Carreiros, Rio Grande, RS CEP 96203-900, Brazil; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande - FURG, Rua Visconde de Paranaguá, 102, Rio Grande, RS CEP 96203-900, Brazil
| | - Flavio Manoel Rodrigues da Silva Júnior
- LEFT - Laboratório de Ensaios Farmacológicos e Toxicológicos, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande - FURG, Av. Itália, Km 8, Campus Carreiros, Rio Grande, RS CEP 96203-900, Brazil; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande - FURG, Rua Visconde de Paranaguá, 102, Rio Grande, RS CEP 96203-900, Brazil.
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