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Duan S, Zheng Y, Tian J, Zhang L. Single-cell RNA sequencing of estrual mice reveals PM2.5-induced uterine cell heterogeneity and reproductive toxicity. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2024; 284:116968. [PMID: 39236655 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2024.116968] [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: 01/17/2024] [Revised: 07/29/2024] [Accepted: 08/27/2024] [Indexed: 09/07/2024]
Abstract
Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) exposure has been extensively linked to reproductive and developmental dysfunctions, yet the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. This study employed single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) to investigate PM2.5-induced changes in uterine cell populations and gene expression profiles in mice during estrus and early pregnancy. Methodologically, we intranasally inoculated mice with 20 μL of 4.0 mg/mL PM2.5 suspension during their estrus and early pregnancy periods. Utilizing scRNA-seq analysis, we revealed significant alterations in cell type composition following PM2.5 exposure. Notably, we observed a marked decrease in the proportion of natural killer (NK) cells in PM2.5-exposed mice (2.00 % vs. 8.97 % in controls). Further functional enrichment analysis identified suppression of the IL-17 signaling pathway in NK cells as a key mechanism of PM2.5-induced toxicity. GSEA analysis showed in-depth details of the downregulated genes in this pathway, including Fosb, S100a8, Tnfaip3, IL-17a, and S100a9. PM2.5 exposure also disrupted intercellular communication within the uterine microenvironment, with the number of cell interactions decreasing from 483 to 315 and interaction strength reducing from 12.43 to 6.78 compared to controls. Histological examination revealed that PM2.5 exposure led to thinning of the endometrium and less prominent main branches in uterine tissues, and immunofluorescence assays corroborated the altered expression of IL-17 pathway components, showing enhanced Hsp90ab1 expression and reduced FOSB, S100A8, and S100A9 expression in PM2.5-exposed uterine tissues. These findings provide novel insights into the cellular mechanisms of PM2.5-induced reproductive toxicity, highlighting the IL-17 signaling pathway in uterine NK cells as a potential target for therapeutic interventions. Our results underscore the need for air quality regulations and open new avenues for developing biomarkers and targeted therapies to mitigate the reproductive risks associated with PM2.5 exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuyin Duan
- School of Public Health and Health Management, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan 250001, China
| | - Yongfei Zheng
- School of Public Health and Health Management, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan 250001, China
| | - Jiaqi Tian
- Clinical Medical Research Center for Women and Children Diseases, Key Laboratory of Birth Regulation and Control Technology of National Health Commission of China, Shandong Provincial Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital Affiliated to Qingdao University, Jinan 250001, China; NHC Key Lab of Reproduction Regulation (Shanghai Institute for Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Technologies), Shanghai 200032, China; Key Laboratory of Birth Defect Prevention and Genetic Medicine of Shandong Health Commission, Jinan 250001, China
| | - Lin Zhang
- Clinical Medical Research Center for Women and Children Diseases, Key Laboratory of Birth Regulation and Control Technology of National Health Commission of China, Shandong Provincial Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital Affiliated to Qingdao University, Jinan 250001, China; NHC Key Lab of Reproduction Regulation (Shanghai Institute for Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Technologies), Shanghai 200032, China; Key Laboratory of Birth Defect Prevention and Genetic Medicine of Shandong Health Commission, Jinan 250001, China.
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2
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Yu H, Wang Y, Puthussery JV, Verma V. Sources of acellular oxidative potential of water-soluble fine ambient particulate matter in the midwestern United States. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 474:134763. [PMID: 38843639 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.134763] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2024] [Revised: 05/22/2024] [Accepted: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 06/26/2024]
Abstract
Ambient fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is associated with numerous health complications, yet the specific PM2.5 chemical components and their emission sources contributing to these health outcomes are understudied. Our study analyzes the chemical composition of PM2.5 collected from five distinct locations at urban, roadside and rural environments in midwestern region of the United States, and associates them with five acellular oxidative potential (OP) endpoints of water-soluble PM2.5. Redox-active metals (i.e., Cu, Fe, and Mn) and carbonaceous species were correlated with most OP endpoints, suggesting their significant role in OP. We conducted a source apportionment analysis using positive matrix factorization (PMF) and found a strong disparity in the contribution of various emission sources to PM2.5 mass vs. OP. Regional secondary sources and combustion-related aerosols contributed significantly (> 75 % in total) to PM2.5 mass, but showed weaker contribution (43-69 %) to OP. Local sources such as parking emissions, industrial emissions, and agricultural activities, though accounting marginally to PM2.5 mass (< 10 % for each), significantly contributed to various OP endpoints (10-50 %). Our results demonstrate that the sources contributing to PM2.5 mass and health effects are not necessarily same, emphasizing the need for an improved air quality management strategy utilizing more health-relevant PM2.5 indicators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haoran Yu
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Alberta, 9211 116th St, Edmonton, AB T6G 1H9, Canada; Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 205 North Mathews Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801, United States
| | - Yixiang Wang
- College of Health, Lehigh University, 124 E Morton St, Bethlehem, PA 18015, United States; Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 205 North Mathews Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801, United States
| | - Joseph V Puthussery
- Department of Energy, Environmental & Chemical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, 1 Brookings Drive, St. Louis, MO 63130-4899, United States; Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 205 North Mathews Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801, United States
| | - Vishal Verma
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 205 North Mathews Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801, United States.
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Shi K, Liu C, Zhong X. Scaling features in high-concentrations PM 2.5 evolution: the Ignored factor affecting scarlet fever incidence. ENVIRONMENTAL GEOCHEMISTRY AND HEALTH 2024; 46:217. [PMID: 38849621 DOI: 10.1007/s10653-024-01989-2] [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: 03/01/2024] [Accepted: 04/06/2024] [Indexed: 06/09/2024]
Abstract
As an acute respiratory disease, scarlet fever has great harm to public health. Some evidence indicates that the time distribution pattern of heavy PM2.5 pollution occurrence may have an impact on health risks. This study aims to reveal the relation between scaling features in high-concentrations PM2.5 (HC-PM2.5) evolution and scarlet fever incidence (SFI). Based on the data of Hong Kong from 2012 to 2019, fractal box-counting dimension (D) is introduced to capture the scaling features of HC-PM2.5. It has been found that index D can quantify the time distribution of HC-PM2.5, and lower D values indicate more cluster distribution of HC-PM2.5. Moreover, scale-invariance in HC-PM2.5 at different time scales has been discovered, which indicates that HC-PM2.5 occurrence is not random but follows a typical power-law distribution. Next, the exposure-response relationship between SFI and scale-invariance in HC-PM2.5 is explored by Distributed lag non-linear model, in conjunction with meteorological factors. It has been discovered that scale-invariance in HC-PM2.5 has a nonlinear effect on SFI. Low and moderate D values of HC-PM2.5 are identified as risk factors for SFI at small time-scale. Moreover, relative risk shows a decreasing trend with the increase of exposure time. These results suggest that exposure to short-term clustered HC-PM2.5 makes individual more prone to SFI than exposure to long-term uniform HC-PM2.5. This means that individuals in slightly-polluted regions may face a greater risk of SFI, once the PM2.5 concentration keeps rising. In the future, it is expected that the relative risk of scarlet fever for a specific region can be estimated based on the quantitative analysis of scaling features in high-concentrations PM2.5 evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai Shi
- College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, China West Normal University, Nanchong, Sichuan, China
- Key Laboratory of Nanchong City of Ecological Environment Protection and Pollution Prevention in Jialing River Basin, China West Normal University, Nanchong, China
| | - Chunqiong Liu
- College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, China West Normal University, Nanchong, Sichuan, China.
- Key Laboratory of Nanchong City of Ecological Environment Protection and Pollution Prevention in Jialing River Basin, China West Normal University, Nanchong, China.
| | - Xinyu Zhong
- College of Mathematics and Statistics, Jishou University, Jishou, Hunan, China.
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4
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Haryanto B, Trihandini I, Nugraha F, Kurniasari F. Indirect Effects of PM 2.5 Exposure on COVID-19 Mortality in Greater Jakarta, Indonesia: An Ecological Study. Ann Glob Health 2024; 90:34. [PMID: 38827538 PMCID: PMC11141510 DOI: 10.5334/aogh.4411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 06/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Air pollution, including PM2.5, was suggested as one of the primary contributors to COVID-19 fatalities worldwide. Jakarta, the capital city of Indonesia, was recognized as one of the ten most polluted cities globally. Additionally, the incidence of COVID-19 in Jakarta surpasses that of all other provinces in Indonesia. However, no study has investigated the correlation between PM2.5 concentration and COVID-19 fatality in Jakarta. Objective To investigate the correlation between short-term and long-term exposure to PM2.5 and COVID-19 mortality in Greater Jakarta area. Methods An ecological time-trend study was implemented. The data of PM2.5 ambient concentration obtained from Nafas Indonesia and the National Institute for Aeronautics and Space (LAPAN)/National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN). The daily COVID-19 death data obtained from the City's Health Office. Findings Our study unveiled an intriguing pattern: while short-term exposure to PM2.5 showed a negative correlation with COVID-19 mortality, suggesting it might not be the sole factor in causing fatalities, long-term exposure demonstrated a positive correlation. This suggests that COVID-19 mortality is more strongly influenced by prolonged PM2.5 exposure rather than short-term exposure alone. Specifically, our regression analysis estimate that a 50 µg/m3 increase in long-term average PM2.5 could lead to an 11.9% rise in the COVID-19 mortality rate. Conclusion Our research, conducted in one of the most polluted areas worldwide, offers compelling evidence regarding the influence of PM2.5 exposure on COVID-19 mortality rates. It emphasizes the importance of recognizing air pollution as a critical risk factor for the severity of viral respiratory infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Budi Haryanto
- Department of Environmental Health, Faculty of Public Health, Universitas Indonesia, ID
- Research Center for Climate Change, I-SER, Universitas Indonesia, ID
| | - Indang Trihandini
- Department of Biostatistics and Population Studies, Faculty of Public Health, Universitas Indonesia, ID
| | - Fajar Nugraha
- Department of Biostatistics and Population Studies, Faculty of Public Health, Universitas Indonesia, ID
| | - Fitri Kurniasari
- Department of Environmental Health, Faculty of Public Health, Universitas Indonesia, ID
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Karim N, Hod R, Wahab MIA, Ahmad N. Projecting non-communicable diseases attributable to air pollution in the climate change era: a systematic review. BMJ Open 2024; 14:e079826. [PMID: 38719294 PMCID: PMC11086555 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-079826] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2023] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Climate change is a major global issue with significant consequences, including effects on air quality and human well-being. This review investigated the projection of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) attributable to air pollution under different climate change scenarios. DESIGN This systematic review was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses 2020 flow checklist. A population-exposure-outcome framework was established. Population referred to the general global population of all ages, the exposure of interest was air pollution and its projection, and the outcome was the occurrence of NCDs attributable to air pollution and burden of disease (BoD) based on the health indices of mortality, morbidity, disability-adjusted life years, years of life lost and years lived with disability. DATA SOURCES The Web of Science, Ovid MEDLINE and EBSCOhost databases were searched for articles published from 2005 to 2023. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR SELECTING STUDIES The eligible articles were evaluated using the modified scale of a checklist for assessing the quality of ecological studies. DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS Two reviewers searched, screened and selected the included studies independently using standardised methods. The risk of bias was assessed using the modified scale of a checklist for ecological studies. The results were summarised based on the projection of the BoD of NCDs attributable to air pollution. RESULTS This review included 11 studies from various countries. Most studies specifically investigated various air pollutants, specifically particulate matter <2.5 µm (PM2.5), nitrogen oxides and ozone. The studies used coupled-air quality and climate modelling approaches, and mainly projected health effects using the concentration-response function model. The NCDs attributable to air pollution included cardiovascular disease (CVD), respiratory disease, stroke, ischaemic heart disease, coronary heart disease and lower respiratory infections. Notably, the BoD of NCDs attributable to air pollution was projected to decrease in a scenario that promotes reduced air pollution, carbon emissions and land use and sustainable socioeconomics. Contrastingly, the BoD of NCDs was projected to increase in a scenario involving increasing population numbers, social deprivation and an ageing population. CONCLUSION The included studies widely reported increased premature mortality, CVD and respiratory disease attributable to PM2.5. Future NCD projection studies should consider emission and population changes in projecting the BoD of NCDs attributable to air pollution in the climate change era. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER CRD42023435288.
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Affiliation(s)
- Norhafizah Karim
- Department of Public Health Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bandar Tun Razak, Kuala lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Rozita Hod
- Department of Public Health Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bandar Tun Razak, Kuala lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Muhammad Ikram A Wahab
- Center of Toxicology and Health Risk Studies (CORE), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Fakulti Sains Kesihatan, Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan, Malaysia
| | - Norfazilah Ahmad
- Department of Public Health Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bandar Tun Razak, Kuala lumpur, Malaysia
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Cheng P, Chen Y, Wang J, Han Z, Hao D, Li Y, Feng F, Duan X, Chen H. PM 2.5 induces a senescent state in mouse AT2 cells. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 347:123686. [PMID: 38431248 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.123686] [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: 10/01/2023] [Revised: 02/24/2024] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024]
Abstract
PM2.5 is known to induce lung injury, but its toxic effects on lung regenerative machinery and the underlying mechanisms remain unknown. In this study, primary mouse alveolar type 2 (AT2) cells, considered stem cells in the gas-exchange barrier, were sorted using fluorescence-activated cell sorting. By developing microfluidic technology with constricted microchannels, we observed that both passage time and impedance opacities of mouse AT2 cells were reduced after PM2.5, indicating that PM2.5 induced a more deformable mechanical property and a higher membrane permeability. In vitro organoid cultures of primary mouse AT2 cells indicated that PM2.5 is able to impair the proliferative potential and self-renewal capacity of AT2 cells but does not affect AT1 differentiation. Furthermore, cell senescence biomarkers, p53 and γ-H2A.X at protein levels, P16ink4a and P21 at mRNA levels were increased in primary mouse AT2 cells after PM2.5 stimulations as shown by immunofluorescent staining and quantitative PCR analysis. Using several advanced single-cell technologies, this study sheds light on new mechanisms of the cytotoxic effects of atmospheric fine particulate matter on lung stem cell behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peiyong Cheng
- Department of Basic Medicine, Haihe Hospital, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300350, China
| | - Yongqi Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Precision Measuring Technology and Instrument, College of Precision Instrument and Opto-electronics Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China
| | - Jianhai Wang
- Department of Basic Medicine, Haihe Hospital, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300350, China; Key Research Laboratory for Infectious Disease Prevention for State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin Institute of Respiratory Diseases, Tianjin, 300350, China
| | - Ziyu Han
- State Key Laboratory of Precision Measuring Technology and Instrument, College of Precision Instrument and Opto-electronics Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China
| | - De Hao
- Department of Basic Medicine, Haihe Hospital, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300350, China
| | - Yu Li
- Department of Basic Medicine, Haihe Hospital, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300350, China; Key Research Laboratory for Infectious Disease Prevention for State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin Institute of Respiratory Diseases, Tianjin, 300350, China
| | - Feifei Feng
- Department of Toxicology, Zhengzhou University School of Public Health, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, China
| | - Xuexin Duan
- State Key Laboratory of Precision Measuring Technology and Instrument, College of Precision Instrument and Opto-electronics Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China
| | - Huaiyong Chen
- Department of Basic Medicine, Haihe Hospital, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300350, China; Key Research Laboratory for Infectious Disease Prevention for State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin Institute of Respiratory Diseases, Tianjin, 300350, China; Tianjin Key Laboratory of Lung Regenerative Tianjin University Medicine, Tianjin, 300350, China; College of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, 8th Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100091, China.
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Zhao S, Fan Y, Zhao P, Mansourian A, Ho HC. How do taxi drivers expose to fine particulate matter (PM 2.5) in a Chinese megacity: a rapid assessment incorporating with satellite-derived information and urban mobility data. Int J Health Geogr 2024; 23:9. [PMID: 38614973 PMCID: PMC11421200 DOI: 10.1186/s12942-024-00368-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2023] [Accepted: 03/31/2024] [Indexed: 04/15/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Taxi drivers in a Chinese megacity are frequently exposed to traffic-related particulate matter (PM2.5) due to their job nature, busy road traffic, and urban density. A robust method to quantify dynamic population exposure to PM2.5 among taxi drivers is important for occupational risk prevention, however, it is limited by data availability. METHODS This study proposed a rapid assessment of dynamic exposure to PM2.5 among drivers based on satellite-derived information, air quality data from monitoring stations, and GPS-based taxi trajectory data. An empirical study was conducted in Wuhan, China, to examine spatial and temporal variability of dynamic exposure and compare whether drivers' exposure exceeded the World Health Organization (WHO) and China air quality guideline thresholds. Kernel density estimation was conducted to further explore the relationship between dynamic exposure and taxi drivers' activities. RESULTS The taxi drivers' weekday and weekend 24-h PM2.5 exposure was 83.60 μg/m3 and 55.62 μg/m3 respectively, 3.4 and 2.2 times than the WHO's recommended level of 25 µg/m3. Specifically, drivers with high PM2.5 exposure had a higher average trip distance and smaller activity areas. Although major transportation interchanges/terminals were the common activity hotspots for both taxi drivers with high and low exposure, activity hotspots of drivers with high exposure were mainly located in busy riverside commercial areas within historic and central districts bounded by the "Inner Ring Road", while hotspots of drivers with low exposure were new commercial areas in the extended urbanized area bounded by the "Third Ring Road". CONCLUSION These findings emphasized the need for air quality management and community planning to mitigate the potential health risks of taxi drivers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuangming Zhao
- School of Remote Sensing and Information Engineering, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yuchen Fan
- School of Remote Sensing and Information Engineering, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Pengxiang Zhao
- GIS Centre, Department of Physical Geography and Ecosystem Science, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.
| | - Ali Mansourian
- GIS Centre, Department of Physical Geography and Ecosystem Science, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Hung Chak Ho
- Department of Public and International Affairs, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
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Song Y, Zhang Y, Zhu L, Chen Y, Chen YJ, Zhu Z, Feng J, Qi Z, Yu JZ, Yang Z, Cai Z. Phosphocholine-induced energy source shift alleviates mitochondrial dysfunction in lung cells caused by geospecific PM 2.5 components. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2317574121. [PMID: 38530899 PMCID: PMC10998597 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2317574121] [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: 10/11/2023] [Accepted: 03/01/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is globally recognized for its adverse implications on human health. Yet, remain limited the individual contribution of particular PM2.5 components to its toxicity, especially considering regional disparities. Moreover, prevention solutions for PM2.5-associated health effects are scarce. In the present study, we comprehensively characterized and compared the primary PM2.5 constituents and their altered metabolites from two locations: Taiyuan and Guangzhou. Analysis of year-long PM2.5 samples revealed 84 major components, encompassing organic carbon, elemental carbon, ions, metals, and organic chemicals. PM2.5 from Taiyuan exhibited higher contamination, associated health risks, dithiothreitol activity, and cytotoxicities than Guangzhou's counterpart. Applying metabolomics, BEAS-2B lung cells exposed to PM2.5 from both cities were screened for significant alterations. A correlation analysis revealed the metabolites altered by PM2.5 and the critical toxic PM2.5 components in both regions. Among the PM2.5-down-regulated metabolites, phosphocholine emerged as a promising intervention for PM2.5 cytotoxicities. Its supplementation effectively attenuated PM2.5-induced energy metabolism disorder and cell death via activating fatty acid oxidation and inhibiting Phospho1 expression. The highlighted toxic chemicals displayed combined toxicities, potentially counteracted by phosphocholine. Our study offered a promising functional metabolite to alleviate PM2.5-induced cellular disorder and provided insights into the geo-based variability in toxic PM2.5 components.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanyuan Song
- Department of Chemistry, State Key Laboratory of Environmental and Biological Analysis, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Yanhao Zhang
- Department of Chemistry, State Key Laboratory of Environmental and Biological Analysis, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Lin Zhu
- Department of Chemistry, State Key Laboratory of Environmental and Biological Analysis, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Yanyan Chen
- Department of Chemistry, State Key Laboratory of Environmental and Biological Analysis, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Yi-Jie Chen
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou510006, China
| | - Zhitong Zhu
- Department of Chemistry, State Key Laboratory of Environmental and Biological Analysis, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Jieqing Feng
- Department of Chemistry, State Key Laboratory of Environmental and Biological Analysis, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Zenghua Qi
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou510006, China
| | - Jian Zhen Yu
- Department of Chemistry, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Zhu Yang
- Department of Chemistry, State Key Laboratory of Environmental and Biological Analysis, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
- Department of Biology, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Zongwei Cai
- Department of Chemistry, State Key Laboratory of Environmental and Biological Analysis, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
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Squillacioti G, Bellisario V, Ghelli F, Marcon A, Marchetti P, Corsico AG, Pirina P, Maio S, Stafoggia M, Verlato G, Bono R. Air pollution and oxidative stress in adults suffering from airway diseases. Insights from the Gene Environment Interactions in Respiratory Diseases (GEIRD) multi-case control study. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 909:168601. [PMID: 37977381 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.168601] [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: 09/14/2023] [Revised: 11/13/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
Air pollution is a leading risk factor for global mortality and morbidity. Oxidative stress is a key mechanism underlying air-pollution-mediated health effects, especially in the pathogenesis/exacerbation of airway impairments. However, evidence lacks on subgroups at higher risk of developing more severe outcomes in response to air pollution. This multi-centre study aims to evaluate the association between air pollution and oxidative stress in healthy adults and in patients affected by airway diseases from the Italian GEIRD (Gene Environment Interactions in Respiratory Diseases) multi-case control study. Overall, 1841 adults (49 % females, 20-83 years) were included from four Italian centres: Pavia, Sassari, Turin, and Verona. Following a 2-stage screening process, we identified 1273 cases of asthma, chronic bronchitis, rhinitis, or COPD and 568 controls. Systemic oxidative stress was quantified by urinary 8-isoprostane and 8-OH-dG. Individual residential exposures to NO2, PM10, PM2.5, and O3 were derived using an innovative five-stage machine-learning-based approach. Linear mixed regression models tested the association between oxidative stress biomarkers and air pollution tertiles, adjusting by age, sex, BMI, smoking, education and season, with recruiting centres as random intercept. Only cases exhibited higher levels of log-transformed 8-isoprostane and 8-OH-dG in association with NO2 (β: 0.30 95 % CI: 0.08-0.52 and 0.20 95 % CI: 0.03-0.37), PM10 (0.34 95 % CI: 0.12-0.55 and 0.21 95 % CI: 0.05-0.37) and PM2.5 (0.27 95 % CI: 0.09-0.49 and 0.18 95 % CI: 0.02-0.34) as compared to the first tertile of exposure. No significant associations were observed for summer O3. Our findings suggest that exposure to air pollution may increase systemic oxidative stress levels in people suffering from airway diseases. This introduces a potential novel approach available for future epidemiological studies and Public Health for effective prevention strategies oriented at the quantification of early biological effects in susceptible people, whose additional risk level might be currently underrated. Air-pollution-mediated exacerbations, driven by oxidative stress, still deserve our attention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Squillacioti
- Department of Public Health and Pediatrics, University of Turin, Via Santena 5 bis, 10126 Turin, Italy.
| | - Valeria Bellisario
- Department of Public Health and Pediatrics, University of Turin, Via Santena 5 bis, 10126 Turin, Italy.
| | - Federica Ghelli
- Department of Public Health and Pediatrics, University of Turin, Via Santena 5 bis, 10126 Turin, Italy.
| | - Alessandro Marcon
- Unit of Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, University of Verona, Verona, Italy.
| | - Pierpaolo Marchetti
- Unit of Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, University of Verona, Verona, Italy.
| | - Angelo G Corsico
- Department of Internal Medicine and Therapeutics, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy; SC Pneumologia, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Italy.
| | - Pietro Pirina
- Clinical and Interventional Pulmonology, University Hospital Sassari (AOU), Sassari, Italy; Department of Medical, Surgical and Experimental Sciences, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy.
| | - Sara Maio
- Institute of Clinical Physiology, National Research Council, Pisa, Italy.
| | - Massimo Stafoggia
- Department of Epidemiology of the Lazio Region Health Service, ASL Roma 1, Rome, Italy.
| | - Giuseppe Verlato
- Unit of Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, University of Verona, Verona, Italy.
| | - Roberto Bono
- Department of Public Health and Pediatrics, University of Turin, Via Santena 5 bis, 10126 Turin, Italy.
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Priyadarshini NP, Gopamma D, Srinivas N, Malla RR, Kumar KS. Particulate Matter and Its Impact on Macrophages: Unraveling the Cellular Response for Environmental Health. Crit Rev Oncog 2024; 29:33-42. [PMID: 38989736 DOI: 10.1615/critrevoncog.2024053305] [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: 07/12/2024]
Abstract
Particulate matter (PM) imposes a significant impact to environmental health with deleterious effects on the human pulmonary and cardiovascular systems. Macrophages (Mφ), key immune cells in lung tissues, have a prominent role in responding to inhaled cells, accommodating inflammation, and influencing tissue repair processes. Elucidating the critical cellular responses of Mφ to PM exposure is essential to understand the mechanisms underlying PM-induced health effects. The present review aims to give a glimpse on literature about the PM interaction with Mφ, triggering the cellular events causing the inflammation, oxidative stress (OS) and tissue damage. The present paper reviews the different pathways involved in Mφ activation upon PM exposure, including phagocytosis, intracellular signaling cascades, and the release of pro-inflammatory mediators. Potential therapeutic strategies targeting Mφ-mediated responses to reduce PM-induced health effects are also discussed. Overall, unraveling the complex interplay between PM and Mφ sheds light on new avenues for environmental health research and promises to develop targeted interventions to reduce the burden of PM-related diseases on global health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nyayapathi Priyanka Priyadarshini
- Department of Environmental Science, GITAM School of Science, GITAM Deemed to be University, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh 530045, India
| | - Daka Gopamma
- Department of Environmental Science, GITAM School of Science, GITAM (Deemed to be University), Visakhapatnam-530045, Andhra Pradesh, India
| | - Namuduri Srinivas
- Department of Environmental Science, GITAM School of Science, GITAM (Deemed to be University), Visakhapatnam-530045, Andhra Pradesh, India
| | - Rama Rao Malla
- Cancer Biology Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry and Bioinformatics, School of Science, Gandhi Institute of Technology and Management (GITAM) (Deemed to be University), Visakhapatnam-530045, Andhra Pradesh, India; Department of Biochemistry and Bioinformatics, School of Science, GITAM (Deemed to be University), Visakhapatnam-530045, Andhra Pradesh, India
| | - Kolli Suresh Kumar
- Department of Environmental Science, GITAM School of Science, GITAM Deemed to be University, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh 530045, India
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Wu B, Lou C, Chen Z, Chai T, Yu H. Combined 16S and Internal Transcribed Spacer analysis revealed the effect of time on microbial community in animal house. Poult Sci 2023; 102:103039. [PMID: 37729676 PMCID: PMC10514460 DOI: 10.1016/j.psj.2023.103039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2023] [Revised: 08/09/2023] [Accepted: 08/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/22/2023] Open
Abstract
The outbreak of COVID-19 reminds people that aerosols have an important impact on health. The concentration and composition of microbial aerosol in livestock and poultry houses are closely related to the environmental conditions of livestock and poultry houses, and also related to the healthy growth of livestock and poultry. In our study, 16S and ITS sequencing techniques were used to analyze the relation and difference of bacteria and fungi in the air samples of a chicken house. At the age of 7 to 42 d, the operation classification unit (OTU) numbers of bacteria and fungi identified in our results were 2,398 and 986, respectively, of which the shared OTU numbers were 410 and 141, respectively. At the phylum level, Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, and Actinomycetes were the 3 most abundant bacterial phyla, and Ascomycetes and Basidiomycetes were the top 2 phyla in fungi. At the genus level, 7 differential fungal genera were identified, including Debaryomyces, Trichosporon, Wallemia, Aspergillus, Nigrospora, Fusarium, and Vishniacozyma. Compared with other bacterial genera, Lactobacillus, Cetobacterium, and Romboutsia had the highest abundance (more than 5%). The result showed that the Alpha diversity and Beta diversity of fungi were significantly different in different growing periods. However, only Beta diversity showed significant differences among bacteria. In general, the bacterial and fungal diversity of microbial aerosols in the chicken house increased significantly at the age of 7 to 42 d. And the evenness and richness of airborne fungal communities also increased obviously. In a word, we must pay attention to the complex community composition in the chicken house, this is closely related to animal health and the health of surrounding residents. The cooperation and communication between bacteria and fungi in PM2.5 samples provides a new reference to analyze the influence of microbial aerosol.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Wu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Molecular Design and Precise Breeding, School of Life Science and Engineering, Foshan University, Foshan, 528225 China
| | - Cheng Lou
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Molecular Design and Precise Breeding, School of Life Science and Engineering, Foshan University, Foshan, 528225 China
| | - Zhuo Chen
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Molecular Design and Precise Breeding, School of Life Science and Engineering, Foshan University, Foshan, 528225 China
| | - Tongjie Chai
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Agricultural University, 61 Daizong Road, Tai'an, Shandong Province 271000, China
| | - Hui Yu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Molecular Design and Precise Breeding, School of Life Science and Engineering, Foshan University, Foshan, 528225 China.
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Ding Y, Wang C, Wang J, Wang P, Huang L. Revealing the impact of built environment, air pollution and housing price on health inequality: an empirical analysis of Nanjing, China. Front Public Health 2023; 11:1153021. [PMID: 37663827 PMCID: PMC10470114 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1153021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 09/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Residential segregation have become a common phenomenon in China recently. Socioeconomically disadvantaged residents were more likely to live in communities with higher PM2.5 concentrations and poorer built environment, which may ultimately lead to a higher health risk, further exacerbating health inequalities. However, the reasons for health inequalities under residential segregation remain unclear. Methods This study quantified the built environment, air pollution, mortality rate and housing price at 1 km × 1 km grid scale. Moderating effect model, mediating effect model, moderated mediating effect model were used to progressively clarify the relationship between the four. Results Results show that, in terms of spatial distribution, the central area has high housing price with good built environment, low PM2.5 concentration and low mortality rate. While the suburban area has low housing price, poor built environment, high PM2.5 concentration and high mortality rate. Additionally, built environment can not only reduce health risks through moderating effect, but also affect health through the mediating effect of PM2.5. There is heterogeneity in moderating effect of built environment in different locations. Housing prices can moderate the effect of built environment on health. This study would offer important reference for urban planning to mitigate the effect of built environment inequalities on health inequalities in China.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Ding
- Faculty of Civil Engineering and Mechanics, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China
| | - Chenglong Wang
- Faculty of Civil Engineering and Mechanics, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China
| | - Jiaming Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Peng Wang
- Faculty of Civil Engineering and Mechanics, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Lei Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
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Cao Y, Zang T, Qiu T, Xu Z, Chen X, Fan X, Zhang Q, Huang Y, Liu J, Wu N, Shen N, Bai J, Li G, Huang J, Liu Y. Does PM 1 exposure during pregnancy impact the gut microbiota of mothers and neonates? ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 231:116304. [PMID: 37268213 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.116304] [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: 12/26/2022] [Revised: 05/12/2023] [Accepted: 05/31/2023] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Ambient air pollutant exposure can change the composition of gut microbiota at 6-months of age, but there is no epidemiological evidence on the impacts of exposure to particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter ≤1 μm (PM1) during pregnancy on gut microbiota in mothers and neonates. We aimed to determine if gestational PM1 exposure is associated with the gut microbiota of mothers and neonates. METHODS Leveraging a mother-infant cohort from the central region of China, we estimated the exposure concentrations of PM1 during pregnancy based on residential address records. The gut microbiota of mothers and neonates was analyzed using 16 S rRNA V3-V4 gene sequences. Functional pathway analyses of 16 S rRNA V3-V4 bacterial communities were conducted using Tax4fun. The impact of PM1 exposure on α-diversity, composition, and function of gut microbiota in mothers and neonates was evaluated using multiple linear regression, controlling for nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and ozone (O3). Permutation multivariate analysis of variance (PERMANOVA) was used to analyze the interpretation degree of PM1 on the sample differences at the OTU level using the Bray-Curtis distance algorithm. RESULTS Gestational PM1 exposure was positively associated with the α-diversity of gut microbiota in neonates and explained 14.8% (adj. P = 0.026) of the differences in community composition among neonatal samples. In contrast, gestational PM1 exposure had no impact on the α- and β-diversity of gut microbiota in mothers. Gestational PM1 exposure was positively associated with phylum Actinobacteria of gut microbiota in mothers, and genera Clostridium_sensu_stricto_1, Streptococcus, Faecalibacterium of gut microbiota in neonates. At Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway level 3, the functional analysis results showed that gestational PM1 exposure significantly down-regulated Nitrogen metabolism in mothers, as well as Two-component system and Pyruvate metabolism in neonates. While Purine metabolism, Aminoacyl-tRNA biosynthesis, Pyrimidine metabolism, and Ribosome in neonates were significantly up-regulated. CONCLUSIONS Our study provides the first evidence that exposure to PM1 has a significant impact on the gut microbiota of mothers and neonates, especially on the diversity, composition, and function of neonatal meconium microbiota, which may have important significance for maternal health management in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanan Cao
- School of Public Health, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Tianzi Zang
- Center for Women's and Children's Health, Wuhan University School of Nursing, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Tianlai Qiu
- Center for Women's and Children's Health, Wuhan University School of Nursing, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Zhihu Xu
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health Sciences, Peking University School of Public Health, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Xiangxu Chen
- Center for Women's and Children's Health, Wuhan University School of Nursing, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Xiaoxiao Fan
- Center for Women's and Children's Health, Wuhan University School of Nursing, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Qianping Zhang
- Center for Women's and Children's Health, Wuhan University School of Nursing, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Yingjuan Huang
- Center for Women's and Children's Health, Wuhan University School of Nursing, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Jun Liu
- Center for Women's and Children's Health, Wuhan University School of Nursing, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Ni Wu
- Center for Women's and Children's Health, Wuhan University School of Nursing, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Natalie Shen
- Emory University Rollins School of Public Health, 1520 Clifton Road, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| | - Jinbing Bai
- Emory University Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, 1520 Clifton Road, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| | - Guoxing Li
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health Sciences, Peking University School of Public Health, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Jing Huang
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health Sciences, Peking University School of Public Health, Beijing, 100191, China.
| | - Yanqun Liu
- Center for Women's and Children's Health, Wuhan University School of Nursing, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China.
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Wang WJ, Peng K, Lu X, Zhu YY, Li Z, Qian QH, Yao YX, Fu L, Wang Y, Huang YC, Zhao H, Wang H, Xu DX, Tan ZX. Long-term cadmium exposure induces chronic obstructive pulmonary disease-like lung lesions in a mouse model. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 879:163073. [PMID: 36965727 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.163073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2023] [Revised: 03/21/2023] [Accepted: 03/22/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
Accumulating evidences demonstrate that long-term exposure to atmospheric fine particles and air pollutants elevates the risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Cadmium (Cd) is one of the important toxic substances in atmospheric fine particles and air pollutants. In this study, we aimed to establish a mouse model to evaluate whether respiratory Cd exposure induces COPD-like lung injury. Adult male C57BL/6 mice were exposed to CdCl2 (10 mg/L, 4 h per day) by inhaling aerosol for either 10 weeks (short-term) or 6 months (long-term). The mean serum Cd concentration was 6.26 μg/L in Cd-exposed mice. Lung weight and coefficient were elevated in long-term Cd-exposed mice. Pathological scores and alveolar destructive indices were increased in long-term Cd-exposed mouse lungs. Mean linear intercept and airway wall thickness were accordingly elevated in Cd-exposed mice. Inflammatory cell infiltration was obvious and inflammatory cytokines, including TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10 and TGF-β, were up-regulated in Cd-exposed mouse lungs. α-SMA, N-cadherin and vimentin, epithelial-mesenchymal transition markers, and extracellular matrix collagen deposition around small airway, determined by Masson's trichrome staining, were shown in Cd-exposed mouse lungs. COPD-characteristic lung function decline was observed in long-term Cd-exposed mice. These outcomes show that long-term respiratory exposure to Cd induces COPD-like lung lesions for the first time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen-Jing Wang
- The Second Affiliated Hospital, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Kun Peng
- The Second Affiliated Hospital, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Xue Lu
- Department of Toxicology, Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China
| | - Yan-Yan Zhu
- Department of Toxicology, Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China
| | - Zhao Li
- The Second Affiliated Hospital, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Qing-Hua Qian
- Department of Toxicology, Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China
| | - Ya-Xin Yao
- The Second Affiliated Hospital, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Lin Fu
- The Second Affiliated Hospital, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Yan Wang
- Department of Toxicology, Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China
| | - Yi-Chao Huang
- Department of Toxicology, Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China
| | - Hui Zhao
- The Second Affiliated Hospital, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Hua Wang
- Department of Toxicology, Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China
| | - De-Xiang Xu
- Department of Toxicology, Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China
| | - Zhu-Xia Tan
- The Second Affiliated Hospital, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China.
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Science communication on the public health risks of air pollution: a computational scoping review from 1958 to 2022. Arch Public Health 2023; 81:14. [PMID: 36739430 PMCID: PMC9898709 DOI: 10.1186/s13690-023-01031-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2022] [Accepted: 01/24/2023] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Air pollutants are a health risk for the entire population. Particulate matter (PM) including the smallest fraction, ultra-fine particles (UFP), therefore continue to be the focus of scientific research in this area. To protect the population from the harmful effects of exposure to PM, communication and information of research results are of special relevance as individuals with heightened awareness of the harms of poor air quality are more likely to take action to improve their exposure. METHODS We conducted a scoping review of the scientific literature on science communication of public health information about risks associated with air pollutants to generate an initial over-view of existing research in this field. We searched the PubMed and Scopus databases and analyzed the data using a structured topic modeling (STM) approach. RESULTS The existing scientific literature dates back to 1958 but increases significantly from the 1990s onwards. Publications are mainly found in the discipline of environmental research and are primarily concerned with health effects. It is often stated that adequate communication of the results to the public would be important, but specific approaches are rare. Overall, the topic of risk communication seems to be underrepresented for both air pollutants and UFP. CONCLUSIONS To protect public health, it is important to conduct more intensive science and risk communication related to scientific findings on the risks of air pollutants. For adequate communication and information, further research is needed to provide specific approaches that also involve the affected population and take different target groups into account. In addition, the effectiveness of communication efforts should also be analyzed.
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