The burden of ozone pollution on years of life lost from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in a city of Yangtze River Delta, China

A model of the spatiotemporal distribution of ozone-squalene reaction and ozonolysis by-products from human body

Emissions of ozone and its by-products from ozonolysis on human surfaces lead to indoor air pollution. However, the spatiotemporal distribution of such emissions in indoor environments remains unclear, which may introduce bias when assessing human exposure to ozone and ozonolysis byproducts. This study developed a computational fluid dynamics model to describe the physical and chemical processes involved in the emission of ozone-dependent volatile organic compounds from the human body. The results showed that the reaction probability of ozone in the human body depends on the ozone concentration in the bulk air. For ozone concentrations ranging from 28 ppb to 200 ppb, the reaction probabilities ranged from 5.9 × 10-5 to 1.5 × 10-4. The concentrations of ozone and ozonolysis byproducts obtained from the experimental measurements were used for model validation. The ozonolysis by-products were found to be uniformly distributed in the chamber, whereas the ozone distribution showed less uniformity. The ozone concentration near the human surface was approximately 30 %∼50 % of that in the ambient air. Overall, a model was developed to understand the effect of ozone-surface interactions on indoor air quality. This model can be applied to analyze human exposure to ozone and ozonolysis byproducts and for health risk assessment in built environments.

Effect of ambient ozone pollution on disease burden globally: A systematic analysis for the global burden of disease study 2019

BACKGROUND

Exposure to ambient ozone pollution causes health loss and even death, and both are the main risk factors for the disease burden worldwide. We comprehensively evaluated the ozone pollution-related disease burden.

METHODS

First, numbers and age-standardized rates of deaths and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) were assessed globally and by sub-types in 2019. Furthermore, the temporal trend of the disease burden was explored by the linear regression model from 1990 to 2019. The cluster analysis was used to evaluate the changing pattern of related disease burden across Global Burden of Disease Study (GBD) regions. Finally, the age-period-cohort (APC) model and the Bayesian age-period-cohort (BAPC) model were used to predict the future disease burden in the next 25 years.

RESULT

Exposure to ozone pollution contributed to 365,222 deaths and 6,210,145 DALYs globally in 2019, which accounted for 0.65 % of deaths globally and 0.24 % of DALYs globally. The disease burden was consistently increasing with age. Males were high-risk populations and low-middle socio-demographic index (SDI) regions were high-risk areas. The disease burden of ozone pollution varied considerably across the GBD regions and the countries. In 2019, the number of deaths and DALYs cases increased by 76.11 % and 56.37 %, respectively compared to those in 1990. The predicted results showed that the number of deaths cases and DALYs cases for both genders would still increase from 2020 to 2044.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, ambient ozone pollution has threatened public health globally. More proactive and effective strategic measures should be developed after considering global-specific circumstances.

Association between long-term ozone exposure and readmission for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbation

The relationship between long-term ozone (O₃) exposure and readmission for acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) remains elusive. In this study, we collected individual-level information on AECOPD hospitalizations from a standardized electronic database in Guangzhou from January 1, 2014, to December 31, 2015. We calculated the annual mean O₃ concentration prior to the dates of the index hospitalization for AECOPD using patients' residential addresses. Employing Cox proportional hazards models, we assessed the association between long-term O₃ concentration and the risk of AECOPD readmission across several time frames (30 days, 90 days, 180 days, and 365 days). We estimated the disease and economic burden of AECOPD readmissions attributable to O₃ using a counterfactual approach. Of the 4574 patients included in the study, 1398 (30.6%) were readmitted during the study period, with 262 (5.7%) readmitted within 30 days. The annual mean O₃ concentration was 90.3 μg/m3 (standard deviation [SD] = 8.2 μg/m3). A 10-μg/m3 increase in long-term O₃ concentration resulted in a hazard ratio (HR) for AECOPD readmission within 30 days of 1.28 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.09 to 1.49), with similar results for readmission within 90, 180, and 365 days. Older patients (aged 75 years or above) and males were more susceptible (HR, 1.33; 95% CI, 1.10-1.61 and HR, 1.29; 95% CI, 1.09-1.53, respectively). The population attributable fraction for 30-day readmission due to O₃ exposure was 29.0% (95% CI, 28.4%-30.0%), and the attributable mean cost per participant was 362.3 USD (354.5-370.2). Long-term exposure to elevated O₃ concentrations is associated with an increased risk of AECOPD readmission, contributing to a significant disease and economic burden.

Regulation of macrophage activation by S-Nitrosothiols following ozone-induced lung injury

Acute exposure to ozone causes oxidative stress, characterized by increases in nitric oxide (NO) and other reactive nitrogen species in the lung. NO has been shown to modify thiols generating S-nitrosothiols (SNOs); this results in altered protein function. In macrophages this can lead to changes in inflammatory activity which impact the resolution of inflammation. As SNO formation is dependent on the redox state of both the NO donor and the recipient thiol, the local microenvironment plays a key role in its regulation. This dictates not only the chemical feasibility of SNO formation but also mechanisms by which they may form. In these studies, we compared the ability of the SNO donors, ethyl nitrite (ENO), which targets both hydrophobic and hydrophilic thiols, SNO-propanamide (SNOPPM) which targets hydrophobic thiols, and S-nitroso-N-acetylcysteine. (SNAC) which targets hydrophilic thiols. to modify macrophage activation following ozone exposure. Mice were treated with air or ozone (0.8 ppm, 3 h) followed 1 h later by intranasal administration of ENO, SNOPPM or SNAC (1-500 μM) or appropriate controls. Mice were euthanized 48 h later. Each of the SNO donors reduced ozone-induced inflammation and modified the phenotype of macrophages both within the lung lining fluid and the tissue. ENO and SNOPPM were more effective than SNAC. These findings suggest that the hydrophobic SNO thiol pool targeted by SNOPPM and ENO plays a major role in regulating macrophage phenotype following ozone induced injury.

Short-term health impacts related to ozone in China before and after implementation of policy measures: A systematic review and meta-analysis

This paper presents a meta-analysis of the impacts of short-term exposure to ozone (O₃) on three health endpoints: all-cause, cardiovascular, and respiratory mortality in China. All relevant studies from January 1990 to December 2021 were searched from four databases. After screening, 30 studies were included for the meta-analysis. The results showed that a significant rise of 0.41 % (95 % confidence interval (CI): 0.35 %-0.48 %) in all-cause, 0.60 % (95 % CI: 0.51 %-0.68 %) in cardiovascular and 0.45 % (95 % CI: 0.28 %-0.62 %) in respiratory mortality for each 10 μg m^-3 increase in the maximum daily 8 h average O₃ concentration (MDA8 O₃). Moreover, results stratified by heterogeneous time periods before and after implementing a policy measure in 2013, showed that the pooled effects for all-cause and respiratory mortality before were greater than those after, while the pooled effects for cardiovascular mortality before 2013 were slightly smaller than those after. The finding that short-term exposure to O₃ was positively related to the three health endpoints was validated by means of a sensitivity analysis. Furthermore, we did not observe any publication bias. Our results present an updated and better understanding of the relationship between short-term exposure to O₃ and the three health endpoints, while providing a reference for further assessment of the impact of short-term O₃ exposure on human health.

Economic burden of premature deaths attributable to non-optimum temperatures in Italy: A nationwide time-series analysis from 2015 to 2019

BACKGROUND

Human beings and society are experiencing substantial consequences caused by non-optimum temperatures. However, limited studies have assessed the economic burden of premature deaths attributable to non-optimum temperatures.

OBJECTIVES

To characterize the association between daily mean temperature and the economic burden of premature deaths.

METHODS

A total of 3 228 098 deaths were identified from a national mortality dataset in Italy during 2015 and 2019. We used the value of statistical life to quantify the economic losses of premature death. A two-stage time-series analysis was performed to evaluate the economic losses of premature deaths associated with non-optimum temperatures. Attributable burden for non-optimum temperatures compared with minimum risk temperature were estimated. Potential effect modifiers were further explored.

RESULTS

From 2015 to 2019, the economic loss of premature deaths due to non-optimum temperatures was $525.52 billion (95% CI: $461.84-$580.80 billion), with the attributable fraction of 5.74% (95% CI: 5.04%-6.34%). Attributable economic burden was largely due to moderate cold temperatures ($309.54 billion, 95% CI: $249.49-$357.34 billion). A higher economic burden was observed for people above the age of 65, accounting for 75.97% ($452.42, 95%CI: $406.97-$488.76 billion) of the total economic burden. In particular, higher fractions attributable to heat temperatures were observed for provinces with the lowest level of GDP per capita but the highest level of urbanization.

DISCUSSION

This study shows a considerable economic burden of premature deaths attributed to non-optimum temperatures. These figures can help inform tailored prevention to tackle the large economic burden imposed by non-optimum temperatures.

Ozone modelling and mapping for risk assessment: An overview of different approaches for human and ecosystems health

Tropospheric ozone (O₃) is one of the most concernedair pollutants dueto its widespread impacts on land vegetated ecosystems and human health. Ozone is also the third greenhouse gas for radiative forcing. Consequently, it should be carefully and continuously monitored to estimate its potential adverse impacts especially inthose regions where concentrations are high. Continuous large-scale O₃ concentrations measurement is crucial but may be unfeasible because of economic and practical limitations; therefore, quantifying the real impact of O₃over large areas is currently an open challenge. Thus, one of the final objectives of O₃ modelling is to reproduce maps of continuous concentrations (both spatially and temporally) and risk assessment for human and ecosystem health. We here reviewedthe most relevant approaches used for O₃ modelling and mapping starting from the simplest geo-statistical approaches andincreasing in complexity up to simulations embedded into the global/regional circulation models and pro and cons of each mode are highlighted. The analysis showed that a simpler approach (mostly statistical models) is suitable for mappingO₃concentrationsat the local scale, where enough O₃concentration data are available. The associated error in mapping can be reduced by using more complex methodologies, based on co-variables. The models available at the regional or global level are used depending on the needed resolution and the domain where they are applied to. Increasing the resolution corresponds to an increase in the prediction but only up to a certain limit. However, with any approach, the ensemble models should be preferred.

O3 concentration and duration of exposure are factors influencing the environmental health risk of exercising in Rio Grande, Brazil

Ozone (O₃) represents a great threat to human health, contributing to respiratory diseases and premature mortality. This pollutant is often considered a critical pollutant in regions of southern Brazil. Exposure to this pollutant during vigorous physical activity should be the subject of thorough investigations due to the increased ventilation rate and altered breathing pattern present during vigorous physical activity that result in greater inhalation of O₃. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the health risk of exposure to low, mean, and high concentrations of O₃ during different durations of exercise in the city of Rio Grande (southern Brazil). Healthy young men (n = 45) performed cardiopulmonary exercise testing, and ventilation rate data were collected to predict total ventilation and pollutant inhalation during a 5 km running session. The O₃ concentration in the city of Rio Grande was obtained from data reported by the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS). The environmental health risk was calculated based on the potential intake dose. The lowest, mean, and highest concentrations of O₃ detected during the monitoring period were 32.5, 64.9, and 115.2 µg/m³, respectively. In all evaluated scenarios, there was a toxicological risk (RQ > 1), except when exercising when the O₃ concentration was lowest for the shortest length of time (p < 0.001). As the concentration of O₃ and the duration of the exposure increase, the health risk is increased. Therefore, O₃ concentration and duration of exposure are factors influencing the health risk of exercising. These findings are extremely relevant in cities that have high levels of O₃, such as the city of Rio Grande.

Exposure Risk of Global Surface O3 During the Boreal Spring Season

Surface ozone (O₃) is an oxidizing gaseous pollutant; long-term exposure to high O₃ concentrations adversely affects human health. Based on daily surface O₃ concentration data, the spatiotemporal characteristics of O₃ concentration, exposure risks, and driving meteorological factors in 347 cities and 10 major countries (China, Japan, India, South Korea, the United States, Poland, Spain, Germany, France, and the United Kingdom) worldwide were analyzed using the MAKESENS model, Moran' I analysis, and Generalized additive model (GAM). The results indicated that: in the boreal spring season from 2015 to 2020, the global O₃ concentration exhibited an increasing trend at a rate of 0.6 μg/m³/year because of the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and NOx changes caused by human activities. Due to the lockdown policies after the outbreak of COVID-19, the average O₃ concentration worldwide showed an inverted U-shaped growth during the study period, increasing from 21.9 μg/m³ in 2015 to 27.3 μg/m³ in 2019, and finally decreasing to 25.9 μg/m³ in 2020. According to exposure analytical methods, approximately 6.32% of the population (31.73 million people) in the major countries analyzed reside in rapidly increasing O₃ concentrations. 6.53% of the population (32.75 million people) in the major countries were exposed to a low O₃ concentration growth environment. Thus, the continuous increase of O₃ concentration worldwide is an important factor leading to increasing threats to human health. Further we found that mean wind speed, maximum temperature, and relative humidity are the main factors that determine the change of O₃ concentration. Our research results are of great significance to the continued implementation of strict air quality policies and prevention of population hazards. However, due to data limitations, this research can only provide general trends in O₃ and human health, and more detailed research will be carried out in the follow-up.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12403-022-00463-7.

The casual effects of COVID-19 lockdown on air quality and short-term health impacts in China

The outbreak of coronavirus (COVID-19) has forced China to lockdown many cities and restrict transportation, industrial, and social activities. This provides a great opportunity to look at the impacts of pandemic quarantine on air quality and premature death due to exposure to air pollution. In this study, we applied the difference-in-differences (DID) model to quantify the casual impacts of COVID-19 lockdown on air quality at 278 cities across China. A widely used exposure-response function was further utilized to estimate the short-term health impacts associated with changes in PM2.5 due to lockdown. Results show that lockdown has caused drastic reduction in air pollution level in terms of all criteria pollutants except ozone. On average, concentrations of PM2.5, PM10, NO2, SO2 and CO are estimated to drop by 14.3 μg/m3, 22.2 μg/m3, 17.7 μg/m3, 2.9 μg/m3, and 0.18 mg/m3 as the result of lockdown. Cities with more confirmed cases of COVID-19 are related to stronger responses in air quality, despite that similar lockdown measures were implemented by the local governments. The improvement of air quality caused by COVID-19 lockdown in northern cities is found to be smaller than that of southern cities. Avoided premature death associated with PM2.5 exposures over the 278 cities was estimated to be 50.8 thousand. Our results re-emphasize the effectiveness of emission controls on air quality and associated health impacts. The high cost of lockdown, still high level of air pollution during lockdown and smaller effects in northern cities implies that source-specific mitigation policies are needed for continuous and sustainable reduction of air pollution.

Years of Life Lost (YLL) Due to Short-Term Exposure to Ambient Air Pollution in China: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

(1) Background: Years of life lost (YLL) as a surrogate of health is important for supporting ambient air pollution related policy decisions. However, there has been little comprehensive evaluation of the short-term impact of air pollution on cause-specific YLL, especially in China. Hence in this study, we selected China as sentinel region in order to conduct a meta-analysis to evaluate disease-specific YLL due to all the main ambient air pollutants. (2) Methods: A meta-analysis was conducted to evaluate disease-specific YLL due to the main ambient air pollutants in China, and 19 studies were included. We conducted methodological quality and risk of bias assessment for each included study as well as for heterogeneity and publication bias. Subgroup analysis and sensitivity analysis were also performed. (3) Results: Meta-analysis indicated that increases in PM_2.5, PM₁₀, SO₂ and NO₂ were associated with 1.99–5.84 years increase in YLL from non-accidental diseases. The increase in YLL to cardiovascular disease (CVD) was associated with PM₁₀ and NO₂, and the increase in YLL to respiratory diseases (RD) was associated with PM₁₀. (4) Conclusions: Ambient air pollution was observed to be associated with several cause-specific YLL, increasing especially for elderly people and females.

Prospects for ozone pollution control in China: An epidemiological perspective

Severe surface ozone pollution has become widespread in China. To protect public health, Chinese scientific communities and government agencies have striven to mitigate ozone pollution. However, makers of pollution mitigation policies rarely consider epidemiological research, and communication between epidemiological researchers and the government is poor. Therefore, this article reviews the current mitigation policies and the National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) for ozone from an epidemiological perspective and proposes recommendations for researchers and policy makers on the basis of epidemiological evidence. We review current nationwide ozone control measures for mitigating ozone pollution from four dimensions: the integration of ozone and particulate matter control, ozone precursors control, ozone control in different seasons, and regional cooperation on the prevention of ozone pollution. In addition, we present environmental and epidemiological evidence and propose recommendations and discuss relevant ozone metrics and the criteria values of the NAAQS. We finally conclude that the disease burden attributable to ozone exposure in China may be underestimated and that the epidemiological research regarding the health effects of integrating ozone and particulate matter control is insufficient. Furthermore, atmospheric volatile organic compounds are severely detrimental to health, and related control policies are urgently required in China. We recommend a greater focus on winter ozone pollution and conclude that the health benefits of regional cooperation on ozone control and prevention are salient. We argue that daily average ozone concentration may be a more biologically relevant ozone metric than those currently used by the NAAQS, and accumulating epidemiological evidence supports revision of the standards. This review provides new insight for ozone mitigation policies and related epidemiological studies in China.

Acute associations between air pollution on premature rupture of membranes in Hefei, China

Numerous studies had focused on the association between air pollution and health outcomes in recent years. However, little evidence is available on associations between air pollutants and premature rupture of membranes (PROM). Therefore, we performed time-series analysis to evaluate the association between PROM and air pollution. The daily average concentrations of PM_2.5, SO₂ and NO₂ were 54.58 μg/m³, 13.06 μg/m³ and 46.09 μg/m³, respectively, and daily maximum 8-h average O₃ concentration was 95.67 μg/m³. The strongest effects of SO₂, NO₂ and O₃ were found in lag4, lag06 and lag09, and an increase of 10 μg/m³ in SO₂, NO₂ and O₃ was corresponding to increase in incidence of PROM of 8.74% (95% CI 2.12-15.79%), 3.09% (95% CI 0.64-5.59%) and 1.68% (95% CI 0.28-3.09%), respectively. There were no significant effects of PM_2.5 on PROM. Season-specific analyses found that the effects of PM_2.5, SO₂ and O₃ on PROM were more obvious in cold season, but the statistically significant effect of NO₂ was observed in warm season. We also found the modifying effects by maternal age on PROM, and we found that the effects of SO₂ and NO₂ on PROM were higher among younger mothers (< 35 years) than advanced age mothers (≥ 35 years); however, ≥ 35 years group were more vulnerable to O₃ than < 35 years group. This study indicates that air pollution exposure is an important risk factor for PROM and we wish this study could provide evidence to local government to take rigid approaches to control emissions of air pollutants.

Elemental and isotopic compositions in blank filters collecting atmospheric particulates

Background

The atmospheric particulates can be harmful to human health due to toxic substances sorbed onto particulates. Although the atmospheric particulates have been collected using different types of filters, few studies have reported background contents of major and trace element, and isotopic compositions in the blank filters used for collecting the particulates yet. Here, we first report background contents of major and trace elements, and isotopic compositions (Zn and Pb isotopes) in the blank filters. Then, we evaluate the best type of filter for elemental and isotope analyses in the particulates.

Findings

The contents of major elements are the lowest in the PTFE filter and become higher in the order of the Nylon, NC, and GF filters, indicating that either PTFE and/or Nylon filters are the most suitable for major element analysis in the atmospheric particulates. Likewise, the contents of trace elements are the lowest in the PTFE filter and become much higher in the order of the Nylon, NC, and GF filters, indicating that PTFE filter is the most suitable for trace element analysis in the atmospheric particulates. Otherwise, background elemental contents result in overestimating their concentrations in the atmospheric particulates. All δ66ZnJMC-Lyon values in two GF filters are within those from samples of the Chinese deserts and of the Chinese Loess Plateau. Likewise, their 206Pb/204Pb ratios are similar with those of samples from Xi’an and Beijing, indicating that the GF filter is not suitable for Zn and Pb isotope study in the atmospheric particulates.

Conclusions

This study suggests that the PTFE filter is the most suitable for elemental and isotope study in the atmospheric particulates and that the GF filter cannot be used for source identification in the atmospheric particulates using Zn and Pb isotopes.

The impact of life behavior and environment on particulate matter in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

BACKGROUND

The effect of exposure to particulate matter (PM) on human health is a global public health concern. To develop an effective strategy to reduce PM exposure, we performed detailed questionnaire surveys regarding the type of lifestyle required to avoid PM exposure in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). We correlated the data with real-time PM concentration during the winter season.

METHODS

We enrolled 104 patients with COPD aged 40 years or older. Detailed questionnaire surveys were conducted among participants, and internet of things-based sensors were installed at their homes to measure the indoor PM_2.5 concentration, which was continuously monitored between December 2019 and February 2020. The associations among PM_2.5 concentration, patients' lifestyles, and the impact of both concentration and lifestyle on COPD exacerbation were analyzed.

RESULTS

Mean outdoor PM_2.5 concentration was higher than mean indoor PM_2.5 concentration during the study period (21.28 ± 5.09 μg/m³ vs. 12.75 ± 7.64 μg/m³), with a mean difference of 8.53 ± 7.99 μg/m³. Among the various social factors and practices that aim to avoid exposure to PM, six practices and economic statuses were confirmed to reduce indoor PM_2.5 concentration compared to outdoor concentration; Contrarily, these practices created a significant difference between the outdoor and indoor PM_2.5 concentrations. The six practice items that showed a significant difference were 1) checking air quality forecast (the difference: -13.31 ± 1.35 μg/m³, p = 0.013), 2) indoor air filter operated (-15.43 ± 1.32 μg/m³, p < 0.001), 3) ventilating home by opening the windows (-13.14 ± 1.28 μg/m³, p = 0.013), 4) checking filters of the air filter (-13.95 ± 1.50 μg/m³, p = 0.002), 5) refraining from going out when outside PM is high (-12.52 ± 1.37 μg/m³, p = 0.039), 6) wearing a mask when going out (-13.38 ± 1.32 μg/m³, p = 0.017). The higher the household income and economic level, the more significant the difference in the PM_2.5 concentration. Severe exacerbation was more prevalent among patients with acute exacerbation as the exposure time of PM_2.5≥35 μg/m³ or PM_2.5≥75 μg/m³.

CONCLUSION

Lifestyle and economic levels can affect the indoor PM_2.5 concentration, which may impact COPD exacerbation.

Ambient nitrogen dioxide and years of life lost from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in the elderly: A multicity study in China

BACKGROUND

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, and nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) is a potential environmental risk factor for COPD. However, association between ambient NO₂ and COPD risk remains underrecognized, especially in the elderly. This study aimed to explore association between NO₂ and years of life lost (YLL) from COPD in the elderly from 2013 to 2017 in 37 major cities in China.

METHODS

Ambient NO₂ data and COPD morality information were obtained from the National Urban Air Quality Real-time Publishing Platform and the Chinese Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, respectively. City-specific relative changes in YLL were estimated by generalized additive models, and meta-analysis was used to combine city-specific results. Potential modifications were evaluated. Economic loss due to excess YLL from COPD associated with ambient NO₂ was evaluated.

RESULTS

An increase of 10 μg/m³ in NO₂ for 2-day moving average led to 0.94% (95% CI: 0.56%, 1.31%) relative increase in COPD YLL. The associations were significantly higher in South than North China. Higher estimated effects were found in the warm than the cool season in the southern region. The relevant economic loss accounted for 0.04% (95% CI: 0.02%, 0.05%) of the gross domestic product (GDP) in China during the same period.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings provide evidence on the impact of short-term NO₂ exposure on COPD YLL in the elderly, which indicated more stringent control of NO₂ pollution and highlighted the need to protect the elderly during the warm season in South China.

How atmospheric pollutants impact the development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and lung cancer: A var-based model

The impact of air pollution on humans is a worrisome factor that has gained prominence over the years due to the importance of the topic to society. Lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are among the diseases associated with pollution that increase the mortality rate in Brazil and worldwide. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the impacts of air pollutants on mortality rates from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and lung cancer (LC) using vector autoregressive (VAR) modeling. The adjusted model was a VAR(1) and, according to the Granger causality test, the air pollutants selected were PM₁₀, O₃, CO, NO₂, and SO₂. The shocks applied to the variables O₃, using the impulse response function, negatively impacted COPD; in the eighth period, which is stabilized. The LC variable suffered more significant variations from O₃ and after a shock in this variable, an initially negative response in LC occurred and the series stabilized in period nine. After one year, 20.19% of COPD variance was explained by O₃. After twelve months, the atmospheric pollutant O₃ represented 5.00% and NO₂ represented 4.02% of LC variance. Moreover, the variables that caused the highest impact on COPD and LC mortality rates were O₃ and NO₂, indicating that air pollution influences the clinical state of people who have these diseases and even contributes to their development. The VAR model was able to identify the air pollutants that have the most significant impact on the diseases analyzed and explained the interrelationship between them.

The association between ozone and years of life lost from stroke, 2013-2017: A retrospective regression analysis in 48 major Chinese cities

The adverse impact of ozone on public health has attracted worldwide attention. However, few studies have addressed the contribution of ozone to disease burden caused by cardiovascular diseases. This study aimed to examine the association between short-term ozone exposure and years of life lost (YLL) from stroke in 48 Chinese cities. City-specific relative change of YLL was estimated by a generalized additive model, then pooled using random-effects meta-analysis. The potential effect modification of individual, climatic, and city-level characteristics was also evaluated. A 10 μg/m³ increase in three-day moving average of ozone concentration was associated with 0.54% (95% CI: 0.41%, 0.66%), 0.25% (95% CI: 0.10%, 0.40%), and 0.70% (95% CI: 0.48%, 0.92%) relative increment in YLL from stroke, haemorrhagic stroke, and ischaemic stroke, respectively. The association magnitudes were larger in elderly people, females, or higher quartile groups of temperature (all p < 0.01). The potential avoidable life lost due to YLL from stroke was 5.5 days per deceased person if ozone concentration could reduce to the standard recommended by the World Health Organization (100 μg/m³). Our findings provided robust evidence on the impact of short-term ozone exposure on YLL from stroke and called for more stringent regulation of ozone.

The impact of carbon monoxide on years of life lost and modified effect by individual- and city-level characteristics: Evidence from a nationwide time-series study in China

Ambient carbon monoxide (CO) has been linked with mortality and morbidity. Little evidence is available regarding the relation between CO and years of life lost (YLL). Using data from 48 major cities in China from 2013 to 2017, we applied generalized additive models and random effects meta-analyses to explore the effects of CO on YLL from various diseases. Stratified analyses and meta-regression were performed to estimate potential effect modifications of demographic factors, regions, meteorological factors, co-pollutants, urbanization rate, economic level and health service level. Additional life gains due to avoidable YLL under certain scenario were also evaluated. Results indicated that a 1-mg/m³ increase of CO concentrations (lagged over 0-3 d), was associated with 2.08% (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.35%, 2.80%), 2.35% (95% CI: 1.39%, 3.30%), 1.47% (95% CI: -0.01%, 2.93%), 2.28% (95% CI: 1.09%, 3.47%), 2.42% (95% CI: 1.31%, 3.54%), 2.09% (95% CI: 0.47%, 3.72%) increments in daily YLL from non-accidental causes, cardiovascular diseases, respiratory diseases, coronary heart disease, stroke and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, respectively. These associations were robust to the adjustment of co-pollutants and varied substantially by geography and demographic characteristics. Associations were stronger in the elder people (≥65 years), females, population with low education attainment, and lived in south region, than younger people, males, high educated populations and those lived in north region. Moreover, the harmful impact of increasing CO concentration could be attenuated by city-level characteristics, including the growth of urbanization rate, gross domestic product (GDP), GDP per capita, number of hospital beds, doctors and hospitals. Finally, an estimated life of 0.081 (95% CI: -0.027, 0.190) years would be gained per deceased people if CO concentration could fall to 1 mg/m³. In conclusions, this nationwide analysis showed significant associations between short-term CO exposure and cause-specific YLL. The heterogeneity of both individual- and city-level characteristics should be considered for relevant intervention. These findings may have significant public health implications for the reduction of CO-attributed disease burden in China.

Years of life lost from ischaemic and haemorrhagic stroke related to ambient nitrogen dioxide exposure: A multicity study in China

Few multicity studies have been conducted in developing countries to distinguish the acute effects of ambient nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) on the years of life lost (YLL) from different subtypes of stroke. We aimed to differentiate the associations between NO₂ exposure and YLL from major pathological types of stroke in China, and estimate the relevant economic loss. A time-series study was conducted to explore the associations between short-term NO₂ exposure and YLL from ischaemic and haemorrhagic stroke from 2013 to 2017 in 48 Chinese cities. Daily NO₂ data and stroke mortality counts for each city were obtained from the National Urban Air Quality Real-time Publishing Platform and Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, respectively. Generalized additive models were applied to estimate the cumulative effects of NO₂ in each city, and meta-analysis was used to combine the city-specific estimates. The relevant economic loss was estimated using the method of the value per statistical life year (VSLY). A 10 μg/m³ increase in ambient NO₂ concentration on the present day and previous day (lag 0-1) would lead to relatively higher increments in percentage change of YLL from ischaemic stroke (0.82%, 95% CI: 0.46%, 1.19%) than haemorrhagic stroke (0.46%, 95% CI: 0.09%, 0.84%). The association was significantly stronger in the low-education population than high-education population for ischaemic stroke. Furthermore, significantly higher association was found in South China than those in North China for both subtypes of stroke. Economic loss due to excess YLL from ischaemic stroke related to NO₂ exposure was higher than that for haemorrhagic stroke. Our study indicated higher association and economic loss of ischaemic than haemorrhagic stroke related to NO₂ exposure in China, which informed priorities for type-specific stroke prevention strategies related to NO₂ pollution and vulnerable population protection.

Ambient ozone pollution and years of life lost: Association, effect modification, and additional life gain from a nationwide analysis in China

BACKGROUND

Ozone is one of the dominant air pollutants due to its impact on disease burden and increasing trend in concentration. However, evidence regarding short-term effect of ozone on years of life lost (YLL) is scarce.

METHODS

A national time-series study was conducted in 48 large Chinese cities from 2013 to 2017. Generalized additive model coupled with random effects model were used to estimate national-average associations of ozone with YLL. Potential modifiers and additional life gain due to avoidable YLL under certain scenario were also evaluated.

RESULTS

The average annual mean ozone concentration of these cities was 86.9 μg/m³. For 10 μg/m³ increase in 3-day moving average ozone concentration, we estimated 0.37% [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.29%, 0.46%] increase in YLL from nonaccidental causes, 0.38% (95% CI: 0.30%, 0.46%) increase in YLL from cardiovascular diseases, and 0.36% (95% CI: 0.16%, 0.56%) increase in YLL from respiratory diseases. Moreover, the associations were more evident in people with less education and in cities with lower carbon monoxide concentration or those located at north region with lower mean temperature. Finally, an estimated life of 0.055 (95% CI: 0.043, 0.068) years would be gained per deceased people if ozone concentration could fall to 100 μg/m³.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings indicated robust associations between short-term exposure to ozone and YLL from nonaccidental causes and cardiopulmonary diseases. Relevant intervention design should take the heterogeneity of both individual- and city-level characteristics into account. Implementation of more stringent standard is beneficial for alleviating YLL caused by ozone.

Short term association between air pollution (PM10, NO2 and O3) and secondary spontaneous pneumothorax

Secondary spontaneous pneumothorax (SSP) occurs in the context of underlying pulmonary disease. Our objectives were to estimate the relationship between SSP and short term air pollution exposure with nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), ozone (O₃) and particulate matter with a diameter ≤ 10 μm (PM₁₀). Patients with SSP were included between June 1, 2009 and May 31, 2013, in 14 Emergency Departments in France. In this case–crossover design study, PM_10, NO₂, and O₃ data were collected hourly from monitoring stations. Quantitative values, fast increase in air pollutant concentration, and air quality threshold exceedance were retained. These assessments were calculated for each of the 4 days prior to the event (Lag 1–Lag 4) for all case and control period, and for the entire exposure period. A total of 135 patients with SSP were included, with a mean age of 55.56 (SD 18.54) years. For short term exposure of PM₁₀, NO₂ and O₃, no differences were observed between case and control periods in terms of quantitative values of air pollutant exposure (P > 0.68), fast increase in concentration (P > 0.12) or air quality threshold exceedance (P > 0.68). An association between O₃ exposures cannot be ruled out, especially when considering the Lag 2 prior to the event and in warm seasons.

Breathing-rate adjusted population exposure to ozone and its oxidation products in 333 cities in China

While PM_2.5 (particles with aerodynamic diameter less than 2.5 µm) concentrations in China are beginning to decline because of pollution abatement measures, ozone (O₃) concentrations continue to rise. In this study, we have used a Monte Carlo approach to estimate breathing-rate adjusted (BRA) population exposure to ozone and its oxidation products based on hourly O₃ measurements collected in 2017 from monitoring stations in 333 Chinese cities. The median measured outdoor O₃ concentration in these cities was 31 ppb, while the median calculated indoor concentrations of ozone and ozone-derived oxidation products were 7.5 ppb and 21 ppb, respectively. The median BRA O₃ exposure concentration was 12 ppb, ranging from 2.2 ppb to 18 ppb among the cities. Eastern and central cities had higher exposure concentrations, while northeastern and western cities had lower. On average, the residents of these cities spent 88% of their time indoors. Consequently, even with breathing rate adjustments, indoor O₃ exposure averaged 50% of the total O₃ exposure nationwide. The median BRA exposure concentration for ozone-derived products was 18 ppb, ranging from 4.5 ppb to 32 ppb among the cities. On average, BRA exposure concentrations were 1.6 times larger for oxidation products than for ozone, while seasonal variations of exposure concentrations were smaller for oxidation products than for ozone. As many of the products of indoor ozone chemistry are toxic, the health consequences of exposure to such products should be further investigated.

Spatiotemporal distribution of ground-level ozone in China at a city level

In recent years, ozone (O3) pollution in China has shown a worsening trend. Due to the vast territory of China, O3 pollution is a widespread and complex problem. It is vital to understand the current spatiotemporal distribution of O3 pollution in China. In this study, we collected hourly data on O3 concentrations in 338 cities from January 1, 2016, to February 28, 2019, to analyze O3 pollution in China from a spatiotemporal perspective. The spatial analysis showed that the O3 concentrations exceeded the limit in seven geographical regions of China to some extent, with more serious pollution in North, East, and Central China. The O3 concentrations in the eastern areas were usually higher than those in the western areas. The temporal analysis showed seasonal variations in O3 concentration, with the highest O3 concentration in the summer and the lowest in the winter. The weekend effect, which occurs in other countries (such as the USA), was found only in some cities in China. We also found that the highest O3 concentration usually occurred in the afternoon and the lowest was in the early morning. The comprehensive analysis in this paper could improve our understanding of the severity of O3 pollution in China.

Ambient air pollution and risk of type 2 diabetes in the Chinese

We performed a time series analysis to investigate the potential association between exposure to ambient air pollution and type 2 diabetes (T2D) incidence in the Chinese population. Monthly time series data between 2008 and 2015 on ambient air pollutants and incident T2D (N = 25,130) were obtained from the Environment Monitoring Center of Ningbo and the Chronic Disease Surveillance System of Ningbo. Relative risks (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) of incident T2D per 10 μg/m³ increases in ambient air pollutants were estimated from Poisson generalized additive models. Exposure to particulate matter < 10 μm (PM₁₀) and sulfur dioxide (SO₂) was associated with increased T2D incidence. The relative risks (RRs) of each increment in 10 μg/m³ of PM₁₀ and SO₂ were 1.62 (95% CI, 1.16-2.28) and 1.63 (95% CI, 1.12-2.38) for overall participants, whereas for ozone (O₃) exposure, the RRs were 0.78 (95% CI, 0.68-0.90) for overall participants, 0.78 (95% CI, 0.69-0.90) for males, and 0.78 (95% CI, 0.67-0.91) for females, respectively. Exposure to PM₁₀ and SO₂ is positively associated with T2D incidence, whereas O₃ is negatively associated with T2D incidence.

Sex-specific differences regarding seasonal variations of incidence and mortality in patients with myocardial infarction in Germany

BACKGROUND

Seasonal variation regarding the incidence and the short-term mortality of acute myocardial infarction (MI) was frequently reported, but data about sex-specific differences are sparse.

METHODS

We analysed the impact of seasons and temperature on incidence and in-hospital mortality of patients with acute MI in Germany between 2005 and 2015.

RESULTS

The nationwide sample comprised 3,008,188 hospitalizations of MI patients (2005-2015). The incidence was 334.7/100,000 citizens/year. Incidence inclined from 316.3 to 341.6/100,000 citizens/year (β 0.17 [0.10 to 0.24], P < 0.001), while in-hospital mortality rate decreased from 14.1% to 11.3% (β -0.29 [-0.30 to -0.28], P < 0.001). Overall, 377,028 (12.5%) patients died in-hospital. Seasonal variation of both incidence and in-hospital mortality was of substantial magnitude. Seasonal incidence (86.1 vs. 79.0/100,000 citizens/year, P < 0.001) and in-hospital mortality (13.2% vs. 12.1%, P < 0.001) were higher in winter than in summer. Risk to die in winter was elevated (OR 1.080 (95% CI 1.069-1.091), P < 0.001) compared to summer season independently of sex, age and comorbidities. Reperfusion treatment with drug eluting stents and coronary artery bypass graft were more often used in summer. We observed sex-specific differences regarding the seasonal variation of in-hospital mortality: males showed lowest mortality in summer, while females during fall. Low temperature dependency of mortality seems more pronounced in males.

CONCLUSION

Incidence of acute MI increased 2005-2015, while in-hospital mortality rate decreased. Seasonal variation of incidence and in-hospital mortality were of substantial magnitude with lowest incidence and lowest mortality in the summer season. Additionally, we observed sex-specific differences regarding the seasonal variation of the in-hospital mortality.

Ambient air pollution in gastrointestinal endoscopy unit; rationale and design of a prospective study

BACKGROUND

A gastrointestinal endoscopy unit is frequently exposed to gastrointestinal gas expelled from patients and electrocoagulated tissue through carbonation for the treatment of gastrointestinal neoplasms or hemostasis of gastrointestinal bleeding. This can be potentially harmful to the health of not only the healthcare personnel but also patients who undergo endoscopic examinations. However, there has been scarce data on air quality in the endoscopy unit. This study aimed to measure the air quality in the gastrointestinal endoscopy unit.

METHODS

This is a prospective study using conventional portable passive air quality monitoring sensors in the gastrointestinal endoscopy unit. We will check the 6 main indoor air quality indices, as well as the atmospheric temperature, pressure, and humidity in the endoscopy unit of a single hospital in Korea. These indices are as follows: carbon dioxide (CO2), total volatile organic compounds (VOCs), particulate matter that has a diameter of <2.5 μm, nitrogen dioxide (NO2), carbon monoxide (CO), and ozone. The indices will be checked in the endoscopy unit, including the procedural area, recovery area, and area for disinfection and cleansing of equipment, at 1-minute intervals for at least 1 week, and the type and number of endoscopic procedures will also be recorded. The primary outcome of this study is to determine whether the air quality indices exceed safety thresholds and whether there is any association between ambient air pollution and the type and number of endoscopic procedures.

CONCLUSION

The results of this study will provide evidence for health-related protective strategies for medical practitioners and patients in the endoscopy unit.