Association of ambient air pollution exposure and its variability with subjective sleep quality in China: A multilevel modeling analysis

Association of long-term exposure to PM2.5 and its chemical components with the reduced quality of sleep

Poor sleep quality is a widespread concern. While the influence of particle exposure on sleep disturbances has received considerable attention, research exploring other dimensions of sleep quality and the chemical components of the particles remains limited. We employed a marginal structural model to explore the association of long-term exposure to PM2.5 and its chemical components with poor sleep quality. The odds ratio (95 % CI) for poor sleep quality was 1.335 (1.292-1.378), 1.097 (1.080-1.113), 1.137 (1.100-1.174), 1.197 (1.156-1.240), and 1.124 (1.107-1.140) per IQR increase in the concentration of PM2.5, SO42-, NO3-, NH4+, and BC, respectively. The score (and 95 % CI) of sleep latency, use of sleep medication, habitual sleep efficiency, subjective sleep quality, and daytime dysfunction were affected by PM2.5, with an increase of 0.059 (0.050-0.069), 0.054 (0.049-0.059), 0.011 (0.008-0.014), 0.011 (0.005-0.018), and 0.026 (0.018-0.034) per IQR increase in PM2.5 concentrations, respectively. This study supports the association of long-term exposure to PM2.5 and its chemical components with poor sleep quality.

Long-term exposure to ozone and sleep disorders in children: A multicity study in China

Evidence regarding the link between long-term ambient ozone (O3) exposure and childhood sleep disorders is little. This study aims to examine the associations between long-term exposure to O3 and sleep disorders in children. We conducted a population-based cross-sectional survey, including 185,428 children aged 6-18 years in 173 schools across 14 Chinese cities during 2012 and 2018. Parents or guardians completed a checklist using Sleep Disturbance Scale for Children, and O3 exposure at residential and school addresses was estimated using a satellite-based spatiotemporal model. We used generalized linear mixed models to test the associations with adjustment for factors including socio-demographic variables, lifestyle, meteorology and multiple pollutants. Mean concentrations of O3, particulate matter with diameters ≤2.5 mm (PM2.5) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) were 89.0 μg/m3, 42.5 μg/m3 and 34.4 μg/m3, respectively. O3 and NO2 concentrations were similar among provinces, while PM2.5 concentration varied significantly among provinces. Overall, 19.4% of children had at least one sleep disorder. Long-term exposure to O3 was positively associated with odds of sleep disorders for all subtypes. For example, each interquartile increment in home-school O3 concentrations was associated with a higher odds ratio for global sleep disorder, at 1.22 (95% confidence interval: 1.18, 1.26). Similar associations were observed for sleep disorder subtypes. The associations remained similar after adjustment for PM2.5 and NO2. Moreover, these associations were heterogeneous regionally, with more prominent associations among children residing in southeast region than in northeast and northwest regions in China. We concluded that long-term exposure to O3 is positively associated with risks of childhood sleep disorders. These associations varied by geographical region of China.

Heatwave exposure in relation to decreased sleep duration in older adults

Few studies have delved into the effects of heatwaves on sleep duration loss among older adults. Our study examined correlations between heatwave exposure and sleep duration reductions in this demographic. Utilizing data of 7,240 older adults drawn from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) from 2015 to 2018, we assessed sleep duration differences between the baseline year (2015) and follow-up year (2018). Absolute reductions in sleep duration were defined as differences of ≥ 1, 1.5, or 2 h. Changes in sleep duration were categorized based on cut-offs of 5 and 8 h, including excessive decrease, moderate to short and persistent short sleep duration types. 12 heatwave definitions combining four thresholds (90th, 92.5th, 95th, and 97.5th percentiles of daily minimum temperature) and three durations (≥2, ≥3 and ≥ 4 days) were used. Heatwave exposure was determined by the difference in the number of 12 preceding months' heatwave days or events in 2015 and the number of 12 preceding months' heatwave days or events in 2018. The results showed that increased heatwave events (defined as ≥ P90th percentile & lasting three days) were associated with a higher likelihood of ≥ 1-hour sleep reduction and persistent short sleep duration. An increase in heatwave event (defined as ≥ P95th percentile & lasting three days) was linked to shifts from moderate to short sleep duration. For the association between an absolute reduction in sleep duration and heatwave exposure, while higher thresholds signified greater sleep reduction risks, the effect estimates of longer durations were not uniformly consistent. We observed that air pollution and green space modified the relationship between heatwaves and sleep duration. Females, urban residents, and individuals with chronic diseases were identified as vulnerable populations. This study found that increased heatwave exposure was associated with a higher risk of sleep duration loss in older adults.

Preparation of dopamine-modified sea squirt cellulose hydrogel dust-fixing agent to prevent raising of dust

Sea squirts, a tunicate, are found in all oceans and can foul marine ports and aquaculture, mainly affecting shipping and biodiversity. In this study, cellulose was extracted from sea squirts, and its hydrophilic properties were improved by substituting the hydrogen ions of the cellulose -OH with dopamine. The modified cellulose was used to prepare a hydrogel for use as a dust-fixing agent (CDP) to reduce air pollution caused by dust. After response surface method optimization, the proportions of binder, water-retaining agent, wetting agent, and antifreeze in CDP were 0.97, 1.44, 0.23, and 6.32%, respectively. This composition improved the wetting ability and permeability of CDP on particle surfaces. CDP exhibited good water retention at -11-50 °C. CDP reduced the wind erosion rate of dust at a wind speed of 12 m/s to 1.18%. The molecular dynamics method was used to analyze the wetting process and mechanism of CDP, revealing that hydrogen bonds were the dominant force at the solid-liquid interface. The adsorption of CDP onto the surface of coal increased the number of hydrophilic points. Water molecules were adsorbed on these hydrophilic points through hydrogen bonding, improving the binding energy between the solid and liquid interfaces. The application of ascidian cellulose in dust control makes full use of the biological value of ascidians, promoting sustainable development of the global biological economy.

Air pollution and motor vehicle collisions in New York city

Road traffic accidents are a pervasive feature of everyday life, killing 36,500 people, injuring 4.5 million and, overall, generating costs to the American society of $340 billion in 2019. Understanding the underlying factors can improve the design of prevention strategies. We use all road traffic collisions in New York City between 2013 and 2021 (N = 1,269,600) and match each individual collision to the nearest weather and air pollution station. Our study uses highly disaggregated data using an hourly frequency of collisions at a fine spatial level incorporating various air pollutants and weather factors. We employ an instrumental variable approach using temperature inversions to provide exogenous variation in air pollution addressing endogeneity and measurement error concerns. We find that higher concentrations of carbon monoxide (CO) and sulfur dioxide (SO2) increase the number of collisions but leave the severity (persons injured or killed) unaffected. Part of this can be explained by the effect of air pollutants on aggressive behavior: CO (p < .05) and SO2 (p < .01) increase the number of collisions caused by aggressive driving. Interestingly, this channel is only present in male drivers. Our results provide additional evidence that air pollution not only adversely affects health, but also has "non-health" related effects which are costly for the society.

Exposures to ambient air pollutants increase prevalence of sleep disorder in adults: Evidence from Wuhan Chronic Disease Cohort Study (WCDCS)

BACKGROUND

Sleep disorder contributes to memory dysfunction and chronic diseases. Clear evidence of environment disturbance, such as residential noise, are associated with an increased risk of sleep disorder. However, not enough studies have been conducted on association between residential air pollutants and sleep disorder. We sought to determine whether exposures to residential air pollutants associated with risk of sleep disorder among adults.

METHODS

Using the dataset of the Wuhan Chronic Disease Cohort Study (WCDCS), we investigated the prevalence of sleep disorder and five sleep disorder symptoms in the study. The data of air pollutants (including PM10, PM2.5, NO2, SO2 and O3) were obtained from 10 air quality monitoring stations in Wuhan. We utilized logistic regression model to evaluate the associations of five types of air pollutants with odds ratio (OR) of sleep disorder and symptoms. The potential moderating effects of socio-demographic factors in the associations were explored using the interaction effects model.

RESULTS

Of the study participants, 52.1 % had sleep disorder. Exposures to higher concentrations of air pollutants were associated with increased prevalence of sleep disorder. For example, per interquartile range (IQR) increases in concentrations of PM10, PM2.5 or SO2 corresponded to the increase of sleep disorder increased prevalence at 14.7 % (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 1.147, 95 %CI:1.062, 1.240), 8.9 % (aOR = 1.089, 95 %CI: 1.003, 1.182) and 15.8 % (aOR = 1.158, 95 %CI: 1.065, 1.260). For symptoms specific analyses, significant linkages of PM10, PM2.5, SO2 with difficulty in falling asleep, wake up after falling asleep and early awaken were observed. Moderating effects of age and place of residence on the linkages of PM10 with increased prevalence of sleep disorder were identified.

CONCLUSION

Higher level of air pollution exposure could increase the prevalence of sleep disorder. Middle-aged and elderly population, as well as the rural residents are more likely to suffer from sleep disorder.

Long-term exposure to ambient air pollution, circadian syndrome and cardiovascular disease: A nationwide study in China

OBJECTIVES

Epidemiological evidence suggests associations between ambient air pollution and cardiovascular disease (CVD), while circadian rhythm dysregulation, presented by circadian syndrome (CircS), is emerging as a new proxy to cardiovascular disorder that could provide a bridge between them. The present study aims to clarify the effect of high levels ambient air pollution exposure on CircS and CVD in China.

METHODS

From the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study, we recruited 9116 Chinese participants in 2011 and followed them to 2015. A spatiotemporal model was applied to estimate exposure to particles with diameters ≤2.5 μm (PM_2.5). The variable CircS was defined based on 7 components, including the 5 components used to define metabolic syndrome as well as other two components, lack of sleep and depression. The associations between PM_2.5 exposure and prevalent CircS as well as incident CVD were modeled via logistic regression analysis displaying odds ratios (ORs) and 95 % CIs (confidence intervals). A mediation analysis was undertaken to identify the potential mediating role of CircS between PM_2.5 exposure and CVD.

RESULTS

The mean age (standard deviation) was 59 (9) and 48.22 % were male. The OR (95 % CI) between the highest (Q4) and the lowest (Q1) quartile of PM_2.5 exposure for CircS was 1.13 (1.01-1.28) in 2011 and 1.44 (1.22-1.72) in 2015. The cumulative effect of the components of CircS became more obvious with the increase of the PM_2.5 quartile exposure. For the Q4 versus Q1 of PM_2.5 increment, the multivariate-adjusted OR (95 % CI) was 1.66 (1.20-2.29) for CVD incidence. CircS partially mediated the association between PM_2.5 exposure and CVD.

CONCLUSIONS

Exposure to PM_2.5 is a risk factor for CircS and CVD, and the effect of PM_2.5 on CVD may be explained by CircS. Improving air quality would have high value in preventing CircS as well as CVD in public health.

Morphology and Photocatalytic Activity of Zinc Oxide Reinforced Polymer Composites: A Mini Review

There is an approximately 3% of fresh water available globally for utilization, while the rest of the water is not available for usage, leaving billions of people with less water. Less water availability means that the majority of water consists of pollutants either in ground water or drinking water, which in turn may have a negative impact on the environment and people. Various methods such as plasma technology, flocculation, neutralization, and disinfection have been utilized for wastewater treatment. The wastewater treatment methods have been found to be selective in terms of the removal of other pollutants, as a result, the majority of them are unable to remove pollutants such as antibiotics at a trace level. In order to ensure that there is a complete removal of pollutants from water, there is a need for the development of alternative wastewater treatment methods. The use of solar light by photocatalysis is an alternative method for the degradation of toxic pollutants. Different photocatalysts such as zinc oxide (ZnO), titanium dioxide (TiO2), and silver (Ag) have been used in the process of photocatalysis. However, the above photocatalysts were found to have drawbacks such as agglomeration at higher contents and health problems during transportation. To solve the above problem, the nanoparticles were immobilized in various matrices such as polymers and ceramics, with polymers being preferred because of low cost, chemical inertness, and high durability. The current review discusses various methods for the preparation of ZnO and its synergy with other nanoparticles incorporated in various polymer matrices. Because it is known that the preparation method(s) affects the morphology, the morphology and the photocatalytic activity of various ZnO/polymer composites and hybrid systems of ZnO/other nanoparticles/polymer composites are discussed in depth.