High airborne PM2.5 chlorine concentrations link to diabetes surge in Portugal

Chlorination in the pandemic times: The current state of the art for monitoring chlorine residual in water and chlorine exposure in air

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the use of chlorine-based disinfectants has surged due to their excellent performance and cost-effectiveness in intercepting the spread of the virus and bacteria in water and air. Many authorities have demanded strict chlorine dosage for disinfection to ensure sufficient chlorine residual for inactivating viruses and bacteria while not posing harmful effects to humans as well as the environment. Reliable chlorine sensing techniques have therefore become the keys to ensure a balance between chlorine disinfection efficiency and disinfection safety. Up to now, there is still a lack of comprehensive review that collates and appraises the recently available techniques from a practical point of view. In this work, we intend to present a detailed overview of the recent advances in monitoring chlorine in both dissolved and gaseous forms aiming to present valuable information in terms of method accuracy, sensitivity, stability, reliability, and applicability, which in turn guides future sensor development. Data on the analytical performance of different techniques and environmental impacts associated with the dominated chemical-based techniques are thus discussed. Finally, this study concludes with highlights of gaps in knowledge and trends for future chlorine sensing development. Due to the increasing use of chlorine in disinfection and chemical synthesis, we believe the information present in this review is a relevant and timely resource for the water treatment industry, healthcare sector, and environmental organizations.

Chemical and morpho-structural characterization of atmospheric aerosol (PM10 and PM2.5) in a city of São Paulo state, Brazil

To access the sources of air pollutants is crucial to control atmospheric pollution in urban areas, minimizing human exposure. Particulate matter is a pollutant of great concern making its chemical and morpho-structural characterization of enormous importance. The present work aims at the characterization of atmospheric PM₁₀ and PM_2.5. Data of the aerosol mass concentration was correlated by multivariate analysis with water-soluble ion fraction composition accessed by ion chromatography (IC), as well as with meteorological information and air mass backward trajectories. The gravimetric analysis presented average values 3 to 4 times higher than the guide values recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). A morpho-structural analysis by SEM/FEG coupled to EDS was also carried out identifying the coarse fraction elements from minerals and from soil resuspension organic spherical particles that originated from combustion processes as well as Ti, associated with long-distance transportation. In the fine fraction, Zn with origin probably in tires and vehicle brakes was found. These origins were confirmed by the air masses' backward trajectories obtained by the HYSPLIT model (NOAA). This study contributes to a better understanding of the complex composition of the particulate material in the atmosphere of Araraquara City, resulting from the combination of local and long-distance sources, and serves as a basis for the comparison with future studies related to the air quality at this and other regions in Brazil and in the world.

Nontraditional Risk Factors for Obesity in Modern Society

Overweight and obesity, which have rapidly increased around the world in recent years, are significant health problems. They can lead to various morbidities, including cardiovascular diseases, cerebrovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, some types of cancer, and even death. Obesity is caused by an energy imbalance due to excessive calorie intake and insufficient energy consumption, and genetic factors and individual behavioral problems are also known to be major contributing factors. However, these are insufficient to explain the surge in obesity that has occurred in recent decades. Recent studies have suggested that environmental factors arising from the process of socioeconomic development and modernization contribute to this phenomenon. These environmental factors include light pollution due to artificial lighting, air pollution, endocrine-disrupting chemicals, and reduced exposure to green spaces due to urbanization of residential areas. In this manuscript, the findings and mechanisms of these novel risk factors causing overweight and obesity are reviewed.

In Vitro and In Vivo Experimental Studies of PM2.5 on Disease Progression

Air pollution is a very critical issue worldwide, particularly in developing countries. Particulate matter (PM) is a type of air pollution that comprises a heterogeneous mixture of different particle sizes and chemical compositions. There are various sources of fine PM (PM2.5), and the components may also have different effects on people. The pathogenesis of PM2.5 in several diseases remains to be clarified. There is a long history of epidemiological research on PM2.5 in several diseases. Numerous studies show that PM2.5 can induce a variety of chronic diseases, such as respiratory system damage, cardiovascular dysfunction, and diabetes mellitus. However, the epidemiological evidence associated with potential mechanisms in the progression of diseases need to be proved precisely through in vitro and in vivo investigations. Suggested mechanisms of PM2.5 that lead to adverse effects and chronic diseases include increasing oxidative stress, inflammatory responses, and genotoxicity. The aim of this review is to provide a brief overview of in vitro and in vivo experimental studies of PM2.5 in the progression of various diseases from the last decade. The summarized research results could provide clear information about the mechanisms and progression of PM2.5-induced disease.

The health effects of ambient PM2.5 and potential mechanisms

The impacts of ambient PM2.5 on public health have become great concerns worldwide, especially in the developing countries. Epidemiological and toxicological studies have shown that PM2.5 does not only induce cardiopulmonary disorders and/or impairments, but also contributes to a variety of other adverse health effects, such as driving the initiation and progression of diabetes mellitus and eliciting adverse birth outcomes. Of note, recent findings have demonstrated that PM2.5 may still pose a hazard to public health even at very low levels (far below national standards) of exposure. The proposed underlying mechanisms whereby PM2.5 causes adverse effects to public health include inducing intracellular oxidative stress, mutagenicity/genotoxicity and inflammatory responses. The present review aims to provide an brief overview of new insights into the molecular mechanisms linking ambient PM2.5 exposure and health effects, which were explored with new technologies in recent years.

Air pollution as a risk factor for type 2 diabetes

Recent studies in both humans and animals suggest that air pollution is an important risk factor for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). However, the mechanism by which air pollution mediates propensity to diabetes is not fully understood. While a number of epidemiologic studies have shown a positive association between ambient air pollution exposure and risk for T2DM, some studies have not found such a relationship. Experimental studies in susceptible disease models do support this association and suggest the involvement of tissues involved in the pathogenesis of T2DM such as the immune system, adipose, liver, and central nervous system. This review summarizes the epidemiologic and experimental evidence between ambient outdoor air pollution and T2DM.

Air pollution and risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus: a systematic review and meta-analysis

AIM

Whether exposure to relatively high levels of air pollution is associated with diabetes occurrence remains unclear. We sought to assess and quantify the association between exposure to major air pollutants and risk of type 2 diabetes.

METHODS

PubMed and EMBASE databases (through September 2013) were searched using a combination of terms related to exposure to gaseous (NO2 and NOx) or particulate matter pollutants (PM2.5, PM10 and PM10-2.5) and type 2 diabetes. Descriptive and quantitative information were extracted from selected studies. We used random-effects models meta-analysis to derive overall risk estimates per type of pollutant.

RESULTS

We included ten studies (five cross-sectional and five prospective), assessing the effects of air pollutants on the occurrence of diabetes. In prospective investigations, the overall effect on diabetes occurrence was significant for both NO2 (adjusted hazard ratio [HR], 1.13; 95% confidence interval [95%CI], 1.01-1.22; p < 0.001; I(2) = 36.4%, pheterogeneity = 0.208) and PM2.5 (HR, 1.11; 95%CI, 1.03-1.20; p < 0.001; I(2) = 0.0%, pheterogeneity = 0.827). Odds ratios were reported by two cross-sectional studies which revealed similar associations between both NO2 and PM2.5 with type 2 diabetes. Across studies, risk estimates were generally adjusted for age, gender, body mass index and cigarette smoking.

CONCLUSIONS

Available evidence supports a prospective association of main air pollutants with an increased risk for type 2 diabetes. This finding may have implications for population-based strategies to reduce diabetes risk.