1
|
Van Poppel M, Peters J, Levei EA, Mărmureanu L, Moldovan A, Hoaghia MA, Varaticeanu C, Van Laer J. Mobile measurements of black carbon: Comparison of normal traffic with reduced traffic conditions during COVID-19 lock-down. ATMOSPHERIC ENVIRONMENT (OXFORD, ENGLAND : 1994) 2023; 297:119594. [PMID: 36686285 PMCID: PMC9837233 DOI: 10.1016/j.atmosenv.2023.119594] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2022] [Revised: 11/02/2022] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
A mobile monitoring campaign was conducted (by bicycle) to assess the black carbon (BC) concentrations in Cluj-Napoca city, Romania, in 2020, before, during and after COVID-19 lock-down. Over the entire study period, the BC concentrations ranged between 1.0 and 25.9 μg/m³ (averaged per street section and period characterized by different traffic conditions). Marked spatial and temporal differences were observed. Observed differences in BC concentrations between locations are attributed to traffic intensities, with average BC concentrations, under normal circumstances, of 6.6-14.3 μg/m³ at roads with high to intense traffic, compared to 2.8-3.1 μg/m³ at areas with reduced traffic, such as residential areas, parks and pedestrian streets. The COVID-19 measures impacted traffic volumes, and hence average BC concentrations decreased from 5.9 μg/m³ to 3.0 μg/m³ during lock-down and in a lower extent to 3.4 μg/m³ and 4.4 μg/m³ in post-lockdown periods with reduced and more normalized traffic. Two approaches to account for variations in background concentrations when comparing different situations in time are assessed. Subtracting background concentrations that are measured at background sites along the monitoring route is an appropriate method to assess spatio-temporal differences in concentrations. A reduction of about 1-2 μg/m³ was observed for the streets with low to medium traffic, and up to 6 μg/m³ at high traffic locations under lockdown. The approach presented in this study, using mobile measurements, is useful to understand the personal exposure to BC along the roads in different seasons and the influence of traffic reduction on BC pollution during prolonged restrictions. All these will support policymakers to reduce pollution and achieve EU directives targets and WHO recommendations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Martine Van Poppel
- Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Boeretang 200, 2400, Mol, Belgium
| | - Jan Peters
- Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Boeretang 200, 2400, Mol, Belgium
| | - Erika Andrea Levei
- Research Institute for Analytical Instrumentation Subsidiary, National Institute of Research and Development for Optoelectronics INOE 2000, 67 Donath, RO400293, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Luminița Mărmureanu
- Remote Sensing Department, National Institute of Research and Development for Optoelectronics INOE2000, 409 Atomiştilor, RO077125, Măgurele, Ilfov, Romania
| | - Ana Moldovan
- Research Institute for Analytical Instrumentation Subsidiary, National Institute of Research and Development for Optoelectronics INOE 2000, 67 Donath, RO400293, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Maria-Alexandra Hoaghia
- Research Institute for Analytical Instrumentation Subsidiary, National Institute of Research and Development for Optoelectronics INOE 2000, 67 Donath, RO400293, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Cerasel Varaticeanu
- Research Institute for Analytical Instrumentation Subsidiary, National Institute of Research and Development for Optoelectronics INOE 2000, 67 Donath, RO400293, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Jo Van Laer
- Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Boeretang 200, 2400, Mol, Belgium
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Alas HD, Stöcker A, Umlauf N, Senaweera O, Pfeifer S, Greven S, Wiedensohler A. Pedestrian exposure to black carbon and PM 2.5 emissions in urban hot spots: new findings using mobile measurement techniques and flexible Bayesian regression models. JOURNAL OF EXPOSURE SCIENCE & ENVIRONMENTAL EPIDEMIOLOGY 2022; 32:604-614. [PMID: 34455418 PMCID: PMC9349038 DOI: 10.1038/s41370-021-00379-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2020] [Revised: 08/04/2021] [Accepted: 08/06/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Data from extensive mobile measurements (MM) of air pollutants provide spatially resolved information on pedestrians' exposure to particulate matter (black carbon (BC) and PM2.5 mass concentrations). OBJECTIVE We present a distributional regression model in a Bayesian framework that estimates the effects of spatiotemporal factors on the pollutant concentrations influencing pedestrian exposure. METHODS We modeled the mean and variance of the pollutant concentrations obtained from MM in two cities and extended commonly used lognormal models with a lognormal-normal convolution (logNNC) extension for BC to account for instrument measurement error. RESULTS The logNNC extension significantly improved the BC model. From these model results, we found local sources and, hence, local mitigation efforts to improve air quality, have more impact on the ambient levels of BC mass concentrations than on the regulated PM2.5. SIGNIFICANCE Firstly, this model (logNNC in bamlss package available in R) could be used for the statistical analysis of MM data from various study areas and pollutants with the potential for predicting pollutant concentrations in urban areas. Secondly, with respect to pedestrian exposure, it is crucial for BC mass concentration to be monitored and regulated in areas dominated by traffic-related air pollution.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Honey Dawn Alas
- Leibniz Institute for Tropospheric Research (TROPOS), Leipzig, Germany.
| | - Almond Stöcker
- Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (LMU), Munich, Germany
| | | | | | - Sascha Pfeifer
- Leibniz Institute for Tropospheric Research (TROPOS), Leipzig, Germany
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
3
|
Flanagan E, Oudin A, Walles J, Abera A, Mattisson K, Isaxon C, Malmqvist E. Ambient and indoor air pollution exposure and adverse birth outcomes in Adama, Ethiopia. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2022; 164:107251. [PMID: 35533531 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2022.107251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2022] [Revised: 04/14/2022] [Accepted: 04/15/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Air pollution poses a threat to human health, with pregnant women and their developing fetuses being particularly vulnerable. A high dual burden of ambient and indoor air pollution exposure has been identified in Ethiopia, but studies investigating their effects on adverse birth outcomes are currently lacking. This study explores the association between ambient air pollution (NOX and NO2) and indoor air pollution (cooking fuel type) and fetal and neonatal death in Adama, Ethiopia. A prospective cohort of mothers and their babies was used, into which pregnant women were recruited at their first antenatal visit (n = 2085) from November 2015 to February 2018. Previously developed land-use regression models were utilized to assess ambient concentrations of NOX and NO2 at the residential address, whereas data on cooking fuel type was derived from questionnaires. Birth outcome data was obtained from self-reported questionnaire responses during the participant's postnatal visit or by phone if an in-person meeting was not possible. Binary logistic regression was employed to assess associations within the final study population (n = 1616) using both univariate and multivariate models; the latter of which adjusted for age, education, parity, and HIV status. Odds ratios (OR) and their corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI) were reported. Within the cohort, 69 instances of fetal death (n = 16 miscarriages; n = 53 stillbirths) and 16 cases of neonatal death were identified. The findings suggest a tendency towards an association between ambient NOX and NO2 exposure during pregnancy and an increased risk of fetal death overall as well as stillbirth, specifically. However, statistical significance was not observed. Results for indoor air pollution and neonatal death were inconclusive. As limited evidence on the effects of exposure to ambient air pollution on adverse birth outcomes exists in Sub-Saharan Africa and Ethiopia, additional studies with larger study populations should be conducted.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Erin Flanagan
- Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.
| | - Anna Oudin
- Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - John Walles
- Clinical Infection Medicine, Department of Translational Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden
| | - Asmamaw Abera
- Ethiopia Institute of Water Resources, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Kristoffer Mattisson
- Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Christina Isaxon
- Division of Ergonomics and Aerosol Technology, Department of Design Sciences, Faculty of Engineering, LTH, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Ebba Malmqvist
- Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Xu X, Qin N, Qi L, Zou B, Cao S, Zhang K, Yang Z, Liu Y, Zhang Y, Duan X. Development of season-dependent land use regression models to estimate BC and PM 1 exposure. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 793:148540. [PMID: 34171802 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.148540] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2021] [Revised: 06/11/2021] [Accepted: 06/15/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Reliable estimation of exposure to black carbon (BC) and sub-micrometer particles (PM1) within a city is challenging because of limited monitoring data as well as the lack of models suitable for assessing the intra-urban environment. In this study, to estimate exposure levels in the inner-city area, we developed land use regression (LUR) models for BC and PM1 based on specially designed mobile monitoring surveys conducted in 2019 and 2020 for three seasons. The daytime and nighttime LUR models were developed separately to capture additional details on the variation in pollutants. The results of mobile monitoring indicated similar temporal variation characteristics of BC and PM1. The mean concentrations of pollutants were higher in winter (BC: 4.72 μg/m3; PM1: 56.97 μg/m3) than in fall (BC: 3.74 μg/m3; PM1: 33.29 μg/m3) and summer (BC: 2.77 μg/m3; PM1: 27.04 μg/m3). For both BC and PM1, higher nighttime concentrations were found in winter and fall, whereas higher daytime concentrations were observed in the summer. A supervised forward stepwise regression method was used to select the predictors for the LUR models. The adjusted R2 of the LUR models for BC and PM1 ranged from 0.39 to 0.66 and 0.45 to 0.80, respectively. Traffic-related predictors were incorporated into all the models for BC. In contrast, more meteorology-related predictors were incorporated into the PM1 models. The concentration surface based on the LUR models was mapped at a spatial resolution of 100 m, and significant seasonal and diurnal trends were observed. PM1 was dominated by seasonal variations, whereas BC showed more spatial variation. In conclusion, the development of season-dependent diurnal LUR models based on mobile monitoring could provide a methodology for the estimation of exposure and screening of influencing factors of BC and PM1 in typical inner-city environments, and support pollution management.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiangyu Xu
- School of Energy and Environmental Engineering, University of Science and Technology of Beijing, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Ning Qin
- School of Energy and Environmental Engineering, University of Science and Technology of Beijing, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Ling Qi
- School of Energy and Environmental Engineering, University of Science and Technology of Beijing, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Bin Zou
- School of Geosciences and Info-Physics, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410083, China
| | - Suzhen Cao
- School of Energy and Environmental Engineering, University of Science and Technology of Beijing, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Kai Zhang
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, NY 12144, USA
| | - Zhenchun Yang
- Global Health Research Center, Duke Kunshan University, Kunshan, Jiangsu Province 215316, China
| | - Yunwei Liu
- School of Energy and Environmental Engineering, University of Science and Technology of Beijing, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Yawei Zhang
- National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100021, China
| | - Xiaoli Duan
- School of Energy and Environmental Engineering, University of Science and Technology of Beijing, Beijing 100083, China.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Verheyen VJ, Remy S, Bijnens EM, Colles A, Govarts E, Martin LR, Koppen G, Bruckers L, Nielsen F, Vos S, Morrens B, Coertjens D, De Decker A, Franken C, Den Hond E, Nelen V, Covaci A, Loots I, De Henauw S, van Larebeke N, Teughels C, Nawrot TS, Schoeters G. Long-term residential exposure to air pollution is associated with hair cortisol concentration and differential leucocyte count in Flemish adolescent boys. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2021; 201:111595. [PMID: 34186082 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.111595] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2021] [Revised: 06/17/2021] [Accepted: 06/22/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Exposure to air pollution and traffic noise are associated with adverse health outcomes in adolescents. Chronic endocrine stress and systemic inflammation have been hypothesized to underlie the adverse health effects. Simultaneous assessment of inflammation and chronic endocrine stress in epidemiological studies is lacking. The aim of the study was to investigate biomarkers of chronic endocrine stress and inflammation in relation to long-term residential exposure to air pollution and traffic noise in adolescents. METHODS In Flemish adolescents (14-15 years), we determined hair cortisol concentration (HCC) as a chronic stress biomarker in 3-cm scalp-near hair sections (n = 395), and leucocyte and leucocyte subtype counts (neutrophils, monocytes, lymphocytes) as inflammatory biomarkers in peripheral blood (n = 385). Daily particulate matter (PM2.5, PM10), nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and black carbon (BC) concentrations were modelled at the residential address and averaged over 3-month and 1-year periods prior to sampling. Residential traffic noise level was estimated and classified in 5 dB intervals. Sex-specific associations between residential exposures and effect biomarkers were studied using linear regression models, adjusted for a priori selected covariates. RESULTS In boys, HCC increased with a factor 1.30 (95% CI: 1.10, 1.54) for an increase in 1-year mean NO2 from the 25th to 75th percentile (p75/p25), after adjustment for age, BMI, personal and neighborhood socioeconomic status. The corresponding estimate for PM10 was 1.24 (95% CI: 1.02, 1.51). Total leucocyte count in boys, adjusted for the aforementioned covariates and recent health complaints, was positively associated with PM2.5, PM10, NO2 and BC. In particular, the neutrophil count increased with a factor 1.11 (95% CI: 1.03, 1.19) for a (p75/p25)-factor increase in 1-year mean BC, corresponding estimates for PM2.5, PM10 and NO2 were 1.10 (95% CI: 1.01, 1.19), 1.10 (95% CI: 1.01, 1.20) and 1.08 (95% CI: 1.00, 1.16). Lymphocyte count increased with a factor 1.05 (95% CI: 1.01, 1.10) for a (p75/p25)-factor increase in 1-year mean NO2. Similar results were observed for 3-month mean exposures. Results were robust to adjustment for recent air pollution exposure. In girls, air pollutants were not associated with HCC or differential leucocyte count. Residential traffic noise level was not associated with HCC or leucocyte counts in boys nor girls. CONCLUSIONS Long-term residential exposure to air pollutants was positively associated with chronic endocrine stress and inflammation in adolescent boys, not in girls. This study may contribute to a better understanding of the early pathophysiological changes that may underlie adverse health effects of air pollution exposure in adolescents.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Veerle J Verheyen
- VITO Health, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Boeretang 200, 2400, Mol, Belgium; Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610, Antwerp, Belgium.
| | - Sylvie Remy
- VITO Health, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Boeretang 200, 2400, Mol, Belgium
| | - Esmée M Bijnens
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Agoralaan building D, 3590, Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Ann Colles
- VITO Health, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Boeretang 200, 2400, Mol, Belgium
| | - Eva Govarts
- VITO Health, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Boeretang 200, 2400, Mol, Belgium
| | - Laura Rodriguez Martin
- VITO Health, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Boeretang 200, 2400, Mol, Belgium
| | - Gudrun Koppen
- VITO Health, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Boeretang 200, 2400, Mol, Belgium
| | - Liesbeth Bruckers
- I-BioStat, Data Science Institute, Hasselt University, Martelarenlaan 42, 3500, Hasselt, Belgium
| | - Flemming Nielsen
- Institute of Public Health, Department of Environmental Medicine, University of Southern Denmark, J.B. Winsløws Vej 17A, 5000, Odense, Denmark
| | - Stijn Vos
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Agoralaan building D, 3590, Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Bert Morrens
- Department of Sociology, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Antwerp, Sint-Jacobstraat 2, 2000, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Dries Coertjens
- Department of Sociology, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Antwerp, Sint-Jacobstraat 2, 2000, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Annelies De Decker
- Provincial Institute of Hygiene, Kronenburgstraat 45, 2000, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Carmen Franken
- Provincial Institute of Hygiene, Kronenburgstraat 45, 2000, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Elly Den Hond
- Provincial Institute of Hygiene, Kronenburgstraat 45, 2000, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Vera Nelen
- Provincial Institute of Hygiene, Kronenburgstraat 45, 2000, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Adrian Covaci
- Toxicological Centre, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Ilse Loots
- Department of Sociology, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Antwerp, Sint-Jacobstraat 2, 2000, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Stefaan De Henauw
- Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, De Pintelaan 185, 9000, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Nicolas van Larebeke
- Analytical, Environmental and Geo- Chemistry, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium; Department of Radiotherapy and Experimental Cancerology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Caroline Teughels
- Flemish Planning Bureau for the Environment and Spatial Development, Koning Albert II laan 20, bus 8, 1000, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Tim S Nawrot
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Agoralaan building D, 3590, Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Greet Schoeters
- VITO Health, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Boeretang 200, 2400, Mol, Belgium; Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610, Antwerp, Belgium
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Mendoza DL, Benney TM, Boll S. Long-term analysis of the relationships between indoor and outdoor fine particulate pollution: A case study using research grade sensors. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 776:145778. [PMID: 33647662 PMCID: PMC9753328 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.145778] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2020] [Revised: 02/03/2021] [Accepted: 02/05/2021] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
The growing concern of air quality and its associated health-related impacts has led to increased awareness of pollutant exposure. Most human populations spend the majority of their time indoors and the COVID-19 pandemic has likely exacerbated this behavior. While significant amounts of research have focused on outdoor air quality, to date there have been no studies that examined simultaneous long-term trends on indoor and outdoor air quality on a site using research-grade sensors. We measured fine particulate matter (PM2.5) for a year using sensors located on the rooftop, air handling room, and indoor office space in a building and captured the impacts of three types of regularly occurring elevated pollution events: wintertime atmospheric inversions, wildfires, and fireworks. The events had different magnitudes and durations, and infiltration rates varied for each event leading to dissimilar indoor air pollution levels. The building's air handling unit and different environmental conditions (lower indoor humidity and temperature during the winter) combined to reduce indoor pollution from inversion events however, particulate matter from wildfires and fireworks infiltrated at higher rates. Together, this suggests possible intervention strategies, such as ventilation rates and filter upgrades, that could be used to mitigate contaminant intrusion during elevated pollution events. This year-long study illustrates an array of ways that elevated pollution events interact with the protective effects that buildings have against air pollution for its occupants. Furthermore, we show that outdoor air pollution is an important variable to consider when studying indoor air quality as contaminant infiltration is strongly dependent on the specific pollution source.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daniel L Mendoza
- Department of Atmospheric Sciences, University of Utah, 135 S 1460 E, Room 819, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA; Department of City & Metropolitan Planning, University of Utah, 375 S 1530 E, Suite 220, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, USA; University of Utah School of Medicine, Pulmonary Division, 26 N 1900 E, Salt Lake City, UT 84132, USA.
| | - Tabitha M Benney
- Department of Political Science, University of Utah, 260 S Central Campus Drive, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Sarah Boll
- State of Utah, Division of Facilities Construction and Management, 4315 S 2700 W, Floor 3, Salt Lake City, UT 84129, USA
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Alvares-Sanches T, Osborne PE, White PR. Mobile surveys and machine learning can improve urban noise mapping: Beyond A-weighted measurements of exposure. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 775:145600. [PMID: 33618311 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.145600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2020] [Revised: 01/14/2021] [Accepted: 01/29/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Urban noise pollution is a major environmental issue, second only to fine particulate matter in its impacts on physical and mental health. To identify who is affected and where to prioritise actions, noise maps derived from traffic flows and propagation algorithms are widely used. These may not reflect true levels of exposure because they fail to consider noise from all sources and may leave gaps where roads or traffic data are absent. We present an improved approach to overcome these limitations. Using walking surveys, we recorded 52,366 audio clips of 10 s each along 733 km of routes throughout the port city of Southampton. We extracted power levels in low (11 to 177 Hz), mid (177 Hz to 5.68 kHz), high (5.68 to 22.72 kHz) and A-weighted frequencies and then built machine-learning (ML) models to predict noise levels at 30 m resolution across the entire city, driven by urban form. Model performance (r2) ranged from 0.41 (low frequencies) to 0.61 (mid frequencies) with mean absolute errors of 4.05 to 4.75 dB. The main predictors of noise were related to modes of transport (road, air, rail and water) but for low frequencies, port activities were also important. When mapped to the city scale, A-weighted frequencies produced a similar spatial pattern to mid-frequencies, but did not capture the major sources of low frequency noise from the port or scattered hotspots of high frequencies. We question whether A-weighted noise mapping is adequate for health and wellbeing impact assessments. We conclude that mobile surveys combined with ML offer an alternative way to map noise from all sources and at fine resolution across entire cities that may more accurately reflect true exposures. Our approach is suitable for noise data gathered by citizen scientists, or from a network of sensors, as well as from structured surveys.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tatiana Alvares-Sanches
- Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK; GeoData Institute, School of Geography and Environmental Science, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK.
| | - Patrick E Osborne
- School of Geography and Environmental Science, Faculty of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK
| | - Paul R White
- Institute of Sound and Vibration Research, Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Measurements of NOx and Development of Land Use Regression Models in an East-African City. ATMOSPHERE 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/atmos12040519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Air pollution causes premature mortality and morbidity globally, but these adverse health effects occur over proportionately in low- and middle-income countries. Lack of both air pollution data and knowledge of its spatial distribution in African countries have been suggested to lead to an underestimation of health effects from air pollution. This study aims to measure nitrogen oxides (NOx), as well as nitrogen dioxide (NO2), to develop Land Use Regression (LUR) models in the city of Adama, Ethiopia. NOx and NO2 was measured at over 40 sites during six days in both the wet and dry seasons. Throughout the city, measured mean levels of NOx and NO2 were 29.0 µg/m3 and 13.1 µg/m3, respectively. The developed LUR models explained 68% of the NOx variances and 75% of the NO2. Both models included similar geographical predictor variables (related to roads, industries, and transportation administration areas) as those included in prior LUR models. The models were validated by using leave-one-out cross-validation and tested for spatial autocorrelation and multicollinearity. The performance of the models was good, and they are feasible to use to predict variance in annual average NOx and NO2 concentrations. The models developed will be used in future epidemiological and health impact assessment studies. Such studies may potentially support mitigation action and improve public health.
Collapse
|
9
|
Gruzieva O, Georgelis A, Andersson N, Bellander T, Johansson C, Merritt AS. Comparison of measured residential black carbon levels outdoors and indoors with fixed-site monitoring data and with dispersion modelling. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2021; 28:16264-16271. [PMID: 33341921 PMCID: PMC7969542 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-020-12134-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2020] [Accepted: 12/16/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Epidemiologic studies on health effects of air pollution usually rely on time-series of ambient monitoring data or on spatially modelled levels. Little is known how well these estimate residential outdoor and indoor levels. We investigated the agreement of measured residential black carbon (BC) levels outdoors and indoors with fixed-site monitoring data and with levels calculated using a Gaussian dispersion model. One-week residential outdoor and indoor BC measurements were conducted for 15 families living in central Stockholm. Time-series from urban background and street-level monitors were compared to these measurements. The observed weekly concentrations were also standardized to reflect annual averages, using urban background levels, and compared spatially to long-term levels as estimated by dispersion modelling. Weekly average outdoor BC level was 472 ng/m3 (range 261-797 ng/m3). The corresponding fixed-site urban background and street levels were 313 and 1039 ng/m3, respectively. Urban background variation explained 50% of the temporal variation in residential outdoor levels averaged over 24 h. Modelled residential long-term outdoor levels were on average comparable with the standardized measured home outdoor levels, and explained 49% of the spatial variability. The median indoor/outdoor ratio across all addresses was 0.79, with no difference between day and night time. Common exposure estimation approaches in the epidemiology of health effects related to BC displayed high validity for residencies in central Stockholm. Urban background monitored levels explained half of the outdoor day-to-day variability at residential addresses. Long-term dispersion modelling explained half of the spatial differences in outdoor levels. Indoor BC concentrations tended to be somewhat lower than outdoor levels.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Olena Gruzieva
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Nobels väg 13, SE-17177, Stockholm, Sweden.
- Centre for Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Region Stockholm, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Antonios Georgelis
- Centre for Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Region Stockholm, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Niklas Andersson
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Nobels väg 13, SE-17177, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Tom Bellander
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Nobels väg 13, SE-17177, Stockholm, Sweden
- Centre for Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Region Stockholm, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Christer Johansson
- Department of Environmental Science, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
- Environment and Health Administration, SLB-analys, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Anne-Sophie Merritt
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Nobels väg 13, SE-17177, Stockholm, Sweden
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Ma X, Longley I, Gao J, Salmond J. Assessing schoolchildren's exposure to air pollution during the daily commute - A systematic review. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 737:140389. [PMID: 32783874 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.140389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2020] [Revised: 06/17/2020] [Accepted: 06/19/2020] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Air pollution is mostly caused by emissions from human activities, and exposure to air pollution is linked with numerous adverse human health outcomes. Recent studies have identified that although people only spend a small proportion of time on their daily commutes, the commuter microenvironment is a significant contributor to their total daily air pollution exposure. Schoolchildren are a particularly vulnerable cohort of the population, and their exposure to air pollution at home or school has been documented in a number of case studies. A few studies have identified that schoolchildren's exposure during commutes is linked with adverse cognitive outcomes and severe wheeze in asthmatic children. However, the determinants of total exposure, such as route choice and commute mode, and their subsequent health impacts on schoolchildren are still not well-understood. The aim of this paper is to review and synthesize recent studies on assessing schoolchildren's exposure to various air pollutants during the daily commute. Through reviewing 31 relevant studies published between 2004 and 2020, we tried to identify consistent patterns, trends, and underlying causal factors in the results. These studies were carried out across 10 commute modes and 12 different air pollutants. Air pollution in cities is highly heterogeneous in time and space, and commuting schoolchildren move through the urban area in complex ways. Measurements from fixed monitoring stations (FMSs), personal monitoring, and air quality modeling are the three most common approaches to determining exposure to ambient air pollutant concentrations. The time-activity diary (TAD), GPS tracker, online route collection app, and GIS-based route simulation are four widely used methods to determine schoolchildren's daily commuting routes. We found that route choices exerted a determining impact on schoolchildren's exposure. It is challenging to rank commute modes in order of exposure, as each scenario has numerous uncontrollable determinants, and there are notable research gaps. We suggest that future studies should concentrate on examining exposure patterns of schoolchildren in developing countries, exposure in the subway and trains, investigating the reliability of current simulation methods, exploring the environmental justice issue, and identifying the health impacts during commuting. It is recommended that three promising tools of smartphones, data fusion, and GIS should be widely used to overcome the challenges encountered in scaling up commuter exposure studies to population scales.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xuying Ma
- School of Environment, Faculty of Science, University of Auckland, Auckland 1010, New Zealand; National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research, Auckland 1010, New Zealand.
| | - Ian Longley
- National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
| | - Jay Gao
- School of Environment, Faculty of Science, University of Auckland, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
| | - Jennifer Salmond
- School of Environment, Faculty of Science, University of Auckland, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Rider CF, Carlsten C. Air pollution and DNA methylation: effects of exposure in humans. Clin Epigenetics 2019; 11:131. [PMID: 31481107 PMCID: PMC6724236 DOI: 10.1186/s13148-019-0713-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 182] [Impact Index Per Article: 36.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2019] [Accepted: 07/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Air pollution exposure is estimated to contribute to approximately seven million early deaths every year worldwide and more than 3% of disability-adjusted life years lost. Air pollution has numerous harmful effects on health and contributes to the development and morbidity of cardiovascular disease, metabolic disorders, and a number of lung pathologies, including asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Emerging data indicate that air pollution exposure modulates the epigenetic mark, DNA methylation (DNAm), and that these changes might in turn influence inflammation, disease development, and exacerbation risk. Several traffic-related air pollution (TRAP) components, including particulate matter (PM), black carbon (BC), ozone (O3), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), have been associated with changes in DNAm; typically lowering DNAm after exposure. Effects of air pollution on DNAm have been observed across the human lifespan, but it is not yet clear whether early life developmental sensitivity or the accumulation of exposures have the most significant effects on health. Air pollution exposure-associated DNAm patterns are often correlated with long-term negative respiratory health outcomes, including the development of lung diseases, a focus in this review. Recently, interventions such as exercise and B vitamins have been proposed to reduce the impact of air pollution on DNAm and health. Ultimately, improved knowledge of how exposure-induced change in DNAm impacts health, both acutely and chronically, may enable preventative and remedial strategies to reduce morbidity in polluted environments.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Christopher F Rider
- Respiratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chan-Yeung Centre for Occupational and Environmental Respiratory Disease (COERD), University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. .,Diamond Health Care Centre 7252, 2775 Laurel Street, Vancouver, BC, V5Z 1 M9, Canada.
| | - Chris Carlsten
- Respiratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chan-Yeung Centre for Occupational and Environmental Respiratory Disease (COERD), University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.,Diamond Health Care Centre 7252, 2775 Laurel Street, Vancouver, BC, V5Z 1 M9, Canada.,Institute for Heart and Lung Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.,School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Boniardi L, Dons E, Campo L, Van Poppel M, Int Panis L, Fustinoni S. Annual, seasonal, and morning rush hour Land Use Regression models for black carbon in a school catchment area of Milan, Italy. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2019; 176:108520. [PMID: 31195294 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2019.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2019] [Revised: 05/29/2019] [Accepted: 06/01/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The European Environment Agency has identified Northern Italy as one of the most polluted areas in Europe. Among air contaminants, black carbon (BC) has been identified as a sensitive marker of traffic related air pollution. This study aims to investigate the spatial distribution of BC in the catchment area of an elementary school of Milan, the biggest city in Northern Italy, using Land Use Regression (LUR) models and focusing especially on Morning Rush Hour (MRH). METHODS Two recruitment campaigns were performed asking schoolchildren's parents and residents of the study area to host a monitoring site in their own dwellings. Finally, 34 monitoring sites and 1 reference site were sampled. BC was measured in two seasonal campaigns using eight micro-aethalometers. Six seasonal and annual LUR models were developed, 3 focused on MRH. RESULTS Overall, median BC was 3247 and 1309 ng/m3 in the cold and warm season, respectively. In both seasons, there was a significant spatial variation between the monitoring sites. MRH values were higher than the daily values with median concentrations of 4227 and 2331 ng/m3, respectively. Developed LUR models showed that BC variability is well explained only by traffic variables; R2 ranged from 0.52 to 0.79 and from 0.65 to 0.81, for seasonal/annual and MRH LUR models respectively. DISCUSSION LUR models based on traffic variables explain most of the measured BC distribution variability for both warm and cold season. MRH represents a critical moment for BC during all the year, with an increase of 1000 ng/m3 respective to the daily median value and differences in magnitude according to location. Our results highlight that the mobility issue is one of the most important challenges to reduce air pollution in the city of Milan and this is of particular concern for elementary schoolchildren that commute to school during MRH.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- L Boniardi
- EPIGET - Epidemiology, Epigenetics, and Toxicology Lab, Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, Italy
| | - E Dons
- Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Mol, Belgium; Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium
| | - L Campo
- Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, U.O.S Tossicologia, Milan, Italy
| | - M Van Poppel
- Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Mol, Belgium
| | - L Int Panis
- Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Mol, Belgium; Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium
| | - S Fustinoni
- EPIGET - Epidemiology, Epigenetics, and Toxicology Lab, Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, Italy; Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, U.O.S Tossicologia, Milan, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Krecl P, Cipoli YA, Targino AC, Toloto MDO, Segersson D, Parra Á, Polezer G, Godoi RHM, Gidhagen L. Modelling urban cyclists' exposure to black carbon particles using high spatiotemporal data: A statistical approach. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2019; 679:115-125. [PMID: 31082586 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.05.043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2019] [Revised: 04/24/2019] [Accepted: 05/04/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
This is a pioneering work in South America to model the exposure of cyclists to black carbon (BC) while riding in an urban area with high spatiotemporal variability of BC concentrations. We report on mobile BC concentrations sampled on 10 biking sessions in the city of Curitiba (Brazil), during rush hours of weekdays, covering four routes and totaling 178 km. Moreover, simultaneous BC measurements were conducted within a street canyon (street and rooftop levels) and at a site located 13 km from the city center. We used two statistical approaches to model the BC concentrations: multiple linear regression (MLR) and a machine-learning technique called random forests (RF). A pool of 25 candidate variables was created, including pollution measurements, traffic characteristics, street geometry and meteorology. The aggregated mean BC concentration within 30-m buffers along the four routes was 7.09 μg m-3, with large spatial variability (5th and 95th percentiles of 1.75 and 16.83 μg m-3, respectively). On average, the concentrations at the street canyon façade (5 m height) were lower than the mobile data but higher than the urban background levels. The MLR model explained a low percentage of variance (24%), but was within the values found in the literature for on-road BC mobile data. RF explained a larger variance (54%) with the additional advantage of having lower requirements for the target and predictor variables. The most impactful predictor for both models was the traffic rate of heavy-duty vehicles. Thus, to reduce the BC exposure of cyclists and residents living close to busy streets, we emphasize the importance of renewing and/or retrofitting the diesel-powered fleet, particularly public buses with old vehicle technologies. Urban planners could also use this valuable information to project bicycle lanes with greater separation from the circulation of heavy-duty diesel vehicles.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Patricia Krecl
- Federal University of Technology, Graduate Program in Environmental Engineering, Apucarana-Londrina, Brazil.
| | - Yago Alonso Cipoli
- Federal University of Technology, Department of Environmental Engineering, Londrina, Brazil
| | - Admir Créso Targino
- Federal University of Technology, Graduate Program in Environmental Engineering, Apucarana-Londrina, Brazil
| | | | - David Segersson
- Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute (SMHI), Norrköping, Sweden
| | - Álvaro Parra
- Federal University of Technology, Graduate Program in Environmental Engineering, Apucarana-Londrina, Brazil
| | - Gabriela Polezer
- Federal University of Paraná, Environmental Engineering Department, Curitiba, Brazil
| | | | - Lars Gidhagen
- Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute (SMHI), Norrköping, Sweden
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Seifi M, Niazi S, Johnson G, Nodehi V, Yunesian M. Exposure to ambient air pollution and risk of childhood cancers: A population-based study in Tehran, Iran. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2019; 646:105-110. [PMID: 30053660 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.07.219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2018] [Revised: 07/05/2018] [Accepted: 07/16/2018] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
The relationship between air pollution and childhood cancer is inconclusive. We investigated the associations between exposure to ambient air pollution and childhood cancers in Tehran, Iran. This project included children between 1 and 15 years-of-age with a cancer diagnosis by the Center for the Control of Non Communicable Disease (n = 161) during 2007 to 2009. Controls were selected randomly within the city using a Geographic Information System (GIS) (n = 761). The cases were geocoded based on exact home addresses. Air pollution exposure of cases and random controls were estimated by a previously developed Land Use Regression (LUR) model for the 2010 calendar year. The annual mean concentrations of Particulate Matter ≤ 10 μm (PM10), nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and sulfur dioxide (SO2) in the locations of cancer cases were 101.97 μg/m3, 49.42 ppb and 38.92 ppb respectively, while in the random control group, respective mean exposures were 98.63 μg/m3, 45.98 ppb and 38.95 ppb. A logistic regression model was used to find the probability of childhood cancer per unit increase in PM10, NO2 and SO2. We observed a positive association between exposures to PM10 with childhood cancers. We did, however, observe a positive, but not statistically significant association between NO2 exposure and childhood cancer. Our study is the first to highlight an association between air pollution exposure and childhood cancer risk in Iran, however these findings require replication through future studies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Morteza Seifi
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Sadegh Niazi
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; International Laboratory for Air Quality and Health, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, Australia
| | - Graham Johnson
- International Laboratory for Air Quality and Health, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, Australia
| | - Vahideh Nodehi
- Department of geography, Kharazmi University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Masud Yunesian
- Center for Air Pollution Research (CAPR), Institute for Environmental Research (IER), Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Department of Research Methodology and Data Analysis, Institute for Environmental Research, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Son Y, Osornio-Vargas ÁR, O'Neill MS, Hystad P, Texcalac-Sangrador JL, Ohman-Strickland P, Meng Q, Schwander S. Land use regression models to assess air pollution exposure in Mexico City using finer spatial and temporal input parameters. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2018; 639:40-48. [PMID: 29778680 PMCID: PMC10896644 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.05.144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2018] [Revised: 05/07/2018] [Accepted: 05/11/2018] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
The Mexico City Metropolitan Area (MCMA) is one of the largest and most populated urban environments in the world and experiences high air pollution levels. To develop models that estimate pollutant concentrations at fine spatiotemporal scales and provide improved air pollution exposure assessments for health studies in Mexico City. We developed finer spatiotemporal land use regression (LUR) models for PM2.5, PM10, O3, NO2, CO and SO2 using mixed effect models with the Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO). Hourly traffic density was included as a temporal variable besides meteorological and holiday variables. Models of hourly, daily, monthly, 6-monthly and annual averages were developed and evaluated using traditional and novel indices. The developed spatiotemporal LUR models yielded predicted concentrations with good spatial and temporal agreements with measured pollutant levels except for the hourly PM2.5, PM10 and SO2. Most of the LUR models met performance goals based on the standardized indices. LUR models with temporal scales greater than one hour were successfully developed using mixed effect models with LASSO and showed superior model performance compared to earlier LUR models, especially for time scales of a day or longer. The newly developed LUR models will be further refined with ongoing Mexico City air pollution sampling campaigns to improve personal exposure assessments.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yeongkwon Son
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Public Health, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, USA; Office of Global Public Health Affairs, School of Public Health, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, USA.
| | | | - Marie S O'Neill
- Departments of Environmental Health Sciences and Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
| | - Perry Hystad
- College of Public Health and Human Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA.
| | | | - Pamela Ohman-Strickland
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, USA.
| | - Qingyu Meng
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Public Health, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, USA.
| | - Stephan Schwander
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Public Health, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, USA; Office of Global Public Health Affairs, School of Public Health, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Sanchez M, Ambros A, Milà C, Salmon M, Balakrishnan K, Sambandam S, Sreekanth V, Marshall JD, Tonne C. Development of land-use regression models for fine particles and black carbon in peri-urban South India. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2018; 634:77-86. [PMID: 29626773 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.03.308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2017] [Revised: 03/21/2018] [Accepted: 03/24/2018] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Land-use regression (LUR) has been used to model local spatial variability of particulate matter in cities of high-income countries. Performance of LUR models is unknown in less urbanized areas of low-/middle-income countries (LMICs) experiencing complex sources of ambient air pollution and which typically have limited land use data. To address these concerns, we developed LUR models using satellite imagery (e.g., vegetation, urbanicity) and manually-collected data from a comprehensive built-environment survey (e.g., roads, industries, non-residential places) for a peri-urban area outside Hyderabad, India. As part of the CHAI (Cardiovascular Health effects of Air pollution in Telangana, India) project, concentrations of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and black carbon were measured over two seasons at 23 sites. Annual mean (sd) was 34.1 (3.2) μg/m3 for PM2.5 and 2.7 (0.5) μg/m3 for black carbon. The LUR model for annual black carbon explained 78% of total variance and included both local-scale (energy supply places) and regional-scale (roads) predictors. Explained variance was 58% for annual PM2.5 and the included predictors were only regional (urbanicity, vegetation). During leave-one-out cross-validation and cross-holdout validation, only the black carbon model showed consistent performance. The LUR model for black carbon explained a substantial proportion of the spatial variability that could not be captured by simpler interpolation technique (ordinary kriging). This is the first study to develop a LUR model for ambient concentrations of PM2.5 and black carbon in a non-urban area of LMICs, supporting the applicability of the LUR approach in such settings. Our results provide insights on the added value of manually-collected built-environment data to improve the performance of LUR models in settings with limited data availability. For both pollutants, LUR models predicted substantial within-village variability, an important feature for future epidemiological studies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Margaux Sanchez
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Albert Ambros
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Carles Milà
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Maëlle Salmon
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Kalpana Balakrishnan
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Sri Ramachandra University (SRU), Chennai, India
| | - Sankar Sambandam
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Sri Ramachandra University (SRU), Chennai, India
| | - V Sreekanth
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Julian D Marshall
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Cathryn Tonne
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Barcelona, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Land Use Regression Modelling of Outdoor NO₂ and PM 2.5 Concentrations in Three Low Income Areas in the Western Cape Province, South Africa. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2018; 15:ijerph15071452. [PMID: 29996511 PMCID: PMC6069062 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph15071452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2018] [Revised: 06/29/2018] [Accepted: 07/06/2018] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Air pollution can cause many adverse health outcomes, including cardiovascular and respiratory disorders. Land use regression (LUR) models are frequently used to describe small-scale spatial variation in air pollution levels based on measurements and geographical predictors. They are particularly suitable in resource limited settings and can help to inform communities, industries, and policy makers. Weekly measurements of NO2 and PM2.5 were performed in three informal areas of the Western Cape in the warm and cold seasons 2015–2016. Seasonal means were calculated using routinely monitored pollution data. Six LUR models were developed (four seasonal and two annual) using a supervised stepwise land-use-regression method. The models were validated using leave-one-out-cross-validation and tested for spatial autocorrelation. Annual measured mean NO2 and PM2.5 were 22.1 μg/m3 and 10.2 μg/m3, respectively. The NO2 models for the warm season, cold season, and overall year explained 62%, 77%, and 76% of the variance (R2). The PM2.5 annual models had lower explanatory power (R2 = 0.36, 0.29, and 0.29). The best predictors for NO2 were traffic related variables (major roads, bus routes). Local sources such as grills and waste burning sites appeared to be good predictors for PM2.5, together with population density. This study demonstrates that land-use-regression modelling for NO2 can be successfully applied to informal peri-urban settlements in South Africa using similar predictor variables to those performed in Europe and North America. Explanatory power for PM2.5 models is lower due to lower spatial variability and the possible impact of local transient sources. The study was able to provide NO2 and PM2.5 seasonal exposure estimates and maps for further health studies.
Collapse
|
18
|
An Agent-Based Modeling Framework for Simulating Human Exposure to Environmental Stresses in Urban Areas. URBAN SCIENCE 2018. [DOI: 10.3390/urbansci2020036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Several approaches have been used to assess potential human exposure to environmental stresses and achieve optimal results under various conditions, such as for example, for different scales, groups of people, or points in time. A thorough literature review in this paper identifies the research gap regarding modeling approaches for assessing human exposure to environment stressors, and it indicates that microsimulation tools are becoming increasingly important in human exposure assessments of urban environments, in which each person is simulated individually and continuously. The paper further describes an agent-based model (ABM) framework that can dynamically simulate human exposure levels, along with their daily activities, in urban areas that are characterized by environmental stresses such as air pollution and heat stress. Within the framework, decision-making processes can be included for each individual based on rule-based behavior in order to achieve goals under changing environmental conditions. The ideas described in this paper are implemented in a free and open source NetLogo platform. A basic modeling scenario of the ABM framework in Hamburg, Germany, demonstrates its utility in various urban environments and individual activity patterns, as well as its portability to other models, programs, and frameworks. The prototype model can potentially be extended to support environmental incidence management through exploring the daily routines of different groups of citizens, and comparing the effectiveness of different strategies. Further research is needed to fully develop an operational version of the model.
Collapse
|
19
|
Miskell G, Salmond JA, Williams DE. Use of a handheld low-cost sensor to explore the effect of urban design features on local-scale spatial and temporal air quality variability. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2018; 619-620:480-490. [PMID: 29156268 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.11.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2017] [Revised: 10/30/2017] [Accepted: 11/02/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Portable low-cost instruments have been validated and used to measure ambient nitrogen dioxide (NO2) at multiple sites over a small urban area with 20min time resolution. We use these results combined with land use regression (LUR) and rank correlation methods to explore the effects of traffic, urban design features, and local meteorology and atmosphere chemistry on small-scale spatio-temporal variations. We measured NO2 at 45 sites around the downtown area of Vancouver, BC, in spring 2016, and constructed four different models: i) a model based on averaging concentrations observed at each site over the whole measurement period, and separate temporal models for ii) morning, iii) midday, and iv) afternoon. Redesign of the temporal models using the average model predictors as constants gave three 'hybrid' models that used both spatial and temporal variables. These accounted for approximately 50% of the total variation with mean absolute error±5ppb. Ranking sites by concentration and by change in concentration across the day showed a shift of high NO2 concentrations across the central city from morning to afternoon. Locations could be identified in which NO2 concentration was determined by the geography of the site, and others as ones in which the concentration changed markedly from morning to afternoon indicating the importance of temporal controls. Rank correlation results complemented LUR in identifying significant urban design variables that impacted NO2 concentration. High variability across a relatively small space was partially described by predictor variables related to traffic (bus stop density, speed limits, traffic counts, distance to traffic lights), atmospheric chemistry (ozone, dew point), and environment (land use, trees). A high-density network recording continuously would be needed fully to capture local variations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Georgia Miskell
- MacDiarmid Institute for Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology, School of Chemical Sciences, School of Environment, The University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland 1142, New Zealand.
| | - Jennifer A Salmond
- MacDiarmid Institute for Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology, School of Chemical Sciences, School of Environment, The University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland 1142, New Zealand
| | - David E Williams
- MacDiarmid Institute for Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology, School of Chemical Sciences, School of Environment, The University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland 1142, New Zealand
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
A High Resolution Spatiotemporal Model for In-Vehicle Black Carbon Exposure: Quantifying the In-Vehicle Exposure Reduction Due to the Euro 5 Particulate Matter Standard Legislation. ATMOSPHERE 2017. [DOI: 10.3390/atmos8110230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
|
21
|
Ho HC, Lau KKL, Ren C, Ng E. Characterizing prolonged heat effects on mortality in a sub-tropical high-density city, Hong Kong. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOMETEOROLOGY 2017; 61:1935-1944. [PMID: 28735445 DOI: 10.1007/s00484-017-1383-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2016] [Revised: 04/10/2017] [Accepted: 05/15/2017] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Extreme hot weather events are likely to increase under future climate change, and it is exacerbated in urban areas due to the complex urban settings. It causes excess mortality due to prolonged exposure to such extreme heat. However, there is lack of universal definition of prolonged heat or heat wave, which leads to inadequacies of associated risk preparedness. Previous studies focused on estimating temperature-mortality relationship based on temperature thresholds for assessing heat-related health risks but only several studies investigated the association between types of prolonged heat and excess mortality. However, most studies focused on one or a few isolated heat waves, which cannot demonstrate typical scenarios that population has experienced. In addition, there are limited studies on the difference between daytime and nighttime temperature, resulting in insufficiency to conclude the effect of prolonged heat. In sub-tropical high-density cities where prolonged heat is common in summer, it is important to obtain a comprehensive understanding of prolonged heat for a complete assessment of heat-related health risks. In this study, six types of prolonged heat were examined by using a time-stratified analysis. We found that more consecutive hot nights contribute to higher mortality risk while the number of consecutive hot days does not have significant association with excess mortality. For a day after five consecutive hot nights, there were 7.99% [7.64%, 8.35%], 7.74% [6.93%, 8.55%], and 8.14% [7.38%, 8.88%] increases in all-cause, cardiovascular, and respiratory mortality, respectively. Non-consecutive hot days or nights are also found to contribute to short-term mortality risk. For a 7-day-period with at least five non-consecutive hot days and nights, there was 15.61% [14.52%, 16.70%] increase in all-cause mortality at lag 0-1, but only -2.00% [-2.83%, -1.17%] at lag 2-3. Differences in the temperature-mortality relationship caused by hot days and hot nights imply the need to categorize prolonged heat for public health surveillance. Findings also contribute to potential improvement to existing heat-health warning system.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hung Chak Ho
- Institute of Environment, Energy, and Sustainability, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Sha Tin, Hong Kong.
- Department of Land Surveying and Geo-Informatics, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong.
| | - Kevin Ka-Lun Lau
- Institute of Environment, Energy, and Sustainability, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Sha Tin, Hong Kong
- Institute of Future Cities, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Sha Tin, Hong Kong
- CUHK Jockey Club Institute of Ageing, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Sha Tin, Hong Kong
| | - Chao Ren
- Institute of Environment, Energy, and Sustainability, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Sha Tin, Hong Kong
- Institute of Future Cities, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Sha Tin, Hong Kong
- School of Architecture, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Sha Tin, Hong Kong
| | - Edward Ng
- Institute of Environment, Energy, and Sustainability, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Sha Tin, Hong Kong
- Institute of Future Cities, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Sha Tin, Hong Kong
- CUHK Jockey Club Institute of Ageing, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Sha Tin, Hong Kong
- School of Architecture, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Sha Tin, Hong Kong
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Pañella P, Casas M, Donaire-Gonzalez D, Garcia-Esteban R, Robinson O, Valentín A, Gulliver J, Momas I, Nieuwenhuijsen M, Vrijheid M, Sunyer J. Ultrafine particles and black carbon personal exposures in asthmatic and non-asthmatic children at school age. INDOOR AIR 2017; 27:891-899. [PMID: 28321937 DOI: 10.1111/ina.12382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2016] [Accepted: 03/13/2017] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Traffic-related air pollution (TRAP) exposure during childhood is associated with asthma; however, the contribution of the different TRAP pollutants in each microenvironment (home, school, transportation, others) in asthmatic and non-asthmatic children is unknown. Daily (24-h) personal black carbon (BC), ultrafine particle (UFP), and alveolar lung-deposited surface area (LDSA) individual exposure measurements were obtained from 100 children (29 past and 21 current asthmatics, 50 non-asthmatics) aged 9±0.7 years from the INMA-Sabadell cohort (Catalonia, Spain). Time spent in each microenvironment was derived by the geolocation provided by the smartphone and a new spatiotemporal map-matching algorithm. Asthmatics and non-asthmatics spent the same amount of time at home (60% and 61%, respectively), at school (20% and 23%), on transportation (8% and 7%), and in other microenvironments (7% and 5%). The highest concentrations of all TRAPs were attributed to transportation. No differences in TRAP concentrations were found overall or by type of microenvironment between asthmatics and non-asthmatics, nor when considering past and current asthmatics, separately. In conclusion, asthmatic and non-asthmatic children had a similar time-activity pattern and similar average exposures to BC, UFP, and LDSA concentrations. This suggests that interventions should be tailored to general population, rather than to subgroups defined by disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- P Pañella
- ISGlobal, Centre for Research in Environmental Epidemiology (CREAL), Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - M Casas
- ISGlobal, Centre for Research in Environmental Epidemiology (CREAL), Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - D Donaire-Gonzalez
- ISGlobal, Centre for Research in Environmental Epidemiology (CREAL), Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
- Physical Activity and Sports Sciences Department, Fundació Blanquerna, Barcelona, Spain
| | - R Garcia-Esteban
- ISGlobal, Centre for Research in Environmental Epidemiology (CREAL), Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - O Robinson
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, MRC-PHE Centre for Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, Kensington, London, UK
| | - A Valentín
- ISGlobal, Centre for Research in Environmental Epidemiology (CREAL), Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - J Gulliver
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, MRC-PHE Centre for Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, Kensington, London, UK
| | - I Momas
- Faculté de Pharmacie de Paris, Laboratoire Santé Publique et Environnement, Université Paris Descartes, Paris, France
- Direction de l'Action Sociale de l'Enfance et de la Santé, Cellule Cohorte, Mairie de Paris, Paris, France
| | - M Nieuwenhuijsen
- ISGlobal, Centre for Research in Environmental Epidemiology (CREAL), Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - M Vrijheid
- ISGlobal, Centre for Research in Environmental Epidemiology (CREAL), Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - J Sunyer
- ISGlobal, Centre for Research in Environmental Epidemiology (CREAL), Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Butland BK, Atkinson RW, Crichton S, Barratt B, Beevers S, Spiridou A, Hoang U, Kelly FJ, Wolfe CD. Air pollution and the incidence of ischaemic and haemorrhagic stroke in the South London Stroke Register: a case-cross-over analysis. J Epidemiol Community Health 2017; 71:707-712. [PMID: 28408613 PMCID: PMC5485750 DOI: 10.1136/jech-2016-208025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2016] [Revised: 02/28/2017] [Accepted: 03/06/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Background Few European studies investigating associations between short-term exposure to air pollution and incident stroke have considered stroke subtypes. Using information from the South London Stroke Register for 2005–2012, we investigated associations between daily concentrations of gaseous and particulate air pollutants and incident stroke subtypes in an ethnically diverse area of London, UK. Methods Modelled daily pollutant concentrations based on a combination of measurements and dispersion modelling were linked at postcode level to incident stroke events stratified by haemorrhagic and ischaemic subtypes. The data were analysed using a time-stratified case–cross-over approach. Conditional logistic regression models included natural cubic splines for daily mean temperature and daily mean relative humidity, a binary term for public holidays and a sine–cosine annual cycle. Of primary interest were same day mean concentrations of particulate matter <2.5 and <10 µm in diameter (PM2.5, PM10), ozone (O3), nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and NO2+nitrogen oxide (NOX). Results Our analysis was based on 1758 incident strokes (1311 were ischaemic and 256 were haemorrhagic). We found no evidence of an association between all stroke or ischaemic stroke and same day exposure to PM2.5, PM10, O3, NO2 or NOX. For haemorrhagic stroke, we found a negative association with PM10 suggestive of a 14.6% (95% CI 0.7% to 26.5%) fall in risk per 10 µg/m3 increase in pollutant. Conclusions Using data from the South London Stroke Register, we found no evidence of a positive association between outdoor air pollution and incident stroke or its subtypes. These results, though in contrast to recent meta-analyses, are not inconsistent with the mixed findings of other UK studies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- B K Butland
- Population Health Research Institute and MRC-PHE Centre for Environment and Health, St George's, University of London, London, UK
| | - R W Atkinson
- Population Health Research Institute and MRC-PHE Centre for Environment and Health, St George's, University of London, London, UK
| | - S Crichton
- Division of Health and Social Care Research, Department of Primary Care and Public Health Sciences, King's College London, London, UK
| | - B Barratt
- Department of Analytical and Environmental Sciences and MRC-PHE Centre for Environment and Health, King's College London, Waterloo, UK
- National Institute for Health Research Comprehensive Biomedical Research Centre at Guy's and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust and King's College London, London, UK
| | - S Beevers
- Department of Analytical and Environmental Sciences and MRC-PHE Centre for Environment and Health, King's College London, Waterloo, UK
| | - A Spiridou
- Division of Health and Social Care Research, Department of Primary Care and Public Health Sciences, King's College London, London, UK
- National Institute for Health Research Comprehensive Biomedical Research Centre at Guy's and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust and King's College London, London, UK
| | - U Hoang
- Division of Health and Social Care Research, Department of Primary Care and Public Health Sciences, King's College London, London, UK
- National Institute for Health Research Comprehensive Biomedical Research Centre at Guy's and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust and King's College London, London, UK
| | - F J Kelly
- Department of Analytical and Environmental Sciences and MRC-PHE Centre for Environment and Health, King's College London, Waterloo, UK
- National Institute for Health Research Comprehensive Biomedical Research Centre at Guy's and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust and King's College London, London, UK
| | - C D Wolfe
- Division of Health and Social Care Research, Department of Primary Care and Public Health Sciences, King's College London, London, UK
- National Institute for Health Research Comprehensive Biomedical Research Centre at Guy's and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust and King's College London, London, UK
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Ji H, Biagini Myers JM, Brandt EB, Brokamp C, Ryan PH, Khurana Hershey GK. Air pollution, epigenetics, and asthma. Allergy Asthma Clin Immunol 2016; 12:51. [PMID: 27777592 PMCID: PMC5069789 DOI: 10.1186/s13223-016-0159-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2016] [Accepted: 10/04/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Exposure to traffic-related air pollution (TRAP) has been implicated in asthma development, persistence, and exacerbation. This exposure is highly significant as large segments of the global population resides in zones that are most impacted by TRAP and schools are often located in high TRAP exposure areas. Recent findings shed new light on the epigenetic mechanisms by which exposure to traffic pollution may contribute to the development and persistence of asthma. In order to delineate TRAP induced effects on the epigenome, utilization of newly available innovative methods to assess and quantify traffic pollution will be needed to accurately quantify exposure. This review will summarize the most recent findings in each of these areas. Although there is considerable evidence that TRAP plays a role in asthma, heterogeneity in both the definitions of TRAP exposure and asthma outcomes has led to confusion in the field. Novel information regarding molecular characterization of asthma phenotypes, TRAP exposure assessment methods, and epigenetics are revolutionizing the field. Application of these new findings will accelerate the field and the development of new strategies for interventions to combat TRAP-induced asthma.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hong Ji
- Division of Asthma Research, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, 3333 Burnet Ave. MLC 7037, Cincinnati, OH 45229 USA ; Pyrosequencing lab for Genomic and Epigenomic research, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229 USA
| | - Jocelyn M Biagini Myers
- Division of Asthma Research, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, 3333 Burnet Ave. MLC 7037, Cincinnati, OH 45229 USA
| | - Eric B Brandt
- Division of Asthma Research, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, 3333 Burnet Ave. MLC 7037, Cincinnati, OH 45229 USA
| | - Cole Brokamp
- Division of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229 USA
| | - Patrick H Ryan
- Division of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229 USA
| | - Gurjit K Khurana Hershey
- Division of Asthma Research, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, 3333 Burnet Ave. MLC 7037, Cincinnati, OH 45229 USA
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Annual and seasonal spatial models for nitrogen oxides in Tehran, Iran. Sci Rep 2016; 6:32970. [PMID: 27622593 PMCID: PMC5020732 DOI: 10.1038/srep32970] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2016] [Accepted: 08/16/2016] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Very few land use regression (LUR) models have been developed for megacities in low- and middle-income countries, but such models are needed to facilitate epidemiologic research on air pollution. We developed annual and seasonal LUR models for ambient oxides of nitrogen (NO, NO2, and NOX) in the Middle Eastern city of Tehran, Iran, using 2010 data from 23 fixed monitoring stations. A novel systematic algorithm was developed for spatial modeling. The R2 values for the LUR models ranged from 0.69 to 0.78 for NO, 0.64 to 0.75 for NO2, and 0.61 to 0.79 for NOx. The most predictive variables were: distance to the traffic access control zone; distance to primary schools; green space; official areas; bridges; and slope. The annual average concentrations of all pollutants were high, approaching those reported for megacities in Asia. At 1000 randomly-selected locations the correlations between cooler and warmer season estimates were 0.64 for NO, 0.58 for NOX, and 0.30 for NO2. Seasonal differences in spatial patterns of pollution are likely driven by differences in source contributions and meteorology. These models provide a basis for understanding long-term exposures and chronic health effects of air pollution in Tehran, where such research has been limited.
Collapse
|
26
|
Statistical Modeling Approaches for PM10 Prediction in Urban Areas; A Review of 21st-Century Studies. ATMOSPHERE 2016. [DOI: 10.3390/atmos7020015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
|
27
|
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Exposure to traffic-related air pollutants (TRAPs) has been implicated in asthma development, persistence, and exacerbation. This exposure is highly significant because increasingly large segments of the population worldwide reside in zones that have high levels of TRAP, including children, as schools are often located in high traffic pollution exposure areas. RECENT FINDINGS Recent findings include epidemiologic and mechanistic studies that shed new light on the impact of traffic pollution on allergic diseases and the biology underlying this impact. In addition, new innovative methods to assess and quantify traffic pollution have been developed to assess exposure and identify vulnerable populations and individuals. SUMMARY This review will summarize the most recent findings in each of these areas. These findings will have a substantial impact on clinical practice and research by the development of novel methods to quantify exposure and identify at-risk individuals, as well as mechanistic studies that identify new targets for intervention for individuals most adversely affected by TRAP exposure.
Collapse
|
28
|
Pieters N, Koppen G, Van Poppel M, De Prins S, Cox B, Dons E, Nelen V, Panis LI, Plusquin M, Schoeters G, Nawrot TS. Blood Pressure and Same-Day Exposure to Air Pollution at School: Associations with Nano-Sized to Coarse PM in Children. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2015; 123:737-42. [PMID: 25756964 PMCID: PMC4492263 DOI: 10.1289/ehp.1408121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2014] [Accepted: 03/05/2015] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Ultrafine particles (UFP) may contribute to the cardiovascular effects of particulate air pollution, partly because of their relatively efficient alveolar deposition. OBJECTIVE In this study, we assessed associations between blood pressure and short-term exposure to air pollution in a population of schoolchildren. METHODS In 130 children (6-12 years of age), blood pressure was determined during two periods (spring and fall 2011). We used mixed models to study the association between blood pressure and ambient concentrations of particulate matter and ultrafine particles measured in the schools' playground. RESULTS Independent of sex, age, height, and weight of the child, parental education, neighborhood socioeconomic status, fish consumption, heart rate, school, day of the week, season, wind speed, relative humidity, and temperature on the morning of examination, an interquartile range (860 particles/cm3) increase in nano-sized UFP fraction (20-30 nm) was associated with a 6.35 mmHg (95% CI: 1.56, 11.14; p = 0.01) increase in systolic blood pressure. For the total UFP fraction, systolic blood pressure was 0.79 mmHg (95% CI: 0.07, 1.51; p = 0.03) higher, but no effects on systolic blood pressure were found for the nano-sized fractions with a diameter > 100 nm, nor PM2.5, PMcoarse, and PM10. Diastolic blood pressure was not associated with any of the studied particulate mass fractions. CONCLUSION Children attending school on days with higher UFP concentrations (diameter < 100 nm) had higher systolic blood pressure. The association was dependent on UFP size, and there was no association with the PM2.5 mass concentration.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nicky Pieters
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
29
|
Alam MS, McNabola A. Exploring the modeling of spatiotemporal variations in ambient air pollution within the land use regression framework: Estimation of PM10 concentrations on a daily basis. JOURNAL OF THE AIR & WASTE MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION (1995) 2015; 65:628-40. [PMID: 25947321 DOI: 10.1080/10962247.2015.1006377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
UNLABELLED Estimation of daily average exposure to PM10 (particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter<10 μm) using the available fixed-site monitoring stations (FSMs) in a city poses a great challenge. This is because typically FSMs are limited in number when considering the spatial representativeness of their measurements and also because statistical models of citywide exposure have yet to be explored in this context. This paper deals with the later aspect of this challenge and extends the widely used land use regression (LUR) approach to deal with temporal changes in air pollution and the influence of transboundary air pollution on short-term variations in PM10. Using the concept of multiple linear regression (MLR) modeling, the average daily concentrations of PM10 in two European cities, Vienna and Dublin, were modeled. Models were initially developed using the standard MLR approach in Vienna using the most recently available data. Efforts were subsequently made to (i) assess the stability of model predictions over time; (ii) explores the applicability of nonparametric regression (NPR) and artificial neural networks (ANNs) to deal with the nonlinearity of input variables. The predictive performance of the MLR models of the both cities was demonstrated to be stable over time and to produce similar results. However, NPR and ANN were found to have more improvement in the predictive performance in both cities. Using ANN produced the highest result, with daily PM10 exposure predicted at R2=66% for Vienna and 51% for Dublin. In addition, two new predictor variables were also assessed for the Dublin model. The variables representing transboundary air pollution and peak traffic count were found to account for 6.5% and 12.7% of the variation in average daily PM10 concentration. The variable representing transboundary air pollution that was derived from air mass history (from back-trajectory analysis) and population density has demonstrated a positive impact on model performance. IMPLICATIONS The implications of this research would suggest that it is possible to produce a model of ambient air quality on a citywide scale using the readily available data. Most European cities typically have a limited FSM network with average daily concentrations of air pollutants as well as available meteorological, traffic, and land-use data. This research highlights that using these data in combination with advanced statistical techniques such as NPR or ANNs will produce reasonably accurate predictions of ambient air quality across a city, including temporal variations. Therefore, this approach reduces the need for additional measurement data to supplement existing historical records and enables a lower-cost method of air pollution model development for practitioners and policy makers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Md Saniul Alam
- a Department of Civil , Structural and Environmental Engineering, Trinity College Dublin , Dublin, Ireland
| | | |
Collapse
|
30
|
Wu J, Li J, Peng J, Li W, Xu G, Dong C. Applying land use regression model to estimate spatial variation of PM₂.₅ in Beijing, China. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2015; 22:7045-7061. [PMID: 25487555 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-014-3893-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2014] [Accepted: 11/20/2014] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is the major air pollutant in Beijing, posing serious threats to human health. Land use regression (LUR) has been widely used in predicting spatiotemporal variation of ambient air-pollutant concentrations, though restricted to the European and North American context. We aimed to estimate spatiotemporal variations of PM2.5 by building separate LUR models in Beijing. Hourly routine PM2.5 measurements were collected at 35 sites from 4th March 2013 to 5th March 2014. Seventy-seven predictor variables were generated in GIS, including street network, land cover, population density, catering services distribution, bus stop density, intersection density, and others. Eight LUR models were developed on annual, seasonal, peak/non-peak, and incremental concentration subsets. The annual mean concentration across all sites is 90.7 μg/m(3) (SD = 13.7). PM2.5 shows more temporal variation than spatial variation, indicating the necessity of building different models to capture spatiotemporal trends. The adjusted R (2) of these models range between 0.43 and 0.65. Most LUR models are driven by significant predictors including major road length, vegetation, and water land use. Annual outdoor exposure in Beijing is as high as 96.5 μg/m(3). This is among the first LUR studies implemented in a seriously air-polluted Chinese context, which generally produce acceptable results and reliable spatial air-pollution maps. Apart from the models for winter and incremental concentration, LUR models are driven by similar variables, suggesting that the spatial variations of PM2.5 remain steady for most of the time. Temporal variations are explained by the intercepts, and spatial variations in the measurements determine the strength of variable coefficients in our models.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jiansheng Wu
- The Key Laboratory for Environmental and Urban Sciences, School of Urban Planning and Design, Shenzhen Graduate School, Peking University, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
31
|
Nieuwenhuijsen MJ, Donaire-Gonzalez D, Rivas I, de Castro M, Cirach M, Hoek G, Seto E, Jerrett M, Sunyer J. Variability in and agreement between modeled and personal continuously measured black carbon levels using novel smartphone and sensor technologies. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2015; 49:2977-82. [PMID: 25621420 DOI: 10.1021/es505362x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Novel technologies, such as smartphones and small personal continuous air pollution sensors, can now facilitate better personal estimates of air pollution in relation to location. Such information can provide us with a better understanding about whether and how personal exposures relate to residential air pollution estimates, which are normally used in epidemiological studies. The aims of this study were to examine (1) the variability in personal air pollution levels during the day and (2) the relationship between modeled home and school estimates and continuously measured personal air pollution exposure levels in different microenvironments (e.g., home, school, and commute). We focused on black carbon as an indicator of traffic-related air pollution. We recruited 54 school children (aged 7-11) from 29 different schools around Barcelona as part of the BREATHE study, an epidemiological study of the relation between air pollution and brain development. For 2 typical week days during 2012-2013, the children were given a smartphone with CalFit software to obtain information on their location and physical activity level and a small sensor, the micro-aethalometer model AE51, to measure their black carbon levels simultaneously and continuously. We estimated their home and school exposure to PM2.5 filter absorbance, which is well-correlated with black carbon, using a temporally adjusted PM2.5 absorbance land use regression (LUR) model. We found considerable variation in the black carbon levels during the day, with the highest levels measured during commuting periods (geometric mean = 2.8 μg/m(3)) and the lowest levels at home (geometric mean = 1.3 μg/m(3)). Hourly temporally adjusted LUR model estimates for the home and school showed moderate to good correlation with measured personal black carbon levels at home and school (r = 0.59 and 0.68, respectively) and lower correlation with commuting trips (r = 0.32 and 0.21, respectively). The correlation between modeled home estimates and overall personal black carbon levels was 0.62. Personal black carbon levels vary substantially during the day. The correlation between modeled and measured black carbon levels was generally good, with the exception of commuting times. In conclusion, novel technologies, such as smartphones and sensors, provide insights in personal exposure to air pollution.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mark J Nieuwenhuijsen
- Centre for Research in Environmental Epidemiology (CREAL) , 08003 Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
32
|
De Prins S, Dons E, Van Poppel M, Int Panis L, Van de Mieroop E, Nelen V, Cox B, Nawrot TS, Teughels C, Schoeters G, Koppen G. Airway oxidative stress and inflammation markers in exhaled breath from children are linked with exposure to black carbon. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2014; 73:440-6. [PMID: 25244707 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2014.06.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2014] [Revised: 06/03/2014] [Accepted: 06/25/2014] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The current study aimed at assessing the associations between black carbon (BC) exposure and markers for airway inflammation and oxidative stress in primary school children in a Western European urban area. METHODS In 130 children aged 6-12 years old, the fraction of exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO), exhaled breath condensate (EBC) pH, 8-isoprostane and interleukin (IL)-1β were measured in two seasons. BC concentrations on the sampling day (2-h average, 8:00-10:00 AM) and on the day before (24-h average) were assessed using measurements at a central monitoring site. Land use regression (LUR) models were applied to estimate weekly average BC exposure integrated for the time spent at home and at school, and seasonal average BC exposure at the home address. Associations between exposure and biomarkers were tested using linear mixed effect regression models. Next to single exposure models, models combining different BC exposure metrics were used. RESULTS In single exposure models, an interquartile range (IQR) increase in 2-h BC (3.10 μg/m(3)) was linked with a 5.9% (95% CI: 0.1 to 12.0%) increase in 8-isoprostane. FeNO increased by 16.7% (95% CI: 2.2 to 33.2%) per IQR increase in 24-h average BC (4.50 μg/m(3)) and by 12.1% (95% CI: 2.5 to 22.8%) per IQR increase in weekly BC (1.73 μg/m(3)). IL-1β was associated with weekly and seasonal (IQR=1.70 μg/m(3)) BC with respective changes of 38.4% (95% CI: 9.0 to 75.4%) and 61.8% (95% CI: 3.5 to 153.9%) per IQR increase in BC. An IQR increase in weekly BC was linked with a lowering in EBC pH of 0.05 (95% CI: -0.10 to -0.01). All associations were observed independent of sex, age, allergy status, parental education level and meteorological conditions on the sampling day. Most of the associations remained when different BC exposure metrics were combined in multiple exposure models, after additional correction for sampling period or after exclusion of children with airway allergies. In additional analyses, FeNO was linked with 24-h PM10 levels, but the effect size was smaller than for BC. 8-Isoprostane was not linked with either 2-h or 24-h concentrations of PM2.5 or PM10. CONCLUSION BC exposure on the morning of sampling was associated with airway oxidative stress while 24-h and weekly exposures were linked with airway inflammation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sofie De Prins
- Environmental Risk and Health Unit, VITO (Flemish Institute for Technological Research), Boeretang 200, B-2400 Mol, Belgium; Faculty of Pharmaceutical, Biomedical and Veterinary Sciences, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, B-2610 Antwerp, Belgium.
| | - Evi Dons
- Environmental Risk and Health Unit, VITO (Flemish Institute for Technological Research), Boeretang 200, B-2400 Mol, Belgium.
| | - Martine Van Poppel
- Environmental Risk and Health Unit, VITO (Flemish Institute for Technological Research), Boeretang 200, B-2400 Mol, Belgium.
| | - Luc Int Panis
- Environmental Risk and Health Unit, VITO (Flemish Institute for Technological Research), Boeretang 200, B-2400 Mol, Belgium; Transportation Research Institute (IMOB), Hasselt University, Wetenschapspark 5 Bus 6, B-3590 Diepenbeek, Belgium.
| | - Els Van de Mieroop
- Environment and Health Unit, Provincial Institute of Hygiene, Kronenburgstraat 45, B-2000 Antwerp, Belgium.
| | - Vera Nelen
- Environment and Health Unit, Provincial Institute of Hygiene, Kronenburgstraat 45, B-2000 Antwerp, Belgium.
| | - Bianca Cox
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Agoralaan Gebouw D, B-3590 Diepenbeek, Belgium.
| | - Tim S Nawrot
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Agoralaan Gebouw D, B-3590 Diepenbeek, Belgium.
| | - Caroline Teughels
- Environment & Health, Flemish Government, Department of Environment, Nature and Energy, Koning Albert II-laan 20 Bus 8, B-1000 Brussels, Belgium.
| | - Greet Schoeters
- Environmental Risk and Health Unit, VITO (Flemish Institute for Technological Research), Boeretang 200, B-2400 Mol, Belgium; Faculty of Pharmaceutical, Biomedical and Veterinary Sciences, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, B-2610 Antwerp, Belgium.
| | - Gudrun Koppen
- Environmental Risk and Health Unit, VITO (Flemish Institute for Technological Research), Boeretang 200, B-2400 Mol, Belgium.
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Amini H, Taghavi-Shahri SM, Henderson SB, Naddafi K, Nabizadeh R, Yunesian M. Land use regression models to estimate the annual and seasonal spatial variability of sulfur dioxide and particulate matter in Tehran, Iran. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2014; 488-489:343-353. [PMID: 24836390 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2014.04.106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2013] [Revised: 04/05/2014] [Accepted: 04/24/2014] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
The Middle Eastern city of Tehran, Iran has poor air quality compared with cities of similar size in Europe and North America. Spatial annual and seasonal patterns of SO2 and PM10 concentrations were estimated using land use regression (LUR) methods applied to data from 21 air quality monitoring stations. A systematic algorithm for LUR model building was developed to select variables based on (1) consistency with a priori assumptions about the assumed directions of the effects, (2) a p-value of <0.1 for each predictor, (3) improvements to the leave-one-out cross-validation (LOOCV) R(2), (4) a multicollinearity index called the variance inflation factor, and (5) a grouped (leave-25%-out) cross-validation (GCV) for final model. In addition, several new predictive variables and variable types were explored. The annual mean concentrations of SO2 and PM10 across the stations were 38 ppb and 100.8 μg/m(3), respectively. The R(2) values ranged from 0.69 to 0.84 for SO2 models and from 0.62 to 0.67 for PM10 models. The LOOCV and GCV R(2) values ranged, respectively, from 0.40 to 0.56 and 0.40 to 0.50 for the SO2 models; they were 0.48 to 0.57 and 0.50 to 0.55, respectively, for the PM10 models. There were clear differences between the SO2 and PM10 models, but the warmer and cooler season models were consistent with the annual models for both pollutants. Although there was limited similarity between the SO2 and PM10 predictive variables, measures of street density and proximity to airport or air cargo facilities were consistent across both pollutants. In 2010, the entire population of Tehran lived in areas where the World Health Organization guidelines for 24-hour mean SO2 (7 ppb) and annual average PM10 (20 μg/m(3)) were exceeded.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hassan Amini
- Kurdistan Environmental Health Research Center, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran; Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Seyed Mahmood Taghavi-Shahri
- Research Center for Environmental Pollutants, Qom University of Medical Sciences, Qom, Iran; Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Sarah B Henderson
- Environmental Health Services, British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, 655 West 12th Avenue, Vancouver, BC V5Z 4R4, Canada; School of Population and Public Health, The University of British Columbia, 2206 East Mall, Vancouver, BC V5T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Kazem Naddafi
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Center for Air Pollution Research (CAPR), Institute for Environmental Research (IER), Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ramin Nabizadeh
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Masud Yunesian
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Center for Air Pollution Research (CAPR), Institute for Environmental Research (IER), Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
| |
Collapse
|