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Ruiz-Páez R, López-Bueno JA, Padrón-Monedero A, Navas MA, Salvador P, Linares C, Díaz J. Short-term effects of fine particulate matter from biomass combustion and Saharan dust intrusions on emergency hospital admissions due to mental and behavioural disorders, anxiety and depression in Spain. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 946:174316. [PMID: 38945243 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.174316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2024] [Revised: 05/31/2024] [Accepted: 06/24/2024] [Indexed: 07/02/2024]
Abstract
Climate change is affecting both the frequency and scale of wildfires, as well as the increase in the number of days with Saharan dust intrusions. Traditionally, studies have focused on the extent to which the increase in fine particulate matter (PM) has had an impact on cardio-respiratory diseases, but (apart from PM) not on how the meteorological and pollution conditions in these situations affect other diseases, such as those linked to mental health. This study therefore sought to ascertain how daily mean PM10, PM 2.5, NO2, O3 concentrations and daily maximum temperature in heat waves influence daily emergency hospital admissions in Spain caused by mental and behavioural disorders, depression and anxiety on days with PM from biomass combustion and/or Saharan dust intrusions, as compared to days without such conditions, across the period 2009-2018. Our results indicate that on days on which there is biomass combustion, PM concentrations have a statistically significant effect on emergency admissions due to mental disorders, probably related with the toxicity of these particles. Yet on days with intrusions of Saharan dust rather than PM, it is the other variables considered in the analysis that are most closely linked to these types of admissions. The results of this study thus point to the need to implement public health prevention plans which take into account the joint effect of various environmental risk factors that act synergistically in given situations.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Ruiz-Páez
- University of Alcalá, Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain
| | - J A López-Bueno
- Climate Change, Health and Urban Environment Reference Unit, Carlos III Institute of Health (Instituto de Salud Carlos III/ISCIII), 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - A Padrón-Monedero
- National School of Health, Carlos III Institute of Health, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - M A Navas
- Climate Change, Health and Urban Environment Reference Unit, Carlos III Institute of Health (Instituto de Salud Carlos III/ISCIII), 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - P Salvador
- Centre for Energy, Environmental and Technological Research/CIEMAT, Department of the Environment, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - C Linares
- Climate Change, Health and Urban Environment Reference Unit, Carlos III Institute of Health (Instituto de Salud Carlos III/ISCIII), 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - J Díaz
- Climate Change, Health and Urban Environment Reference Unit, Carlos III Institute of Health (Instituto de Salud Carlos III/ISCIII), 28029 Madrid, Spain.
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2
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Moreira RP, da Silva CBC, de Sousa TC, Leitão FLBF, Morais HCC, de Oliveira ASS, Duarte-Clíments G, Gómez MBS, Cavalcante TF, Costa AC. The Influence of Climate, Atmospheric Pollution, and Natural Disasters on Cardiovascular Diseases and Diabetes Mellitus in Drylands: A Scoping Review. Public Health Rev 2024; 45:1607300. [PMID: 39176255 PMCID: PMC11338784 DOI: 10.3389/phrs.2024.1607300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2024] [Accepted: 07/26/2024] [Indexed: 08/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Objectives In the face of escalating global aridification, this study examines the complex relationship between climate variability, air pollution, natural disasters, and the prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and diabetes mellitus (DM) in arid regions. Methods The study conducted a scoping review of multiple databases using JBI guidelines and included 74 studies. Results The results show that acute myocardial infarction (n = 20) and stroke (n = 13) are the primary CVDs affected by these factors, particularly affecting older adults (n = 34) and persons with hypertension (n = 3). Elevated air temperature and heat waves emerge as critical risk factors for CVD, exacerbating various cardiovascular mechanisms. Atmospheric pollutants and natural disasters increase this risk. Indirect effects of disasters amplify risk factors such as socioeconomic vulnerability (n = 4), inadequate medical care (n = 3), stress (n = 3), and poor diet (n = 2), increasing CVD and DM risk. Conclusion The study underscores the need for nations to adhere to the Paris Agreement, advocating for reduced air pollutants, resilient environments, and collaborative, multidisciplinary research to develop targeted health interventions to mitigate the adverse effects of climate, pollution, and natural disasters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafaella Pessoa Moreira
- Institute of Health Sciences, University of International Integration of Afro-Brazilian Lusophony, Redenção, Brazil
| | - Clara Beatriz Costa da Silva
- Institute of Health Sciences, University of International Integration of Afro-Brazilian Lusophony, Redenção, Brazil
| | - Tainara Chagas de Sousa
- Institute of Health Sciences, University of International Integration of Afro-Brazilian Lusophony, Redenção, Brazil
| | | | | | | | - Gonzalo Duarte-Clíments
- School of Nursing, University of La Laguna, San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Spain
- School of Nursing, Valencian International University, Castelló de la Plana, Spain
| | - María Begoña Sánchez Gómez
- School of Nursing, University of La Laguna, San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Spain
- Department of Nursing, UCAM Catholic University of Murcia, Guadalupe, Spain
| | - Tahissa Frota Cavalcante
- Institute of Health Sciences, University of International Integration of Afro-Brazilian Lusophony, Redenção, Brazil
| | - Alexandre Cunha Costa
- Institute of Engineering and Sustainable Development, University of International Integration of Afro-Brazilian Lusophony, Redenção, Brazil
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Salvador P, Pey J, Pérez N, Alastuey A, Querol X, Artíñano B. Estimating the probability of occurrence of African dust outbreaks over regions of the western Mediterranean basin from thermodynamic atmospheric parameters. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 922:171307. [PMID: 38428593 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.171307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2023] [Revised: 02/19/2024] [Accepted: 02/25/2024] [Indexed: 03/03/2024]
Abstract
Desert dust is currently recognized as a health risk factor. Therefore, the World Health Organization (WHO) is actively promoting the establishment of early warning systems for sand and dust storms. This study introduces a methodology to estimate the probability of African dust outbreaks occurring in eight different regions of the Iberian Peninsula and the Balearic Islands. In each region, a multilinear regression model was developed to calculate daily probabilities of dust events using three thermodynamic variables (geopotential thickness in the 1000-500 hPa layer, mean potential temperature between 925 and 700 hPa, and temperature anomalies at 850 hPa) as assessment parameters. All days with African dust transport over each study region were identified in the period 2001-2021 using a proven procedure. This information was then utilized to establish a functional relationship between the values of the thermodynamic parameters and the probability of African dust outbreaks occurring. The validation of this methodology involved comparing the daily probabilities of dust events generated by the models in 2001-2021 with the daily African dust contributions to PM10 regional background levels in each region. On average, daily dust contributions increased proportionally with the increase in daily probabilities, reaching zero for days with low probabilities. Furthermore, a well-defined seasonal evolution of probability values was observed in all regions, with the highest values in the summer months and the lowest in the winter period, ensuring the physical relevance of the models' results. Finally, upward trends were observed in all regions for the three thermodynamic parameters over 1940-2021. Thus, the probability of dust events development also increased in this period. It demonstrates that the aggravation of warm conditions in southern Europe in the last decades, have modified the frequency of North-African dust outbreaks over the western Mediterranean basin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro Salvador
- CIEMAT, Department of Environment - Joint Research Unit Atmospheric Pollution CIEMAT-CSIC, Av. Complutense 40, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
| | - Jorge Pey
- Instituto Pirenaico de Ecología (IPE), CSIC, Av. Montañana 1005, 50059 Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Noemí Pérez
- Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA), CSIC, c. Jordi Girona 18, 08034 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Andrés Alastuey
- Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA), CSIC, c. Jordi Girona 18, 08034 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Xavier Querol
- Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA), CSIC, c. Jordi Girona 18, 08034 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Begoña Artíñano
- CIEMAT, Department of Environment - Joint Research Unit Atmospheric Pollution CIEMAT-CSIC, Av. Complutense 40, 28040 Madrid, Spain
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Savadkoohi M, Pandolfi M, Favez O, Putaud JP, Eleftheriadis K, Fiebig M, Hopke PK, Laj P, Wiedensohler A, Alados-Arboledas L, Bastian S, Chazeau B, María ÁC, Colombi C, Costabile F, Green DC, Hueglin C, Liakakou E, Luoma K, Listrani S, Mihalopoulos N, Marchand N, Močnik G, Niemi JV, Ondráček J, Petit JE, Rattigan OV, Reche C, Timonen H, Titos G, Tremper AH, Vratolis S, Vodička P, Funes EY, Zíková N, Harrison RM, Petäjä T, Alastuey A, Querol X. Recommendations for reporting equivalent black carbon (eBC) mass concentrations based on long-term pan-European in-situ observations. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2024; 185:108553. [PMID: 38460240 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2024.108553] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2023] [Revised: 03/01/2024] [Accepted: 03/01/2024] [Indexed: 03/11/2024]
Abstract
A reliable determination of equivalent black carbon (eBC) mass concentrations derived from filter absorption photometers (FAPs) measurements depends on the appropriate quantification of the mass absorption cross-section (MAC) for converting the absorption coefficient (babs) to eBC. This study investigates the spatial-temporal variability of the MAC obtained from simultaneous elemental carbon (EC) and babs measurements performed at 22 sites. We compared different methodologies for retrieving eBC integrating different options for calculating MAC including: locally derived, median value calculated from 22 sites, and site-specific rolling MAC. The eBC concentrations that underwent correction using these methods were identified as LeBC (local MAC), MeBC (median MAC), and ReBC (Rolling MAC) respectively. Pronounced differences (up to more than 50 %) were observed between eBC as directly provided by FAPs (NeBC; Nominal instrumental MAC) and ReBC due to the differences observed between the experimental and nominal MAC values. The median MAC was 7.8 ± 3.4 m2 g-1 from 12 aethalometers at 880 nm, and 10.6 ± 4.7 m2 g-1 from 10 MAAPs at 637 nm. The experimental MAC showed significant site and seasonal dependencies, with heterogeneous patterns between summer and winter in different regions. In addition, long-term trend analysis revealed statistically significant (s.s.) decreasing trends in EC. Interestingly, we showed that the corresponding corrected eBC trends are not independent of the way eBC is calculated due to the variability of MAC. NeBC and EC decreasing trends were consistent at sites with no significant trend in experimental MAC. Conversely, where MAC showed s.s. trend, the NeBC and EC trends were not consistent while ReBC concentration followed the same pattern as EC. These results underscore the importance of accounting for MAC variations when deriving eBC measurements from FAPs and emphasize the necessity of incorporating EC observations to constrain the uncertainty associated with eBC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marjan Savadkoohi
- Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA-CSIC), Barcelona, Spain; Department of Natural Resources & Environment, Industrial & TIC Engineering (EMIT-UPC), Manresa, Spain.
| | - Marco Pandolfi
- Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA-CSIC), Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Olivier Favez
- Institut National de l'Environnement Industriel et des Risques (INERIS), Verneuil-en-Halatte, France
| | | | - Konstantinos Eleftheriadis
- Environmental Radioactivity & Aerosol Technology for Atmospheric & Climate Impact Lab, INRaSTES, NCSR "Demokritos", Athens, Greece
| | - Markus Fiebig
- Dept. Atmospheric and Climate Research, NILU-Norwegian Institute for Air Research, Kjeller, Norway
| | - Philip K Hopke
- Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Rochester School of Medicine & Dentistry, Rochester, NY, USA; Institute for a Sustainable Environment, Clarkson University, Potsdam, NY, USA
| | - Paolo Laj
- Univ. Grenoble, CNRS, IRD, IGE, 38000 Grenoble, France
| | | | - Lucas Alados-Arboledas
- Andalusian Institute for Earth System Research (IISTA-CEAMA), University of Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Susanne Bastian
- Saxon State Office for Environment, Agriculture and Geology/Saxon State Department for Agricultural and Environmental Operations, Dresden, Germany
| | - Benjamin Chazeau
- Aix Marseille Univ., CNRS, LCE, Marseille, France; Laboratory of Atmospheric Chemistry, Paul Scherrer Institute, 5232 Villigen, Switzerland
| | - Álvaro Clemente María
- Atmospheric Pollution Laboratory (LCA), Department of Applied Physics, Miguel Hernández University, Avenida de la Universidad S/N, 03202, Elche, Spain
| | - Cristina Colombi
- Arpa Lombardia, Settore Monitoraggi Ambientali, Unità Operativa Qualità dell'Aria, Milano, Italy
| | - Francesca Costabile
- Institute of Atmospheric Sciences and Climate-National Research Council, Rome, Italy
| | - David C Green
- MRC Centre for Environment and Health, Environmental Research Group, Imperial College London, UK; HPRU in Environmental Exposures and Health, Imperial College London, UK
| | - Christoph Hueglin
- Laboratory for Air Pollution and Environmental Technology, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (Empa), Duebendorf, Switzerland
| | - Eleni Liakakou
- Institute for Environmental Research & Sustainable Development, National Observatory of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Krista Luoma
- Atmospheric Composition Research, Finnish Meteorological Institute, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Stefano Listrani
- ARPA Lazio, Regional Environmental Protection Agency, Rome, Italy
| | - Nikos Mihalopoulos
- Institute for Environmental Research & Sustainable Development, National Observatory of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | | | - Griša Močnik
- Center for Atmospheric Research, University of Nova Gorica, Nova Gorica, 5270, Slovenia; Jozef Stefan Institute, Ljubljana, 1000, Slovenia
| | - Jarkko V Niemi
- Helsinki Region Environmental Services Authority (HSY), Helsinki, Finland
| | - Jakub Ondráček
- Laboratory of Aerosols Chemistry and Physics, Institute of Chemical Process Fundamentals, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Rozvojova, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Jean-Eudes Petit
- Laboratoire des Sciences du Climat et de l'Environnement, CEA/Orme des Merisiers, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Oliver V Rattigan
- Division of Air Resources, New York State Dept of Environmental Conservation, NY, USA
| | - Cristina Reche
- Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA-CSIC), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Hilkka Timonen
- Atmospheric Composition Research, Finnish Meteorological Institute, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Gloria Titos
- Andalusian Institute for Earth System Research (IISTA-CEAMA), University of Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Anja H Tremper
- MRC Centre for Environment and Health, Environmental Research Group, Imperial College London, UK
| | - Stergios Vratolis
- Environmental Radioactivity & Aerosol Technology for Atmospheric & Climate Impact Lab, INRaSTES, NCSR "Demokritos", Athens, Greece
| | - Petr Vodička
- Laboratory of Aerosols Chemistry and Physics, Institute of Chemical Process Fundamentals, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Rozvojova, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Eduardo Yubero Funes
- Atmospheric Pollution Laboratory (LCA), Department of Applied Physics, Miguel Hernández University, Avenida de la Universidad S/N, 03202, Elche, Spain
| | - Naděžda Zíková
- Laboratory of Aerosols Chemistry and Physics, Institute of Chemical Process Fundamentals, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Rozvojova, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Roy M Harrison
- Division of Environmental Health & Risk Management, School of Geography, Earth & Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, United Kingdom; Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Meteorology, Environment and Arid Land Agriculture, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Tuukka Petäjä
- Institute for Atmospheric and Earth System Research/Physics (INAR), Faculty of Science, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Andrés Alastuey
- Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA-CSIC), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Xavier Querol
- Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA-CSIC), Barcelona, Spain
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Ruiz-Páez R, Díaz J, López-Bueno JA, Navas MA, Mirón IJ, Martínez GS, Luna MY, Linares C. Does the meteorological origin of heat waves influence their impact on health? A 6-year morbidity and mortality study in Madrid (Spain). THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 855:158900. [PMID: 36155828 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.158900] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2022] [Revised: 09/08/2022] [Accepted: 09/17/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In Spain, two synoptic-scale conditions influence heat wave formation. The first involves advection of warm and dry air masses carrying dust of Saharan origin (North African Dust (NAF) = 1). The second entails anticyclonic stagnation with high insolation and stability (NAF) = 0). Some studies show that the meteorological origin of these heat waves may affect their impact on morbidity and mortality. OBJECTIVE To determine whether the impact of heat waves on health outcomes in Madrid (Spain) during 2013-2018 varied by synoptic-scale condition. METHODOLOGY Outcome data consist of daily mortality and daily hospital emergency admissions (morbidity) for natural, circulatory, and respiratory causes. Predictors include daily maximum and minimum temperatures and daily mean concentrations of NO2, PM10, PM2.5, NO2, and O3. Analyses adjust for insolation, relative humidity, and wind speed. Generalized linear models were performed with Poisson link between the variables controlling for trend, seasonality, and auto-regression in the series. Relative Risks (RR) and Attributable Risks (AR) were determined. The RRs for mortality attributable to high temperatures were similar regardless of NAF status. For hospital admissions, however, the RRs for hot days with NAF = 0 are higher than for days with NAF = 1. We also found that atmospheric pollutants worsen morbidity and mortality, especially PM10 concentrations when NAF = 1 and O3 concentrations when NAF = 0. RESULTS The effect of heat waves on morbidity and mortality depends on the synoptic situation. The impact is greater under anticyclonic stagnation conditions than under Saharan dust advection. Further, the health impact of pollutants such as PM10 and O3 varies according to the synoptic situation. CONCLUSIONS Based on these findings, we strongly recommend prevention plans to include data on the meteorological situation originating the heat wave, on a synoptic-scale, as well as comprehensive preventive measures against the compounding effect of high temperatures and pollution.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - J Díaz
- Reference Unit on Climate Change, Health and Urban Environment, National Institute of Health Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.
| | | | - M A Navas
- Reference Unit on Climate Change, Health and Urban Environment, National Institute of Health Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - I J Mirón
- Department of Health, Community Board of Castile La Mancha, Toledo, Spain
| | | | - M Y Luna
- State Meteorological Agency (AEMET), Madrid, Spain
| | - C Linares
- Reference Unit on Climate Change, Health and Urban Environment, National Institute of Health Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
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Szuszkiewicz MM, Łukasik A, Petrovský E, Grison H, Błońska E, Lasota J, Szuszkiewicz M. Magneto-chemical characterisation of Saharan dust deposited on snow in Poland. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 216:114605. [PMID: 36265597 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.114605] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2022] [Revised: 10/11/2022] [Accepted: 10/13/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Recent research has convincingly shown the advantages of combining environmental magnetism and geochemical analyses for the proxy estimation of anthropogenic pollution due to their atmospheric deposition in local environments. Few studies have also focused on anthropogenic particles deposited on snow. However, papers reporting on Sahara dust particles deposited on snow in central Europe and which involve magnetic methods are missing. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study investigating the magnetic features of the SDE recorded in snowfall in this part of Europe (i.e. Poland). Our aim was to provide the magnetic characteristics and chemical elemental compositions of a snow horizon containing Saharan dust deposited near the Polish Jakuszyce meteorological station during a snowfall event that occurred from the 1st to the February 7, 2021. Samples of snow with and without Saharan dust were analysed with respect to iron oxide contents (magnetic susceptibility, hysteresis loop, magnetic remanence acquisition) and compared with chemical compositions. Our results revealed the presence of both ferrimagnetic magnetite and antiferromagnetic hematite in the dust-enriched horizon, and the diamagnetic behaviour of the reference layer consisting of 'pure' snow. The samples recorded the presence of geogenic elements such as Al, Fe, Mn, and Ti, anthropogenic elements such as As, Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn, and nutrients including Ca and K. The total concentrations of geogenic elements, nutrients, and anthropogenic elements in the snow samples with deposited Saharan dust were, respectively, >3700, >320, and >110 times greater than in the samples without Saharan dust. These findings may serve as reference data for a variety of environmental magnetic studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Magdalena Szuszkiewicz
- Institute of Environmental Engineering, Polish Academy of Sciences, 34 M. Skłodowskiej-Curie St., 41-819, Zabrze, Poland
| | - Adam Łukasik
- Institute of Environmental Engineering, Polish Academy of Sciences, 34 M. Skłodowskiej-Curie St., 41-819, Zabrze, Poland
| | - Eduard Petrovský
- Institute of Geophysics, Czech Academy of Sciences, Boční II/1401, 141 00, Prague 4, Czech Republic
| | - Hana Grison
- Institute of Geophysics, Czech Academy of Sciences, Boční II/1401, 141 00, Prague 4, Czech Republic
| | - Ewa Błońska
- Department of Ecology and Silviculture, Faculty of Forestry, University of Agriculture in Kraków, 29 Listopada 46 St., 31-425, Kraków, Poland
| | - Jarosław Lasota
- Department of Ecology and Silviculture, Faculty of Forestry, University of Agriculture in Kraków, 29 Listopada 46 St., 31-425, Kraków, Poland
| | - Marcin Szuszkiewicz
- Institute of Environmental Engineering, Polish Academy of Sciences, 34 M. Skłodowskiej-Curie St., 41-819, Zabrze, Poland.
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Zoran MA, Savastru RS, Savastru DM, Tautan MN. Cumulative effects of air pollution and climate drivers on COVID-19 multiwaves in Bucharest, Romania. PROCESS SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION : TRANSACTIONS OF THE INSTITUTION OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERS, PART B 2022; 166:368-383. [PMID: 36034108 PMCID: PMC9391082 DOI: 10.1016/j.psep.2022.08.042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2022] [Revised: 08/12/2022] [Accepted: 08/16/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Over more than two years of global health crisis due to ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Romania experienced a five-wave pattern. This study aims to assess the potential impact of environmental drivers on COVID-19 transmission in Bucharest, capital of Romania during the analyzed epidemic period. Through descriptive statistics and cross-correlation tests applied to time series of daily observational and geospatial data of major outdoor inhalable particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter ≤ 2.5 µm (PM2.5) or ≤ 10 µm (PM10), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), ozone (O3), sulfur dioxide (SO2), carbon monoxide (CO), Aerosol Optical Depth at 550 nm (AOD) and radon (222Rn), we investigated the COVID-19 waves patterns under different meteorological conditions. This study examined the contribution of individual climate variables on the ground level air pollutants concentrations and COVID-19 disease severity. As compared to the long-term average AOD over Bucharest from 2015 to 2019, for the same year periods, this study revealed major AOD level reduction by ~28 % during the spring lockdown of the first COVID-19 wave (15 March 2020-15 May 2020), and ~16 % during the third COVID-19 wave (1 February 2021-1 June 2021). This study found positive correlations between exposure to air pollutants PM2.5, PM10, NO2, SO2, CO and 222Rn, and significant negative correlations, especially for spring-summer periods between ground O3 levels, air temperature, Planetary Boundary Layer height, and surface solar irradiance with COVID-19 incidence and deaths. For the analyzed time period 1 January 2020-1 April 2022, before and during each COVID-19 wave were recorded stagnant synoptic anticyclonic conditions favorable for SARS-CoV-2 virus spreading, with positive Omega surface charts composite average (Pa/s) at 850 mb during fall- winter seasons, clearly evidenced for the second, the fourth and the fifth waves. These findings are relevant for viral infections controls and health safety strategies design in highly polluted urban environments.
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Key Words
- 222Rn
- 222Rn, Radon
- AOD, Total Aerosol Optical Depth at 550 nm
- Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD)
- CAMS, Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service
- CO, Carbon monoxide
- COVID, 19 Coronavirus Disease 2019
- COVID-19 disease
- Climate variables
- DNC, Daily New COVID-19 positive cases
- DND, Daily New COVID-19 Deaths
- MERS, CoV Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus
- NO2, Nitrogen dioxide
- NOAA, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration U.S.A.
- O3, Ozone
- Outdoor air pollutants
- PBL, Planetary Boundary Layer height
- PM, Particulate Matter: PM1(1 µm), PM2.5 (2.5 µm) and PM10(10.0 µm) diameter
- RH, Air relative humidity
- SARS, CoV Severe Outdoor Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus
- SARS, CoV-2 Severe Outdoor Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2
- SI, Surface solar global irradiance
- SO2, Sulfur dioxide
- Synoptic meteorological circulation
- T, Air temperature at 2 m height
- p, Air pressure
- w, Wind speed intensity
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria A Zoran
- IT Department, National Institute of R&D for Optoelectronics, Atomistilor Street 409, MG5, Magurele, Bucharest 077125, Romania
| | - Roxana S Savastru
- IT Department, National Institute of R&D for Optoelectronics, Atomistilor Street 409, MG5, Magurele, Bucharest 077125, Romania
| | - Dan M Savastru
- IT Department, National Institute of R&D for Optoelectronics, Atomistilor Street 409, MG5, Magurele, Bucharest 077125, Romania
| | - Marina N Tautan
- IT Department, National Institute of R&D for Optoelectronics, Atomistilor Street 409, MG5, Magurele, Bucharest 077125, Romania
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8
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Zoran MA, Savastru RS, Savastru DM, Tautan MN. Impacts of exposure to air pollution, radon and climate drivers on the COVID-19 pandemic in Bucharest, Romania: A time series study. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2022; 212:113437. [PMID: 35594963 PMCID: PMC9113773 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.113437] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2022] [Revised: 05/03/2022] [Accepted: 05/04/2022] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
During the ongoing global COVID-19 pandemic disease, like several countries, Romania experienced a multiwaves pattern over more than two years. The spreading pattern of SARS-CoV-2 pathogens in the Bucharest, capital of Romania is a multi-factorial process involving among other factors outdoor environmental variables and viral inactivation. Through descriptive statistics and cross-correlation analysis applied to daily time series of observational and geospatial data, this study aims to evaluate the synergy of COVID-19 incidence and lethality with air pollution and radon under different climate conditions, which may exacerbate the coronavirus' effect on human health. During the entire analyzed period 1 January 2020-21 December 2021, for each of the four COVID-19 waves were recorded different anomalous anticyclonic synoptic meteorological patterns in the mid-troposphere, and favorable stability conditions during fall-early winter seasons for COVID-19 disease fast-spreading, mostly during the second, and the fourth waves. As the temporal pattern of airborne SARS-CoV-2 and its mutagen variants is affected by seasonal variability of the main air pollutants and climate parameters, this paper found: 1) the daily outdoor exposures to air pollutants (particulate matter PM2.5 and PM10, nitrogen dioxide-NO2, sulfur dioxide-SO2, carbon monoxide-CO) and radon - 222Rn, are directly correlated with the daily COVID-19 incidence and mortality, and may contribute to the spread and the severity of the pandemic; 2) the daily ground ozone-O3 levels, air temperature, Planetary Boundary Layer height, and surface solar irradiance are anticorrelated with the daily new COVID-19 incidence and deaths, averageingful for spring-summer periods. Outdoor exposure to ambient air pollution associated with radon is a non-negligible driver of COVID-19 transmission in large metropolitan areas, and climate variables are risk factors in spreading the viral infection. The findings of this study provide useful information for public health authorities and decision-makers to develop future pandemic diseases strategies in high polluted metropolitan environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria A Zoran
- National Institute of R&D for Optoelectronics, Bucharest, Magurele, Romania.
| | - Roxana S Savastru
- National Institute of R&D for Optoelectronics, Bucharest, Magurele, Romania
| | - Dan M Savastru
- National Institute of R&D for Optoelectronics, Bucharest, Magurele, Romania
| | - Marina N Tautan
- National Institute of R&D for Optoelectronics, Bucharest, Magurele, Romania
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9
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Broomandi P, Crape B, Jahanbakhshi A, Janatian N, Nikfal A, Tamjidi M, Kim JR, Middleton N, Karaca F. Assessment of the association between dust storms and COVID-19 infection rate in southwest Iran. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 29:36392-36411. [PMID: 35060047 PMCID: PMC8776378 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-18195-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2021] [Accepted: 12/14/2021] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
This study assesses a plausible correlation between a dust intrusion episode and a daily increase in COVID-19 cases. A surge in COVID-19 cases was observed a few days after a Middle East Dust (MED) event that peaked on 25th April 2020 in southwest Iran. To investigate potential causal factors for the spike in number of cases, cross-correlations between daily combined aerosol optical depths (AODs) and confirmed cases were computed for Khuzestan, Iran. Additionally, atmospheric stability data time series were assessed by covering before, during, and after dust intrusion, producing four statistically clustered distinct city groups. Groups 1 and 2 had different peak lag times of 10 and 4-5 days, respectively. Since there were statistically significant associations between AOD levels and confirmed cases in both groups, dust incursion may have increased population susceptibility to COVID-19 disease. Group 3 was utilized as a control group with neither a significant level of dust incursion during the episodic period nor any significant associations. Group 4 cities, which experienced high dust incursion levels, showed no significant correlation with confirmed case count increases. Random Forest Analysis assessed the influence of wind speed and AOD, showing relative importance of 0.31 and 0.23 on the daily increase percent of confirmed cases, respectively. This study may serve as a reference for better understanding and predicting factors affecting COVID-19 transmission and diffusion routes, focusing on the role of MED intrusions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Parya Broomandi
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Nazarbayev University, Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan, 010000
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Masjed-Soleiman Branch, Islamic Azad University, Masjed-Soleiman, Iran
| | - Byron Crape
- Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Nazarbayev University, Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan, 010000
| | - Ali Jahanbakhshi
- Environmental Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster, LA1 4YQ, UK
| | - Nasime Janatian
- Chair of Hydrobiology and Fishery, Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Tartu, Estonia
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Mahsa Tamjidi
- Faculty of Natural Resources and Environment, Islamic Azad University, Science and Research Branch of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Jong R Kim
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Nazarbayev University, Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan, 010000.
| | - Nick Middleton
- St Anne's College, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX2 6HS, UK
| | - Ferhat Karaca
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Nazarbayev University, Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan, 010000
- The Environment and Resource Efficiency Cluster (EREC), Nazarbayev University, Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan, 010000
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10
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Gini M, Manousakas M, Karydas AG, Eleftheriadis K. Mass size distributions, composition and dose estimates of particulate matter in Saharan dust outbreaks. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2022; 298:118768. [PMID: 34990737 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.118768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2021] [Revised: 12/06/2021] [Accepted: 12/27/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The present study highlights the importance of examining the contribution of Saharan dust (SD) sources not only in terms of overall mass contribution but also in terms of composition, size distribution and inhaled dose. The effect of SD intrusions on PM and the respective major and trace metals mass concentrations and size distributions was investigated in a suburban site in Athens, Greece. SD events were associated, on average, with lower boundary layer heights (BLH) compared to the non-Sahara (nSD) dust days. During SD events, PM1-10 concentrations showed an increasing trend with increasing atmospheric BLH, in contrary to the fine PM (PM1). Generally, increased PM1 and CO (i.e. anthropogenic origin) levels were observed for BLH lower than around 500 m. The average contribution of SD to PM10 and PM2.5 mass concentration was roughly equal to 30.9% and 19.4%, respectively. The mass size distributions of PM and specific major and trace elements (Na, Al, Si, S, Cl, K, Ca, Fe, and Zn) displayed a somewhat different behavior with respect to the mass origin (Algeria-Tunisia vs Libya-Egypt), affecting in turn the regional deposition of inhaled aerosol in the human respiratory tract (HRT). The average PM deposited mass in the upper and lower HRT was 80.1% (Head) and 26.9% (Lung; Tracheobronchial and Pulmonary region) higher for SD days than for nSD days. Higher doses were estimated in the upper and lower HRT for the majority of the elements, when SD intrusions occurred, supporting the increasingly growing interest in exploring the health effects of SD. Only the mass deposition for S, and Na in the lower HRT and Zn in the upper HRT was higher in the case of nSD.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Gini
- Environmental Radioactivity Laboratory, Institute of Nuclear & Radiological Sciences & Technology, Energy & Safety, N.C.S.R. "Demokritos", Agia Paraskevi, Athens, 15310, Greece.
| | - M Manousakas
- Environmental Radioactivity Laboratory, Institute of Nuclear & Radiological Sciences & Technology, Energy & Safety, N.C.S.R. "Demokritos", Agia Paraskevi, Athens, 15310, Greece; Laboratory of Atmospheric Chemistry, Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI), Villigen, Switzerland
| | - A G Karydas
- Institute of Nuclear and Particle Physics, N.C.S.R. "Demokritos", 15310, Agia Paraskevi, Athens, Greece
| | - K Eleftheriadis
- Environmental Radioactivity Laboratory, Institute of Nuclear & Radiological Sciences & Technology, Energy & Safety, N.C.S.R. "Demokritos", Agia Paraskevi, Athens, 15310, Greece
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11
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Altuwayjiri A, Pirhadi M, Kalafy M, Alharbi B, Sioutas C. Impact of different sources on the oxidative potential of ambient particulate matter PM 10 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: A focus on dust emissions. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 806:150590. [PMID: 34597581 PMCID: PMC8907835 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.150590] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2021] [Revised: 09/21/2021] [Accepted: 09/22/2021] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
In this study, we employed Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Multi-Linear Regression (MLR) to identify the most significant sources contributing to the toxicity of PM10 in the city center of Riyadh. PM10 samples were collected using a medium-volume air sampler during cool (December 2019-March 2020) and warm (May 2020-August 2020) seasons, including dust and non-dust events. The collected filters were analyzed for their chemical components (i.e., water-soluble ions, metals, and trace elements) as well as oxidative potential and elemental and organic carbon (EC/OC) contents. Our measurements revealed comparable extrinsic oxidative potential (P-value = 0.30) during the warm (1.2 ± 0.1 nmol/min-m3) and cool (1.1 ± 0.1 nmol/min-m3) periods. Moreover, we observed higher extrinsic oxidative potential of PM10 samples collected during dust events (~30% increase) compared to non-dust samples. Our PCA-MLR analysis identified soil and resuspended dust, secondary aerosol (SA), local industrial activities and petroleum refineries, and traffic emissions as the four sources contributing to the ambient PM10 oxidative potential in central Riyadh. Soil and resuspended dust were the major source contributing to the oxidative potential of ambient PM10, accounting for 31% of the total oxidative potential. Secondary aerosols (SA) were the next important source of PM10 toxicity in the area as they contributed to about 20% of the PM10 oxidative potential. Results of this study revealed the major role of soil and resuspended road dust on PM10 toxicity and can be helpful in adopting targeted air quality policies to reduce the population exposure to PM10.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdulmalik Altuwayjiri
- University of Southern California, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Majmaah University, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Majmaah, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Milad Pirhadi
- University of Southern California, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Mohammed Kalafy
- Saudi Envirozone, Air Quality Monitoring Department, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Badr Alharbi
- National Center for Environmental Technology, King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Constantinos Sioutas
- University of Southern California, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
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12
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Wang J, Alli AS, Clark S, Hughes A, Ezzati M, Beddows A, Vallarino J, Nimo J, Bedford-Moses J, Baah S, Owusu G, Agyemang E, Kelly F, Barratt B, Beevers S, Agyei-Mensah S, Baumgartner J, Brauer M, Arku RE. Nitrogen oxides (NO and NO 2) pollution in the Accra metropolis: Spatiotemporal patterns and the role of meteorology. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 803:149931. [PMID: 34487903 PMCID: PMC7611659 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.149931] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2021] [Revised: 08/17/2021] [Accepted: 08/23/2021] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Economic and urban development in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) may be shifting the dominant air pollution sources in cities from biomass to road traffic. Considered as a marker for traffic-related air pollution in cities, we conducted a city-wide measurement of NOx levels in the Accra Metropolis and examined their spatiotemporal patterns in relation to land use and meteorological factors. Between April 2019 to June 2020, we collected weekly integrated NOx (n = 428) and NO2 (n = 472) samples at 10 fixed (year-long) and 124 rotating (week-long) sites. Data from the same time of year were compared to a previous study (2006) to assess changes in NO2 concentrations. NO and NO2 concentrations were highest in commercial/business/industrial (66 and 76 μg/m3, respectively) and high-density residential areas (47 and 59 μg/m3, respectively), compared with peri-urban locations. We observed annual means of 68 and 70 μg/m3 for NO and NO2, and a clear seasonal variation, with the mean NO2 of 63 μg/m3 (non-Harmattan) increased by 25-56% to 87 μg/m3 (Harmattan) across different site types. The NO2/NOx ratio was also elevated by 19-28%. Both NO and NO2 levels were associated with indicators of road traffic emissions (e.g. distance to major roads), but not with community biomass use (e.g. wood and charcoal). We found strong correlations between both NO2 and NO2/NOx and mixing layer depth, incident solar radiation and water vapor mixing ratio. These findings represent an increase of 25-180% when compared to a small study conducted in two high-density residential neighborhoods in Accra in 2006. Road traffic may be replacing community biomass use (major source of fine particulate matter) as the prominent source of air pollution in Accra, with policy implication for growing cities in SSA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiayuan Wang
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health and Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, USA
| | - Abosede Sarah Alli
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health and Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, USA
| | - Sierra Clark
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Imperial College, London, UK; MRC Centre for Environment and Health, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Allison Hughes
- Department of Physics, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
| | - Majid Ezzati
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Imperial College, London, UK; MRC Centre for Environment and Health, Imperial College London, London, UK; Abdul Latif Jameel Institute for Disease and Emergency Analytics, Imperial College London, London, UK; Regional Institute for Population Studies, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
| | - Andrew Beddows
- NIHR HPRU in Environmental Exposures and Health, Imperial College London, UK
| | - Jose Vallarino
- Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - James Nimo
- Department of Physics, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
| | | | - Solomon Baah
- Department of Physics, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
| | - George Owusu
- Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
| | - Ernest Agyemang
- Department of Geography and Resource Development, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
| | - Frank Kelly
- MRC Centre for Environment and Health, Imperial College London, London, UK; NIHR HPRU in Environmental Exposures and Health, Imperial College London, UK
| | - Benjamin Barratt
- MRC Centre for Environment and Health, Imperial College London, London, UK; NIHR HPRU in Environmental Exposures and Health, Imperial College London, UK
| | - Sean Beevers
- MRC Centre for Environment and Health, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Samuel Agyei-Mensah
- Department of Geography and Resource Development, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
| | - Jill Baumgartner
- Institute for Health and Social Policy, McGill University, Montreal, Canada; Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Occupational Health, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Michael Brauer
- School of Population and Public Health, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Raphael E Arku
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health and Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, USA.
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13
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Zoran MA, Savastru RS, Savastru DM, Tautan MN, Baschir LA, Tenciu DV. Assessing the impact of air pollution and climate seasonality on COVID-19 multiwaves in Madrid, Spain. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2022; 203:111849. [PMID: 34370990 PMCID: PMC8343379 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.111849] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2021] [Revised: 08/02/2021] [Accepted: 08/03/2021] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
While the COVID-19 pandemic is still in progress, being under the fifth COVID-19 wave in Madrid, over more than one year, Spain experienced a four wave pattern. The transmission of SARS-CoV-2 pathogens in Madrid metropolitan region was investigated from an urban context associated with seasonal variability of climate and air pollution drivers. Based on descriptive statistics and regression methods of in-situ and geospatial daily time series data, this study provides a comparative analysis between COVID-19 waves incidence and mortality cases in Madrid under different air quality and climate conditions. During analyzed period 1 January 2020-1 July 2021, for each of the four COVID-19 waves in Madrid were recorded anomalous anticyclonic synoptic meteorological patterns in the mid-troposphere and favorable stability conditions for COVID-19 disease fast spreading. As airborne microbial temporal pattern is most affected by seasonal changes, this paper found: 1) a significant negative correlation of air temperature, Planetary Boundary Layer height, and surface solar irradiance with daily new COVID-19 incidence and deaths; 2) a similar mutual seasonality with climate variables of the first and the fourth COVID-waves from spring seasons of 2020 and 2021 years. Such information may help the health decision makers and public plan for the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria A Zoran
- IT Department, National Institute of R&D for Optoelectronics, Atomistilor Street 409, MG5, Magurele-Bucharest, 077125, Romania.
| | - Roxana S Savastru
- IT Department, National Institute of R&D for Optoelectronics, Atomistilor Street 409, MG5, Magurele-Bucharest, 077125, Romania
| | - Dan M Savastru
- IT Department, National Institute of R&D for Optoelectronics, Atomistilor Street 409, MG5, Magurele-Bucharest, 077125, Romania
| | - Marina N Tautan
- IT Department, National Institute of R&D for Optoelectronics, Atomistilor Street 409, MG5, Magurele-Bucharest, 077125, Romania
| | - Laurentiu A Baschir
- IT Department, National Institute of R&D for Optoelectronics, Atomistilor Street 409, MG5, Magurele-Bucharest, 077125, Romania
| | - Daniel V Tenciu
- IT Department, National Institute of R&D for Optoelectronics, Atomistilor Street 409, MG5, Magurele-Bucharest, 077125, Romania
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14
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Millán-Martínez M, Sánchez-Rodas D, Sánchez de la Campa AM, de la Rosa J. Contribution of anthropogenic and natural sources in PM10 during North African dust events in Southern Europe. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2021; 290:118065. [PMID: 34523517 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.118065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2021] [Revised: 08/06/2021] [Accepted: 08/26/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The influence of North African (NAF) dust events on the air quality at the regional level (12 representative monitoring stations) in Southern Europe during a long time series (2007-2014) was studied. PM10 levels and chemical composition were separated by Atlantic (ATL) and NAF air masses. An increase in the average PM10 concentrations was observed on sampling days with NAF dust influence (42 μg m-3) when compared to ATL air masses (29 μg m-3). Major compounds such as crustal components and secondary inorganic compounds (SIC), as well as toxic trace elements derived from industrial emissions, also showed higher concentrations of NAF events. A source contribution analysis using positive matrix factorisation (PMF) 5.0 of the PM10 chemical data, discriminating ATL and NAF air mass origins, allowed the identification of five sources: crustal, sea salt, traffic, regional, and industrial. A higher contribution (74%) of the natural sources to PM10 concentrations was confirmed under NAF episodes compared with ATL. Furthermore, there was an increase in anthropogenic sources during these events (51%), indicating the important influence of the NAF air masses on these sources. The results of this study highlight that environmental managers should take appropriate actions to reduce local emissions during NAF events to ensure good air quality.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Millán-Martínez
- Associate Unit CSIC-University of Huelva "Atmospheric Pollution", Center for Research in Sustainable Chemistry - CIQSO, University of Huelva, E21071, Huelva, Spain; Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Experimental Sciences, University of Huelva, Campus El Carmen s/n, 21071, Huelva, Spain.
| | - Daniel Sánchez-Rodas
- Associate Unit CSIC-University of Huelva "Atmospheric Pollution", Center for Research in Sustainable Chemistry - CIQSO, University of Huelva, E21071, Huelva, Spain; Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Experimental Sciences, University of Huelva, Campus El Carmen s/n, 21071, Huelva, Spain
| | - Ana M Sánchez de la Campa
- Associate Unit CSIC-University of Huelva "Atmospheric Pollution", Center for Research in Sustainable Chemistry - CIQSO, University of Huelva, E21071, Huelva, Spain; Department of Mining, Mechanic, Energetic and Construction Engineering, ETSI, University of Huelva, 21071, Huelva, Spain
| | - Jesús de la Rosa
- Associate Unit CSIC-University of Huelva "Atmospheric Pollution", Center for Research in Sustainable Chemistry - CIQSO, University of Huelva, E21071, Huelva, Spain; Department of Earth Science, Faculty of Experimental Sciences, University of Huelva, Campus El Carmen s/n, 21071, Huelva, Spain
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15
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Size-Segregated Particulate Mass and Carbonaceous Components in Roadside and Riverside Environments. APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/app112110214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Air sampling for 12 h diurnal and nocturnal periods was conducted at two monitoring sites with different characteristics in Jambi City, Sumatra Island, Indonesia. The sampling was done at a roadside site and a riverside site from 2–9 August, and from 7–13 August in 2019, respectively. A cascade air sampler was used to obtain information on the status, characteristics and behavior of airborne particles with a particular focus on the ultrafine fraction (PM0.1). The number of light vehicles was best correlated with most PM size categories, while those of heavy vehicles and motorcycles with the 0.5–1 μm and with >10 μm for the nocturnal period, respectively. These findings suggest that there is a positive influence of traffic amount on the PM concentration. Using carbonaceous parameters related to heavy-vehicle emissions such as EC and soot-EC, HV emission was confirmed to account for the PM0.1 fraction more clearly in the roadside environment. The correlation between OC/EC and EC for 0.5–1 μm particles indicated that biomass burning has an influence on both in the diurnal period. A possible transboundary influence was shown as a shift in the PM0.1 fraction characteristic from “urban” to “biomass burning”.
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16
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Linares C, Culqui D, Belda F, López-Bueno JA, Luna Y, Sánchez-Martínez G, Hervella B, Díaz J. Impact of environmental factors and Sahara dust intrusions on incidence and severity of COVID-19 disease in Spain. Effect in the first and second pandemic waves. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2021; 28:51948-51960. [PMID: 33993402 PMCID: PMC8124022 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-14228-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2021] [Accepted: 04/28/2021] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Scientific evidence suggests that Saharan dust intrusions in Southern Europe contribute to the worsening of multiple pathologies and increase the concentrations of particulate matter (PM) and other pollutants. However, few studies have examined whether Saharan dust intrusions influence the incidence and severity of COVID-19 cases. To address this question, in this study we carried out generalized linear models with Poisson link between incidence rates and daily hospital admissions and average daily concentrations of PM10, NO2, and O3 in nine Spanish regions for the period from February 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020. The models were adjusted by maximum daily temperature and average daily absolute humidity. Furthermore, we controlled for trend, seasonality, and the autoregressive nature of the series. The variable relating to Saharan dust intrusions was introduced using a dichotomous variable, NAF, averaged across daily lags in ranges of 0-7 days, 8-14 days, 14-21 days, and 22-28 days. The results obtained in this study suggest that chemical air pollutants, and especially NO2, are related to the incidence and severity of COVID-19 in Spain. Furthermore, Saharan dust intrusions have an additional effect beyond what is attributable to the variation in air pollution; they are related, in different lags, to both the incidence and hospital admissions rates for COVID-19. These results serve to support public health measures that minimize population exposure on days with particulate matter advection from the Sahara.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Linares
- National School of Public Health, Carlos III Institute of Health (ISCIII), Avda Monforte de Lemos 5, 28029, Madrid, Spain
| | - Dante Culqui
- National School of Public Health, Carlos III Institute of Health (ISCIII), Avda Monforte de Lemos 5, 28029, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - José Antonio López-Bueno
- National School of Public Health, Carlos III Institute of Health (ISCIII), Avda Monforte de Lemos 5, 28029, Madrid, Spain
| | - Yolanda Luna
- State Meteorological Agency (AEMET), Madrid, Spain
| | | | | | - Julio Díaz
- National School of Public Health, Carlos III Institute of Health (ISCIII), Avda Monforte de Lemos 5, 28029, Madrid, Spain.
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17
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Zoran MA, Savastru RS, Savastru DM, Tautan MN, Baschir LA, Tenciu DV. Exploring the linkage between seasonality of environmental factors and COVID-19 waves in Madrid, Spain. PROCESS SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION : TRANSACTIONS OF THE INSTITUTION OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERS, PART B 2021; 152:583-600. [PMID: 36285289 PMCID: PMC9584827 DOI: 10.1016/j.psep.2021.06.043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2021] [Revised: 06/14/2021] [Accepted: 06/27/2021] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
Like several countries, Spain experienced a multi wave pattern of COVID-19 pandemic over more than one year period, between spring 2020 and spring 2021. The transmission of SARS-CoV-2 pandemics is a multi-factorial process involving among other factors outdoor environmental variables and viral inactivation.This study aims to quantify the impact of climate and air pollution factors seasonality on incidence and severity of COVID-19 disease waves in Madrid metropolitan region in Spain. We employed descriptive statistics and Spearman rank correlation tests for analysis of daily in-situ and geospatial time-series of air quality and climate data to investigate the associations with COVID-19 incidence and lethality in Madrid under different synoptic meteorological patterns. During the analyzed period (1 January 2020-28 February 2021), with one month before each of three COVID-19 waves were recorded anomalous anticyclonic circulations in the mid-troposphere, with positive anomalies of geopotential heights at 500 mb and favorable stability conditions for SARS-CoV-2 fast diffusion. In addition, the results reveal that air temperature, Planetary Boundary Layer height, ground level ozone have a significant negative relationship with daily new COVID-19 confirmed cases and deaths. The findings of this study provide useful information to the public health authorities and policymakers for optimizing interventions during pandemics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria A Zoran
- IT Department, National Institute of R&D for Optoelectronics, Atomistilor Street 409, MG5, Magurele-Bucharest, 077125, Romania
| | - Roxana S Savastru
- IT Department, National Institute of R&D for Optoelectronics, Atomistilor Street 409, MG5, Magurele-Bucharest, 077125, Romania
| | - Dan M Savastru
- IT Department, National Institute of R&D for Optoelectronics, Atomistilor Street 409, MG5, Magurele-Bucharest, 077125, Romania
| | - Marina N Tautan
- IT Department, National Institute of R&D for Optoelectronics, Atomistilor Street 409, MG5, Magurele-Bucharest, 077125, Romania
| | - Laurentiu A Baschir
- IT Department, National Institute of R&D for Optoelectronics, Atomistilor Street 409, MG5, Magurele-Bucharest, 077125, Romania
| | - Daniel V Tenciu
- IT Department, National Institute of R&D for Optoelectronics, Atomistilor Street 409, MG5, Magurele-Bucharest, 077125, Romania
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Millán-Martínez M, Sánchez-Rodas D, Sánchez de la Campa AM, Alastuey A, Querol X, de la Rosa JD. Source contribution and origin of PM10 and arsenic in a complex industrial region (Huelva, SW Spain). ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2021; 274:116268. [PMID: 33545528 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2020.116268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2020] [Revised: 11/10/2020] [Accepted: 12/08/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Air pollution coming from industrial activities is a matter of interest since their emissions can seriously affect to the human health of nearby populations. A more detailed study about industrial emissions is required in order to discriminate different activities contributing to pollutant sources. In this sense, gaseous pollutants (NO2, SO2 and O3) and PM10 levels has been studied in a complex industrial area in the southwest of Spain (La Rabida and the nearby city of Huelva) during the period 1996-2017. Hourly, daily, monthly and annual variations of PM10 and gaseous pollutants concentrations point to the industrial activity as the main SO2 source. Furthermore, traffic and resuspension emissions contribute to the NO2 and PM10 levels, respectively. Results from chemical composition of PM10 at both sites during the period 2015-2017 are characterized by high concentrations of the crustal components derived from natural and local resuspension. Arsenic is found to be the main geochemical anomaly at La Rabida (annual mean of 7 ng m-3), exceeding the European annual target of 6 ng m-3, which supposes a risk for the nearby population. An emission source from Cu-smelter has been identified in La Rabida and Huelva. A second source corresponding to emissions from polymetallic sulfides handling in a port area has been described for the first time in La Rabida. In addition, arsenic speciation results have identified three different As impacts scenarios as a function of the dominant wind direction, the SO2 episodes and the As extraction efficiency: impact of the Cu-smelter, impact of the bulk polymetallic sulfides and a mixed impact of both sources.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Millán-Martínez
- Associate Unit CSIC-University of Huelva "Atmospheric Pollution", Center for Research in Sustainable Chemistry - CIQSO, University of Huelva, E21071 Huelva, Spain; Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Experimental Sciences, University of Huelva, Campus El Carmen s/n, 21071 Huelva, Spain.
| | - Daniel Sánchez-Rodas
- Associate Unit CSIC-University of Huelva "Atmospheric Pollution", Center for Research in Sustainable Chemistry - CIQSO, University of Huelva, E21071 Huelva, Spain; Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Experimental Sciences, University of Huelva, Campus El Carmen s/n, 21071 Huelva, Spain
| | - A M Sánchez de la Campa
- Associate Unit CSIC-University of Huelva "Atmospheric Pollution", Center for Research in Sustainable Chemistry - CIQSO, University of Huelva, E21071 Huelva, Spain; Department of Mining, Mechanic, Energetic and Construction Engineering, ETSI, University of Huelva, 21071 Huelva, Spain
| | - Andrés Alastuey
- Institute for Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDÆA-CSIC), C/Jordi Girona 18-24, Barcelona 08034, Spain
| | - Xavier Querol
- Institute for Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDÆA-CSIC), C/Jordi Girona 18-24, Barcelona 08034, Spain
| | - Jesús D de la Rosa
- Associate Unit CSIC-University of Huelva "Atmospheric Pollution", Center for Research in Sustainable Chemistry - CIQSO, University of Huelva, E21071 Huelva, Spain; Department of Earth Science, Faculty of Experimental Sciences, University of Huelva, Campus El Carmen s/n, 21071 Huelva, Spain
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Abstract
Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text. Desert dust is assumed to have substantial adverse effects on human health. However, the epidemiologic evidence is still inconsistent, mainly because previous studies used different metrics for dust exposure and its corresponding epidemiologic analysis. We aim to provide a standardized approach to the methodology for evaluating the short-term health effects of desert dust.
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20
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Domínguez-Rodríguez A, Báez-Ferrer N, Abreu-González P, Rodríguez S, Díaz R, Avanzas P, Hernández-Vaquero D. Impact of Desert Dust Events on the Cardiovascular Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. J Clin Med 2021; 10:jcm10040727. [PMID: 33673156 PMCID: PMC7918944 DOI: 10.3390/jcm10040727] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2020] [Revised: 02/04/2021] [Accepted: 02/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Whether or not inhalation of airborne desert dust has adverse health effects is unknown. The present study, based on a systematic review and meta-analysis, was carried out to assess the influence desert dust on cardiovascular mortality, acute coronary syndrome, and heart failure. Methods: A systematic search was made in PubMed and Embase databases for studies published before March 2020. Studies based on daily measurements of desert dust were identified. The meta-analysis evaluated the impact of desert dust on cardiovascular events the same day (lag 0) of the exposure and during several days after the exposure (lags 1 to 5). The combined impact of several days of exposure was also evaluated. The incidence rate ratio (IRR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) was calculated using the inverse variance random effects method. Results: Of the 589 identified titles, a total of 15 studies were selected. The impact of desert dust on the incidence of cardiovascular mortality was statistically significant (IRR = 1.018 (95%CI 1.008–1.027); p < 0.001) in lag 0 of the dust episode, in the following day (lag 1) (IRR = 1.005 (95%CI 1.001–1.009); p = 0.022), and during both days combined (lag 0–1) (IRR = 1.015 (95%CI 1.003–1.028); p = 0.014). Conclusions: The inhalation to desert dust results in a 2% increase (for every 10 µg/m3) in cardiovascular mortality risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alberto Domínguez-Rodríguez
- Servicio de Cardiología, Hospital Universitario de Canarias, 38010 Tenerife, Spain;
- Departamento de Enfermería, Universidad de La Laguna, 38200 Tenerife, Spain
- CIBER de Enfermedades CardioVasculares (CIBERCV), 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +34-922-679040; Fax: +34-922-678460
| | - Néstor Báez-Ferrer
- Servicio de Cardiología, Hospital Universitario de Canarias, 38010 Tenerife, Spain;
| | - Pedro Abreu-González
- Departamento de Fisiología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de La Laguna, 38200 Tenerife, Spain;
| | - Sergio Rodríguez
- Estación Experimental de Zonas Áridas, EEZA, CSIC, 04120 Almería, Spain;
- Instituto de Productos Naturales y Agrobiología, IPNA, CSIC, 38206 Tenerife, Spain
| | - Rocío Díaz
- Área del Corazón, Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias, 33011 Oviedo, Spain; (R.D.); (P.A.); (D.H.-V.)
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado de Asturias, 33011 Oviedo, Spain
| | - Pablo Avanzas
- Área del Corazón, Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias, 33011 Oviedo, Spain; (R.D.); (P.A.); (D.H.-V.)
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado de Asturias, 33011 Oviedo, Spain
- Departamento de Medicina, Universidad de Oviedo, 33003 Asturias, Spain
| | - Daniel Hernández-Vaquero
- Área del Corazón, Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias, 33011 Oviedo, Spain; (R.D.); (P.A.); (D.H.-V.)
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado de Asturias, 33011 Oviedo, Spain
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21
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Salvador P, Pandolfi M, Tobías A, Gómez-Moreno FJ, Molero F, Barreiro M, Pérez N, Revuelta MA, Marco IM, Querol X, Artíñano B. Impact of mixing layer height variations on air pollutant concentrations and health in a European urban area: Madrid (Spain), a case study. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2020; 27:41702-41716. [PMID: 32696403 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-020-10146-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2019] [Accepted: 07/15/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The occurrence of local high-pollution episodes in densely populated urban areas, which have huge fleets of vehicles, is currently one of the most worrying problems associated with air pollution worldwide. Such episodes are produced under specific meteorological conditions, which favour the sudden increase of levels of air pollutants. This study has investigated the influence of the mixing layer height (MLH) on the concentration levels of atmospheric pollutants and daily mortality in Madrid, Spain, during the period 2011-2014. It may help to understand the causes and impact of local high-pollution episodes. MLH at midday over Madrid was daily estimated from meteorological radio soundings. Then, days with different MLH over this urban area were characterized by meteorological parameters registered at different levels of an instrumented tower and by composite sea level pressure maps, representing the associated synoptic meteorological scenarios. Next, statistically significant associations between MLH and levels of PM10, PM2.5, NO, NO2, CO and ultra-fine particles number concentrations registered at representative monitoring stations were evaluated. Finally, associations between all-natural cause daily mortality in Madrid, MLH, and air pollutants were estimated using conditional Poisson regression models. The reduction of MLH to values below 482 m above-ground level under strong atmospheric stagnation conditions was accompanied by a statistically significant increase in levels of NO, NO2, CO, PM2.5 and ultra-fine particle number concentrations at urban-traffic and suburban monitoring sites. The decrease of the MLH was also associated to a linear increase of the daily number of exceedances of the UE NO2 hourly limit value (200 μg/m3) and levels of air pollutants at hotspot urban-traffic monitoring stations. Also, a statistically significant association of the MLH with all-natural cause daily mortality was obtained. When the MLH increased by 830 m, the risk of mortality decreased by 2.5% the same day and by 3.3% the next day, when African dust episodic days were excluded. They were also higher in absolute terms than the increases in risk of mortality that were determined for the exposition to any other air pollutant. Our results suggest that when the prediction models foresee values of MLH below 482 m above-ground level in Madrid, the evolution of high-contamination episodes will be very favourable. Therefore, short-term policy measures will have to be implemented to reduce NO, NO2, CO, PM2.5 and ultra-fine particle emissions from anthropogenic sources in this southern European urban location.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro Salvador
- Department of Environment - Joint Research Unit Atmospheric Pollution CIEMAT-CSIC, CIEMAT, Av. Complutense 40, 28040, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Marco Pandolfi
- Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA), CSIC, c. Jordi Girona 18, 08034, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Aurelio Tobías
- Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA), CSIC, c. Jordi Girona 18, 08034, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Francisco Javier Gómez-Moreno
- Department of Environment - Joint Research Unit Atmospheric Pollution CIEMAT-CSIC, CIEMAT, Av. Complutense 40, 28040, Madrid, Spain
| | - Francisco Molero
- Department of Environment - Joint Research Unit Atmospheric Pollution CIEMAT-CSIC, CIEMAT, Av. Complutense 40, 28040, Madrid, Spain
| | - Marcos Barreiro
- Department of Environment - Joint Research Unit Atmospheric Pollution CIEMAT-CSIC, CIEMAT, Av. Complutense 40, 28040, Madrid, Spain
| | - Noemí Pérez
- Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA), CSIC, c. Jordi Girona 18, 08034, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Isabel Martínez Marco
- Spanish Meteorological Agency (AEMET), c. Leonardo Prieto Castro 8, 28071, Madrid, Spain
| | - Xavier Querol
- Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA), CSIC, c. Jordi Girona 18, 08034, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Begoña Artíñano
- Department of Environment - Joint Research Unit Atmospheric Pollution CIEMAT-CSIC, CIEMAT, Av. Complutense 40, 28040, Madrid, Spain
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22
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Linares C, Martinez GS, Kendrovski V, Diaz J. A new integrative perspective on early warning systems for health in the context of climate change. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2020; 187:109623. [PMID: 32416361 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2020.109623] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2020] [Revised: 04/24/2020] [Accepted: 04/28/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Climate change causes or aggravates a wide range of exposures with multiple impacts on health, both direct and indirect. Early warning systems have been established to act on the risks posed by these exposures, permitting the timely activation of action plans to minimize health effects. These plans are usually activated individually. Although they show good results from the point of view of minimizing health impacts, such as in the case of high temperature plans, they commonly fail to address the synergies across various climate-related or climate-aggravated exposures. Since several of those exposures tend to occur concurrently, failure to integrate them in prevention efforts could affect their effectiveness and reach. Thus, there is a need to carry out an integrative approach for the multiple effects that climate change has on population health. This article presents a proposal for how these plans should be articulated. The proposed integrated plan would consist of four phases. The first phase, based on early warning systems, would be the activation of different existing individual plans related to the health effects that can be caused by certain circumstances and when possible corrective measures would be implemented. The second phase would attempt to quantify the health impact foreseen by the event in terms of the different health indicators selected. The third phase would be to activate measures to minimize the impact on health, via population alerts and advisories, and additional social and health services, based on the provisions in phase two. Phase four would be related to epidemiological surveillance that permits evaluation of the effects of activating the plan. We believe that this integrative approach should be extended to all of the public health interventions related to climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Linares
- National School of Public Health, Carlos III Institute of Health, Spain
| | | | - V Kendrovski
- World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe, Bonn, Germany
| | - J Diaz
- National School of Public Health, Carlos III Institute of Health, Spain
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23
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Varga G. Changing nature of Saharan dust deposition in the Carpathian Basin (Central Europe): 40 years of identified North African dust events (1979-2018). ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2020; 139:105712. [PMID: 32283354 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2020.105712] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2019] [Revised: 03/19/2020] [Accepted: 03/31/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Several billion tonnes of mineral dust is emitted, and transported through winds every year from arid-semiarid areas. North African dust hot spots located in the Sahara are responsible for 50-70% of the global mineral dust budget. Dust-loaded air-masses originated from these sources can be transported over long distances and can also affect remote areas, such as North and South Americas, Europe, and the Middle East. In this study, we analysed 218 identified Saharan dust events (SDEs) in the Carpathian Basin (Central Europe) during 1979 to 2018. Systematic identification of SDEs and analyses of dust emission, dust source area activity, dust transporting wind systems, and transport routes revealed that different synoptic meteorological patterns are responsible for SDEs, and these are occurring mostly in spring and summer. The characteristic synoptic meteorological background of episodes was also identified, and three major types of atmospheric pressure-system patterns were distinguished. In recent years, several intense wintertime dust deposition events have been recorded in Central Europe. All of the identified unusual episodes were characterised by severe washout of mineral dust material and were related to very similar synoptic meteorological situations. Enhanced southward propagation of a high-latitude upper-level atmospheric trough to north-western Africa and orographic blocking of Atlas Mountains played an essential role in the formation of severe dust storms, whereas the long-range transport was associated with the northward branch of the meandering jet. The occurrence and southerly penetration of high-latitude upper-level atmospheric trough to low-latitudes and the increased meridionality of the dominant flow patterns may be associated with enhanced warming of the Arctic, leading to more meandering jet streams. Particles size of sampled dust material of some intense deposition episodes were very coarse with a considerable volumetric proportion of > 20 µm particles.
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Affiliation(s)
- György Varga
- Research Centre for Astronomy and Earth Sciences, Budapest H-1112, Hungary.
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24
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Cerro JC, Cerdà V, Querol X, Alastuey A, Bujosa C, Pey J. Variability of air pollutants, and PM composition and sources at a regional background site in the Balearic Islands: Review of western Mediterranean phenomenology from a 3-year study. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 717:137177. [PMID: 32062273 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.137177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2019] [Revised: 02/04/2020] [Accepted: 02/06/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The present study discloses the results of a comprehensive 3-years campaign (2010-2012) of air pollution measurements over an regional island background area (Can Llompart-Balearic Islands, Spain), contextualized with other measurements in the western Mediterranean region. Gaseous pollutants and particulate matter fractions were measured in real time; and PM10 and PM1 daily samples were obtained regularly from which chemical analyses were performed. Furthermore, during three intensive observation periods, real-time concentrations of particle number, black carbon and ammonia were additionally measured. Our results display particular diurnal and seasonal patterns for certain pollutants such as O3 and particle number concentration. Our study reveals that concentrations of air pollutants and aerosol chemical composition are rather similar all over the central and western Mediterranean basin. The most abundant chemical components in PM10 were mineral dust, followed by organic matter, sea spray and SO42-; in PM1 organic matter and SO42- dominated, with significant contribution of mineral dust. Furthermore, a source apportionment Positive Matrix Factorization analysis was conducted. Natural sources exert most of the impact on the coarse-mode fraction, while most of fine-mode aerosols are linked to anthropogenic sources coming from local, regional or long range transport emissions. Prevalence of Atlantic air masses in 2010 had a positive effect in air quality, lowering mineral dust, SO42- and EC concentrations. On the contrary, the high incidence of African dust and regional recirculation situations during the 2012 warm season favoured an overall PM load increase governed by mineral dust, SO42- and trace elements associated to dust aerosols. The continuous increase in tourists in the Balearic Islands, and in general all around the Mediterranean, is clearly changing air quality patterns: while urban air pollution has strongly decreased since 2010, such downward trend is less pronounced at the regional scale, thus related to crescent sources such as maritime and air transport.
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Affiliation(s)
- José C Cerro
- Laboratory of Environmental Analytical Chemistry, Illes Balears University, Palma de Mallorca 07122, Spain; Laboratory of the Atmosphere, Govern Illes Balears, Palma de Mallorca 07009, Spain.
| | - Víctor Cerdà
- Laboratory of Environmental Analytical Chemistry, Illes Balears University, Palma de Mallorca 07122, Spain
| | - Xavier Querol
- Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research, IDÆA-CSIC, Barcelona 08028, Spain
| | - Andrés Alastuey
- Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research, IDÆA-CSIC, Barcelona 08028, Spain
| | | | - Jorge Pey
- ARAID-Instituto Pirenaico de Ecología - CSIC, Zaragoza 50059, Spain
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25
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Choi Y, Chen S, Huang C, Earl K, Chen C, Schwartz CS, Matsui T. Evaluating the Impact of Assimilating Aerosol Optical Depth Observations on Dust Forecasts Over North Africa and the East Atlantic Using Different Data Assimilation Methods. JOURNAL OF ADVANCES IN MODELING EARTH SYSTEMS 2020; 12:e2019MS001890. [PMID: 32714493 PMCID: PMC7375163 DOI: 10.1029/2019ms001890] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2019] [Revised: 01/01/2020] [Accepted: 02/28/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
This study evaluates the impact of assimilating moderate resolution imaging spectroradiometer (MODIS) aerosol optical depth (AOD) data using different data assimilation (DA) methods on dust analyses and forecasts over North Africa and tropical North Atlantic. To do so, seven experiments are conducted using the Weather Research and Forecasting dust model and the Gridpoint Statistical Interpolation analysis system. Six of these experiments differ in whether or not AOD observations are assimilated and the DA method used, the latter of which includes the three-dimensional variational (3D-Var), ensemble square root filter (EnSRF), and hybrid methods. The seventh experiment, which allows us to assess the impact of assimilating deep blue AOD data, assimilates only dark target AOD data using the hybrid method. The assimilation of MODIS AOD data clearly improves AOD analyses and forecasts up to 48 hr in length. Results also show that assimilating deep blue data has a primarily positive effect on AOD analyses and forecasts over and downstream of the major North African source regions. Without assimilating deep blue data (assimilating dark target only), AOD assimilation only improves AOD forecasts for up to 30 hr. Of the three DA methods examined, the hybrid and EnSRF methods produce better AOD analyses and forecasts than the 3D-Var method does. Despite the clear benefit of AOD assimilation for AOD analyses and forecasts, the lack of information regarding the vertical distribution of aerosols in AOD data means that AOD assimilation has very little positive effect on analyzed or forecasted vertical profiles of backscatter.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yonghan Choi
- Department of Land, Air, and Water ResourcesUniversity of CaliforniaDavisCAUSA
- Korea Polar Research InstituteIncheonSouth Korea
| | - Shu‐Hua Chen
- Department of Land, Air, and Water ResourcesUniversity of CaliforniaDavisCAUSA
| | - Chu‐Chun Huang
- Department of Land, Air, and Water ResourcesUniversity of CaliforniaDavisCAUSA
| | - Kenneth Earl
- Department of Land, Air, and Water ResourcesUniversity of CaliforniaDavisCAUSA
| | - Chih‐Ying Chen
- Research Center of Environmental ChangesAcademia SinicaTaipeiTaiwan
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26
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Moreira I, Linares C, Follos F, Sánchez-Martínez G, Vellón JM, Díaz J. Short-term effects of Saharan dust intrusions and biomass combustion on birth outcomes in Spain. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 701:134755. [PMID: 31704398 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.134755] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2019] [Revised: 09/24/2019] [Accepted: 09/29/2019] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
The objective of this study is to analyze the short-term effects of atmospheric pollutant concentrations (PM10, NO2 and O3) and heat and cold waves on the number of pre-term births and cases of low birth weight related to Saharan dust advection and biomass combustion. The dependent variables used in this analysis were the total number of births, births with low weight (>2.500 g) and pre-term births (<37 weeks), that occurred at the province level. Data provided by the NSI included: days with Saharan dust intrusion or biomass advection classified in terms of information provided by MITECO for each of the nine regions in Spain. A representative city was selected for reach region in which the registered average daily concentrations of PM10, NO2 and O3 (μg/m3) were used. These were also provided by MITECO. The daily maximum and daily minimum temperature (°C) used was those registered by the meteorological observatory station located in each province capital, provided by AEMET. Using Poisson log linear regression models, the associated relative risks (RR) were measured as well as the population attributable risk (PAR) corresponding to the variables that resulted statistically significant at p < 0.05 for days with and without intrusion of natural particulate matter. The results obtained show that the days with Saharan dust intrusion or advections due to biomass combustion- beyond the impact of PM10, primary pollutants such as NO2 (in Saharan intrusions), heat waves and O3 - are associated with the number of births, low birth weight and pre-term birth. The RR and percent PAR of the pollutants and the heat waves are greater than those obtained for PM10. The results of this study indicate that days with natural particulate matter due to biomass combustion or advection of Saharan dust put pregnant women at risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- I Moreira
- Escuela Nacional de Sanidad, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - C Linares
- Escuela Nacional de Sanidad, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - F Follos
- Tdot Soluciones Sostenibles, S.L. Ferrol, A Coruña, Spain
| | | | - J M Vellón
- Tdot Soluciones Sostenibles, S.L. Ferrol, A Coruña, Spain
| | - J Díaz
- Escuela Nacional de Sanidad, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.
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27
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Rohrer M, Flahault A, Stoffel M. Peaks of Fine Particulate Matter May Modulate the Spreading and Virulence of COVID-19. EARTH SYSTEMS AND ENVIRONMENT 2020; 4:789-796. [PMID: 34723075 PMCID: PMC7679238 DOI: 10.1007/s41748-020-00184-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2020] [Accepted: 11/04/2020] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
A probe of a patient, seeking help in an emergency ward of a French hospital in late December 2019 because of Influenza like symptoms, was retrospectively tested positive to COVID-19. Despite the early appearance of the virus in Europe, the prevalence and virulence appeared to be low for several weeks, before the spread and severity of symptoms increased exponentially, yet with marked spatial and temporal differences. Here, we compare the possible linkages between peaks of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and the sudden, explosive increase of hospitalizations and mortality rates in the Swiss Canton of Ticino, and the Greater Paris and London regions. We argue that these peaks of fine particulate matter are primarily occurring during thermal inversion of the boundary layer of the atmosphere. We also discuss the influence of Saharan dust intrusions on the COVID-19 outbreak observed in early 2020 on the Canary Islands. We deem it both reasonable and plausible that high PM2.5 concentrations-favored by air temperature inversions or Saharan dust intrusions-are not only modulating but even more so boosting severe outbreaks of COVID-19. Moreover, desert dust events-besides enhancing PM2.5 concentrations-can be a vector for fungal diseases, thereby exacerbating COVID-19 morbidity and mortality. We conclude that the overburdening of the health services and hospitals as well as the high over-mortality observed in various regions of Europe in spring 2020 may be linked to peaks of PM2.5 and likely particular weather situations that have favored the spread and enhanced the virulence of the virus. In the future, we recommended to monitor not only the prevalence of the virus, but also to consider the occurrence of weather situations that can lead to sudden, very explosive COVID-19 outbreaks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mario Rohrer
- Meteodat GmbH, 8903 Birmensdorf ZH, Switzerland
- Climate Change Impacts and Risks in the Anthropocene, Institute for Environmental Sciences (ISE), University of Geneva, 1205 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Antoine Flahault
- Institute of Global Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, 1202 Geneva, Switzerland
- Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), 8001 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Markus Stoffel
- Climate Change Impacts and Risks in the Anthropocene, Institute for Environmental Sciences (ISE), University of Geneva, 1205 Geneva, Switzerland
- Department F.-A. Forel for Environmental and Aquatic Sciences, University of Geneva, 1205 Geneva, Switzerland
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Geneva, 1205 Geneva, Switzerland
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Shahsavani A, Tobías A, Querol X, Stafoggia M, Abdolshahnejad M, Mayvaneh F, Guo Y, Hadei M, Saeed Hashemi S, Khosravi A, Namvar Z, Yarahmadi M, Emam B. Short-term effects of particulate matter during desert and non-desert dust days on mortality in Iran. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2020; 134:105299. [PMID: 31751828 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2019.105299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2019] [Revised: 10/30/2019] [Accepted: 10/30/2019] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Increased atmospheric particulate matter (PM) concentrations are commonly observed during desert dust days in Iran, but there is still no evidence of their effects on human health. We aimed to evaluate the association between daily mortality and exposure to PM10 and PM2.5 during dust and non-dust days in Tehran and Ahvaz, two major Middle Eastern cities with different sources, intensity, and frequency of desert dust days. METHODS We identified desert dust days based on exceeding a daily PM10 concentration threshold of 150 µg/m3 between 2014 and 2017, checking for low PM2.5/PM10 ratio typical of dust days. We used a time-stratified case-crossover design to estimate the short-term effects of PM10 and PM2.5 concentrations on daily mortality during dust and non-dust days. Data was analyzed using conditional Poisson regression models. RESULTS Higher concentrations of PM and frequency of desert dust days were observed in Ahvaz rather than Tehran. In Ahvaz, the effect of PM10 at lag 0 was much higher during dust days, an increment of 10 μg/m3 was associated with 3.28% (95%CI = [2.42, 4.15]) increase of daily mortality, than non-dust days, 1.03% (95%CI = [-0.02, 2.08]), while in Tehran, was slightly higher during non-dust days, 0.72% (95%CI = [0.23, 1.23]), than in dust days, 0.49% (95%CI = [-0.22, 1.20]). No statistically significant associations were observed between PM2.5 and daily mortality in Ahvaz, while in Teheran the effect of PM2.5 increased significantly during non-dust days at lag 2, 1.89% (95%CI = [0.83, 1.2.95] and lag 3, 1.88% (95%CI = [0.83, 1.2.95]). CONCLUSION The study provides evidence that exposure to PM during Middle East dust days is an important risk factor to human health in arid regions and areas affected by desert dust events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abbas Shahsavani
- Environmental and Occupational Hazards Control Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health and Safety, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Aurelio Tobías
- Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA), Spanish Council for Scientific Research (CSIC), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Xavier Querol
- Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA), Spanish Council for Scientific Research (CSIC), Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Massimo Stafoggia
- Department of Epidemiology, Lazio Regional Health Service/ASL Roma 1, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Fatemeh Mayvaneh
- Faculty of Geography and Environmental Sciences, Hakim Sabzevari University, Sabzevar, Iran
| | - Yuming Guo
- Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Mostafa Hadei
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Students' Scientific Research Center (SSRC), Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Seyed Saeed Hashemi
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health and Safety, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Zahra Namvar
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health and Safety, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Baharan Emam
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health and Safety, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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Abstract
Air pollution has many adverse effects on health and is associated with an increased risk of mortality. Desert dust outbreaks contribute directly to air pollution by increasing particulate matter concentrations. We investigated the influence of desert dust outbreaks on air quality in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, a city located in the dust export pathway off the west coast of North Africa, using air-quality observations from a six-year period (2012–2017). During winter intense dust outbreaks PM 10 mean (24-h) concentrations increased from 14 μ g m − 3 to 98 μ g m − 3 , on average, and PM 2 . 5 mean (24-h) concentrations increased from 6 μ g m − 3 to 32 μ g m − 3 . Increases were less during summer outbreaks, with a tripling of PM 10 and PM 2 . 5 daily mean concentrations. We found that desert dust outbreaks reduced the height of the marine boundary layer in our study area by >45%, on average, in summer and by ∼25%, on average, in winter. This thinning of the marine boundary layer was associated with an increase of local anthropogenic pollution during dust outbreaks. NO 2 and NO mean concentrations more than doubled and even larger relative increases in black carbon were observed during the more intense summer dust outbreaks; increases also occurred during the winter outbreaks but were less than in summer. This has public health implications; local anthropogenic emissions need to be reduced even further in areas that are impacted by desert dust outbreaks to reduce adverse health effects.
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Querol X, Pérez N, Reche C, Ealo M, Ripoll A, Tur J, Pandolfi M, Pey J, Salvador P, Moreno T, Alastuey A. African dust and air quality over Spain: Is it only dust that matters? THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2019; 686:737-752. [PMID: 31195282 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.05.349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2019] [Revised: 05/16/2019] [Accepted: 05/23/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
The 2001-2016 contribution of African dust outbreaks to ambient regional background PM10 and PM2.5 levels over Spain, as well as changes induced in the PMx composition over NE Spain in 2009-2016, were investigated. A clear decrease in PMx dust contributions from the Canary Islands to N Iberia was found. A parallel increase in the PM2.5/PM10 ratio (30% in the Canary Islands to 57% in NW Iberia) was evidenced, probably due to size segregation and the larger relative contribution of the local PMx with increasing distance from Africa. PM1-10 and PM2.5-10 measured in Barcelona during African dust outbreaks (ADOs) were 43-46% higher compared to non-ADO days. The continental background contribution prevailed in terms of both PM1-10 and PM2.5-10 during ADO days (62 and 69%, respectively, and 31 and 27% for non-ADO days). The relative contributions of Al2O3/Fe2O3/CaO to PMx fraction showed that Al2O3 is a suitable tracer for African dust in our context; while CaO at the urban site is clearly affected by local resuspension, construction and road dust, and Fe2O3 by dust from vehicle brake discs. The results also provide evidence that PM increases during ADOs are caused not only by the mineral dust load, but by an increased accumulation of locally emitted or co-transported anthropogenic pollutants as compared with non-ADO days. Possible causes for this accumulation are discussed. We recommend that further epidemiological studies should explore independently the potential effects of mineral dust and the anthropogenic PM during ADOs, because, at least over SW Europe, not only mineral dust affects the air quality during African dust episodes.
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Affiliation(s)
- X Querol
- Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research IDAEA-CSIC, C/Jordi Girona 18-26, Barcelona 08034, Spain.
| | - N Pérez
- Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research IDAEA-CSIC, C/Jordi Girona 18-26, Barcelona 08034, Spain
| | - C Reche
- Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research IDAEA-CSIC, C/Jordi Girona 18-26, Barcelona 08034, Spain
| | - M Ealo
- Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research IDAEA-CSIC, C/Jordi Girona 18-26, Barcelona 08034, Spain
| | - A Ripoll
- Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research IDAEA-CSIC, C/Jordi Girona 18-26, Barcelona 08034, Spain
| | - J Tur
- Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research IDAEA-CSIC, C/Jordi Girona 18-26, Barcelona 08034, Spain
| | - M Pandolfi
- Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research IDAEA-CSIC, C/Jordi Girona 18-26, Barcelona 08034, Spain
| | - J Pey
- ARAID, Instituto Pirenaico de Ecología (IPE-CSIC), 50059 Zaragoza, Spain
| | - P Salvador
- Department of Environment, Joint Research Unit Atmospheric Pollution CIEMAT-CSIC, Madrid 28040, Spain
| | - T Moreno
- Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research IDAEA-CSIC, C/Jordi Girona 18-26, Barcelona 08034, Spain
| | - A Alastuey
- Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research IDAEA-CSIC, C/Jordi Girona 18-26, Barcelona 08034, Spain
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31
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Querol X, Tobías A, Pérez N, Karanasiou A, Amato F, Stafoggia M, Pérez García-Pando C, Ginoux P, Forastiere F, Gumy S, Mudu P, Alastuey A. Monitoring the impact of desert dust outbreaks for air quality for health studies. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2019; 130:104867. [PMID: 31207476 PMCID: PMC6686079 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2019.05.061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2019] [Revised: 05/02/2019] [Accepted: 05/23/2019] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
We review the major features of desert dust outbreaks that are relevant to the assessment of dust impacts upon human health. Our ultimate goal is to provide scientific guidance for the acquisition of relevant population exposure information for epidemiological studies tackling the short and long term health effects of desert dust. We first describe the source regions and the typical levels of dust particles in regions close and far away from the source areas, along with their size, composition, and bio-aerosol load. We then describe the processes by which dust may become mixed with anthropogenic particulate matter (PM) and/or alter its load in receptor areas. Short term health effects are found during desert dust episodes in different regions of the world, but in a number of cases the results differ when it comes to associate the effects to the bulk PM, the desert dust-PM, or non-desert dust-PM. These differences are likely due to the different monitoring strategies applied in the epidemiological studies, and to the differences on atmospheric and emission (natural and anthropogenic) patterns of desert dust around the world. We finally propose methods to allow the discrimination of health effects by PM fraction during dust outbreaks, and a strategy to implement desert dust alert and monitoring systems for health studies and air quality management.
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Affiliation(s)
- X Querol
- Institute of Environmental Assessment & Water Research, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - A Tobías
- Institute of Environmental Assessment & Water Research, Barcelona, Spain
| | - N Pérez
- Institute of Environmental Assessment & Water Research, Barcelona, Spain
| | - A Karanasiou
- Institute of Environmental Assessment & Water Research, Barcelona, Spain
| | - F Amato
- Institute of Environmental Assessment & Water Research, Barcelona, Spain
| | - M Stafoggia
- Department of Epidemiology, Lazio Regional Health Service, Rome, Italy
| | | | - P Ginoux
- Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Princeton, USA
| | - F Forastiere
- Department of Public Health, Environmental and Social Determinants of Health, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - S Gumy
- Department of Public Health, Environmental and Social Determinants of Health, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - P Mudu
- Department of Public Health, Environmental and Social Determinants of Health, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - A Alastuey
- Institute of Environmental Assessment & Water Research, Barcelona, Spain
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32
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Yassin MF, Al-Shatti LA, Al Rashidi MS. Assessment of the atmospheric mixing layer height and its effects on pollutant dispersion. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT 2018; 190:372. [PMID: 29860535 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-018-6737-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2017] [Accepted: 05/21/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
The atmospheric mixing layer height (MLH) is an important parameter of the planetary boundary layer (PBL) because it affects the transportation and dispersion processes of pollutants emitted from different sources. This study investigated the relationship between the surface temperature inversion, elevated temperature inversion, and MLH within the PBL of the Kuwait by collecting and analyzing measurements of the temperature and the air quality of upper air during 2013. The upper air temperature and the MLH were derived using a microwave temperature profiler. Hourly concentrations of SO2, O3, particulate matter (PM10), NO2, CO, NO x , and non-methane hydrocarbons (NMHCs) in ambient air were measured by air quality monitoring stations. The collected data were used to estimate the hourly MLH for the transportation and dispersion of critical pollutants. The results showed that concentrations of SO2 and PM10 have direct correlation with MLH during the day, whereas they have the reverse relationship at night. Conversely, concentrations of CO, NMHCs, and NO x showed negative correlation with MLH during both day and night, whereas concentrations of O3 showed direct correlation with MLH during both day and night. In addition, the relationship between the PBL and concentrations of critical pollutants in residential areas was clarified. These findings indicate the influence of the MLH on SO2 and PM10 is much greater during the day than at night. The findings of the present study could help improve our understanding of the effects of MLH on air quality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamed F Yassin
- Environmental & Life Science Research Center, Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, PO Box 24885, 13109, Safat, Kuwait.
| | | | - Mufreh S Al Rashidi
- Environmental & Life Science Research Center, Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, PO Box 24885, 13109, Safat, Kuwait
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33
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Vasilatou V, Diapouli E, Abatzoglou D, Bakeas EB, Scoullos M, Eleftheriadis K. Characterization of PM 2.5 chemical composition at the Demokritos suburban station, in Athens Greece. The influence of Saharan dust. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2017; 24:11836-11846. [PMID: 28343359 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-017-8684-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2016] [Accepted: 02/22/2017] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
The aim of this work is to study the atmospheric concentrations of selected major and trace elements and ions found in PM2.5, at a suburban site in Athens, Greece, and discuss on the impact of the different sources. Special focus is given to the influence of Saharan dust episodes. The seasonal variability in the metal and ion concentrations is also examined. The results show that PM2.5 mass concentrations are significantly influenced by Saharan dust events; it is observed that when the PM2.5 concentration is higher than 25 μg/m3, five out of six times, the air mass crossed North Africa at an altitude within the boundary layer. Fe is found to be the element with the more significant seasonal variability, displaying much higher concentrations during cold period. The frequent Saharan dust intrusions in the cold period of this dataset may explain this result. Mineral dust and secondary aerosol are the main PM2.5 components (29 and 34%, respectively). During Saharan dust events, the concentration of mineral dust is increased by 35% compared to the days without dust intrusions, while an increase of 68% of the sea salt is also observed. During event days, PM2.5 concentrations are also increased by 14%. Anthropogenic components do not decrease during those days, while sulfate displays even a slight increase, suggesting enrichment of mineral dust with secondary sulfates. The results indicate that African dust intrusions add a rather significant PM pollution load even in the PM2.5 fraction, with implication to population exposure and human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vasiliki Vasilatou
- Institute of Nuclear Technology and Radiation Protection, Environmental Radioactivity Laboratory, National Centre of Scientific Research "Demokritos", 15310 Ag, Paraskevi, Attiki, Greece
- Department of Chemistry, Division III, Environmental Chemistry, University of Athens, Panepistimioupolis, 15701, Athens, Greece
| | - Evangelia Diapouli
- Institute of Nuclear Technology and Radiation Protection, Environmental Radioactivity Laboratory, National Centre of Scientific Research "Demokritos", 15310 Ag, Paraskevi, Attiki, Greece
| | - Dimitrios Abatzoglou
- Department of Chemistry, Division III, Environmental Chemistry, University of Athens, Panepistimioupolis, 15701, Athens, Greece
| | - Evangelos B Bakeas
- Department of Chemistry, Division III, Environmental Chemistry, University of Athens, Panepistimioupolis, 15701, Athens, Greece
| | - Michael Scoullos
- Department of Chemistry, Division III, Environmental Chemistry, University of Athens, Panepistimioupolis, 15701, Athens, Greece
| | - Konstantinos Eleftheriadis
- Institute of Nuclear Technology and Radiation Protection, Environmental Radioactivity Laboratory, National Centre of Scientific Research "Demokritos", 15310 Ag, Paraskevi, Attiki, Greece.
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34
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The Spatial Variation of Dust Particulate Matter Concentrations during Two Icelandic Dust Storms in 2015. ATMOSPHERE 2016. [DOI: 10.3390/atmos7060077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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Fernández-Camacho R, de la Rosa JD, Sánchez de la Campa AM. Trends and sources vs air mass origins in a major city in South-western Europe: Implications for air quality management. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2016; 553:305-315. [PMID: 26930305 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.02.079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2015] [Revised: 02/08/2016] [Accepted: 02/11/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
This study presents a 17-years air quality database comprised of different parameters corresponding to the largest city in the south of Spain (Seville) where atmospheric pollution is frequently attributed to traffic emissions and is directly affected by Saharan dust outbreaks. We identify the PM10 contributions from both natural and anthropogenic sources in this area associated to different air mass origins. Hourly, daily and seasonal variation of PM10 and gaseous pollutant concentrations (CO, NO2 and SO2), all of them showing negative trends during the study period, point to the traffic as one of the main sources of air pollution in Seville. Mineral dust, secondary inorganic compounds (SIC) and trace elements showed higher concentrations under North African (NAF) air mass origins than under Atlantic. We observe a decreasing trend in all chemical components of PM10 under both types of air masses, NAF and Atlantic. Principal component analysis using more frequent air masses in the area allows the identification of five PM10 sources: crustal, regional, marine, traffic and industrial. Natural sources play a more relevant role during NAF events (20.6 μg · m(-3)) than in Atlantic episodes (13.8 μg · m(-3)). The contribution of the anthropogenic sources under NAF doubles the one under Atlantic conditions (33.6 μg · m(-3) and 15.8 μg · m(-3), respectively). During Saharan dust outbreaks the frequent accumulation of local anthropogenic pollutants in the lower atmosphere results in poor air quality and an increased risk of mortality. The results are relevant when analysing the impact of anthropogenic emissions on the exposed population in large cities. The increase in potentially toxic elements during Saharan dust outbreaks should also be taken into account when discounting the number of exceedances attributable to non-anthropogenic or natural origins.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Fernández-Camacho
- Associate Unit CSIC-University of Huelva "Atmospheric Pollution", Centre of Research in Sustainable Chemistry-CIQSO, Campus de El Carmen s/n, 21071 Huelva, Spain; Department of Geology, Faculty of Experimental Sciences, University of Huelva, Huelva, Spain.
| | - J D de la Rosa
- Associate Unit CSIC-University of Huelva "Atmospheric Pollution", Centre of Research in Sustainable Chemistry-CIQSO, Campus de El Carmen s/n, 21071 Huelva, Spain; Department of Geology, Faculty of Experimental Sciences, University of Huelva, Huelva, Spain; Agrifood Campus of International Excellence CEIA3, Spain; Campus of International Excellence of the Sea CEIMAR, Spain
| | - A M Sánchez de la Campa
- Associate Unit CSIC-University of Huelva "Atmospheric Pollution", Centre of Research in Sustainable Chemistry-CIQSO, Campus de El Carmen s/n, 21071 Huelva, Spain; Department of Geology, Faculty of Experimental Sciences, University of Huelva, Huelva, Spain
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Manzano-León N, Serrano-Lomelin J, Sánchez BN, Quintana-Belmares R, Vega E, Vázquez-López I, Rojas-Bracho L, López-Villegas MT, Vadillo-Ortega F, De Vizcaya-Ruiz A, Perez IR, O’Neill MS, Osornio-Vargas AR. TNFα and IL-6 Responses to Particulate Matter in Vitro: Variation According to PM Size, Season, and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon and Soil Content. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2016; 124:406-12. [PMID: 26372663 PMCID: PMC4829995 DOI: 10.1289/ehp.1409287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2014] [Accepted: 09/10/2015] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Observed seasonal differences in particulate matter (PM) associations with human health may be due to their composition and to toxicity-related seasonal interactions. OBJECTIVES We assessed seasonality in PM composition and in vitro PM pro-inflammatory potential using multiple PM samples. METHODS We collected 90 weekly PM10 and PM2.5 samples during the rainy-warm and dry-cold seasons in five urban areas with different pollution sources. The elements, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and endotoxins identified in the samples were subjected to principal component analysis (PCA). We tested the potential of the PM to induce tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) and interleukin 6 (IL-6) secretion in cultured human monocytes (THP-1), and we modeled pro-inflammatory responses using the component scores. RESULTS PM composition varied by size and by season. PCA identified two main components that varied by season. Combustion-related constituents (e.g., vanadium, benzo[a]pyrene, benzo[a]anthracene) mainly comprised component 1 (C1). Soil-related constituents (e.g., endotoxins, silicon, aluminum) mainly comprised component 2 (C2). PM from the rainy-warm season was high in C2. PM (particularly PM2.5) from the dry-cold season was rich in C1. Elevated levels of cytokine production were associated with PM10 and C2 (rainy-warm season), whereas reduced levels of cytokine production were associated with PM2.5 and C1 (dry-cold season). TNFα secretion was increased following exposure to PM with high (vs. low) C2 content, but TNFα secretion in response to PM was decreased following exposure to samples containing ≥ 0.1% of C1-related PAHs, regardless of C2 content. The results of the IL-6 assays suggested more complex interactions between PM components and particle size. CONCLUSIONS Variations in PM soil and PAH content underlie seasonal and PM size-related patterns in TNFα secretion. These results suggest that the mixture of components in PM explains some seasonal differences in associations between health outcomes and PM in epidemiologic studies. CITATION Manzano-León N, Serrano-Lomelin J, Sánchez BN, Quintana-Belmares R, Vega E, Vázquez-López I, Rojas-Bracho L, López-Villegas MT, Vadillo-Ortega F, De Vizcaya-Ruiz A, Rosas Perez I, O'Neill MS, Osornio-Vargas AR. 2016. TNFα and IL-6 responses to particulate matter in vitro: variation according to PM size, season, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon and soil content. Environ Health Perspect 124:406-412; http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/ehp.1409287.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia Manzano-León
- Departamento de Investigación Básica, Instituto Nacional de Cancerología, México, DF, México
| | | | - Brisa N. Sánchez
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, and
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Raúl Quintana-Belmares
- Departamento de Investigación Básica, Instituto Nacional de Cancerología, México, DF, México
| | - Elizabeth Vega
- Dirección de Investigación y Posgrado, Instituto Mexicano del Petróleo, México, DF, México
- Gerencia de Ciencias Ambientales, Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Nucleares, La Marquesa, Ocoyoacac, Estado de México, México
| | - Inés Vázquez-López
- Departamento de Investigación Básica, Instituto Nacional de Cancerología, México, DF, México
| | | | | | - Felipe Vadillo-Ortega
- National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) at the National Institute of Genomic Medicine, México, DF, México
| | | | | | | | - Alvaro R. Osornio-Vargas
- Departamento de Investigación Básica, Instituto Nacional de Cancerología, México, DF, México
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
- Address correspondence to A.R. Osornio-Vargas, Department of Paediatrics, University of Alberta, 3-591 ECHA, 11405 87th Ave., Edmonton, T6G1C9, Canada. Telephone (780) 492-7092. E-mail:
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37
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Stafoggia M, Zauli-Sajani S, Pey J, Samoli E, Alessandrini E, Basagaña X, Cernigliaro A, Chiusolo M, Demaria M, Díaz J, Faustini A, Katsouyanni K, Kelessis AG, Linares C, Marchesi S, Medina S, Pandolfi P, Pérez N, Querol X, Randi G, Ranzi A, Tobias A, Forastiere F. Desert Dust Outbreaks in Southern Europe: Contribution to Daily PM₁₀ Concentrations and Short-Term Associations with Mortality and Hospital Admissions. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2016; 124. [PMID: 26219103 PMCID: PMC4829979 DOI: 10.1289/ehp.1409164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 90] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Evidence on the association between short-term exposure to desert dust and health outcomes is controversial. OBJECTIVES We aimed to estimate the short-term effects of particulate matter ≤ 10 μm (PM10) on mortality and hospital admissions in 13 Southern European cities, distinguishing between PM10 originating from the desert and from other sources. METHODS We identified desert dust advection days in multiple Mediterranean areas for 2001-2010 by combining modeling tools, back-trajectories, and satellite data. For each advection day, we estimated PM10 concentrations originating from desert, and computed PM10 from other sources by difference. We fitted city-specific Poisson regression models to estimate the association between PM from different sources (desert and non-desert) and daily mortality and emergency hospitalizations. Finally, we pooled city-specific results in a random-effects meta-analysis. RESULTS On average, 15% of days were affected by desert dust at ground level (desert PM10 > 0 μg/m3). Most episodes occurred in spring-summer, with increasing gradient of both frequency and intensity north-south and west-east of the Mediterranean basin. We found significant associations of both PM10 concentrations with mortality. Increases of 10 μg/m3 in non-desert and desert PM10 (lag 0-1 days) were associated with increases in natural mortality of 0.55% (95% CI: 0.24, 0.87%) and 0.65% (95% CI: 0.24, 1.06%), respectively. Similar associations were estimated for cardio-respiratory mortality and hospital admissions. CONCLUSIONS PM10 originating from the desert was positively associated with mortality and hospitalizations in Southern Europe. Policy measures should aim at reducing population exposure to anthropogenic airborne particles even in areas with large contribution from desert dust advections. CITATION Stafoggia M, Zauli-Sajani S, Pey J, Samoli E, Alessandrini E, Basagaña X, Cernigliaro A, Chiusolo M, Demaria M, Díaz J, Faustini A, Katsouyanni K, Kelessis AG, Linares C, Marchesi S, Medina S, Pandolfi P, Pérez N, Querol X, Randi G, Ranzi A, Tobias A, Forastiere F, MED-PARTICLES Study Group. 2016. Desert dust outbreaks in Southern Europe: contribution to daily PM10 concentrations and short-term associations with mortality and hospital admissions. Environ Health Perspect 124:413-419; http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/ehp.1409164.
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Affiliation(s)
- Massimo Stafoggia
- Department of Epidemiology, Lazio Regional Health Service, Rome, Italy
- Address correspondence to M. Stafoggia, Department of Epidemiology of the Lazio Region Health Service, Via C. Colombo 112, 00147, Rome, Italy. Telephone: 39-0699722185. E-mail:
| | - Stefano Zauli-Sajani
- Regional Centre for Environment and Health, Regional Agency for Environmental Prevention of Emilia-Romagna, Modena, Italy
| | - Jorge Pey
- Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry, Aix Marseille Université, Marseille, France
| | - Evangelia Samoli
- Department of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, University of Athens Medical School, Athens, Greece
| | | | - Xavier Basagaña
- Centre for Research in Environmental Epidemiology (CREAL), Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Monica Chiusolo
- Department of Epidemiology and Environmental Health, Regional Environmental Protection Agency of Piedmont, Turin, Italy
| | - Moreno Demaria
- Department of Epidemiology and Environmental Health, Regional Environmental Protection Agency of Piedmont, Turin, Italy
| | - Julio Díaz
- National School of Public Health, Carlos III Health Institute, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Klea Katsouyanni
- Department of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, University of Athens Medical School, Athens, Greece
| | | | - Cristina Linares
- National School of Public Health, Carlos III Health Institute, Madrid, Spain
| | - Stefano Marchesi
- Regional Centre for Environment and Health, Regional Agency for Environmental Prevention of Emilia-Romagna, Modena, Italy
| | - Sylvia Medina
- Environmental Health Department, French Institute for Public Health Surveillance, Saint-Maurice, France
| | - Paolo Pandolfi
- Department of Public Health, Bologna Local Health Authority, Bologna, Italy
| | - Noemí Pérez
- Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Xavier Querol
- Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Giorgia Randi
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Andrea Ranzi
- Regional Centre for Environment and Health, Regional Agency for Environmental Prevention of Emilia-Romagna, Modena, Italy
| | - Aurelio Tobias
- Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research, Barcelona, Spain
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