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Zeng F, Pang G, Hu L, Sun Y, Peng W, Chen Y, Xu D, Xia Q, Zhao L, Li Y, He M. Subway Fine Particles (PM 2.5)-Induced Pro-Inflammatory Response Triggers Airway Epithelial Barrier Damage Through the TLRs/NF-κB-Dependent Pathway In Vitro. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY 2024. [PMID: 39189708 DOI: 10.1002/tox.24403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2024] [Revised: 07/19/2024] [Accepted: 08/10/2024] [Indexed: 08/28/2024]
Abstract
Subways are widely used in major cities around the world, and subway fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is the main source of daily PM2.5 exposure for urban residents. Exposure to subway PM2.5 leads to acute inflammatory damage in humans, which has been confirmed in mouse in vivo studies. However, the concrete mechanism by which subway PM2.5 causes airway damage remains obscure. In this study, we found that subway PM2.5 triggered release of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin 17E, tumor necrosis factor α, transforming growth factor β, and thymic stromal lymphopoietin from human bronchial epithelial cells (BEAS-2B) in a dose-effect relationship. Subsequently, supernatant recovered from the subway PM2.5 group significantly increased expression of the aforementioned cytokines in BEAS-2B cells compared with the subway PM2.5 group. Additionally, tight junctions (TJs) of BEAS-2B cells including zonula occludens-1, E-cadherin, and occludin were decreased by subway PM2.5 in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, supernatant recovered from the subway PM2.5 group markedly decreased the expression of these TJs compared with the control group. Furthermore, inhibitors of toll-like receptors (TLRs) and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB), as well as chelate resins (e.g., chelex) and deferoxamine, remarkably ameliorated the observed changes of cytokines and TJs caused by subway PM2.5 in BEAS-2B cells. Therefore, these results suggest that subway PM2.5 induced a decline of TJs after an initial ascent of cytokine expression, and subway PM2.5 altered expression of both cytokines and TJs by activating TLRs/NF-κB-dependent pathway in BEAS-2B cells. The metal components of subway PM2.5 may contribute to the airway epithelial injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fanmei Zeng
- Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Guanhua Pang
- Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Liwen Hu
- Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Environmental Pollution and Health Risk Assessment, Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yuan Sun
- Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Wen Peng
- Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Yuwei Chen
- Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Dan Xu
- Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Qing Xia
- Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Luwei Zhao
- Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Yifei Li
- Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Miao He
- Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
- Liaoning Key Laboratory of Environmental Health Damage Research and Assessment, Shenyang, China
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Stress and Chronic Disease Control & Prevention (China Medical University), Ministry of Education, Shenyang, China
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2
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Azad S, Ferrer-Cid P, Ghandehari M. Exposure to fine particulate matter in the New York City subway system during home-work commute. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0307096. [PMID: 39110716 PMCID: PMC11305539 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0307096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2023] [Accepted: 06/28/2024] [Indexed: 08/10/2024] Open
Abstract
The New York City (NYC) subway system accommodates 5.5 million daily commuters, and the environment within the subway is known to have high concentrations of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) pollution. Naturally, subway air pollution varies among individuals according to their mobility patterns, introducing the possibility of inequality in PM2.5 exposure. This study aims to evaluate individual and community-level exposure to subway PM2.5. We simulated the intracity home-to-work trip patterns using the Longitudinal Employer-Household Dynamics (LEHD) records of 3.1 million working commuters across 34,169 census blocks in four boroughs (Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx) of NYC. We incorporated the on-platform and on-train measured PM2.5 concentration data for the entire subway system. The mean underground platform concentration in the city was 139 μg/m3 with a standard deviation of 25 μg/m3, while the on-train concentration when underground was 99 μg/m3 with a standard deviation of 21 μg/m3. Using a network model, we determined the exposure of individual commuters during their daily home-work trips. We quantified the mean per capita exposure at the census block level by considering the proportion of workers within the blocks who rely on the subway for their work commute. Results indicate statistically significant weak positive correlation between elevated subway PM2.5 exposure and economically disadvantaged and racial minority groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shams Azad
- Department of Civil and Urban Engineering, New York University, Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, New York, United States of America
- Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, Columbia Climate School, Columbia University, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Pau Ferrer-Cid
- Department of Computer Architecture, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Masoud Ghandehari
- Department of Civil and Urban Engineering, New York University, Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, New York, United States of America
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3
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Liu L, Ma Y, Huang R, Lin S, Jia M, Liu G, Zheng W. An empirical study of indoor air quality in badminton stadiums in hot summer and cold winter regions of China during spring and fall seasons. Sci Rep 2024; 14:3427. [PMID: 38341464 PMCID: PMC10858893 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-53996-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
The indoor air quality has a direct impact on human health. In order to obtain the current status of indoor air quality in typical sports buildings in hot summer and cold winter climate zones in China, indoor badminton courts in 10 cities in Hubei Province in this climate zone were selected as research objects for field testing of indoor environmental parameters in spring and autumn, and predict air quality parameters for non-testing times. All the tested stadiums are naturally ventilated in non-event conditions, and the average daily indoor CO2 concentration was 526.78 ppm in spring and 527.63 ppm in autumn, and the average daily PM2.5 concentration was 0.035 mg/m3 in spring and 0.024 mg/m3 in autumn, all of which met the requirements of GB/T 18883-2022, the average concentration of CO2 ≤ 1000 ppm and PM2.5 ≤ 0.05 mg/m3. The indoor CO2 concentration and PM2.5 concentration of the tested badminton halls under natural ventilation gradually increased with the accumulation of exercise time, making the indoor air quality of the badminton halls decrease, which would negatively affect the health of the people exercising in this environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Liu
- R&D Testing Sharing Platform for Harmful Substances in Sports Venues of Hubei Province, Wuhan Sports University, Wuhan, 430079, China
- Engineering Research Center of Sports Health Intelligent Equipment of Hubei Province, Wuhan Sports University, Wuhan, 430079, China
- Key Laboratory of Sports Engineering of General Administration of Sport of China, Wuhan Sports University, Wuhan, 430079, China
| | - Yong Ma
- R&D Testing Sharing Platform for Harmful Substances in Sports Venues of Hubei Province, Wuhan Sports University, Wuhan, 430079, China.
- Engineering Research Center of Sports Health Intelligent Equipment of Hubei Province, Wuhan Sports University, Wuhan, 430079, China.
- Key Laboratory of Sports Engineering of General Administration of Sport of China, Wuhan Sports University, Wuhan, 430079, China.
| | - Ruifeng Huang
- R&D Testing Sharing Platform for Harmful Substances in Sports Venues of Hubei Province, Wuhan Sports University, Wuhan, 430079, China
- Engineering Research Center of Sports Health Intelligent Equipment of Hubei Province, Wuhan Sports University, Wuhan, 430079, China
- Key Laboratory of Sports Engineering of General Administration of Sport of China, Wuhan Sports University, Wuhan, 430079, China
| | - Shijie Lin
- Department of Physical Education, Northwest Polytechnical University, Xi'an, 710072, China
| | - Mengyao Jia
- R&D Testing Sharing Platform for Harmful Substances in Sports Venues of Hubei Province, Wuhan Sports University, Wuhan, 430079, China
- Engineering Research Center of Sports Health Intelligent Equipment of Hubei Province, Wuhan Sports University, Wuhan, 430079, China
- Key Laboratory of Sports Engineering of General Administration of Sport of China, Wuhan Sports University, Wuhan, 430079, China
| | - Gan Liu
- R&D Testing Sharing Platform for Harmful Substances in Sports Venues of Hubei Province, Wuhan Sports University, Wuhan, 430079, China
- Engineering Research Center of Sports Health Intelligent Equipment of Hubei Province, Wuhan Sports University, Wuhan, 430079, China
- Key Laboratory of Sports Engineering of General Administration of Sport of China, Wuhan Sports University, Wuhan, 430079, China
| | - Weitao Zheng
- R&D Testing Sharing Platform for Harmful Substances in Sports Venues of Hubei Province, Wuhan Sports University, Wuhan, 430079, China
- Engineering Research Center of Sports Health Intelligent Equipment of Hubei Province, Wuhan Sports University, Wuhan, 430079, China
- Key Laboratory of Sports Engineering of General Administration of Sport of China, Wuhan Sports University, Wuhan, 430079, China
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Wang X, Xia L, Pei F, Wang Z, Liu Y, Chang L, Pan S. The characteristics of particulate matter in different subway station environmental control systems. Heliyon 2023; 9:e20116. [PMID: 37809848 PMCID: PMC10559854 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e20116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2022] [Revised: 09/11/2023] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Particulate matter (PM2.5, PM10) in urban subway stations can significantly impact passengers' health. The particle concentration in subway stations is influenced by many factors. However, few existing studies have explored the impact of environmental control systems in-depth, especially under different outdoor pollution conditions. To address this research gap, this study focused on measuring and comparing the characteristics of PM2.5 and PM10 at subway stations with three control systems (open, closed, and screen door) under varying pollution conditions in Beijing. Particle concentrations from platforms, carriages, and outdoors were monitored and analyzed using statistical methods. The results showed that the particle concentration in the closed system was generally 20-40 μg/m3 higher than that in the screen system at the platform, which might be attributed to the piston wind, as the air from the tunnel with a lot of dirt. The pollution in the carriage was more severe for the open system than that of the screen system. The PM2.5/PM10 ratio in the carriage was 91%, 90%, and 83.84% for the closed, open, and screen systems, respectively. This indicates that the screen door could reduce the particle concentration in the platform to 10%-50%. The particle concentration varied among subway stations with different environmental control systems, suggesting that the prevention and control strategies for particulate matter pollution should be different for stations with different systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinru Wang
- College of mechanical engineering, Tianjin university of commerce, Tianjin 300134, PR China
- Key Laboratory for Comprehensive Energy Saving of Cold Regions Architecture of Ministry of Education, Jilin jianzhu University, Changchun 130118, PR China
| | - Liang Xia
- Research Centre for Fluids and Thermal Engineering, University of Nottingham Ningbo China, 315100, PR China
| | - Fei Pei
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia
| | - Zu Wang
- Research Centre for Fluids and Thermal Engineering, University of Nottingham Ningbo China, 315100, PR China
| | - Yiqiao Liu
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia
| | - Li Chang
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia
| | - Song Pan
- Key Laboratory for Comprehensive Energy Saving of Cold Regions Architecture of Ministry of Education, Jilin jianzhu University, Changchun 130118, PR China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Green Built Environment and Energy Efficient Technology, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing, 100124, PR China
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Wang J, Xue R, Li C, Hu L, Li Q, Sun Y, Chen Y, Yuan W, Xia Q, Hu L, Wei Y, He M. Inhalation of subway fine particles induces murine extrapulmonary organs damage. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 878:163181. [PMID: 37001660 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.163181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2022] [Revised: 03/24/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2023] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Because of its speed and convenience, the subway has become the first choice for travel by many residents. However, the concentration of fine particles (PM2.5) in the air of a subway platform is higher than that of the ground level or carriage. Moreover, the composition and source of subway PM2.5 differ from those of atmospheric PM2.5. Currently, there is insufficient research on the impact of subway PM2.5 on health. In this study, intratracheally subway PM2.5-inoculated wild type (WT) and Rag1-/- mice, lacking functional T cells and B cells, were used to investigate the potential of subway PM2.5 exposure to cause extrapulmonary organ injuries. Subway PM2.5 increased inflammatory cells infiltration, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-6, as well as monocyte chemotactic protein (MCP)-1 gene and protein expression, cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) induction, and Toll-like receptor (TLR)-2, TLR4, myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88), and nuclear factor (NF)-κB levels in liver, kidney, spleen, and thymus in a dose-dependent fashion in WT mice. Subway PM2.5 exposure resulted in slight macrophage (F4/80+) and neutrophil (Ly6G+) infiltration and caused no increase in the protein levels of TNF-α, IL-6, MCP-1, or COX-2 in the liver, kidneys, spleen, and thymus of Rag1-/- mice. These results demonstrate a dose-response manner between subway PM2.5 exposure and inflammatory injuries of extrapulmonary organs, which could be related to the TLR/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway. Subway PM2.5-induced extrapulmonary organ damage was dependent on T cells and B cells; this finding may provide insight for research on the mechanisms responsible for the health hazards posed by air pollution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiawei Wang
- Liaoning Key Laboratory of Environmental Health Damage Research and Assessment, Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Rou Xue
- Liaoning Key Laboratory of Environmental Health Damage Research and Assessment, Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Chao Li
- Division of Pneumoconiosis, School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Liwen Hu
- Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Environmental Pollution and Health Risk Assessment, Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Qidian Li
- Liaoning Key Laboratory of Environmental Health Damage Research and Assessment, Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Yuan Sun
- Liaoning Key Laboratory of Environmental Health Damage Research and Assessment, Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Yuwei Chen
- Liaoning Key Laboratory of Environmental Health Damage Research and Assessment, Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Wenke Yuan
- Liaoning Key Laboratory of Environmental Health Damage Research and Assessment, Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Qing Xia
- Liaoning Key Laboratory of Environmental Health Damage Research and Assessment, Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Longji Hu
- Liaoning Key Laboratory of Environmental Health Damage Research and Assessment, Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Yuan Wei
- Liaoning Key Laboratory of Environmental Health Damage Research and Assessment, Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Miao He
- Liaoning Key Laboratory of Environmental Health Damage Research and Assessment, Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang, China.
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6
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Chang L, Chong WT, Yau YH, Cui T, Wang XR, Pei F, Liu YQ, Pan S. An investigation of the PM 2.5 concentrations and cumulative inhaled dose during subway commutes in Changchun, China. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY : IJEST 2023:1-14. [PMID: 37360559 PMCID: PMC10208554 DOI: 10.1007/s13762-023-04994-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2023] [Revised: 04/13/2023] [Accepted: 05/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023]
Abstract
Air quality in subway systems is crucial as it affects the health of passengers and staff. Although most tests of PM2.5 concentrations in subway stations have taken place in public areas, PM2.5 is less understood in workplaces. Few studies have estimated the cumulative inhaled dose of passengers based on real-time changes in PM2.5 concentrations as they commute. To clarify the above issues, this study first measured PM2.5 concentrations in four subway stations in Changchun, China, where measuring points included five workrooms. Then, passengers' exposure to PM2.5 during the whole subway commute (20-30 min) was measured and segmented inhalation was calculated. The results showed that PM2.5 concentration in public places ranged from 50 to 180 μg/m3, and was strongly correlated with outdoors. While the PM2.5 average concentration in workplaces was 60 µg/m3, and it was less affected by outdoor PM2.5 concentration. Passenger's cumulative inhalations in single commuting were about 42 μg and 100 μg when the outdoor PM2.5 concentrations were 20-30 μg/m3 and 120-180 μg/m3, respectively. The PM2.5 inhalation in carriages accounted for the largest proportion of the entire commuting, about 25-40%, because of the longer exposure time and higher PM2.5 concentrations. It is recommended to improve the tightness of the carriage and filter the fresh air to improve the air quality inside. The average daily PM2.5 inhaled by staff was 513.53 μg, which was 5-12 times higher than that of passengers. Installing air purification devices in workplaces and reminding staff to take personal protection can positively protect their health.
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Affiliation(s)
- L. Chang
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - W. T. Chong
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Centre for Energy Sciences, Universiti Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Y. H. Yau
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- UM-JAF Laboratory, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - T. Cui
- Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering, School of Civil Engineering, Chang’an University, Xi’an, 710061 China
| | - X. R. Wang
- Mechanical Engineering College, Tianjin University of Commerce, Tianjin, 300134 China
| | - F. Pei
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Y. Q. Liu
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - S. Pan
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Green Built Environment and Energy Efficient Technology, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing, 100124 China
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Yang J, Fan X, Zhang H, Zheng W, Ye T. A review on characteristics and mitigation strategies of indoor air quality in underground subway stations. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 869:161781. [PMID: 36708828 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.161781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2022] [Revised: 12/29/2022] [Accepted: 01/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Due to the rapidly increasing ridership and the relatively enclosed underground space, the indoor air quality (IAQ) in underground subway stations (USSs) has attracted more public attention. The air pollutants in USSs, such as particulate matter (PM), CO2 and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), are hazardous to the health of passengers and staves. Firstly, this paper presents a systematic review on the characteristics and sources of air pollutants in USSs. According to the review work, the concentrations of PM, CO2, VOCs, bacteria and fungi in USSs are 1.1-13.2 times higher than the permissible concentration limits specified by WHO, ASHRAE and US EPA. The PM and VOCs are mainly derived from the internal and outdoor sources. CO2 concentrations are highly correlated with the passenger density and the ventilation rate while the exposure levels of bacteria and fungi depend on the thermal conditions and the settled dust. Then, the online monitoring, fault detection and prediction methods of IAQ are summarized and the advantages and disadvantages of these methods are also discussed. In addition, the available control strategies for improving IAQ in USSs are reviewed, and these strategies are classified and compared from different viewpoints. Lastly, challenges of the IAQ management in the context of the COVID-19 epidemic and several suggestions for underground stations' IAQ management in the future are put forward. This paper is expected to provide a comprehensive guidance for further research and design of the effective prevention measures on air pollutants in USSs so as to achieve more sustainable and healthy underground environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junbin Yang
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, PR China
| | - Xianwang Fan
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, PR China
| | - Huan Zhang
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, PR China; Key Laboratory of Efficient Utilization of Low and Medium Grade Energy (Tianjin University), Ministry of Education of China, Tianjin 300350, PR China; National Engineering Laboratory for Digital Construction and Evaluation Technology of Urban Rail Transit, Tianjin 300000, PR China
| | - Wandong Zheng
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, PR China; Key Laboratory of Efficient Utilization of Low and Medium Grade Energy (Tianjin University), Ministry of Education of China, Tianjin 300350, PR China; National Engineering Laboratory for Digital Construction and Evaluation Technology of Urban Rail Transit, Tianjin 300000, PR China.
| | - Tianzhen Ye
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, PR China; Key Laboratory of Efficient Utilization of Low and Medium Grade Energy (Tianjin University), Ministry of Education of China, Tianjin 300350, PR China; National Engineering Laboratory for Digital Construction and Evaluation Technology of Urban Rail Transit, Tianjin 300000, PR China
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Long T, Ye Z, Tang Y, Shi J, Wen J, Chen C, Huo Q. Comparison of bacterial community structure in PM 2.5 during hazy and non-hazy periods in Guilin, South China. AEROBIOLOGIA 2023; 39:87-103. [PMID: 36568442 PMCID: PMC9762634 DOI: 10.1007/s10453-022-09777-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Accepted: 12/09/2022] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
UNLABELLED In recent years, significant efforts have been made to study changes in the levels of air pollutants at regional and urban scales, and changes in bioaerosols during air pollution events have attracted increasing attention. In this study, the bacterial structure of PM2.5 was analysed under different environmental conditions during hazy and non-hazy periods in Guilin. A total of 32 PM2.5 samples were collected in December 2020 and July 2021, and the microbial community structures were analysed using high-throughput sequencing methods. The results show that air pollution and climate change alter the species distribution and community diversity of bacteria in PM2.5, particularly Sphingomonas and Pseudomonas. The structure of the bacterial community composition is related to diurnal variation, vertical height, and urban area and their interactions with various environmental factors. This is a comprehensive study that characterises the variability of bacteria associated with PM2.5 in a variety of environments, highlighting the impacts of environmental effects on the atmospheric microbial community. The results will contribute to our understanding of haze trends in China, particularly the relationship between bioaerosol communities and the urban environment. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10453-022-09777-0.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tengfa Long
- Key Laboratory of Ecology of Rare and Endangered Species and Environmental Protection (Guangxi Normal University), Ministry of Education, Guilin, 541006 China
- College of Environment and Resources, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, 541006 China
| | - Ziwei Ye
- Key Laboratory of Ecology of Rare and Endangered Species and Environmental Protection (Guangxi Normal University), Ministry of Education, Guilin, 541006 China
- College of Environment and Resources, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, 541006 China
| | - Yanchun Tang
- Key Laboratory of Ecology of Rare and Endangered Species and Environmental Protection (Guangxi Normal University), Ministry of Education, Guilin, 541006 China
- College of Environment and Resources, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, 541006 China
| | - Jiaxin Shi
- Key Laboratory of Ecology of Rare and Endangered Species and Environmental Protection (Guangxi Normal University), Ministry of Education, Guilin, 541006 China
- College of Environment and Resources, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, 541006 China
| | - Jianhui Wen
- College of Environment and Resources, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, 541006 China
- Guilin Ecological Environmental Monitoring Center, Guilin, 541004 China
| | - Chunqiang Chen
- Key Laboratory of Ecology of Rare and Endangered Species and Environmental Protection (Guangxi Normal University), Ministry of Education, Guilin, 541006 China
- College of Environment and Resources, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, 541006 China
| | - Qiang Huo
- Key Laboratory of Ecology of Rare and Endangered Species and Environmental Protection (Guangxi Normal University), Ministry of Education, Guilin, 541006 China
- College of Environment and Resources, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, 541006 China
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Li C, Bai L, Wang H, Li G, Cui Y. Characteristics of indoor and outdoor Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) pollution in TSP in rural Northeast China: A case study of heating and non-heating periods. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SCIENCE & ENGINEERING 2022; 20:899-913. [PMID: 36406618 PMCID: PMC9672144 DOI: 10.1007/s40201-022-00830-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2022] [Accepted: 08/13/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Approximately 91% of the world's population lives in an air-polluted environment, and environmental pollution has become a widespread concern. Urban indoor and outdoor air pollution has been fully researched and effective control measures have been proposed. However, the issue of air pollution in rural areas has not been explored in depth. Compared to urban air pollution, the rural air pollution problem is more complex and urgent. Due to climatic factors and economic conditions in rural Northeast China, most households use solid fuels such as biomass straw and coal as domestic energy during the heating period, which will cause serious pollution problems of Total Suspended Particulate (TSP) and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs). To investigate the pollution characteristics of PAHs in indoor and outdoor TSP in rural Northeast China during the heating and non-heating periods, a medium-sized particulate matter collector 1108A was used to collect TSP for 7 days, and GC-MS was used to detect PAHs. The results showed that indoor TSP and PAHs pollution levels were the highest during the heating period. PAHs source analysis by Diagnostic Ratio (DR) and Principal Component Analysis (PCA) indicated that the main sources were biomass and coal combustion, vehicle emissions, and domestic waste incineration. According to the results of carcinogenic risk model calculations, there is a potential carcinogenic risk to the population in the Northeast rural living area. This study reflects the pollution characteristics and sources of indoor and outdoor TSP and PAHs in rural Northeast China during heating and non-heating periods, and provides a reference for further prevention and control of air pollution in rural areas, which is conducive to improving the living environment and improving human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunhui Li
- School of Municipal & Environmental Engineering, Jilin Jianzhu University, Changchun, 130118 China
| | - Li Bai
- School of Municipal & Environmental Engineering, Jilin Jianzhu University, Changchun, 130118 China
- Key Laboratory of Songliao Aquatic of Education, Jilin Jianzhu University, Changchun, 130118 China
| | - Han Wang
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, 610031 China
- Graduate school of Tangshan, Southwest Jiaotong University, Tangshan, 063000 China
| | - Guangming Li
- CRRC Changchun Railway Vehicles Co., Ltd., Changchun, 130062 China
| | - Yongbo Cui
- School of Municipal & Environmental Engineering, Jilin Jianzhu University, Changchun, 130118 China
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10
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Lange CL, Smith VA, Kahler DM. Pittsburgh Air Pollution Changes During the COVID-19 Lockdown. ENVIRONMENTAL ADVANCES 2022; 7:100149. [PMID: 34877562 PMCID: PMC8638247 DOI: 10.1016/j.envadv.2021.100149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2021] [Revised: 11/22/2021] [Accepted: 11/30/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The rapid spread of COVID-19 resulted in various public lockdowns across the globe. Previous studies showed that resultant travel restrictions improved air quality. The novel results presented here focus on source-specific changes and compare air quality for multiple years controlled for precipitation. This study sought to analyze air pollution changes in Pittsburgh, a city where an industrial past and present has led to elevated levels of particulate matter with representative diameter of ≤ 2.5μm (PM2.5). Data from the Allegheny County Health Department, from monitors located near a variety of site types, were analyzed with generalized linear models that used a gamma distribution with a log link to determine the magnitude and significance of changes in air pollution during the COVID-19 lockdown. The hypothesis was that nitrogen dioxide (NO2), which is primarily linked to vehicular traffic, would decrease significantly while potential decreases in particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10) would be less apparent. Results of the regression models showed that NO2 was significantly reduced during lockdown at both monitoring sites and that PM10 was also significantly reduced at the majority of monitoring sites. However, decreases in PM2.5 pollution were only observed at half of the monitoring locations, and the location which observed the greatest decreases is located adjacent to an industrial source. Decreases in PM2.5 at this monitoring site were likely a result of reduced industrial processes both dependent and independent of the COVID-19 lockdown. This study suggests that industrial sources are a larger contributor of particulate matter than vehicular transportation in the city of Pittsburgh and that future air pollution reduction efforts should focus attention on emission reduction at these industrial facilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carissa L Lange
- Center for Environmental Research and Education, Duquesne University, 600 Forbes Ave. Pittsburgh, PA, 15282 USA
| | - Valerie A Smith
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Duke University, 215 Morris St. Durham, NC, 27708, USA
- Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, Duke University, 200 Morris St. Durham, NC, 27708, USA
- Center of Innovation to Accelerate Discovery and Practice Transformation, Durham VAMC 508 Fulton St. Durham, NC, 27705, USA
| | - David M Kahler
- Center for Environmental Research and Education, Duquesne University, 600 Forbes Ave. Pittsburgh, PA, 15282 USA
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11
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Liu L, Liu H, Ma Y. Surrogate-Assisted Fine Particulate Matter Exposure Assessment in an Underground Subway Station. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19042295. [PMID: 35206512 PMCID: PMC8872296 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19042295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2022] [Revised: 02/09/2022] [Accepted: 02/15/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
With the increase in subway travelers, the air quality of underground enclosed spaces at subway stations has attracted much more attention. The study of pollutants exposure assessment, especially fine particulate matter, is important in both pollutant control and metro station design. In this paper, combining pedestrian flow analysis (PFA) and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations, a novel surrogate-assisted particulate matter exposure assessment method is proposed, in which PFA is used to analyze the spatial-temporal movement characteristics of pedestrians to simultaneously consider the location and value of the pedestrian particulate generation source and their exposure streamline to particulate matter; the CFD model is used to analyze the airflow field and particulate matter concentration field in detail. To comprehensively consider the differences in the spatial concentration distribution of particulate matter caused by the time-varying characteristics of the airflow organization state in subway stations, surrogate models reflecting the nonlinear relationship between simulated and measured data are trained to perform accurate pedestrian exposure calculations. The actual measurement data proves the validity of the simulation and calculation methods, and the difference between the calculated and experimental values of the exposure is only about 5%.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liyang Liu
- School of Architecture and Urban Planning, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China;
- Hubei Engineering and Technology Research Center of Urbanization, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Hui Liu
- School of Architecture and Urban Planning, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China;
- Hubei Engineering and Technology Research Center of Urbanization, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
- Correspondence: (H.L.); (Y.M.)
| | - Yiming Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Advanced Electromagnetic Engineering and Technology, School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
- Correspondence: (H.L.); (Y.M.)
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12
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Investigation of Indoor Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Rural Northeast China: Pollution Characteristics, Source Analysis, and Health Assessment. BUILDINGS 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/buildings12020153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Due to the low winter temperatures in rural areas of Northeast China, biomass fuels are widely used for heating and cooking, resulting in increased concentrations of PAHs in rural indoor areas during the heating period and threatening human health. Therefore, exploring the pollution characteristics, source localization, and risk assessment of indoor PAHs in rural Northeast China is of great significance for improving rural indoor air quality. In this study, PAHs were collected from a residential building in rural Northeast China for one consecutive year (January 2020–December 2020), and their concentrations were determined to explore the distribution patterns and sources of PAHs to further assess the carcinogenic risk of PAHs to humans. The results of the study showed that the average concentration of indoor PAHs in rural areas during the heating period (93.02 ng/m3) was about 1.81 times higher than that of the non-heating period (51.26 ng/m3). The main sources of PAHs were mixed combustion of biomass and coal, motor vehicle emissions, and domestic waste combustion. The level of indoor PAHs pollution has posed a carcinogenic risk to the health of the rural population in the Northeast.
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13
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Particulate Matter (PM2.5 and PM10) Concentration of Subway Transfer Stations in Beijing, China. SUSTAINABILITY 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/su14031552] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Although much research is being conducted on the characteristics of PM2.5 and PM10 at subway stations, there is no research focusing on a complex subway transfer station. In this paper, the characteristics of PM2.5 and PM10 at transfer stations are studied. For comparison, monitoring is performed under different outside conditions at four different transfer stations in the non-peak period during March 2018. The concentrations of PM2.5 and PM10 on the platform in the transfer stations is approximately 10 μg/m3 lower than in the non-transfer station, when outside PM2.5 is lower than 150 μg/m3. However, the ratio of PM2.5 to PM10 at the transfer stations (lowest: 78.1%) is higher than at the non-transfer station (lowest: 61.2%), indicating that the PM10 content differs from the non-transfer station. In a transfer station with the same depth, the PM concentration is the same or similar. In addition, the concentration of PM2.5 at subway stations has a strong correlation with the outside environment (R2 = 0.897), which indicates that an outside condition is important for the subway environment.
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14
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Luglio DG, Katsigeorgis M, Hess J, Kim R, Adragna J, Raja A, Gordon C, Fine J, Thurston G, Gordon T, Vilcassim MR. PM2.5 Concentration and Composition in Subway Systems in the Northeastern United States. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2021; 129:27001. [PMID: 33565894 PMCID: PMC7874921 DOI: 10.1289/ehp7202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The goals of this study were to assess the air quality in subway systems in the northeastern United States and estimate the health risks for transit workers and commuters. METHODS We report real-time and gravimetric PM2.5 concentrations and particle composition from area samples collected in the subways of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Boston, Massachusetts; New York City, New York/New Jersey (NYC/NJ); and Washington, District of Columbia. A total of 71 stations across 12 transit lines were monitored during morning and evening rush hours. RESULTS We observed variable and high PM2.5 concentrations for on-train and on-platform measurements during morning (from 0600 hours to 1000 hours) and evening (from 1500 hours to 1900 hours) rush hour across cities. Mean real-time PM2.5 concentrations in underground stations were 779±249, 548±207, 341±147, 327±136, and 112±46.7 μg/m3 for the PATH-NYC/NJ; MTA-NYC; Washington, DC; Boston; and Philadelphia transit systems, respectively. In contrast, the mean real-time ambient PM2.5 concentration taken above ground outside the subway stations of PATH-NYC/NJ; MTA-NYC; Washington, DC; Boston; and Philadelphia were 20.8±9.3, 24.1±9.3, 12.01±7.8, 10.0±2.7, and 12.6±12.6 μg/m3, respectively. Stations serviced by the PATH-NYC/NJ system had the highest mean gravimetric PM2.5 concentration, 1,020 μg/m3, ever reported for a subway system, including two 1-h gravimetric PM2.5 values of approximately 1,700 μg/m3 during rush hour at one PATH-NYC/NJ subway station. Iron and total carbon accounted for approximately 80% of the PM2.5 mass in a targeted subset of systems and stations. DISCUSSION Our results document that there is an elevation in the PM2.5 concentrations across subway systems in the major urban centers of Northeastern United States during rush hours. Concentrations in some subway stations suggest that transit workers and commuters may be at increased risk according to U.S. federal environmental and occupational guidelines, depending on duration of exposure. This concern is highest for the PM2.5 concentrations encountered in the PATH-NYC/NJ transit system. Further research is urgently needed to identify the sources of PM2.5 and factors that contribute to high levels in individual stations and lines and to assess their potential health impacts on workers and/or commuters. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP7202.
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Affiliation(s)
- David G. Luglio
- Department of Environmental Medicine, New York University Langone Health, New York, New York, USA
| | - Maria Katsigeorgis
- Department of Environmental Medicine, New York University Langone Health, New York, New York, USA
| | - Jade Hess
- Department of Environmental Medicine, New York University Langone Health, New York, New York, USA
| | - Rebecca Kim
- Department of Environmental Medicine, New York University Langone Health, New York, New York, USA
| | - John Adragna
- Department of Environmental Medicine, New York University Langone Health, New York, New York, USA
| | - Amna Raja
- Department of Environmental Medicine, New York University Langone Health, New York, New York, USA
| | - Colin Gordon
- Department of Environmental Medicine, New York University Langone Health, New York, New York, USA
| | | | - George Thurston
- Department of Environmental Medicine, New York University Langone Health, New York, New York, USA
| | - Terry Gordon
- Department of Environmental Medicine, New York University Langone Health, New York, New York, USA
| | - M.J. Ruzmyn Vilcassim
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Public Health, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
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15
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Wang J. Vision of China's future urban construction reform: In the perspective of comprehensive prevention and control for multi disasters. SUSTAINABLE CITIES AND SOCIETY 2021; 64:102511. [PMID: 33014695 PMCID: PMC7518975 DOI: 10.1016/j.scs.2020.102511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2020] [Revised: 09/19/2020] [Accepted: 09/21/2020] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused huge deaths, massive damage and losses around the world. Looking back in history, the motivation for construction and development of cities was to enhance disaster prevention capacity, while modern cities are built and developed to improve health and wellness for human beings. Each disaster would pose some new challenges to the urban planning and architectural design, such as COVID-19. Therefore, the dilemma of future multi disasters (e.g. epidemics) would lead to reflections on the revision or change of urban design regulations. For the post-epidemic era, a comprehensive and integrated prevention system should be established for multi urban disasters, which requires to be optimally formulated based on multiple objectives, i.e., on the balancing of disaster occurrence probability and stop loss cost. This will be realized thanks to the rapid development of digital alike advanced technologies. Thus, this paper aims to provide a reference for the prevention and control of future city epidemics and disasters in responding to strategies of urban planning and design by considering the reform of urban construction related regulations, further to facilitate the creation of healthy and safe urban environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianguo Wang
- School of Architecture, Southeast University, 2 Sipailou, Nanjing, 210096, China
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16
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Figueroa-Lara JJ, Murcia-González JM, García-Martínez R, Romero-Romo M, Torres Rodríguez M, Mugica-Álvarez V. Effect of platform subway depth on the presence of Airborne PM 2.5, metals, and toxic organic species. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2019; 377:427-436. [PMID: 31176078 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2019.05.091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2018] [Revised: 04/04/2019] [Accepted: 05/28/2019] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
PM2.5 that have been related to public health risks, were collected during two seasons with High-Vol samplers in platforms of a Mexican subway station, which interconnects through transfers three lines having different depths. The objective was to study the influence of depth on the PM2.5 concentrations and their species. PM2.5 concentrations in cold-dry and warm-dry seasons presented statistical differences, being in average 57 and 66 μgm-3 respectively, in the shallower line 9; 90 μgm-3 and 111 μgm-3 in line 1; and 104 and 122 μgm-3in the deepest line 7. During the cold-dry season and warm-dry season PM2.5concentrations in the subway environment were respectively up to 3.5 times and up to 5 times greater than in the ambient air. Like PM2.5, metals analyzed with an OES-ICP presented higher concentrations in deeper lines as well as PAHs quantified with CG-MS, which ranged from 4.5 to 11.7 ngm-3. High PM2.5, metals and organic toxic concentrations found in deeper lines of the subway environment represent a risk for commuters endorsing the need for ventilation systems to reduce them. Zn, Pb, V and Ni in subway particles presented the highest solubility in artificial lysosomal fluid suggesting high bioavailability in the lung fluids.
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Affiliation(s)
- J J Figueroa-Lara
- Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana-Azcapotzalco, San Pablo 180, C.P. 02200, Mexico
| | - J M Murcia-González
- Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana-Azcapotzalco, San Pablo 180, C.P. 02200, Mexico
| | | | - M Romero-Romo
- Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana-Azcapotzalco, San Pablo 180, C.P. 02200, Mexico
| | - M Torres Rodríguez
- Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana-Azcapotzalco, San Pablo 180, C.P. 02200, Mexico
| | - V Mugica-Álvarez
- Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana-Azcapotzalco, San Pablo 180, C.P. 02200, Mexico.
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17
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Loxham M, Nieuwenhuijsen MJ. Health effects of particulate matter air pollution in underground railway systems - a critical review of the evidence. Part Fibre Toxicol 2019; 16:12. [PMID: 30841934 PMCID: PMC6404319 DOI: 10.1186/s12989-019-0296-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2018] [Accepted: 02/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Exposure to ambient airborne particulate matter is a major risk factor for mortality and morbidity, associated with asthma, lung cancer, heart disease, myocardial infarction, and stroke, and more recently type 2 diabetes, dementia and loss of cognitive function. Less is understood about differential effects of particulate matter from different sources. Underground railways are used by millions of people on a daily basis in many cities. Poor air exchange with the outside environment means that underground railways often have an unusually high concentration of airborne particulate matter, while a high degree of railway-associated mechanical activity produces particulate matter which is physicochemically highly distinct from ambient particulate matter. The implications of this for the health of exposed commuters and employees is unclear. MAIN BODY A literature search found 27 publications directly assessing the potential health effects of underground particulate matter, including in vivo exposure studies, in vitro toxicology studies, and studies of particulate matter which might be similar to that found in underground railways. The methodology, findings, and conclusions of these studies were reviewed in depth, along with further publications directly relevant to the initial search results. In vitro studies suggest that underground particulate matter may be more toxic than exposure to ambient/urban particulate matter, especially in terms of endpoints related to reactive oxygen species generation and oxidative stress. This appears to be predominantly a result of the metal-rich nature of underground particulate matter, which is suggestive of increased health risks. However, while there are measureable effects on a variety of endpoints following exposure in vivo, there is a lack of evidence for these effects being clinically significant as may be implied by the in vitro evidence. CONCLUSION There is little direct evidence that underground railway particulate matter exposure is more harmful than ambient particulate matter exposure. This may be due to disparities between in vivo exposures and in vitro models, and differences in exposure doses, as well as statistical under powering of in vivo studies of chronic exposure. Future research should focus on outcomes of chronic in vivo exposure, as well as further work to understand mechanisms and potential biomarkers of exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew Loxham
- Academic Unit of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Mailpoint 888, Level F, University Hospital Southampton, Tremona Road, Southampton, SO16 6YD, UK. .,NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre, University Hospital Southampton, Southampton, UK. .,Institute for Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK. .,Southampton Marine and Maritime Institute, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK.
| | - Mark J Nieuwenhuijsen
- ISGlobal, Centre for Research in Environmental Epidemiology (CREAL), Barcelona, Spain.,Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain.,CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
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18
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Mao P, Li J, Xiong L, Wang R, Wang X, Tan Y, Li H. Characterization of Urban Subway Microenvironment Exposure- A Case of Nanjing in China. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2019; 16:E625. [PMID: 30791659 PMCID: PMC6406341 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph16040625] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2019] [Revised: 02/13/2019] [Accepted: 02/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Environmental quality in public rail transit has recently raised great concern, with more attention paid to underground subway microenvironment. This research aimed to provide guidance for healthy urban subway microenvironments (sub-MEs) according to comprehensive micro-environmental categories, including thermal environment, air quality, lighting environment, and acoustic environment from both practical and regulation perspectives. Field sampling experiments were conducted in Nanjing Metro Line X (NMLX). Descriptive analysis, correlation analysis and one-way analysis of variance were used to investigate the status quo of urban sub-MEs. A paired samples t-test was then performed to compare among subway station halls, platforms, and in-cabin trains based on integrated sub-MEs. Results show that relative humidity, air velocity, respirable particulate matter (PM10) concentration, and illuminance dissatisfy the requirements in relevant national standards. Significant difference was observed in lighting environment between station hall and platform. It was detected platforms are warmer and more polluted than train cabins. Additionally, subway trains generate main noise on platform which is much louder when leaving than arriving. Protective strategies for sub-ME improvement as well as principles for updating standards were proposed from a proactive point of view. The findings are beneficial for moving towards healthy urban sub-MEs and more sustainable operation of subway systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Mao
- Department of Construction Management, College of Civil Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China.
| | - Jie Li
- Department of Construction Management and Real Estate, School of Civil Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518000, China.
| | - Lilin Xiong
- Department of Environmental Health, Nanjing Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Nanjing 210037, China.
| | - Rubing Wang
- Department of Construction Management, College of Civil Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China.
| | - Xiang Wang
- Department of Construction Management, College of Civil Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China.
| | - Yongtao Tan
- Department of Building and Real Estate, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong 999077, China.
| | - Hongyang Li
- Department of Construction Management, School of Civil Engineering and Transportation, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510641, China.
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Tigala S, Sharma AR, Sachdeva K. Health risk assessment due to biomass smoke exposure in Indian indoor environment: An empirical approach using lung deposition model. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2018; 640-641:935-942. [PMID: 29879675 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.05.323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2018] [Revised: 05/16/2018] [Accepted: 05/25/2018] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
The paper subsumes a framework that assesses health risk due to exposure to different fuel combustion through articulation of modern microscopic techniques, empirical equations, lung diagnostic tools and a pre-existing model that has been extrapolated to futuristic aspects (within controlled conditions). The framework was tested on 132 household cooks belonging to different age groups and using different types of fuel. The inhalable fraction released during fuel combustion varied in morphological characteristics and deposition site. Micrographs obtained using Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) analysis of (biomass smoke) soot indicates aggregate formation attributing to a higher level of health risk. Further, abnormal ventilatory function along with higher risk (RR > 1) was more evident within biomass fuel users. The condition further exacerbates while using dung cakes due to high levels of emissions (294.3 particles/liter) that deposit in the upper respiratory tract (0.0899). Further, the population attributable risk percent (79%) calculated on the basis of cooking behavior suggests a 'rural culture' health determinant as clean fuel usage is not practiced as an outcome of low literacy and poor income in the region. These preliminary findings highlight the drudgery of impuissant women who are exposed to high particulate emissions on a regular basis which results in reduced lung function. Nevertheless, further cogitation is required to eliminate the limitations in this study and explore further linkages between exposure and vulnerable group to generate meaningful policy recommendations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Snehlata Tigala
- Department of Energy and Environment, TERI School of Advanced Studies, 1-0, Institutional Area, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi 110070, India.
| | - Anu Rani Sharma
- Department of Natural Resources, TERI School of Advanced Studies, 10, Institutional Area, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi 110070, India.
| | - Kamna Sachdeva
- Department of Energy and Environment, TERI School of Advanced Studies, 1-0, Institutional Area, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi 110070, India.
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20
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Simulation of Trinitrogen Migration and Transformation in the Unsaturated Zone at a Desert Contaminant Site (NW China) Using HYDRUS-2D. WATER 2018. [DOI: 10.3390/w10101363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The protection of an unsaturated zone is essential for groundwater-quality security. Neglecting pollutant changes in the saturated zone can affect the accuracy of groundwater-quality assessments. Unlike water sampling, the nonreproducibility of soil sampling complicates the observation of contaminant changes at different times in the same location. The HYDRUS-2D model, coupled with the Richards equation and the convection-dispersion equation, was applied to simulate the migration and transformation of high ammonia concentrations in wastewater in an unsaturated zone. Long-term field observations were carried out for trinitrogen (NH4+, NO2−, and NO3−) from 2015 to 2018 at a wastewater discharge site located in a desert area in northwest China. Samples were collected twice a month. The model was calibrated and validated using statistics and observation data. Variations in trinitrogen concentrations were simulated using the model and fitted well with the measured values. Simulation results for trinitrogen migration and transformation demonstrated that there was no enrichment on the ground surface. Contaminants attenuated rapidly in the unsaturated zone after wastewater discharge stopped. NH4+ was oxidized to NO2− and NO3− under nitrification, except in the anoxic subclay lenses. Subclay lenses were not considered in previous research. These lenses had high enrichment with contaminants and prevented secondary nitrification, which might have led to extremely low NO3− concentrations. The removal rate of contaminants by the unsaturated zone in natural conditions is as high as 76%, and contaminants could be degraded to acceptable levels within 10 years (3650 days) without artificial interventions. This indicates that the unsaturated zone can delay migration and degrade contaminants, and should be taken into consideration in groundwater-quality assessments.
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