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Yin X, Thai BN, Tan YQ, Salinas SV, Yu LE, Seow WJ. When and where to exercise: An assessment of personal exposure to urban tropical ambient airborne pollutants in Singapore. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 906:167086. [PMID: 37716686 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.167086] [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: 05/23/2023] [Revised: 08/27/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 09/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Physical activity is associated with health benefits and has been shown to reduce mortality risk. However, exposure to high levels of ambient fine particulate matter (PM2.5) during exercise can potentially reduce the health benefits of physical activity. This study aims to assess and compare the PM2.5 concentrations of different exercise venues in Singapore by their location attributes and time of day. METHODS Personal PM2.5 exposures (μg/m3) at 24 common outdoor exercise venues in Singapore over 49 sampling days were collected using real-time personal sensors from September 2017 to January 2020. Wilcoxon rank-sum test and Kruskal-Wallis test were used to compare PM2.5 concentrations between different timings (peak (0700-0900; 1800-2000) vs. non-peak (0600-0700; 0900-1800; 2000-2300); weekend vs. weekday), and location attributes (near major roads (<50 m) vs. away from major roads (≥50 m)). Multivariable linear regression models were used to assess the associations between location attributes, timings and ambient PM2.5 with personal PM2.5 concentration, adjusting for potential confounders. RESULTS Compared with peak hours, exercising during non-peak hours was associated with a significantly lower PM2.5 exposure (median, 17.8 μg/m3 during peak vs. 14.5 μg/m3 during non-peak; P = 0.006). Exercise venues away from major roads have significantly lower PM2.5 concentrations as compared to those located next to major roads (median, 14.4 μg/m3 away from major roads vs. 18.5 μg/m3 next to major roads; P < 0.001). Individuals who exercised in parks experienced the highest PM2.5 exposure (median, 55.0 μg/m3) levels in the afternoon during 1400-1500. Furthermore, ambient PM2.5 concentration was significantly and positively associated with personal PM2.5 exposure (β = 0.85, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that exercising outdoors in the urban environment exposes individuals to differential levels of PM2.5 at different times of the day. Further research should investigate a wider variety of outdoor exercise venues, explore different types of air pollutants, and consider the varying activity patterns of individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Yin
- Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore and National University Health System, Singapore
| | - Bao Ngoc Thai
- NUS Environmental Research Institute (NERI), National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Yue Qian Tan
- Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore and National University Health System, Singapore
| | - Santo V Salinas
- Center for Remote Imaging, Sensing and Processing (CRISP), National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Liya E Yu
- NUS Environmental Research Institute (NERI), National University of Singapore, Singapore; Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Wei Jie Seow
- Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore and National University Health System, Singapore; Department of Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore and National University Health System, Singapore.
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Cong L, Zhou S, Liu Y, Zhang Z, Zhang M. Rainfall characteristics significantly affect the scavenging of water-soluble ions attached to leaves. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2022; 247:114238. [PMID: 36323152 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2022.114238] [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: 05/02/2022] [Revised: 10/11/2022] [Accepted: 10/24/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Precipitation is considered the most effective way to remove particulate matter from the leaves of plants. Changes in rainfall characteristics can affect the scavenging processes of particulate matter from leaves. In order to better understand the dynamics of PM scavenging during rainfall, especially the water-soluble ions components, leaves from the 11 plant species (trees, shrubs, terrestrial herbs, wetland plants) from the Olympic park were sampled and used in indoor experiments. During the experiments, the rainfall intensity was set at 30 mm/h, 45 mm/h, and 60 mm/h, and the duration was divided into 0-20 min, 20-40 min, and 40-60 min. The sampled plant leaves were set in the experiments at 1 m and 3 m height from the ground. Concentrations and compositions of nine water-soluble ions of rainfall samples were analyzed in this experiment. The results revealed that SO42-, Ca2+, and Na+ were the most abundant ionic species removed from the leaves, and NO3- ranked fourth, followed by Cl-, Mg2+ K+, NH4+, and F-. The ions concentration of rainfall samples decreased when the rain intensity increased from 30 to 45 mm/h and when the rain intensity increased to 60 mm/h. The efficiency of scavenging during different rainfall durations depends on the ionic species. Na+, Mg2+, Ca2+, and SO42- concentrations increased with the increase in rainfall duration, whereas those of NH4+, K+, and Cl- decreased. The effect of leaf height on ions concentration of rainfall samples was also different among the ionic species: Na+, Mg2+, Ca2+, NO3-, and F- concentrations were significantly higher at 1 m compared with 3 m. The principal component analysis of ions in rainfall samples revealed two main sources of particulate matter in our study. One is from vehicle exhaust and industrial and agricultural pollution. The other is agricultural combustion and ground dust sources. The results of the above study can provide a basis and theoretical support for the establishment of urban cleaning systems and the prevention of air pollution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ling Cong
- School of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China; Institute of Ecological Conservation and Restoration, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing 100091, China; The Key Laboratory of Ecological Protection in the Yellow River Basin of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Shijun Zhou
- School of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China; The Key Laboratory of Ecological Protection in the Yellow River Basin of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Ying Liu
- School of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China; The Key Laboratory of Ecological Protection in the Yellow River Basin of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Zhenming Zhang
- School of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China; The Key Laboratory of Ecological Protection in the Yellow River Basin of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China.
| | - Mingxiang Zhang
- School of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China; The Key Laboratory of Ecological Protection in the Yellow River Basin of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China.
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Yang D, Yang A, Yang J, Xu R, Qiu H. Unprecedented Migratory Bird Die-Off: A Citizen-Based Analysis on the Spatiotemporal Patterns of Mass Mortality Events in the Western United States. GEOHEALTH 2021; 5:e2021GH000395. [PMID: 33855250 PMCID: PMC8029984 DOI: 10.1029/2021gh000395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2021] [Revised: 02/26/2021] [Accepted: 03/01/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Extensive, severe wildfires, and wildfire-induced smoke occurred across the western and central United States since August 2020. Wildfires resulting in the loss of habitats and emission of particulate matter and volatile organic compounds pose serious threatens to wildlife and human populations, especially for avian species, the respiratory system of which are sensitive to air pollutions. At the same time, the extreme weather (e.g., snowstorms) in late summer may also impact bird migration by cutting off their food supply and promoting their migration before they were physiologically ready. In this study, we investigated the environmental drivers of massive bird die-offs by combining socioecological earth observations data sets with citizen science observations. We employed the geographically weighted regression models to quantitatively evaluate the effects of different environmental and climatic drivers, including wildfire, air quality, extreme weather, drought, and land cover types, on the spatial pattern of migratory bird mortality across the western and central US during August-September 2020. We found that these drivers affected the death of migratory birds in different ways, among which air quality and distance to wildfire were two major drivers. Additionally, there were more bird mortality events found in urban areas and close to wildfire in early August. However, fewer bird deaths were detected closer to wildfires in California in late August and September. Our findings highlight the important impact of extreme weather and natural disasters on bird biology, survival, and migration, which can provide significant insights into bird biodiversity, conservation, and ecosystem sustainability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Di Yang
- Wyoming Geographic Information CenterUniversity of WyomingLaramieWYUSA
| | - Anni Yang
- Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation BiologyColorado State UniversityFort CollinsCOUSA
- United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection ServiceNational Wildlife Research CenterFort CollinsCOUSA
| | - Jue Yang
- Department of GeographyUniversity of GeorgiaAthensGAUSA
| | - Rongting Xu
- Forest Ecosystems and SocietyOregon State UniversityCorvallisORUSA
| | - Han Qiu
- Department of Forest and Wildlife EcologyUniversity of Wisconsin‐MadisonMadisonWIUSA
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Yan G, Yu Z, Wu Y, Liu J, Wang Y, Zhai J, Cong L, Zhang Z. Understanding PM 2.5 concentration and removal efficiency variation in urban forest park-Observation at human breathing height. PeerJ 2020; 8:e8988. [PMID: 32419985 PMCID: PMC7211407 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.8988] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2019] [Accepted: 03/25/2020] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
To increase our knowledge of PM2.5 concentrations near the surface in a forest park in Beijing, an observational study measured the concentration and composition of PM2.5 in Beijing Olympic Forest Park from 2014 to 2015. This study analyzed the meteorological factors and removal efficiency at 1.5 m above the ground (human breathing height) over the day in the forest. The results showed that the average concentrations of PM2.5 near the surface peaked at 07:00–09:30 and reached their lowest at 12:00–15:00. Besides, the results showed that the annual concentration of PM2.5 in the forest was highest during winter, followed by spring and fall, and was lowest during summer. The main chemical components of PM2.5 near the surface in the forest were SO42− and NO3−, which accounted for 68.72% of all water-soluble ions that we observed. The concentration of PM2.5 in the forest had a significant positive correlation with relative humidity and a significant negative correlation with temperature. The removal efficiency near the surface showed no significant variation through the day or year. In the forest, the highest removal efficiency occurred between 07:00 and 09:30 in summer, while the lowest occurred between 09:30 and 12:00 in winter.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guoxin Yan
- School of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China
| | - Zibo Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Water Environment Simulation, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Yanan Wu
- School of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China
| | - Jiakai Liu
- School of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China
| | - Yu Wang
- School of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China
| | - Jiexiu Zhai
- School of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China
| | - Ling Cong
- School of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China
| | - Zhenming Zhang
- School of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China
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Cong L, Zhai J, Yan G, Liu J, Wu Y, Wang Y, Zhang Z, Zhang M. Lead isotope trends and sources in the atmosphere at the artificial wetland. PeerJ 2019; 7:e7851. [PMID: 31637124 PMCID: PMC6800525 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.7851] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2019] [Accepted: 09/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
With the rapid development of industry, studies on lead pollution in total suspended particulate matter (TSP) have received extensive attention. This paper analyzed the concentration and pollution sources of lead in the Cuihu Wetland in Beijing during the period of 2016–2017. The results show that the lead contents in TSP in the Cuihu Wetland were approximately equal in summer and spring, greater in winter, and greatest in autumn. The corresponding lead concentrations were 0.052, 0.053, 0.101, and 0.115 ng/m3, respectively. We compared the 206Pb/207Pb data with other materials to further understand the potential sources of atmospheric lead. The mean values of 206Pb/207Pb from spring to winter were 1.082, 1.098, 1.092, and 1.078, respectively. We found that the lead sources may be associated with coal burning, brake and tire wear, and vehicle exhaust emissions. We also calculated the enrichment factor values for the four seasons, and the values were all much greater than 10, indicating that the lead pollution is closely related to human activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ling Cong
- College of Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China
| | - Jiexiu Zhai
- College of Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China
| | - Guoxin Yan
- College of Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China
| | - Jiakai Liu
- College of Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China
| | - Yanan Wu
- College of Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China
| | - Yu Wang
- College of Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China
| | - Zhenming Zhang
- College of Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China
| | - Mingxiang Zhang
- College of Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China
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