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Nezis I, Biskos G, Eleftheriadis K, Fetfatzis P, Popovicheva O, Kalantzi OI. Indoor and outdoor air quality in street corner kiosks in a large metropolitan area. Heliyon 2024; 10:e31340. [PMID: 38813153 PMCID: PMC11133902 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e31340] [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: 10/02/2023] [Revised: 05/04/2024] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 05/31/2024] Open
Abstract
Poor air quality in workplaces constitutes a great concern on human health as a good fraction of our time is spent at work. In Greece, very unique workplaces are the street corner kiosks, which are freestanding boxes placed on sidewalks next to city streets and vehicular traffic, where one can find many consumer goods. As such, its employees are exposed to both outdoor and indoor air pollutants. Very few studies have examined the occupational exposure of kiosk workers to air pollutants, and thus the magnitude of this unique indoor and outdoor exposure remains unknown. The objective of this study is to investigate and compare the levels of indoor and outdoor particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), ultrafine particles (UFPs) and black carbon (BC) in different kiosks located in Athens, Greece, in urban-traffic and urban-background environments. Continuous measurements of the above-mentioned pollutants were carried out on a 24-h basis over 7 consecutive days at three kiosks from September to October 2019. Indoor PM10 concentrations in the urban kiosk ranged from 19.0 to 44.0 μg/m3, PM2.5 values ranged from 14.0 to 33.0 μg/m3, whereas BC concentrations ranged from 1.2 to 7.0 μg/m3 and UFPs from almost 9.5 to 47.0 × 103 pt/cm3. Outdoor PM10 and PM2.5 measurements ranged from 29.0 to 59.0 μg/m3 and from 22.0 to 39.0 μg/m3, respectively. BC outdoor concentrations ranged from 1.1 to 2.2 μg/m3. The mean hazard quotient (HQ) for PM10 (4.9) and PM2.5 (4.7) among all participants was >1. The health risk of exposure to PM10 and PM2.5 was found to be at moderate hazard levels, although in some cases we observed HQ values higher than 10 due to high PM10 and PM2.5 concentrations in the kiosks. Overall our study indicates that people working at kiosks can be exposed to very high concentrations on particulate pollution depending on a number of factors including the traffic that strongly depends on location and the time of the day.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ioannis Nezis
- Department of Environment, University of the Aegean, Mytilene, 81100, Greece
| | - George Biskos
- Climate and Atmosphere Research Center, The Cyprus Institute, Nicosia, 2121, Cyprus
- Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences, Delft University of Technology, Delft, 2628-CN, the Netherlands
| | | | - Prodromos Fetfatzis
- Environmental Radioactivity Laboratory, N.C.S.R. “Demokritos”, 15310, Ag. Paraskevi, Greece
- Department of Industrial Design and Production Engineering, University of West Attica, 12243, Egaleo- Athens, Greece
| | - Olga Popovicheva
- Institute of Nuclear Physics, Moscow State University, 119991, Moscow, Russia
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Balogun AO, Weigel MM, Estévez E, Armijos RX. Chronic Occupational Exposure to Traffic Pollution Is Associated with Increased Carotid Intima-Media Thickness in Healthy Urban Traffic Control Police. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:6701. [PMID: 37681841 PMCID: PMC10487607 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20176701] [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: 07/07/2023] [Revised: 08/28/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 09/09/2023]
Abstract
Urban traffic officers in many low- and middle-income countries are exposed to high levels of traffic-related air pollutants (TRAP) while working vehicle control on heavily congested streets. The impact of chronic TRAP exposure on the cardiovascular health, including the carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT), of this outdoor occupational group remains unclear. This cross-sectional study compared the average mean and maximum CIMT measurements of two groups of relatively young, healthy traffic police (32 ± 7 years; 77% male) in Quito, Ecuador, who were without clinical evidence of serious cardiovascular or other disease. Previously published background data on PM10 (a TRAP surrogate) indicated that street levels of the pollutant were several orders of magnitude higher at the street intersections worked by traffic police compared to those working only in an office. Accordingly, officers permanently assigned to daily traffic control duties requiring them to stand 0-3 m from heavily trafficked street intersections were assigned to the high exposure group (n = 61). The control group (n = 54) consisted of officers from the same organization who were permanently assigned to office duties inside an administration building. Mean and maximum CIMT were measured with ultrasound. General linear models were used to compare the CIMT measurements of the high exposure and control groups, adjusting for covariates. The adjusted average mean and maximum CIMT measures of the high exposure group were increased by 11.5% and 10.3%, respectively, compared to the control group (p = 0.0001). These findings suggest that chronic occupational exposure to TRAP is associated with increased CIMT in traffic police. This is important since even small increases in arterial thickening over time may promote earlier progression to clinical disease and increased premature mortality risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdulrazak O. Balogun
- Department of Safety and Occupational Health Applied Sciences, Keene State College, Keene, NH 03431, USA;
| | - M. Margaret Weigel
- Department of Environmental & Occupational Health, School of Public Health, Indiana University-Bloomington, 1025 E. 7th Street, Bloomington, IN 47403, USA;
- Global Environmental Health Research Laboratory, Indiana University-Bloomington School of Public Health, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA
- Center for Latin American & Caribbean Studies, Indiana University-Bloomington, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA
- IU Center for Global Health Equity, Indiana University, 702 Rotary Circle, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - Edmundo Estévez
- Centro de Biomedicina, Universidad Central del Ecuador, Quito 170129, Ecuador;
- Postgraduate Program in Public Health, Universidad Autónoma Regional de los Andes (UNIANDES), Ambato 180150, Ecuador
| | - Rodrigo X. Armijos
- Department of Environmental & Occupational Health, School of Public Health, Indiana University-Bloomington, 1025 E. 7th Street, Bloomington, IN 47403, USA;
- Global Environmental Health Research Laboratory, Indiana University-Bloomington School of Public Health, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA
- Center for Latin American & Caribbean Studies, Indiana University-Bloomington, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA
- IU Center for Global Health Equity, Indiana University, 702 Rotary Circle, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
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McGuinn LA, Rosa MJ, Osorio-Valencia E, Gutiérrez-Avila I, Martinez-Medina S, Harari H, Kloog I, Wright RJ, Téllez-Rojo M, Wright RO, Tamayo-Ortiz M. Urban Stress and its Association with Symptoms of Depression, Fatigue, and Sleep Disruption in Women in Mexico City. CITIES & HEALTH 2023; 7:830-838. [PMID: 37850027 PMCID: PMC10578658 DOI: 10.1080/23748834.2023.2218159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2022] [Accepted: 05/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/19/2023]
Abstract
Women in urban neighborhoods often face disproportionately higher levels of environmental and social stressors; however, the health effects from urban stressors remains poorly understood. We aimed to evaluate the association between urban stress and symptoms of depression, fatigue, and sleep disruption in a cohort of 460 women in Mexico City. To assess urban stress, women were administered the Urban Annoyances (Nuisances Environnementales) scale. Six constructs were summarized to create an overall index. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Edinburgh Depression Scale; the Patient-Reported Outcomes Information System scales were used to assess sleep disruption and fatigue. Linear regression models were used to estimate the association with continuous symptoms comparing women with high urban stress to those with lower levels. Models were adjusted for socioeconomic status, education, age, social support, and previous depressive symptoms. High urban stress was associated with greater depressive symptoms (β: 1.77; 95%CI: 0.83, 2.71), fatigue (β: 2.47; 95%CI: 0.87, 4.07), and sleep disruption (β: 2.14; 95%CI: 0.54, 3.73). Urban stress plays an important role in women's psychological and physical health, highlighting the importance of including these measures in environmental health studies. Urban interventions, such as promoting alternative transport options, should additionally be addressed to improve health of urban populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura A. McGuinn
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Family Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Maria José Rosa
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | | | - Iván Gutiérrez-Avila
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | | | - Homero Harari
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Itai Kloog
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Rosalind J. Wright
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Kravis Children’s Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Pulmonology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Mara Téllez-Rojo
- Center for Nutrition and Health Research, National Institute of Public Health, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
| | - Robert O. Wright
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Marcela Tamayo-Ortiz
- Occupational Health Research Unit, Mexican Institute of Social Security (IMSS), Mexico City, Mexico
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Effects of Ozone on Sickness and Depressive-like Behavioral and Biochemical Phenotypes and Their Regulation by Serum Amyloid A in Mice. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24021612. [PMID: 36675130 PMCID: PMC9860713 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24021612] [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: 12/07/2022] [Revised: 01/04/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Ozone (O3) is an air pollutant that primarily damages the lungs, but growing evidence supports the idea that O3 also harms the brain; acute exposure to O3 has been linked to central nervous system (CNS) symptoms such as depressed mood and sickness behaviors. However, the mechanisms by which O3 inhalation causes neurobehavioral changes are limited. One hypothesis is that factors in the circulation bridge communication between the lungs and brain following O3 exposure. In this study, our goals were to characterize neurobehavioral endpoints of O3 exposure as they relate to markers of systemic and pulmonary inflammation, with a particular focus on serum amyloid A (SAA) and kynurenine as candidate mediators of O3 behavioral effects. We evaluated O3-induced dose-, time- and sex-dependent changes in pulmonary inflammation, circulating SAA and kynurenine and its metabolic enzymes, and sickness and depressive-like behaviors in Balb/c and CD-1 mice. We found that 3 parts per million (ppm) O3, but not 2 or 1 ppm O3, increased circulating SAA and lung inflammation, which were resolved by 48 h and was worse in females. We also found that indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (Ido1) mRNA expression was increased in the brain and spleen 24 h after 3 ppm O3 and that kynurenine was increased in blood. Sickness and depressive-like behaviors were observed at all O3 doses (1-3 ppm), suggesting that behavioral responses to O3 can occur independently of increased SAA or neutrophils in the lungs. Using SAA knockout mice, we found that SAA did not contribute to O3-induced pulmonary damage or inflammation, systemic increases in kynurenine post-O3, or depressive-like behavior but did contribute to weight loss. Together, these findings indicate that acute O3 exposure induces transient symptoms of sickness and depressive-like behaviors that may occur in the presence or absence of overt pulmonary neutrophilia and systemic increases of SAA. SAA does not appear to contribute to pulmonary inflammation induced by O3, although it may contribute to other aspects of sickness behavior, as reflected by a modest effect on weight loss.
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Rendón J, Giraldo CHC, Monyake KC, Alagha L, Colorado HA. Experimental investigation on composites incorporating rice husk nanoparticles for environmental noise management. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2023; 325:116477. [PMID: 36274312 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.116477] [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: 08/20/2022] [Revised: 10/01/2022] [Accepted: 10/05/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Environmental noise characteristics are determined by factors besides its source. One such factor is reverberation time, which in city canyons tends to be high due to the reflective characteristics of materials commonly used in building facades. Incorporating sound absorbing materials into building facades can help improve urban environments. This research evaluates different facade materials (concrete mix, mortar mix, vinyl spackling, and epoxy resin) incorporated with rice husk nanoparticles (NPs). Rice husk, in addition to presenting good properties for acoustic absorption, is one of the main agricultural wastes worldwide. Additionally, the characteristic of rice husk nanoparticles is correlated with milling time (longer grinding times enhance production of rice husk NPs). Sound absorption coefficients levels increase for compounds with a greater amount of rice husk NPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeiser Rendón
- CCComposites Laboratory, Universidad de Antioquia UdeA, Calle 70 N°. 52-21, Medellín, Colombia.
| | - Carlos H C Giraldo
- Department of Nuclear Engineering, Missouri University of Science and Technology, Rolla, MO, 65409, USA
| | - Keitumetse Cathrine Monyake
- Department of Mining and Nuclear Engineering, Missouri University of Science and Technology, Rolla, MO, 65401, USA
| | - Lana Alagha
- Thomas J. O'Keefe Institute for Sustainable Supply of Strategic Minerals Rolla, MO, 65409, USA
| | - Henry A Colorado
- CCComposites Laboratory, Universidad de Antioquia UdeA, Calle 70 N°. 52-21, Medellín, Colombia.
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Yu H, Hu X, Gao J. Can haze warning policy reduce traffic accidents: evidence from China. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 30:2703-2720. [PMID: 35932344 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-022-22322-3] [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: 05/05/2022] [Accepted: 07/27/2022] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Haze pollution may decrease drivers' driving performance by worsening their physical and psychological states. This paper explores the effects of haze warning policy on traffic accidents for the first time. We use the daily-city traffic accident data from 2016 to 2019 in China and construct Regression Discontinuity (RD) strategies based on the warning signal thresholds of PM2.5 concentration for estimations. The results show that one yellow warning and one orange warning can reduce traffic accidents by 8.8% and 13.1% on that day respectively, while the red warning does not work significantly possibly due to the self-perceived channel rather than the warning-signal channel. We also find that the effects may vary among different groups of drivers, vehicles, and roads. Our results prove that the haze warning policy is a non-negligible tool to reduce traffic accidents, which is useful to policy-making both related to haze pollution regulation and transportation safety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongwei Yu
- Institute of Quality Development Strategy, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaoyue Hu
- Institute of Quality Development Strategy, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072, People's Republic of China
| | - Juan Gao
- School of Political Science and Public Administration, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072, People's Republic of China.
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Luo W, Chen C, Li H, Hou Y, Xia Y, Liu J, Wu L, Yao J. Residential open space and the perception of health benefits: How much is the public willing to pay? JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2022; 316:115273. [PMID: 35576707 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.115273] [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: 12/10/2021] [Revised: 05/05/2022] [Accepted: 05/07/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Emerging evidence suggests that residential open space (ROS) is beneficial for multiple health outcomes for urban residents. However, the general public's understanding of and demand for the health benefits related to ROS have not been widely explored. This study aims to examine the impact of residents' socioeconomic status and perceptions of landscape health benefits on their willingness to pay (WTP) for ROS and to evaluate the perceived monetary value of different residential landscape elements. An online survey with 1348 respondents was conducted between August 2020 and October 2021 in China using a contingent valuation (CV) method. Respondents perceived the landscape benefits related to mental health to be higher than those related to physical and social health. The perception of landscape health benefits positively affected WTP and the WTP value of ROS. Residents' monthly income was a significant influencing factor for WTP and the latter's value. For individuals with positive WTP, the average annual WTP for ROS was CNY 68.98 (USD 10.81), while for all the respondents, the estimated mean annual WTP for ROS was CNY 91.75 (USD 14.38). Moreover, the estimated WTP for plants was the highest, whereas the WTP for activity spaces was estimated as the lowest. These findings may improve city planners' and community managers' understanding of the perceived value of residential landscapes among the public and help them make effective decisions to build healthy communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weijing Luo
- South China Agricultural University, College of Forestry and Landscape Architecture, Guangzhou, 510642, China.
| | - Chongxian Chen
- South China Agricultural University, College of Forestry and Landscape Architecture, Guangzhou, 510642, China.
| | - Haiwei Li
- South China Agricultural University, College of Forestry and Landscape Architecture, Guangzhou, 510642, China.
| | - Yongqi Hou
- South China Agricultural University, College of Forestry and Landscape Architecture, Guangzhou, 510642, China.
| | - Yu Xia
- South China Agricultural University, College of Forestry and Landscape Architecture, Guangzhou, 510642, China.
| | - Jingyi Liu
- South China Agricultural University, College of Forestry and Landscape Architecture, Guangzhou, 510642, China.
| | - Longfeng Wu
- Peking University, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Beijing, 100871, China.
| | - Jing Yao
- University of Glasgow, Urban Big Data Centre, School of Social and Political Sciences, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, United Kingdom.
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Shi D, Liu Z, Fu J, Yu H. The impact of drivers' short-term exposure to air pollution on traffic deaths. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 29:61323-61333. [PMID: 35442000 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-022-20230-0] [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: 12/20/2021] [Accepted: 04/09/2022] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Air pollution may decrease drivers' driving performance thus leading to traffic accidents, but this impact is almost ignored in existing literature. We investigate the short-term effect of air pollution on traffic deaths using the high-dimensional fixed effect model and instrument variable method based on the daily-city panel data in China from 2013 to 2018. The results show that drivers' short-term exposure to air pollution significantly increases the number of traffic deaths. For every 1 ug/m3 increase of PM2.5 concentration each day, the daily number of traffic deaths will increase by 0.64%. The impacts of air pollution on traffic deaths can last for 2 days. We also find that impact varies from different driver groups.The male, the young (age under 22), the elderly (age over 60), and the two-wheeler drivers are more vulnerable. Worse air pollution may associate with more bad driving behaviors and less good manners. In this article, we reveal a new factor that leads to traffic deaths, i.e., air pollution, and we also put forward some prevention strategies which may provide policy references for traffic safety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daqian Shi
- School of Economics, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan, 430070, People's Republic of China
| | - Ziwei Liu
- Institute of Quality Development Strategy, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072, People's Republic of China
| | - Jie Fu
- Institute of Quality Development Strategy, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072, People's Republic of China
| | - Hongwei Yu
- Institute of Quality Development Strategy, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072, People's Republic of China.
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Erickson MA, Banks WA, Baumann KK. Measurement of Blood-Brain Barrier Disruption in Mice Following Ozone Exposure Using Highly Sensitive Radiotracer Assays. Curr Protoc 2022; 2:e460. [PMID: 35730917 DOI: 10.1002/cpz1.460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Ozone is a widespread air toxicant. Although its primary target organ is the lungs, emerging evidence suggests that ozone also has harmful effects on the brain. The vascular blood-brain barrier (BBB), an endothelial interface that regulates passage of substances between the brain and peripheral tissues, is a likely mediator of ozone's adverse effects on the brain. Ozone can cause BBB disruption, a pathological state in which the BBB becomes leaky, resulting in the unregulated entry of circulating substances into the brain. BBB disruption can be detected using many methods, which each have their strengths and limitations. Recent data suggest that BBB disruption can occur in mice following ozone exposures, albeit at a low level. Therefore, robust and highly sensitive assays for BBB disruption are needed. Assays commonly used to detect BBB disruption, however, can be time consuming, lack sensitivity, and can be vulnerable to artifacts that are typically not addressed in the experimental design. Radiochemical assays are among the most sensitive and specific for detecting subtle disruptions of the BBB and require minimal sample processing for detection. Radiochemical assays can also be multiplexed to include radiotracer conjugates of large and small molecular weights, and the uptake of each of them can provide information about the severity and mechanism of BBB disruption. Here, we describe a protocol to use two of these radiotracer conjugates, 14 C-sucrose and 99m Tc- albumin, to measure BBB disruption following an acute exposure to ozone in mice. We provide the steps to expose mice acutely to ozone, to label albumin with 99m Tc-pertechnetate, and to measure BBB disruption by evaluating permeability to 99m Tc-albumin and 14 C-sucrose after ozone exposure. These methods can be adapted to different ozone exposure paradigms and to different rodent species/strains, allowing for the sensitive and rapid assessment of BBB disruption that is detectable in whole brains or in brain regions. © 2022 Wiley Periodicals LLC. Basic Protocol 1: Ozone exposures in mice Basic Protocol 2: Measurement of blood-brain barrier disruption by evaluating permeability to 14 C-sucrose and 99m Tc-albumin Support Protocol: Labeling of bovine serum albumin with 99m Tc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle A Erickson
- Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center (GRECC), VA Puget Sound Healthcare System, Seattle, Washington
- Department of Medicine - Division of Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
| | - William A Banks
- Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center (GRECC), VA Puget Sound Healthcare System, Seattle, Washington
- Department of Medicine - Division of Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
| | - Kristen K Baumann
- Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center (GRECC), VA Puget Sound Healthcare System, Seattle, Washington
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She X, Gao X, Wang K, Yang H, Ma K, Cui B, Xi Z. Effects of noise and low-concentration carbon monoxide exposure on rat immunity. J Occup Health 2021; 63:e12235. [PMID: 34089209 PMCID: PMC8178495 DOI: 10.1002/1348-9585.12235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2020] [Revised: 04/23/2021] [Accepted: 05/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To evaluate the immunotoxicity and effects of noise and/or low-concentration carbon monoxide (CO) exposure on immune organs and immune functions in rats. METHODS Male Wistar rats exposed to 98 dB(A) white noise and/or 100 ppm CO 4 h/d for 30 d were used to determine the pathological changes in the thymus and spleen, and variations in leukocyte counts, inflammatory factors, and immunoglobulin (Ig) concentrations. RESULTS The boundaries of the cortex and medulla of the thymus were unclear following noise and combined exposure. The pathological changes in spleen after CO and combined exposure included blurred boundaries of red-pulp and white-pulp, disappearance of normal splenic nodules and neutrophil infiltration. After exposure to noise and in combination, leukocyte and lymphocyte counts decreased significantly. After exposure to low-concentration CO and in combination, serum IgM and IgG levels decreased significantly, but the levels of tumor necrosis factor-α and interferon-γ levels increased significantly. Eosinophils and IgA levels decreased significantly following exposure to noise and/or low concentration of CO, while the level of interleukin-1 increased significantly. Monocytes increased significantly only under noise or CO exposure, but not under combined exposure. CONCLUSIONS Noise and/or low-concentration CO exposure may suppress innate and adaptive immune functions and induce inflammatory responses. Noise exposure mainly affected the innate immune function of rats, whereas low-concentration CO exposure mainly affected adaptive immune functions. Combined exposure presented higher immunotoxicity than noise or CO alone, suggesting that exposure to noise and low-concentration CO in the living and working environments can affect the immune system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaojun She
- Tianjin Institute of Environmental and Operational Medicine, Tianjin, China
| | - Xiujie Gao
- Tianjin Institute of Environmental and Operational Medicine, Tianjin, China
| | - Kun Wang
- Tianjin Institute of Environmental and Operational Medicine, Tianjin, China
| | - Honglian Yang
- Tianjin Institute of Environmental and Operational Medicine, Tianjin, China
| | - Kefeng Ma
- Tianjin Institute of Environmental and Operational Medicine, Tianjin, China
| | - Bo Cui
- Tianjin Institute of Environmental and Operational Medicine, Tianjin, China
| | - Zhuge Xi
- Tianjin Institute of Environmental and Operational Medicine, Tianjin, China
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The Effects of Air Pollution on Firms’ Internal Control Quality: Evidence from China. SUSTAINABILITY 2019. [DOI: 10.3390/su11185068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Research on the consequences of air pollution has tended to focus on the macro and environmental effects on human health, often ignoring micro effects. In this paper, we empirically investigate the micro-institutional costs of air pollution, and our results show that in China, firms’ internal control quality is significantly and negatively associated with the severity of air pollution in its home city and that the most significant effects of air pollutants are those of PM2.5 and SO2, confirming that air pollution incurs micro-institutional costs. We find that this effect varies depending on factors related to the environment, ownership structure, the demographic traits of the board of directors’ chairman, and employees. Further analysis indicates that air pollution can degrade the quality of accounting information, provoke agency problems, and lower firm value. This study reveals the micro-institutional costs of air pollution and identifies the mechanisms by which air pollution affects the quality of macroeconomic development. By so doing, this study enables China’s government and public to better its understanding of air pollution and recognize the value of the Blue-Sky Protection Campaign. This study also reinforces the importance of the transition toward a new economic mode based on “high-quality development,” which will play a vital role in China’s new era.
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