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Anita WM, Uttajug A, Seposo XT, Sudo K, Nakata M, Takemura T, Takano H, Fujiwara T, Ueda K. Interplay of Climate Change and Air Pollution- Projection of the under-5 mortality attributable to ambient particulate matter (PM2.5) in South Asia. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 248:118292. [PMID: 38266897 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2024.118292] [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: 10/26/2023] [Revised: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/20/2024] [Indexed: 01/26/2024]
Abstract
Ambient fine particulate matter (PM2.5) pollution is a leading health risk factor for children under- 5 years, especially in developing countries. South Asia is a PM2.5 hotspot, where climate change, a potential factor affecting PM2.5 pollution, adds a major challenge. However, limited evidence is available on under-5 mortality attributable to PM2.5 under different climate change scenarios. This study aimed to project under-5 mortality attributable to long-term exposure to ambient PM2.5 under seven air pollution and climate change mitigation scenarios in South Asia. We used a concentration-risk function obtained from a previous review to project under-5 mortality attributable to ambient PM2.5. With a theoretical minimum risk exposure level of 2.4 μg/m3, this risk function was linked to gridded annual PM2.5 concentrations from atmospheric modeling to project under-5 mortality from 2010 to 2049 under different climate change mitigation scenarios. The scenarios were developed from the Aim/Endues global model based on end-of-pipe (removing the emission of air pollutants at the source, EoP) and 2 °C target measures. Our results showed that, in 2010-2014, about 306.8 thousand under-5 deaths attributable to PM2.5 occurred in South Asia under the Reference (business as usual) scenario. The number of deaths was projected to increase in 2045-2049 by 36.6% under the same scenario and 7.7% under the scenario where EoP measures would be partially implemented by developing countries (EoPmid), and was projected to decrease under other scenarios, with the most significant decrease (81.2%) under the scenario where EoP measures would be fully enhanced by all countries along with the measures to achieve 2 °C target (EoPmaxCCSBLD) across South Asia. Country-specific projections of under-5 mortality varied by country. The current emission control strategy would not be sufficient to reduce the number of deaths in South Asia. Robust climate change mitigation and air pollution control policy implementation is required.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Athicha Uttajug
- Department of Hygiene, Graduate School of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Japan.
| | | | - Kengo Sudo
- Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan; Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology, Yokohama, Japan.
| | - Makiko Nakata
- Faculty of Applied Sociology Kindai University, Osaka, Japan.
| | - Toshihiko Takemura
- Research Institute for Applied Mechanics, Kyushu University, Kyushu, Japan.
| | - Hirohisa Takano
- Graduate School of Global Environmental Studies, Kyoto University, Japan; Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University, Japan.
| | - Taku Fujiwara
- Graduate School of Global Environmental Studies, Kyoto University, Japan; Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University, Japan.
| | - Kayo Ueda
- Graduate School of Global Environmental Studies, Kyoto University, Japan; Department of Hygiene, Graduate School of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Japan.
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Moro A, Nonterah EA, Klipstein-Grobusch K, Oladokun S, Welaga P, Ansah PO, Hystad P, Vermeulen R, Oduro AR, Downward G. Early life ambient air pollution, household fuel use, and under-5 mortality in Ghana. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2024; 187:108693. [PMID: 38705093 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2024.108693] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2023] [Revised: 04/19/2024] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/07/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Environmental exposures, such as ambient air pollution and household fuel use affect health and under-5 mortality (U5M) but there is a paucity of data in the Global South. This study examined early-life exposure to ambient particulate matter with a diameter of 2.5 µm or less (PM2.5), alongside household characteristics (including self-reported household fuel use), and their relationship with U5M in the Navrongo Health and Demographic Surveillance Site (HDSS) in northern Ghana. METHODS We employed Satellite-based spatiotemporal models to estimate the annual average PM2.5 concentrations with the Navrongo HDSS area (1998 to 2016). Early-life exposure levels were determined by pollution estimates at birth year. Socio-demographic and household data, including cooking fuel, were gathered during routine surveillance. Cox proportional hazards models were applied to assess the link between early-life PM2.5 exposure and U5M, accounting for child, maternal, and household factors. FINDINGS We retrospectively studied 48,352 children born between 2007 and 2017, with 1872 recorded deaths, primarily due to malaria, sepsis, and acute respiratory infection. Mean early-life PM2.5 was 39.3 µg/m3, and no significant association with U5M was observed. However, Children from households using "unclean" cooking fuels (wood, charcoal, dung, and agricultural waste) faced a 73 % higher risk of death compared to those using clean fuels (adjusted HR = 1.73; 95 % CI: 1.29, 2.33). Being born female or to mothers aged 20-34 years were linked to increased survival probabilities. INTERPRETATION The use of "unclean" cooking fuel in the Navrongo HDSS was associated with under-5 mortality, highlighting the need to improve indoor air quality by introducing cleaner fuels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali Moro
- Navrongo Health Research Centre, Ghana Health Service, Navrongo, Ghana; Julius Global Health, Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, The Netherlands.
| | - Engelbert A Nonterah
- Navrongo Health Research Centre, Ghana Health Service, Navrongo, Ghana; Julius Global Health, Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, The Netherlands; Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, CK Tedam University of Technology and Applied Sciences, Navrongo, Ghana
| | - Kerstin Klipstein-Grobusch
- Julius Global Health, Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, The Netherlands; Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Samuel Oladokun
- Navrongo Health Research Centre, Ghana Health Service, Navrongo, Ghana
| | - Paul Welaga
- Navrongo Health Research Centre, Ghana Health Service, Navrongo, Ghana; Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, CK Tedam University of Technology and Applied Sciences, Navrongo, Ghana
| | - Patrick O Ansah
- Navrongo Health Research Centre, Ghana Health Service, Navrongo, Ghana; Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, CK Tedam University of Technology and Applied Sciences, Navrongo, Ghana
| | - Perry Hystad
- School of Biological and Population Health Sciences, College of Public Health and Human Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA
| | - Roel Vermeulen
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht University, The Netherlands
| | - Abraham R Oduro
- Navrongo Health Research Centre, Ghana Health Service, Navrongo, Ghana; Research and Development Division, Ghana Health Service, Accra, Ghana
| | - George Downward
- Julius Global Health, Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, The Netherlands; Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht University, The Netherlands
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Shiferaw AB, Kumie A, Tefera W. Fine particulate matter air pollution and the mortality of children under five: a multilevel analysis of the Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey of 2016. Front Public Health 2023; 11:1090405. [PMID: 37325299 PMCID: PMC10267360 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1090405] [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: 11/05/2022] [Accepted: 05/10/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Every year, polluted air is costing the globe 543,000 deaths of children under five. The particulate matter below 2.5 μm diameter (PM2.5) is a part of air pollution that has adverse effects on children's health. In Ethiopia, the effect of ambient PM2.5 is least explored. This study aimed to assess the association between PM2.5 and under-five mortality in Ethiopia. Methods The study used the data from the Ethiopian Demographic Health Surveys conducted in 2016, collected between January 18 and June 27. All children under five who had data on child mortality and location coordinates were included in the study. Exposure to ambient PM2.5 concentration was a satellite-based estimate by the Atmospheric Composition Analysis Group at Washington and Dalhousie University, in the United States and Canada, respectively. Annual mean pollution levels and mortality datasets were matched by children's geographical location and dates of birth, death, and interview. The relationship between ambient PM2.5 and under-five mortality was determined by a multilevel multivariable logistic regression on R software. The statistical analyses were two-sided at a 95% confidence interval. Results The study addressed 10,452 children with the proportion of under-five mortality being 5.4% (95% CI 5.0-6.8%). The estimated lifetime annual mean exposure of ambient total PM2.5 was 20.1 ± 3.3 μgm-3. A 10-unit increase in the lifetime annual mean ambient total PM2.5 was associated with 2.29 [95% CI 1.44, 3.65] times more odds of under-five mortality after adjusting for other variables. Conclusion Children under five are exposed to higher levels of ambient PM2.5 concentration, exceeding the limit set by the World Health Organization. Ambient PM2.5 is significantly associated with under-five mortality, adjusting for other variables. Strong measures need to be taken to reduce air pollution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashenafie Bereded Shiferaw
- Department of Social and Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Debre Tabor University, Debre Tabor, Ethiopia
| | - Abera Kumie
- Department of Environmental and Behavioral Medicine, School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Worku Tefera
- Department of Environmental and Behavioral Medicine, School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
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Amnuaylojaroen T, Parasin N. Future Health Risk Assessment of Exposure to PM 2.5 in Different Age Groups of Children in Northern Thailand. TOXICS 2023; 11:291. [PMID: 36977056 PMCID: PMC10057456 DOI: 10.3390/toxics11030291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2023] [Revised: 03/17/2023] [Accepted: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Particulate matter with a diameter less than 2.5 (PM2.5) is one of the major threats posed by air pollution to human health. It penetrates the respiratory system, particularly the lungs. In northern Thailand, the PM2.5 concentrations have significantly increased in the past decade, becoming a major concern for the health of children. This study aimed to assess the health risk of PM2.5 in different age groups of children in northern Thailand between 2020 and 2029. Based on the PM2.5 data from the simulation of the Nested Regional Climate Model with Chemistry (NRCM-Chem), the hazard quotient (HQ) was used to estimate the possible risk from PM2.5 exposure in children. In general, all age groups of children in northern Thailand will tend to experience the threat of PM2.5 in the future. In the context of age-related development periods, infants are at a higher risk than other groups (toddlers, young children, school age and adolescents), but adolescents also have a lower risk of exposure to PM2.5, albeit maintaining a high HQ value (>1). Moreover, the analysis of risk assessment in different age groups of children revealed that PM2.5 exposure might indeed affect adolescent risk differently depending on gender, with males generally at a heightened risk than females in adolescence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teerachai Amnuaylojaroen
- Department of Environmental Science, School of Energy and Environment, University of Phayao, Phayao 56000, Thailand;
- Atmospheric Pollution and Climate Research Unit, School of Energy and Environment, University of Phayao, Phayao 56000, Thailand
| | - Nichapa Parasin
- School of Allied Health Science, University of Phayao, Phayao 56000, Thailand
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Lwin KS, Tobias A, Chua PL, Yuan L, Thawonmas R, Ith S, Htay ZW, Yu LS, Yamasaki L, Roqué M, Querol X, Fussell JC, Nadeau KC, Stafoggia M, Saliba NA, Sheng Ng CF, Hashizume M. Effects of Desert Dust and Sandstorms on Human Health: A Scoping Review. GEOHEALTH 2023; 7:e2022GH000728. [PMID: 36874170 PMCID: PMC9976568 DOI: 10.1029/2022gh000728] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2022] [Revised: 01/04/2023] [Accepted: 01/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Desert dust and sandstorms are recurring environmental phenomena that are reported to produce serious health risks worldwide. This scoping review was conducted to identify the most likely health effects of desert dust and sandstorms and the methods used to characterize desert dust exposure from the existing epidemiological literature. We systematically searched PubMed/MEDLINE, Web of Science, and Scopus to identify studies that reported the effects of desert dust and sandstorms on human health. Search terms referred to desert dust or sandstorm exposure, names of major deserts, and health outcomes. Health effects were cross-tabulated with study design variables (e.g., epidemiological design and methods to quantify dust exposure), desert dust source, health outcomes and conditions. We identified 204 studies that met the inclusion criteria for the scoping review. More than half of the studies (52.9%) used a time-series study design. However, we found a substantial variation in the methods used to identify and quantify desert dust exposure. The binary metric of dust exposure was more frequently used than the continuous metric for all desert dust source locations. Most studies (84.8%) reported significant associations between desert dust and adverse health effects, mainly for respiratory and cardiovascular mortality and morbidity causes. Although there is a large body of evidence on the health effects of desert dust and sandstorms, the existing epidemiological studies have significant limitations related to exposure measurement and statistical analysis that potentially contribute to inconsistencies in determining the effect of desert dust on human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaung Suu Lwin
- Department of Global Health PolicyGraduate School of MedicineThe University of TokyoTokyoJapan
| | - Aurelio Tobias
- Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water ResearchSpanish Council for Scientific ResearchBarcelonaSpain
- School of Tropical Medicine and Global HealthNagasaki UniversityNagasakiJapan
| | - Paul Lester Chua
- Department of Global Health PolicyGraduate School of MedicineThe University of TokyoTokyoJapan
| | - Lei Yuan
- Department of Global Health PolicyGraduate School of MedicineThe University of TokyoTokyoJapan
| | - Ramita Thawonmas
- Department of Global Health PolicyGraduate School of MedicineThe University of TokyoTokyoJapan
| | - Sophearen Ith
- Department of Global Health PolicyGraduate School of MedicineThe University of TokyoTokyoJapan
| | - Zin Wai Htay
- Department of Global Health PolicyGraduate School of MedicineThe University of TokyoTokyoJapan
| | - Lin Szu Yu
- Department of Global Health PolicyGraduate School of MedicineThe University of TokyoTokyoJapan
| | - Lisa Yamasaki
- Department of Global Health PolicyGraduate School of MedicineThe University of TokyoTokyoJapan
- School of MedicineNagasaki UniversityNagasakiJapan
| | - Marta Roqué
- Iberoamerican Cochrane Centre ‐ Institut d’Investigació Biomèdica Sant Pau (IIB SANT PAU)BarcelonaSpain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP)MadridSpain
| | - Xavier Querol
- Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water ResearchSpanish Council for Scientific ResearchBarcelonaSpain
| | - Julia C. Fussell
- National Institute for Health ResearchHealth Protection Research Unit in Environmental Exposures and HealthSchool of Public HealthImperial College LondonLondonUK
| | - Kari Christine Nadeau
- Sean N Parker Center for Allergy & Asthma ResearchStanford UniversityMountain ViewCAUSA
| | | | - Najat A. Saliba
- Faculty of Arts and SciencesAmerican University of BeirutBeirutLebanon
| | - Chris Fook Sheng Ng
- Department of Global Health PolicyGraduate School of MedicineThe University of TokyoTokyoJapan
| | - Masahiro Hashizume
- Department of Global Health PolicyGraduate School of MedicineThe University of TokyoTokyoJapan
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6
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Anita WM, Ueda K, Uttajug A, Seposo XT, Takano H. Association between Long-Term Ambient PM2.5 Exposure and under-5 Mortality: A Scoping Review. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:3270. [PMID: 36833969 PMCID: PMC9961703 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20043270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2022] [Revised: 02/04/2023] [Accepted: 02/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Studies have established a link between exposure to fine particles (PM2.5) and mortality in infants and children. However, few studies have explored the association between post-birth exposure to PM2.5 and under-5 mortality. We conducted a scoping review to identify relevant epidemiological evidence on the association between post-birth ambient PM2.5 exposure and under-5 mortality. We searched PubMed and Web of Science for articles published between 1970 and the end of January 2022 that explicitly linked ambient PM2.5 and under-5 mortality by considering the study area, study design, exposure window, and child age. Information was extracted on the study characteristics, exposure assessment and duration, outcomes, and effect estimates/findings. Ultimately, 13 studies on infant and child mortality were selected. Only four studies measured the effect of post-birth exposure to PM2.5 on under-5 mortality. Only one cohort study mentioned a positive association between post-birth ambient PM2.5 exposure and under-5 mortality. The results of this scoping review highlight the need for extensive research in this field, given that long-term exposure to ambient PM2.5 is a major global health risk and child mortality remains high in some countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wahida Musarrat Anita
- Graduate School of Global Environmental Studies (GSGES), Kyoto University, Kyoto 615-8540, Japan
| | - Kayo Ueda
- Graduate School of Global Environmental Studies (GSGES), Kyoto University, Kyoto 615-8540, Japan
- Department of Hygiene, Graduate School of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Hokkaido 060-8638, Japan
| | - Athicha Uttajug
- Department of Hygiene, Graduate School of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Hokkaido 060-8638, Japan
| | - Xerxes Tesoro Seposo
- Department of Hygiene, Graduate School of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Hokkaido 060-8638, Japan
| | - Hirohisa Takano
- Graduate School of Global Environmental Studies (GSGES), Kyoto University, Kyoto 615-8540, Japan
- Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University, Kyoto 615-8540, Japan
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7
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Harville EW, Grady SK, Langston MA, Juarez PJ, Vilda D, Wallace ME. The public health exposome and pregnancy-related mortality in the United States: a high-dimensional computational analysis. BMC Public Health 2022; 22:2097. [PMID: 36384521 PMCID: PMC9670647 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-022-14397-x] [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] [Received: 05/21/2022] [Accepted: 10/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Racial inequities in maternal mortality in the U.S. continue to be stark. METHODS The 2015-2018, 4-year total population, county-level, pregnancy-related mortality ratio (PRM; deaths per 100,000 live births; National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), restricted use mortality file) was linked with the Public Health Exposome (PHE). Using data reduction techniques, 1591 variables were extracted from over 62,000 variables for use in this analysis, providing information on the relationships between PRM and the social, health and health care, natural, and built environments. Graph theoretical algorithms and Bayesian analysis were applied to PHE/PRM linked data to identify latent networks. RESULTS PHE variables most strongly correlated with total population PRM were years of potential life lost and overall life expectancy. Population-level indicators of PRM were overall poverty, smoking, lack of exercise, heat, and lack of adequate access to food. CONCLUSIONS In this high-dimensional analysis, overall life expectancy, poverty indicators, and health behaviors were found to be the strongest predictors of pregnancy-related mortality. This provides strong evidence that maternal death is part of a broader constellation of both similar and unique health behaviors, social determinants and environmental exposures as other causes of death.
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Affiliation(s)
- E W Harville
- Department of Epidemiology, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA.
| | - S K Grady
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, USA
| | - M A Langston
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, USA
| | - P J Juarez
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, Meharry Medical College, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - D Vilda
- Department of Social, Behavioral, and Population Sciences, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - M E Wallace
- Department of Social, Behavioral, and Population Sciences, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
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Felgueiras F, Mourão Z, Moreira A, Gabriel MF. A systematic review of ventilation conditions and airborne particulate matter levels in urban offices. INDOOR AIR 2022; 32:e13148. [PMID: 36437647 DOI: 10.1111/ina.13148] [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: 06/06/2022] [Revised: 10/04/2022] [Accepted: 10/08/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Many working activities are carried out in office buildings that are located in urban areas. Several studies have shown that these workplaces are likely to present poor indoor environmental quality (IEQ) due to inadequate ventilation rates, compromised thermal comfort conditions, and/or high concentration of air pollutants, such as particulate matter. This study aimed to review ventilation conditions, based on carbon dioxide (CO2 ) concentrations, and indoor airborne particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10 ) levels assessed in offices worldwide. The approach carried out in this work followed Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Six databases (Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, Inspec, Science Direct, and Dimensions) were used to search for peer-reviewed articles on the subject of IEQ, in particular, those reporting data for the levels of CO2 and particulate matter in offices, published during the last decade. Firstly, 394 records were identified, resulting in 23 articles included in the review after the screening process and the implementation of eligibility criteria. Based on the results and considering the mean concentration reported, office environments present, in general, acceptable ventilation conditions (mean: 665 ppm). However, the few cases of studies that reported CO2 values exceeding 1000 ppm identified situations of high occupancy density and inadequate operation of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems as the unequivocal causative factors. In turn, PM2.5 and PM10 seemed to be IEQ parameters that are even more critical to be tackled in offices, with the reported overall mean values (36 and 63 μg/m3 ) exceeding the current World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines (15 and 45 μg/m3 ). The highest aerosol concentrations were typically found in naturally ventilated buildings and were mostly associated with the influence of high levels of particles introduced indoors through the outdoor air. Overall, measures for improving IEQ in offices toward promoting healthy and safe environments for workers include strategies to periodically control IEQ, ensure the adequate percentage of fresh air and maintenance of the mechanical ventilation systems (operation, maintenance, and air filtration efficiency), and adjust occupancy to the room dimensions and ventilation conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fátima Felgueiras
- LAETA - INEGI, Associated Laboratory for Energy and Aeronautics, Institute of Science and Innovation in Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Porto, Portugal
- EPIUnit, Institute of Public Health, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Zenaida Mourão
- INESC TEC, Institute for Systems and Computer Engineering, Technology and Science, Porto, Portugal
| | - André Moreira
- EPIUnit, Institute of Public Health, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Basic and Clinical Immunology Unit, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Marta Fonseca Gabriel
- LAETA - INEGI, Associated Laboratory for Energy and Aeronautics, Institute of Science and Innovation in Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Porto, Portugal
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9
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Anwar A, Hyder S, Bennett R, Younis M. Impact of Environmental Quality on Healthcare Expenditures in Developing Countries: A Panel Data Approach. Healthcare (Basel) 2022; 10:healthcare10091608. [PMID: 36141220 PMCID: PMC9498607 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare10091608] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2022] [Revised: 08/17/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective: The deterioration in environmental quality has an economic and social cost. The aim of this study is to analyze the impact of environmental factors on health expenditures in developing countries. Method: To analyze the relationship between environmental quality (air pollution and temperature) and health expenditure in thirty-three developing countries, the study uses system generalized method of moments (GMM) using data from 2000 to 2017. Results: The results suggest a positive effect of both air pollution and temperature on health expenditure. However, the effect is highest for government health expenditure, followed by private and total health expenditure in the studied countries. The results further suggest that the impact of environmental factors is greater in higher-income countries when we divide the studied countries into two groups, i.e., higher- and lower-income countries. Conclusion: Our results are interesting and informative for the policy makers to design such policies to attain better environmental quality and social well-being. The increased healthcare expenditures due to increased air pollution and climate change necessitate for an efficient, reliable, affordable and modern energy policy by emphasizing the use of clean and renewable energy in these countries that ensure better health for the masses. Furthermore, a smart and sustainable environmentally friendly economic growth policy is necessary to ensure better health for the masses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asim Anwar
- Department of Management Sciences, COMSATS University Islamabad, Islamabad 43600, Pakistan
- Correspondence:
| | - Shabir Hyder
- Department of Management Sciences, COMSATS University Islamabad, Islamabad 43600, Pakistan
| | - Russell Bennett
- Department of Health Policy and Management, School of Health Sciences, Jackson State University, Jackson, MS 39217, USA
| | - Mustafa Younis
- Department of Health Policy and Management, School of Health Sciences, Jackson State University, Jackson, MS 39217, USA
- School of Business & Economics, University Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400, Malaysia
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10
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Impact of Air Pollution (PM 2.5) on Child Mortality: Evidence from Sixteen Asian Countries. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph18126375. [PMID: 34204659 PMCID: PMC8296171 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18126375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2021] [Revised: 06/07/2021] [Accepted: 06/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Air pollution in Asian countries represents one of the biggest health threats given the varied levels of economic and population growth in the recent past. The quantification of air pollution (PM2.5) vis à vis health problems has important policy implications in tackling its health effects. This paper investigates the relationship between air pollution (PM2.5) and child mortality in sixteen Asian countries using panel data from 2000 to 2017. We adopt a two-stage least squares approach that exploits variations in PM2.5 attributable to economic growth in estimating the effect on child mortality. We find that a one-unit annual increase in PM2.5 leads to a nearly 14.5% increase in the number of children dying before the age of five, suggesting the severity of the effects of particulate matter (PM2.5) on health outcomes in sixteen Asian countries considered in this study. The results of this study suggest the need for strict policy interventions by governments in Asian countries to reduce PM2.5 concentration alongside environment-friendly policies for economic growth.
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Keshavarz F. Molecular level insights into the direct health impacts of some organic aerosol components. NEW J CHEM 2021. [DOI: 10.1039/d1nj00231g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Quantum chemistry and biomodeling indicate that the studied organic aerosol components cannot directly cause oxidative stress or mutagenicity/carcinogenicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatemeh Keshavarz
- Institute for Atmospheric and Earth System Research
- Faculty of Science
- University of Helsinki
- FI-00014 Helsinki
- Finland
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12
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Impacts of discriminated PM 2.5 on global under-five and maternal mortality. Sci Rep 2020; 10:17654. [PMID: 33077784 PMCID: PMC7573627 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-74437-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2020] [Accepted: 09/07/2020] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Globally, it was estimated that maternal and under-five deaths were high in low-income countries than that of high-income countries. Most studies, however, have focused only on the clinical causes of maternal and under-five deaths, and yet there could be other factors such as ambient particulate matter (PM). The current global estimates indicate that exposure to ambient PM2.5 (with ≤ 2.5 microns aerodynamic diameter) has caused about 7 million deaths and over 100 million disability-adjusted life-years. There are also several health risks that have been linked PM2.5, including mortality, both regionally and globally; however, PM2.5 is a mixture of many compounds from various sources. Globally, there is little evidence of the health effects of various types of PM2.5, which may uniquely contribute to the global burden of disease. Currently, only two studies had estimated the effects of discriminated ambient PM2.5, that is, anthropogenic, biomass and dust, on under-five and maternal mortality using satellite measurements, and this study found a positive association in Africa and Asia. However, the study area was conducted in only one region and may not reflect the spatial variations throughout the world. Therefore, in this study, we discriminated different ambient PM2.5 and estimated the effects on a global scale. Using the generalized linear mixed-effects model (GLMM) with a random-effects model, we found that biomass PM2.5 was associated with an 8.9% (95% confidence interval [CI] 4.1-13.9%) increased risk of under-five deaths, while dust PM2.5 was marginally associated with 9.5% of under-five deaths. Nevertheless, our study found no association between PM2.5 type and global maternal deaths. This result may be because the majority of maternal deaths could be associated with preventable deaths that would require clinical interventions. Identification of the mortality-related types of ambient PM2.5 can enable the development of a focused intervention strategy of placing appropriate preventive measures for reducing the generation of source-specific PM2.5 and subsequently diminishing PM2.5-related mortality.
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Potential Approach for Single-Peak Extinction Fitting of Aerosol Profiles Based on In Situ Measurements for the Improvement of Surface PM2.5 Retrieval from Satellite AOD Product. REMOTE SENSING 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/rs12132174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The vertical distribution of aerosols is important for accurate surface PM2.5 retrieval and initial modeling forecasts of air pollution, but the observation of aerosol profiles on the regional scale is usually limited. Therefore, in this study, an approach to aerosol extinction profile fitting is proposed to improve surface PM2.5 retrieval from satellite observations. Owing to the high similarity of the single-peak extinction profile in the distribution pattern, the log-normal distribution is explored for the fitting model based on a decadal dataset (3248 in total) from Micro Pulse LiDAR (MPL) measurements. The logarithmic mean, standard deviation, and the height of peak extinction near-surface (Mode) are manually derived as the references for model construction. Considering the seasonal impacts on the planetary boundary layer height (PBLH), Mode, and the height of the surface layer, the extinction profile is then constructed in terms of the planetary boundary layer height (PBLH) and the total column aerosol optical depth (AOD). A comparison between fitted profiles and in situ measurements showed a high level of consistency in terms of the correlation coefficient (0.8973) and root-mean-square error (0.0415). The satellite AOD is subsequently applied for three-dimensional aerosol extinction, and the good agreement of the extinction coefficient with the PM2.5 within the surface layer indicates the good performance of the proposed fitting approach and the potential of satellite observations for providing accurate PM2.5 data on a regional scale.
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Effects of an Educational Glass Recycling Program against Environmental Pollution in Spain. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2019; 16:ijerph16245108. [PMID: 31847338 PMCID: PMC6950524 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph16245108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2019] [Revised: 12/11/2019] [Accepted: 12/12/2019] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
In this article, we analyzed the effects of an educational glass recycling program on primary schools and their students in Castilla-La Mancha (Spain). A sample of 89 schools, with 20,710 elementary students, was selected by simple random sampling. For the statistical analysis, descriptive techniques (frequencies and statistics), parametric (One Way ANOVA test), and non-parametric (Chi-Square test) inferential techniques were used, with a 5% significance level (p < 0.05). The program’s results showed that 153,576.3 kg of glass (with a value of 17,064.03 €) were recycled. Significant determinants of glass recycling were: School category (p = 0.043), previous environmental/recycling education (p = 0.046), geographic location of school (p = 0.030), gender (p = 0.007), and academic year (p < 0.05). With the program, students learned the importance of glass recycling, obtained a greater knowledge of and habits related to the same, acquired favorable attitudes towards the environment, and promoted glass recycling in their social circles. We conclude that environmental education about glass recycling has positive effects on glass recycling attitudes and behaviors in elementary school students and may be used as a measure to combat the problem of environmental pollution.
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