Health effects of environmental pollution in population living near industrial complex areas in Korea

An integrated approach for economic evaluation of environmental and health costs of occupational diseases in the oil industry

The health sector is one of the components of development, social welfare and economic growth. The purpose of this study was to develop an economic evaluation model of the environmental and health costs of occupational diseases by hybrid approach. To achieve the study goal, a taxonomy of economic evaluation model of the environmental and health costs of occupational diseases has been developed. The Delphi method was used to identify health and environmental criteria and the analytic network process (ANP) method was used to weigh the sub-criteria. Finally, health and environmental cost were estimated based on the available information. Naft Subspecialty Hospital in Tehran, Iran (NSHT), was selected as the place of case study. In this study, eight and eleven sub-criteria were identified in the health and environmental sector, respectively. The ANP results indicated that the medicine and medical equipment cost criteria with a weight of 0.312 in the Medical sector, and the special and infectious waste cost criteria with a weight of 0.085 in the environmental sector were the most significant cost criteria in NSHT. Furthermore, the parametric model findings indicated that 99.84 and 0.16% of the total costs are associated with health and environmental costs, respectively. The findings indicated that 61.3% of the costs of the health sector were associated with the two sectors of medicine and medical equipment and the cost-of-service personnel, and 91.7% of the costs of the environmental sector are associated with wastewater treatment and the cost of electricity consumption. This study tried to present a quantitative model of the health and environmental costs of NSHT. Implemention of this integrated model can be a practical and effective step in allocating resources and prioritize interventions.

The impact of air pollution and climate change on eye health: a global review

Climate change has important implications on human health, affecting almost every system in the body. Multiple studies have raised the possibility of climate change impacting eye health. In this review, we aimed to summarize current literature on the impact of air pollution and climate change on eye health. We performed a search in four different databases, including Medline, Scopus, Cochrane, and Web of Sciences databases. The search strategy combined terms regarding eye health and environmental/climate changes. The outcome of interest included all eye conditions. The search yielded 2,051 unique articles. After applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, 61 articles were included in this systematic review with data covering 2,620,030 participants. Most studies originated from China, India, South Korea, and USA. Climate change adversely affected different eye conditions, with ocular surface diseases (e.g., conjunctivitis and dry eye) being most affected. Moreover, higher particulate matter (PM) was the most widely assessed pollutant and was adversely associated with the majority of eye conditions, increasing the burden on patients and healthcare providers. We found a low frequency of publications related to the delivery of eye care and its impact on climate change in countries with high air pollution and climate change burden.

Distribution of volatile organic compounds by distance from industrial complexes and potential health impact on the residents

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are the air pollutants emitted from the petrochemical industry known to pose adverse health effects on workers. The database based on the third phase of The Environmental Health Study in the Korean National Industrial Complexes (EHSNIC) in Ulsan conducted from 2018 to 2021 was used. Subjects were divided into the exposed and control group according to the estimated pollution level and distances from the industrial complexes. Ambient benzene, ethylbenzene, and xylene were significantly higher in the exposed group compared to the controls, as well as their metabolites. Risk of chronic disease and atopic dermatitis was higher in the exposed group which was supported by higher serum inflammatory markers and high hazard index of the exposed region. These results can draw attention to people engaged with environmental plans and used as primary data when making policies to reduce pollutant levels around industrial complexes.

Geographic information system-based determination of priority monitoring areas for hazardous air pollutants in an industrial city

Industrial cities are hotspots for many hazardous air pollutants (HAPs), which are detrimental to human health. We devised an identification method to determine priority HAP monitoring areas using a comprehensive approach involving monitoring, modeling, and demographics. The methodology to identify the priority HAP monitoring area consists of two parts: (1) mapping the spatial distribution of selected categories relevant to the target pollutant and (2) integrating the distribution maps of various categories and subsequent scoring. The identification method was applied in Ulsan, the largest industrial city in South Korea, to identify priority HAP monitoring areas. Four categories related to HAPs were used in the method: (1) concentrations of HAPs, (2) amount of HAP emissions, (3) the contribution of industrial activities, and (4) population density in the city. This method can be used to select priority HAP monitoring areas for intensive monitoring campaigns, cohort studies, and epidemiological studies.

Ambient air pollution and the risk of neurological diseases in residential areas near multi-purposed industrial complexes of korea: A population-based cohort study

Emerging evidence suggest that long-term exposure to air pollution may induce adverse effects on the central nervous system. However, no study explored the associations in large industrial complex (IC) areas which are one of the major contributors to air pollution. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the pollution status and the association between residential proximity and incidence of neurological diseases near two major ICs characterized as multi-purposed ICs in Korea. A retrospective cohort of residents near the ICs was constructed using Korea's health insurance data and monitored from 2008 to 2019. Emission amounts of the ICs and the air pollution status in the nearby (exposed) and remote (control) area were evaluated using data from national regulatory networks, and hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for neurological diseases of the exposed group compared to the control group were calculated using Cox proportional regression models. Overall, the complexes emitted large amounts of VOCs, CO, NOx, and PM10, and annual levels of ambient PM (2.5, 10), gaseous substances (NO₂, SO₂), VOCs and PAHs were higher in the exposed area compared to the control and/or the national average. The risk of inflammatory disease of the CNS (G00-09) and extrapyramidal and movement disorders (G20-26) were higher in the exposed area with a HR (95% CI) of 1.36 (1.10-1.68) and 1.33 (1.27-1.39) respectively. Among the subclasses, other extrapyramidal and movement disorders (G25) and epilepsy (G40) were associated with higher risks in the exposed area (HR (95%CI): 1.11 (1.04-1.18), 1.08 (1.00-1.16)) after adjusting for potential confounders. These results suggest that people living near ICs are more likely to be exposed to higher air pollution levels and have higher risks of developing several neurological disorders. However, further epidemiological studies in these industrial areas supplemented with other indicators of environmental exposure and control of other diverse factors are warranted.

Reduced Graphene Oxide–Metal Oxide Nanocomposites (ZrO2 and Y2O3): Fabrication and Characterization for the Photocatalytic Degradation of Picric Acid

Herein, reduced graphene-oxide-supported ZrO2 and Y2O3 (rGO-ZrO2 and rGO-Y2O3) nanocomposites were synthesized by hydrothermal method and used as the catalysts for photodegradation of picric acid. The structural and morphological properties of the synthesized samples were characterized by using an X-ray diffractometer (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM) with energy dispersive absorption X-ray spectroscopy (EDAX), UV-Vis spectrophotometer, Raman spectrophotometer and Fourier transformation infrared spectrophotometer (FT-IR) techniques. In this work, the wide band gap of the ZrO2 and Y2O3 was successfully reduced by addition of the reduced graphene oxide (rGO) to absorb visible light for photocatalytic application. The performance of as synthesized rGO-ZrO2 and rGO-Y2O3 nanocomposites in the photocatalytic degradation of picric acid were evaluated under UV light irradiation. The photodegradation study using picric acid was analyzed with different energy light sources UV (254, 365 and 395 nm), visible light and sunlight at different pH conditions (pH = 3, 7 and 10). The photocatalytic activity of rGO-ZrO2 and rGO-Y2O3 nanocomposites showed excellent photocatalytic activity under optimum identical conditions with mild variations in pH 3. Compared to rGO-Y2O3, the rGO-ZrO2 nanocomposite showed a better action, with a degradation percentage rate of 100, 99.3, 99.9, 100 and 100% for light conditions of UV-252, 365, 395, visible and sunlight, respectively. The excellent degradation efficiency is attributed to factors such as oxygen-deficient metal oxide phase, high surface area and creation of a greater number of hydroxyl groups.

Particulate Matter Exposure after a Cancer Diagnosis and All-Cause Mortality in a Regional Cancer Registry-Based Cohort in South Korea

Although particulate matter (PM) is a Group 1 carcinogen, few studies have evaluated the effect of PM exposure after a cancer diagnosis on survival. Herein, we evaluated the effect of exposure to ambient PM10 after a cancer diagnosis on survival using data from the Regional Cancer Registry cohort in Chungbuk Province, Korea. A total of 44,432 patients with cancer who survived for >1 year after being diagnosed between 2005 and 2018 were followed until 31 December 2019; there were 32,734 survivors (73.7%) and 11,698 deceased (26.3%). The average follow-up period was 67.7 months, and the cumulative average concentration of PM10 exposure of patients with cancer after a diagnosis was 49.0 µg/m3. When PM10 concentration increased by 1 standard deviation (5.2 µg/m3), the all-cause mortality risk increased 2.06-fold (95% CI: 2.02−2.11). This trend was most pronounced in the younger patient group and in patients with local-stage cancer. This study demonstrates that exposure to PM10 after cancer diagnosis might influence the survival of patients with cancer, requiring environmental preventive measures such as lower pollutant exposure.

Trace elements, peripheral blood film, and gene expression status in adolescents living near an industrial area in the Colombian Caribbean Coastline

BACKGROUND

Trace elements comprise both nutritionally essential and non-essential, and their presence in organisms plays important role in human health.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to evaluate the levels of trace elements, together with cellular and molecular biomarkers, in adolescents from Tierrabomba Island, a Caribbean community located near an industrial area, comparing them with a group living in San Onofre, a reference community.

METHODS

Hair and blood samples were obtained from 238 individuals aged 11-18 years old, 131 from Tierrabomba Island and 107 from San Onofre. Trace elements were quantified in hair using ICP-MS. The hematological evaluation was done by peripheral blood smears, and gene expression analysis was carried out through RT-PCR.

RESULTS

Thirteen elements were analyzed; eight showed significant differences between sites. In Tierrabomba, arsenic (As) and tungsten (W) registered mean values greater than in San Onofre. In contrast, in the reference site, average values for boron (B), cobalt (Co), zinc (Zn), yttrium (Y), tin (Sn), and barium (Ba) were greater. The peripheral blood film showed differences between populations. Mean lymphocyte percentage was higher in the Island, while eosinophil and monocyte percentages displayed greater means in San Onofre. Some correlations between trace elements and hematological parameters were found, mainly with platelets in Tierrabomba. This trend remained even when partial correlation coefficients were adjusted for age. Levels of gene expression of metallothionein 1X (MT1X) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) registered significant differences between sites, being greater in Tierrabomba. Negative correlations between SOD and As were observed in both sampling sites. Discriminant analysis suggested sampling locations could be differentiated by Zn, Mo, Ba, and MT1X levels.

SIGNIFICANCE

Trace elements and the relative gene expression associated with metal exposure are critical exposure biomarkers for coastal communities.

Applications of chitin and chitosan based biomaterials for the adsorptive removal of textile dyes from water - A comprehensive review

The presence of pollutants in the water bodies deteriorate the water quality and make it unfit for use. From an environmental perspective, it is essential to develop new technologies for the wastewater treatment and recycling of dye contaminated water. The surface modified chitin and chitosan biopolymeric composites based adsorbents, have an important role in the toxic organic dyes from removal wastewater. The surface modification of biopolymers with various organics and inorganics produces more active sites at the surface of the adsorbent, which enhances dye and adsorbent interaction more reliable. Herein, the work brought in the thought of the application of various chitin and chitosan composites in wastewater remediation and suggested the versatility in composites for the development of rapid, selective and effective removal processes for the detoxification of a variety of organic dyes. It further emphasizes the existing obstruction and impending prediction for the deprivation of dyes via adsorption techniques.

Perspectives on chronic cough in Korea

Chronic cough is a common condition, and generally affects about 3% of Korean adults with a significant influence on quality of life (QoL). Despite continued clinical and academic efforts, there are unmet needs for chronic cough prevention and management in Korea. Epidemiologically, there are two major challenges: an aging population and air pollution. Korea is one of the most rapidly aging countries, and the relative proportion of elderly to younger people is expected to double within the next two decades. Air pollution is a major concern, but there is very limited evidence on the effects of air pollutant on cough in Korean patients. Clinically, upper and lower airway diseases, such as rhinitis/rhinosinusitis and cough variant asthma/eosinophilic bronchitis, are reported to account for about 75% of chronic cough in Korean adults, which formed the basis in formulating clinical practice guidelines. However, further studies are warranted to resolve clinical uncertainty, particularly for the evaluation and treatment of upper airway conditions in chronic cough. The prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is increasing, thus its relevance to cough among Koreans may warrant re-evaluation. Infection-associated chronic cough, such as tuberculosis, is another continuing concern. The proportion of chronic refractory or unexplained cough is assumed to be 10–20% among patients visiting referral clinics for chronic cough. This review presents our perspectives on current epidemiological and clinical issues of chronic cough in Korea, and addresses major knowledge gaps and future research priorities.