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Kumar P, Hama S, Nogueira T, Abbass RA, Brand VS, Andrade MDF, Asfaw A, Aziz KH, Cao SJ, El-Gendy A, Islam S, Jeba F, Khare M, Mamuya SH, Martinez J, Meng MR, Morawska L, Muula AS, Shiva Nagendra SM, Ngowi AV, Omer K, Olaya Y, Osano P, Salam A. In-car particulate matter exposure across ten global cities. Sci Total Environ 2021; 750:141395. [PMID: 32858288 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.141395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2020] [Revised: 07/13/2020] [Accepted: 07/29/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Cars are a commuting lifeline worldwide, despite contributing significantly to air pollution. This is the first global assessment on air pollution exposure in cars across ten cities: Dhaka (Bangladesh); Chennai (India); Guangzhou (China); Medellín (Colombia); São Paulo (Brazil); Cairo (Egypt); Sulaymaniyah (Iraq); Addis Ababa (Ethiopia); Blantyre (Malawi); and Dar-es-Salaam (Tanzania). Portable laser particle counters were used to develop a proxy of car-user exposure profiles and analyse the factors affecting particulate matter ≤2.5 μm (PM2.5; fine fraction) and ≤10 μm (PM2.5-10; coarse fraction). Measurements were carried out during morning, off- and evening-peak hours under windows-open and windows-closed (fan-on and recirculation) conditions on predefined routes. For all cities, PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations were highest during windows-open, followed by fan-on and recirculation. Compared with recirculation, PM2.5 and PM10 were higher by up to 589% (Blantyre) and 1020% (São Paulo), during windows-open and higher by up to 385% (São Paulo) and 390% (São Paulo) during fan-on, respectively. Coarse particles dominated the PM fraction during windows-open while fine particles dominated during fan-on and recirculation, indicating filter effectiveness in removing coarse particles and a need for filters that limit the ingress of fine particles. Spatial variation analysis during windows-open showed that pollution hotspots make up to a third of the total route-length. PM2.5 exposure for windows-open during off-peak hours was 91% and 40% less than morning and evening peak hours, respectively. Across cities, determinants of relatively high personal exposure doses included lower car speeds, temporally longer journeys, and higher in-car concentrations. It was also concluded that car-users in the least affluent cities experienced disproportionately higher in-car PM2.5 exposures. Cities were classified into three groups according to low, intermediate and high levels of PM exposure to car commuters, allowing to draw similarities and highlight best practices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prashant Kumar
- Global Centre for Clean Air Research (GCARE), Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 7XH, United Kingdom; Department of Civil, Structural & Environmental Engineering, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
| | - Sarkawt Hama
- Global Centre for Clean Air Research (GCARE), Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 7XH, United Kingdom
| | - Thiago Nogueira
- Global Centre for Clean Air Research (GCARE), Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 7XH, United Kingdom; Departamento de Saúde Ambiental - Faculdade de Saúde Pública, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil; Departamento de Ciências Atmosféricas - Instituto de Astronomia, Geofísica e Ciências Atmosféricas - IAG, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Rana Alaa Abbass
- Global Centre for Clean Air Research (GCARE), Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 7XH, United Kingdom
| | - Veronika S Brand
- Global Centre for Clean Air Research (GCARE), Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 7XH, United Kingdom; Departamento de Ciências Atmosféricas - Instituto de Astronomia, Geofísica e Ciências Atmosféricas - IAG, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Maria de Fatima Andrade
- Departamento de Ciências Atmosféricas - Instituto de Astronomia, Geofísica e Ciências Atmosféricas - IAG, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Araya Asfaw
- Physics Department, Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia
| | - Kosar Hama Aziz
- Department of Chemistry, College of Science, University of Sulaimani, Kurdistan Region, Iraq
| | - Shi-Jie Cao
- Global Centre for Clean Air Research (GCARE), Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 7XH, United Kingdom; School of Architecture, Southeast University, Nanjing 21009, China; Academy of Building Energy Efficiency, School of Civil Engineering, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Ahmed El-Gendy
- Department of Construction Engineering, School of Sciences and Engineering, The American University in Cairo, New Cairo 11835, Egypt
| | - Shariful Islam
- Department of Chemistry, University of Dhaka, Dhaka 1000, Bangladesh
| | - Farah Jeba
- Department of Chemistry, University of Dhaka, Dhaka 1000, Bangladesh
| | - Mukesh Khare
- Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, India
| | - Simon Henry Mamuya
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Jenny Martinez
- Global Centre for Clean Air Research (GCARE), Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 7XH, United Kingdom; Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Colombia
| | - Ming-Rui Meng
- Academy of Building Energy Efficiency, School of Civil Engineering, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Lidia Morawska
- Global Centre for Clean Air Research (GCARE), Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 7XH, United Kingdom; International Laboratory for Air Quality and Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
| | | | - S M Shiva Nagendra
- Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, India
| | - Aiwerasia Vera Ngowi
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Khalid Omer
- Department of Chemistry, College of Science, University of Sulaimani, Kurdistan Region, Iraq
| | - Yris Olaya
- Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Colombia
| | | | - Abdus Salam
- Department of Chemistry, University of Dhaka, Dhaka 1000, Bangladesh
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Abstract
Background: Working in a humid and hot environment creates challenges to occupational health and safety in tropical countries. Being in the region, Tanzania can experiences more than 30°C ambient temperature, which exposes miners to heat-related injury and illness. Objectives: This study was conducted to assess heat stress exposure and associated heat illness symptoms among gold mine workers in the Mara region. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 60 miners from four Similar Exposure Groups based on risk to extreme heat environment. The WBGT index was used to assess the heat load while the miners’ physiological condition explained the heat strain indicator. Data was analyzed using SPSS 20. Chi-square was used to differentiate proportion of miners with heat illness symptoms in different categories. Pearson correlation was used to determine association between environmental measures and change in physiological conditions of the miners. Independent t-test and ANOVA were used to assess differences between numerical data among groups. A p ≤ 0.05 at 95% confidence was considered to be statistically significant. Findings: The recorded average WBGT at the mining site was within the ACGIH TLV of 28.5°C, however, 78.4% of underground miners and 69.6% of open cut miners reported to have moderate heat illness. High body temperature and hot and dry skin were the most frequently reported heat illness symptoms. The mean core body temperatures of miners in open cut and underground were 38.4 ± 0.5°C and 37.3 ± 0.5°C respectively. Approximately 80% of miners in open cut indicated higher core body temperature above ISO 7933 threshold of 38.0°C for safety. The majority of workers under contract didn’t drink water prior to work shift commencement. Conclusions: The occupational setting at the mining area presents the potential exposure to a thermal condition that can contribute to heat illness symptoms. Effective strategies must be implemented to enhance workers’ safety.
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Affiliation(s)
- E B Meshi
- Department of Public Health, College of Health and Allied Sciences, The University of Dodoma, Dodoma, TZ
| | - S S Kishinhi
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es Salaam, TZ
| | - S H Mamuya
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es Salaam, TZ
| | - M G Rusibamayila
- Department of Epidemiology, Dodoma Regional Referral Hospital, Dodoma, TZ
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Mrema EJ, Ngowi AV, Kishinhi SS, Mamuya SH. Pesticide Exposure and Health Problems Among Female Horticulture Workers in Tanzania. Environ Health Insights 2017; 11:1178630217715237. [PMID: 28690397 PMCID: PMC5484550 DOI: 10.1177/1178630217715237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2016] [Accepted: 05/22/2017] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Commercialization of horticulture farming, expansion of farms, and the practice of monoculture favor the proliferation of pests, which in turn increases the need for pesticides. Increased exposure to pesticides is associated with inadequate knowledge on the hazardous nature of pesticides, poor hygiene practices, lack of availability of washing facilities, and insufficient adherence to precautionary instructions on pesticide labels. Mitigating the risks posed by pesticides is considered a less compelling interest than alleviating poverty. Women working in horticulture in Tanzania usually have low levels of education and income and lack decision-making power even on matters relating to their own health. This contributes to pesticide exposure and other health challenges. Because of multiple factors, some of which act as study confounders, few studies on exposure to pesticides and health effects have been conducted among women. This review identified factors that contribute to the increased health effects among women working in the horticultural industry and how these effects relate to pesticide exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Aiwerasia Vera Ngowi
- CORRESPONDING AUTHOR: Aiwerasia Vera Ngowi, Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Public Health and Social Sciences, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, P. O. Box 65015, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
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Abstract
BACKGROUND Several studies have reported associations between cement dust exposure and adverse respiratory health effects, but there are few follow-up studies and no studies of respiratory health effects following dust control measures. AIMS To assess changes in respiratory health among cement workers and unexposed controls after 1 year in a factory implementing a health and safety campaign with the main aim to increase use of personal protective equipment. Earlier the factory had made technical improvements which had reduced dust levels. METHODS Respiratory questionnaire interviews and personal total dust exposure assessments were conducted in 2010 and 2011. RESULTS A total of 171 cement workers and 98 controls participated in the study in 2010. The prevalence of cough, cough with sputum, dyspnoea and wheeze among the 134 exposed workers assessed at follow-up in 2011 was significantly lower than in 2010, but not among 63 controls followed up in 2011. Total dust exposure levels among exposed workers did not differ between 2010 and 2011. CONCLUSIONS The prevalence of respiratory symptoms among cement workers was reduced after 1 year of follow-up following an intervention campaign to improve use of personal protective equipment.
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Affiliation(s)
- A M Tungu
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Public Health and Social Sciences, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, United Nations Road, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania,
| | - M Bråtveit
- Department of Global Public Health and Primary Care, Occupational and Environmental Medicine, University of Bergen, N-5009 Bergen, Norway
| | - S H Mamuya
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Public Health and Social Sciences, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, United Nations Road, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - B E Moen
- Department of Global Public Health and Primary Care, Occupational and Environmental Medicine, University of Bergen, N-5009 Bergen, Norway, Centre for International Health, University of Bergen, N-5009 Bergen, Norway
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