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Toxics Jan 2024The toxicological impact of airborne polluting ultrafine particles (UFPs, also classified as nanoparticles with average sizes of less than 100 nm) is an emerging area of...
The toxicological impact of airborne polluting ultrafine particles (UFPs, also classified as nanoparticles with average sizes of less than 100 nm) is an emerging area of research pursuing a better understanding of the health hazards they pose to humans and other organisms. Hemolytic activity is a toxicity parameter that can be assessed quickly and easily to establish part of a nanoparticle's behavior once it reaches our circulatory system. However, it is exceedingly difficult to determine to what extent each of the nanoparticles present in the air is responsible for the detrimental effects exhibited. At the same time, current hemolytic assessment methodologies pose a series of limitations for the interpretation of results. An alternative is to synthesize nanoparticles that model selected typical types of UFPs in air pollution and evaluate their individual contributions to adverse health effects under a clinical assay of osmotic fragility. Here, we discuss evidence pointing out that the absence of hemolysis is not always a synonym for safety; exposure to model nanopollutants, even at low concentrations, is enough to increase erythrocyte susceptibility and dysfunction. A modified osmotic fragility assay in combination with a morphological inspection of the nanopollutant-erythrocyte interaction allows a richer interpretation of the exposure outcomes. Membrane-nanoparticle interplay has a leading role in the vulnerability observed. Therefore, future research in this line of work should pay special attention to the evaluation of the mechanisms that cause membrane damage.
PubMed: 38276727
DOI: 10.3390/toxics12010092 -
Environmental Science & Technology Aug 2023To examine the associations between macrosomia risk and exposure to fine particulate matter (PM) and its chemical components during pregnancy, we collected birth records...
To examine the associations between macrosomia risk and exposure to fine particulate matter (PM) and its chemical components during pregnancy, we collected birth records between 2010 and 2015 in mainland China from the National Free Preconception Health Examination Project and used satellite-based models to estimate concentrations of PM mass and five main components, namely, black carbon (BC), organic carbon (OC), nitrate (NO), sulfate (SO), and ammonium (NH). Associations between macrosomia risk and prenatal exposure to PM were examined by logistic regression analysis, and the sensitive subgroups were explored by stratified analyses. Of the 3,248,263 singleton newborns from 336 cities, 165,119 (5.1%) had macrosomia. Each interquartile range increase in concentration of PM during the entire pregnancy was associated with increased risk of macrosomia (odds ratio (OR) = 1.18; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.17-1.20). Among specific components, the largest effect estimates were found on NO (OR = 1.36; 95% CI, 1.35-1.38) followed by OC (OR = 1.23; 95% CI, 1.22-1.24), NH (OR = 1.22; 95% CI, 1.21-1.23), and BC (OR = 1.21; 95% CI, 1.20-1.22). We also that found boys, women with a normal or lower prepregnancy body mass index, and women with irregular or no folic acid supplementation experienced higher risk of macrosomia associated with PM exposure.
Topics: Male; Pregnancy; Humans; Female; Infant, Newborn; Particulate Matter; Fetal Macrosomia; Air Pollutants; Cohort Studies; Cities; China; Carbon; Soot; Air Pollution; Environmental Exposure
PubMed: 37493575
DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c03280 -
The Science of the Total Environment Dec 2023Carbon black (CB), a component of environmental particulate pollution derived from carbon sources, poses a significant threat to human health, particularly in the...
Carbon black (CB), a component of environmental particulate pollution derived from carbon sources, poses a significant threat to human health, particularly in the context of lung-related disease. This study aimed to investigate the detrimental effects of aggregated CB in the average micron scale on lung tissues and cells in vitro and in vivo. We observed that CB particles induced lung disorders characterized by enhanced expression of inflammation, necrosis, and fibrosis-related factors in vivo. In alveolar epithelial cells, CB exposure resulted in decreased cell viability, induction of cell death, and generation of reactive oxidative species, along with altered expression of proteins associated with lung disorders. Our findings suggested that the damaging effects of CB on the lung involved the targeting of lysosomes. Specifically, CB promoted lysosomal membrane permeabilization, while lysosomal alkalization mitigated the harmfulness of CB on lung cells. Additionally, we explored the protective effects of alkaloids derived from Nelumbinis plumula, with a focus on neferine, against CB-induced lung disorders. In conclusion, these findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the pathophysiological effects of CB particles on the lungs and propose a potential therapeutic approach for pollution-related diseases.
Topics: Humans; Soot; Lung; Inflammation; Lysosomes; Carbon
PubMed: 37742976
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.167200 -
The European Respiratory Journal Jul 2023Early ecological studies have suggested links between air pollution and risk of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), but evidence from individual-level cohort studies is...
BACKGROUND
Early ecological studies have suggested links between air pollution and risk of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), but evidence from individual-level cohort studies is still sparse. We examined whether long-term exposure to air pollution is associated with risk of COVID-19 and who is most susceptible.
METHODS
We followed 3 721 810 Danish residents aged ≥30 years on 1 March 2020 in the National COVID-19 Surveillance System until the date of first positive test (incidence), COVID-19 hospitalisation or death until 26 April 2021. We estimated residential annual mean particulate matter with diameter ≤2.5 μm (PM), nitrogen dioxide (NO), black carbon (BC) and ozone (O) in 2019 by the Danish DEHM/UBM model, and used Cox proportional hazards regression models to estimate the associations of air pollutants with COVID-19 outcomes, adjusting for age, sex, individual- and area-level socioeconomic status, and population density.
RESULTS
138 742 individuals were infected, 11 270 were hospitalised and 2557 died from COVID-19 during 14 months. We detected associations of PM (per 0.53 μg·m) and NO (per 3.59 μg·m) with COVID-19 incidence (hazard ratio (HR) 1.10 (95% CI 1.05-1.14) and HR 1.18 (95% CI 1.14-1.23), respectively), hospitalisations (HR 1.09 (95% CI 1.01-1.17) and HR 1.19 (95% CI 1.12-1.27), respectively) and death (HR 1.23 (95% CI 1.04-1.44) and HR 1.18 (95% CI 1.03-1.34), respectively), which were strongest in the lowest socioeconomic groups and among patients with chronic respiratory, cardiometabolic and neurodegenerative diseases. We found positive associations with BC and negative associations with O.
CONCLUSION
Long-term exposure to air pollution may contribute to increased risk of contracting severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection as well as developing severe COVID-19 disease requiring hospitalisation or resulting in death.
Topics: Humans; Cohort Studies; Nitrogen Dioxide; COVID-19; Environmental Exposure; SARS-CoV-2; Air Pollution; Air Pollutants; Particulate Matter; Hospitalization; Soot; Denmark
PubMed: 37343976
DOI: 10.1183/13993003.00280-2023 -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Dec 2023A series of Co-M (M = Fe, Cr, and Mn) catalysts were synthesized by the sol-gel method for soot oxidation in a loose contact mode. The Co-Fe catalyst exhibited the best...
A series of Co-M (M = Fe, Cr, and Mn) catalysts were synthesized by the sol-gel method for soot oxidation in a loose contact mode. The Co-Fe catalyst exhibited the best catalytic activity among the tested samples, with the characteristic temperatures (T, T, and T) of 470 °C, 557 °C, and 602 °C, respectively, which were 57 °C, 51 °C, and 51 °C lower than those of the CoO catalyst. Catalyst characterizations of N adsorption-desorption, X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photo-electron spectrometry (XPS), and the temperature programmed desorption of O (O-TPD) were performed to gain insights into the relationships between the activity of catalytic soot oxidation and the catalyst properties. The content of Co (68.6%) increased due to the interactions between Co and Fe, while the redox properties and the relative concentration of surface oxygen adsorption (51.7%) were all improved, which could significantly boost the activity of catalytic soot oxidation. The effects of NO and contact mode on soot oxidation were investigated over the Co-Fe catalyst. The addition of 1000 ppm of NO led to significant reductions in T, T, and T by 92 °C, 106 °C, and 104 °C, respectively, compared to the case without the NO addition. In the tight contact mode, the soot oxidation was accelerated over the Co-Fe catalyst, resulting in 46 °C, 50 °C, and 50 °C reductions in T, T, and T compared to the loose contact mode. The comparison between real soot and model Printex-U showed that the T value of real soot (455 °C) was 102 °C lower than the model Printex-U soot.
PubMed: 38202624
DOI: 10.3390/molecules29010041 -
Journal of Hazardous Materials Mar 2024This study explored the impact of non-thermal plasma and CO on the flame soot characteristics within the diffusion flames. We analyzed on flame structures that were...
This study explored the impact of non-thermal plasma and CO on the flame soot characteristics within the diffusion flames. We analyzed on flame structures that were diluted with either CO or N, temperature distributions, and soot characteristics, both in the presence and absence of plasma. Due to the higher specific heat capacity of CO compared to N, the optical observations consistently showed lower temperatures in flames diluted with CO as compared to those diluted with N. The inclusion of plasma and carbon dioxide resulted in the lowest soot concentration, indicating that plasma coupled with CO has a synergistic inhibitory effect on soot emissions. The findings revealed that when CO was used to dilute the flames and the oxygen concentration was low, the soot nanostructure appeared amorphous. Raman results showed that the level of graphitization observed in soot particles from CO dilution flames was lower than that from N dilution flames. In the presence of plasma and CO, the soot obtained exhibited the shortest fringe length and the highest fringe tortuosity. Significant correlations were observed between the nanostructure of soot and its reactivity. The combined application of plasma and CO proved to be effective in reducing the soot carbonization degree.
PubMed: 38310061
DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.133669 -
Chemosphere Jul 2024Mn or Co supported CeO fiber catalysts were synthesized following a biotemplating route and evaluated in soot combustion and benzene total oxidation. The catalysts were...
Mn or Co supported CeO fiber catalysts were synthesized following a biotemplating route and evaluated in soot combustion and benzene total oxidation. The catalysts were characterized by SEM, EDX, N physisorption, FTIR-ATR, XRD, RAMAN and XPS. SEM results confirmed that the "twisted ribbon" morphology of the biotemplate was mostly maintained. XRD and Raman showed that Mn and Co cations partially insert into ceria lattice and also segregate at the surface of the fibers. XPS allowed to determine that both set of catalysts exhibit Ce and Ce species, in addition to adsorbed and lattice oxygen. Also, the average oxidation state (AOS) of surface Mn could be calculated. Compared to bare Fib Ce, the performances for both reactions were improved for the supported catalysts, except from the catalyst with lowest Mn content for soot combustion. The catalytic activity was discussed in terms of the physicochemical features of the supported catalysts.
Topics: Cerium; Oxidation-Reduction; Benzene; Catalysis; Manganese; Cobalt; Soot
PubMed: 38705410
DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.142247 -
Journal of Neuroinflammation Nov 2023Inflammation during pregnancy is associated with an increased risk for neurodevelopmental disorders (NDD). Increased gestational inflammation can be a result of an...
Inflammation during pregnancy is associated with an increased risk for neurodevelopmental disorders (NDD). Increased gestational inflammation can be a result of an immune condition/disease, exposure to infection, and/or environmental factors. Epidemiology studies suggest that cases of NDD are on the rise. Similarly, rates of asthma are increasing, and the presence of maternal asthma during pregnancy increases the likelihood of a child being later diagnosed with NDD such as autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Particulate matter (PM), via air pollution, is an environmental factor known to worsen the symptoms of asthma, but also, PM has been associated with increased risk of neuropsychiatric disorders. Despite the links between asthma and PM with neuropsychiatric disorders, there is a lack of laboratory models investigating combined prenatal exposure to asthma and PM on offspring neurodevelopment. Thus, we developed a novel mouse model that combines exposure to maternal allergic asthma (MAA) and ultrafine iron-soot (UIS), a common component of PM. In the current study, female BALB/c mice were sensitized for allergic asthma with ovalbumin (OVA) prior to pregnancy. Following mating and beginning on gestational day 2 (GD2), dams were exposed to either aerosolized OVA to induce allergic asthma or phosphate buffered saline (PBS) for 1 h. Following the 1-h exposure, pregnant females were then exposed to UIS with a size distribution of 55 to 169 nm at an average concentration of 176 ± 45 μg/m) (SD), or clean air for 4 h, over 8 exposure sessions. Offspring brains were collected at postnatal days (P)15 and (P)35. Cortices and hippocampal regions were then isolated and assessed for changes in cytokines using a Luminex bead-based multiplex assay. Analyses identified changes in many cytokines across treatment groups at both timepoints in the cortex, including interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), and IL-17, which remained elevated from P15 to P35 in all treatment conditions compared to controls. There was a suppressive effect of the combined MAA plus UIS on the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10. Potentially shifting the cytokine balance towards more neuroinflammation. In the hippocampus at P15, elevations in cytokines were also identified across the treatment groups, namely IL-7. The combination of MAA and UIS exposure (MAA-UIS) during pregnancy resulted in an increase in microglia density in the hippocampus of offspring, as identified by IBA-1 staining. Together, these data indicate that exposure to MAA, UIS, and MAA-UIS result in changes in the neuroimmune environment of offspring that persist into adulthood.
Topics: Humans; Animals; Pregnancy; Mice; Child; Female; Particulate Matter; Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; Asthma; Cytokines; Inflammation
PubMed: 37919762
DOI: 10.1186/s12974-023-02930-7 -
Environment International Sep 2023Carbonaceous aerosols, comprising organic carbon (OC) and elemental carbon (EC), are critical component of fine particulate matter (PM), with diverse impacts on air...
Carbonaceous aerosols, comprising organic carbon (OC) and elemental carbon (EC), are critical component of fine particulate matter (PM), with diverse impacts on air quality and human health. This study investigated the concentrations and seasonal patterns of carbonaceous species in PM during both the heating season (January 2021) and non-heating season (July 2021) in three coal-fueled cities in northern China, as well as the differences in carbonaceous aerosols and their associations with socioeconomic parameters in cities situated on either side of the "Hu Line" in China. The results showed that, owing to intensified coal combustion and unfavorable meteorological conditions, levels of OC, EC, and OC/EC ratios were higher in winter compared to summer. Moreover, the presence of dust (DU) and light pollution (LP) days resulted in elevated OC levels but decreased EC levels. The Char-EC/Soot-EC ratios were highest during LP, followed by CL and DU. A source apportionment analysis demonstrated that coal burning, vehicle exhaust, road dust, and biomass burning were the primary contributors to carbonaceous aerosols, as confirmed by diagnostic ratios, Char-EC/Soot-EC ratios, and PCA analysis. Furthermore, our study found that carbonaceous aerosols concentrations and source apportionment primarily varied with diurnal and seasonal trends and different pollution types. Additionally, at the national scale, population density and urban green space exhibited a positive correlation with OC/EC ratios (p < 0.05), while energy consumption per unit of GDP showed a negative correlation (p < 0.05). The observation that OC/EC ratios were lower in coal-fueled cities than in economy-based cities suggests a more severe pollution scenario. These findings highlight the importance of comprehending of the seasonal variation and chemical characteristics of carbonaceous aerosol for understanding air pollution sources and characteristics, which is essential for both air quality management and human health.
Topics: Humans; Seasons; Cities; Soot; Dust; Aerosols; Carbon; Coal; Particulate Matter; Socioeconomic Factors
PubMed: 37666041
DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2023.108179 -
Current Research in Food Science 2023Catastrophes such as a nuclear war would generate atmospheric soot and reduce sunlight, making it difficult to grow crops. Under such conditions, people might turn to...
Catastrophes such as a nuclear war would generate atmospheric soot and reduce sunlight, making it difficult to grow crops. Under such conditions, people might turn to inedible plant biomass for nutrition, but the convertibility and nutritional content of this biomass have not been rigorously analyzed. We found that if plant biomass were converted into food at 30% efficiency, 6.7 kg of biomass per day would yield adequate carbohydrates, but contain potentially toxic or insufficient levels of other nutrients for a family of four. Therefore, exploiting biomass with low mineral content for carbohydrates and consuming other sources of protein, fat, and vitamins such as edible insects/single-cell proteins and vitamin supplements could provide a balanced diet in a global catastrophic environment.
PubMed: 37766892
DOI: 10.1016/j.crfs.2023.100586