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Current Environmental Health Reports Jun 2024Airway inflammation is a common biological response to many types of environmental exposures and can lead to increased nitric oxide (NO) concentrations in exhaled... (Review)
Review
PURPOSE OF REVIEW
Airway inflammation is a common biological response to many types of environmental exposures and can lead to increased nitric oxide (NO) concentrations in exhaled breath. In recent years, several studies have evaluated airway inflammation using fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) as a biomarker of exposures to a range of air pollutants. This systematic review aims to summarize the studies that collected personal-level air pollution data to assess the air pollution-induced FeNO responses and to determine if utilizing personal-level data resulted in an improved characterization of the relationship between air pollution exposures and FeNO compared to using only ambient air pollution exposure data.
RECENT FINDINGS
Thirty-six eligible studies were identified. Overall, the studies included in this review establish that an increase in personal exposure to particulate and gaseous air pollutants can significantly increase FeNO. Nine out of the 12 studies reported statistically significant FeNO increases with increasing personal PM exposures, and up to 11.5% increase in FeNO per IQR increase in exposure has also been reported between FeNO and exposure to gas-phase pollutants, such as ozone, NO and benzene. Furthermore, factors such as chronic respiratory diseases, allergies, and medication use were found to be effect modifiers for air pollution-induced FeNO responses. About half of the studies that compared the effect estimates using both personal and ambient air pollution exposure methods reported that only personal exposure yielded significant associations with FeNO response. The evidence from the reviewed studies confirms that FeNO is a sensitive biomarker for air pollutant-induced airway inflammation. Personal air pollution exposure assessment is recommended to accurately assess the air pollution-induced FeNO responses. Furthermore, comprehensive adjustments for the potential confounding factors including the personal exposures of the co-pollutants, respiratory disease status, allergy status, and usage of medications for asthma and allergies are recommended while assessing the air pollution-induced FeNO responses.
Topics: Humans; Nitric Oxide; Environmental Exposure; Air Pollution; Air Pollutants; Particulate Matter; Biomarkers; Fractional Exhaled Nitric Oxide Testing; Exhalation
PubMed: 38386269
DOI: 10.1007/s40572-024-00430-1 -
BMJ Open May 2024Climate change is a major global issue with significant consequences, including effects on air quality and human well-being. This review investigated the projection of...
OBJECTIVES
Climate change is a major global issue with significant consequences, including effects on air quality and human well-being. This review investigated the projection of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) attributable to air pollution under different climate change scenarios.
DESIGN
This systematic review was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses 2020 flow checklist. A population-exposure-outcome framework was established. Population referred to the general global population of all ages, the exposure of interest was air pollution and its projection, and the outcome was the occurrence of NCDs attributable to air pollution and burden of disease (BoD) based on the health indices of mortality, morbidity, disability-adjusted life years, years of life lost and years lived with disability.
DATA SOURCES
The Web of Science, Ovid MEDLINE and EBSCOhost databases were searched for articles published from 2005 to 2023.
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR SELECTING STUDIES
The eligible articles were evaluated using the modified scale of a checklist for assessing the quality of ecological studies.
DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS
Two reviewers searched, screened and selected the included studies independently using standardised methods. The risk of bias was assessed using the modified scale of a checklist for ecological studies. The results were summarised based on the projection of the BoD of NCDs attributable to air pollution.
RESULTS
This review included 11 studies from various countries. Most studies specifically investigated various air pollutants, specifically particulate matter <2.5 µm (PM), nitrogen oxides and ozone. The studies used coupled-air quality and climate modelling approaches, and mainly projected health effects using the concentration-response function model. The NCDs attributable to air pollution included cardiovascular disease (CVD), respiratory disease, stroke, ischaemic heart disease, coronary heart disease and lower respiratory infections. Notably, the BoD of NCDs attributable to air pollution was projected to decrease in a scenario that promotes reduced air pollution, carbon emissions and land use and sustainable socioeconomics. Contrastingly, the BoD of NCDs was projected to increase in a scenario involving increasing population numbers, social deprivation and an ageing population.
CONCLUSION
The included studies widely reported increased premature mortality, CVD and respiratory disease attributable to PM. Future NCD projection studies should consider emission and population changes in projecting the BoD of NCDs attributable to air pollution in the climate change era.
PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER
CRD42023435288.
Topics: Humans; Noncommunicable Diseases; Air Pollution; Climate Change; Environmental Exposure; Quality-Adjusted Life Years; Disability-Adjusted Life Years
PubMed: 38719294
DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-079826 -
Journal of Environmental Management Feb 2024Biofiltration utilizes natural mechanisms including biodegradation and biotransformation along with other physical processes for the removal of organic micropollutants... (Review)
Review
Biofiltration utilizes natural mechanisms including biodegradation and biotransformation along with other physical processes for the removal of organic micropollutants (OMPs) such as pharmaceuticals, personal care products, pesticides and industrial compounds found in (waste)water. In this systematic review, a total of 120 biofiltration studies from 25 countries were analyzed, considering various biofilter configurations, source water types, biofilter media and scales of operation. The study also provides a bibliometric analysis to identify the emerging research trends in the field. The results show that granular activated carbon (GAC) either alone or in combination with another biofiltration media can remove a broad range of OMPs efficiently. The impact of pre-oxidation on biofilter performance was investigated, revealing that pre-oxidation significantly improved OMP removal and reduced the empty bed contact time (EBCT) needed to achieve a consistently high OMP. Biofiltration with pre-oxidation had median removals ranging between 65% and >90% for various OMPs at 10-45 min EBCT with data variability drastically reducing beyond 20 min EBCT. Biofiltration without pre-oxidation had lower median removals with greater variability. The results demonstrate that pre-oxidation greatly enhances the removal of adsorptive and poorly biodegradable OMPs, while its impact on other OMPs varies. Only 19% of studies we reviewed included toxicity testing of treated effluent, and even fewer measured transformation products. Several studies have previously reported an increase in effluent toxicity because of oxidation, although it was successfully abated by subsequent biofiltration in most cases. Therefore, the efficacy of biofiltration treatment should be assessed by integrating toxicity testing into the assessment of overall removal.
Topics: Filtration; Water Purification; Water Pollutants, Chemical; Charcoal; Water
PubMed: 38325285
DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.120203 -
Frontiers in Medicine 2023There is a growing body of evidence suggesting a causal relationship between interstitial lung disease (ILD) and air pollution, both for the development of the disease,...
INTRODUCTION
There is a growing body of evidence suggesting a causal relationship between interstitial lung disease (ILD) and air pollution, both for the development of the disease, and driving disease progression. We aim to provide a comprehensive literature review of the association between air pollution, and ILD, including idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).
METHODS
We systematically searched from six online database. Two independent authors (DL and CF) selected studies and critically appraised the risk of bias using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS). Findings are presented through a narrative synthesis and meta-analysis. Meta-analyses were performed exclusively when there was a minimum of three studies examining identical pollutant-health outcome pairs, all evaluating equivalent increments in pollutant concentration, using a random effects model.
RESULTS
24 observational studies conducted in 13 countries or regions were identified. Pollutants under investigation encompassed ozone (O), nitrogen dioxide (NO), Particulate matter with diameters of 10 micrometers or less (PM) and 2.5 micrometers or less (PM), sulfur dioxide (SO), carbon monoxide (CO), nitric oxide (NO) and nitrogen oxides (NOx). We conducted meta-analyses to assess the estimated Risk Ratios (RRs) for acute exacerbations (AE)-IPF in relation to exposure to every 10 μg/m increment in air pollutant concentrations, including O, NO, PM, and PM The meta-analysis revealed a significant association between the increased risk of AE-IPF in PM, yielding RR 1.94 (95% CI 1.30-2.90; = 0.001). Findings across all the included studies suggest that increased exposure to air pollutants may be linked to a range of health issues in individuals with ILDs.
CONCLUSION
A scarcity of available studies on the air pollutants and ILD relationship underscores the imperative for further comprehensive research in this domain. The available data suggest that reducing levels of PM in the atmosphere could potentially reduce AE frequency and severity in ILD patients.
PubMed: 38298511
DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2023.1321038 -
Archives of Disease in Childhood Mar 2024Outdoor air pollution is a known risk factor for respiratory morbidity worldwide. Compared with the adult population, there are fewer studies that analyse the...
BACKGROUND
Outdoor air pollution is a known risk factor for respiratory morbidity worldwide. Compared with the adult population, there are fewer studies that analyse the association between short-term exposure to air pollution and respiratory morbidity in children in primary care.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate whether children in a primary care setting exposed to outdoor air pollutants during short-term intervals are at increased risk of respiratory diagnoses.
METHODS
A search in Medline, the Cochrane Library, Web of Science and Embase databases throughout March 2023. Percentage change or risk ratios with corresponding 95% CI for the association between air pollutants and respiratory diseases were retrieved from individual studies. Risk of bias assessment was conducted with the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) for cohort or case-control studies and an adjusted NOS for time series studies.
RESULTS
From 1366 studies, 14 were identified as meeting the inclusion criteria. Most studies had intermediate or high quality. A meta-analysis was not conducted due to heterogeneity in exposure and health outcome. Overall, studies on short-term exposure to air pollutants (carbon monoxide (CO), sulfur dioxide (SO), nitrogen dioxide (NO) and particulate matter ≤10 µm (PM)) were associated with increased childhood respiratory consultations in primary care. In general, exposure to ozone was associated with a reduction in respiratory consultations.
CONCLUSIONS
The evidence suggests CO, SO, NO, PM and PM are risk factors for respiratory diseases in children in primary care in the short term. However, given the heterogeneity of the studies, interpretation of these findings must be done with caution.
PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER
CRD42022259279.
Topics: Adult; Child; Humans; Nitrogen Dioxide; Environmental Exposure; Air Pollution; Air Pollutants; Respiratory Tract Diseases; Disease Progression; Primary Health Care
PubMed: 38272647
DOI: 10.1136/archdischild-2023-326368 -
Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) Jun 2024Current evidence suggests that airborne pollutants have a detrimental effect on fetal growth through the emergence of small for gestational age (SGA) or term low birth... (Review)
Review
Current evidence suggests that airborne pollutants have a detrimental effect on fetal growth through the emergence of small for gestational age (SGA) or term low birth weight (TLBW). The study's objective was to critically evaluate the available literature on the association between environmental pollution and the incidence of SGA or TLBW occurrence. A comprehensive literature search was conducted across Pubmed/MEDLINE, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, and Google Scholar using predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. The methodology adhered to the PRISMA guidelines. The systematic review protocol was registered in PROSPERO with ID number: CRD42022329624. As a result, 69 selected papers described the influence of environmental pollutants on SGA and TLBW occurrence with an Odds Ratios (ORs) of 1.138 for particulate matter ≤ 10 μm (PM), 1.338 for particulate matter ≤ 2.5 μm (PM), 1.173 for ozone (O), 1.287 for sulfur dioxide (SO), and 1.226 for carbon monoxide (CO). All eight studies analyzed validated that exposure to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) is a risk factor for SGA or TLBW. Pregnant women in the high-risk group of SGA occurrence, i.e., those living in urban areas or close to sources of pollution, are at an increased risk of complications. Understanding the exact exposure time of pregnant women could help improve prenatal care and timely intervention for fetuses with SGA. Nevertheless, the pervasive air pollution underscored in our findings suggests a pressing need for adaptive measures in everyday life to mitigate worldwide environmental pollution.
PubMed: 38921290
DOI: 10.3390/healthcare12121176