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BMC Public Health Dec 2023Recently, the fine dust problem caused by rapid industrialization and science and technological development has emerged as a severe social issue worldwide. This also...
BACKGROUND
Recently, the fine dust problem caused by rapid industrialization and science and technological development has emerged as a severe social issue worldwide. This also increases the interest in its effect on human life. In particular, there is a growing concern about the harm of fine dust in Korea.
METHODS
This study is based on the PM 2.5 data from 2017 to 2021 provided by Air Korea to estimate changes in ultrafine dust. In addition, the data from the Community Health Survey provided by the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) from 2017 to 2021 were used to examine the effect between the change in ultra-fine dust and the prevalence of depression. A total of 229 local governments were included in the analysis. The Latent Growth Modeling was carried out to estimate the change in ultra-fine dust and the prevalence of depressions and verify the relationship between ultra-fine dust and the prevalence of depression.
RESULTS
The analysis result revealed that the ultra-fine dust concentration continued to decrease from 2017 to 2021. However, the depression prevalence increased from an average of 2.60% in 2017 to an average of 3.12% in 2021, suggesting the need for adequate and sufficient welfare policies for depression treatment. As a result of estimating the initial value and change rate of ultra-fine dust and depression prevalence, the higher the initial value of ultra-fine dust, the greater the decrease in ultra-fine dust. In terms of depression, the lower the initial value of the prevalence of depression, the larger the increase in depression prevalence.
CONCLUSIONS
This study is significant in that it revealed the strong association of the longitudinal relationship between ultra-fine dust and depression, one of the biggest issues in Korea, by utilizing large-scale longitudinal data.
Topics: Humans; Dust; Depression; Prevalence; Particle Size; Air Pollutants; Environmental Monitoring
PubMed: 38066458
DOI: 10.1186/s12889-023-17375-z -
Annals of Work Exposures and Health Apr 2020In the sector of occupational safety and health only a limited amount of studies are concerned with the conversion of inhalable to respirable dust. This conversion is of...
In the sector of occupational safety and health only a limited amount of studies are concerned with the conversion of inhalable to respirable dust. This conversion is of high importance for retrospective evaluations of exposure levels or of occupational diseases. For this reason a possibility to convert inhalable into respirable dust is discussed in this study. To determine conversion functions from inhalable to respirable dust fractions, 15 120 parallel measurements in the exposure database MEGA (maintained at the Institute for Occupational Safety and Health of the German Social Accident Insurance) are investigated by regression analysis. For this purpose, the whole data set is split into the influencing factors working activity and material. Inhalable dust is the most important predictor variable and shows an adjusted coefficient of determination of 0.585 (R2 adjusted to sample size). Further improvement of the model is gained, when the data set is split into six working activities and three material groups (e.g. high temperature processing, adj. R2 = 0.668). The combination of these two variables leads to a group of data concerned with high temperature processing with metal, which gives rise to a better description than the whole data set (adj. R2 = 0.706). Although it is not possible to refine these groups further systematically, seven improved groups are formed by trial and error, with adj. R2 between 0.733 and 0.835: soldering, casting (metalworking), welding, high temperature cutting, blasting, chiseling/embossing, and wire drawing. The conversion functions for the seven groups are appropriate candidates for data reconstruction and retrospective exposure assessment. However, this is restricted to a careful analysis of the working conditions. All conversion functions are power functions with exponents between 0.454 and 0.946. Thus, the present data do not support the assumption that respirable and inhalable dust are linearly correlated in general.
Topics: Air Pollutants, Occupational; Dust; Environmental Monitoring; Humans; Inhalation Exposure; Occupational Exposure; Retrospective Studies
PubMed: 32112076
DOI: 10.1093/annweh/wxaa016 -
The Science of the Total Environment Nov 2023Flame retardants (FRs) are chemical substances used to inhibit the spread of fire in numerous industrial applications, and their abundance in modern manufactured... (Review)
Review
Flame retardants (FRs) are chemical substances used to inhibit the spread of fire in numerous industrial applications, and their abundance in modern manufactured products in the indoor and outdoor environment leads to extensive direct and food chain exposure of humans. Although once considered relatively non-toxic, FRs are demonstrated by recent literature to have disruptive effects on many biological processes, including signaling pathways, genome stability, reproduction, and immune system function. This review provides a summary of research investigating the impact of major groups of FRs, including halogenated and organophosphorus FRs, on animals and humans in vitro and/or in vivo. We put in focus those studies that explained or referenced the modes of FR action at the level of cells, tissues and organs. Since FRs are highly hydrophobic chemicals, their biophysical and biochemical modes of action usually involve lipophilic interactions, e.g. with biological membranes or elements of signaling pathways. We present selected toxicological information about these molecular actions to show how they can lead to damaging membrane integrity, damaging DNA and compromising its repair, changing gene expression, and cell cycle as well as accelerating cell death. Moreover, we indicate how this translates to deleterious bioactivity of FRs at the physiological level, with disruption of hormonal action, dysregulation of metabolism, adverse effects on male and female reproduction as well as alteration of normal pattern of immunity. Concentrating on these subjects, we make clear both the advances in knowledge in recent years and the remaining gaps in our understanding, especially at the mechanistic level.
Topics: Animals; Female; Male; Humans; Flame Retardants; Organophosphorus Compounds; Fires; Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers; Dust
PubMed: 37406685
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.165272 -
International Journal of Environmental... Sep 2022High-rise buildings block airflow, and dust accumulates on their upper surfaces. In this study, dust fall on the rooftops of low-, medium-, and high-rise buildings was...
High-rise buildings block airflow, and dust accumulates on their upper surfaces. In this study, dust fall on the rooftops of low-, medium-, and high-rise buildings was sampled and analyzed to assess the degree of atmospheric heavy metal pollution. The Cr, Mn, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Cd, and Pb mass fractions in dust samples were analyzed by microwave digestion/inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. The average Cr, Ni, Cu, As, Cd, and Pb concentrations were highest on the rooftops of low-rise buildings, whereas those of Mn and Zn were highest on high-rise buildings. The cumulative indices for the eight heavy metals revealed a moderate pollution level for Zn on the rooftops of low- and high-rise buildings. Only the potential ecological risk index for Cd was very high, with a particularly high heavy metal-related ecological risk for low-rise buildings. The enrichment factor analysis and principal component analysis (PCA) demonstrated that Zn and Cd were strongly influenced by human activity. Zn, Cu, Cd, and Pb originated from traffic sources, Cr and Ni were derived from natural sources, and As was of industrial origin. The source analyses of rare earth elements were consistent with the heavy metal PCA results. In conclusion, our results provide a reference for hazard and source analysis of heavy metals in atmospheric dust fall on buildings of different heights.
Topics: Cadmium; China; Cities; Dust; Environmental Monitoring; Humans; Lead; Metals, Heavy; Risk Assessment
PubMed: 36141643
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph191811376 -
Environment International Aug 2020Environmental hexavalent chromium contamination in northeast China has been ongoing for over 60 years and health outcomes related with chromium (Cr) pollution were...
BACKGROUND
Environmental hexavalent chromium contamination in northeast China has been ongoing for over 60 years and health outcomes related with chromium (Cr) pollution were observed in polluted arears, but exposure pathways remains unclear. This study aims to evaluate the association between Cr exposure dose through multiple exposure pathways and Cr concentration in urine, and identify the most contributed pathway.
METHODS
We used risk assessment tools with individual exposure parameters to estimate eight individual Cr exposure doses (CD) for three exposure routes (inhalation, ingestion, and dermal contact) with four environmental media (underground water, soil, household dust, and PM in ambient air) in 134 residents living in three chromium polluted villages. We used the covariate-adjusted standardized urinary Cr concentration (casUCr) as the internal Cr exposure biomarker. Ridge Regression, Weighted Quantile Sum Regression (WQS) and Bayesian Kernel Machine Regression (BKMR) models were used to assess the effect of overall eight CDs on urine Cr concentration and compare the contribution of each CD.
RESULTS
In the ridge regression analysis, Cr exposure through ingestion of dust (βstd = 0.418, p-value = 0.009), inhalation of dust (βstd = 0.384, p = 0.031) and dermal contact with soil (βstd = 0.264, p = 0.192) had the highest impact on casUCr. In the WQS model, the overall CDs demonstrated a non-significant positive association with casUCr. CDs of dust ingestion, air inhalation and dust inhalation had the largest contribution on casUCr when fitted in the WQS model. In the BKMR model, the hierarchical variable selection showed that casUCr was mainly affected by CDs of household dust and dermal contact with soil. CD of dermal contact with soil exhibited a negative association with casUCr, while CDs of dust showed positive or non-linear trend.
CONCLUSIONS
This research proposed a new method to calculate individual Cr exposure dose of multi-pathway and applied different statistical methods to identify predominant pathway. For this study, Cr exposure through dust has the strongest effect on Cr concentration in urine. The results could help conduct target interventions to reduce Cr intake, such as blocking dust exposure to reduce Cr uptake for villagers living in these contaminated areas.
Topics: Bayes Theorem; China; Chromium; Dust; Environmental Exposure; Environmental Monitoring; Risk Assessment
PubMed: 32417613
DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2020.105753 -
Environment International Jun 2022Liquid crystal monomers (LCMs) are a class of emerging, persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic organic pollutants. They are detected in various environmental matrixes...
Liquid crystal monomers (LCMs) are a class of emerging, persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic organic pollutants. They are detected in various environmental matrixes that are associated with electronic waste (e-waste) dismantling. However, their occurrence and distribution in indoor and outdoor dust on a national scale remain unknown. In this study, a dedicated target analysis quantified a broad range of 60 LCMs in dust samples collected across China. The LCMs were frequently detected in indoor (n = 48) and outdoor dust (n = 97; 37 sampled concomitantly with indoors dust) from dwellings, and indoor dust from cybercafés (n = 34) and phone repair stores (n = 22), with median concentrations of 41.6, 94.7, 106, and 171 ng/g, respectively. No significant spatial difference was observed for the concentrations of the total LCMs among distinct geographical regions (p > 0.05). The median daily intake values of the total LCMs via dust ingestion, dermal contact, and inhalation were estimated at 1.50 × 10, 2.90 × 10, and 8.57 × 10 ng/kg BW/day for adults and 1.47 × 10, 1.22 × 10, and 2.18 × 10 ng/kg BW/day for children, respectively. These estimates suggested higher exposure risks for children and indicated that dust ingestion and dermal contact significantly contribute to the human intake of LCMs. The microenvironmental pollution levels of LCMs together with the potential exposure risks associated with some of these chemicals are of concern for human health.
Topics: Adult; Air Pollution, Indoor; Child; China; Dust; Electronic Waste; Environmental Exposure; Environmental Pollutants; Humans; Liquid Crystals
PubMed: 35580435
DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2022.107295 -
Toxins May 2022Cemeteries are potential environmental reservoirs of pathogenic microorganisms from organic matter decomposition. This study aimed to characterize the microbial...
Cemeteries are potential environmental reservoirs of pathogenic microorganisms from organic matter decomposition. This study aimed to characterize the microbial contamination in three cemeteries, and more specifically in grave diggers' facilities. One active sampling method (impingement method) and several passive sampling methods (swabs, settled dust, settled dust filters and electrostatic dust cloths-EDC) were employed. The molecular detection of sections and SARS-CoV-2, as well as mycotoxin analysis, screening of azole resistance, and cytotoxicity measurement were also conducted. Total bacteria contamination was 80 CFU·m in settled dust samples, reached 849 CFU·m in EDC and 20,000 CFU·m in swabs, and ranged from 5000 to 10,000 CFU·m in filters. Gram-negative bacteria (VRBA) were only observed in in settled dust samples (2.00 × 10 CFU·m). Regarding sp., the highest counts were obtained in DG18 (18.38%) and it was not observed in azole-supplemented SDA media. SARS-CoV-2 and the targeted sections were not detected. Mycophenolic acid was detected in one settled dust sample. Cytotoxic effects were observed for 94.4% filters and 5.6% EDC in A549 lung epithelial cells, and for 50.0% filters and 5.6% EDC in HepG2 cells. Future studies are needed in this occupational setting to implement more focused risk management measures.
Topics: Aspergillus; Azoles; COVID-19; Cemeteries; Dust; Microbiota; Portugal; SARS-CoV-2
PubMed: 35622594
DOI: 10.3390/toxins14050348 -
Environmental Science & Technology Dec 2022Determining the major human exposure pathways is a prerequisite for the development of effective management strategies for environmental pollutants such as chlorinated...
Determining the major human exposure pathways is a prerequisite for the development of effective management strategies for environmental pollutants such as chlorinated paraffins (CPs). As a first step, the internal and external exposure to CPs were quantified for a well-defined human cohort. CPs in participants' plasma and diet samples were analyzed in the present study, and previous results on paired air, dust, and hand wipe samples were used for the total exposure assessment. Both one compartment pharmacokinetic modeling and forensic fingerprinting indicate that dietary intake contributed the most to body burden of CPs in this cohort, contributing a median of 60-88% of the total daily intakes. The contribution from dust ingestion and dermal exposure was greater for the intake of long-chain CPs (LCCPs) than short-chain CPs (SCCPs), while the contribution from inhalation was greater for the intake of SCCPs than medium-chain CPs (MCCPs) and LCCPs. Significantly higher concentrations of SCCPs and MCCPs were observed in diets containing butter and eggs, respectively ( < 0.05). Additionally, other exposure sources were correlated to plasma levels of CPs, including residence construction parameters such as the construction year ( < 0.05). This human exposure to CPs is not a local case. From a global perspective, there are major knowledge gaps in biomonitoring and exposure data for CPs from regions other than China and European countries.
Topics: Humans; Paraffin; Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated; Body Burden; Environmental Monitoring; Dust; Eating; China
PubMed: 36378808
DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c04998 -
Environmental Research Apr 2021Lead is a known reproductive, developmental, and neurological toxicant. Workers with a high likelihood of being exposed to lead at work may inadvertently transport lead...
Lead is a known reproductive, developmental, and neurological toxicant. Workers with a high likelihood of being exposed to lead at work may inadvertently transport lead home from work, known as "take-home exposure." This is concerning for many workers for whom a workplace intervention is not feasible because their worksites and employers often change, rendering centralized strategies insufficient. This study aimed to better understand the connection between lead in the home of workers living with children and work in construction (n = 23), while other occupations were used as a comparison group (janitorial n = 5, autobody n = 2). Thirty workers living in disadvantaged communities in the Greater Boston area were recruited in 2018-2019 through collaboration with non-profits and worker unions with expertise working with low-income or immigrant workers. Construction workers that performed renovations, bridge constructions, welding, metal work, and demolitions were prioritized during recruitment. During a visit to their residences, a worker questionnaire was administered, and observations and a dust vacuumed sample of the home were collected. Factors predicting lead in home dust were explored by a bivariate analysis and a multivariable regression model. We found lead in homes' dust in the range of 20-8,310 ppm. Homes of construction workers generally had higher and more variable lead dust concentrations (mean 775, max 8,300 ppm) than autobody and janitor worker homes combined (mean 296, max 579 ppm). Five of the construction workers' home lead dust concentrations exceeded US guidelines for yard soil in children's play areas of 400 ppm, and were similar to other studies of homes near lead smelters, superfund sites, or in the Boston area in the early 1990s, pointing to disparities relating to work. Results from the multivariable regression model suggest that lead dust in homes of workers was associated with sociodemographic-, home-, and work-related factors, and pointed to overlapping vulnerabilities; however, a larger sample size is needed to verify findings. Results provide evidence that work-related factors are important to consider when assessing home exposures, and that take-home exposures for workers in lead high-risk jobs such as construction may be an important source of exposure in the home prime for public health intervention at work, home, and community levels.
Topics: Boston; Child; Dust; Housing; Humans; Lead; Workplace
PubMed: 33245888
DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2020.110510 -
Environmental Pollution (Barking, Essex... Aug 2023Estimates of tyre and brake wear emission factors are presented, derived from data collected from roadside and urban background sites on the premises of the University...
Estimates of tyre and brake wear emission factors are presented, derived from data collected from roadside and urban background sites on the premises of the University of Birmingham, located in the UK's second largest city. Size-fractionated particulate matter samples were collected at both sites concurrently in the spring/summer of 2019 and analysed for elemental concentrations and magnetic properties. Using Positive Matrix Factorisation (PMF), three sources were identified in the roadside mass increment of the 1.0-9.9 μm stages of MOUDI impactors located at both sites, namely: brake dust (7.1%); tyre dust (9.6%); and crustal (83%). The large fraction of the mass apportioned to crustal material was suspected to be mainly from a nearby construction site rather than resuspension of road dust. By using Ba and Zn as elemental tracers, brake and tyre wear emission factors were estimated as 7.4 mg/veh.km and 9.9 mg/veh.km, respectively, compared with the PMF-derived equivalent values of 4.4 mg/veh.km and 11 mg/veh.km. Based on the magnetic measurements, an emission factor can be estimated independently for brake dust of 4.7 mg/veh.km. A further analysis was carried out on the concurrently measured roadside increment in the particle number size distribution (10 nm-10 μm). Four factors were identified in the hourly measurements: traffic exhaust nucleation; traffic exhaust solid particles; windblown dust; and an unknown source. The high increment of the windblown dust factor, 3.2 μg/m, was comparable in magnitude to the crustal factor measured using the MOUDI samples (3.5 μg/m). The latter's polar plot indicated that this factor was dominated by a large neighbouring construction site. The number emission factors of the exhaust solid particle and exhaust nucleation factors were estimated as 2.8 and 1.9 x 10/veh.km, respectively.
Topics: Dust; Environmental Monitoring; Particulate Matter; Vehicle Emissions; Cities; Particle Size; Air Pollutants
PubMed: 37211228
DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.121830