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Revista Espanola de Quimioterapia :... Aug 2022Ambient air quality, pollution and its implication on health is a topic of enormous importance that is normally dealt with by major specialists in their particular areas... (Review)
Review
Ambient air quality, pollution and its implication on health is a topic of enormous importance that is normally dealt with by major specialists in their particular areas of interest. In general, it is not discussed from multidisciplinary approaches or with a language that can reach everyone. For this reason, the Health Sciences Foundation, from its prevention area, has formulated a series of questions to people with very varied competences in the area of ambient air quality in order to obtain a global panorama of the problem and its elements of measurement and control. The answers have been produced by specialists in each subject and have been subjected to a general discussion that has allowed conclusions to be reached on each point. The subject was divided into three main blocks: external ambient air, internal ambient air, mainly in the workplace, and hospital ambient air and the consequences of its poor control. Along with the definitions of each area and the indicators of good and bad quality, some necessary solutions have been pointed out. We have tried to know the current legislation on this problem and the competences of the different administrations on it. Despite its enormous importance, ambient air quality and health is not usually a topic of frequent presence in the general media and we have asked about the causes of this. Finally, the paper addresses a series of reflections from the perspective of ethics and very particularly in the light of the events that the present pandemic raises. This work aims to provide objective data and opinions that will enable non-specialists in the field to gain a better understanding of this worrying reality.
Topics: Air Pollutants; Air Pollution; Causality; Environmental Exposure; Humans; Pandemics
PubMed: 35277084
DOI: 10.37201/req/171.2021 -
Journal of Atherosclerosis and... Mar 2021
Topics: Air Pollution; Cardiovascular Diseases; Humans; Japan
PubMed: 32908037
DOI: 10.5551/jat.ED141 -
Current Environmental Health Reports Jun 2022This paper presents an analytical review of recent research on social inequality caused or compounded by ambient air pollution in the European Union. (Review)
Review
PURPOSE OF REVIEW
This paper presents an analytical review of recent research on social inequality caused or compounded by ambient air pollution in the European Union.
RECENT FINDINGS
While empirical studies have developed significantly both in the academic and institutional arena, they have largely focused on only one aspect: the exposure and sensitivity of individuals and groups to air pollution according to various criteria, documenting substantial and overlapping inequality. While EU policy should better address this proven impact inequality, research is also needed on new fronts of air (ine)quality (namely mental health impact and indoor air quality) as well as other types of ambient air inequality (such as inequality in responsibility and impact of air pollution mitigation policy).
Topics: Air Pollutants; Air Pollution; Air Pollution, Indoor; European Union; Humans; Socioeconomic Factors
PubMed: 35347642
DOI: 10.1007/s40572-022-00348-6 -
Environmental Research Jun 2020Air pollution is the second most important risk factor associated with noncommunicable diseases after smoking. The effects of pollution on health are commonly... (Review)
Review
Air pollution is the second most important risk factor associated with noncommunicable diseases after smoking. The effects of pollution on health are commonly attributable to particulate matter (PM), a complex mixture of particles suspended in the air. PM can penetrate the lower respiratory tract and has harmful direct and indirect effects on different organs and tissues. Direct effects are caused by the ability of PM components to cross the respiratory membrane and enter the bloodstream; indirect effects are systemic consequences of the local airway response. Recent work suggests that PM is an independent risk factor for low bone mineral density and osteoporosis-related fractures. Osteoporosis is a common age-related disease closely linked to bone fractures, with severe clinical consequences affecting quality of life, morbidity, and mortality. In this review, we discuss potential mechanisms behind the association between outdoor air pollution, especially PM, and bone damage. The discussion features four main mechanisms: 1) several different atmospheric pollutants can induce low-grade systemic inflammation, which affects bone metabolism through a specific effect of cytokines such as TNFα, IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-17 on osteoblast and osteoclast differentiation and function; 2) some pollutants, particularly certain gas and metal compounds, can cause oxidative damage in the airway and bone cells; 3) different groups of pollutants can act as endocrine disruptors when binding to the receptors in bone cells, changing their functioning; and 4) air pollution can directly and indirectly cause vitamin D deficiency. Characterizing these mechanisms will better define the physiopathology of bone damage, and recognizing air pollution as a modifiable risk factor for osteoporosis will inform environmental policies. Such knowledge will also guide the prevention of fractures due to fragility and help reduce health-related costs.
Topics: Air Pollutants; Air Pollution; Particulate Matter; Quality of Life; Smoking
PubMed: 32305664
DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2020.109465 -
Jornal de Pediatria 2022To analyze the impacts of climate change on the development of immature respiratory and immune systems in children. (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVE
To analyze the impacts of climate change on the development of immature respiratory and immune systems in children.
SOURCE OF DATA
The authors of the present study performed a non-systematic review of English, Spanish, and Portuguese articles published in the last five years in databases such as PubMed, EMBASE, and SciELO. The terms used were air pollution OR climate changes OR smoke, AND children OR health.
SYNTHESIS OF DATA
The increase in the prevalence of some diseases, such as allergic ones, is attributed to the interactions between genetic potential and the environment. However, disordered growth combined with inadequate waste management has caused problems for the planet, such as heatwaves, droughts, forest fires, increased storms and floods, interference in food crops and their nutritional values, changes in the infectious disease pattern, and air pollution resulting from the continuous use of fossil fuels. Children, beings still in the development stage with immature respiratory and immune systems, are the primary victims of the climate crisis.
CONCLUSIONS
The authors documented that prenatal and postnatal exposure to ambient air pollutants will accelerate or worsen the morbidity and mortality of many health conditions, including allergic diseases. Ambient air pollutants change the microbiota, interfere with the immune response, and take direct action on the skin and respiratory epithelium, which facilitates the penetration of allergens. Understanding how the children and adolescent health and well-being are affected by climate change is an urgent matter.
Topics: Adolescent; Air Pollutants; Air Pollution; Allergens; Child; Climate Change; Humans; Hypersensitivity
PubMed: 34896064
DOI: 10.1016/j.jped.2021.10.005 -
International Journal of Environmental... Apr 2018Air pollution is defined as a phenomenon harmful to the ecological system and the normal conditions of human existence and development when some substances in the... (Review)
Review
Air pollution is defined as a phenomenon harmful to the ecological system and the normal conditions of human existence and development when some substances in the atmosphere exceed a certain concentration. In the face of increasingly serious environmental pollution problems, scholars have conducted a significant quantity of related research, and in those studies, the forecasting of air pollution has been of paramount importance. As a precaution, the air pollution forecast is the basis for taking effective pollution control measures, and accurate forecasting of air pollution has become an important task. Extensive research indicates that the methods of air pollution forecasting can be broadly divided into three classical categories: statistical forecasting methods, artificial intelligence methods, and numerical forecasting methods. More recently, some hybrid models have been proposed, which can improve the forecast accuracy. To provide a clear perspective on air pollution forecasting, this study reviews the theory and application of those forecasting models. In addition, based on a comparison of different forecasting methods, the advantages and disadvantages of some methods of forecasting are also provided. This study aims to provide an overview of air pollution forecasting methods for easy access and reference by researchers, which will be helpful in further studies.
Topics: Air Pollution; Forecasting; Models, Theoretical
PubMed: 29673227
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph15040780 -
International Journal of Environmental... Jul 2022Understanding the impacts of air pollution on public health and individual behavior is crucial for optimal environmental policy design. Using 2015 census microdata in...
Understanding the impacts of air pollution on public health and individual behavior is crucial for optimal environmental policy design. Using 2015 census microdata in China, this paper examined the causal effect of air pollution on working place choice. The research design relies on a regression discontinuity design based on China's Huai River Policy. The discontinuity in air pollution caused by the Huai River Policy provides a natural experiment to estimate the impact of air pollution. The results show that air pollution significantly increases the possibility of individuals working near home. The positive effect of air pollution on working near home is more significant for women, the elderly, urban individuals and those individuals working in secondary and tertiary industries. This study improves our understanding of the health effects and avoidance behavior associated with environmental hazards, discusses the negative impact of air pollution on labor mobility and mismatch by making individuals work nearby, and emphasizes that strengthening air pollution control should be a long-term policy.
Topics: Aged; Air Pollutants; Air Pollution; China; Environmental Pollution; Female; Humans; Particulate Matter; Rivers; Workplace
PubMed: 35886583
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19148732 -
Environmental Science and Pollution... May 2018Since the authorization of the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990, the air quality in the USA has significantly improved because of strong public support. The lessons... (Review)
Review
Since the authorization of the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990, the air quality in the USA has significantly improved because of strong public support. The lessons learned over the last 25 years are being shared with the policy analysts, technical professionals, and scientist who endeavor to improve air quality in their communities. This paper will review how the USA has achieved the "high" standard of air quality that was envisioned in the early 1990s. This document will describe SO gas emission reduction technology and highlight operation of emission monitoring technology. This paper describes the basic process operation of an air pollution control scrubber. A technical review of measures required to operate and maintain a large-scale pollution control system will be described. Also, the author explains how quality assurance procedures in performance of continuous emission monitoring plays a significant role in reducing air pollution.
Topics: Air Pollutants; Air Pollution; Environmental Monitoring; Environmental Policy; Humans; Public Health; United States
PubMed: 29667050
DOI: 10.1007/s11356-018-1897-2 -
Current Environmental Health Reports Jun 2022The aim of this review is to summarize and provide clear insights into studies that evaluate the interaction between air pollution, climate, and health in North Africa. (Review)
Review
PURPOSE OF REVIEW
The aim of this review is to summarize and provide clear insights into studies that evaluate the interaction between air pollution, climate, and health in North Africa.
RECENT FINDINGS
Few studies have estimated the effects of climate and air pollution on health in North Africa. Most of the studies highlighted the evidence of the link between climate and air pollution as driving factors and increased mortality and morbidity as health outcomes. Each North African country prioritized research on a specific health factor. It was observed that the health outcome from each driving factor depends on the studied area and data availability. The latter is a major challenge in the region. As such, more studies should be led in the future to cover more areas in North Africa and when more data are available. Data availability will help to explore the applicability of different tools and techniques new to the region. This review explores studies related to climate and air pollution, and their possible impacts on health in North Africa. On one hand, air quality studies have focused mainly on particulate matter exceedance levels and their long-term exposure impacts, namely, morbidity and mortality. The observed differences between the various studies are mainly due to the used exposure-response function, the studied population, background emissions, and natural emission from the Sahara Desert that characterize the region. On the other hand, climate studies have focused primarily on the impact of heat waves, vector-borne disease, and mental disorders. More than half of these studies have been on leishmaniasis disease. The review revealed unbalanced and insufficient research on health impacts from air pollution episodes and climate extremes across the region.
Topics: Air Pollutants; Air Pollution; Climate; Climate Change; Humans; Particulate Matter
PubMed: 35352307
DOI: 10.1007/s40572-022-00350-y -
Environmental Health Perspectives Feb 2022Olfactory impairment is increasingly common with older age, which may be in part explained by cumulative effects of exposure to inhaled toxins. However, population-based...
BACKGROUND
Olfactory impairment is increasingly common with older age, which may be in part explained by cumulative effects of exposure to inhaled toxins. However, population-based studies investigating the relationship between air pollution and olfactory ability are scarce.
OBJECTIVES
We aimed to investigate associations between exposure to common air pollutants and longitudinal change in odor identification.
METHODS
Our study of 2,468 participants (; 61.1% female), of which 1,774 participants (; 61.9% female) had at least two olfactory assessments over 12 y of follow-up from the Swedish National Study on Aging and Care in Kungsholmen (SNAC-K), Stockholm, Sweden. Participants were free from cognitive impairment and neurodegenerative disease at baseline. Odor identification ability was assessed with Sniffin' Sticks. Change in olfactory performance was estimated with linear mixed models. Exposure to two major airborne pollutants [particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter () and nitrogen oxides ()] for the 5 y preceding baseline was assessed using spatiotemporal dispersion models for outdoor levels at residential addresses.
RESULTS
Participants showed significant decline in odor identification ability for each year in the study { [95% confidence interval (CI): , ; ]}. After adjustment for all covariates, residents of third [ (95% CI: , ; )] and fourth [ (95% CI: , ; )] exposure quartiles of had faster rates of olfactory decline than residents from the first quartile. Similar results were observed for the third [ (95% CI: , ; )] and fourth [ (95% CI: , ; ) quartiles of ].
DISCUSSION
Our results suggest an association between air pollution exposure and subsequent olfactory decline. We speculate that cumulative effects of airborne pollutants on the olfactory system may be one underlying cause of olfactory impairment in aging. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP9563.
Topics: Aging; Air Pollutants; Air Pollution; Environmental Exposure; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Neurodegenerative Diseases; Particulate Matter
PubMed: 35139319
DOI: 10.1289/EHP9563