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Environmental Research Jun 2022Little is known about personal characteristics and systemic responses to particulate pollution in patients with COPD.
RATIONALE
Little is known about personal characteristics and systemic responses to particulate pollution in patients with COPD.
OBJECTIVES
Assess whether diabetes, obesity, statins and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) modify associations between indoor black carbon (BC) and fine particulate matter ≤2.5 μm in diameter (PM) on systemic inflammation and endothelial activation.
METHODS
144 individuals with COPD without current smoking and without major in-home combustion sources were recruited at Veterans Affairs Boston Healthcare System. PM and BC were measured in each participant's home seasonally for a week (up to 4 times; 482 observations) and plasma biomarkers of systemic inflammation [C-reactive protein (CRP); interleukin-6 (IL-6)] and endothelial activation [soluble vascular adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1)] measured. Linear mixed effects regression with a random intercept was used, and effect modification assessed with multiplicative interaction terms and stratum specific estimates.
RESULTS
Median (25%ile, 75%ile) indoor BC and PM were 0.6 (0.5,0.7) μg/m and 6.8 (4.8,10.4) μg/m, respectively. Although p-values for effect modification were not statistically significant, there were positive associations (%-increase/interquartile range; 95% CI) between CRP and BC greater among non-statin (18.8%; 3.6-36.3) than statin users (11.1%; 2.1-20.9). There were also positive associations greater among non-statin users between PM and CRP. For IL-6, associations with BC and PM were also greater among non-statin users. Associations between CRP and BC were greater (20.3%; 4.5-38.5) in persons with diabetes than without diabetes (10.3%; 0.92-20.6) with similar effects of PM. There were no consistent associations that differed based on obesity. Effect modification was not observed for NSAID use, or with any factor considered with sVCAM-1.
CONCLUSIONS
Associations between indoor BC and PM and CRP were greater in patients with diabetes and those not taking statins, and with IL-6 if not taking statins. These results suggest that these characteristics may modify the systemic response to indoor BC and PM in persons with COPD.
Topics: Air Pollutants; Air Pollution; C-Reactive Protein; Environmental Exposure; Humans; Inflammation; Particulate Matter; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive; Soot
PubMed: 35101396
DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.112802 -
The Lancet. Planetary Health May 2023Household air pollution (HAP) from solid fuel use is associated with adverse birth outcomes, but data for exposure-response relationships are scarce. We examined... (Observational Study)
Observational Study
Exposure-response relationships for personal exposure to fine particulate matter (PM), carbon monoxide, and black carbon and birthweight: an observational analysis of the multicountry Household Air Pollution Intervention Network (HAPIN) trial.
BACKGROUND
Household air pollution (HAP) from solid fuel use is associated with adverse birth outcomes, but data for exposure-response relationships are scarce. We examined associations between HAP exposures and birthweight in rural Guatemala, India, Peru, and Rwanda during the Household Air Pollution Intervention Network (HAPIN) trial.
METHODS
The HAPIN trial recruited pregnant women (9-<20 weeks of gestation) in rural Guatemala, India, Peru, and Rwanda and randomly allocated them to receive a liquefied petroleum gas stove or not (ie, and continue to use biomass fuel). The primary outcomes were birthweight, length-for-age, severe pneumonia, and maternal systolic blood pressure. In this exposure-response subanalysis, we measured 24-h personal exposures to PM, carbon monoxide, and black carbon once pre-intervention (baseline) and twice post-intervention (at 24-28 weeks and 32-36 weeks of gestation), as well as birthweight within 24 h of birth. We examined the relationship between the average prenatal exposure and birthweight or weight-for-gestational age Z scores using multivariate-regression models, controlling for the mother's age, nulliparity, diet diversity, food insecurity, BMI, the mother's education, neonate sex, haemoglobin, second-hand smoke, and geographical indicator for randomisation strata.
FINDINGS
Between March, 2018, and February, 2020, 3200 pregnant women were recruited. An interquartile increase in the average prenatal exposure to PM (74·5 μg/m) was associated with a reduction in birthweight and gestational age Z scores (birthweight: -14·8 g [95% CI -28·7 to -0·8]; gestational age Z scores: -0·03 [-0·06 to 0·00]), as was an interquartile increase in black carbon (7·3 μg/m; -21·9 g [-37·7 to -6·1]; -0·05 [-0·08 to -0·01]). Carbon monoxide exposure was not associated with these outcomes (1·7; -3·1 [-12·1 to 5·8]; -0·003 [-0·023 to 0·017]).
INTERPRETATION
Continuing efforts are needed to reduce HAP exposure alongside other drivers of low birthweight in low-income and middle-income countries.
FUNDING
US National Institutes of Health (1UM1HL134590) and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (OPP1131279).
Topics: United States; Infant, Newborn; Female; Humans; Pregnancy; Carbon Monoxide; Particulate Matter; Birth Weight; Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; Air Pollution, Indoor; Cooking; Air Pollution; Soot
PubMed: 37164515
DOI: 10.1016/S2542-5196(23)00052-9 -
Open Veterinary Journal Jan 2023Particulate matter (PM) is one of the important components in air pollution that can cause endothelial vascular dysfunction through exacerbation of atherosclerosis and...
BACKGROUND
Particulate matter (PM) is one of the important components in air pollution that can cause endothelial vascular dysfunction through exacerbation of atherosclerosis and inflammation of the respiratory system. Increased levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) in blood plasma can be an indicator of oxidative stress. Then, macrophages can secrete proinflammatory cytokines that will stimulate immune cells and vascular endothelial cells to release inflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrotic factor-α (TNF-α). works by scavenging the active free radicals involved in the peroxidation process.
AIMS
This study aims to prove that the administration of can reduce MDA, TNF-α, and IL-6 levels in exposed to soot particulates.
METHODS
The subjects of this study were 30 male rats which were divided into 5 treatment groups with the following: (C0): negative control; (C+): positive control; (T1): Treatment group 2, rats exposed to particulate soot at a concentration of 1,064 mg/m for 8 hours and given at a dose of 1 mg/kg bw; (T2): Treatment group 3 was rats exposed to soot particulates at a concentration of 1,064 mg/m for 8 hours and given at a dose of 2 mg/kg bw; (T3): Treatment group 4 was rats exposed to soot particulates at a concentration of 1,064 mg/m for 8 hours and given at a dose of 3 mg/kg bw.Giving the extract orally with a probe every day for 30 days after treatment of exposure to soot. Examination of MDA, TNF-, and IL-6 levels with the ELISA method.
RESULTS
The administration of can reduce MDA while the lowest MDA levels were obtained in the T3 treatment with an average of 1.542 ± 0.231. The results of the description of the lowest levels of TNF-α were obtained in the C-treatment with an average of 55.981 ± 4.689. Then, the lowest levels of IL-6 were obtained in the C-treatment with an average of 2.292 ± 0.461.
CONCLUSION
The results stated that the administration of could reduce MDA levels, TNF-α, and IL-6 levels. as an anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant play an effective role in inhibiting inflammation by decreasing IL-6 cytokine and TNF-α. can inhibit lipid peroxidation initiated by free radicals and then reduce MDA levels.
Topics: Animals; Male; Rats; Curcuma; Cytokines; Dietary Supplements; Endothelial Cells; Inflammation; Interleukin-6; Soot; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
PubMed: 36777433
DOI: 10.5455/OVJ.2023.v13.i1.2 -
Chemosphere Jan 2015The knowledge of the association of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) with organic matter and carbonaceous materials is critical for a better understanding of...
The knowledge of the association of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) with organic matter and carbonaceous materials is critical for a better understanding of their environmental transport, fate, and toxicological effects. Extensive studies have been done with regard to the relationship of PAHs with total organic carbon (TOC) and elemental carbon (EC) in different environmental matrices. The relationship between PAHs and the two subtypes of EC, char (combustion residues) and soot (produced via gas-to-particle conversion) also has been tested in field and laboratory experiments using reference materials. However, a direct comparison of associations of PAHs between with char and with soot in real environmental matrices has to our knowledge not yet been reported because of a lack of methodology to differentiate them. In this study, char and soot were measured using the IMPROVE method to test their associations with 12 EPA priority PAHs measured in topsoil samples (N=22, top 10 cm) collected from the Guanzhong Plain and in surface sediment samples (N=32, top 5 cm) from the Wei River (central China). In both soils and sediments, ∑12PAHs were more strongly associated with soot than with char, mainly due to the fact that soot and PAHs were produced in the same gas phase during combustion, had a strong affinity for each other, and were transported and deposited together, while char, the combustion residue, was transported differently to PAHs due to its large particle size. Stronger correlations between PAHs and the different carbon fractions (TOC, soot, and char) in sediments than in soils were observed, which is associated with the redistribution of PAHs among the organic matter pools in water because of the processes during soil erosion and sedimentation in the river.
Topics: Adsorption; Carbon; China; Environmental Monitoring; Geologic Sediments; Particle Size; Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; Rivers; Soil; Soot
PubMed: 24656973
DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2014.02.021 -
Report on Carcinogens : Carcinogen... 2011
Topics: Air Pollutants; Animals; Carcinogens; Humans; Neoplasms; Soot
PubMed: 21863096
DOI: No ID Found -
Respirology (Carlton, Vic.) Jan 2015
Topics: Air Pollutants; Animals; Cytokines; Epithelial Cells; Humans; Particulate Matter; Soot; Vehicle Emissions
PubMed: 25400175
DOI: 10.1111/resp.12432 -
Artificial Organs Oct 2022The stimulation and recording performance of implanted neural interfaces are functions of the physical and electrical characteristics of the neural interface, its...
BACKGROUND
The stimulation and recording performance of implanted neural interfaces are functions of the physical and electrical characteristics of the neural interface, its electrode material and structure. Therefore, rapid optimization of such characteristics is becoming critical in most clinical and research studies. This paper describes the development of an upgraded 3D printed cuff electrode shell design containing a novel intrinsically conductive polymer (ICP) for stimulation and recording of peripheral nerve fibers.
METHODS
A 3D stereolithography (SLA) printer was used to print a scalable, custom designed, C-cuff electrode and I-beam closure for accurate, rapid implementation. A novel contact consisting of a percolated carbon graphite base electrodeposited with an intrinsically conductive polymer (ICP), poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS) produced a PEDOT:PSS + carbon black (CB) matrix that was used to form the electrochemical interface on the structure. Prototype device performance was tested both in-vitro and in-vivo for electrical chemical capacity, electrochemical interfacial impedance, surgical handling, and implantability. The in-vivo work was performed on the sciatic nerve of 25 anesthetized Sprague Dawley rats to demonstrate recording and stimulating ability.
RESULTS
Prototypes of different spatial geometries and number of contacts (bipolar, tripolar, and tetrapolar) were designed. The design was successfully printed with inner diameters down to 500 μm. Standard bipolar and tripolar cuffs, with a 1.3 mm inner diameter (ID), 0.5 mm contact width, 1.0 mm pitch, and a 1.5 mm end distance were used for the functional tests. This geometry was appropriate for placement on the rat sciatic nerve and enabled in-vivo testing in anesthetized rats. The contacts on the standard bipolar electrode had an area of 2.1 × 10 cm . Cyclic voltammetry on ICP coated and uncoated graphite contacts showed that the ICP increased the average charge storage capacity (CSC) by a factor of 30. The corresponding impedance at 1 Hz was slightly above 1 kΩ, a 99.99% decrease from 100 kΩ in the uncoated state. The statistical comparison of the pre- versus post-stimulation impedance measurements were not significantly different (p-value > 0.05).
CONCLUSIONS
The new cuff electrode enables rapid development of cost-effective functional stimulation devices targeting nerve bundles less than 1.0 mm in diameter. This allows for recording and modulation of a low-frequency current targeted within the peripheral nervous system.
Topics: Animals; Bridged Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic; Carbon; Electrodes; Electrodes, Implanted; Graphite; Polymers; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Soot; Stereolithography
PubMed: 35971860
DOI: 10.1111/aor.14387 -
PloS One 2017To investigate the association between exposure to traffic-related air pollution and use of spectacles (as a surrogate measure for myopia) in schoolchildren.
PURPOSE
To investigate the association between exposure to traffic-related air pollution and use of spectacles (as a surrogate measure for myopia) in schoolchildren.
METHODS
We analyzed the impact of exposure to NO2 and PM2.5 light absorbance at home (predicted by land-use regression models) and exposure to NO2 and black carbon (BC) at school (measured by monitoring campaigns) on the use of spectacles in a cohort of 2727 schoolchildren (7-10 years old) in Barcelona (2012-2015). We conducted cross-sectional analyses based on lifelong exposure to air pollution and prevalent cases of spectacles at baseline data collection campaign as well as longitudinal analyses based on incident cases of spectacles use and exposure to air pollution during the three-year period between the baseline and last data collection campaigns. Logistic regression models were developed to quantify the association between spectacles use and each of air pollutants adjusted for relevant covariates.
RESULTS
An interquartile range increase in exposure to NO2 and PM2.5 absorbance at home was respectively associated with odds ratios (95% confidence intervals (CIs)) for spectacles use of 1.16 (1.03, 1.29) and 1.13 (0.99, 1.28) in cross-sectional analyses and 1.15 (1.00, 1.33) and 1.23 (1.03, 1.46) in longitudinal analyses. Similarly, odds ratio (95% CIs) of spectacles use associated with an interquartile range increase in exposures to NO2 and black carbon at school was respectively 1.32 (1.09, 1.59) and 1.13 (0.97, 1.32) in cross-sectional analyses and 1.12 (0.84, 1.50) and 1.27 (1.03, 1.56) in longitudinal analyses. These findings were robust to a range of sensitivity analyses that we conducted.
CONCLUSION
We observed increased risk of spectacles use associated with exposure to traffic-related air pollution. These findings require further confirmation by future studies applying more refined outcome measures such as quantified visual acuity and separating different types of refractive errors.
Topics: Air Pollutants; Air Pollution; Child; Cohort Studies; Cross-Sectional Studies; Environmental Monitoring; Eyeglasses; Female; Humans; Logistic Models; Longitudinal Studies; Male; Myopia; Nitrogen Dioxide; Particulate Matter; Soot; Spain; Vehicle Emissions
PubMed: 28369072
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0167046 -
Scientific Reports Mar 2022The paper is devoted to the topic of direct absorption solar collectors (DASCs). Various kinds of fluids can be used as heat transfer fluid in DASCs, and the main focus...
The paper is devoted to the topic of direct absorption solar collectors (DASCs). Various kinds of fluids can be used as heat transfer fluid in DASCs, and the main focus of our paper is on comparing nanofluids (water with carbon black nanoparticles, concentrations between 0.25 and 1.00% weight) and biodegradable coffee colloids. At first, these fluids were tested by exposing them to irradiation caused by artificial light in indoor experiments, and the corresponding temperature increase was recorded. The fluids were placed in a beaker with a relatively large size so that most of the fluid was not directly irradiated. In these experiments, the performance of the two studied fluids was similar: the resulting temperature increase varied between 46 and 50 °C. Our next experiments involved a smaller system subjected to irradiation obtained by using a solar collector. As a result, we detected an intense absorption on the nanoparticle surface so that the temperature rise in the nanofluid was higher than in the coffee colloids. Next, the process was analysed using a theoretical analysis that gave good correspondence with the experiments. Finally, we extended the theoretical analysis to a DASC with a flowing fluid. The model was validated against results from the literature, but it also supported our experimental findings.
Topics: Coffee; Colloids; Solar Energy; Soot; Sunlight
PubMed: 35233065
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-07469-w -
Environmental Pollution (Barking, Essex... Nov 2022Exposure measurement error is an important source of bias in epidemiological studies. We assessed the validity of employing ambient (outdoor) measurements as proxies of... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
Exposure measurement error is an important source of bias in epidemiological studies. We assessed the validity of employing ambient (outdoor) measurements as proxies of personal exposures at individual levels focusing on fine particles (PM) and black carbon (BC)/elemental carbon (EC) on a global scale. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis and searched databases (ISI Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, Ovid MEDLINE®, Ovid Embase, and Ovid BIOSIS) to retrieve observational studies in English language published from 1 January 2006 until 5 May 2021. Correlation coefficients (r) between paired ambient (outdoor) concentration and personal exposure for PM or BC/EC were standardized as effect size. We used random-effects meta-analyses to pool the correlation coefficients and investigated the causes of heterogeneity and publication bias. Furthermore, we employed subgroup and meta-regression analyses to evaluate the modification of pooled estimates by potential mediators. This systematic review identified thirty-two observational studies involving 1744 subjects from ten countries, with 28 studies for PM and 11 studies for BC/EC. Personal PM exposure is more strongly correlated with ambient (outdoor) concentrations (0.63, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.57-0.68) than personal BC/EC exposure (0.49, 95% CI: 0.38-0.59), with significant differences in ṝ (0.14, 95% CI: 0.03-0.25; p < 0.05). The results demonstrated that the health status of participants was a significant modifier of pooled correlations. In addition, the personal to ambient (P/A) ratio for PM and average ambient BC/EC levels were potential effect moderators of the pooled ṝ. The funnel plots and Egger's regression test indicated inevident publication bias. The pooled estimates were robust through sensitivity analyses. The results support the growing consensus that the validity coefficient of proxy measures should be addressed when interpreting results from epidemiological studies to better understand how strong health outcomes are affected by different levels of PM and their components.
Topics: Air Pollutants; Carbon; Databases, Factual; Environmental Exposure; Humans; Particulate Matter; Regression Analysis; Soot
PubMed: 36037851
DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.120030