Avoiding hospital admissions for respiratory system diseases by complying to the final Brazilian air quality standard: an estimate for Brazilian southeast capitals

Abstract Background In the southern hemisphere summer of 2019-2020, Australia experienced its most severe bushfire season on record. Smoke from fires affected 80% of the population, with large exceedances of the Australian National Air Quality Standard for particulate air pollution recorded in all major population centres during this period. We examined if emerging and innovative digital technology can assist extreme smoke-affected populations to reduce their exposure and protect their health. Methods AirRater is a free smartphone app that tracks air quality and user symptoms in near real-time. We distributed an online survey to over 13,000 app users to assess how they used this information during the 2019-20 bushfire season, and if the app was helpful in decision-making around reducing personal smoke exposure. Results We received responses from 1732 users (13.3%). Respondents reported that the app was highly useful, supporting informed decisions regarding daily activities during the smoke-affected period. Commonly reported activities supported by information provided through the app were staying inside (76%), rescheduling or planning outdoor activities (64%), changing locations to less affected areas (29%) and informing decisions on medication use (15%). Conclusions Smartphone apps enable users to reduce smoke exposure and protect their health by providing individual-level and location-specific data. Furthermore, digital technology such as AirRater provides the potential to provide insight into the community impacts of environmental hazards such as bushfire smoke. Key messages Smartphone apps enable users to reduce their smoke exposure and protect their health. These emerging technologies can help public health authorities to understand the community impact of environmental hazards.

Download Full-text

The Concentration Characteristics of PM10 and PM2.5 in Eight Cities of China in March, 2013

Advanced Materials Research ◽

10.4028/www.scientific.net/amr.807-809.20 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 807-809 ◽

pp. 20-23 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Tao Sheng ◽

Jian Wu Shi ◽

Sen Lin Tian ◽

Li Mei Bi ◽

Hao Deng ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Air Quality ◽

Wind Speed ◽

Relative Humidity ◽

Negative Correlation ◽

Ambient Air ◽

Quality Standard ◽

Meteorological Factor ◽

Urban Air ◽

Ambient Air Quality ◽

Ambient Air Quality Standard

According to the information of air quality which published by the urban air quality real-time publishing platform, the concentration characteristics of PM10 and PM2.5 were studied in Kunming (KM), Changsha (CS), Hangzhou (HZ), Shanghai (SH), Harbin (HEB), Beijing (BJ), Wuhan (WH) and Guangzhou (GZ). The results show that the concentrations of PM10 and PM2.5 exceeded the Ambient Air Quality Standard (GB3095-2012) in varying degrees in March, 2013. The concentrations of PM10 in Wuhan is the highest, reached 164μg/m3, exceeded the standard by 9.3%; the concentrations of PM2.5 is much higher in Wuhan, Changsha and Beijing, the average concentrations were 96μg/m3, 103μg/m3 and 110μg/m3, exceeded the standard by 28.0%, 37.3% and 46.7% respectively. The correlation of PM10 with PM2.5 in most of these cities was good in March. The correlation analysis of pollutant with meteorological factor in Hangzhou, Shanghai, Beijing and Guangzhou was also studied, the results show that the concentrations of PM10 and PM2.5 are weakly positive correlation with temperature in the four cities, negative correlation with relative humidity without Beijing, and negative correlation with wind speed.

Download Full-text

Indoor Air Quality Standard Setting-A Lesson in the Need for Objectivity 1

Risk Analysis ◽

10.1111/j.1539-6924.1995.tb00086.x ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 15 (1) ◽

pp. 3-6

Author(s):

Simon Turner

Keyword(s):

Air Quality ◽

Indoor Air Quality ◽

Indoor Air ◽

Standard Setting ◽

Quality Standard

Download Full-text

Air Pollution Increases Influenza Hospitalizations

10.1101/2020.04.07.20057216 ◽

2020 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Gregor Singer ◽

Joshua Graff Zivin ◽

Matthew Neidell ◽

Nicholas Sanders

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

Air Pollution ◽

Air Quality ◽

Seasonal Influenza ◽

Hospital Admissions ◽

The United States ◽

Inpatient Hospitalization ◽

Vaccination Rates ◽

Health Burden ◽

Severe Influenza

AbstractSeasonal influenza is a recurring health burden shared widely across the globe. We study whether air quality affects the occurrence of severe influenza cases that require inpatient hospitalization. Using longitudinal information on local air quality and hospital admissions across the United States, we find that poor air quality increases the incidence of significant influenza hospital admissions. Effects diminish in years with greater influenza vaccine effectiveness. Apart from increasing vaccination rates, improving air quality may help reduce the spread and severity of influenza.

Download Full-text

Analisis Debu Respirable terhadap Masyarakat di Kawasan Perumahan Sekitar Lokasi Pabrik PT. Semen Padang

Jurnal Dampak ◽

10.25077/dampak.13.1.1-9.2016 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 13 (2) ◽

pp. 1

Author(s):

Vera Surtia Bachtiar ◽

Puspa Safitri Sanggar Rani

Keyword(s):

Air Quality ◽

Negative Impact ◽

Ambient Air ◽

Quality Standard ◽

Residential Area ◽

Dust Concentration ◽

Respirable Dust ◽

Ambient Air Quality ◽

Housing Complex ◽

Ambient Air Quality Standard

The purpose of this research are to analysis air quality and dust impact to people that came from factory activities at residential area around factory location of PT. Semen Padang. Measuring of air quality conducted in 3 residential area that are Komplek RW 1, RT 3 Batu Gadang district, Perumnas Indarung RW. VII, and housing of UNAND Blok D Gadut, using Personal Dust Sampler. The result is respirable dust concentration at housing complex RW. 1 RT. 3 Batu Gadang district that is 0,33 mg/m, the Perumnas Indarung RW.VII that is 0,55 mg/m along with housing of UNAND Blok D Gadut that is 0,44 mg/m. Concentration of dust respirable at all are still below ambient air quality standard that exist on PP RI No. 41 Tahun 1999, 3 mg/m. Based on quesioner and puskesmas data proximate with use univariat analysis, negative impact who feels people are impact of health is eyes irritation disease and impact of environment especially community-owned material. Keywords: air quality, negative impact, residential area, respirable dust, PT. Semen Padang ABSTRAKPenelitian ini bermaksud untuk menganalisis kualitas udara dan dampak negatif yang dirasakan masyarakat dari debu yang berasal dari aktivitas pabrik di kawasan perumahan sekitar lokasi pabrik PT. Semen Padang. Pengukuran kualitas udara dilakukan di 3 kawasan perumahan yaitu komplek perumahan RW. 1 RT. 3 Kelurahan Batu Gadang, Perumnas Indarung RW. VII, dan Perumahan UNAND Blok D Gadut dengan menggunakan alat Personal Dust Sampler. Diperoleh hasil konsentrasi debu respirable pada komplek perumahan RT.3 RW.1 Kelurahan Batu Gadang sebesar 0,33 mg/m, pada Perumnas Indarung RW.VII sebesar 0,55 mg/m serta pada Perumahan UNAND Blok D Gadut sebesar 0,44 mg/m. Konsentrasi debu respirable pada ketiga lokasi masih berada di bawah ambang batas baku mutu udara di lingkungan, 3 mg/m. Berdasarkan kuesioner dan data puskesmas terdekat dengan menggunakan analisis univariat, dampak negatif yang dirasakan masyarakat adalah dampak terhadap kesehatan berupa penyakit iritasi mata dan dampak terhadap lingkungan khususnya pada kondisi material yang dimiliki masyarakat.Kata kunci: kualitas udara, dampak negatif, kawasan perumahan, debu respirable, PT. Semen Padang

Download Full-text

Spatio-temporal of surface ozone (O3) variations at urban and suburban sites in Sarawak region of Malaysia

IOP Conference Series Earth and Environmental Science ◽

10.1088/1755-1315/880/1/012004 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 880 (1) ◽

pp. 012004

Author(s):

H Mahidin ◽

M T Latif ◽

A Hamdan ◽

J Salleh ◽

D Dominick ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Air Quality ◽

Surface Ozone ◽

Ambient Air ◽

Quality Standard ◽

Transportation Systems ◽

Pollutant Emissions ◽

Daily Maximum ◽

Spatio Temporal ◽

Ambient Air Quality Standard ◽

The Relationship

Abstract Sarawak Region of Malaysia is currently experiencing a high demand for capital needs such as transformation forest to plantations, economic development, and improving transportation systems. Those land cover changes will increase primary pollutant emissions and trigger surface O3 formation. Surface O3 is a secondary pollutant and a significant greenhouse gas contributing to climate change and declining air quality. In this study, variations in surface O3 concentrations at urban and suburban sites in Sarawak were explored using the Malaysian Department of Environment data spanning a two-year cycle (2018-2019). The primary aim of this study is to ascertain the variation of surface O3 concentrations reported at four monitoring stations in Sarawak, namely Kuching (SQ1) (Urban), Sibu (SQ2) (Suburban), Bintulu (SQ3) (Suburban), and Miri (SQ4) (Suburban). The study also analysed the relationship between O3 distribution and nitrogen oxides (NO and NO2). The findings showed that O3 concentrations observed in the region during the study period were lower than the maximum permissible value of 100 ppbv suggested by the Malaysian Ambient Air Quality Standard (2020). SQ4 (Miri) at suburban sites recorded the highest average surface O3 concentrations with an hourly average and daily maximum O3 concentration of 15.7 and 89.5 ppbv, respectively. Temperatures, UV exposure, and wind speed all impact the concentration of surface O3 in Sarawak. In all stations, concentrations of O3 were inversely linked with NO, NO2, and relative humidity (RH). This research will assist the relevant agency in forecast, monitor, and mitigate the level of O3 in the ambient environment, especially in the Sarawak Region.

Download Full-text

Measurement report: The chemical composition of and temporal variability in aerosol particles at Tuktoyaktuk, Canada, during the Year of Polar Prediction Second Special Observing Period

Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics ◽

10.5194/acp-21-14199-2021 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (18) ◽

pp. 14199-14213

Author(s):

John MacInnis ◽

Jai Prakash Chaubey ◽

Crystal Weagle ◽

David Atkinson ◽

Rachel Ying-Wen Chang

Keyword(s):

Air Quality ◽

Chemical Composition ◽

Aerosol Particles ◽

Road Dust ◽

Quality Standard ◽

The Arctic ◽

Similar Range ◽

The Government ◽

Government Of Canada ◽

Mass Concentrations

Abstract. The chemical composition, sources, and concentrations of aerosol particles vary on a seasonal basis in the Arctic. While existing research has focused on understanding the occurrence of aerosol particles during the Arctic winter and spring, less is known of their occurrence during the Arctic summer. In this study, atmospheric aerosol particle chemical composition and concentration were determined during July–September 2018 at Tuktoyaktuk, NT, Canada (69.4∘ N, 133.0∘ W), to coincide with the Year of Polar Prediction's Second Special Observing Period in the Arctic. The chemical composition of fine (PM2.5) and coarse (PM10–2.5) aerosol filter samples suggests the ocean, mineral and/or road dust, and combustion were sources of the sampled aerosol particles. Mass concentrations of PM2 and PM10, estimated from optical particle counter measurements, remained within a similar range during the study. However, elevated mass concentrations coincided with a festival in the community of Tuktoyaktuk, suggesting local human activity was an important source of aerosol particles. Mass concentrations of PM2, which promote negative health effects in humans, were significantly lower at Tuktoyaktuk than the national air quality standard recommended by the government of Canada. These measurements provide an important baseline to compare with future measurements associated with the assessment of aerosol chemistry and air quality in the Arctic.

Download Full-text