scholarly journals Energy Poverty Influences Urban Outdoor Air Pollution Levels during COVID-19 Lockdown in South-Central Chile

Energy Policy ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 112571
Author(s):  
Aner Martinez-Soto ◽  
Constanza Avendaño-Vera ◽  
Alex Boso ◽  
Alvaro Hofflinger ◽  
Matthew Shupler
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Outdoor Air ◽  
Energy Poverty ◽  
Central Chile ◽  
Outdoor Air Pollution ◽  
Pollution Levels ◽  
South Central

scholarly journals Energy Insecurity Influences Urban Outdoor Air Pollution Levels during COVID-19 Lockdown in South-Central Chile

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aner Martinez-Soto ◽  
Constanza Avendano-Vera ◽  
Alex Boso ◽  
Alvaro Hofflinger ◽  
Matthew S. Shupler
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Ambient Air ◽  
Ambient Air Pollution ◽  
Outdoor Air ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Central Chile ◽  
Pollution Levels ◽  
South Central ◽  
Wood Burning ◽  
Las Casas

Introduction: In south-central Chile, outdoor air pollution primarily originates as household air pollution from wood burning for heating. The effect of COVID-19 lockdowns on ambient air pollution levels in urban south-central Chile may therefore be different from trends observed in cities where transportation and industrial emission sources dominate. Methods: This quasi-experimental study compares hourly fine (PM2.5) and coarse (PM10) particulate matter measurements from six air monitoring stations (three reference grade beta attenuation monitors and three low-cost SPS30 sensors) in commercial and low or middle-income residential areas of Temuco and Padre Las Casas, Chile between March-September 2019 and 2020 (spanning COVID-19 lockdown). Results: In Padre Las Casas, average outdoor PM2.5 concentrations peaked above 100 ug/m3 from 8-10 pm during winter (May-August) 2019 and 2020, when wood burning is common. During COVID-19 lockdown, average monthly ambient PM2.5 concentrations in a commercial and middle-income residential area of Temuco were up to 50% higher (12 ug/m3 to 18 ug/m3) and 59% higher (22 ug/m3 to 35 ug/m3) than 2019 levels, respectively. Conversely, PM2.5 levels decreased by up to 52% (43 ug/m3 to 21 ug/m3) in low-income neighborhoods. The night-time (8 pm-9 am) mass percent of PM10 that was PM2.5 during strict quarantine (April 2020) increased by 48% above April 2017-2019 proportions (50% to 74%) in a commercial area of Temuco. Conclusions: Wood burning for home heating was responsible for a significantly higher proportion of ambient PM2.5 pollution in commercial areas and middle-income neighborhoods of Temuco during COVID-19 lockdown, compared to winter months in 2019. Constrastingly, energy insecure households likely refrained from wood heating during lockdown, leading to PM2.5 concentration declines. To reduce the double burden of ambient air pollution and energy insecurity in south-central Chile, affordability of clean heating fuels (e.g. electricity, liquefied petroleum gas) should be a policy priority.

Traffic and outdoor air pollution levels near residences and poorly controlled asthma in adults

2007 ◽  
Vol 98 (5) ◽  
pp. 455-463 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ying-Ying Meng ◽  
Michelle Wilhelm ◽  
Rudolph P. Rull ◽  
Paul English ◽  
Beate Ritz
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Outdoor Air ◽  
Outdoor Air Pollution ◽  
Pollution Levels

scholarly journals Association Between Outdoor Air Pollution Levels and Inpatient Outcomes in Pediatric Pneumonia Hospitalizations, 2007 to 2008

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (4) ◽  
pp. 414-420 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander F. Glick ◽  
Suzy Tomopoulos ◽  
Arthur H. Fierman ◽  
Anne Elixhauser ◽  
Leonardo Trasande
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Outdoor Air ◽  
Outdoor Air Pollution ◽  
Pollution Levels ◽  
Inpatient Outcomes ◽  
Pediatric Pneumonia

Traffic and outdoor air pollution levels near highways in Baghdad, Iraq

2016 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 589-603 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miqdam T. Chaichan ◽  
Hussien A. Kazem ◽  
Talib A. Abed
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Outdoor Air ◽  
Outdoor Air Pollution ◽  
Pollution Levels

scholarly journals Outdoor air pollution and the burden of childhood asthma across Europe

2019 ◽  
Vol 54 (4) ◽  
pp. 1802194 ◽  
Author(s):  
Haneen Khreis ◽  
Marta Cirach ◽  
Natalie Mueller ◽  
Kees de Hoogh ◽  
Gerard Hoek ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Childhood Asthma ◽  
Significant Proportion ◽  
Incidence Rates ◽  
World Health ◽  
Outdoor Air ◽  
Outdoor Air Pollution ◽  
Pollution Levels ◽  
Guideline Values ◽  
Incident Cases

BackgroundEmerging evidence suggests that air pollution may contribute to childhood asthma development. We estimated the burden of incident childhood asthma that may be attributable to outdoor nitrogen dioxide (NO2), particulate matter ≤2.5 µm in diameter (PM2.5) and black carbon (BC) in Europe.MethodsWe combined country-level childhood incidence rates and pooled exposure–response functions with childhood (age 1–14 years) population counts, and exposure estimates at 1 540 386 1 km×1 km cells, across 18 European countries and 63 442 419 children. Annual average pollutant concentrations were obtained from a validated and harmonised European land-use regression model. We investigated two exposure reduction scenarios. For the first, we used recommended annual World Health Organization (WHO) air quality guideline values. For the second, we used the minimum air pollution levels recorded across 41 studies in the underlying meta-analysis.ResultsNO2 ranged from 1.4 to 70.0 µg·m−3, with a mean of 11.8 µg·m−3. PM2.5 ranged from 2.0 to 41.1 µg·m−3, with a mean of 11.6 µg·m−3. BC ranged from 0.003 to 3.7×10−5 m−1, with a mean of 1.0×10−5 m−1. Compliance with the NO2 and PM2.5 WHO guidelines was estimated to prevent 2434 (0.4%) and 66 567 (11%) incident cases, respectively. Meeting the minimum air pollution levels for NO2 (1.5 µg·m−3), PM2.5 (0.4 µg·m−3) and BC (0.4×10−5 m−1) was estimated to prevent 135 257 (23%), 191 883 (33%) and 89 191 (15%) incident cases, respectively.ConclusionsA significant proportion of childhood asthma cases may be attributable to outdoor air pollution and these cases could be prevented. Our estimates underline an urgent need to reduce children's exposure to air pollution.

Personal, indoor and outdoor air pollution levels among pregnant women

2013 ◽  
Vol 64 ◽  
pp. 287-295 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Schembari ◽  
Margarita Triguero-Mas ◽  
Audrey de Nazelle ◽  
Payam Dadvand ◽  
Martine Vrijheid ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Outdoor Air ◽  
Outdoor Air Pollution ◽  
Pollution Levels ◽  
Indoor And Outdoor

scholarly journals Impacts of Outdoor Air Pollution on Human Semen Quality: A Meta-Analysis and Systematic Review

2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Jianzhong Zhang ◽  
Zhonglin Cai ◽  
Chengquan Ma ◽  
Jian Xiong ◽  
Hongjun Li
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Semen Quality ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Sperm Concentration ◽  
Outdoor Air ◽  
Outdoor Air Pollution ◽  
Pollution Levels ◽  
Fragmentation Index ◽  
Semen Volume ◽  
Mean Differences

Introduction. Several studies have explored the association between outdoor air pollution and semen quality. However, the results were inconsistent. We performed the current meta-analysis to evaluate the role of outdoor air pollution in semen quality. Material and Methods. Databases including PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase were searched to identify relevant studies. Relative data in participants under higher exposure and lower exposure to air pollution were extracted. Pooled weighted mean differences (WMDs) with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were utilized to assess the effects of outdoor air pollution on semen quality. In addition, trial sequential analyses (TSAs) were performed to obtain a more comprehensive assessment of analyses. Results. A total of 11 studies with 4562 males were enrolled in the current meta-analysis. Higher air pollution levels were associated with significant decreases in semen volume (WMD: -0.16, 95% CI: -0.27 to -0.05), sperm concentration (WMD: -5.52, 95% CI: -9.88 to -1.16), progressive motility (WMD: -6.23, 95% CI: -11.64 to -0.81), total motility (WMD: -7.65, 95% CI: -14.09 to -1.20), and normal sperm morphology rate (WMD: -3.71, 95% CI: -5.59 to -1.82). In addition, the DNA fragmentation index significantly increased (WMD: 4.11, 95% CI: 1.94 to 6.29). Conclusions. Air pollution is associated with decreased semen volume, sperm concentration, motility, and normal morphology rate.

Personal Interventions to Reduce Exposure to Outdoor Air Pollution

2021 ◽  
Vol 43 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert J. Laumbach ◽  
Kevin R. Cromar
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Air Pollution ◽  
Careful Consideration ◽  
Unintended Consequences ◽  
Annual Review ◽  
Publication Date ◽  
Outdoor Air ◽  
Outdoor Air Pollution ◽  
Pollution Levels ◽  
Many Sources

Unhealthy levels of air pollution are breathed by billions of people worldwide, and air pollution is the leading environmental cause of death and disability globally. Efforts to reduce air pollution at its many sources have had limited success, and in many areas of the world, poor air quality continues to worsen. Personal interventions to reduce exposure to air pollution include avoiding sources, staying indoors, filtering indoor air, using face masks, and limiting physical activity when and where air pollution levels are elevated. The effectiveness of these interventions varies widely with circumstances and conditions of use. Compared with upstream reduction or control of emissions, personal interventions place burdens and risk of adverse unintended consequences on individuals. We review evidence regarding the balance of benefits and potential harms of personal interventions for reducing exposure to outdoor air pollution, which merit careful consideration before making public health recommendations with regard to who should use personal interventions and where, when, and how they should be used. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Public Health, Volume 43 is April 2022. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.

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