scholarly journals Large global variations in measured airborne metal concentrations driven by anthropogenic sources

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacob McNeill ◽  
Graydon Snider ◽  
Crystal L. Weagle ◽  
Brenna Walsh ◽  
Paul Bissonnette ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Particulate Matter ◽  
Transport Model ◽  
Anthropogenic Activities ◽  
Ambient Air ◽  
Mitigation Strategies ◽  
Anthropogenic Sources ◽  
World Health ◽  
Risk Level ◽  
Potential Health ◽  
Metal Concentrations

AbstractGlobally consistent measurements of airborne metal concentrations in fine particulate matter (PM2.5) are important for understanding potential health impacts, prioritizing air pollution mitigation strategies, and enabling global chemical transport model development. PM2.5 filter samples (N ~ 800 from 19 locations) collected from a globally distributed surface particulate matter sampling network (SPARTAN) between January 2013 and April 2019 were analyzed for particulate mass and trace metals content. Metal concentrations exhibited pronounced spatial variation, primarily driven by anthropogenic activities. PM2.5 levels of lead, arsenic, chromium, and zinc were significantly enriched at some locations by factors of 100–3000 compared to crustal concentrations. Levels of metals in PM2.5 and PM10 exceeded health guidelines at multiple sites. For example, Dhaka and Kanpur sites exceeded the US National Ambient Air 3-month Quality Standard for lead (150 ng m−3). Kanpur, Hanoi, Beijing and Dhaka sites had annual mean arsenic concentrations that approached or exceeded the World Health Organization’s risk level for arsenic (6.6 ng m−3). The high concentrations of several potentially harmful metals in densely populated cites worldwide motivates expanded measurements and analyses.

Microcystin Exposure Pathways and Human Health

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-5
Author(s):  
Rajesh Melaram ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Policy Development ◽  
Mitigation Strategies ◽  
World Health ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Human Populations ◽  
Algal Toxins ◽  
Potential Health ◽  
Exposure Pathways ◽  
Green Algal

Microcystins (MCs) are blue-green algal toxins produced by freshwater cyanobacteria. Their environmentally relevant concentrations throughout global surface waters have tampered with human populations’ drinking and recreational supplies. MCs have gained immense public health attention due to their potential health effects. Microcystin-LR (MC-LR) is the most toxic variant of the MCs. Investigations on MC-LR toxicity and detection in water signify a growing potential environmental health concern worldwide. The World Health Organization established a provisional drinking water guidance value of 1 μg/L and a provisional recreational exposure guidance value of 10 μg/L for MC-LR. This review surveys human MC exposure pathways and integrates epidemiological studies to support MCs’ critical exposure pathways. A discussion on monitoring and mitigation strategies provides a guide for policy development in adopting MCs’ regulatory levels to protect public health.

scholarly journals Sediment Metal Contamination, Bioavailability, and Oxidative Stress Response in Mangrove Avicennia marina in Central Red Sea

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abdullahi Bala Alhassan ◽  
Mohammed Othman Aljahdali
Keyword(s):  
Antioxidant Enzyme ◽  
Red Sea ◽  
Anthropogenic Activities ◽  
Sediment Quality ◽  
Principal Component ◽  
Avicennia Marina ◽  
Anthropogenic Sources ◽  
Antioxidant Enzyme Activities ◽  
Metal Concentrations ◽  
Mangrove Ecosystems

Anthropogenic activities have been on the increase in the urban environment and have led to contamination of the environment with toxic metals. However, mangrove plants’ response to heavy metal stress due to anthropogenic activities explains the metal bioavailability and its potential ecotoxicological effect. We carried out a multi-approach study to investigate i) if the concentrations of metals (Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Mo, Cd, Pb, Sr, and V) in mangroves at the central Red Sea are due to the anthropogenic influence and are above the sediment quality guidelines and ii) if an increase in metal concentration influences height and antioxidant enzyme (catalase, CAT; glutathione S-transferase, GST; and superoxide dismutase, SOD) activities in Avicennia marina. There were significant variations (p < 0.05) in metal concentrations and antioxidants across the six mangrove ecosystems with higher concentrations at Al Lith (LT) and south Jeddah (SJ). Even though the concentrations of metals in mangrove leaves are slightly higher in LT than SJ, principal component analysis showed that higher concentrations of Cr, Co, Zn, Cd, and Pb in mangrove leaves from SJ influence higher antioxidant enzyme activities and the lowest average mangrove height (2.01 m). This suggests that higher metal concentrations be factors for the biggest stress in these mangrove ecosystems. However, among the 13 metals, Cr (82.07 mg/kg), Cu (41.29 mg/kg), and As (10.30 mg/kg) in sediments have values within the ERL range of probable effect, while Ni (53.09 mg/kg) was above the ERM threshold. Hence, there is need to focus on monitoring these metals in mangrove sediments and their anthropogenic sources.

scholarly journals Air pollution interventions and respiratory health: a systematic review

2020 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 150-164 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Saleh ◽  
W. Shepherd ◽  
C. Jewell ◽  
N. L. Lam ◽  
J. Balmes ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Particulate Matter ◽  
Respiratory Health ◽  
Grey Literature ◽  
Ambient Air ◽  
Ambient Air Pollution ◽  
Potential Health ◽  
Exposure Reduction ◽  
Air Pollution Exposure ◽  
Pollution Exposure

BACKGROUND: Indoor and ambient air pollution exposure is a major risk to respiratory health worldwide, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Interventional trials have mainly focused on alternatives to cooking stoves, with mixed results. Beyond cooking, additional sources of particulate matter also contribute to the burden of air pollution exposure. This review explores evidence from current randomised controlled trials (RCTs) on the clinical effectiveness of interventions to reduce particulate matter in LMICs.METHODS: Twelve databases and the grey literature (e.g., Government reports and policy papers) were searched. Eligible studies were RCTs conducted in LMICs aiming to reduce particulate exposure from any source and reporting on at least one clinical respiratory outcome (respiratory symptoms, lung function or clinical diagnoses). Data from relevant studies were systematically extracted, the risk of bias assessed and narrative synthesis provided.RESULTS: Of the 14 included studies, 12 tested ‘improved' cookstoves, most using biomass, but solar and bioethanol cookers were also included. One trial used solar lamps and another was an integrated intervention incorporating behavioural and environmental components for the treatment and prevention of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Of the six studies reporting child pneumonia outcomes, none demonstrated significant benefit in intention-to-treat analysis. Ten studies reported respiratory symptom outcomes with some improvements seen, but self-reporting made these outcomes highly vulnerable to bias. Substantial inter-study clinical and methodological heterogeneity precluded calculation of pooled effect estimates.CONCLUSION: Evidence from the RCTs performed to date suggests that individual household-level interventions for air pollution exposure reduction have limited benefits for respiratory health. More comprehensive approaches to air pollution exposure reduction must be developed so their potential health benefits can be assessed.

Numerical assessment of the effect of cigarette smoking on indoor PM2.5 distribution and study of ventilation strategies

2016 ◽  
Vol 27 (3) ◽  
pp. 369-379 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zheshu Ma ◽  
Shaozhe Sun
Keyword(s):  
Particulate Matter ◽  
Ambient Air ◽  
Quality Standard ◽  
World Health ◽  
Elevated Concentration ◽  
Breathing Zone ◽  
Ventilation Strategy ◽  
Displacement Ventilation ◽  
Ventilation Strategies ◽  
Indoor Particulate Matter

Elevated concentration of indoor particulate matter (PM) has been linked to adverse effects on human health. To explore how particles from cigarette smoke affect the indoor PM2.5 concentration and whether such circumstance is harmful to people, distribution characteristics of indoor particulate matter in a typical residence with a smoker were numerically studied under different ventilation strategies. The indoor PM2.5 concentration without forced ventilation was shown to far exceed the air quality standard of 75 µg/m3 as recommended by the World Health Organization. In this study, we numerically investigated the performances of the mixing and displacement ventilation strategies in reducing indoor particle levels. Different airflow patterns could significantly influence the movement and deposition of particles in ventilated rooms, even with the same air change rate and particle characteristics. When comparing with the mixing ventilation strategy, the displacement ventilation strategy was shown to have a lower deposition mass and a larger portion of particles leaving the room. Thus, the average indoor PM2.5 concentration in the displacement ventilation strategy was shown to be higher than the mixing ventilation strategy. In spite of this, low particle concentration in the personnel’s breathing zone was shown by our measurement. Displacement ventilation strategy could provide a cleaner ambient air than the mixing one.

scholarly journals Arsenic and heavy metals contamination, risk assessment and their source in drinking water of the Mardan District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

2015 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 1073-1084 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nida Gul ◽  
Mohammad Tahir Shah ◽  
Sardar Khan ◽  
Nimat Ullah Khattak ◽  
Said Muhammad
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Metals ◽  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Drinking Water ◽  
Anthropogenic Sources ◽  
World Health ◽  
Physical Parameters ◽  
Chemical Parameters ◽  
Potential Health ◽  
Physico Chemical ◽  
Guideline Values

The present study was conducted to investigate the physico-chemical characteristics in drinking water of Mardan District, Pakistan. Furthermore, water quality was evaluated for the risk assessment of arsenic and heavy metals (HMs) and their contamination sources. Representative groundwater samples of shallow and deep sources were collected in the study area. These samples were analyzed for physical parameters, anions, light metals (LMs) and HMs. Results were compared with the drinking water guideline values set by the World Health Organization and the US Environmental Protection Agency. Average concentrations of anions, LMs and HMs were found within the maximum allowable contaminant levels except for bicarbonates, Fe, Cu, and Pb. Results revealed that hazard quotients >1 were observed for shallow groundwater for 10% samples only, suggesting potential health risk from water consumption. Correlation analysis and principal component analysis showed a relationship among various physico-chemical parameters in both shallow and deep groundwater. Statistical analyses suggested the geogenic and anthropogenic sources for possible enhancement of various physico-chemical parameters in the aquifer system of the study area.

scholarly journals Chemical transport model simulations of organic aerosol in southern California: model evaluation and gasoline and diesel source contributions

2017 ◽  
Vol 17 (6) ◽  
pp. 4305-4318 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shantanu H. Jathar ◽  
Matthew Woody ◽  
Havala O. T. Pye ◽  
Kirk R. Baker ◽  
Allen L. Robinson
Keyword(s):  
Particulate Matter ◽  
Air Quality ◽  
Southern California ◽  
Transport Model ◽  
Chemical Transport ◽  
Organic Aerosol ◽  
Production Model ◽  
Anthropogenic Sources ◽  
Chemical Transport Model ◽  
Mobile Sources

Abstract. Gasoline- and diesel-fueled engines are ubiquitous sources of air pollution in urban environments. They emit both primary particulate matter and precursor gases that react to form secondary particulate matter in the atmosphere. In this work, we updated the organic aerosol module and organic emissions inventory of a three-dimensional chemical transport model, the Community Multiscale Air Quality Model (CMAQ), using recent, experimentally derived inputs and parameterizations for mobile sources. The updated model included a revised volatile organic compound (VOC) speciation for mobile sources and secondary organic aerosol (SOA) formation from unspeciated intermediate volatility organic compounds (IVOCs). The updated model was used to simulate air quality in southern California during May and June 2010, when the California Research at the Nexus of Air Quality and Climate Change (CalNex) study was conducted. Compared to the Traditional version of CMAQ, which is commonly used for regulatory applications, the updated model did not significantly alter the predicted organic aerosol (OA) mass concentrations but did substantially improve predictions of OA sources and composition (e.g., POA–SOA split), as well as ambient IVOC concentrations. The updated model, despite substantial differences in emissions and chemistry, performed similar to a recently released research version of CMAQ (Woody et al., 2016) that did not include the updated VOC and IVOC emissions and SOA data. Mobile sources were predicted to contribute 30–40 % of the OA in southern California (half of which was SOA), making mobile sources the single largest source contributor to OA in southern California. The remainder of the OA was attributed to non-mobile anthropogenic sources (e.g., cooking, biomass burning) with biogenic sources contributing to less than 5 % to the total OA. Gasoline sources were predicted to contribute about 13 times more OA than diesel sources; this difference was driven by differences in SOA production. Model predictions highlighted the need to better constrain multi-generational oxidation reactions in chemical transport models.

scholarly journals Excitation Emission Matrix Fluorescence Spectroscopy for Combustion Generated Particulate Matter Source Identification

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jay Rutherford ◽  
Neal Dawson-Elli ◽  
Anne M. Manicone ◽  
Gregory V. Korshin ◽  
Igor V. Novosselov ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Machine Learning ◽  
Particulate Matter ◽  
Fluorescence Spectroscopy ◽  
Source Identification ◽  
Mitigation Strategies ◽  
Training Data ◽  
Anthropogenic Sources ◽  
Excitation Emission Matrix ◽  
Field Samples ◽  
Eem Fluorescence

The inhalation of particulate matter (PM) is a significant health risk associated with reduced life expectancy due to increased cardio-pulmonary disease and exacerbation of respiratory diseases such as asthma and pneumonia. PM originates from natural and anthropogenic sources including combustion engines, cigarettes, agricultural burning, and forest fires. Identifying the source of PM can inform effective mitigation strategies and policies, but this is difficult to do using current techniques. Here we present a method for identifying PM source using excitation emission matrix (EEM) fluorescence spectroscopy and a machine learning algorithm. We collected combustion generated PM2.5 from wood burning, diesel exhaust, and cigarettes using filters. Filters were weighted to determine mass concentration followed by extraction into cyclohexane and analysis by EEM fluorescence spectroscopy. Spectra obtained from each source were used as machine learning training data for source identification in mixed samples. This method can predict the presence or absence of the three laboratory sources with an overall accuracy of 89% when the threshold for classifying a source as present is 1.1 µg/m3 in air over a 24-hour sampling time. We apply this method to a small set of field samples to evaluate its effectiveness.<br>

scholarly journals Particulate matter and the airway epithelium: the special case of the underground?

2019 ◽  
Vol 28 (153) ◽  
pp. 190066 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dawn M. Cooper ◽  
Matthew Loxham
Keyword(s):  
Particulate Matter ◽  
Epithelial Cells ◽  
Airway Epithelium ◽  
Inflammatory Responses ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Airborne Particulate Matter ◽  
Initial Response ◽  
Mitigation Strategies ◽  
Chronic Obstructive ◽  
Potential Health

Airborne particulate matter (PM) is a leading driver of premature mortality and cardiopulmonary morbidity, associated with exacerbations of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, and lung cancer. The airway epithelium, as the principal site of PM deposition, is critical to the effects of, and initial response to, PM. A key mechanism by which PM exerts its effects is the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), inducing antioxidant and inflammatory responses in exposed epithelial cells. However, much of what is known about the effects of PM is based on research using particulates from urban air. PM from underground railways is compositionally highly distinct from urban PM, being rich in metals associated with wheel, rail and brake wear and electrical arcing and component wear, which endows underground PM with potent ROS-generating capacity. In addition, underground PM appears to be more inflammogenic than urban PM in epithelial cells, but there is a lack of research into effects on exposed individuals, especially those with underlying health conditions. This review summarises current knowledge about the effects of PM on the airway epithelium, how the effects of underground PM may be different to urban PM and the potential health consequences and mitigation strategies for commuters and workers in underground railways.

scholarly journals Social Inequalities in Exposure to Ambient Air Pollution: A Systematic Review in the WHO European Region

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (17) ◽  
pp. 3127 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan Fairburn ◽  
Steffen Andreas Schüle ◽  
Stefanie Dreger ◽  
Lisa Karla Hilz ◽  
Gabriele Bolte
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Particulate Matter ◽  
Social Inequalities ◽  
Ambient Air ◽  
Ambient Air Pollution ◽  
World Health ◽  
European Region ◽  
Public Health Issue ◽  
Oxides Of Nitrogen ◽  
Majority Population

Ambient air pollution is a long-standing and significant public health issue. The aim of this review is to systematically examine the peer-reviewed evidence on social inequalities and ambient air pollution in the World Health Organization European Region. Articles published between 2010 and 2017 were analyzed in the review. In total 31 articles were included in the review. There is good evidence from ecological studies that higher deprivation indices and low economic position are usually linked with higher levels of pollutants such as particulate matter (particulate matter under 2.5 and 10 microns in diameter, PM2.5, PM10) and oxides of nitrogen (e.g., NO2, and NOx). There is also evidence that ethnic minorities experience a mixed exposure in comparison to the majority population being sometimes higher and sometimes lower depending on the ethnic minority under consideration. The studies using data at the individual level in this review are mainly focused on pregnant women or new mothers, in these studies deprivation and ethnicity are more likely to be linked to higher exposures of poor air quality. Therefore, there is evidence in this review that the burden of higher pollutants falls disproportionally on different social groups.

scholarly journals Modelling of the public health costs of fine particulate matter and results for Finland in 2015

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jaakko Kukkonen ◽  
Mikko Savolahti ◽  
Yuliia Palamarchuk ◽  
Timo Lanki ◽  
Väinö Nurmi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Particulate Matter ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Transport Model ◽  
Fine Particulate Matter ◽  
Ambient Air ◽  
Health Costs ◽  
The Public ◽  
Fine Particulate

Abstract. We have developed an integrated tool of assessment that can be used for evaluating the public health costs caused by the concentrations of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in ambient air. The model can be used in assessing the impacts of various alternative air quality abatement measures, policies and strategies. The model has been applied for the evaluation of the costs of the domestic emissions that influence the concentrations of PM2.5 in Finland in 2015. The model includes the impacts on human health; however, it does not address the impacts on climate change or the state of the environment. First, the national Finnish emissions were evaluated using the Finnish Regional Emission Scenarios model (FRES) on a resolution of 250 × 250 m2 for the whole of Finland. Second, the atmospheric dispersion was analyzed by using the chemical transport model SILAM and the source-receptor matrices contained in the FRES model. Third, the health impacts were assessed by combining the spatially resolved concentration and population datasets, and by analyzing the impacts for various health outcomes. Fourth, the economic impacts for the health outcomes were evaluated. The model can be used to evaluate the costs of the health damages for various emission source categories, for a unit of emissions of PM2.5. It was found that economically the most effective measures would be the reduction of the emissions in urban areas of (i) road transport, (ii) non-road vehicles and machinery, and (iii) residential wood combustion. The reduction of the precursor emissions of PM2.5 was clearly less effective, compared with reducing directly the emissions of PM2.5. We have also designed a user-friendly web-based tool of assessment that is available open access.

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