scholarly journals Exposure to ambient fine particulate matter and semen quality in Taiwan

2017 ◽  
Vol 75 (2) ◽  
pp. 148-154 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiang Qian Lao ◽  
Zilong Zhang ◽  
Alexis K H Lau ◽  
Ta-Chien Chan ◽  
Yuan Chieh Chuang ◽  
...  

ObjectivesEnvironmental exposure to chemicals has been considered a potential factor contributing to deteriorated semen quality. However, previous literature on exposure to air pollution and semen quality is inconsistent. We therefore investigated the health effects of short-term and long-term exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) on semen quality in Taiwanese men from the general population.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted among 6475 male participants aged 15–49 years who participated in a standard medical examination programme in Taiwan between 2001 and 2014. Semen quality was assessed according to the WHO 1999 guidelines, including sperm concentration, total motility, progressive motility and morphology. Three-month and 2-year average PM2.5 concentrations were estimated at each participant’s address using a spatiotemporal model based on satellite-derived aerosol optical depth data. Multivariable linear and logistic regressions were used to examine the associations between PM2.5 and semen quality.ResultsA robust association was observed between exposure to PM2.5 and decreased normal morphology. Every increment of 5 µg/m3 in 2-year average PM2.5 was significantly associated with a decrease of 1.29% in sperm normal morphology and a 26% increased risk of having the bottom 10% of sperm normal morphology, after adjusting for a wide range of potential confounders (p<0.001). On the other hand, an increment of 5 µg/m3 in 2-year average PM2.5 was associated with an increase of 1.03×106/mL in sperm concentration and a 10% decreased risk of being the bottom 10% of sperm concentration (both p<0.001). Similar results were found for 3-month PM2.5.ConclusionsExposure to ambient PM2.5 air pollution is associated with a lower level of sperm normal morphology and a higher level of sperm concentration.

Author(s):  
Megan Benka-Coker ◽  
Maggie Clark ◽  
Sarah Rajkumar ◽  
Bonnie Young ◽  
Annette Bachand ◽  
...  

Household air pollution is estimated to be responsible for nearly three million premature deaths annually. Measuring fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) may improve the limited understanding of the association of household air pollution and airway inflammation. We evaluated the cross-sectional association of FeNO with exposure to household air pollution (24-h average kitchen and personal fine particulate matter and black carbon; stove type) among 139 women in rural Honduras using traditional stoves or cleaner-burning Justa stoves. We additionally evaluated interaction by age. Results were generally consistent with a null association; we did not observe a consistent pattern for interaction by age. Evidence from ambient and household air pollution regarding FeNO is inconsistent, and may be attributable to differing study populations, exposures, and FeNO measurement procedures (e.g., the flow rate used to measure FeNO).


2021 ◽  
Vol 102 (6) ◽  
pp. 862-876
Author(s):  
L M Fatkhutdinova ◽  
E A Tafeeva ◽  
G A Timerbulatova ◽  
R R Zalyalov

The review presents up-to-date information on the health effects of ambient fine particulate matter, obtained in large cohort epidemiological studies, as well as in meta-analysis of pooled data. In addition, it summarizes the current data on the potential pathological mechanisms and existing monitoring systems. The literature search used the Scopus, PubMed, Russian Science Citation Index databases for 19902020. The results of epidemiological studies carried out in different countries indicate that fine particles in ambient air pose a serious threat to health. Scientific publications assessing the health impact of particulate matter show a wide range of adverse effects from the increasing incidence of upper and lower respiratory tract diseases, including exacerbations of bronchial asthma, pneumonia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, to a high incidence of myocardial infarction, strokes, diabetes mellitus type 2, as well as an increase in overall mortality from natural causes, mainly mortality from respiratory diseases, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, lung cancer. The effects of short-term exposures are described in more detail, while the effects of long-term exposure to fine particles are not well understood. Potential mechanisms of the harmful effects of fine particulate matter include oxidative stress, inflammatory reactions, disorders of autonomic regulation and heart rhythm, fine particles translocation through the alveolar barrier into the vascular bed with endothelial damage and thrombus formation, and genotoxicity. Ambient fine particulate matter is a manageable risk factor, and reductions in air pollution will have a significant impact on public health outcomes.


Author(s):  
Cavin K. Ward‐Caviness, ◽  
Mahdieh Danesh Yazdi, ◽  
Joshua Moyer, ◽  
Anne M. Weaver, ◽  
Wayne E. Cascio, ◽  
...  

Background Long‐term air pollution exposure is a significant risk factor for inpatient hospital admissions in the general population. However, we lack information on whether long‐term air pollution exposure is a risk factor for hospital readmissions, particularly in individuals with elevated readmission rates. Methods and Results We determined the number of readmissions and total hospital visits (outpatient visits+emergency room visits+inpatient admissions) for 20 920 individuals with heart failure. We used quasi‐Poisson regression models to associate annual average fine particulate matter at the date of heart failure diagnosis with the number of hospital visits and 30‐day readmissions. We used inverse probability weights to balance the distribution of confounders and adjust for the competing risk of death. Models were adjusted for age, race, sex, smoking status, urbanicity, year of diagnosis, short‐term fine particulate matter exposure, comorbid disease, and socioeconomic status. A 1‐µg/m 3 increase in fine particulate matter was associated with a 9.31% increase (95% CI, 7.85%–10.8%) in total hospital visits, a 4.35% increase (95% CI, 1.12%–7.68%) in inpatient admissions, and a 14.2% increase (95% CI, 8.41%–20.2%) in 30‐day readmissions. Associations were robust to different modeling approaches. Conclusions These results highlight the potential for air pollution to play a role in hospital use, particularly hospital visits and readmissions. Given the elevated frequency of hospitalizations and readmissions among patients with heart failure, these results also represent an important insight into modifiable environmental risk factors that may improve outcomes and reduce hospital use among patients with heart failure.


2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 7922-7927

In Taiwan country Annan, Chiayi, Giran, and Puzi cities are facing a serious fine particulate matter (PM2.5) issue. To date the impressive advance has been made toward understanding the PM2.5 issue, counting special temporal characterization, driving variables and well-being impacted. However, notable research as has been done on the interaction of the content between the selected cities of Taiwan country for particulate matter (PM2.5) concentration. In this paper, we purposed a visualization technique based on this principle of the visualization, cross-correlation method and also the time-series concentration with particulate matter (PM2.5) for different cities in Taiwan. The visualization also shows that the correlation between the different meteorological factors as well as the different air pollution pollutants for particular cities in Taiwan. This visualization approach helps to determine the concentration of the air pollution levels in different cities and also determine the Pearson correlation, r values of selected cities are Annan, Puzi, Giran, and Wugu.


2021 ◽  
pp. 62-75
Author(s):  
S. V. Kakareka ◽  
◽  
S. V. Salivonchyk ◽  

The paper deals with the quantification of fine particulate matter (PM10) dispersion in atmospheric air of an industrial city using the AERMOD model by an example of Zhlobin (the Gomel oblast, Belarus). Model input data and procedures for the emission inventory and obtaining spatially distributed estimates are described. Emissions and dispersion of PM10 from the main categories of sources are considered, including industrial facilities, road and off-road mobile sources, domestic sector, and agriculture. It is shown that the main contribution to high PM10 concentrations in atmospheric air is made by industrial enterprises, the domestic sector, and road transport. The spatial pattern of urban air pollution is described. The simulation results are compared with the results of PM10 measurements at the monitoring site, their satisfactory consistency is demonstrated.


Circulation ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 132 (suppl_3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kent G Meredith ◽  
C A Pope ◽  
Joseph B Muhlestein ◽  
Jeffrey L Anderson ◽  
John B Cannon ◽  
...  

Introduction: Air pollution is associated with greater cardiovascular event risk, but which types of events and the specific at-risk individuals remain unknown. Hypothesis: Short-term exposure to fine particulate matter (PM 2.5 ) is associated with greater risk of acute coronary syndromes (ACS), including ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI), and unstable angina (USA). Methods: ACS events treated at Intermountain Healthcare hospitals in Utah’s urban Wasatch Front region between September 10, 1993 and May 15, 2014 were included if the patient resided in that area (N=16,314). A time-stratified case-crossover design was performed matching the PM 2.5 exposure at the time of event with periods when the event did not occur (referent), for STEMI, NSTEMI, and USA. Patients served as their own controls. Odds ratios (OR) were determined for exposure threshold versus linear, non-threshold models. Results: In STEMI, NSTEMI, and USA patients, age averaged 62, 64, and 63 years; males constituted 73%, 66%, and 68%; current or past smoking was prevalent in 33%, 25%, and 26%; and significant coronary artery disease (CAD) (defined as ≥1 coronary with ≥70% stenosis) was found among 95%, 75%, and 74%, respectively. Short-term PM 2.5 exposure was associated with ACS events (Table). Conclusions: Short-term exposure of PM 2.5 was strongly associated with greater risk of STEMI, especially in patients with angiographic CAD. No association with NSTEMI was found, and only a weak effect for USA. This study supports a PM 2.5 exposure threshold of 25 μg/m 3 , below which little exposure effect is seen, while the effect is linear above that level.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document