Effects of Atmospheric Pollutants on Children Asthma Outbreaks

The effects of air pollutants, weather conditions, airborne pollen and spores on the incidence of emergency room (ER) visits of children for acute asthma attacks were investigated. One-year retrospective study was done. Data on daily concentrations of air pollutants, airborne allergens and weather conditions were collected and compared with the ER visits of 2431 asthmatic children (age 1-18 years) in the Schneider Medical Center, near Tel Aviv. ER visits of asthmatic children showed a negative correlation with the measured O3 concentrations and with extreme ambient temperatures. A positive correlation was found with high barometric pressure with NO2 and SO2 concentrations. An exceptionally high incidence of ER visits of asthmatic children was observed during September, coinciding with the beginning of the school year. When September was excluded from the annual calculations the correlation between ER visits and environmental factors increased. 49% of the variance of ER visits were explained by O3 alone, 46% by NO2 alone, 54% by O3+NO2, and 31% by weather parameters. 58% of the variation was explained by the combination of air pollutants and weather parameters. Airborne particulates did not show any meaningful correlation with ER visits. The major factors associated with severe asthma attacks were high NO2 and SO2. The negative correlation with O3 implies that at certain concentrations, O3 may have a beneficial effect. The particularly high number of ER visits at the beginning of the school year was presumably associated with an increase in viral infections combined with emotional stresses.

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Effect of Nedocromil Sodium on Aspecific Bronchial Hyper-Reactivity in Asthmatic Children

Mediators of Inflammation ◽

10.1155/s096293519400075x ◽

1994 ◽

Vol 3 (7) ◽

pp. S43-S47 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

A. Fiocchi ◽

P. Signoroni ◽

P. Bruni ◽

M. Galeone ◽

E. DeCet ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Viral Infections ◽

Tertiary Care ◽

Nedocromil Sodium ◽

Atmospheric Pollutants ◽

Double Blind Study ◽

Double Blind ◽

Ultrasonic Nebulization ◽

Asthmatic Children ◽

Parallel Group ◽

Perennial Allergens

The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether nedocromil sodium benefits urban asthmatic children showing seasonal bronchial hyper-reactivity to ultrasonic nebulization of distilled water (UNDW). A prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, double-blind study was carried out at the outpatient pulmonology service at a tertiary-care teaching hospital. Twelve children living in Milan, who were 7–17 years of age, who were SPT and RAST-negative to perennial allergens, who were suffering from episodic asthma, and showing seasonal bronchial hyper-reactivity to UNDW during winter, participated in this study. All the children received either placebo or nedocromil sodium, 4 mg every 6 h for 6 weeks. Spirometry and UNDW challenge were done at the following times: day−7; day 0; day 1; day 7; day 14; day 28; day 42. No differences were found in the basal spirometric parameters, which were normal in both nedocromil and placebo groups. Bronchial reactivity to UNDW was found to be significantly decreased in the group treated with nedocromtl starting from day 7. It is therefore concluded that nedocromil sodium can reverse bronchial hyper-reactivity caused by seasonal factors such as cold, viral infections and atmospheric pollutants in children suffering from asthma.

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Potential Fertilization Capacity of Two Grapevine Varieties: Effects on Agricultural Production in Designation of Origin Areas in the Northwestern Iberian Peninsula

Agronomy ◽

10.3390/agronomy10070961 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (7) ◽

pp. 961

Author(s):

J. Antonio Cortiñas Rodríguez ◽

María Fernández-González ◽

Estefanía González-Fernández ◽

Rosa A. Vázquez-Ruiz ◽

F. Javier Rodríguez-Rajo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Airborne Pollen ◽

Germination Rate ◽

Pollen Viability ◽

Weather Conditions ◽

Triphenyl Tetrazolium Chloride ◽

Tetrazolium Chloride ◽

The Mean ◽

Study Sites ◽

Fertilization Capacity

In the present study, we analyzed the main parameters related with the potential fertilization ability of two grapevine varieties, Godello and Mencía, during the years 2017 and 2018. The research was carried out in two vineyards of the Galician winegrowing Designation of Origin areas of Ribeiro and Ribeira Sacra. Ten vines of each variety were selected for bunch and flower counting, pollen calculations, pollen viability studies by means of aceto-carmine (AC) stain and 2, 3, 5-triphenyl tetrazolium chloride (TTC) methods, and the determination of their germination rate. In all vineyards the 50% fruitset was reached, except for Godello in Cenlle during 2017. The mean coulure value was higher for Godello (40.5%) than for Mencía (31%). Analyzing the pollen production per plant and airborne pollen levels, we observed important discordances between them, which can be due to the influence of weather conditions and be related with self-pollination processes. We found important differences on pollen viability depending on the applied method and variety, with higher values for the AC method than the TTC for both varieties in all study plots, and higher values for Mencía variety than Godello. Regarding germination rates, we observed a marked reduction in 2017 with respect to 2018, in all study sites and for both varieties. The analyzed parameters were useful to explain the different productive abilities of Godello and Mencía varieties in the two studied bioclimatic regions of Ribeiro and Ribeira Sacra.

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Reproductive performance of spiralling whitefly on guava and impact of weather parameters on its immature stages

SAARC Journal of Agriculture ◽

10.3329/sja.v15i2.35165 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 15 (2) ◽

pp. 207-214

Author(s):

I Hossain ◽

MMH Khan ◽

SMH Jahan

Keyword(s):

Relative Humidity ◽

Negative Correlation ◽

Reproductive Performance ◽

Significant Positive Correlation ◽

Instar Nymph ◽

Maximum Temperature ◽

Immature Stages ◽

Positive Correlation ◽

Aleurodicus Dispersus ◽

Weather Parameters

The study was conducted to know the reproductive performance of spiralling whitefly on guava. Number of colony, eggs, 1st instar, 2nd instar, 3rd instar and 4th instar nymphs per five leaves ranged from 6 to 15, 8 to 32, 0 to 44, 0 to 22, 0 to 45 and 0 to 28, respectively. Maximum number of adults and nymphs were found in the month of January. Highest longevity of Aleurodicus dispersus (21.5 days) was recorded in adult while the lowest was in 2nd instar nymph (6.4 days). The number of colony/leaf and number of 3rd and 4th instar nymphs of A. dispersus had significant positive correlation with minimum and maximum temperature while non-significant positive correlation is observed between the number of egg/colony, the number 1st and 2nd instar nymphs with minimum and maximum temperature. A. dispersus showed nonsignificant positive correlation with minimum and maximum relative humidity regarding number of colony/leaf, 2nd instar nymph while nonsignificant negative correlation with 4th instar nymph.SAARC J. Agri., 15(2): 207-214 (2017)

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Occupational exposure to particles and air pollutants in a car paint workshop

European Journal of Public Health ◽

10.1093/eurpub/ckab120.051 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 31 (Supplement_2) ◽

Author(s):

Ana Ferreira ◽

António Loureiro ◽

Silvia Seco ◽

João Paulo Figueiredo ◽

Susana Paixão ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Carbon Dioxide ◽

Air Quality ◽

Occupational Exposure ◽

Occupational Health ◽

Air Pollutants ◽

Statistical Tests ◽

Well Being ◽

Atmospheric Pollutants ◽

Inhalable Particles ◽

The Government

Abstract Background In auto paint workshops there are several chemical, physical and biological agents that are harmful to health, making it essential to guarantee the well-being and safety of workers. In this sense, the assessment of the Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) of these places, in an associated context of occupational health, proves to be important. Methods The present study had as main objective to evaluate the occupational exposure of workers in an automobile painting workshop to particles and air pollutants. The data collection consisted of the evaluation of air quality, using for this purpose, the assessment of atmospheric pollutants carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO2), Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC), formaldehyde (CH2O), carbon dioxide sulfur (SO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and particulate matter (PM2.5, PM10, breathable and inhalable particles) and the meteorological variables temperature and relative humidity. The collected data was processed using the statistical software IBM SPSS version 27.0. The interpretation of the statistical tests was performed with a 95% confidence level for a maximum random error up to 5%. Results We found that the concentrations of inhalable particles recorded in some workstations exceeded the legally established exposure limit value. Conclusions IAQ should be a priority concern for the government and for all professionals working in the area of Occupational Health and Safety having in mind the implementation of measures that promote the continuous improvement of the IAQ of the facilities, thus guaranteeing a good assessment and monitoring of workstations, preventing atmospheric pollutants from reaching concentrations that could put workers' health at risk.

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Correlations between weather parameters, atmospheric hydrogen sulphide level and vitamin B12 administration to H2S exposed workers

Romanian Journal of Occupational Medicine ◽

10.2478/rjom-2019-0001 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 70 (1) ◽

pp. 6-11

Author(s):

Livia-Cristina Borcan ◽

Florin Borcan ◽

Elena-Ana Păuncu ◽

Mirela Cleopatra Tomescu

Keyword(s):

Blood Pressure ◽

Vitamin B12 ◽

Hydrogen Sulphide ◽

Prolonged Exposure ◽

Numerical Data ◽

Weather Conditions ◽

Professional Exposure ◽

Exposed Workers ◽

Weather Parameters ◽

One Year

Abstract Hydrogen sulphide, a highly toxic gas, can be used in crenotherapy to balance all metabolic processes (minerals, fats and proteins). The main aims of this study were to correlate the weather characteristics with the atmospheric H2S level and to evaluate the antidote activity of B12 Vitamin in the case of prolonged exposure to this compound. 46 volunteers, people from the medical staff of an important Romanian thermal water spring spa, with professional exposure at H2S, were enrolled in this study; numerical data about their blood pressure, atmospheric H2S concentration and about the weather conditions were collected every month for one year. The results indicate an improvement in the blood pressure of volunteers treated with Vitamin B12; no significant correlation between the concentration of total urinary sulphur and the concentration of atmospheric H2S level was found.

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Some correlations between parameters of winter wheat technological quality

Acta Universitatis Agriculturae et Silviculturae Mendelianae Brunensis ◽

10.11118/actaun200654010023 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 54 (1) ◽

pp. 23-30

Author(s):

Jindřiška Kučerová

Keyword(s):

Winter Wheat ◽

Grain Yield ◽

Protein Content ◽

Negative Correlation ◽

Weather Conditions ◽

Loaf Volume ◽

Bread Making ◽

Wheat Varieties ◽

Baking Quality ◽

Technological Quality

The results of three-year trials (1999 to 2001) conducted with six winter wheat varieties in which was studied the grain yield and parameters of technological quality. Varieties of wheat come from four different localities of the Czech Republic. The most favourable weather conditions, a lot of precipitation and high temperature in the course of ripening from three years were proved in the year 2000. The best grain yield were in 2001 (average of sites 8.84 t/ha) and variety Semper, worst quality, had the highest grain yield of 9.17 t/ha, the least grain yield had Sulamit, best quality (7.94 t/ha). The laboratory analysis revealed negative correlation between grain yield and baking quality. The number of statistically highly significant correlations among bread-making quality parameters too.The negative correlation was of grain yield and grain volume mass (P < 0.05), Zeleny test and protein content taken as a whole for three years (P < 0.01). The correlation of loaf volume, which is the traits of baking quality and Zeleny test (r = 0.6016**), protein content (r = 0.5932**), dough stability (r = 0.2898**) and flour water absorption (r = 0.3632**) was positive (P < 0.01).

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Effect of the weather conditions during solution preparation on lysozyme crystallization

Journal of Applied Crystallography ◽

10.1107/s1600576717011086 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 50 (5) ◽

pp. 1341-1351 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Qing-Di Cheng ◽

Rui-Qing Chen ◽

Jin He ◽

Da-Wei Li ◽

Fan Yang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Particulate Matter ◽

Environmental Factors ◽

Protein Crystallization ◽

Weather Conditions ◽

Crystallization Experiment ◽

Solution Preparation ◽

Crystallization Solution ◽

Potential Factor ◽

Weather Parameters ◽

Set Up

Protein crystallization is a delicate process that is always sensitive to environmental factors. When the environmental factors are not well controlled or not controlled at all, identical crystallization droplets from the same mother liquid may yield different crystallization results. One environmental factor, the weather conditions during crystallization solution preparation, is not usually considered as a parameter for protein crystallization. In this paper, it is shown that the weather parameters during preparation of the crystallization experiment, including the ambient temperature, humidity, pressure and particulate matter in the air, can all affect the reproducibility of lysozyme crystallization. An identical lysozyme crystallization experiment was repeated for an entire year, and the weather conditions when each crystallization experiment was set up were recorded along with the crystallization results. Among the parameters recorded, the humidity during the experiment setup showed the strongest effect on lysozyme crystallization. On the basis of these results, it is suggested that the weather conditions during crystallization solution preparation should be considered as a potential factor that can influence protein crystallization.

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Behaviour of Air Pollutants under Inversion Weather Conditions

Environmental Meteorology ◽

10.1007/978-94-009-2939-5_9 ◽

1988 ◽

pp. 115-124 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

G. Baumbach ◽

K. Baumann ◽

F. Dröscher

Keyword(s):

Air Pollutants ◽

Weather Conditions

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647. Diagnoses Associated with Temperature ≥104°F in Adults

Open Forum Infectious Diseases ◽

10.1093/ofid/ofz360.715 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 6 (Supplement_2) ◽

pp. S298-S299

Author(s):

Sharon Chi ◽

Gary Simon ◽

Amy Weintrob

Keyword(s):

West Nile Virus ◽

Cell Carcinoma ◽

Bacterial Infections ◽

Hospice Care ◽

Viral Infections ◽

Medical Center ◽

Maximum Temperature ◽

Unknown Primary ◽

Washington Dc ◽

West Nile

Abstract Background Temperature ≥104°F (T ≥ 104) is uncommon in adults. The diagnoses and clinical characteristics were reviewed for patients with T ≥ 104. Methods Infectious disease physicians reviewed charts of patients with T ≥ 104 seen at the Washington DC Veterans Affairs Medical Center from 2009 to 2018. The following was collected: demographics, past medical history, medications, WBC, maximum temperature, time to defervescence, etiology of T ≥ 104, and death. Results Less than 0.01% of all patient encounters were associated with T ≥ 104. Of the 60 most recent patients with T ≥ 104 (from 2014 to 2018), the median age was 63.5 years (range 23–97), 65% were African American, 88% were male. 82% of those with T ≥ 104 were hospitalized; 76% of those had the T ≥ 104 on or within 72 hours of admission. 25% of the 60 patients had underlying cancer, 10% HIV, 30% DM, 13% CKD, and 13% were on steroids/immunosuppressants/biologics. The median peak temperature was 104.3°F (interquartile range 104.0 – 104.7); maximum was 106.8°F. 82% had T ≥ 104 for only 1 day and the median time to defervescence was 2 days. There were 55 diagnoses amongst 48 patients; 12 had no identifiable etiology of T ≥ 104. Of the identifiable diagnoses, there were 45 (81.8%) infections, 4 (7.3%) metastatic malignancies (1 Hodgkin’s lymphoma, 1 small cell carcinoma, 1 squamous cell carcinoma, 1 unknown primary), 2 (3.6%) intracranial bleeds, 2 (3.6%) GI bleeds, 1 (1.8%) mixed collagen vascular disease, and 1 (1.8%) neuroleptic malignant syndrome. The most common infections were 15 cases of pneumonia including 2 Legionella, 8 complicated UTI/pyelonephritis, 3 primary bacteremia, 2 West Nile virus, 2 influenza, and 2 cholangitis with bacteremia. The median WBC of infectious diagnoses (9.8) was significantly higher than noninfectious diagnoses (5.8, P = 0.006, T-test). Of the 60 patients, 20% died within 30 days of T ≥ 104 including 2 patients who died of sepsis. 67% of those who died were receiving hospice care. Conclusion T ≥ 104 is rare in adults and is usually associated with bacterial infections such as pneumonia (including Legionella), complicated UTIs/pyelonephritis, and primary bacteremia but may also be seen with viral infections such as West Nile virus and influenza. Mortality is high. Disclosures All authors: No reported disclosures.

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