Ragweed pollen rain impact on allergy rate and severity in Krasnodar: a three-year non-randomised controlled study

Background. The main hay fever agent in Krasnodar Krai is ragweed pollen (Ambrosia gen.). An important alerting guide for medical practitioners and allergic citizens is the seasonal anthetic calendar and pollen peak times.Objectives. Obtaining of relevant data on ragweed pollen air contamination rate in Krasnodar in a three-year-dynamics (2018–2020) to estimate the anthetic activity correlation with abiotic and anthropogenic factors and the role of pollen indicators in allergic morbidity.Methods. We surveyed the daily average ragweed pollen values in Krasnodar air. Allergic medical visits were analysed in terms of the ragweed anthetic activity and pollen air contamination of the city.Results. A maximal daily average ragweed pollen peak occurs in August: 663.35 p.g./m3 in 2018, 209.89 p.g./m3 in 2019, 80.62 p.g./m3 in 2020. Numbers of medical visits for pollinosis per a selected municipal medical facility: 314 in 2018, 335 in 2019 and 146 in 2020, with a peak period in September--October. Analyses of the air pollution impact on ragweed pollen production revealed a correlation between the pollen rate and values of CO (correlation coefficient r-0.356), NH3 (r-0.198) and dust pollution (r-0.361) in July, August, September and October 2018–2020.Conclusion. Analyses of climatic factors uncovered clear patterns: strongest anthesis corresponds to minimal humidity (<60%), the pollen grain content diminishes with lower humidities dropping to minimal with precipitations and increases at temperatures 20 °C and above. No significant dependency was observed between air pollution and the allergic pollen content. Anthesis in ragweed moderately correlates with the rate of medical visits.

Download Full-text

Monitoring the Level of the Air Contamination by Chemical Elements Impoundment in the Snow Melt of the Snow Blanket

Ecology and Industry of Russia ◽

10.18412/1816-0395-2021-8-47-53 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 25 (8) ◽

pp. 47-53

Author(s):

E.A. Bondarevich ◽

N.N. Kotsurzhinskaya ◽

O.A. Leskova ◽

L.A. Mikhailova ◽

G.Yu. Samoylenko

Keyword(s):

Air Pollution ◽

Aqueous Phase ◽

Climatic Factors ◽

Chemical Elements ◽

Critical Concentration ◽

Snow Melt ◽

Reference Sites ◽

Air Contamination ◽

Geochemical Conditions ◽

Technogenic Impact

The research on the snow blanket pollution in Chita and its environs has been conducted to determine 29 chemical elements in the snow melt. It has been revealed that there is a direct causality between the pollution degree of the snow aqueous phase and the level of air pollution in the technogenesis environment. While comparing some indicators of chemical elements content and their compounds in snow melt, a critical concentration in the reference sites has been identified. It has been noted that the standard ratios compliance for this phase in the conjoint backgrounds is not always realistic, requires the MPC indicators development for the snow under technogenic impact and consideration of natural geochemical conditions and climatic factors.

Download Full-text

VALORIZATION OF THE URBAN ENVIRONMENT OF SOUTH SERBIA FROM THE AIR QUALITY ASPECT

Knowledge International Journal ◽

10.35120/kij28041329m ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 28 (4) ◽

pp. 1329-1333

Author(s):

Miodrag Šmelcerović

Keyword(s):

Air Pollution ◽

Air Quality ◽

Urban Environment ◽

Pollution Sources ◽

Anthropogenic Sources ◽

Anthropogenic Factors ◽

Limit Values ◽

Cause And Effect ◽

Sources Of Pollution

The protection of the environment and people’s health from negative influences of the pollution of air as a medium of the environment requires constant observing of the air quality in accordance with international standards, the analysis of emission and imission of polluting matters in the air, and their connection with the sources of pollution. Having in mind the series of laws and delegated legislations which define the field of air pollution, it is necessary to closely observe these long-term processes, discovering cause-and-effect relationships between the activities of anthropogenic sources of emission of polluting matters and the level of air degradation. The relevant evaluation of the air quality of a certain area can be conducted if the level of concentration of polluting matters characteristic for the pollution sources of this area is observed in a longer period of time. The data obtained by the observation of the air pollution are the basis for creation of the recovery program of a certain area. Vranje is a town in South Serbia where there is a bigger number of anthropogenic pollution sources that can significantly diminish the air quality. The cause-and-effect relationship of the anthropogenic sources of pollution is conducted related to the analysis of systematized data which are in the relevant data base of the authorized institution The Institute of Public Health Vranje, for the time period between the year of 2012. and 2017. By the analysis of data of imission concentrations of typical polluting matters, the dominant polluting matters were determined on the territory of the town of Vranje, the ones that are the causers of the biggest air pollution and the risk for people’s health. Analysis of the concentration of soot, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides indicates their presence in the air of Vranje town area in concentrations that do not exceed the permitted limit values annually. The greatest pollution is caused by the soot content in the air, especially in the winter period when the highest number of days with the values above the limit was registered. By perceiving the influence of natural and anthropogenic factors, it is clear that the concentration of polluting matters can be decreased only by establishing control over anthropogenic sources of pollution, and thus it can be contributed to the improvement of the air quality of this urban environment.

Download Full-text

Effects of climatic factors and air pollution on damage of London plane (Platanus hispanica Mill.)

Horticultural Science ◽

10.17221/47/2009-hortsci ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 37 (No. 3) ◽

pp. 109-117 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

B. Gregorová ◽

K. Černý ◽

V. Holub ◽

V. Strnadová

Keyword(s):

Air Pollution ◽

Regression Analysis ◽

Health Status ◽

Climatic Factors ◽

Total Precipitation ◽

The Czech Republic ◽

Air Temperatures ◽

Significant Regression ◽

London Plane

London plane (Platanus hispanica Mill.) is considered as very tolerant to pollution and other stresses and in the Czech Republic it has been unaffected by important pathogens until now. However, in recent years the health status of London plane has been significantly deteriorating. During an 11-year survey it was found out that development of London plane damage was characterized by important fluctuations. Minimum value of population damage was 3.6% and maximum 97.5%. The health status of London plane was negatively influenced by long-term precipitation totals, higher total precipitation in May, low average air temperatures in January and May and higher NOx concentrations in the vegetation season. Using the multiple regression analysis a highly significant regression model was obtained, wherein the average air temperatures in January and May explain together 84% variability of London plane population damage. During the period of the highest damage, planes were moreover affected by the pathogen Apiognomonia veneta (Sacc. et Spegg.) Höhn.

Download Full-text

Metabolic indicators associated with non-communicable diseases deteriorated in COVID-19 outbreak: evidence from a two-center, retrospective study

10.1101/2020.07.02.20144857 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Ting Xue ◽

Lizhen Xu ◽

Yaqian Mao ◽

Wei Lin ◽

Jixing Liang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Glycosylated Hemoglobin ◽

Density Lipoprotein ◽

Communicable Diseases ◽

Controlled Study ◽

Rank Test ◽

Paired Data ◽

Peak Period ◽

Non Communicable Diseases ◽

Provincial Hospital ◽

Significant Difference

AbstractObjectiveOur study aimed to investigate whether the metabolic indicators associated with non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in the general population have changed during the COVID-19 outbreak.METHODSThis retrospective self-controlled study enrolled adult participants with metabolic indicators relate to NCDs followed at Fujian Provincial Hospital and Fujian Provincial Hospital South Branch. The metabolic indicators followed during January 1, 2020 and April 30, 2020, the peak period of the COVID-19 epidemic in China, were compared with the baseline value in the same period last year. Pared-samples T-test and Wilcoxon signed-rank test were performed to analyze the differences between paired data.ResultsThe follow-up total cholesterol was significantly increased than that of the baseline (4.73 (4.05, 5.46) mmol/L vs 4.71 (4.05, 5.43) mmol/L, p=0.019; n=3379). Similar results were observed in triglyceride (1.29 (0.91, 1.88) vs 1.25 (0.87, 1.81) mmol/L, p<0.001; n=3381), uric acid (330.0 (272.0, 397.0) vs 327.0 (271.0, 389.0) umol/L, p<0.001; n=3364), and glycosylated hemoglobin (6.50 (6.10, 7.30) vs 6.50 (6.10, 7.20) %, p=0.013; n=532). No significant difference was observed in low density lipoprotein, body mass index and blood pressure.ConclusionsMetabolic indicators associated with NCDs deteriorated in the COVID-19 outbreak. We should take action to prevent and control NCDs without delay.

Download Full-text

Assessment of Tolerance of Some Tree Species to Air Contamination Using Air Pollution Tolerance and Anticipated Performance Indices in Isfahan City, Iran

Journal of Advances in Environmental Health Research ◽

10.32598/jaehr.9.1.1195 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

pp. 31-44

Author(s):

Masoud Hatamimanesh ◽

◽

Samar Mortazavi ◽

Eisa Solgi ◽

Ahmad Mohtadi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Air Pollution ◽

Tree Species ◽

Urban Areas ◽

Ailanthus Altissima ◽

Tolerance Index ◽

Air Contamination ◽

Pollution Tolerance ◽

Morus Nigra ◽

Platanus Orientalis ◽

Anticipated Performance Index

Background: In the present study, the tolerance of plantain tree species (Platanus orientalis, Morus nigra and Ailanthus altissima) to air pollution was evaluated using Air Pollution Tolerance Index (ATPI) and Anticipated Performance Index (API) index in Isfahan city (Iran). Methods: For this purpose, three dominant trees growing at six stations in Isfahan was selected and then sampling of the tree leaves was performed, after being transferred to the laboratory, the ATPI and API index were calculated. Results: The results of calculating the ATPI in the leaves of M. nigra, P. orientalis and A. altissima species showed that the highest values of ATPI index was obtained in M. nigra at 20.77 and then detected in P. orientalis and A. altissima with the values 14.90 and 14.33 respectively. According to API values Morus nigra had the best performance (Score = 6 so it classified as the Excellent) while P. orientalis and A. altissima had very good and intermediate performance, respectively. Conclusion: According to ATPI and API index most tolerant tree species was Morus nigra, so it would be the most suitable species for plantation programme in urban and pollutant areas followed by Platanus orientalis and Ailanthus altissima. As well as our results suggest that Platanus orientalis and Ailanthus altissima can be used as bio-indicators of air pollution due to their low ATPI scores (lower than 16). The present study suggests that the combination of both the ATPI and API indices for identifying and selection of plant species is very useful for plantation in urban areas.

Download Full-text

Applying land use logistic regression models to assess different levels of air quality and to determine key environmental factors in Taiwan

10.5194/egusphere-egu21-1182 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Cheng-Shin Jang

Keyword(s):

Land Use ◽

Air Pollution ◽

Logistic Regression ◽

Air Quality ◽

Geographical Information ◽

Categorical Variables ◽

Anthropogenic Factors ◽

Forest Land ◽

Use Factors ◽

Different Levels

Due to fast industrialization and urbanization, air pollution is more and more serious in Taiwan. Generally, many anthropogenic factors can affect air quality; for example, &#160;exhaust gas from automobiles and motorcycles, factory emissions, fossil fuels, burning straw, incinerators, etc. The factors are highly associated with land use. Previous studies typically used multiple linear regression model to analyze the relationships between air quality and land use. This study adopts multi-threshold land use logistic regression (LULR) models with several continuous and categorical variables to assess different levels of fine particulate matters (PM2.5) in Taiwan and to determine key land-use factors controlling various levels of air PM2.5 pollution. First, data on annual air PM2.5 pollution in the Taiwan Island are collected in 2017. Four thresholds of 16.37, 18.68, 21.83, 25.83 &#181;g/m3 are determined based on the 20th, 40th, 60th, and 80th percentiles, respectively, of observed data. Geographical information system is then adopted to analyze data on 29 environmental variables obtained from the three main dimensions&#8211;information of land-use categories, amounts of specified pollution sources in townships, and geographical locations adjacent to monitoring stations of air quality. Finally, data in 2017 are employed to establish the LULR model and significant land-use factors causing air PM2.5 pollution are determined using stepwise LULR models for various levels of air PM2.5 pollution. Moreover, data in 2018 are used to verify the established LULR models. The analyzed results reveal that correct responses of the LULR models range from 83.6% to 100%. For the 20th-percentile threshold, locations and the industry land-use area are positively contributed to air pollution, while tempt densities and building, agriculture, forest land-use areas are negatively contributed to air pollution. For the 40th-percentile threshold, locations, plains with an elevation of less than 150 m, and agriculture land-use areas are related to air pollution. For the 60th-percentile threshold, locations are positively related to air pollution, while forest land-use areas are negatively related to air pollution. For the 80th-percentile threshold, locations and industry park areas associated with air pollution. According to the research results, a feasible strategy of environmental management and outdoor activities is proposed.

Download Full-text

Health condition of spruce stands in the Orlické hory Mts. in relation to climatic, anthropogenic and stand factors

Journal of Forest Science ◽

10.17221/2082-jfs ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 53 (No. 1) ◽

pp. 1-12 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

T. Žid ◽

P. Čermák

Keyword(s):

Air Pollution ◽

Climatic Factors ◽

Growing Season ◽

Health Condition ◽

Pollution Load ◽

Spruce Stands ◽

Climatic Anthropogenic ◽

The Given ◽

Slope Orientation ◽

Synergetic Action

In stands with the majority of spruce and aged over 70 years, 35 sample plots were laid out (in total 700 trees) in the vicinity of Anenský vrch Hill at altitudes over 800 m above sea level. In the course of the growing season 2005, the following parameters were determined: total defoliation, defoliation of the primary structure, percentage of secondary shoots, presence and extent of yellowing and browning. In 10 selected trees, branches were taken from crowns for morphological analyses and annual length increments of branches and numbers of secondary shoots in the particular years were determined. Total defoliation and the occurrence of yellowing were related to slope orientation and position of the plot towards the ridge. The number of shoots produced in the given year correlated with the level of annual NO3 deposition. The determined difference in the occurrence of yellowing between limed and unlimed plots cannot be interpreted unambiguously because limed and unlimed plots differ in exposure at the same time. The determined importance of slope orientation for the health condition of a stand shows that under the simultaneous air pollution load climatic factors are a factor deciding on the resulting effect of the synergetic action of stressors on forest stands.

Download Full-text