Air Pollution Neurotoxicity in the Adult Brain: Emerging Concepts from Experimental Findings

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amin Haghani ◽  
Todd E. Morgan ◽  
Henry Jay Forman ◽  
Caleb E. Finch
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Brain Aging ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Epidemiological Studies ◽  
Adult Brain ◽  
Aging Conditions ◽  
Underlying Mechanisms ◽  
Experimental Findings ◽  
Underlying Diseases

Epidemiological studies are associating elevated exposure to air pollution with increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative disorders. In effect, air pollution accelerates many aging conditions that promote cognitive declines of aging. The underlying mechanisms and scale of effects remain largely unknown due to its chemical and physical complexity. Moreover, individual responses to air pollution are shaped by an intricate interface of pollutant mixture with the biological features of the exposed individual such as age, sex, genetic background, underlying diseases, and nutrition, but also other environmental factors including exposure to cigarette smoke. Resolving this complex manifold requires more detailed environmental and lifestyle data on diverse populations, and a systematic experimental approach. Our review aims to summarize the modest existing literature on experimental studies on air pollution neurotoxicity for adult rodents and identify key gaps and emerging challenges as we go forward. It is timely for experimental biologists to critically understand prior findings and develop innovative approaches to this urgent global problem. We hope to increase recognition of the importance of air pollution on brain aging by our colleagues in the neurosciences and in biomedical gerontology, and to support the immediate translation of the findings into public health guidelines for the regulation of remedial environmental factors that accelerate aging processes.

scholarly journals The Neighborhood Effect Averaging Problem (NEAP): An Elusive Confounder of the Neighborhood Effect

2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (9) ◽  
pp. 1841 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mei-Po Kwan
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Health Impact ◽  
Epidemiological Studies ◽  
Neighborhood Effect ◽  
Daily Mobility ◽  
Averaging Problem ◽  
People’S Daily ◽  
People's Daily

Ignoring people’s daily mobility and exposures to nonresidential contexts may lead to erroneous results in epidemiological studies of people’s exposures to and the health impact of environmental factors. This paper identifies and describes a phenomenon called neighborhood effect averaging, which may significantly confound the neighborhood effect as a result of such neglect when examining the health impact of mobility-dependent exposures (e.g., air pollution). Several recent studies that provide strong evidence for the neighborhood effect averaging problem (NEAP) are discussed. The paper concludes that, due to the observed attenuation of the neighborhood effect associated with people’s daily mobility, increasing the mobility of those who live in disadvantaged neighborhoods may be helpful for improving their health outcomes.

scholarly journals Chemo-Mechanical Interactions in the Ettringite Induced Expansion of Sulfate-Bearing Soils

Geosciences ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (9) ◽  
pp. 375
Author(s):  
Zhongmei Wang ◽  
Pawan Sigdel ◽  
Liangbo Hu
Keyword(s):  
Volume Expansion ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Chemical Processes ◽  
Crystallization Pressure ◽  
Mechanical Responses ◽  
Ettringite Formation ◽  
Mechanical Approach ◽  
Underlying Mechanisms ◽  
Experimental Findings ◽  
Geochemical Reaction

Expansive sulfate-bearing soils are frequently encountered in transportation and construction practices. These soils are often treated with a lime or cement stabilizer to improve the relevant qualities. However, the reaction between sulfate and alumina in soils and calcium of lime or cement can lead to the formation of ettringite, an expansive sulfate mineral resulting in soil swelling or heaving. The underlying mechanisms often involve intricate interactions between chemical processes and mechanical responses. The present study explores a chemo–mechanical approach in an attempt to quantify several mechanisms potentially responsible for the volume expansion, including the geochemical formation of ettringite, crystallization pressure, and osmosis-induced swelling. The geochemical reaction leading to ettringite formation is examined with a specific focus on the circumstances under which it may lead to volume change. The crystallization pressure developed during the ettringite formation may also play a significant role in the soil expansion and is investigated in the present study based on thermodynamic formulations, and the resulting volume expansion is simulated. The osmosis-induced swelling is studied within the context of the chemo–mechanical framework, and its kinetics is also explored. Numerical simulations are performed in the present study to examine different scenarios driven by distinct predominant mechanisms. In particular, the interplay between ettringite formation and osmosis swelling as interpreted from some recently-reported experimental studies shows that these mechanisms can all contribute to the observed expansion processes, and overall, the modeling results are consistent with the experimental findings.

scholarly journals The impact of outdoor air pollution on COVID-19: a review of evidence from in vitro, animal, and human studies

2021 ◽  
Vol 30 (159) ◽  
pp. 200242
Author(s):  
Thomas Bourdrel ◽  
Isabella Annesi-Maesano ◽  
Barrak Alahmad ◽  
Cara N. Maesano ◽  
Marie-Abèle Bind
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Uv Radiation ◽  
Air Pollutants ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Population Level ◽  
Epidemiological Studies ◽  
Human Studies ◽  
The Impact

Studies have pointed out that air pollution may be a contributing factor to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. However, the specific links between air pollution and severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 infection remain unclear. Here we provide evidence from in vitro, animal and human studies from the existing literature. Epidemiological investigations have related various air pollutants to COVID-19 morbidity and mortality at the population level, however, those studies suffer from several limitations. Air pollution may be linked to an increase in COVID-19 severity and lethality through its impact on chronic diseases, such as cardiopulmonary diseases and diabetes. Experimental studies have shown that exposure to air pollution leads to a decreased immune response, thus facilitating viral penetration and replication. Viruses may persist in air through complex interactions with particles and gases depending on: 1) chemical composition; 2) electric charges of particles; and 3) meteorological conditions such as relative humidity, ultraviolet (UV) radiation and temperature. In addition, by reducing UV radiation, air pollutants may promote viral persistence in air and reduce vitamin D synthesis. Further epidemiological studies are needed to better estimate the impact of air pollution on COVID-19. In vitro and in vivo studies are also strongly needed, in particular to more precisely explore the particle–virus interaction in air.

scholarly journals Association between air pollution and type 2 diabetes: an updated review of the literature

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
pp. 204201881989704 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yongze Li ◽  
Lu Xu ◽  
Zhongyan Shan ◽  
Weiping Teng ◽  
Cheng Han
Keyword(s):  
Type 2 Diabetes ◽  
Air Pollution ◽  
Air Pollutants ◽  
Chemical Constituents ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Epidemiological Studies ◽  
Air Pollutant ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
Critical Public Health

Air pollution and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) are critical public health issues worldwide. A large number of epidemiological studies have highlighted the adverse effects of air pollution on diabetes, and include risk profiles for different exposure durations, study design types, subgroup populations, and effects of air pollution components. We researched PubMed, Google Scholar, and Web of Science to identify studies on the association between air pollution and T2DM from January 2009 to January 2019. The aim of this review is to provide a brief overview of epidemiological and experimental studies on air pollution associated with T2DM from the latest research, which may provide practical information about this relationship and possible mechanisms. Current cumulative evidence appears to suggest that T2DM-related biomarkers increase with increasing exposure duration and concentration of air pollutants. The chemical constituents of the air pollutant mixture may affect T2DM to varying degrees. The suggested mechanisms whereby air pollutants induce T2DM include increased inflammation, oxidative stress, and endoplasmic reticulum stress.

Strong effect of relative humidity on dryland lichens under climate change

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philipp Porada ◽  
Selina Baldauf ◽  
Jose Raggio ◽  
Fernando Maestre ◽  
Britta Tietjen
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Relative Humidity ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Early Morning ◽  
Ecosystem Functions ◽  
Lichen Cover ◽  
Key Factor ◽  
Underlying Mechanisms ◽  
Experimental Findings

<p>Manipulative experiments typically show a decrease in dryland biocrust cover and altered species composition under climate change. Biocrust-forming lichens, such as the globally distributed <em>Diploschistes diacapsis</em>, are particularly affected and show a decrease in cover with simulated climate change. However, the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood, and long-term interacting effects of different drivers are largely unknown due to the short-term nature of the experimental studies conducted so far. We addressed this gap and successfully parameterised a process-based model for <em>D. diacapsis</em> to quantify how changing atmospheric CO<sub>2</sub> , temperature, rainfall amount and relative humidity affect its photosynthetic activity and cover. We also mimicked a long-term manipulative climate change experiment to understand the mechanisms underlying observed patterns in the field. The model reproduced observed experimental findings: warming reduced lichen cover, whereas less rainfall had no effect on lichen performance. This warming effect was caused by the associated decrease in relative humidity and non-rainfall water inputs, which are major water sources for biocrust-forming lichens. Warming alone, however, increased cover because higher temperatures promoted photosynthesis during early morning hours with high lichen activity. When combined, climate variables showed non-additive effects on lichen cover, and effects of increased CO<sub>2</sub> levelled off with decreasing levels of relative humidity. Our results show that a decrease in relative humidity, rather than an increase in temperature, may be the key factor for the survival of the lichen <em>D. diacapsis</em> under climate change and that effects of increased CO<sub>2</sub> levels might be offset by a reduction in non-rainfall water inputs in the future. Because of a global trend towards warmer and drier air and the widespread global distribution of <em>D. diacapsis</em>, this will affect lichen-dominated dryland biocrust communities and their role in regulating ecosystem functions worldwide.</p>

scholarly journals Environmental factors and breast cancer

Medicina ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 46 (12) ◽  
pp. 867 ◽  
Author(s):  
Loreta Strumylaitė ◽  
Kristina Mechonošina ◽  
Šarūnas Tamašauskas
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Risk Factors ◽  
Breast Cancer Risk ◽  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Cancer Risk ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Epidemiological Studies ◽  
Breast Cancer Cell Lines ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Reproductive Life

This review summarizes the results of studies on the effects of environment on breast cancer risk. As known risk factors such as reproductive life, inheritance, and socioeconomic status are estimated to explain only about half of the breast cancer cases, it has been thought that environmental factors could also be related to the risk of this disease. It is known that ionizing radiation is an environmental risk factor increasing the risk of breast cancer. The data of experimental studies show that some organochlorines could be associated with breast cancer risk although the data from epidemiological studies are not consistent due to the difficulties to assess exposure and other risk factors. Recent experimental studies show that cadmium is an environmental factor that mimics the effects of estradiol in estrogen-responsive breast cancer cell lines while solar radiation possibly decreases the risk due to protective effect of vitamin D. The data on the effect of electromagnetic fields are not consistent. Although evidence about the effect of environmental factors on the risk of breast cancer is not convincing, some of these factors together with inheritance, reproductive life, and age at exposure could be associated with an increased risk of the disease.

Air Pollution Neurotoxicity in the Adult Brain: Emerging Concepts from Experimental Findings

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-25
Author(s):  
Amin Haghani ◽  
Todd E. Morgan ◽  
Henry Jay Forman ◽  
Caleb E. Finch
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Adult Brain ◽  
Experimental Findings

AWARENESS ABOUT INDOOR AIR POLLUTION IN GENERAL POPULATION OF RAWALPINDI AND ISLAMABAD

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 80-83
Author(s):  
Nadia Tariq ◽  
Tamkeen Jaffry ◽  
Rahma Fiaz ◽  
Abdul Majid Rajput ◽  
Sadaf Khalid
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
General Population ◽  
Indoor Air ◽  
Indoor Air Pollution ◽  
Economic Status ◽  
Educational Status ◽  
Epidemiological Studies ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Significant Difference

Background: Indoor air pollutants are increasingly being associated with respiratory illnesses leading to high degree of morbidity and mortality. There are not sufficient epidemiological studies from Pakistan which assess level of awareness of indoor air pollution resulting in respiratory diseases in population. Methods: This cross sectional survey was carried out on general population of Rawalpindi/Islamabad. Sample size was 223 study subjects selected by non-probability convenient sampling. Knowledge of the study subjects was determined with regard to indoor air pollution, its effects on health and different sources of indoor air pollution with the help of a questionnaire. The influence of age, gender, educational status and socio economic status on the level of awareness was also analyzed. Results: Out of total 223 participants, 115 were males and108 females. Participants aware of indoor air pollution were 91.5% and adequate awareness about its sources was 80.7%. Those who knew indoor air pollution is detrimental to health were 95.1%. Awareness about building construction dust as source of indoor air pollution was maximum (84.8%). There was significant difference in awareness among participants with different monthly incomes and educational status and also between males and females. Conclusion: This study concludes that general population of Rawalpindi/Islamabad has fairly good awareness about sources of indoor air pollution. Use of harmful material causing indoor air pollution should be limited or substituted with better ones where possible.

Mechanisms underlying heart failure in type 2 diabetes mellitus

2019 ◽  
pp. 37-39
Keyword(s):  
Diabetes Mellitus ◽  
Heart Failure ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Vascular Complications ◽  
Molecular Alterations ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Cardioprotective Effects ◽  
Underlying Mechanisms ◽  
Cardio Vascular

The prevalence of heart failure is markedly increased in individuals with diabetes mellitus. Numerous observational studies suggest that this increased risk for heart failure can be attributed to exacerbated vascular complications and the presence of increased risk factors in diabetic subjects. In addition, experimental studies revealed the presence of a number of distinct molecular alterations in the myocardium that occur independently of vascular disease and hypertension. Many of these molecular alterations are similarly observed in failing hearts of nondiabetic patients and have thus been proposed to contribute to the increased risk for heart failure in diabetes. The interest in understanding the underlying mechanisms of impaired cardio- vascular outcomes in diabetic individuals has much increased since the demonstration of cardioprotective effects of SGLT-2 inhibitors and GLP-1 receptor agonists in recent clinical trials. The current review therefore summarizes the distinct mechanisms that have been proposed to increase the risk for heart failure in diabetes mellitus.

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