The Impact of Atmospheric Pollutants on Human Health and Economic Loss Assessment

The impact of air pollution on human health is becoming increasingly severe, and economic losses are a significant impediment to economic and social development. This paper investigates the impact of air pollutants on the respiratory system and its action mechanism by using information on inpatients with respiratory diseases from two IIIA (highest) hospitals in Wuhan from 2015 to 2019, information on air pollutants, and meteorological data, as well as relevant demographic and economic data in China. This paper describes the specific conditions of air pollutant concentrations and respiratory diseases, quantifies the degree of correlation between the two, and then provides a more comprehensive assessment of the economic losses using descriptive statistical methods, the generalized additive model (GAM), cost of illness approach (COI), and scenario analysis. According to the findings, the economic losses caused by PM2.5, PM10, SO2, NO2, and CO exposure are USD 103.17 million, USD 70.54 million, USD 98.02 million, USD 40.35 million, and USD 142.38 million, for a total of USD 454.46 billion, or approximately 0.20% of Wuhan’s GDP in 2019. If the government tightens control of major air pollutants and meets the WHO-recommended criterion values, the annual evitable economic losses would be approximately USD 69.4 million or approximately 0.03% of Wuhan’s GDP in 2019. As a result, the relevant government departments must strengthen air pollution control to mitigate the impact of air pollution on population health and the associated economic losses.

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The Multi-Time Scale Changes in Air Pollutant Concentrations and Its Mechanism before and during the COVID-19 Periods: A Case Study from Guiyang, Guizhou Province

Atmosphere ◽

10.3390/atmos12111490 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (11) ◽

pp. 1490

Author(s):

Zhihua Su ◽

Xin Li ◽

Yunlong Liu ◽

Bing Deng

Keyword(s):

Air Pollution ◽

Time Scale ◽

Air Pollutants ◽

Photochemical Reactions ◽

Air Pollutant ◽

Guizhou Province ◽

Air Pollution Control ◽

Pollutant Concentrations ◽

Air Pollutant Concentrations ◽

The Impact

The lockdown during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic provides a scarce opportunity to assess the efficiency of air pollution mitigation. Herein, the monitoring data of air pollutants were thoroughly analyzed together with meteorological parameters to explore the impact of human activity on the multi-time scale changes of air pollutant concentrations in Guiyang city, located in Southwest China. The results show that the COVID-19 lockdown had different effects on the criteria air pollutants, i.e., PM2.5 (diameter ≤ 2.5 μm), PM10 (diameter ≤ 10 μm), sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), carbon monoxide (CO), and ozone (O3) concentrations. The lockdown caused a significant drop in NO2 concentration. During the first-level lockdown period, the NO2 concentration declined sharply by 8.41 μg·m−3 (45.68%). The decrease in NO concentration caused the “titration effect” to weaken, leading to a sharp increase in O3 concentration. Although human activities resumed partially and the “titration effect” enhanced certainly during the second-level lockdown period, the meteorological conditions became more conducive to the formation of O3 by photochemical reactions. Atmosphere oxidation was enhanced to promote the generation of secondary aerosols through gas–particle transitions, thus compensating for the reduced primary emission of PM2.5. The implication of this study is that the appropriate air pollution control policies must be initiated to suppress the secondary generation of both PM2.5 and O3.

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The modification effect of temperature on the relationship between air pollutants and daily incidence of influenza in Ningbo, China

Respiratory Research ◽

10.1186/s12931-021-01744-6 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 22 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Rui Zhang ◽

Yujie Meng ◽

Hejia Song ◽

Ran Niu ◽

Yu Wang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Air Pollution ◽

High Temperature ◽

Air Pollutants ◽

Meteorological Data ◽

Effect Of Temperature ◽

Distributed Lag ◽

Modification Effect ◽

Incidence Risk ◽

The Impact ◽

The Relationship

Abstract Background Although exposure to air pollution has been linked to many health issues, few studies have quantified the modification effect of temperature on the relationship between air pollutants and daily incidence of influenza in Ningbo, China. Methods The data of daily incidence of influenza and the relevant meteorological data and air pollution data in Ningbo from 2014 to 2017 were retrieved. Low, medium and high temperature layers were stratified by the daily mean temperature with 25th and 75th percentiles. The potential modification effect of temperature on the relationship between air pollutants and daily incidence of influenza in Ningbo was investigated through analyzing the effects of air pollutants stratified by temperature stratum using distributed lag non-linear model (DLNM). Stratified analysis by sex and age were also conducted. Results Overall, a 10 μg/m3 increment of O3, PM2.5, PM10 and NO2 could increase the incidence risk of influenza with the cumulative relative risk of 1.028 (95% CI 1.007, 1.050), 1.061 (95% CI 1.004, 1.122), 1.043 (95% CI 1.003, 1.085), and 1.118 (95% CI 1.028, 1.216), respectively. Male and aged 7–17 years were more sensitive to air pollutants. Through the temperature stratification analysis, we found that temperature could modify the impacts of air pollution on daily incidence of influenza with high temperature exacerbating the impact of air pollutants. At high temperature layer, male and the groups aged 0–6 years and 18–64 years were more sensitive to air pollution. Conclusion Temperature modified the relationship between air pollution and daily incidence of influenza and high temperature would exacerbate the effects of air pollutants in Ningbo.

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Transboundary air pollution and respiratory disease mortality: evidence from European countries

Journal of Economic Studies ◽

10.1108/jes-05-2020-0210 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽

Author(s):

Jonathan Spiteri ◽

Philip von Brockdorff

Keyword(s):

Air Pollution ◽

Air Pollutants ◽

Respiratory Diseases ◽

Mortality Rates ◽

Content Type ◽

Transboundary Air Pollution ◽

Per Capita ◽

Cross Country ◽

And Control ◽

The Impact

PurposeThe aim of this paper is to quantify the impact of transboundary air pollutants, particularly those related to urban traffic, on health outcomes. The importance of focusing on the health implications of transboundary pollution is due to the fact that these emissions originate from another jurisdiction, thus constituting international negative externalities. Thus, by isolating and quantifying the impact of these transboundary air pollutants on domestic health outcomes, the authors can understand more clearly the extent of these externalities, identify their ramifications for health and emphasise the importance of cross-country cooperation in the fight against air pollution.Design/methodology/approachThe authors employ panel data regression analysis to look at the relationship between emissions of transboundary air pollution and mortality rates from various respiratory diseases among a sample of 40 European countries, over the period 2003–2014. In turn, the authors use annual data on transboundary emissions of sulphur oxides (SOx), nitrogen oxides (NOx) and fine particulate matter (PM2.5), together with detailed data on the per capita incidence of various respiratory diseases, including lung cancer, asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The authors consider a number of different regression equation specifications and control for potential confounders like the quality of healthcare and economic prosperity within each country.FindingsThe results show that transboundary emissions of PM2.5 are positively and significantly related to mortality rates from asthma in our sample of countries. Quantitatively, a 10% increase in PM2.5 transboundary emissions per capita from neighbouring countries is associated with a 1.4% increase in the asthma mortality rate within the recipient country or roughly 200 deaths by asthma per year across our sample.Originality/valueThese findings have important policy implications for cross-country cooperation and regulation in the field of pollution abatement and control, particularly since all the countries under consideration form a part of the UN's Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution (CLRTAP), a transnational cooperative agreement aimed at curtailing such pollutants on an international level.

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Fine particulate pollution and asthma exacerbations

Archives of Disease in Childhood ◽

10.1136/archdischild-2017-312826 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 103 (9) ◽

pp. 828-831 ◽

Cited By ~ 21

Author(s):

Naïm Bouazza ◽

Frantz Foissac ◽

Saik Urien ◽

Romain Guedj ◽

Ricardo Carbajal ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Air Pollution ◽

Air Pollutants ◽

Asthma Exacerbation ◽

Meteorological Data ◽

Maximum Effect ◽

Sigmoid Function ◽

Asthma Exacerbations ◽

Fine Particulate ◽

Syncytial Virus ◽

The Impact

ObjectiveAs the results from epidemiological studies about the impact of outdoor air pollution on asthma in children are heterogeneous, our objective was to investigate the association between asthma exacerbation in children and exposure to air pollutants.MethodsA database of 1 264 585 paediatric visits during the 2010–2015 period to the emergency rooms from 20 emergency departments (EDs) of ‘Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Paris (APHP)’, the largest hospital group in Europe, was used. A total of 47 107 visits were classified as asthma exacerbations. Concentration of air pollutants (nitrogen dioxide, ozone, fine particulate matter (PM) with an aerodynamic diameter smaller than 10 µm (PM10) and 2.5 µm (PM2.5)), as well as meteorological data, evolution of respiratory syncytial virus infection and pollen exposition, were collected on an hourly or daily basis for the same period using institutional databases. To assess the association between air pollution and asthma, mixed-effects quasi-Poisson regression modelling was performed.ResultsThe only compound independently associated with ED visits for asthma was PM2.5 (P<10−4). The association between asthma exacerbation and PM2.5 was not linear, and a sigmoid function described the relationshipsatisfactorily. PM2.5 concentration, which gives half the maximum effect, was estimated at 13.5 µg/m3.ConclusionsWe found an association between daily asthma exacerbation in paediatric visits to the ED and fine particulate air pollutants.

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Health Impacts of Exposure to Gaseous Pollutants and Particulate Matter in Beijing—A Non-Linear Analysis Based on the New Evidence

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph15091969 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 15 (9) ◽

pp. 1969 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Yunfei Cheng ◽

Tatiana Ermolieva ◽

Gui-Ying Cao ◽

Xiaoying Zheng

Keyword(s):

Air Pollutants ◽

Respiratory Diseases ◽

Meteorological Data ◽

Positive Association ◽

Gaseous Pollutants ◽

Air Pollution Control ◽

Control Plan ◽

Short Term Exposure ◽

Non Linear ◽

New Evidence

This paper aimed to estimate health risks focusing on respiratory diseases from exposure to gaseous multi-pollutants based on new data and revealed new evidence after the most stringent air pollution control plan in Beijing which was carried out in 2013. It used daily respiratory diseases outpatient data from a hospital located in Beijing with daily meteorological data and monitor data of air pollutants from local authorities. All data were collected from 2014 to 2016. Distributed lag non-linear model was employed. Results indicated that NO2 and CO had positive association with outpatients number on the day of the exposure (1.045 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.003, 1.089) for CO and 1.022 (95% CI: 1.008, 1.036) for NO2) (and on the day after the exposure (1.026 (95% CI: 1.005, 1.048) for CO and 1.013 (95% CI: 1.005, 1.021) for NO2). Relative risk (RR) generally declines with the number of lags; ozone produces significant effects on the first day (RR = 0.993 (95% CI: 0.989, 0.998)) as well as second day (RR = 0.995 (95% CI: 0.991, 0.999)) after the exposure, while particulate pollutants did not produce significant effects. Effects from the short-term exposure to gaseous pollutants were robust after controlling for particulate matters. Our results contribute to a comprehensive understanding of the dependencies between the change of air pollutants concentration and their health effects in Beijing after the implementation of promising air regulations in 2013. Results of the study can be used to develop relevant measures minimizing the adverse health consequences of air pollutants and supporting sustainable development of Beijing as well as other rapidly growing Asian cities.

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Air pollution: A major threats to sustainable development

International Journal of Clinical Biochemistry and Research ◽

10.18231/j.ijcbr.2021.037 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 (3) ◽

pp. 176-178

Author(s):

S Ravichandran ◽

Riddima Singh ◽

R M Madhumitha Sri

Keyword(s):

Air Pollution ◽

Global Warming ◽

Human Health ◽

Air Pollutants ◽

Climate Changes ◽

Ecological Impact ◽

Ground Level ◽

Global Scale ◽

Air Pollutant ◽

World Health

The World Health Organization (WHO) reports on six major air pollutants, namely particulate matter, ground level ozone, carbon monoxide, sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides and lead. Effects of these pollutants are seen in air, soil and water. This air pollutant possesses different impact on the human health, climate changes, green-house effects and global warming. Acid rain, global warming, greenhouse effect and climate changes have an important ecological impact on air pollution. Neurological effects have been observed in adults and children after exposure to air pollutants. Man is causing damage to air, water and soil. Our atmosphere on global scale is highly polluted. In this paper, our interest is mainly to focus on these pollutants, as they are related to more severe problems in human health and environmental impact.

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Short-Term Effect of Air Pollution on Tuberculosis Based on Kriged Data: A Time-Series Analysis

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph17051522 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 17 (5) ◽

pp. 1522 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Shuqiong Huang ◽

Hao Xiang ◽

Wenwen Yang ◽

Zhongmin Zhu ◽

Liqiao Tian ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Air Pollution ◽

Air Pollutants ◽

Additive Model ◽

Ground Level ◽

Air Pollutant ◽

Aerodynamic Diameter ◽

Short Term ◽

Short Term Exposure ◽

Incident Cases ◽

The Impact

Tuberculosis (TB) has a very high mortality rate worldwide. However, only a few studies have examined the associations between short-term exposure to air pollution and TB incidence. Our objectives were to estimate associations between short-term exposure to air pollutants and TB incidence in Wuhan city, China, during the 2015–2016 period. We applied a generalized additive model to access the short-term association of air pollution with TB. Daily exposure to each air pollutant in Wuhan was determined using ordinary kriging. The air pollutants included in the analysis were particulate matter (PM) with an aerodynamic diameter less than or equal to 2.5 micrometers (PM2.5), PM with an aerodynamic diameter less than or equal to 10 micrometers (PM10), sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), carbon monoxide (CO), and ground-level ozone (O3). Daily incident cases of TB were obtained from the Hubei Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Hubei CDC). Both single- and multiple-pollutant models were used to examine the associations between air pollution and TB. Seasonal variation was assessed by splitting the all-year data into warm (May–October) and cold (November–April) seasons. In the single-pollutant model, for a 10 μg/m3 increase in PM2.5, PM10, and O3 at lag 7, the associated TB risk increased by 17.03% (95% CI: 6.39, 28.74), 11.08% (95% CI: 6.39, 28.74), and 16.15% (95% CI: 1.88, 32.42), respectively. In the multi-pollutant model, the effect of PM2.5 on TB remained statistically significant, while the effects of other pollutants were attenuated. The seasonal analysis showed that there was not much difference regarding the impact of air pollution on TB between the warm season and the cold season. Our study reveals that the mechanism linking air pollution and TB is still complex. Further research is warranted to explore the interaction of air pollution and TB.

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Photocatalytic reaction mechanisms at the gas-solid interface for typical air pollutants decomposition

Journal of Materials Chemistry A ◽

10.1039/d1ta03705f ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Ruimin Chen ◽

Jieyuan Li ◽

Hong Wang ◽

Peng Chen ◽

Xing‘an Dong ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Air Pollution ◽

Human Health ◽

Pollution Control ◽

Reaction Mechanisms ◽

Air Pollutants ◽

Adverse Impact ◽

Ecological Environment ◽

Photocatalytic Reaction ◽

Air Pollution Control ◽

Promising Technology

Various technologies have been developed towards the air pollution control to mitigate adverse impact of pollutants on human health and ecological environment. Photocatalysis is a promising technology because it can...

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Remarks on Ambient Air Pollution and Health Outcomes

ISRN Public Health ◽

10.1155/2013/846297 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 2013 ◽

pp. 1-5 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Mieczysław Szyszkowicz

Keyword(s):

Air Pollution ◽

Health Outcomes ◽

Air Pollutants ◽

Conditional Logistic Regression ◽

Ambient Air ◽

Air Pollutant ◽

Ambient Air Pollution ◽

Health Conditions ◽

Ed Visits ◽

The Impact

Background. Ambient air pollution is a recognized risk factor for multiple health conditions. For some health problems, the impact of air pollution is particularly evident to the patients in a specific age range. Nonsimultaneous exposures to two or more air pollutants may have different relationships with health outcomes than do simultaneous exposures. Methods. Case-crossover technique was used to analyze data on emergency department (ED) visits for ischemic heart disease (IHD), epistaxis, and upper respiratory infection (URI). Conditional logistic regression models were used to estimate odds ratios and their 95% confidence intervals corresponding to an increase in an interquartile range of air pollutant concentrations. Results. The results for IHD show that for older patients (age 60+ years), the association between sulphur dioxide (SO2) exposure and IHD is weak. For ED visits for epistaxis (O3 and SO2 in one model) and URI (O3 and NO2 in one model), air pollutants lagged differently in the common model indicated significant statistical associations but not for common lags. Conclusion. The study findings, based on analyzed examples, suggest that (i) IHD cases in older age are less related to air pollution and (ii) air pollutants may affect some health conditions by a specific sequence of exposure occurrences.

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Air pollution dispersion modeling of runway and apron at Sam Ratulangi international airport

Angkasa: Jurnal Ilmiah Bidang Teknologi ◽

10.28989/angkasa.v13i2.949 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (2) ◽

Author(s):

Dewi Eviane ◽

Taufik Abdillah Natsir ◽

Nur Iswanto ◽

Zulfadly Urufi ◽

Mardiyanto Adji

Keyword(s):

Air Pollution ◽

Air Pollutants ◽

Government Regulation ◽

Air Pollutant ◽

Dispersion Modeling ◽

Climate Data ◽

Pollution Dispersion ◽

International Airport ◽

Operational Activities ◽

The Impact

Air pollution generated from airport activities has become public concern and the subject of more rigorous government regulations. The Airport Operators are stipulated to control the pollution and for the accountability of air quality that might affect public health. The main objective of this study is to establish a model for the distribution of air pollutants and to predict their concentrations generated by the runway and apron operations at Sam Ratulangi International Airport (Manado) until 2024, in accordance with the airport expansion program. The data was collected in the airport surrounding area in 2018, while the climate data over a span of 10 years, from 2009 to 2018, was obtained from Sam Ratulangi Meteorological Station. The modeling on dispersion of air pollutant gases was developed by the Gaussian Plume Equation. The simulation was performed using AERMOD software, and the results visualized by GIS software. AERMOD software was recommended by the US-EPA to predict the impact of air pollutants. The results predicted that the maximum concentrations of NOx; HC; and CO generated by runway activities modeling in 2024 were 250 μg.m-3; 6.4 μg.m-3; and 87 μg.m-3 respectively. The results also predicted that the maximum concentrations of NOx; CO; and PM10 due to apron operational activities in 2024 were 260 μg.m-3; 892 μg.m-3; and 2.5 μg.m-3 respectively. The model predicted that in 2024 the air pollution at Sam Ratulangi International Airport will remain under the limit as defined in Indonesian Government Regulation No. 22 of 2021. To mitigate the future increase in air emissions due to the increase in airport capacity, the recommendation were proposed in the several areas, which were including operation management, technology, policies and airport regulations, as well as the provision of green area.

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