scholarly journals Ambient PM2.5 Human Health Effects—Findings in China and Research Directions

Atmosphere ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (11) ◽  
pp. 424 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lindsay Miller ◽  
Xiaohong Xu

Exposure to fine particulate matter (PM) results in adverse health outcomes. Although this is a global concern, residents of China may be particularly vulnerable due to frequent severe air pollution episodes associated with economic growth, industrialization, and urbanization. Until 2012, PM2.5 was not regulated and monitored in China and annual average concentrations far exceeded the World Health Organizations guidelines of 10 μg/m3. Since the establishment of PM2.5 Ambient Air Quality Criteria in 2012, concentrations have decreased, but still pose significant health risks. A review of ambient PM2.5 health effect studies is warranted to evaluate the current state of knowledge and to prioritize future research efforts. Our review found that recent literature has confirmed associations between PM2.5 exposure and total mortality, cardiovascular mortality, respiratory mortality, hypertension, lung cancer, influenza and other adverse health outcomes. Future studies should take a long-term approach to verify associations between exposure to PM2.5 and health effects. In order to obtain adequate exposure assessment at finer spatial resolutions, high density sampling, satellite remote sensing, or models should be employed. Personal monitoring should also be conducted to validate the use of outdoor concentrations as proxies for exposure. More research efforts should be devoted to seasonal patterns, sub-population susceptibility, and the mechanism by which exposure causes health effects. Submicron and ultrafine PM should also be monitored and regulated.

2018 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 439-448

<p>Over the last few decades, the evidence on the adverse effects on the health of air pollution has been raised. Mortality is the most important health effect of ambient air pollution. We studied the relation between mortality and criteria pollutant air in Tehran, one of the highly industrialized, densely populated area and most polluted cities of the reign, during 2005-2014. For this purpose, we applied the approach proposed by the World Health Organization using the AirQ 2.2.3 model. Hourly concentrations of pollutants were taken from the Tehran environmental protection agency and Air Quality Control Company. In this model, the attributable proportion of health outcome, the annual number of excess cases of mortality for all causes were estimated. According to results, the number of total mortality caused by exposure to O3, NO2, SO2, PM10, PM2.5 in the past decade was 8042, 15141, 8136, 17776 and 20015 cases, respectively. The number of cumulative total mortality was 53110 cases in ten years. Furthermore, the number of cumulative cardiovascular and respiratory mortality 33887 and 8168 cases was estimated in last decade. A large number of residents of Tehran have died as a result of exposure to air pollutants; therefore for control and management of air pollution, appropriate actions on health and the environment should be performed.</p>


Atmosphere ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. 1107
Author(s):  
Vlatka Matkovic ◽  
Maida Mulić ◽  
Selma Azabagić ◽  
Marija Jevtić

Ambient air pollution is one of eight global risk factors for deaths and accounts for 38.44 all causes death rates attributable to ambient PM pollution, while in Bosnia and Herzegovina, it is 58.37. We have estimated health endpoints and possible gains if two policy scenarios were implemented and air pollution reduction achieved. Real-world health and recorded PM pollution data for 2018 were used for assessing the health impacts and possible gains. Calculations were performed with WHO AirQ+ software against two scenarios with cut-off levels at country-legal values and WHO air quality recommendations. Ambient PM2.5 pollution is responsible for 16.20% and 22.77% of all-cause mortality among adults in Tuzla and Lukavac, respectively. Our data show that life expectancy could increase by 2.1 and 2.4 years for those cities. In the pollution hotspots, in reality, there is a wide gap in what is observed and the implementation of the legally binding air quality limit values and, thus, adverse health effects. Considerable health gains and life expectancy are possible if legal or health scenarios in polluted cities were achieved. This estimate might be useful in providing additional health burden evidence as a key component for a clean air policy and action plans.


2018 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 9-22
Author(s):  
GyeongAe Seomun ◽  
Youngjin Lee

Background and Purpose:The digital textbook (DT) is an appealing new educational medium. The positive effects of DT use include stimulation of interest in learning and stimulation of motivation to learn. Few studies have examined the awareness of classroom-based educational experts about the adverse health outcomes of DT use. The objective of this study was to understand the perspectives of elementary schoolteachers regarding the effects of DT use on students’ health.Methods:The recommended method of focus group discussions was used to clarify teachers’ individual and shared views about this topic. The study design included three discussions with three different groups of teachers.Results:The results indicated that the critical health issues identified by the schoolteachers were potential risks to physical health, risks to psychological health, and environmental health risks in the classroom.Implications for Practice:Awareness and evaluation of adverse health effects for DT users is an important first step for effective DT implementation in our schools. This study provided fundamental data and results that can be used to understand the effects of DT use on student health and to suggest guidelines to predict and prevent adverse health effects in the users of this technology.


2010 ◽  
Vol 19 (7) ◽  
pp. 803 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ikuho Kochi ◽  
Geoffrey H. Donovan ◽  
Patricia A. Champ ◽  
John B. Loomis

The economic costs of adverse health effects associated with exposure to wildfire smoke should be given serious consideration in determining the optimal wildfire management policy. Unfortunately, the literature in this research area is thin. In an effort to better understand the nature of these economic costs, we review and synthesise the relevant literature in three areas: studies that estimated the health-related economic costs of wildfire-smoke exposure; epidemiology studies related to the health risk of wildfire smoke; and general economic studies that estimated the monetary value of preventing the specific adverse health outcomes. Based on the findings from this literature review, we identify the need for a better understanding of the effect of wildfire smoke on major and minor adverse health outcomes. It would also be useful to know more about averting behaviours among residents exposed to smoke during a wildfire event. Finally, we suggest investigating the unique health effects of wildfire smoke compared with conventional air pollution to determine whether it is appropriate to extrapolate from previously estimated conventional pollution dose–response functions.


Atmosphere ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. 1094
Author(s):  
Judy Ou ◽  
Cheryl S. Pirozzi ◽  
Benjamin D. Horne ◽  
Heidi A. Hanson ◽  
Anne C. Kirchhoff ◽  
...  

Utah’s low-smoking population and high population density concentrated in mountain valleys, with intermittent industrial activity and frequent temperature inversions, have yielded unique opportunities to study air pollution. These studies have contributed to the understanding of the human health impacts of air pollution. The populated mountain valleys of Utah experience considerable variability in concentrations of ambient air pollution because of local emission sources that change over time and episodic atmospheric conditions that result in elevated concentrations of air pollution. Evidence from Utah studies indicates that air pollution, especially combustion-related fine particulate matter air pollution and ozone, contributes to various adverse health outcomes, including respiratory and cardiovascular morbidity and mortality and increased risk of lung cancer. The evidence suggests that air pollution may also contribute to risk of pre-term birth, pregnancy loss, school absences, and other adverse health outcomes.


Author(s):  
Najafi Auwal Ibrahim ◽  
Kabiru Maitama Kura ◽  
Salihu Ibrahim Dasuki ◽  
Abubakar Mohammed Alkali

Problematic internet use is prevalent among university students, and it has been associated with increased adverse health outcomes. The results of existing research are mixed regarding the effects of problematic internet use on health outcomes. To resolve this ambiguity, we drew upon the self-control theory and person-situation interaction model to propose trait self-control as a moderator in the relationship between problematic internet use and adverse health outcomes. The study participants comprised 273 students from both public and private universities in Nigeria. Results reveal that problematic internet use is a significant predictor of adverse health outcomes. However, we find no evidence to support our postulated Hypothesis that trait selfcontrol moderates the effects of problematic internet use on adverse health outcomes. Implications, limitations, and potential for future research are highlighted.  


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