scholarly journals Impact on Human Health of Particulate Matter Arising from Atmospheric Pollution

2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
pp. 136-140
Author(s):  
Clara Rodrigues Pereira ◽  
Lílian Lefol Nani Guarieiro

Studies show that exposure to particulate matter (PM) from vehicular combustion processes can pose severe risks to human health since the impact degree of PM on the respiratory system will depend on its size and composition. Thus, the objective of this study was to perform a systematic review on this topic, searching information that can highlight causes and solutions that may allow a greater understanding of this problem. We concluded that China is a country that stands out in the number of deaths caused by the emission of PM, given a highly polluted urban scenario. Besides, fine particles (PM2.5) are the most recurrent incidence of respiratory disease, as they are emitted mainly by industrial activities and vehicular emissions.

2016 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 777-797 ◽  
Author(s):  
A Vara-Vela ◽  
M. F. Andrade ◽  
P. Kumar ◽  
R. Y. Ynoue ◽  
A. G. Muñoz

Abstract. The objective of this work is to evaluate the impact of vehicular emissions on the formation of fine particles (PM2.5;  ≤  2.5 µm in diameter) in the Sao Paulo Metropolitan Area (SPMA) in Brazil, where ethanol is used intensively as a fuel in road vehicles. The Weather Research and Forecasting with Chemistry (WRF-Chem) model, which simulates feedbacks between meteorological variables and chemical species, is used as a photochemical modelling tool to describe the physico-chemical processes leading to the evolution of number and mass size distribution of particles through gas-to-particle conversion. A vehicular emission model based on statistical information of vehicular activity is applied to simulate vehicular emissions over the studied area. The simulation has been performed for a 1-month period (7 August–6 September 2012) to cover the availability of experimental data from the NUANCE-SPS (Narrowing the Uncertainties on Aerosol and Climate Changes in Sao Paulo State) project that aims to characterize emissions of atmospheric aerosols in the SPMA. The availability of experimental measurements of atmospheric aerosols and the application of the WRF-Chem model made it possible to represent some of the most important properties of fine particles in the SPMA such as the mass size distribution and chemical composition, besides allowing us to evaluate its formation potential through the gas-to-particle conversion processes. Results show that the emission of primary gases, mostly from vehicles, led to a production of secondary particles between 20 and 30 % in relation to the total mass concentration of PM2.5 in the downtown SPMA. Each of PM2.5 and primary natural aerosol (dust and sea salt) contributed with 40–50 % of the total PM10 (i.e. those  ≤  10 µm in diameter) concentration. Over 40 % of the formation of fine particles, by mass, was due to the emission of hydrocarbons, mainly aromatics. Furthermore, an increase in the number of small particles impaired the ultraviolet radiation and induced a decrease in ozone formation. The ground-level O3 concentration decreased by about 2 % when the aerosol-radiation feedback is taken into account.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yovitza Romero ◽  
Priyanka deSouza ◽  
Fabio Duarte ◽  
Patrick Kinney ◽  
Carlo Ratti ◽  
...  

Abstract Lima has been ranked among the top most polluted cities in the Americas. Vehicular emissions are the dominant source of pollution in the city. In order to reduce congestion and pollution levels during the XVIII Pan- and Parapan-American Games, Lima government officials enacted the pico y placa policy to restrict the number of vehicles on certain heavily trafficked roads in the city at rush hours between Monday to Thursday based on the last digit of their license plates. This policy was retained after the Games. In this paper we evaluate the impact of this policy on fine particulate matter concentration levels (PM2.5) at a background site in the city using a difference-in-difference approach. We find that the policy resulted in increases on PM2.5 levels on Monday-Thursday compared to Friday-Sunday levels after the policy was enacted, compared to previous years. However, such an increase was not significant. These results suggest the need for additional policies to reduce pollution due to traffic in Lima. It also suggests the need to track the response to this policy over time to evaluate its efficacy.


2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 84-94
Author(s):  
Mirela Poljanac

Wood burning in residential appliances is very represented in the Republic of Croatia. It is a main or an additional form of heating for many households in rural and urban areas and is therefore an important source of air pollution. The choice of energy and the combustion appliance used in home have a significant impact on PM2.5 emissions. The paper informs the reader about PM2.5 emissions, their main sources and impacts on human health, environment, climate, air quality, and the reason why PM2.5 emissions from residential wood burning are harmful. Paper also gives an overview of spatial PM2.5 emission distribution in Croatia, their five air quality zones and four agglomerations. The paper analyses the sources and their contribution to PM2.5 emissions with the relevance of PM2.5 emissions from residential plants, the use of fuels in residential plants and their contribution to PM2.5 emissions and PM2.5 emissions by fuel combustion technologies in residential sector. Appropriate strategies, policies, and actions to reduce the impact of residential biomass (wood) burning on the environment, air quality and human health are considered.


2018 ◽  
pp. 6.09-6.21 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer Spencer ◽  
Bill Van Heyst

Particulate matter (PM) has been documented in an increasing number of research studies as having a known or suspected negative impact on human health. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 3.1 million deaths were caused by ambient fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in 2010. While many Canadian studies focus on health impacts from PM2.5, there is a gap with respect to rural sourced PM2.5 and health impacts in these areas. This paper reviews the impact PM2.5 has on Canadians’ health, investigates where PM2.5 data is being gathered, and outlines the sources of PM2.5 reported. Secondary inorganic aerosols that are formed in and around animal production facilities due to the higher prevalence of ammonia gas is of particular interest. The conclusion drawn is that the reporting and gathering of rural sourced PM2.5 data is lacking, leading to a gap in the data used to determine the impacts on Canadian human health.


Toxics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (9) ◽  
pp. 228
Author(s):  
Jiraporn Chittrakul ◽  
Ratana Sapbamrer ◽  
Wachiranun Sirikul

The incidence of respiratory disease is increasing. In relation to this, in addition to infection, factors associated with working with chemical insecticides are a cause for concern. Some of the chemicals involved have been shown to affect the respiratory system, and consequentially workers are at increased risk of conditions such as asthma. However, medical opinion around this area is still controversial; therefore, the objective of this study is to investigate the association between exposure to insecticides and asthma by means of a systematic review of the relevant literature. Relevant literature was identified, and a systematic review was conducted to investigate the association between exposure to insecticides and asthma. A total of five studies (three cross sectional and two cohort) including 45,435 subjects were identified as relevant. The summary odds ratios related to the impact of exposure to specific insecticides on asthma were organophosphates 1.31 (95%CI = 1.17–1.48, I2 = 27%, p = 0.172), carbamates 1.44 (95%CI 1.08–1.92, I2 = 56.7%, p = 0.031) and organochlorines 1.31 (95%CI 1.19–1.64, I2 = 37.3%, p = 0.131). Farmers exposed to certain insecticides may have an increased risk of asthma and asthmatic symptoms, but further research on that issue is urgently needed.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Oskar Hutagaluh ◽  
Andi Rustam ◽  
Suwandi S. Sangadji ◽  
Ilfan Baharuddin ◽  
Ardhariksa Zukhruf Kurniullah

The spread of the COVID-19 is increasingly globalized to have an impact not only on human health but also on all lines of life that requires rapid responses with anticipatory and preventive steps before its effects become worse. All countries feel the impact of outbreak, which moves so fast, including border communities. Today, COVID-19 travels through the human respiratory system to one another and from one area to another including Sambas area. The purpose of this study was to investigate the leadership responses and efforts to prevent the spread of this global disease on the Malaysia-Indonesia border area, precisely in the city of Sambas. We divided the findings into two. First, the spread of COVID-19 in Sambas was declared an extraordinary event category, because Sambas is located in the border area between Malaysia and Indonesia, where the community's largest livelihood is working in Malaysia. Second, when Sambas was declared an extraordinary category of the spread of that deadly virus, the local government responded to this incident by setting specific policies, including not carrying out religious or other rituals that invited crowds. On one hand. the Sambas community responded well to the policy. However, for certain reason the local Sambal are still carried out daily activities with the excuse for daily needs.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lejian He ◽  
Laijun Zhao ◽  
Yonghong Liu ◽  
Zhaowen Qiu ◽  
H. Oliver Gao

Abstract Background: Cycling to work has been promoted as a green commute in many countries because of its reduced congestion relative to that of cars and its reduced environmental impact on air pollution. However, cyclists might be exposed to higher air pollution, causing adverse health effects. Few studies have examined the respiratory effects of traffic-related air pollution exposure during short-term cycling, especially in developing countries with heavy air pollution. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of air pollution exposure on lung function while cycling in traffic. Methods: Twenty-five healthy adults in total cycled on a specified route in each of three Chinese cities during four periods of a day. Lung function measures were collected immediately before and after cycling. Real-time particulate matter (PM) and the particle number count (PNC) for particles with different sizes were measured along each cycling route, while ambient sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), ozone (O3), and carbon monoxide (CO) levels were measured at the nearest stations. Mixed-effect models were used to estimate the impact of short-term air pollution exposure on participants’ lung function measures during cycling. Results: We found that an interquartile increase in particulate matter consisting of fine particles (PM1, aerodynamic diameter £ 1 mm; and PM2.5, aerodynamic diameter £ 2.5 mm) was associated with a significant decrease in forced vital capacity (FVC) (PM1, –5.61%, p = 0.021; PM2.5, –5.57%, p = 0.022). Interquartile increases in the 99th percentile of PNC for fine particles (aerodynamic diameter 0.3–0.4 mm) also had significant negative associations with FVC (0.3 mm, –5.13%, p = 0.041; 0.35 mm, –4.81%, p = 0.045; 0.4 mm, –4.59%, p = 0.035). We also observed significant inverse relationships between ambient CO levels and FVC (–5.78%, p = 0.015).Conclusions: Our results suggest that short-term exposure to fine particles and CO while cycling in traffic contributes to a reduction in FVC of cyclists.


Atmosphere ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 151
Author(s):  
Sun Kyoung Park

Rapid industrialization of Korea’s economy has brought with it environmental pollution that threatens human health. Among various other pollutants, ambient fine particulate matter known to endanger human health often exceeds air quality standards in Seoul, South Korea’s capital. The goal of this research is to find the impact of meteorological extremes and particle levels on human health. The analysis was conducted using hourly air pollutant concentrations, meteorological variables, and the daily mortality from cerebrovascular disease. Results show that the effect of fine particulate matter on mortality from cerebrovascular disease was more noticeable during meteorological extremes. The linkage between extreme weather conditions and mortality was more apparent in winter than in summer. Comprehensive studies of various causes of diseases should be continued to more accurately analyze the effects of fine particulate matter on human health and meteorological extremes, and to further minimize the public health impact of air pollution and meteorological conditions.


Marine Drugs ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (6) ◽  
pp. 317
Author(s):  
Pek Xyen Tan ◽  
Krishnapriya Thiyagarasaiyar ◽  
Cheng-Yau Tan ◽  
You-Jin Jeon ◽  
Mohd Shahrul Mohd Nadzir ◽  
...  

Air pollution has recently become a subject of increasing concern in many parts of the world. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that nearly 4.2 million early deaths are due to exposure to fine particles in polluted air, which causes multiple respiratory diseases. Algae, as a natural product, can be an alternative treatment due to potential biofunctional properties and advantages. This systematic review aims to summarize and evaluate the evidence of metabolites derived from algae as potential anti-inflammatory agents against respiratory disorders induced by atmospheric particulate matter (PM). Databases such as Scopus, Web of Science, and PubMed were systematically searched for relevant published full articles from 2016 to 2020. The main key search terms were limited to “algae”, “anti-inflammation”, and “air pollutant”. The search activity resulted in the retrieval of a total of 36 publications. Nine publications are eligible for inclusion in this systematic review. A total of four brown algae (Ecklonia cava, Ishige okamurae, Sargassum binderi and Sargassum horneri) with phytosterol, polysaccharides and polyphenols were reported in the nine studies. The review sheds light on the pathways of particulate matter travelling into respiratory systems and causing inflammation, and on the mechanisms of actions of algae in inhibiting inflammation. Limitations and future directions are also discussed. More research is needed to investigate the potential of algae as anti-inflammatory agents against PM in in vivo and in vitro experimental models, as well as clinically.


2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (21) ◽  
pp. 12721-12740
Author(s):  
Jing Cai ◽  
Biwu Chu ◽  
Lei Yao ◽  
Chao Yan ◽  
Liine M. Heikkinen ◽  
...  

Abstract. Although secondary particulate matter is reported to be the main contributor of PM2.5 during haze in Chinese megacities, primary particle emissions also affect particle concentrations. In order to improve estimates of the contribution of primary sources to the particle number and mass concentrations, we performed source apportionment analyses using both chemical fingerprints and particle size distributions measured at the same site in urban Beijing from April to July 2018. Both methods resolved factors related to primary emissions, including vehicular emissions and cooking emissions, which together make up 76 % and 24 % of total particle number and organic aerosol (OA) mass, respectively. Similar source types, including particles related to vehicular emissions (1.6±1.1 µg m−3; 2.4±1.8×103 cm−3 and 5.5±2.8×103 cm−3 for two traffic-related components), cooking emissions (2.6±1.9 µg m−3 and 5.5±3.3×103 cm−3) and secondary aerosols (51±41 µg m−3 and 4.2±3.0×103 cm−3), were resolved by both methods. Converted mass concentrations from particle size distributions components were comparable with those from chemical fingerprints. Size distribution source apportionment separated vehicular emissions into a component with a mode diameter of 20 nm (“traffic-ultrafine”) and a component with a mode diameter of 100 nm (“traffic-fine”). Consistent with similar day- and nighttime diesel vehicle PM2.5 emissions estimated for the Beijing area, traffic-fine particles, hydrocarbon-like OA (HOA, traffic-related factor resulting from source apportionment using chemical fingerprints) and black carbon (BC) showed similar diurnal patterns, with higher concentrations during the night and morning than during the afternoon when the boundary layer is higher. Traffic-ultrafine particles showed the highest concentrations during the rush-hour period, suggesting a prominent role of local gasoline vehicle emissions. In the absence of new particle formation, our results show that vehicular-related emissions (14 % and 30 % for ultrafine and fine particles, respectively) and cooking-activity-related emissions (32 %) dominate the particle number concentration, while secondary particulate matter (over 80 %) governs PM2.5 mass during the non-heating season in Beijing.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document