Towards Multi-Scale Space-Time Characteristics of Air Quality and Population Exposure Risk

In order to formulate policies to control regional air pollution and promote sustainable human–land system development, it is crucial to study the space–time distribution of air pollution and the population exposure risk. Existing studies are limited to individual fine particulate pollutants, which does not fully reflect the comprehensiveness of air quality. In addition, the spatiotemporal distribution of air quality and population exposure risk at different scales need to be further quantified. In this study, we used air monitoring station data and population spatial distribution data to analyze the spatiotemporal characteristics of air quality, including seasonal variations, variations before and during heating periods, and the occurrence frequency of priority pollutants in the traditional industrial areas of Northeast China in 2015. The population exposure–air pollution risk (PE-APR) model was used to calculate the population exposure risk at different spatial scales. The results suggest that GIS methods and air monitoring data help to establish a comprehensive air quality analysis framework, revealing spring–summer differentiation and the change trend of air quality with latitude. There are significant clustering features of air quality. A grid-scale population exposure–air pollution risk map is not restricted by administrative boundaries, which helps to discover high-risk areas of the main regional economic corridors and differences between inner cities and suburbs. This study provides a reference for understanding the space–time evolution of regional air pollution and formulating coordinated cross-regional air pollution strategies.

Urban Air Pollution and Mental Stress: A Nationwide Study of University Students in China

Background: Studies exploring the relationship between air pollution levels and mental stress have rarely been done, and no studies have been done comparing university student mental stress levels based on regional air pollution levels.Objectives: The objective of this study was to evaluate the association between air pollution and mental stress among university students.Methods: Participants were 11,942 students, who were identified through a multistage survey sampling process conducted in 50 universities. Regional air pollution levels were retrieved from a national database, and mental stress was measured using a perceived stress scale. Both unadjusted and adjusted methods were utilized in the data analyses.Results: Mental stress prevalence was 36.9% (95% Confidence Interval: 24.4–49.5%). The final model indicated that regional air pollution levels were positively associated with students' mental stress.Conclusions: This study provided new and direct evidence of the health hazards of air pollution. The findings underscore the need to develop and implement stringent environmental protection policies, while simultaneously raising public awareness of environmental protection.

Regional air pollution severity affects the incidence of acute myocardial infarction triggered by short-term pollutant exposure: A time-stratified case-crossover analysis

Background Long-term exposure to air pollution results in a high incidence of cardiovascular disease. Whether acute myocardial infarction is triggered by short-term exposure to air pollution is related to the average severity of air pollution in the area.DesignCase-crossover analysis.MethodsThis was a retrospective study based on hospital medical records. The study period was 2017-2018. Research data were collected from Taoyuan Hospital, which is located in a low-severity pollution area, and Taichung Hospital, which is in a high-severity pollution area, and the correlation between short-term air pollution exposure and acute myocardial infarction was analyzed.ResultsThe correlation between short-term exposure to ambient air pollutants and acute myocardial infarction was not significant for the cases collected from Taoyuan Hospital (PM2.5 OR: 1.006 & 95% CI: 0.995-1.017; PM10 OR: 0.996 & 95% CI: 0.988-1.003). However, for the cases collected from Taichung Hospital, short-term exposure to ambient PM2.5 (odds ratio: 1.021; 95% confidence interval: 1.002-1.040) and PM10 (odds ratio: 1.010; 95% confidence interval: 1.001-1.020) resulted in high incidence of acute myocardial infarction.ConclusionsShort-term pollutant exposure will increase the incidence of acute myocardial infarction based on the severity of regional air pollution. In addition to addressing traditional cardiovascular disease risk factors, the government must formulate relevant policies for reducing air pollution and thus the hazards to national health.

MAP-AQ: An international network for air quality forecasts

<p>MAP-AQ (Modeling, Analysis and Predictions of Air Quality) is an international network that contributes to the development and implementation of global and regional air pollution monitoring, analysis, prediction and attribution systems with downscaling capability in areas of the world particularly affected by high levels of atmospheric pollutants, in particular in low and middle-income countries. The project supports the development of the science and software engineering needed to improve air quality forecasts from the global to the regional and local scales, and to develop reliable attribution systems for air pollution sources. Capacity development is another focus of the project sponsored by WMO/GAW and by IGAC. The paper will present a number of activities currently supported by MAP-AQ and will outline a strategy for future initiatives and cooperations.</p>

The effect of urban air pollution on mental stress: A nationwide study of university students in China (Preprint)

BACKGROUND Studies exploring the relationship between air pollution levels and mental stress have rarely been done, and no studies have been done comparing university student mental stress levels based on regional air pollution levels. OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to evaluate the association between air pollution and mental stress among university students. METHODS Participants were 11,942 students, who were identified through a multistage survey sampling process conducted in 50 universities. Regional air pollution levels were retrieved from a national database, and mental stress was measured using a perceived stress scale. Both unadjusted and adjusted methods were utilized in the data analyses. RESULTS Mental stress prevalence was 36.9% (95% CI: 24.4%–49.5%). The final model indicated that regional air pollution levels were positively associated with students’ mental stress. CONCLUSIONS This study provided new and direct evidence of the health hazards of air pollution. The findings underscore the need to develop and implement stringent environmental protection policies, while simultaneously raising public awareness of environmental protection. CLINICALTRIAL NONE