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PubMed1998

Investigation of nitrous oxide pollution arising from inhalational sedation for the extraction of teeth in child patients.

OBJECTIVES: (i) TO test whether the exposure of dental staff to nitrous oxide during inhalational sedation with nitrous oxide/oxygen for extractions in children complies with specified occupational exposure standards, and (ii) to assess the atmospheric nitrous oxide concentration at one site close to the breathing zone of the operator/sedationist and to determine which patient- and sedation-related factors affect the level of nitrous oxide pollution. DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: Dental hospital sedation department, Newcastle Dental Hospital, UK. SAMPLE AND METHODS: 20 inhalational sedation clinics each of 2 hours duration were evaluated, during which a total of 60 children aged 4-15 years had extractions carried out. Nitrous oxide was administered via a nose mask from a Quantiflex MDM inhalational sedation machine and active scavenging was used throughout. Exposure of dental staff was measured using personal dosimetry. Atmospheric nitrous oxide pollution at one fixed point, close to the breathing zone of the operator/sedationist, was assessed using infra-red gas analyser. RESULTS: Mean exposure of the operator/sedationist to nitrous oxide during a single treatment clinic was 211 ppm, for the close support nurse 77 ppm and for the second nurse 67 ppm. Expressed as an 8 hour time-weighted average, the mean exposures were 39 ppm for the operator/sedationist, 17 ppm for the close support nurse and 15 ppm for the second nurse. The atmospheric nitrous oxide concentration varied during the clinics, with a maximum concentration of 538 ppm an a minimum that exceeded 100 ppm. There was a 71 minute delay following discharge of the last patient before atmospheric levels fell to zero. During sessions the degree of atmospheric pollution was inversely related to patient age (rc = -0.61, P < 0.05). There was a positive correlation between atmospheric pollution at the single point and the maximum percentage of nitrous oxide administered to each patient (rc = 0.57, P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In this study, staff exposure to nitrous oxide complied with the national occupational exposure standard but there was still considerable atmospheric nitrous oxide pollution during inhalational sedation for paediatric exodontia.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

Objective recognition of cough sound as biomarker for aerial pollutants.

A relationship among air quality, respiratory health, and comfort in man and animal is widely shown. In general, a state of respiratory discomfort is prevailed by an increase in acoustic audible symptoms. The general concept of sound analysis as an objective contactless non-invasive biomarker for aerial pollution is studied on free-field cough sound of 12 Belgian Landrace piglets. A citric-acid-induced cough sound recognition algorithm with recognition rate of 95% is applied to cough sounds registered in the presence of distinct types of aerial pollutants: irritating gas (ammonia), respirable particles (dust), and temperature. The recognition performance for all aerial pollutants was >90% and maintained 94% on average. It is concluded that sound analysis allows an effective biomarker for all three types of aerial pollution. The generality of the biomarker is hypothesized to be due to the common mechanism involved in protective cough. As a consequence, it is suggested to use sound analysis as a biomarker for respiratory state in studies of exposure to air pollutants.

Air Pollutants↗
PubMed2006

Modelling atmospheric pollution during the games of the XXVIII Olympiad: effects on elite competitors.

UNLABELLED: The present study investigated the specific atmospheric conditions expected in Athens during the summer of 2004 in relation to the performance of elite athletes. DESIGN: Atmospheric pollution and weather data for the period April 16th to September 30th covering the entire greater Athens area and collected from 1984 to 2003 were used for descriptive statistics and model fitting. The analysis was focused on carbon monoxide (CO), ozone (O3), sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxide (NO), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and particulate matter with a diameter of < 10 microm (PM10). Factor and cluster analysis were used to describe atmospheric pollution in the northern, central, and southern sector of Athens. Generalized estimated equations (GEE) analysis was used to predict mean August 2004 pollutant concentration. Increased concentrations of O3 and PM10 (mean 2003 values: 134.3 +/- 9.3, 44 +/- 1.9 microg/m3, respectively) may generate adverse health and performance effects. The highest O3 values were recorded in the northern Athenian sector during the period June 12th to July 23rd, peaking around mid-day (12:00-18:00) (p < 0.05). The highest PM10 concentrations were recorded in the central Athenian sector during the period August 20th to September 9th, peaking at late afternoon (14:00-22:00) (p < 0.05). Similar concentrations were observed during all days of the week (p > 0.05). GEE approximated mean August 2004 pollutant concentrations similar to: CO: 2.8 (mg/m3), O3: 136, SO2: 24, NO: 134, and NO2: 106 (microg/m3). Concentrations of O3 and PM10 during the XXVIII Olympiad may generate adverse health and performance effects on the cardiovascular function of the elite competitors. (The present manuscript was submitted shortly before the start of the Games and became published after their completion. In this light, the actual pollution rates in Athens during August 2004 are presented in the Note Added in Proof as credence to the statistics used).

Air Pollutants↗
PubMed2000

Fine particulate air pollution and mortality in 20 U.S. cities, 1987-1994.

BACKGROUND: Air pollution in cities has been linked to increased rates of mortality and morbidity in developed and developing countries. Although these findings have helped lead to a tightening of air-quality standards, their validity with respect to public health has been questioned. METHODS: We assessed the effects of five major outdoor-air pollutants on daily mortality rates in 20 of the largest cities and metropolitan areas in the United States from 1987 to 1994. The pollutants were particulate matter that is less than 10 microm in aerodynamic diameter (PM10), ozone, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide. We used a two-stage analytic approach that pooled data from multiple locations. RESULTS: After taking into account potential confounding by other pollutants, we found consistent evidence that the level of PM10 is associated with the rate of death from all causes and from cardiovascular and respiratory illnesses. The estimated increase in the relative rate of death from all causes was 0.51 percent (95 percent posterior interval, 0.07 to 0.93 percent) for each increase in the PM10 level of 10 microg per cubic meter. The estimated increase in the relative rate of death from cardiovascular and respiratory causes was 0.68 percent (95 percent posterior interval, 0.20 to 1.16 percent) for each increase in the PM10 level of 10 microg per cubic meter. There was weaker evidence that increases in ozone levels increased the relative rates of death during the summer, when ozone levels are highest, but not during the winter. Levels of the other pollutants were not significantly related to the mortality rate. CONCLUSIONS: There is consistent evidence that the levels of fine particulate matter in the air are associated with the risk of death from all causes and from cardiovascular and respiratory illnesses. These findings strengthen the rationale for controlling the levels of respirable particles in outdoor air.

Air Pollutants↗
PubMed2006

Petroleum pollutant degradation by surface water microorganisms.

BACKGROUND, AIMS AND SCOPE: It is well known that the composition of petroleum or some of its processing products changes in the environment mostly under the influence of microorganisms. A series of experiments was conducted in order to define the optimum conditions for an efficient biodegradation of petroleum pollutant, or bioremediation of different segments of the environment. The aim of these investigations was to show to what extent the hydrocarbons of a petroleum pollutant are degraded by microbial cultures which were isolated as dominant microorganisms from a surface water of a wastewater canal of an oil refinery and a nitrogen plant. Biodegradation experiments were conducted on one paraffinic, and one naphthenic type of petroleum during a three month period under aerobic conditions, varying the following parameters: Inorganic (Kp) or an organic medium (Bh) with or without exposition to light. METHODS: Microorganisms were analyzed in a surface water sample from a canal (Pancevo, Serbia), into which wastewater from an oil refinery and a nitrogen plant is released. The consortia of microorganisms were isolated from the water sample (most abundant species: Phormidium foveolarum--filamentous Cyanobacteria, blue-green algae and Achanthes minutissima, diatoms, algae). The simulation experiments of biodegradation were conducted with the biomass suspension and crude oils Sirakovo (Sir, paraffinic type) and Velebit (Ve, naphthenic type). After a three month period, organic substance was extracted by means of chloroform. In the extracts, the content of saturated hydrocarbons, aromatic hydrocarbons, alcohols and fatty acids was determined (the group composition). n-Alkanes and isoprenoid aliphatic alkanes, pristane and phytane, in the aliphatic fractions, were analyzed using gas chromatography (GC). Total isoprenoid aliphatic alkanes and polycyclic alkanes of sterane and triterpane types were analyzed by GC-MS. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Paraffinic type petroleums have a significant loss of saturated hydrocarbons. For naphthenic type petroleum, such a trend has not been observed. The most intensive degradation of n-alkanes and isoprenoid aliphatic alkanes (in paraffinic oil) and isoprenoids (in naphthenic oil) was observed using the inorganic medium Kp in the light; the microbial conversion is somewhat lower with Kp in the dark; with organic medium Bh in the light the degradation is of low intensity; with the same medium in the dark the degradation is hardly to be seen. Steranes and triterpanes were not affected by microbial degradation under the conditions used in our experiments. Obviously, the petroleum biodegradation was restricted to the acyclic aliphatics (n-alkanes and isoprenoids). CONCLUSION: Phormidium foveolarum (filamentous Cyanobacteria--blue-green algae) and Achanthes minutissima (diatoms, algae), microbial cultures isolated as dominant algae from a surface water in a wastewater canal of an oil refinery and a nitrogen plant, have degradable effects dominantly involving petroleum hydocarbons. Petroleum microbiological degradation is more intensive when inorganic medium (in the light) is applied. Having in mind that the inorganic pollutants have been released into the canal as well, this medium reflects more the natural environmental conditions. Polycyclic alkanes of sterane and triterpane type, in spite of the fact that these compounds could be degraded, have remained unchanged regarding abundance and distribution. Since this is the case even for naphthenic type petroleum (which is depleted in n-alkanes), it can be concluded that the biodegradation of petroleum type pollutants, under natural conditions, will be restrained to the n-alkane and isoprenoid degradation. RECOMMENDATION AND OUTLOOK: Performed experiments and simulations of petroleum microbiological degradation may serve for the prediction of the fate of petroleum type pollutants, as well as for definition of conditions for bioremediation of some environmental segments.

Biodegradation, Environmental↗
PubMed2006

Awareness of and compliance with air pollution advisories: a comparison of parents of asthmatics with other parents.

OBJECTIVES: To determine parents' awareness of and compliance with air pollution advisories, and to compare the awareness and compliance of parents' of asthmatics to that of other parents. METHODS: Responses of 240 parents surveyed at pediatric clinic visits were compared. RESULTS: A total of 88% of parents were aware of air pollution advisories; 71% reduced pollution and 55% restricted children's play "sometimes" because of advisories. However, only 7% complied with more than one third of the advisories issued. More parents of asthmatics reported awareness of alerts (p = 0.002), reducing pollution (p = 0.005), or restricting play "sometimes" in response to advisories (p = 0.007). CONCLUSIONS: Most parents report awareness of and some compliance with air pollution advisories. Parents of asthmatics are more aware and somewhat more compliant than other parents.

Air Pollutants↗
PubMed2000

Association between particulate- and gas-phase components of urban air pollution and daily mortality in eight Canadian cities.

Although some consensus has emerged among the scientific and regulatory communities that the urban ambient atmospheric mix of combustion related pollutants is a determinant of population health, the relative toxicity of the chemical and physical components of this complex mixture remains unclear. Daily mortality rates and concurrent data on size-fractionated particulate mass and gaseous pollutants were obtained in eight of Canada's largest cities from 1986 to 1996 inclusive in order to examine the relative toxicity of the components of the mixture of ambient air pollutants to which Canadians are exposed. Positive and statistically significant associations were observed between daily variations in both gas- and particulate-phase pollution and daily fluctuations in mortality rates. The association between air pollution and mortality could not be explained by temporal variation in either mortality rates or weather factors. Fine particulate mass (less than 2.5 microns in average aerometric diameter) was a stronger predictor of mortality than coarse mass (between 2.5 and 10 microns). Size-fractionated particulate mass explained 28% of the total health effect of the mixture, with the remaining effects accounted for by the gases. Forty-seven elemental concentrations were obtained for the fine and coarse fraction using nondestructive x-ray fluorescence techniques. Sulfate concentrations were obtained by ion chromatography. Sulfate ion, iron, nickel, and zinc from the fine fraction were most strongly associated with mortality. The total effect of these four components was greater than that for fine mass alone, suggesting that the characteristics of the complex chemical mixture in the fine fraction may be a better predictor of mortality than mass alone. However, the variation in the effects of the constituents of the fine fraction between cities was greater than the variation in the mass effect, implying that there are additional toxic components of fine particulate matter not examined in this study whose concentrations and effects vary between locations. One of these components, carbon, represents half the mass of fine particulate matter. We recommend that measurements of elemental and organic carbon be undertaken in Canadian urban environments to examine their potential effects on human health.

Air Pollutants↗
PubMed2004

A case-crossover analysis of particulate air pollution and cardiac arrhythmia in patients with implantable cardioverter defibrillators.

We investigated the relationship between air pollution and incidence of cardiac arrhythmia in a study of patients with implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs). Thirty-four patients (ages 15-85 yr, 80% male) with ICDs residing in the Vancouver, Canada, area were included in the analyses, representing all patients attending the 2 ICD clinics in the study region who had recorded at least 1 ICD discharge during the 14 February to 31 December 2000 study period. Air pollutant (PM(2.5), PM(10), SO(4)(2-), elemental carbon [EC], organic carbon [OC], O(3), SO(2), NO(2), and CO) concentrations on days for which ICD discharges were observed ("case days") were compared to concentrations on control days in case-crossover analyses. Control days were selected symmetrically, 7 days before and after each case day. ICD discharges occurring within 72 h of 1 another were grouped and considered as 1 discharge event. Temperature, relative humidity, barometric pressure, rainfall, and wind speed were included simultaneously as covariates. Sensitivity analyses examined the effect of grouping ICD discharges, of including meteorological variables, and of excluding discharges that were considered inappropriate by a cardiologist. As in previous studies, mean concentrations and interquartile ranges of air pollutants in Vancouver were low (e.g., PM(2.5) mean = 8.2 microg/m(3)). Although in general there were no statistically significant results, there were trends that might indicate associations between pollutants and ICD discharges. Odds ratios (OR) were consistently higher in summer than in winter (e.g., lag 0 per interquartile range increase in EC: 1.09 [0.86-1.37] vs. 0.61 [0.31-1.18]) and, in general, the highest ORs were observed for same-day effects. The one major exception was the observation of high ORs for ozone in winter (e.g., lag 1: 2.27 [0.67-7.66]). While an OR of 1.55 (0.51-4.70) was observed in summer at lag 0 for PM(10), no indications of positive associations were observed for PM(2.5) or SO(4)(2-). For indicators of local combustion-source pollution, EC, OC, CO, and SO(2), ORs were elevated at all lags (0-3 days) in summer. In summary, this study provides little evidence that specific components of PM affect risk of cardiac arrhythmias, although power limited the ability of the study to detect small effects.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Association between ambient air pollution and health-related quality of life in Japan: ecological study.

To assess the association between air pollution and health-related quality of life (HRQOL), we performed an ecological study by a two-stage stratified random sampling of the Japanese general population. A total of 3395 subjects, aged 16 and older, filled out questionnaires, including the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-36 Health Survey (SF-36). Air pollutants examined in this study were nitrogen oxides (NOx) and suspended particulate matter (SPM). We used analysis of covariance to estimate the mean differences for each SF-36 domain among four groups categorized according to concentrations of air pollutants to which they were exposed. We observed a significant linear trend of a lower 'vitality' domain score in the SF-36 in groups exposed to higher concentrations of NOx (p = 0.013). The results of the present study are important for, and needed by, public health policy makers, because assessing the health effects of air pollution by measuring the HRQOL would provide a new method for formulating air pollution policies.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Scale of classification based on biochemical markers in mussels: application to pollution monitoring in Mediterranean coasts and temporal trends.

A battery of biochemical parameters was used to evaluate the response of mussels to a contaminated coastal environment. A multimarker approach was developed, establishing a scale for the classification of the water quality in European coastal sites (BIOMAR European programme). This study allows the evaluation of the temporal trends of this scale when applied to selected sites of European Mediterranean coast (BEEP Biological Effects of Environmental Pollution in Marine Coastal Ecosystems: European programme). Acetylcholinesterase activity (AChE) is highly sensitive to organophosphorus and carbamate insecticides and, to some extent, also to heavy metals. Catalase activity (CAT) and lipid oxidation (evaluated as malonedialdehyde) are markers of oxidative stress, glutathione S-transferase (GST) activity is related to conjugation of organic compounds and benzo(a)pyrene hydroxylase activity (BPH) is a marker of effect of certain planar organic compounds (e.g. polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, PAHs). These parameters were measured either in gills (AChE, GST) or digestive gland (BPH, GST, CAT, MDA). For each biomarker, a discriminatory factor was calculated (maximum variation range/confidence interval) and a response index was allocated. For each site, a Multimarker Pollution Index (MPI) was calculated as the sum of the response index of each of the five more discriminating biomarkers. As the result of our calculation method, the quality of the coastal environment at each site can be classified according to a five levels scale. Samples collected for five cruises in May 2001, 2002, 2003, and September 2001 and 2002 showed MPI evolutions. The results show that water quality can be classified from class 1 (clean areas in some sites of France, Italy and Spain) to class 4 (high pollution in main harbours). Results of the use of the biomarker scale in WP3 (Work Package Concernant Biomonitoring Programmes in Mediterranean Sea) during the BEEP programme make a strong contribution to the establishment of standardized strategies and methods for internationally agreed protocols for biomarker-based monitoring programmes. In comparison with scale pollution methodology used in the BIOMAR programme, the main contribution of BEEP was (1) to select from discriminatory analysis the biomarkers to be included in calculation of scale pollution; (2) to improve the use of the biomarker index in order to identify the main contaminants by analysis of individual contributions to the MPI; and (3) to apply methodology for temporal trends at sampled sites.

Algorithms↗
PubMed2006

Exposure to second-hand smoke air pollution assessed from bar patrons' urinary cotinine.

We used physical and pharmacokinetic modeling to estimate personal exposures to respirable particle (RSP) and carcinogenic particulate polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PPAH) air pollution from second-hand smoke (SHS) from the increase in urinary cotinine of eight patrons of three bars in Bismarck, North Dakota. We compared SHS-RSP levels to the U.S. Air Quality Index (AQI), used to forecast outdoor air pollution conditions. We measured smoker density and air exchange rates to generalize our results. Urinary cotinine increased by an average of 4.28 ng/ml to 6.88 ng/ml to 9.55 ng/ml above preexposure background from 6-hr exposures in the three bars. Corresponding estimated SHS-RSP levels were, respectively, 246 microg/m3, 396 microg/m3, and 549 microg/m3, comparable to those measured in 6 Wilmington, Delaware, bars and in 14 western New York bars. Estimated personal SHS-RSP air pollution exposures for the eight subjects, when converted to the 24-hr averaging time of the AQI, were "code red" (unhealthy). Measured outdoor air quality RSP levels for the same period were 1%-3% of the indoor RSP levels in the three bars, and were AQI "code green" (healthy). Estimated SHS-PPAH levels were comparable to peak 3-hr PPAH levels reported at a highway tollbooth. Bismarck cotinine-estimated SHS-RSP varied with smoker density, as did measured SHS-RSP levels in smoking bars in Delaware and New York. Our results show that smoking in bars produces levels of personal air pollution for bar patrons that merit air pollution alerts when sustained in the outdoor air.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A new longitudinal design for identifying subgroups of the population who are susceptible to the short-term effects of ambient air pollution.

A longitudinal design is proposed to investigate the short-term effects of air pollution on health status. The study design exploits a new statistical methodology developed by Dewanji and Moolgavkar (2000, 2002) that makes use of a Poisson counting process for the incidence of events in a longitudinal cohort study. The methodology allows for modeling of subject-specific baseline hazards of multiple events and time-dependent ecological (i.e., daily levels of air pollution and weather conditions) and individual covariates (e.g., comorbid conditions, indices of declines in health status). The study will determine the association between short-term changes in air pollution and incidence of hospitalization, emergency department visits, "intermediate health conditions" (e.g., changes in health status reflected by changes in filled prescriptions), and mortality. Data from the universal Quebec medicare system are used, including data for residents of Montreal age 65 yr and above. The cohorts include individuals who have at baseline airways disease, chronic coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, hypertension, cerebrovascular disease, atherosclerosis, dysrhythmias, and diabetes, and these will be followed for the incidence of the already mentioned adverse outcomes, adjusting for time-dependent individual and ecological covariates. This type of study will provide findings that can be used to confirm or refute results of time series analyses. Using a different methodology that includes subject-specific information will greatly increase our understanding as to whether short-term exposures to ambient air pollution cause serious changes in health status among subgroups of the population. These results will also help in understanding mechanisms by identifying groups that are susceptible to the effects of air pollution.

Air Pollutants↗
PubMed2002

Effects of air pollution on daily clinic visits for lower respiratory tract illness.

The authors used data obtained from clinic records and environmental monitoring stations in Taiwan during 1998 to estimate the association between air pollution and daily numbers of clinic visits for lower respiratory tract illness. A small-area design and hierarchical modeling were used for the analysis. Rates of daily clinic visits were associated with current-day concentrations of nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and particulate matter less than or equal to 10 microm in aerometric diameter. People over age 65 years were the most susceptible, and estimated pollution effects decreased as the exposure time lag increased. The analysis also suggested that several community-specific variables, such as a community's population density and yearly air pollution levels, modified the effects of air pollution. In this paper, the authors demonstrate the use of a small-area design to assess acute health effects of air pollution.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

Indoor air pollution: a global health concern.

Indoor air pollution is ubiquitous, and takes many forms, ranging from smoke emitted from solid fuel combustion, especially in households in developing countries, to complex mixtures of volatile and semi-volatile organic compounds present in modern buildings. This paper reviews sources of, and health risks associated with, various indoor chemical pollutants, from a historical and global perspective. Health effects are presented for individual compounds or pollutant mixtures based on real-world exposure situations. Health risks from indoor air pollution are likely to be greatest in cities in developing countries, especially where risks associated with solid fuel combustion coincide with risk associated with modern buildings. Everyday exposure to multiple chemicals, most of which are present indoors, may contribute to increasing prevalence of asthma, autism, childhood cancer, medically unexplained symptoms, and perhaps other illnesses. Given that tobacco consumption and synthetic chemical usage will not be declining at least in the near future, concerns about indoor air pollution may be expected to remain.

Air Pollution, Indoor↗
PubMed1996

Effects of an ambient air pollution intervention and environmental tobacco smoke on children's respiratory health in Hong Kong.

BACKGROUND: Two-thirds of complaints received by the Hong Kong Environmental Protection Department in 1988 were related to poor air quality. In July 1990 legislation was implemented to reduce fuel sulphur levels. The objective of this study was to measure the impact of the intervention on respiratory health in primary school children. METHODS: In all, 3521 children, mean age 9.51 years (SD = 0.78), from two districts with good and poor air quality respectively before intervention were followed yearly from 1989 to 1991. Children and parents reported the children's respiratory symptoms using self-completed questionnaires. Factor analysis was used to derive independent scores from 12 symptoms. Four groups of related symptoms were identified and binary variables (presence of any symptom in each group) were treated as dependent variables in modelling using generalized estimating equations procedures. RESULTS: In 1989 and 1990 an excess of respiratory symptoms was observed in the polluted compared with unpolluted district. The significant effects (odds ratio [OR], 95% confidence interval [CI], P value) associated with living in the polluted district were: cough and sore throat (OR = 1.22, 95% CI: 1.04-1.43, P < 0.01) and wheezing (OR = 1.35, 95% CI: 1.10-1.66, P < 0.01). After the intervention, in the polluted district only, sulphur dioxide levels fell by up to 80% and sulphate concentrations in respirable particulates by 38%. Between 1989 and 1990-1991 there was a greater decline in the polluted compared with the unpolluted district for reported symptoms of cough or sore throat, phlegm, and wheezing. The risks to respiratory health for children exposed to tobacco smoke in the home were higher than those for air pollution in both 1989 and 1990 and remained unchanged in 1991. CONCLUSIONS: Air quality can be improved by fuel controls but an effective intersectoral approach is required if other risks from environmental tobacco smoke are to be avoided.

Air Pollution↗
PubMed1996

Environmental pollution and delivery outcome in southern Sweden: a study with central registries.

OBJECTIVE: To study whether differences in delivery outcome correlated with pollution levels in the municipalities of a county in southern Sweden (Malmöhus). METHODS: The effects of air and ground pollution on delivery outcome were studied in 38,718 women who lived, and were delivered, in Malmöhus county in southern Sweden during the period 1985-90. Delivery outcome was compared between different municipalities arranged according to the degree of pollution. RESULTS: Neither air nor ground pollution affected the odds ratio for short gestation or low birthweight. No significant effect was seen on perinatal deaths or non-trivial malformations, but in the municipality with the highest arsenic concentration, 14 infants died perinatally versus the expected 7.4, and the odds ratio for stillbirths reached formal statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS: Environmental pollution in this county does not seem to be a major determinant of delivery outcome.

Air Pollution↗
PubMed1985

Effects of four aromatic organic pollutants on microbial glucose metabolism and thymidine incorporation in marine sediments.

The metabolism of D-[U-14C]glucose and the incorporation of [methyl-3H]thymidine by aerobic and anaerobic marine sediment microbes exposed to 1 to 1,000 ppm anthracene, naphthalene, p,p'-dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane, and pentachlorophenol were examined. Cell-specific rates of [14C]glucose metabolism averaged 1.7 X 10(-21) and 0.5 X 10(-21) mol/min per cell for aerobic and anaerobic sediment slurries, respectively; [3H]thymidine incorporation rates averaged 43 X 10(-24) and 9 X 10(-24) mol/min per cell for aerobic and anaerobic slurries, respectively. Aerobic sediments exposed to three of the organic pollutants for 2 to 7 days showed recovery of both activities. Anaerobic sediments showed little recovery after 2 days of pre-exposure to the pollutants. We conclude that (i) anaerobic sediments are more sensitive than aerobic sediments to pollutant additions; (ii) [3H]thymidine incorporation is more sensitive to pollutant additions than is [14C]glucose metabolism; and (iii) the toxicity of the pollutants increased in the following order: anthracene, p,p'-dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane, naphthalene, and pentachlorophenol.

Anthracenes↗
PubMed1996

Air pollution and daily mortality in London: 1987-92.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether outdoor air pollution levels in London influence daily mortality. DESIGN: Poisson regression analysis of daily counts of deaths, with adjustment for effects of secular trend, seasonal and other cyclical factors, day of the week, holidays, influenza epidemic, temperature, humidity, and autocorrelation, from April 1987 to March 1992. Pollution variables were particles (black smoke), sulphur dioxide, ozone, and nitrogen dioxide, lagged 0-3 days. SETTING: Greater London. OUTCOME MEASURES: Relative risk of death from all causes (excluding accidents), respiratory disease, and cardiovascular disease. RESULTS: Ozone levels (same day) were associated with a significant increase in all cause, cardiovascular, and respiratory mortality; the effects were greater in the warm seasons (April to September) and were independent of the effects of other pollutants. In the warm season an increase of the eight hour ozone concentration from the 10th to the 90th centile of the seasonal change (7-36 ppb) was associated with an increase of 3.5% (95% confidence interval 1.7 to 5.3), 3.6% (1.04 to 6.1), and 5.4% (0.4 to 10.7) in all cause, cardiovascular, and respiratory mortality respectively. Black smoke concentrations on the previous day were significantly associated with all cause mortality, and this effect was also greater in the warm season and was independent of the effects of other pollutants. For black smoke an increase from the 10th to 90th centile in the warm season (7-19 microg/m3) was associated with an increase of 2.5% (0.9 to 4.1) in all cause mortality. Significant but smaller and less consistent effects were also observed for nitrogen dioxide and sulphur dioxide. CONCLUSION: Daily variations in air pollution within the range currently occurring in London may have an adverse effect on daily mortality.

Air Pollutants↗