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PubMedDate not supplied

Effects of environmental pollutants on airways, allergic inflammation, and the immune response.

Particulate and gaseous air pollutants are capable of damaging the airway epithelial lining and of shifting the local immune balance, thereby facilitating the induction of persistent inflammation. Epidemiological studies are inconclusive regarding whether air pollution increases the incidence of asthma and chronic bronchitis in the population. Clearly, environmental pollution can, however, precipitate attacks and emergency-room admissions in those already suffering from such conditions. The catastrophic potential of airborne pollution was demonstrated in the 1960s and 1970s, when inverted atmospheric pressure conditions trapped smog over cities on the Eastern coast of the United States and over Europe. This smog resulted in thousands of hospital admissions and dozens of deaths. With the general rise in the incidence of atopy and asthma in the Western population, it is of major public health interest to reduce, as much as possible, the exposure of such populations to anthropogenic and natural sources of pollution.

Acrolein↗
PubMed2005

Air pollution and birth weight among term infants in California.

OBJECTIVE: To examine associations between birth weight and air pollution among full-term infants in California. METHODS: We matched exposure data collected from air pollution monitors for small particles (PM(2.5)) and carbon monoxide (CO) to California birth records for singleton births delivered at 40 weeks' gestation in 2000 using the locations of the monitors and mother's residence. Pollution measurements collected within 5 miles of the mother's residence, averaged for the time period corresponding to the duration of pregnancy and each trimester, were used as exposure variables. Logistic and linear regression models were used to estimate the associations between the pollution measures and 2 pregnancy outcomes: small for gestational age (SGA) and birth weight. Variations of the models were used to examine the robustness of the findings. RESULTS: The adjusted odds ratio for SGA for exposure in the highest compared with lowest quartile of PM(2.5) was 1.26 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.03-1.50). We found no association between CO and birth weight or SGA after controlling for maternal factors and PM(2.5) (mean birth weight difference: 2.6 g; 95% CI: -20.6 to 25.8). The difference in mean birth weight for infants with a 9-month exposure in the highest quartile of PM(2.5) compared with that of infants who were exposed in the lowest quartile was -36.1 g (95% CI: -16.5 g to -55.8 g); this difference was similar after controlling for CO. We did not find PM(2.5) exposure during a particular trimester most important for assessing birth weight; trimester-level associations were similar to those found using the 9-month exposure variable. CONCLUSIONS: We found an increased odds of SGA and a small difference in mean birth weight between infants with the highest and lowest exposures to PM(2.5) but not CO. These findings have important implications for infant health because of the ubiquitous exposure to fine particulate air pollution across the United States.

Air Pollutants↗
PubMed2001

Sediment evidence of early eutrophication and heavy metal pollution of Lake Mälaren, central Sweden.

Lake Mälaren is the water supply and recreation area for more than 1 million people in central Sweden and subject to considerable environmental concern. To establish background data for assessments of contemporary levels of trophy and heavy metal pollution, sediment cores from the lake were analyzed. Diatom-inferred lake-water phosphorus concentrations suggest that pre-20th century nutrient levels in Södra Björkfjärden, a basin in the eastern part of Mälaren, were higher (c. 10-20 micrograms TP L-1) than previously assumed (c. 6 micrograms TP L-1). Stable lead isotope and lead concentration analyses from 3 basins (S. Björkfjärden, Gisselfjärden and Asköfjärden) show that the lake was polluted in the 19th century and earlier from extensive metal production and processing in the catchment, particularly in the Bergslagen region. The lake has experienced a substantial improvement of the lead pollution situation in the 20th century following closure of the mining and metal industry. The lead pollution from the old mining industry was large compared to late-20th century pollution from car emissions, burning of fossil fuels and modern industries.

Environmental Monitoring↗
PubMed2002

[Air pollution and emergency room visits due to pneumonia and influenza in São Paulo, Brazil].

OBJECTIVE: A time series was developed to investigate the effect of air pollution levels on morbidity due to respiratory diseases such as pneumonia and influenza among elderly people from 1996 to 1998. METHODS: Daily data on emergency room visits was collected at the university clinics hospital in São Paulo, Brazil. Daily levels of CO, NO2, O3, SO2 and PM10 were obtained from the State Environmental Agency. Daily measures of temperature and relative humidity were obtained from the Institute of Astronomy and Geophysics of the University of São Paulo. Generalized additive Poisson regression models were used to assess the relationship between pneumonia and influenza and air pollution, using the number of emergency room visits as dependent variable and the average daily levels of each pollutant as independent variables. The models were estimated and adjusted by seasonality (non-parametric function), weather, weekdays, motor vehicle circulation curbs periods and daily numbers of non-respiratory hospital admissions. RESULTS: The pollutants O3 and SO2 showed a statistical association with pneumonia and influenza. These associations remained robust when control variables were included. An interquartile range for O3 (38.80 microgram/m3) and SO2 (15.05 microgram/m3) increased in 8.07% and 14.5%, respectively, the number of emergency room visits due to pneumonia and influenza. CONCLUSION: The study results suggest that air pollution in the city of São Paulo may promote adverse health effects in elderly people.

Aged↗
PubMed2006

[Respiratory and cardiovascular hospitalizations associated with air pollution in the city of São Paulo, Brazil].

The recognition that current air pollution levels cause harmful health effects makes the definition of the air quality regulatory process imperative. This study examines the association between exposure to air pollution and hospital admissions in the city of São Paulo, aiming to support the development of measures to reduce such health risks. The authors conducted an ecological time series study of hospital admissions for respiratory and cardiovascular diseases in children and the elderly in relation to daily air pollution levels, using generalized additive Poisson regression models. All air pollutants except ozone showed a statistically significant association with admissions for respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. An increase of 10 microg/m3 in fine particulate matter was associated with a 4.6% increase in asthma admissions in children and a 4.3% increase in admissions for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and 1.5% for ischemic heart disease in the elderly. These associations are consistent with a large body of literature in this area and indicate that the current air pollution levels in São Paulo have an important negative impact on the population's health.

Aged↗
PubMed2006

Diffuse pollution in Oxford (Ohio, USA) watershed and performance of 'street sweeping' as a 'best management practice' (BMP).

Experimental results are described to evaluate the diffuse pollution profile according to land use in the catchments and street sweeping as a best management practice (BMP). We studied the variation of pollutant concentrations in outfalls discharging runoff from residential, commercial and high-traffic areas and in street sweeping. Pollution profiles varied with the land use in the catchments and seasons along with other factors such as rainfall intensity, construction works and street maintenance. Microbial indicator organisms were relatively high in all three outfalls. Heavy metal concentrations were low with lead (Pb) as the predominant heavy metal. The organic and solid contents were low but non-degradable and persistent. Relatively high quantities of pollutants were found in street sweeps in all catchments suggesting street sweeping as an effective measure to control diffuse pollution. Regular and frequent sweeping is important as a BMP.

Filtration↗
PubMed2006

Development and investigation of a pollution control pit for treatment of stormwater from metal roofs and traffic areas.

Source control by on-site retention and infiltration of stormwater is a sustainable and proven alternative to classical drainage methods. Unfortunately, sedimentary particles and pollutants from drained surfaces cause clogging and endanger soil and groundwater during long-term operation of infiltration devices. German water authorities recommend the use of infiltration devices, such as swales or swale-trench-systems. Direct infiltration by underground facilities, such as pipes, trenches or sinks, without pretreatment of runoff is generally not permitted. Problems occur with runoff from metal roofs, traffic areas and industrial sites. However, due to site limitations, underground systems are often the only feasible option. To overcome this situation, a pollution control pit was developed with a hydrodynamic separator and a multistage filter made of coated porous concrete. The system treats runoff at source and protects soil, groundwater and receiving waterways. Typically, more than 90% of the pollutants such as sedimentary particles, hydrocarbons and heavy metals can be removed. Filters have been developed to treat even higher polluted stormwater loads from metal roofs and industrial sites. The treatment process is based on sedimentation, filtration, adsorption and chemical precipitation. Sediments are trapped in a special chamber within the pit and can be removed easily. Other pollutants are captured in the concrete filter upstream of the sediment separator chamber. Filters can be easily replaced.

Cities↗
PubMed1984

Determination of metabolites of xenobiotics in the bile of fish from polluted waterways.

An h.p.l.c.-fluorescence technique was used to estimate relative concentrations of metabolites of xenobiotics in bile of 103 English sole (Parophrys vetulus) from both polluted and minimally polluted (reference) sites in Puget Sound, WA. Fish from polluted sites had concentrations of xenobiotics in bile with naphthalene-, phenanthrene- and benzo[a]pyrene-like fluorescence that averaged 9, 14 and 19 times, respectively, those of fish from reference sites. Within a polluted site, fish with liver lesions had significantly higher bile concentrations of xenobiotics with benzo[a]pyrene-like fluorescence than did fish without liver lesions. Individual metabolites of fluorene, phenanthrene, anthracene, biphenyl and dimethylnaphthalene were determined by g.l.c.-mass spectrometry in extracts of hydrolysed bile of three English sole from polluted waterways; concentrations ranged from 90 to 19000 ng/g, wet wt. Other xenobiotics were tentatively identified, but not quantified.

Animals↗
PubMed1981

Emphysema and occupational exposure to industrial pollutants.

In a case-referent study, the possible association between the development of emphysema and occupational exposure to industrial pollutants has been studied. Based on complete work histories from the participants, the number of years of employment in a polluted workplace was assessed for 36 patients with emphysema and 72 referents, matched for age (+/- 2 a) and smoking habits. Analyzed as matched triplets, the estimated risk ratio for the exposed (greater than or equal to 10 a in polluted workplaces) subjects developing emphysema in comparison to the nonexposed (less than 10 a in polluted workplaces) was 3.0, a value statistically significant. Estimated risk ratios according to the number of years employed in a polluted workplace did not show any significant trend towards a dose-response relationship. Only one of the emphysema patients had never smoked. In the further study of the relationship between emphysema and occupational exposure, the interaction between cigarette smoke and different occupational exposures seems to be of particular interest.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[The EMECAM project: the Spanish Multicenter Study on the Relationship between Air Pollution and Mortality. The background, participants, objectives and methodology].

In recent years, a growing number of studies suggests that increases in air pollution levels may have short-term impact on human health, even at pollution levels similar to or lower than those which have been considered to be safe to date. The different methodological approaches and the varying analysis techniques employed have made it difficult to make a direct comparison among all of the findings, preventing any clear conclusions from being drawn. This has led to multicenter projects such as the APHEA (Short-Term Impact of Air Pollution on Health. A European Approach) within a European Scope. The EMECAM Project falls within the context of the aforesaid multicenter studies and has a wide-ranging projection nationwide within Spain. Fourteen (14) cities throughout Spain were included in this Project (Barcelona, Metropolitan Area of Bilbao, Cartagena, Castellón, Gijón, Huelva, Madrid, Pamplona, Seville, Oviedo, Valencia, Vigo, Vitoria and Saragossa) representing different sociodemographic, climate and environmental situations, adding up to a total of nearly nine million inhabitants. The objective of the EMECAM project is that to asses the short-term impact of air pollution throughout all of the participating cities on the mortality for all causes, on the population and on individuals over age 70, for respiratory and cardiovascular design causes. For this purpose, with an ecological, the time series data analyzed taking the daily deaths, pollutants, temperature data and other factors taken from records kept by public institutions. The period of time throughout which this study was conducted, although not exactly the same for all of the cities involved, runs in all cases from 1990 to 1996. The degree of relationship measured by means of an autoregressive Poisson regression. In the future, the results of each city will be combined by means of a meta-analysis.

Air Pollutants↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[The short-term effects of air pollution on mortality: the results of the EMECAM project in Castellón, 1991-95. Estudio Multicéntrico Español sobre la Relación entre la Contaminación Atmosférica y la Mortalidad].

BACKGROUND: In the last decade several studies have found out an association between air pollution and mortality in levels below the standards allowed by regulations. Castellón is a small city (134,000 inhabitants) with low air pollution levels. This work aims to identify if there is a short term relation between these both variables in this city. METHODS: We used mortality data and air pollution data (black smoke and sulphur dioxide), from 1.991 to 1.995, doing an ecological study using a time series analysis with the day as unit of the analysis. Poisson regression allow us to get the relative risk adjusted by others variables (meteorological, trend, influenza, day of the week, season) in autoregresive models. RESULTS: Black smoke and SO2 daily means were respectively 34.6 and 15.7 micrograms/m3. Results showed a 3.6% (IC95 0.3-7.0) of SO2 and 3.5% (IC95% 0.5-6.5) increment of cardiovascular mortality for an increment of 10 micrograms/m3 of SO2 and black smoke respectively. Sulphur dioxide was positively associated with all four groups of mortality causes but only in cold season. CONCLUSION: Even in a small city with low air pollution levels, we found an association between air pollution and immediate mortality. In some cases, the analysis by periods (warm and cold) show an strong effect modification.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[The short-term effects of air pollution on mortality: the results of the EMECAM project in the city of Huelva, 1993-96. Estudio Multicéntrico Español sobre la Relación entre la Contaminación Atmosférica y la Mortalidad].

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to estimate the relationship between the levels of air pollution and the daily mortality in the city of Huelva for the 1993-1996 period using the EMECAM methodology. METHODS: The number of daily deaths for all causes except external ones, the death rate of those over age 69, due to diseases of the circulatory system and for respiratory diseases were used as rate indicators. Four pollutants--SO2, PM10, NO2 and CO--were analyzed, the daily levels of which were furnished by the air pollution monitoring network in Huelva. Autoregressive Poisson regression models were constructed controlling by tendency, seasonality, temperature, humidity, flue and events out of the ordinary. RESULTS: For the mortality rate for all causes, a significant association impact was found to exist for the NO2 for the entire period (RR10 microgram/m3: 1.0414; CI95%: 1.0047-1.0794) and for the particles (PM10) for the cold half of the year (RR10 microgram/m3: 1.0358; CI95%: 1.007-1.0722). For the mortality in people over age 69, a significant relationship was found to exist for SO2 throughout the entire period (RR10 microgram/m3: 1.0606; CI95%: 1.0020-1.1227). A significant relationship to the mortality from respiratory disease particles (PM10) was found to exist for the cold half of the year (RR10 microgram/m3: 1.1412; IC95%: 1.0300-1.2644). There was no association of contaminants with cardiovascular mortality; also there was no association between levels of CO and mortality indicators. CONCLUSIONS: In Huelva, significant relationships have been found to exist between the current levels of air pollution resulting from particles, SO2 and NO2 and the daily mortality. The impact of these pollutants on the mortality is coherent with scientific literature, although in the case of Huelva, the extremely small number of daily deaths due to its small population and other factors limit the consistency thereof.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[The short-term effects of air pollution on mortality. The results of the EMECAM project in the city of Valencia, 1994-96. Estudio Multcéntrico Español sobre la Relación entre la Contaminación Atmosférica y la Mortalidad].

BACKGROUND: To determine the short-term impact of air pollution on mortality in the city of Valencia throughout the 1994-1996 period by employing the analysis method of the Spanish multicenter study with regard to the relationship between air pollution and the mortality (EMECAM Project). METHODS: The daily levels of black smoke, sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), carbon monoxide (CO) and ozone (O3) were obtained from the Valencia air pollution monitoring network. The death rate indicators analyzed were the daily number of death due to all causes, except the external ones, the deaths of those over age 70, and the deaths resulting from respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. Following the methods of the EMECAM Project, autoregressive Poison regression models were built up, controlling the different confounding factors (seasonality, trend, calendar, weather variables and flu impact). RESULTS: For total mortality except the external ones, a significant impact of black smoke (RR 10 micrograms/m3: 1.013; CI95% 1.003 to 1.023) and for CO 24 la (RR 1 mg/m3: 1.024; CI95% 1.003 to 1.046) was found. For the mortality of those individuals over 70, the estimated impact was somewhat greater than for black smoke (RR 10 micrograms/m3: 1.017; CI95% 1.005-1.029), as well as for CO2 1 h (RR 10 micrograms/m3: 1.007; CI95% 1.001-1.013). No significant relationship was found with the mortality due to respiratory or cardiovascular diseases for the entire period. CONCLUSIONS: The current levels of pollution in the city of Valencia show a significant impact on daily mortality. These findings are consistent with the previous research and are coherent with those obtained on analyzing the relationship between air pollution and morbidity indicators.

Aged↗
PubMed1999

[Air pollution and health: a synthesis of longitudinal panel studies published from 1987 to 1998].

This article presents a synthetic study of 31 epidemiological panel investigations (published between 1987 and 1998) analyzing how air pollution and health may be related. First, the methodology of these studies is described: choice of population, exposure and health assessment, confounding factors and statistical methods. The main results are presented as follows: for pulmonary performance, respiratory symptoms and medication use per pollutant (PM10 and particles, SO2, O3, NO2). Then the interactions among pollutants or implying other environmental factors are analyzed. Most of the time, an association with particles is found, no matter the health indicator considered. An O3 effect is more often observed with lung function tests than with respiratory symptoms or medication use, the latter being linked first to particles and secondly to SO2. A NO2 effect is more rarely shown. Pulmonary performances are affected by all pollutants. Respiratory symptoms related to air pollution are mostly low respiratory symptoms and cough, particularly with particles and O3. The paper ends by discussing the interest and limits of these studies. It also emphasizes the importance of exposure assessment. Indeed, in order to improve exposure assessment, an essential step in every epidemiological study, new tools need to be developed.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Evaluation of external breathing in children living in a region with industrial pollution.

BACKGROUND: The changes in respiratory functions are among the most sensitive indicators available for the evaluation of the influence of air pollution on health. OBJECTIVE: The objective of the present study was to evaluate the respiratory functions of children from three schools situated at a different distance from the major sources of air pollution--an asbestos-cement plant, a fertilizer plant and a steam-power plant which utilize brown coal as a main source of energy. METHODS: Comprehensive functional investigation of breathing (FIB) was performed on 97 children from the town of Dimitrovgrad--mean age 10.4 +/- 0.1 years and height 145 +/- 0.6 cm (mean +/- Sx) in a special university medical center laboratory. The characterization of the degree of air pollution was based on the analysis of the mean yearly concentrations of particulate matter, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, ammonia and hydrogen sulphide in the three zones of exposure in the town on the basis of the criteria outlined in the Uniform National System for Control of Air Pollution in Bulgaria. RESULTS: The mean yearly concentrations of particulate matter up to 0.19 mg/m3, of hydrogen sulphide--up to 0.07 mg/m3, of nitrogen dioxide--up to 0.025 mg/m3, of ammonia--up to 0.16 mg/m3, of hydrogen sulphide--up to 0.13 mg/m3 and lead aerosols--up to 0.00012 mg/m3 recorded at the different stations reached statistical significance at some of them. No significant differences were found in the values of lung function parameters of the healthy children from all three zones. MEF50% (94 +/- 2%) and the Single Breath Transfer Factor (TLCO = 93 +/- 1.5%) showed a tendency towards lower values. CONCLUSIONS: In the low-grade pollution that we found in the present study no significant differences were found in the lung function parameters of the children from the three regions.

Air Pollutants↗
PubMed2000

[Impact of the daily variations of the air pollution on the ambulatory emergency health services activity. Study in the urban area of Rouen (France)].

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate feasibility of using both the emergency phone calls (SAMU) and medical interventions (SMUR) related to ambulatory emergency services for local epidemiological surveillance of health impact of air pollution. METHODS: A temporal ecological study was performed at Rouen area (France) (380,000 inhabitants) for 1990-1997 (SAMU) and 1990-1996 (SMUR). The pollutants tested were: Sulphur dioxide (SO(2)), Particles (PM13), and Nitrogen dioxide (NO(2)), as collected routinely by a local automated network. For each phone call (SAMU) or emergency interventions (SMUR), the date, medical reason for calling (SAMU) or diagnosis after interventions (SMUR) (classified as respiratory, cardiovascular or other diseases) have been extracted from a specific information system. A statistical analysis based on time series analysis associated to a Poisson regression was conducted, taking into account temporal trend, seasonal variations, influenza, days of the week, holiday and meteorological data. RESULTS: An association was observed between ambulatory emergency services activity for cardiovascular diseases, and the daily variations of both SO(2) (relative risk=1.008 [1.001-1.016] for SAMU with an increase of 10 microg/m(3)) and NO(2) (relative risk=1.018 [1.008-1. 030] for SAMU, relative risk=1.016 [1.001-1.032] for SMUR with an increase of 10 microg/m(3)). No association could be observed with the respiratory diseases for these pollutants. CONCLUSION: The ambulatory emergency services activity data could contribute to an epidemiological surveillance of the health impact of the air pollution, but a better quality of data collected (concerning both procedures and codification) is requested. The interest of an epidemiological surveillance, rather than usual pollutant monitoring, remains to evaluate.

Air Pollutants↗
PubMed2001

[Indoor air pollution in a zone of extreme poverty of La Pintana, Santiago-Chile].

BACKGROUND: Indoor pollution can be an important risk factor for human health, considering that people spend more than 60% of their time in their houses. AIM: To investigate indoor pollution in a zone of extreme poverty in Metropolitan Santiago. MATERIAL AND METHODS: During 24 h, carbon monoxide (CO), sulfur dioxide (SO2), respirable particulate matter (PM10), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons absorbed in PM5, temperature and humidity, were measured in the interior of 24 houses in a La Pintana, Santiago. RESULTS: The higher pollutant concentrations were observed during hours when heating was used, in houses that used coal (mean PM10 250 micrograms/m3, CO 42 ppm, SO2 192 pph) or firewood (mean PM10 489 micrograms/m3, CO 57 ppm, SO2 295 pph). In all houses, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons were detected and they came from the interior of the house and not from external filtered air. Coal, firewood and cigarette smoke were important sources of carcinogenic and kerosene and gas were sources of non carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. CONCLUSIONS: In the houses studied, the population was exposed to an accumulation of highly toxic pollutants, caused by a lack of ventilation. A high relative humidity also contributed to the growth of biological pollutants.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Study of diffuse source pollution management for land use and drainage system planning.

This study aims to clarify the mass balance of pollutants during both dry periods and storm events and to discuss the effects of some strategies such as pollutant removal, land use planning and new drainage systems by simulation. Three subjects are discussed in this paper. First, the amount of pollutants entering Lake Biwa from an urban area have been roughly estimated by using data collected by the local government. Second, many additional samples were collected from road surfaces, house roofs and parking lots to consider the role of land use in pollutant runoff. Third, some ongoing BMP projects in an urban area are introduced. As a result, some ideas on how to solve the problem of diffuse pollution in urban areas have been obtained.

Agriculture↗