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PubMed2001

[Environmental health and industrial pollution in the 1890s].

BACKGROUND: Pollution from industry assumed new dimensions when large-scale industry and mining were established in Norway towards the end of the nineteenth century. The present article discusses how the local health administration responded to the first extensive industrial pollution of air and water. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Two chemical factories producing wood pulp and one abandoned nickel mine are studied by means of information from court records and municipal archives. RESULTS: New forms of large quantity pollutants and their great spreading capacity were not anticipated in the Health Act of 1860. The legislation at the time had ambiguous points which made it difficult to apply in cases of industrial pollution. One major problem was reliable documentation of adverse health effects. INTERPRETATION: Neither central nor local medical authorities had adequate competence to exert the professional influence required. In spite of this, local health commissions acted with considerable authority in the early 1890s. Within a few years, however, the health aspects were down-played because of the strong economic and political interests behind the new industries. The principal difficulties emerging in the 1890s with industrial pollution eventually lasted for nearly one hundred years.

Chemical Industry↗
PubMed2001

[Characteristics of nitrogen and phosphorus pollution in the middle and small creeks, suburban Shanghai].

1. The middle and small creeks in suburban Shanghai were under heavy eutropic condition, with high loadings of nitrogen, phosphorus and organic pollutants. KN, TP and CODCr of the surface water of them were several times greater than the critical values of Types V, the worst level of water. 2. Spatial variations of N and P pollution were observed, as the creeks in different places accepted different types and amounts of pollutants. Affected by domestic sewage, the creeks nearby residential areas were often heavily polluted by NH4+ and P. The creeks in agricultural fields were more easily polluted by NO3- than by NH4+ and phosphorus. The creeks nearby livestock farms often witnessed sudden soaring of NH4+ and P. 3. N and P loadings of the creeks were also affected by the seasonal evolvement of ecological environment. With the increase of temperature and biomass, NH4+ and NO3- in the surface water were largely consumed and decreased as a result; while organic N and particle P increased as the enhancement of suspending biological particles. NO2- in the surface water increased with temperature as nitrifying bacteria became active. Total P and water soluble P also showed the trend of enhancement with the intensification of biological activities, however, they were also controlled by the condition of pH and DO in the water. 4. At the height of the summer, the surface and bottom water of the creeks differed in N and P loadings. NH4+, soluble P and total reactive P in the bottom water were higher than those in the surface; while NO3- and NO2- in the surface were higher than those in the bottom. Such water-quality stratification inevitably resulted from the enhancement of phytoplankton in the surface water and intensified release of NH4+ and P from the sediments. In the autumn, as-the temperature decrease, such phenomenon declined gradually.

China↗
PubMed2002

Air pollution modeling: a tool for management of regional air quality.

Ambient air composition over the earth has undergone several changes. Anthropogenic pollutants generated locally often have regional air quality affected significantly. In addition to the short-term episodic effects, atmospheric pollutants are known to generate long-term adverse effects, which are difficult to forecast statistically. The air pollution dispersion modeling exercise forecasts fairly accurate air quality for a given emission scenario, incorporating geographical and meteorological conditions. Industrial Source Complex Dispersion Model is used to forecast ground level concentrations (GLC) of an industrial region as case study. The usefulness of mathematical modeling and computational simulation techniques used to predict the horizontal and vertical pollutant concentrations of pollutants are explained in this paper. Finally a case study of an industrial area in Gujarat region is presented to arrive at setting up of air quality monitoring station for monitoring/management of regional air quality.

Air Movements↗
PubMed1957

Travel of pollution, and purification en route, in sandy soils.

The travel of pollution in sandy soils, and the extent to which purification takes place en route, are discussed, with special reference to the possible contamination of ground water-a problem which is of particular importance in the Netherlands, where the water-supply for many of the large towns is drawn from the water underneath the dunes.SPECIFICALLY, TWO TYPES OF SOIL POLLUTION ARE CONSIDERED: (a) severe pollution of the surface layers with matter concentrated in a small volume of water (e.g., faecal matter from pit privies at camping-sites); and (b) moderate pollution of the surface layers with matter contained in large quantities of water (e.g., organic matter and bacteria in river water used for the artificial recharge of ground water). It is shown that in both these types of pollution the self-purification is sufficient to prevent contamination of the ground water, provided that the soil is very fine and-in the case of the first type-dry and well aerated, and provided that the ground-water level is not too high or the rate of infiltration too great.

Environment↗
PubMed1992

[Lung cancer among the autochthonous population and among immigrants Upper Silesia in relation to smoking, exposure to harmful factors at work and atmospheric pollution].

By the case-control method 367 patients with lung carcinoma coming from the autochthonous population of Upper Silesia and 253 similar patients from the population of immigrants from other areas were compared (620 cases, in all) treated in the Institute of Oncology in Gliwice in the years 1982-1989. They accounted for about 85% of all male patients with this tumour. In the analysis three zones of Upper Silesia with varying concentrations of atmospheric pollution, where the patients lived, were considered, estimating the risk of this tumour in relation to pollution level, and standardizing the risk for tobacco smoking and considering data related to the exposure to harmful factors in occupational work. The analysis showed that the so called summarized index of relative risk was about 2.5 times greater for the autochthonous as well as immigrant populations in the zone of greatest atmospheric pollution with statistically significant differences in relation to the relatively most favourable zone (accepted as 1.00) However, the risk was progressively rising only in the autochthonous population (in all 3 zones). That showed that the risk of lung carcinoma was increasing in this population with increasing atmospheric pollution. This evident progression of risk was not found in the population of immigrants, although the risk level in this population living in the zone of greatest pollution was similar to that in the autochthonous population.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Air pollution and health].

The authors have investigated the issue of air pollution and its impact on people's health. The study touches such topics as the origins and types of pollutants, airspread contaminants, pollutants' biological effect and consequences on human health. Although pollution levels have recently shown to be lower, they still reflect a major concern for public health. Automobile traffic is the main responsible for air pollution and thin dusts are virtually the most dangerous particles in the atmosphere. Prevention will only be possible if governing bodies adopt effective strategies and public health agents develop adequate prevention plans.

Air Pollutants↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Immunity status of children under the conditions of heavy metal-polluted city].

This study assessed immunological changes in apparently healthy children under a slight (less than the sanitary standards) urban pollution with heavy metals (Co, Pb, Cr, Cd, Mn, Ni, Zn, and Cu). Their pollution of the urban environment was determined with the contamination of snow cover and ambient air in Kazan. With low levels of ambient air pollution with heavy metals, monitoring the level of environmental pollution is an adequate method for evaluating the urban area, which allows the latter to be ranged by the degree of pollution. Apparently healthy children who live under relatively good environmental conditions are at risk for allergic and autoimmune diseases or secondary immunological somatic pathology.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

Pollutant sources investigation and remedial strategies development for the Kaoping River Basin, Taiwan.

The Kaoping River Basin, located in southern Taiwan, flows through approximately 171 km and drains towards the South Taiwan Strait. It is the largest and the most intensively used river basin in Taiwan. Based on the results from the pollutant sources investigation and water quality analysis, the main water pollution sources of the Kaoping River were livestock wastewater from hog farms, municipal wastewater, industrial wastewater, leachate from riverbank landfills, and non-point source (NPS) pollutants from agricultural areas in the upper catchment. Concern about the deteriorating condition of the river led the Government of Taiwan to amend the relevant legislation and strengthen the enforcement of the discharge regulations to effectively manage the river and control the pollution. The following remedial strategies have been taken to improve the river water quality since 2001: (1) hog ban in the upper catchment of the Kaoping River Basin, thus, 510 thousand hogs have been removed/relocated; (2) removal of riverbank landfills; (3) enforcement of the industrial wastewater discharge standards; (4) sewer system construction in five cities along the river corridor; (5) application of best management practices for NPS pollutant control; (6) application of natural wastewater treatment systems (e.g. land treatment, constructed wetland, overland flow, riverbank sedimentation/aeration pond) for domestic wastewater treatment in rural areas; and (7) construction of the watershed geographical information system (GIS) and real time water quality monitoring system to effectively monitor and manage the watershed. Recent water quality investigation results indicate that the biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and nutrient loadings to the Kaoping River have been significantly reduced and the water quality has been improved after the implementation of the remedial strategies described above. Results and experience obtained from this study will be helpful in designing the watershed management strategies for other similar river basins.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

The development of policy approaches for reducing nitrogen pollution to coastal waters of the USA.

Two-thirds of the coastal rivers and bays in the United States are degraded from nutrient pollution, and nitrogen inputs these waters continue to increase. The nitrogen comes from a variety of sources, including runoff from agricultural fields, concentrated animal feeding operations, atmospheric deposition from fossil fuel combustion, and sewage and septic wastes. Technical solutions for nitrogen pollution exist at reasonable cost. That most of these solutions have not yet been implemented to any significant extent across the United States suggests that new policy approaches are necessary. The best solution may involve a combination of voluntary and mandatory approaches, applying different approaches to different sources of nitrogen pollution. A watershed-based approach that relies heavily on voluntary mechanisms (such as crop-yield insurance to reduce over-fertilization) is likely to be the most effective for some sources of nitrogen (such as runoff from agricultural fields), while a uniform national regulatory approach may be better for others (such as NOx emissions from fossil fuel combustion). Implementation of management strategies should be carefully coupled to monitoring programs to assess the effectiveness of these strategies. While both nitrogen and phosphorus are important to control, the focus should be on nitrogen management, in part because nitrogen is more generally the causal agent of coastal eutrophication. Also, while nitrogen-control practices tend to also reduce phosphorus pollution, phosphorus-control practices often have little effect on nitrogen. Although current scientific and technical knowledge is sufficient to begin to make substantial progress toward solving coastal nitrogen pollution, progress will be made more quickly and more cost effectively with increased investment in appropriate scientific research.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

[Epidemiological studies of air pollution and health effects in areas near roadways with heavy traffic in Tokyo].

Recent concern regarding health effects of air pollution in Japan has concentrated mainly on traffic-induced air pollution and its health effects in large cities. In Japan, where many people in large cities have been living near major roadways, the increase of automobile exhaust due to heavy traffic congestion will predictably cause a greater impact on people living near major roadways. We surveyed the characterization of residential suspended particulate matter (SPM) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) concentrations along the major roadways in Tokyo, along with a health survey on the respiratory conditions of residents living in the same area, to examine the relationships between indoor pollutant levels, prevalence of respiratory symptoms and distance from roadways. The environmental monitoring was conducted in five phases. Using a newly developed SPM sampler and NO2 filter badge, continuous 4 day (96 hours) measurements were conducted in two hundred residential homes for four weeks. NO2 was measured in the living room, kitchen and outside of each home, while SPM was monitored in the living room. Health information was collected in October 1987 using ATS-DLD self-administered questionnaires. Of the 1,093 homes investigated, responses from 805 homes were received. The following results were obtained. SPM and NO2 concentrations showed large variations. Indoor pollution levels mostly depended on indoor sources, i.e. cigarette smoking and unventilated space heaters, and the effects of those indoor sources were influenced by the building structure with respect to air tightness. An association between increase in pollutant levels and the distance from the roadway was observed. However its effect is small compared to indoor source effects. The prevalence rate of respiratory symptoms was higher in those areas nearest roadways with heavy traffic both in children and adults. These results suggest the presence of a relationship between automobile exhaust and health effects.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

[Atmospheric pollution in the city of Santiago. A statement from the Chilean Society of Respiratory Diseases].

Air pollution was the subject of the 1990 Fall Meeting of the Chilean Society of Respiratory Diseases. The potential danger of air pollution was considered a serious challenge. Groups at special risk are children under 5 years of age, patients with chronic respiratory diseases (COPD) or cardiovascular disease, the aged and pregnant women. Santiago is located in a valley surrounded by mountains, with a large population and many industries. The anticyclonic conditions determine a dominant semiarid climate and air circulation is prevented by a thermal inversion layer. Unacceptably high levels of total suspension particles (TSP) and carbon monoxide have been measured by the network of air pollution monitoring stations during winter and fall. 70% of TSP comes from diesel engines of the public transportation system. Most of the CO comes from automobiles. High levels of O3 have been detected in the east and north areas of the city. Nitrous oxide interference may account for an underestimation of the O3 level in the downtown area. Errors in the methodology for measurement of SO2 interfere with adequate knowledge about this pollutant. Actions to control the level of pollutants should include modification of industrial processes, changes in the transportation systems and others that should be enforced by law. Cooperation of the population and a well defined political will are urgently needed to implement solutions.

Air Pollution↗
PubMed1990

CO and particle pollution of indoor air in Beijing and its elemental analysis.

Three representative types of houses in Beijing were selected and, in each type, smoking and nonsmoking households were compared, IP, RP, and CO concentrations in the living room and kitchen were monitored during each season, and the level of COHb in the heads of the households were measured. The study showed that indoor air pollution was rather severe, especially during winter, when particulate concentrations markedly exceeded the standard and CO concentration was as high as 47 ppm. Indoor air pollution was closely related to the type of house, particularly to the mode of heating. In houses, of the same type, pollution improved greatly after central heating facilities were installed. Analysis of 30 elements revealed that pollution was typically caused by coal burning, aggravated by dusty wind, but high indoor Pb levels were probably due to the use of LPG for cooking. In our study the effect of cigarette smoking was sometimes masked by the severe indoor pollution.

Air Pollutants↗
PubMed1990

[Asthma and air pollution. A study of admissions to the Hospital of Saint-Nazaire].

To test the possible influence of atmospheric pollution on the frequency of asthmatic exacerbations we have looked to see whether there is a link between the number of daily admissions for asthma in hospitals in Saint-Nazaire and data from pollution sensors in the network of the Association for the Measurement of Atmospheric Pollution in the Loire estuary. The pollutions studied were sulphur dioxide, oxide of nitrogen (NOx) and non sedimenting dust (black smoke). The meteorological data (speed and direction of the wind and temperature) were also recorded. The study was carried out for 18 months in a retrospective fashion. During this period 372 hospital admissions were recorded in 229 subjects. The number of daily admissions correlated in a significant fashion with the level of black smoke (r = 0.149, p less than 0.001) and this result was particularly due to subjects who were less than 15 years old. In this group the frequency of hospital admission was doubled on those days when the level of smoke was at its most elevated. There was a weak link between the peaks of SO2 (r = 0.116, p less than 0.05). An analysis of the place of residence in those hospitals and the dominant direction of the wind did not enable us to confirm the role of the principal sources of industrial pollution, which were all situated to the east of Saint-Nazaire.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[The significance of health risks caused by outdoor pollution, demonstrated by cross-sectional studies of pseudocroup in Baden-Württemberg].

In the FRG the question of health effects by ambient (outdoor) air pollution is often considered with respect to respiratory diseases in children, especially group syndrome. Therefore, the results of a cross-sectional study in Baden-Württemberg are discussed as an example for the role of "outdoor pollution" at presently observed concentrations. In the study that was performed in Stuttgart, Tübingen/Reutlingen and Freudenstadt, the parents of 8.420 children at the age of 6 years participated (response rate 93%). Their reports on diseases were additionally validated and completed by the paediatricians concerned. The "crude" prevalence for the age group 0-6 years is about 9% each for croup syndrome and obstructive bronchitis. This is strongly influenced by sex, disposition in the family, education and nationality of the parents. In contrast, influences of ambient air pollution are less clear or missing. Pollution measurements on a sufficient spatial scale were only available for Stuttgart, where logistic regression showed after adjustment for the relevant confounders only that croup syndrome was slightly increased in streets with high traffic load. For childhood asthma (prevalence 1.5%) a correlation with traffic-dependent pollutants (NO2, NO, CO) and traffic load is found. These results are compared with those from North Rhine Westphalia, and their limitations are discussed.

Air Pollutants↗
PubMed1983

Health effects of air pollution measured by outpatient visits.

An association between air pollution and various diseases has been demonstrated over the last three decades by examining vital statistics, epidemiologic surveys, and hospital data. This study examines the association between air pollutants and diagnoses made at outpatient visits to a family practice center during an acute episode of air pollution. A strong positive correlation was found between average weekly pollutant levels and the percentage of diagnoses of respiratory tract and cardiac illnesses. Not only do these findings add to the growing evidence of untoward health effects of air pollution; they also suggest a simple method of monitoring such effects in an ambulatory setting.

Air Pollutants↗
PubMed1993

[Population morbidity in Sofia as a reflection of the territorial characteristics of air pollution in the city].

A study of ambient air pollution differences over the residential areas in Sofia and the effect of the morbidity of the population has been carried out. Correlation analysis between the average concentrations of particulates, SO2, NO2, H2S, phenol and lead, and the incidence of several groups of diseases among adults and children has been performed. It has been found out that air pollution is more intensive in the centre of the city as a consequence of the heavy motor vehicle traffic and the old way of town planning. The results point out also that diseases of the lung, eye and skin are more frequent among the residents of city areas situated next to industrial zones, while diseases of the cardiovascular, hemopoietic and endocrine systems are more typical in the city centre as compared to a control residential areas. Although ambient air pollution has been found to the moderate, the correlation analysis suggests an influence of air pollution on the incidence of chronic diseases and immune imbalance. It is supposed that each pollutant possesses an individual risk potential.

Air Pollutants↗
PubMed1993

[The direct health effects of air pollution in Vratsa in 1991].

The effect of air pollution in the town of Vratsa on the daily morbidity of the population has been studied during the first half of 1991. Studies are performed on the correlation between the daily dynamics in the pollution according to specific for the town indices ammonia, hydrogen sulfide, sulphur dioxide, nitric oxides, dust, meteorological parameters temperature of the air, relative humidity, air velocity, barometric pressure and some respiratory and allergic diseases among the population. It is already established that the level of the air pollution in the town of Vratsa, among which dominate ammonia and hydrogen sulfide, have a direct effect on the acute respiratory morbidity, more expressed among the children. This influence is traced both in episodes of increased pollution, and in the course of several days afterwards and is conductive by the combination of unfavourable meteorological conditions, hindering the dispersion of the atmospheric pollutants.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Lung function in children of upper Silesian industrial zone, Poland: results of the cross-sectional study in two towns of different ambient air pollution levels.

In two groups of children aged 7-9 years residing in two towns in the most industrial region of Poland, Chorzów (C - "higher air pollution") and Mikołów (M - "lower air pollution"), lung function testing was performed in a cross-sectional manner in order to examine if the spirometric indices in children depended on the ambient air pollution level as assessed by area measurements. The between-town difference in ambient air quality was statistically significant with respect to particulate and gaseous pollutants (SO2 and NO2). In Chorzów 855 and in Mikołów 356 children were studied. Both groups (C and M) were similar in terms of sex, age, height and weight. In boys, the group mean values of lung function indices (in% of predicted values) were for FVC: c-98.1, M-98.0; FEV1: C-109.5, M-107.8; PEF; C-84.3, M-80.0 (p < 0.05); MEF50: C-105.5, M-100.4 (p < 0.05); MEF25: C-100.5, M-93.7 (p < 0.05). In girls, the respective values were for FVC: C-100.4, M-100.3; FEV1: C-107.6 M-107.1; PEF: C-78.4, M-77.6; MEF50: C-103.5, M-104.2; MEF25: C-97.6 M-99.9. Stratification for the presence of respiratory symptoms or exposure to environmental tobacco smoke did not change the between-town differences in boys' lung function. The findings were confirmed by the results of multivariate analyses. The study did not provide evidence that children living in Chorzów had poorer lung function compared with children living in Mikołów. The results highlight problems regarding a cross-sectional approach to the investigation into the effect of ambient air pollution of lung function, such as the study design, the validity of exposure assessment by means of stationary monitoring, the subjects' age and sensitivity of the evaluation of lung function.

Air Pollution↗