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PubMed1982

[Modelling the transfer of pollutants from painted surfaces to the surrounding air].

As dried paintings may emit pollutants into indoor air by evaporation or sublimation processes, men living in such rooms my incorporate a certain amount of these substances via the respiratory tract or via the skin according to the pollutant concentration. Furthermore, foodstuff and feeds may as well absorb such substances. The chronic toxicity of the single compound and its daily up- take by man determine the risk of a possible danger to human health. For the toxicological evaluation of pollutants emanating from paints it is necessary that procedures are available to estimate the maximum indoor air concentration of these pollutants. Model experiments are described and equations are given for the calculation of the equilibrium concentration of pollutants occurring in indoor air after the application of paints. The validity of the equations has been ascertained taking as examples different fungicides and pesticides. The concentration values from model experiments were in good agreement with the results of field measurements.

Air Pollutants↗
PubMed1981

Los Angeles air pollution and asthma in children.

Indices of air pollution, meteorological conditions and airborne allergens were correlated with emergency room census and hospitalizations for asthma at the Childrens Hospital of Los Angeles (CHLA) during a six-month period encompassing high and low periods of air pollution. In addition, patients in residence at the Sunair Home for Asthmatic Children (SHAC) were studied during a 10-day peak air pollution period. Increases in asthma emergency room visits and hospitalizations correlated significantly with increases in nitric oxide, coefficient of haze, hydrocarbons, Santa Ana wind conditions and total airborne allergen counts. Significant correlations were also found with decreases in ambient levels of O3, SO2, temperature and relative humidity. Among SHAC patients morning peak flow levels were significantly lower during the 10-day peak pollution period than during two control periods of low pollution. However, neither differences in clinical symptoms experienced by these patients nor their need for additional medication were observed.

Air Pollutants↗
PubMed1995

Sudden infant death syndrome in relation to weather and optimetrically measured air pollution in Taiwan.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the possible role of weather and air pollution in sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and suffocation. METHODS: Poisson regression analysis was carried out to measure the association between daily rates of SIDS per 1000 live births and daily average values of visibility and temperature in Taiwan between 1981 and 1991. The optimetrical measure of air pollution was used to represent pollution over a whole area rather than at a point source. RESULTS: Mortality from SIDS per 1000 live births was 3.3 times greater in the lowest category of visibility on the day of death than in the highest category; this rate ratio was 3.4 for the average visibility during the 9 days before death. Adjustment for population size, season, level of urbanization, incidence of deaths from respiratory tract infections, temperature, air pressure, sunshine, rainfall, relative humidity, and windspeed increased these rate ratios to 3.8 and 5.1, respectively. This suggests that the relationship between air pollution and SIDS is not biased by ecological confounders. For temperature the rate ratios were between 3.3 and 4.0. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings confirm the association of climatic temperature and air pollution with SIDS.

Air Pollution↗
PubMed1995

Respiratory effects of air pollutants: experimental studies in humans.

Epidemiological and environmental chamber studies in man, and toxicological studies in animals, have provided valuable insights into the biological effects, the mechanisms of action, and the dose-response characteristics of some major air pollutants. This review describes the information currently available on air pollutant effects in man, as the result of experimental studies. There are certain advantages, as well as some limitations, in human chamber exposure studies, but if carefully designed and based upon relevant background data they may give information that is valuable for understanding the effects of air pollutants in man. Reversible effects on the airway mechanics, the responsiveness of the airways to methacholine and allergen have been shown to be caused by air pollutants. Furthermore, significant changes have been demonstrated in airway permeability, bronchoalveolar lavage, nasal lavage, and peripheral blood cells and inflammatory markers. Currently, human toxicology to air pollutants is a progressive research area.

Air Pollutants↗
PubMed1995

[Comparison of epidemiologic methods in a case-control study of lung cancer and air pollution in Trieste, Italy].

To investigate the relationship between air pollution and histologic type of lung cancer we conducted a case-control study among deceased men in Trieste, Italy. 755 cases of lung cancer and 755 controls were identified through the local autopsy registry. Information on smoking habits, occupation and place of residence was obtained from the subject's next-of-kin. Air pollution at the residence of each subject was estimated from the average value of total particulate at the nearest monitoring station. Spatial models and logistic regression were used to evaluate the effect of residence and air pollution on LC after adjustment for age, smoking habits, likelihood of exposure to occupational carcinogens and social group. The risk of lung cancer increased with increasing level of air pollution for all types of lung cancer combined (P = 0.022), for small cell carcinoma (P = 0.016) and for large cell carcinoma (P = 0.049). Compared with inhabitants of the residential area, residents of the rural area had a relative risk (RR) of 0.6 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.4-1.0). The RR was 1.5 (1.0-2.2) for residents of the center of the city and 1.4 (1.0-2.1) for residents of the industrial area. In the center of the city the excess risk was almost completely restricted to small cell carcinoma (RR = 2.0) and to large cell carcinoma (RR = 2.6). In the industrial area the risk was increased especially for adenocarcinoma (RR = 2.1). These results provide evidence that air pollution is a moderate risk factor for certain histologic types of lung cancer.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1994

[Effects of air pollutants on pulmonary function and bronchial reactivity in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease].

Exposure to polluted air can cause respiratory symptoms in subjects with airflow limitation. Twelve COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) patients with mild to moderate obstructive ventilatory defects were exposed on separate occasions to fresh ambient air and polluted air collected from the Lin-Sun S. Road tunnel in Taipei City. Concentrations of SO2 and NO2 were 85-121 ppb and 449-502 ppb, respectively, and were 4-fold and 10-fold, respectively, higher than those of out-door air in the city. Twenty healthy adult volunteers served as the control group. Maximal expiratory flow-volume determination, respiratory resistance (Rrs) and methacholine bronchial challenges were completed before and after inhalation of polluted air for 20 minutes. No difference in FVC (forced vital capacity), FEV1 (1 second forced expiratory volume), Rrs and bronchial reactivity was noted for normal subjects after inhaling polluted air and ambient air. For patients with COPD, there was a small but significant decrease in FEV1 after exposure. The elevation in Rrs was prominent, and there was also a significant increase in bronchial sensitivity to methacholine (decrease in cumulative provocation dose, DA) in positive responders. We conclude that short-term exposures to moderate polluted air can affect lung function and increase bronchial sensitivity to methacholine in COPD patients.

Aged↗
PubMed1993

[Levels of copper and zinc in vegetables, fruit and cereal from areas differing in the degree of industrial pollution and from greenhouses].

The content of copper and zinc was determined in vegetables, fruit and cereals derived from areas exposed or non-exposed to industrial pollution and from greenhouses. The elements were determined after dry mineralization by atomic absorption spectrometry immediately from mineral solution. Copper and zinc were measured in 506 samples of vegetables, 101 fruit samples and 117 cereal samples. In the vegetables from areas not exposed to industrial pollution the copper content was from 0.10 to 6.69 mg/kg, and zinc content was from 1.10 to 27.90 mg/kg. In the vegetables from areas exposed to this pollution copper was found in amounts from 0.10 to 3.26 mg/kg and zinc from 0.88 to 27.90 mg/kg. In the vegetables from green-houses copper amounted to 0.14-1.20 mg/kg and zinc from 1.00 to 10.60 mg/kh. In fruit samples copper was found in amounts from 0.04 to 7.01 mg/kg and zinc from 0.60 to 17.30 mg/kg. In cereals copper ranged from 1.14 to 11.68 mg/kg and zinc from 7.20 to 72.07 mg/kg. Table I. Copper in vegetables, fruit and cereals from areas differing in the degree of industrial pollution and from greenhouses copper amounted to 0.14-1.20 mg/kg and zinc from 1.00 to 10.60 mg/kh. In fruit samples copper was found in amounts from 0.04 to 7.01 mg/kg and zinc from 0.60 to 17.30 mg/kg. In cereals copper ranged from 1.14 to 11.68 mg/kg and zinc from 7.20 to 72.07 mg/kg. Table I. Copper in vegetables, fruit and cereals from areas differing in the degree of industrial pollution and from greenhouses.

Copper↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Carotenoids and marine mollusk resistance to environmental pollution].

Studies have been made on the relationship between total carotenoid content of marine molluscs and their resistance to the decrease of oxygen and the increase of various toxic substances in sea water. It was found that molluscs with high carotenoid content exhibit high resistance to sea pollution. Their population increase in number, in contrast to species with low carotenoid concentration in the body which show a decrease in their population in the polluted environment. Molluscs of the same species, e. g. the common mussel, increase their carotenoid content when inhabiting a polluted region of the sea. Under experimental conditions, it was shown that 6--8 hours after exposure of mussels to pollution, their carotenoid content increases two fold. Close correlation between the resistance of marine molluscs to sea pollution and carotenoid content of their body favours the idea suggesting the role of carotenoids in oxidative metabolism of animal cells and in the adaptation of these cells to hypoxic conditions.

Adaptation, Physiological↗
PubMed1996

[Variability of respiratory system reactions to air pollutants. Epidemiologic study of children in Cracow].

The main purpose of the study was to corroborate the hypothesis that the history of allergic skin reactions is the marker of individual susceptibility of respiratory tract to air pollutants in children. The study has been carried out in two contrast areas of the city regarding the air pollution level. In the dirty area the annual daily mean concentrations of particulate matter was 51.5-74.5 micrograms/m3 and sulfur dioxide 58.4-73.8 micrograms/m3; in the cleaner part of the city the corresponding concentrations were 31.7 and 36.1 micrograms/m3. The medical examination of 171 children covered standardized interviews with mothers and spirometric measurements. The results obtained showed that despite the marked decline in air pollution level, the current level of common air pollutants in the city is hazardous to the health of inhabitants. The children with history of allergic skin reactions have been affected much stronger by the higher level of air pollutants than other children. Beside the higher frequency of chronic cough or phlegm, wheezing or shortness of breath, they had significantly poorer lung function measured by FEVI/FVC index.

Air Pollutants↗
PubMed1997

[Urban atmospheric pollution and public health: epidemiologic data].

Air pollution which is generated by car traffic of by various industries is susceptible to alter several functions of the respiratory cells. This has been demonstrated in several studies in vivo, in animal models or in human volunteers. However, the results of epidemiological studies in which the impact of air pollution on human health and particularly on the respiratory system (e.g asthma or respiratory infections), are unclear. Short term epidemiological studies have shown that air pollution can be responsible for some asthma symptoms such as cough and shortness of breath in known asthmatics, particularly in patients with mild rather than severe asthma. Moreover, these studies do not demonstrate than air pollution is responsible for the increase prevalence of asthma which has been reported these last 20 years. Concerning the relationships between air pollution and respiratory infections, the epidemiological studies are also contradictory.

Air Pollution↗
PubMed1997

[Meta-analysis and dose-response functions of air pollution respiratory effects].

A Meta-analysis was conducted on 107 original epidemiological papers published between 1980 and 1993 on the respiratory health impact of suspended particles, sulfur dioxide, ozone and nitrogen dioxide. These are the usual air quality indicators that are monitored in urban ambient air. The range of exposures that were studied (averages and 90th percentiles are respectively up to 88, 83, 124 and 53 mu/m3 (averages) and 180, 147, 234 and 131 micrograms/m3 (90th percentile) for each of the four pollution indicators) allowed assessment of dose-response functions for irritative pulmonary conditions (cough and/or asthma episodes) and respiratory function (FEVI and peak expiratory flow). The dose-response functions seem linear in the range of observed concentrations, with nitrogen dioxide showing the least consistent association across different health indicators. When applied to exposures measured as a 100 micrograms/m3 increase of pollutant's concentrations compared to low background values, the average relative risks of airway irritation (cough and/or asthma épisodes) range, according to the pollutant, from 1.08 to 1.47; average relative decreases of respiratory function amount to 1.1 to 2.2%. The effects are most often stronger among young subjects. The results of this study, when applied to air pollution concentrations in the range of values that were observed in this study, should foster health risk assessment studies in places where population air pollution exposures are available.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

[Air pollution in Switzerland--quantification of health effects using epidemiologic data].

Public health costs ascribable to air pollution are socialized in our society. To quantify the damage to public health, epidemiologic studies are needed. We present the methods and epidemiologic background data which form the basis for estimating the public health effect ascribable to air pollution. The figures are presented per 1 million "average" Swiss population and per 10 micrograms/m3 increase in long-term annual mean particulate pollution (PM10). Quantification was restricted to the health effects given below (due to lack of complete data for other effects or to avoid duplicating health effects which may be described by overlapping measurements). In parenthesis we present (1) the mean effect estimates (+/-1 SE) (% increase per 10 micrograms/m3 increment in PM10) derived from national and international epidemiologic studies, and (2) the expected absolute additional health effects (+/-1 SE) per 1 million Swiss population and per 10 micrograms/m3 increment in PM10, based on Swiss population statistics: total mortality (long-term estimates from the 2 US cohort studies) (+4.4% [+/-1.1]/349 [+/-91] premature deaths per year); prevalence of chronic bronchitis in adults (+25% [+8.4]/increase in long-term prevalence by 3,513 [+/-1.475]); bronchitis among children (35% [+/-13]/5,180 [+/-2,590] additional children sufferers in a year); repeated cough among children (+54% [+/-8.8]/23,490 [+/-5,873] additional children per year); cough/phlegm in adults (+12.8% [+/-7.8]/1.56 [+/-1.08] million person-days per year); hospital admissions for respiratory diseases (+1.47% [+/-0.5]/71 [+/-24] additional admissions or 1,104 (+/-390) hospital days); admissions for cardiovascular diseases (+0.9% [+/-0.25]/70 [+19] admissions; 970 (+/-270) hospital days); restricted activity days (+10.5% [+/-0.77]/0.42 [+/-0.03] million person-days); days with asthma attacks among the 6.7% asthmatics (Swiss prevalence) (+5.3% [+/-2.1]/ 240,000 [+/-102,000] additional person-days). Conservative assumptions were used throughout the study and thus the true effects are likely to be larger. Estimates of Swiss population exposure distribution would be needed to apply these results to the entire population. This step, and monetary quantification of these total effects, were the second and third elements (not shown in this report) of this Swiss government funded project. Although individual relative risks of air pollution are rather slight, the public health burden of even moderate pollution may be substantial.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Asthma severity and susceptibility to air pollution.

Exacerbations of asthma have been associated with exposure to ozone or particles with a 50% cut-off aerodynamic diameter of 10 microm (PM10). We postulated in this study that the association of summertime air pollution (i.e. ozone and PM10) with acute respiratory symptoms, medication use and peak expiratory flow differs among patients grouped according to asthma severity. During the summer of 1995, effects of ambient air pollution on these parameters were studied in a panel of 60 nonsmoking patients with intermittent to severe persistent asthma. These patients were recruited from our Pulmonary Out-patient Clinic. Subgroup analysis was performed on the degree of hyperresponsiveness and lung steroid use before the start of the study, as indictors for the severity of asthma. Associations of the parameters studied with ozone, PM10, nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulphur dioxide (SO2) and black smoke were evaluated using time series analysis. Several episodes with increased summertime air pollution occurred during the 96 day study period. Eight hour average ozone concentrations exceeded the World Health Organization (WHO) Air Quality Guidelines (120 microg x m(-3)) on 16 occasions. Daily mean levels of PM10 were moderately elevated (range 16-98 microg x m(-3)). Levels of the other measured pollutants were low. There was a consistent, positive association of the prevalence of shortness of breath (maximal relative risk (RRmax) 1.18) with ozone, PM10, black smoke and NO2. In addition, bronchodilator use was associated with both ozone and PM10 levels (RRmax 1.16). Stratification by airway hyperresponsiveness and steroid use did not affect the magnitude of the observed associations. No associations with peak expiratory flow measurements were found. We conclude that the severity of asthma is not an indicator for the sensitivity to air pollution.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Quantitative aspects of evaluating the consequences of pollution for parasite populations and communities.

The utility of parasites as indicators of environmental health depends upon scientists' ability to understand how environmental stress may cause changes in parasite populations and communities. Predicting the changes due to pollution calls for dynamic models and experimentally determined knowledge of the consequences of pollution on the parameters of the model. Through an interplay of modeling, laboratory experiments, and field comparisons scientists can develop a theory of pollution and parasites and perhaps use it to assess the impact of pollution. To develop a theoretical framework for the effects of pollution on host-parasite relationships will require an identification of the appropriate scale and a determination of whether the host and parasite populations should be treated as open and recruitment-driven or closed and reproduction-driven. A theory can then be developed using epidemiology models. Those models are divided into prevalence models that track the prevalence of infection and abundance models that track the number of parasites per host. Whether a deterministic model or a stochastic counterpart should be used depends upon the scale but generally a stochastic model will give a more realistic picture. Mimicking the variability inherent in natural systems is the goal of stochastic models. The models emphasize that field tests of their predictions can only be made by studies designed with extensive replication of samples from reference and stressed sites.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

[Indoor pollution and health].

The indoor pollution, where the patients pass in general close to 90% of their time, is an important factor to take in consideration if one wants to evaluate suitably the effects of the air pollution on the health. Causes of this kind of pollution are partially linked to the external pollution and the outdoor environment and also are function of human activities and introduced products in the habitat (heating, tabagisme, handywork, products of maintenance, coatings, materials of construction, etc.). The effects on health are as various as the pollutants, going from sharp intoxication to irritations or simply desagreements. In this problem of public health we may not underestimated sensitive persons and risky group as well as long terme effects, and chronic exposition effects. The search of solutions needs multiple competences from the physician, who has to play an essential role.

Air Pollution, Indoor↗
PubMed1998

Air pollution in Sibenik before and after the shutdown of major local industries.

This study compares the values of the critical air pollution indicators (including-sulphur dioxide, smoke, total deposited matter, gaseous fluorides, fluorides, and manganese in suspended particulates and deposited matter) measured in Sibenik for years 1989/90 when the industry was working with full capacity, and for years 1994/95 and 1995/96 when most plants were shut down due to Serbian aggression. The purpose of this study was to assess the influence of industrial air pollution sources on the air quality in Sibenik. The pollution indicators show that the air in Sibenik was excessively polluted until the major industries were shut down as a result of Serbian aggression in Croatia, while it is only slightly polluted today. These findings prove the dominant influence of industrial emissions on the air quality in Sibenik.

Air Pollutants↗
PubMed1998

[Chronic respiratory symptoms and lung function in children related to air pollution in the residential areas].

The main purpose of the paper was to answer the question whether the various respiratory symptoms are related to type of air pollution in the residential areas and to which extent the worse lung function in children could have been explained by the air pollutants. Cross-sectional field study has been carried out in 1048 children aged 11 years attending grammar schools in Krakow. The results of the study provided the evidence that the current level of communal air pollutants (SPM and SO2) is not related to an excessive risk of respiratory symptoms in children, provided it is not combined with other sources of air pollution such as heavy traffic or local low point industrial emission. The risk of obstructive ventilation disorders (FEV1/FVC% 85) was significantly higher in children from the residential areas with higher air pollution (RR = 1.71; 95% CI: 1.19-2.47).

Air Pollution↗
PubMed1995

Residual Chernobyl fallout and Sellafield pollutants found on the Isle of Man.

The Isle of Man is particularly vulnerable to radioactive pollution being located in the middle of the Irish Sea, only 55 km from the Sellafield nuclear site. Paradoxically, radioactive fallout from the accident at Chernobyl is the only significant radioactive pollution on the Island and requires legal restrictions on sheep farming. This paper gives an overview of the occurrence and magnitude of radioactive pollution on the Isle of Man, using results of live-monitoring of the Island's hill flocks since August 1987, and data selected from the results of laboratory analysis of more than 1000 samples of foodstuffs and environmental materials between 1990 and 1993. Radioactive contamination is of no significance in local agricultural produce, however, about one sixth of the Island's hill grazing land is still subject to controls. Sellafield pollutants are found only in samples from the marine environment.

Air Pollutants, Radioactive↗