Contributions of Aerosol Sources to Health Impacts

A special issue of Atmosphere (ISSN 2073-4433). This special issue belongs to the section "Air Quality and Human Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 January 2021) | Viewed by 34494

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Environmental Sciences, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
Interests: atmospheric chemistry; aerosol composition; toxicity of aerosols; environmental toxicogenomics; oxidative stress

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Guest Editor
Department of Public Health Solutions, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), POB 95, FI-70701 Kuopio, Finland
Interests: exposure; respiratory tract dose; health impact assessment; concentration-response; infiltration
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Institute for Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA-CSIC), C/Jordi Girona, 18 -26, 08034 Barcelona, Spain
Interests: aerosol geochemistry; indoor and outdoor air quality; source apportionment; personal exposure assessment
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Atmospheric aerosol is considered to be one of the leading environmental risk factors for human health globally, potentially causing several million deaths per year. The exact mechanisms of toxicity are still not completely understood; however, it has been observed that adverse health effects of atmospheric particles depend on their size and their chemical–physical properties, which are strongly linked to their pollution sources. Specific components of aerosol, such as metals, organics, and black carbon, are thought to have relevant toxicological effects. Population exposure and inhaled doses play an important role so that spatial and temporal distributions of aerosols have a relevant influence on health effects. The association between aerosol and human health is one of the most controversial topics in current research. Therefore, it is becoming more and more important to gather information regarding the contribution to health indicators of specific air pollution sources and metrics to support robust environmental planning and enforcement of mitigation strategies. In this Special Issue, we aim to promote the publication of papers dealing broadly with the topic of characterization of the effects of atmospheric natural and anthropogenic sources of aerosol to a wide variety of health indicators, ranging from health impact assessment and contribution to the burden of diseases to oxidative potential and in-vitro toxicity (eco- and cytotoxic potential). This topic could be addressed from several different perspectives. These include laboratory studies and measurement protocols, methodological approaches, comparison of acellular and in-vitro or in-vivo approaches, influence of chemical composition and indoor/outdoor sources on health impacts, correlation of health indicators with source apportionment results, and assessment of health effects related to oxidative stress and population exposure.

Dr. Daniele Contini
Dr. Mar Viana
Dr. Ying-Hsuan Lin
Dr. Otto Hänninen
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • aerosol sources
  • toxicity of aerosols
  • health impact assessment
  • oxidative stress
  • in-vivo tests
  • in-vitro tests
  • indoor
  • outdoor

Published Papers (11 papers)

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Editorial

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4 pages, 202 KiB  
Editorial
Contribution of Aerosol Sources to Health Impacts
by Daniele Contini, Ying-Hsuan Lin, Otto Hänninen and Mar Viana
Atmosphere 2021, 12(6), 730; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos12060730 - 07 Jun 2021
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3408
Abstract
Atmospheric aerosol is one of the major leading environmental risk factors for human health worldwide, potentially causing several million premature deaths per year [...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Contributions of Aerosol Sources to Health Impacts)

Research

Jump to: Editorial

14 pages, 3093 KiB  
Article
Oxidative Potential, Cytotoxicity, and Intracellular Oxidative Stress Generating Capacity of PM10: A Case Study in South of Italy
by Maria Giulia Lionetto, Maria Rachele Guascito, Maria Elena Giordano, Roberto Caricato, Anna Rita De Bartolomeo, Maria Pia Romano, Marianna Conte, Adelaide Dinoi and Daniele Contini
Atmosphere 2021, 12(4), 464; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos12040464 - 07 Apr 2021
Cited by 28 | Viewed by 3174
Abstract
Long and short-term exposure to atmospheric particulate matter (PM) has detrimental effects on human health. The effective mechanisms leading to PM toxicity are still not fully understood, even if it is known that physical-chemical properties, strongly influenced by sources and atmospheric processes, are [...] Read more.
Long and short-term exposure to atmospheric particulate matter (PM) has detrimental effects on human health. The effective mechanisms leading to PM toxicity are still not fully understood, even if it is known that physical-chemical properties, strongly influenced by sources and atmospheric processes, are known to play an important role. In this work, PM10 samples were collected, at an urban background site in southern Italy, to determine cytotoxicity (using MTT test on A549 cells), genotoxicity (using the comet assay), and intracellular oxidative stress on A549 cells exposed for 24 h to aqueous extracts of PM10 samples. Organic carbon (OC) and elemental carbon (EC) content of PM10 and acellular determination of oxidative potential with DTT assay were performed to compare results of acellular and cellular biological assays. Cellular (OSGCV and MTTV) and acellular (OPDTTV) outcomes, normalized in volume, are well correlated (statistically significant results) with carbon content suggesting that combustion sources play an important role in determining cellular oxidative stress and cytotoxicity of PM10. Even if the number of data is limited, genotoxicity results are well correlated (Pearson r > 0.95) with OSGCV and MTTV, and a weaker, but statistically significant correlation was observed with OPDTTV. OSGCV is well correlated with the cell mortality observed with the MTTV test and a lower, but still statistically significant correlation is observed between MTTV and OPDDTV. A statistically significant correlation was found between OPDTTV and OSGCV results. When the outcomes of the cellular and acellular assay are compared normalized in mass (i.e., intrinsic values), the correlations become significantly weaker suggesting that the different sources acting on the site produces particulate matter with different toxicological potential influencing differently the biological tests studied. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Contributions of Aerosol Sources to Health Impacts)
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25 pages, 32871 KiB  
Article
Assessment of the Contribution of Different Particulate Matter Sources on Pollution in Sofia City
by Reneta Dimitrova and Margret Velizarova
Atmosphere 2021, 12(4), 423; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos12040423 - 25 Mar 2021
Cited by 14 | Viewed by 3298
Abstract
The habitants of Sofia, the capital city of Bulgaria, are unfortunately exposed to high levels of particulate matter (PM), despite a lot of efforts made by the government and the municipality in recent decades. A high resolution model using the Atmospheric Dispersion Modeling [...] Read more.
The habitants of Sofia, the capital city of Bulgaria, are unfortunately exposed to high levels of particulate matter (PM), despite a lot of efforts made by the government and the municipality in recent decades. A high resolution model using the Atmospheric Dispersion Modeling System (ADMS)-Urban was carried out for one year (2014) with elevated levels of PM concentration for the Sofia region measured during the winter. Four main emission sources (point industrial, domestic heating, roads, and unorganized transport) were taken into account for this study. This works intends to evaluate the impacts of different sources on the air pollution and quality of life in Sofia city. Although this type of modeling only accounts for the local sources, and has some deficiency, it can be a very useful tool for estimating the contribution of each source type to the concentration field, and it allows simulating different scenarios for future emission reduction that can help authorities with decision making. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Contributions of Aerosol Sources to Health Impacts)
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15 pages, 5255 KiB  
Article
Identification of High Personal PM2.5 Exposure during Real Time Commuting in the Taipei Metropolitan Area
by Cheng-Yi Wang, Biing-Suan Lim, Ya-Hui Wang and Yuh-Chin T. Huang
Atmosphere 2021, 12(3), 396; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos12030396 - 19 Mar 2021
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2287
Abstract
There has been an increase in the network of mass rapid transit (MRT) and the number of automobiles over the past decades in the Taipei metropolitan area, Taiwan. The effects of these changes on PM2.5 exposure for the residents using different modes [...] Read more.
There has been an increase in the network of mass rapid transit (MRT) and the number of automobiles over the past decades in the Taipei metropolitan area, Taiwan. The effects of these changes on PM2.5 exposure for the residents using different modes of transportation are unclear. Volunteers measured PM2.5 concentrations while commuting in different modes of transportation using a portable PM2.5 detector. Exposure to PM2.5 (median (range)) was higher when walking along the streets (40 (10–275) µg/m3) compared to riding the buses (35 (13–65) µg/m3) and the cars (15 (8–80) µg/m3). PM2.5 concentrations were higher in underground MRT stations (80 (30–210) µg/m3) and inside MRT cars running in underground sections (80 (55–185) µg/m3) than those in elevated MRT stations (33 (15–35) µg/m3) and inside MRT cars running in elevated sections (28 (13–68) µg/m3) (p < 0.0001). Riding motorcycle also was associated with high PM2.5 exposure (75 (60–105 µg/m3), p < 0.0001 vs. walking). High PM2.5 concentrations were noted near the temples (588 ± 271 µg/m3) and in the underground food court of a night market (405 ± 238 µg/m3) where the eatery stalls stir-fried and grilled food (p < 0.0001 vs. walking). We conclude that residents in the Taipei metropolitan area may still be exposed to high PM2.5 during some forms of commuting, including riding underground MRT. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Contributions of Aerosol Sources to Health Impacts)
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11 pages, 596 KiB  
Article
The Effect of Non-Compliance of Diesel Vehicle Emissions with Euro Limits on Mortality in the City of Milan
by Paolo Crosignani, Alessandro Nanni, Nicola Pepe, Cristina Pozzi, Camillo Silibello, Andrea Poggio and Marianna Conte
Atmosphere 2021, 12(3), 342; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos12030342 - 06 Mar 2021
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2543
Abstract
Diesel exhaust is hazardous to human health. In time, this has led the EU to impose on manufacturers lower and lower emission standards. These limits are very challenging in particular for nitrogen oxides (NOx) emitted by diesel-fueled vehicles. For the town [...] Read more.
Diesel exhaust is hazardous to human health. In time, this has led the EU to impose on manufacturers lower and lower emission standards. These limits are very challenging in particular for nitrogen oxides (NOx) emitted by diesel-fueled vehicles. For the town of Milan (Italy), we used a complex modeling system that takes into account the NOx emissions from vehicular traffic and other urban sources, as well as their dispersion and chemical transformations in the atmosphere related to meteorological parameters. The traffic emissions in the Milan urban area were estimated using the geometric and structural characteristics of the road network, whereas the traffic flows were provided by the Environment and Territory Mobility Agency. Car emissions were estimated by the official European method COPERT 5. The nitrogen dioxide (NO2) concentrations were estimated under two scenarios: the actual scenario with real emissions and the Diesel Emission Standards Compliance (DESC) scenario. Using a recent meta-analysis, limited to European studies, we evaluated the relationship between NO2 concentrations and natural mortality. For the actual scenario, the NO2 annual concentration mean was 44.3 µg/m3, whereas under the DESC hypothetical scenario, this would have been of 37.7 µg/m3. This “extra” exposure of 6.6 µg/m3 of NO2 leads to a yearly excess of 574 “natural” deaths. Diesel emissions are very difficult to limit and are harmful for exposed people. This suggests that specific policies, including traffic limitations, need to be developed and enforced in urban environments. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Contributions of Aerosol Sources to Health Impacts)
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14 pages, 1009 KiB  
Article
Circadian Deregulation as Possible New Player in Pollution-Induced Tissue Damage
by Mascia Benedusi, Elena Frigato, Cristiano Bertolucci and Giuseppe Valacchi
Atmosphere 2021, 12(1), 116; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos12010116 - 15 Jan 2021
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2425
Abstract
Circadian rhythms are 24-h oscillations driven by a hypothalamic master oscillator that entrains peripheral clocks in almost all cells, tissues and organs. Circadian misalignment, triggered by industrialization and modern lifestyles, has been linked to several pathological conditions, with possible impairment of the quality [...] Read more.
Circadian rhythms are 24-h oscillations driven by a hypothalamic master oscillator that entrains peripheral clocks in almost all cells, tissues and organs. Circadian misalignment, triggered by industrialization and modern lifestyles, has been linked to several pathological conditions, with possible impairment of the quality or even the very existence of life. Living organisms are continuously exposed to air pollutants, and among them, ozone or particulate matters (PMs) are considered to be among the most toxic to human health. In particular, exposure to environmental stressors may result not only in pulmonary and cardiovascular diseases, but, as it has been demonstrated in the last two decades, the skin can also be affected by pollution. In this context, we hypothesize that chronodistruption can exacerbate cell vulnerability to exogenous damaging agents, and we suggest a possible common mechanism of action in deregulation of the homeostasis of the pulmonary, cardiovascular and cutaneous tissues and in its involvement in the development of pathological conditions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Contributions of Aerosol Sources to Health Impacts)
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12 pages, 10892 KiB  
Article
Air Pollution and Long Term Mental Health
by Younoh Kim, James Manley and Vlad Radoias
Atmosphere 2020, 11(12), 1355; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos11121355 - 14 Dec 2020
Cited by 21 | Viewed by 3660
Abstract
We study the long-term consequences of air pollution on mental health, using a natural experiment in Indonesia. We find that exposure to severe air pollution has significant and persistent consequences on mental health. An extra standard deviation in the pollution index raises the [...] Read more.
We study the long-term consequences of air pollution on mental health, using a natural experiment in Indonesia. We find that exposure to severe air pollution has significant and persistent consequences on mental health. An extra standard deviation in the pollution index raises the probability of clinical depression measured 10 years past exposure by almost 1%. Women in particular seem to be more affected, but some effects persist for men as well. Pollution exposure increases the likelihood of clinical depression for women and also the severity of depressive symptoms for both sexes. It is not clear if men are more resistant to pollution or they simply recover faster from it. Education, perceived economic status, and marriage seem to be the best mitigators for these negative effects. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Contributions of Aerosol Sources to Health Impacts)
11 pages, 266 KiB  
Article
Premature Adult Mortality and Years of Life Lost Attributed to Long-Term Exposure to Ambient Particulate Matter Pollution and Potential for Mitigating Adverse Health Effects in Tuzla and Lukavac, Bosnia and Herzegovina
by Vlatka Matkovic, Maida Mulić, Selma Azabagić and Marija Jevtić
Atmosphere 2020, 11(10), 1107; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos11101107 - 16 Oct 2020
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3495
Abstract
Ambient air pollution is one of eight global risk factors for deaths and accounts for 38.44 all causes death rates attributable to ambient PM pollution, while in Bosnia and Herzegovina, it is 58.37. We have estimated health endpoints and possible gains if two [...] Read more.
Ambient air pollution is one of eight global risk factors for deaths and accounts for 38.44 all causes death rates attributable to ambient PM pollution, while in Bosnia and Herzegovina, it is 58.37. We have estimated health endpoints and possible gains if two policy scenarios were implemented and air pollution reduction achieved. Real-world health and recorded PM pollution data for 2018 were used for assessing the health impacts and possible gains. Calculations were performed with WHO AirQ+ software against two scenarios with cut-off levels at country-legal values and WHO air quality recommendations. Ambient PM2.5 pollution is responsible for 16.20% and 22.77% of all-cause mortality among adults in Tuzla and Lukavac, respectively. Our data show that life expectancy could increase by 2.1 and 2.4 years for those cities. In the pollution hotspots, in reality, there is a wide gap in what is observed and the implementation of the legally binding air quality limit values and, thus, adverse health effects. Considerable health gains and life expectancy are possible if legal or health scenarios in polluted cities were achieved. This estimate might be useful in providing additional health burden evidence as a key component for a clean air policy and action plans. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Contributions of Aerosol Sources to Health Impacts)
11 pages, 2332 KiB  
Article
Assessment of the Impact of PM2.5 Exposure on the Daily Mortality of Circulatory System in Shijiazhuang, China
by Fu Guiqin, An Xingqin, Liu Huayue, Tian Yaqin and Wang Pengpeng
Atmosphere 2020, 11(9), 1018; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos11091018 - 22 Sep 2020
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2500
Abstract
Air pollution can increase the morbidity and mortality of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, but there are few related studies in counties and cities with serious pollution in China. China is at a critical stage of environmental pollution control. Assessing the health impact of [...] Read more.
Air pollution can increase the morbidity and mortality of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, but there are few related studies in counties and cities with serious pollution in China. China is at a critical stage of environmental pollution control. Assessing the health impact of PM2.5 (particulate matter with a diameter equal or lower than 2.5 micrometers) on the death toll from cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases in heavily polluted counties and cities is of great importance to the formulation of air defense policies related to PM 2.5. Generalized additive models (GAMs) were used to analyze the effects of PM2.5 exposure on the death toll of circulatory system diseases in 16 districts, counties and cities in Shijiazhuang from 2014 to 2016 after controlling the long-term trend of the time series, seasonal effects, holiday effects, air temperature, relative humidity and other factors. The average PM2.5 concentration was 121.2 ± 96.6 μg/m3; during the corresponding period, the daily mean mortality of circulatory system diseases in Shijiazhuang was 4.6 ± 4.7. With the increase of PM2.5 by 10 μg/m3, the risk of total death from circulatory system diseases with a lag of two days (lag02) increased by 3.3‰ (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.0025, 1.0041). The relative risk (RR) of the effect of PM2.5 exposure on the death toll of the circulatory system in Shijiazhuang is consistent with the spatial distribution of the PM2.5 concentration and the mortality of circulatory system diseases: the RR of the eastern plain with heavy pollution and a relatively dense population is high, while the RR of the western mountainous area with relatively light pollution and a relatively sparse population is low. For every 10-μg/m3 increase of PM2.5, the risk of the increasing death toll from circulatory system diseases in Luancheng of the eastern plain is the highest at 11.9‰ (95% CI: 1.0071, 1.0168), while the RR of Pingshan of the western mountainous area is the lowest at 2.1‰ (95% CI: 0.9981, 1.0062). Conclusions: Based on the epidemiological analysis and GAMs model, after controlling for other confounding factors, PM2.5 exposure increased the death risk of the circulatory system in Shijiazhuang, and the risk is higher in heavily polluted plain areas. It provides a scientific basis for formulating scientific air pollution prevention and control policies and provides a reference for improving the prevention awareness of sensitive groups. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Contributions of Aerosol Sources to Health Impacts)
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17 pages, 2597 KiB  
Article
Analysis and Risk Assessment of PM2.5-Bound PAHs in a Comparison of Indoor and Outdoor Environments in a Middle School: A Case Study in Beijing, China
by Rentao Ouyang, Suding Yang and Linyu Xu
Atmosphere 2020, 11(9), 904; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos11090904 - 26 Aug 2020
Cited by 23 | Viewed by 2819
Abstract
People spend most of their time in indoors and, as a result, indoor air quality has become an issue of increasing concern. Due to the use of coal and heavy transportation in Beijing, China, concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) bound to PM2.5 [...] Read more.
People spend most of their time in indoors and, as a result, indoor air quality has become an issue of increasing concern. Due to the use of coal and heavy transportation in Beijing, China, concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) bound to PM2.5 have risen and caused concerns about health risk, both outdoors and indoors. This study carried out quantitative investigation of PM2.5-bound PAHs in middle school classrooms and estimated the health risk to adolescents. According to the results, indoor PM2.5 concentrations ranged from 20.9 μg/m3 to 257.6 μg/m3, indoor PAH concentrations ranged from 8.0 ng/m3 to 83.0 ng/m3, and both were statistically correlated with outdoor concentrations. Results of diagnostic ratios (DR) and the PMF (positive matrix factorization) model indicated that coal combustion was the main source of PAHs in the classroom environment. The average value of incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) was estimated to be 1.49 × 10−6, which indicated a potential health risk to students according to USEPA standards. Predictions showed that by 2021–2022, the risk will be reduced to an acceptable level. Results of this study could provide useful information for air pollution control in Beijing and proposing targeted solution against indoor air pollution. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Contributions of Aerosol Sources to Health Impacts)
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15 pages, 1715 KiB  
Article
Risk Perception on Haze Pollution and Willingness to Pay for Self-Protection and Haze Management in Chiang Mai Province, Northern Thailand
by Sukanya Sereenonchai, Noppol Arunrat and Duangporn Kamnoonwatana
Atmosphere 2020, 11(6), 600; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos11060600 - 05 Jun 2020
Cited by 18 | Viewed by 3412
Abstract
Air pollution is an important environmental health risk that affects people worldwide, including those in the Chiang Mai Province, Northern Thailand. A questionnaire survey based on accidental sampling to explore risk perception and willingness to pay (WTP) for self-protection and haze management was [...] Read more.
Air pollution is an important environmental health risk that affects people worldwide, including those in the Chiang Mai Province, Northern Thailand. A questionnaire survey based on accidental sampling to explore risk perception and willingness to pay (WTP) for self-protection and haze management was conducted via face-to-face interview of 250 households, in one urban and four rural areas (covering one rural plain and three different levels of highland areas). Data were analyzed using the contingent valuation method, a one-way ANOVA, correlation, and stepwise multiple linear regression. Key findings on risk perception found that urban respondents living in the lowest areas were more familiar with and experienced more effects from serious haze, while having the least trust in the local authority’s management to cope with the situation. Influential factors determining familiarity and effect for people in most areas were their harm and severe haze experiences. Comparing WTP for a mask, an air purifier, and local authorities support, respondents in all areas were mainly willing to pay for a mask; this was influenced by various factors. The highest average price of willingness to pay was found in the urban area. The important significant factors that increased WTP for self-protection of urban respondents was severe haze experience, while rural respondents who had a longer stay duration, including married farmers in highland areas with less education, tended to have less WTP for self-protection but more WTP for haze management. Avoiding crop residue burning is the first strategy that should be used to deal with haze pollution. Early burning schedules of the highland people should be formally announced, and prompt risk communication should be implemented by local and central authorities and media practitioners. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Contributions of Aerosol Sources to Health Impacts)
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