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Frontiers in Air Pollution and Human Health

A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601). This special issue belongs to the section "Air".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 October 2022) | Viewed by 18015

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Linyu Xu

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Guest Editor
School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
Interests: urban ecological environment risk assessment and management; urban ecological planning; environmental assessment and management; environmental carrying capacity in urban areas
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Lei Chen

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Environmental and Ecological Engineering, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
Interests: industrial carbon emission evaluation; environment–energy system simulation; energy–water nexus analysis
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Bo Zhang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Management, China University of Mining and Technology, Beijing 100083, China
Interests: global anthropogenic CH4 emissions; China’s GHG emission inventories; energy and climate policies in developing countries; environmentally extended input–output analysis
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Jin Zhang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Economics and Management ,Taiyuan University of Technlogy, Taiyuan 030024, China
Interests: low-carbon economics; carbon footprint assessment; energy evolution

Special Issue Information

Air pollution and greenhouse gases cause serious damage to the ecosystem and human health, and further research is needed on their health effects and potential risks, such as related research on measured exposure to different pollutants in various microenvironments. You can also use existing models or develop new algorithms to estimate and predict pollutant levels, which are all acceptable directions.

Dear Colleagues,

With the continuous advancement of industrialization and urbanization, cities and urban agglomerations, as the main population centers, are facing the pressure of air pollution prevention caused by the emission of SO2, NOX, particulate matter, and other pollutants. At the same time, the increasing emissions of CO2 and other greenhouse gases have caused climate change to become an urgent problem. Both cause serious damage to the ecosystem and human health. In order to alleviate these health damages, researchers have made extensive efforts to reduce the health risks of pollutants and reduce pollutants. However, different groups of people have different exposure times in various environments—for example, in the road environment and in car exhaust, particulate matter, CO, and NOx are produced, and public servants such as transportation personnel and traffic police are more exposed. Therefore, it is necessary to further study the health effects and potential risks of air pollution exposure on the human body under specific scenarios.

In order to meet the research needs, this Special Issue invites research on the health damage of air pollutants and greenhouse gases to humans. This can include a number of studies, such as related research on measuring the exposure of different pollutants in various microenvironments, and indoor and outdoor air quality. You can also have models or develop new algorithms to estimate and predict the level of small-scale or large-scale pollutants. In addition, while improving air quality, the emission of greenhouse gases should also be taken into account. Controlling greenhouse emission includes clarifying the source, mechanism, impact factors, and pattern of emission. Emissions of pollutants sometimes increase greenhouse gas emissions, leading to extreme weather such as sand, dust, floods, and drought, and it increases the burden of disease and affects human health. Relevant research will share more extensive information to support the evaluation and prediction of human health in order to better understand health and disease information.

Prof. Dr. Bo Zhang
Dr. Lei Chen
Prof. Dr. Linyu Xu
Dr. Jin Zhang
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2500 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • air pollution
  • greenhouse gases
  • climate change and extreme weather
  • air quality monitoring
  • air quality models
  • ozone
  • nitrogen oxides
  • particulate matter (PM)
  • urban environment
  • microenvironment
  • air quality simulation and health risks
  • exposure assessment and health impact
  • disease burden
  • carbon emission

Published Papers (9 papers)

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Research

16 pages, 5452 KiB  
Article
China’s Trade of Agricultural Products Drives Substantial Greenhouse Gas Emissions
by Zheng Meng, Jinling Guo, Kejia Yan, Zhuan Yang, Bozi Li, Bo Zhang and Bin Chen
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(23), 15774; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192315774 - 27 Nov 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1810
Abstract
China’s trade of agricultural products has expanded rapidly over the past two decades, resulting in considerable shifts in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions worldwide. This study aims to explore the evolution of GHG emissions embodied in China’s trade of agricultural products from 1995 to [...] Read more.
China’s trade of agricultural products has expanded rapidly over the past two decades, resulting in considerable shifts in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions worldwide. This study aims to explore the evolution of GHG emissions embodied in China’s trade of agricultural products from 1995 to 2015. The GHG emissions embodied in China’s exports of agricultural products experienced three stages of fluctuation, showing a significant upward trend (1995–2003), a fluctuating trend (2004–2007), and a fall back to the previous level (2008–2015). The embodied GHG emissions in China’s imports were witnessed at times of sustained growth, rising from 10.5 Mt CO2-eq in 1995 to 107.7 Mt CO2-eq in 2015. The net import of embodied GHG emissions has grown at an average annual rate of 25.1% since 2008. In terms of regional contribution, the distribution of China’s trading partners tended to be diversified. The increasing net imports of oil crops to China resulted in a significant GHG emissions shift from China to the US and Brazil. Asian countries contributed to 76.9% of the total GHG emissions embodied in China’s agricultural exports. The prominent impacts of China’s trade of agricultural products on global GHG emissions provide important implications for climate-related policy choices. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Frontiers in Air Pollution and Human Health)
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25 pages, 2982 KiB  
Article
The Spatial Effect of Air Pollution Governance on Labor Productivity: Evidence from 262 Chinese Cities
by Fei Ren, Yuke Zhu and Dong Le
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(20), 13694; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192013694 - 21 Oct 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1459
Abstract
According to epidemiological studies, air pollution can increase the rate of medical visits and morbidity. Empirical studies have also shown that air pollutants are toxic to animals. Using data from 262 Chinese cities for the period 2005 to 2018, this study systematically investigated [...] Read more.
According to epidemiological studies, air pollution can increase the rate of medical visits and morbidity. Empirical studies have also shown that air pollutants are toxic to animals. Using data from 262 Chinese cities for the period 2005 to 2018, this study systematically investigated the spatial spillover effect and transmission mechanism of air pollution governance on urban labor productivity. In this study, we also explored the changing trend of labor productivity in China from a dynamic perspective. Additionally, we selected the air flow coefficient and environmental regulations as two instrumental variables of air pollution governance to effectively alleviate endogenous problems existing in the model. The results show that air pollution governance plays a significant role in promoting the improvement of labor productivity. The effect of air pollution governance on labor productivity in eastern cities is better than that in central and western cities, and its effect in developed cities is better than that in undeveloped cities. With the increased intensity of air pollution governance, its effect on labor productivity is also strengthened. Urban innovation capacity and residents’ health are important channels for air pollution governance in the promotion of labor productivity. Finally, this study proposes policy recommendations, such as implementing a joint prevention and governance mechanism, as well as improving air pollution prevention and government regulations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Frontiers in Air Pollution and Human Health)
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19 pages, 2039 KiB  
Article
Long-Term Effects of Ambient Particulate and Gaseous Pollutants on Serum High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein Levels: A Cross-Sectional Study Using KoGES-HEXA Data
by Ji Hyun Kim, Hae Dong Woo, Sunho Choi, Dae Sub Song, Jung Hyun Lee and Kyoungho Lee
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(18), 11585; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191811585 - 14 Sep 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1802
Abstract
Ambient air pollutants reportedly increase inflammatory responses associated with multiple chronic diseases. We investigated the effects of long-term exposure to ambient air pollution on high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) using data from 60,581 participants enrolled in the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study-Health Examinees Study [...] Read more.
Ambient air pollutants reportedly increase inflammatory responses associated with multiple chronic diseases. We investigated the effects of long-term exposure to ambient air pollution on high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) using data from 60,581 participants enrolled in the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study-Health Examinees Study between 2012 and 2017. Community Multiscale Air Quality System with surface data assimilation was used to estimate the participants’ exposure to criteria air pollutants based on geocoded residential addresses. Long-term exposure was defined as the 2-year moving average concentrations of PM10, PM2.5, SO2, NO2, and O3. Multivariable linear and logistic regression models were utilized to estimate the percent changes in hs-CRP and odds ratios of systemic low-grade inflammation (hs-CRP > 3 mg/L) per interquartile range increment in air pollutants. We identified positive associations between hs-CRP and PM10 (% changes: 3.75 [95% CI 2.68, 4.82]), PM2.5 (3.68, [2.57, 4.81]), SO2 (1.79, [1.10, 2.48]), and NO2 (3.31, [2.12, 4.52]), while negative association was demonstrated for O3 (−3.81, [−4.96, −2.65]). Elevated risks of low-grade inflammation were associated with PM10 (odds ratio: 1.07 [95% CI 1.01, 1.13]), PM2.5 (1.08 [1.02, 1.14]), and SO2 (1.05 [1.01, 1.08]). The odds ratios reported indicated that the exposures might be risk factors for inflammatory conditions; however, they did not reflect strong associations. Our findings suggest that exposure to air pollutants may play a role in the inflammation process. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Frontiers in Air Pollution and Human Health)
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27 pages, 28764 KiB  
Article
Indoor Air Quality in Tujia Dwellings in Hunan, China: Field Tests, Numerical Simulations, and Mitigation Strategies
by Fupeng Zhang, Lei Shi, Simian Liu, Jiaqi Shi and Mengfei Cheng
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(14), 8396; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19148396 - 09 Jul 2022
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1594
Abstract
Air pollution is a major health hazard. The traditional habits and unique ethnic fire culture in Hunan Tujia region result in the long-term exposure of residents, especially elderly people, to pollutants. In this study, we conducted field monitoring and assessment of indoor pollutants [...] Read more.
Air pollution is a major health hazard. The traditional habits and unique ethnic fire culture in Hunan Tujia region result in the long-term exposure of residents, especially elderly people, to pollutants. In this study, we conducted field monitoring and assessment of indoor pollutants in the residential houses of Hunan Tujia families and subsequently visualised and simulated fire pollutants in representative residential houses by using fire-dynamic-simulator software. Pollutant-control strategies, using passive smoke collectors and resizing windows, were proposed and simulated for validation. The results revealed that passive smoke collectors reduced the pollutant concentration in the hall house by 43.96%. Furthermore, the optimal window size was 1500 mm × 1500 mm, and the most reasonable windowsill height of the firepit was 1800 mm. The results of the study can be used to improve the indoor air quality of Tujia dwellings and mitigate the adverse health effects of exposure to indoor air pollution without restricting ethnic beliefs and traditional customs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Frontiers in Air Pollution and Human Health)
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18 pages, 4930 KiB  
Article
Estimation of the Seasonal Inhaled Deposited Dose of Particulate Matter in the Respiratory System of Urban Individuals Living in an Eastern Mediterranean City
by Tareq Hussein, Asal Al-Abdallat, Shatha Suleiman Ali Saleh and Marwan Al-Kloub
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(7), 4303; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19074303 - 03 Apr 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1524
Abstract
In this study, we present an estimation for the inhaled deposited dose rate in adult males and females during common exposure scenarios to urban background aerosols in an Eastern Mediterranean city (Amman, Jordan) based on a one-year database of measured particle number size [...] Read more.
In this study, we present an estimation for the inhaled deposited dose rate in adult males and females during common exposure scenarios to urban background aerosols in an Eastern Mediterranean city (Amman, Jordan) based on a one-year database of measured particle number size distribution. The dose rates show seasonal variations reflecting the physical characteristics (i.e., modal structure) of the particle number size distribution. An additional factor was the varying deposition fraction (DF) for different regions and different human activities (exercising versus resting). The total dose rate was 3 × 109–65 × 109 particles/h (PM2.5 and PM10 doses 1–22 µg/h and 9–210 µg/h; respectively) depending on the gender, activity, and season. Based on the particle number metrics, the inhaled deposited dose in the head, Tracheobronchial, and alveolar were 7–16%, 16–28%, and 56–76%; respectively. Based on the PM2.5 metric, the corresponding dose rate was 9–41%,13–19%; and 46–72% respectively. As for the PM10 metric, they were 25–75%, 7–35%, and 15–55%; respectively. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Frontiers in Air Pollution and Human Health)
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13 pages, 2780 KiB  
Article
Sampling Low Air Pollution Concentrations at a Neighborhood Scale in a Desert U.S. Metropolis with Volatile Weather Patterns
by Nathan Lothrop, Nicolas Lopez-Galvez, Robert A. Canales, Mary Kay O’Rourke, Stefano Guerra and Paloma Beamer
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(6), 3173; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19063173 - 08 Mar 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2148
Abstract
Background: Neighborhood-scale air pollution sampling methods have been used in a range of settings but not in low air pollution airsheds with extreme weather events such as volatile precipitation patterns and extreme summer heat and aridity—all of which will become increasingly common with [...] Read more.
Background: Neighborhood-scale air pollution sampling methods have been used in a range of settings but not in low air pollution airsheds with extreme weather events such as volatile precipitation patterns and extreme summer heat and aridity—all of which will become increasingly common with climate change. The desert U.S. metropolis of Tucson, AZ, has historically low air pollution and a climate marked by volatile weather, presenting a unique opportunity. Methods: We adapted neighborhood-scale air pollution sampling methods to measure ambient NO2, NOx, and PM2.5 and PM10 in Tucson, AZ. Results: The air pollution concentrations in this location were well below regulatory guidelines and those of other locations using the same methods. While NO2 and NOx were reliably measured, PM2.5 measurements were moderately correlated with those from a collocated reference monitor (r = 0.41, p = 0.13), potentially because of a combination of differences in inlet heights, oversampling of acutely high PM2.5 events, and/or pump operation beyond temperature specifications. Conclusion: As the climate changes, sampling methods should be reevaluated for accuracy and precision, especially those that do not operate continuously. This is even more critical for low-pollution airsheds, as studies on low air pollution concentrations will help determine how such ambient exposures relate to health outcomes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Frontiers in Air Pollution and Human Health)
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17 pages, 4499 KiB  
Article
Using Multisource Data to Assess PM2.5 Exposure and Spatial Analysis of Lung Cancer in Guangzhou, China
by Wenfeng Fan, Linyu Xu and Hanzhong Zheng
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(5), 2629; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19052629 - 24 Feb 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1896
Abstract
Elevated air pollution, along with rapid urbanization, have imposed higher health risks and a higher disease burden on urban residents. To accurately assess the increasing exposure risk and the spatial association between PM2.5 and lung cancer incidence, this study integrated PM2.5 [...] Read more.
Elevated air pollution, along with rapid urbanization, have imposed higher health risks and a higher disease burden on urban residents. To accurately assess the increasing exposure risk and the spatial association between PM2.5 and lung cancer incidence, this study integrated PM2.5 data from the National Air Quality Monitoring Platform and location-based service (LBS) data to introduce an improved PM2.5 exposure model for high-precision spatial assessment of Guangzhou, China. In this context, the spatial autocorrelation method was used to evaluate the spatial correlation between lung cancer incidence and PM2.5. The results showed that people in densely populated areas suffered from higher exposure risk, and the spatial distribution of population exposure risk was highly consistent with the dynamic distribution of the population. In addition, areas with PM2.5 roughly overlapped with areas with high lung cancer incidence, and the lung cancer incidence in different locations was not randomly distributed, confirming that lung cancer incidence was significantly associated with PM2.5 exposure. Therefore, dynamic population distribution has a great impact on the accurate assessment of environmental exposure and health burden, and it is necessary to use LBS data to improve the exposure assessment model. More mitigation controls are needed in highly populated and highly polluted areas. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Frontiers in Air Pollution and Human Health)
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14 pages, 20716 KiB  
Article
Spatial Variation of the Effect of Multidimensional Urbanization on PM2.5 Concentration in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei (BTH) Urban Agglomeration
by Qianyuan Huang, Guangdong Chen, Chao Xu, Weiyu Jiang and Meirong Su
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(22), 12077; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182212077 - 17 Nov 2021
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1692
Abstract
Atmospheric PM2.5 pollution has become a prominent environmental problem in China, posing considerable threat to sustainable development. The primary driver of PM2.5 pollution in China is urbanization, and its relationship with PM2.5 concentration has attracted considerable recent academic interest. However, [...] Read more.
Atmospheric PM2.5 pollution has become a prominent environmental problem in China, posing considerable threat to sustainable development. The primary driver of PM2.5 pollution in China is urbanization, and its relationship with PM2.5 concentration has attracted considerable recent academic interest. However, the spatial heterogeneity of the effect of urbanization on PM2.5 concentration has not been fully explored. This study sought to fill this knowledge gap by focusing on the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei (BTH) urban agglomeration. Urbanization was decomposed into economic urbanization, population urbanization, and land urbanization, and four corresponding indicators were selected. A geographically weighted regression model revealed that the impact of multidimensional urbanization on PM2.5 concentration varies significantly. Economically, urbanization is correlated positively and negatively with PM2.5 concentration in northern and southern areas, respectively. Population size showed a positive correlation with PM2.5 concentration in northwestern and northeastern areas. A negative correlation was found between urban land size and PM2.5 concentration from central to southern regions. Urban compactness is the dominant influencing factor that is correlated positively with PM2.5 concentration in a major part of the BTH urban agglomeration. On the basis of these findings, BTH counties were categorized with regard to local policy recommendations intended to reduce PM2.5 concentrations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Frontiers in Air Pollution and Human Health)
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11 pages, 1261 KiB  
Article
Effects of Exposure to Indoor Fine Particulate Matter on Atopic Dermatitis in Children
by Young-Min Kim, Jihyun Kim, Seoung-Chul Ha and Kangmo Ahn
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(21), 11509; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182111509 - 01 Nov 2021
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2107
Abstract
This study aimed to investigate the short-term effect of exposure to indoor fine particulate matter (PM2.5) on atopic dermatitis (AD) symptoms in children. Sixty-four children (40 boys and 24 girls) with moderate-to-severe AD, aged under 18 years were enrolled in the [...] Read more.
This study aimed to investigate the short-term effect of exposure to indoor fine particulate matter (PM2.5) on atopic dermatitis (AD) symptoms in children. Sixty-four children (40 boys and 24 girls) with moderate-to-severe AD, aged under 18 years were enrolled in the study. They were followed up from February 2019 through November 2020. Exposure to indoor PM2.5 in each household of the enrolled children and their AD symptoms were measured daily. The generalized linear mixed model was utilized for statistical analysis. Subdivision analysis was performed by stratifying the patients by age, sex, season, severity, the presence of family allergic diseases, sensitization, and indoor environment conditions including temperature and relative humidity. A total of 9,321 person-days of AD symptom data were collected. The average PM2.5 concentration was 28.7 ± 24.3 µg/m3, with the highest value in winter (47.1 ± 29.6 µg/m3). The overall effect of PM2.5 on AD symptoms was not statistically significant. However, an increase of 10 µg/m3 in indoor PM2.5 concentration increased AD symptom scores by 16.5% (95% CI: 6.5, 27.5) in spring and12.6% (95% CI: 4.3, 21.5) in winter, 6.7% (95% CI: 2.3, 11.3) at indoor temperatures of <25.5 °C, and by 15.0% (95% CI: 3.5, 27.7) with no use of an air purifier. The harmful effect of PM2.5 in boys, in children aged ≥6 years, and in children with inhalant allergen sensitization was significant, showing an increase in AD symptoms of 4.9% (95% CI: 1.4, 8.6), 12.0% (95% CI: 5.3, 19.1), and 7.0% (95% CI: 1.9, 12.3) per 10 µg/m3 of PM2.5, respectively. Furthermore, children with inhalant allergen sensitization plus severe symptoms (SCORing Atopic Dermatitis, SCORAD ≥ 30.7, median value) showed more harmful effects from exposure to PM2.5 (15.7% (95% CI: 4.5, 28.1) increase in AD symptom scores per 10 µg/m3 of PM2.5 increase). Indoor exposure to PM2.5 exacerbated AD symptoms in children in spring, winter, and at indoor temperatures of < 25.5 °C. In particular, this harmful effect was prominent in children with inhalant allergen sensitization and severe symptoms. Minimizing exposure to indoor PM2.5 is needed for the proper management of AD. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Frontiers in Air Pollution and Human Health)
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