Mass size distribution and chemical composition of the surface layer of summer and winter airborne particles in Zabrze, Poland

Mass size distributions of ambient aerosol were measured in Zabrze, a heavily industrialized city of Poland, during a summer and a winter season. The chemical analyses of the surface layer of PM₁₀, PM_2.5 and PM₁ in this area were also performed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Results suggested that the influence of an atmospheric aerosol on the health condition of Zabrze residents can be distinctly stronger in winter than in summer because of both: higher concentration level of particulate matter (PM) and higher contribution of fine particles in winter season compared to summer. In Zabrze in June (summer) PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 reached about 20 and 14 μg/m³, respectively, while in December (winter) 57 and 51 μg/m³, respectively. The XPS analysis showed that elemental carbon is the major surface component of studied airborne particles representing about 78%–80% (atomic mass) of all detected elements.     

Effects of Ambient Coarse,Fine, and Ultrafine Particles and Their Biological Constituents on Systemic Biomarkers: A Controlled Human Exposure Study

Background

Ambient coarse, fine, and ultrafine particles have been associated with mortality and morbidity. Few studies have compared how various particle size fractions affect systemic biomarkers.

Objectives

We examined changes of blood and urinary biomarkers following exposures to three particle sizes.

Methods

Fifty healthy nonsmoking volunteers, mean age of 28 years, were exposed to coarse (2.5–10 μm; mean, 213 μg/m³) and fine (0.15–2.5 μm; mean, 238 μg/m³) concentrated ambient particles (CAPs), and filtered ambient and/or medical air. Twenty-five participants were exposed to ultrafine CAP (< 0.3 μm; mean, 136 μg/m³) and filtered medical air. Exposures lasted 130 min, separated by ≥ 2 weeks. Blood/urine samples were collected preexposure and 1 hr and 21 hr postexposure to determine blood interleukin-6 and C-reactive protein (inflammation), endothelin-1 and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF; vascular mediators), and malondialdehyde (lipid peroxidation); as well as urinary VEGF, 8-hydroxy-deoxy-guanosine (DNA oxidation), and malondialdehyde. Mixed-model regressions assessed pre- and postexposure differences.

Results

One hour postexposure, for every 100-μg/m³ increase, coarse CAP was associated with increased blood VEGF (2.41 pg/mL; 95% CI: 0.41, 4.40) in models adjusted for O_3, fine CAP with increased urinary malondialdehyde in single- (0.31 nmol/mg creatinine; 95% CI: 0.02, 0.60) and two-pollutant models, and ultrafine CAP with increased urinary 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine in single- (0.69 ng/mg creatinine; 95% CI: 0.09, 1.29) and two-pollutant models, lasting < 21 hr. Endotoxin was significantly associated with biomarker changes similar to those found with CAPs.

Conclusions

Ambient particles with various sizes/constituents may influence systemic biomarkers differently. Endotoxin in ambient particles may contribute to vascular mediator changes and oxidative stress.

Citation

Liu L, Urch B, Poon R, Szyszkowicz M, Speck M, Gold DR, Wheeler AJ, Scott JA, Brook JR, Thorne PS, Silverman FS. 2015. Effects of ambient coarse, fine, and ultrafine particles and their biological constituents on systemic biomarkers: a controlled human exposure study. Environ Health Perspect 123:534–540; http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/ehp.1408387     

我国大气细颗粒物水平、成分、来源及污染特征

细颗粒物由于其粒径小,比表面积大,对人体的危害性大等特点而受到世界各地的广泛关注。该文总结了我国有关大气细颗粒物PM2.5的研究现状,主要围绕细颗粒物PM2.5的水平、成分、来源以及污染特征等进行了论述,并对其研究动向进行了展望。     

The Effect of Fine and Coarse Particulate Air Pollution on Mortality: A National Analysis

Background

Although many studies have examined the effects of air pollution on mortality, data limitations have resulted in fewer studies of both particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter of ≤ 2.5 μm (PM_2.5; fine particles) and of coarse particles (particles with an aerodynamic diameter > 2.5 and < 10 μm; PM coarse). We conducted a national, multicity time-series study of the acute effect of PM_2.5 and PM coarse on the increased risk of death for all causes, cardiovascular disease (CVD), myocardial infarction (MI), stroke, and respiratory mortality for the years 1999–2005.

Method

We applied a city- and season-specific Poisson regression in 112 U.S. cities to examine the association of mean (day of death and previous day) PM_2.5 and PM coarse with daily deaths. We combined the city-specific estimates using a random effects approach, in total, by season and by region.

Results

We found a 0.98% increase [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.75–1.22] in total mortality, a 0.85% increase (95% CI, 0.46–1.24) in CVD, a 1.18% increase (95% CI, 0.48–1.89) in MI, a 1.78% increase (95% CI, 0.96–2.62) in stroke, and a 1.68% increase (95% CI, 1.04–2.33) in respiratory deaths for a 10-μg/m³ increase in 2-day averaged PM_2.5. The effects were higher in spring. For PM coarse, we found significant but smaller increases for all causes analyzed.

Conclusions

We conclude that our analysis showed an increased risk of mortality for all and specific causes associated with PM_2.5, and the risks are higher than what was previously observed for PM₁₀. In addition, coarse particles are also associated with more deaths.     

沸石粉尘致肺纤维化作用实验研究

本实验将５０ｍｇ和１００ｍｇ沸石粉尘分别进行大鼠气管内染尘。分别于染尘后３、６、１２、１８个月分批处死，进行肺脏及肺淋巴结的病理学形态观察及肺胶原含量测定。结果表明，沸石粉尘具有致肺纤维化作用，但较石英尘的致肺纤维化作用为弱。     

接尘工人对含矽粉尘的基因易感性研究

目的探讨人类白细胞抗原A位点、B位点、DRB1位点等位基因与矽肺易感性的关系。方法应用聚合酶链式反应—序列特异性引物(PCR-SSP)的原理,利用DNA对HLA-Ⅰ类、Ⅱ类抗原的等位基因进行分型检测,分析45名矽肺病人和50名正常人群对照组基因型及分布频率等差异。结果矽肺组与对照组A、B、DRB1位点相同基因型分布频率的卡方检验,差异均无统计学意义。但矽肺组与对照组A、B、DRB1位点均有独有的某基因型。如矽肺组A位点32型4例(4.4%),36型1例;B位点40型3例(3.3%),55型6例(6.7%),8型、12型、15型、56型各1例(1.1%);DRB1位点3型4例(4.4%)。正常对照组A位点69型1例,B位点37型1例,38型5例(5%),71型5例(5%);DRB1位点17型3例(3%)。经卡方检验,各工龄组与矽肺期别之间差异无统计学意义。结论接尘工龄长短与矽肺期别无关(P>0.05)。矽肺组B位点55与对照组相比差异有统计学意义,提示此位点可能参与矽肺的发病。而对照组中,B位点38、B位点71出现频率较高,但无统计学意义。各工龄组与矽肺期别之间差异无统计学意义。     

吸入含矽粉尘和煤尘在大鼠肺中滞留的比较研究

以大鼠动式吸入染尘方法吸入含矽尘和煤尘２周。用甲酸消化法测定大鼠肺和纵膈淋巴结中的粉尘含量。结果发现在染尘结束后的第３天，煤尘组大鼠肺中的粉尘含量高于矽尘组；９０天后则矽尘组大鼠肺中的粉尘含量高于煤尘组。提示含矽粉尘在肺中滞留较煤尘持久，因而可对肺产生较为严重的损伤。结果也同时证实淋巴系统是肺内粉尘转移的一条重要途径。     

我国两城市空气细颗粒物PM2.5污染及对肺上皮细胞炎性因子的影响

[目的]比较北京和太原细颗粒物PM2.5污染水平及研究其炎性损伤毒性。[方法]选取我国具有典型污染特征的两大城市太原与北京，采用分级采样器和重量法收集两城市空气中细颗粒物样品，用甲醇超声提取细颗粒物上的B(a)P，硝酸和过氧化氢溶解：Pb，从质量浓度、B(a)P、Pb含量等方面比较分析了两城市细颗粒物污染水平；同时用ELISA及RT-PCR法，测定细颗粒物对人肺泡上皮细胞(A549)产生的炎性因子IL-6、TNF-α表达的影响。[结果]以美国EPA大气环境质量PM2.5标准为参考，PM2.5太原冬季、北京冬季超标率、超标倍数分别为100％，4.23；90．6％，2．62。太原冬季、北京冬季空气中B(a)P浓度分别为5．86，109(μg／100m^3)，均超过我国标准。总之，太原细颗粒物污染高于北京。细颗粒物能引起人肺上皮细胞产生炎性因子IL-6、TNF-α及其mRNA的表达增加，而且呈现剂量．效应关系。[结论]上述两城市的细颗粒物污染严重，并具有一定程度的炎性损伤毒性。     

Associations between Fine and Coarse Particles and Mortality in Mediterranean Cities: Results from the MED-PARTICLES Project

Background: Few studies have investigated the independent health effects of different size fractions of particulate matter (PM) in multiple locations, especially in Europe.Objectives: We estimated the short-term effects of PM with aerodynamic diameter ≤ 10 μm (PM₁₀), ≤ 2.5 μm (PM_2.5), and between 2.5 and 10 μm (PM_2.5–10) on all-cause, cardiovascular, and respiratory mortality in 10 European Mediterranean metropolitan areas within the MED-PARTICLES project.Methods: We analyzed data from each city using Poisson regression models, and combined city-specific estimates to derive overall effect estimates. We evaluated the sensitivity of our estimates to co-pollutant exposures and city-specific model choice, and investigated effect modification by age, sex, and season. We applied distributed lag and threshold models to investigate temporal patterns of associations.Results: A 10-μg/m³ increase in PM_2.5 was associated with a 0.55% (95% CI: 0.27, 0.84%) increase in all-cause mortality (0–1 day cumulative lag), and a 1.91% increase (95% CI: 0.71, 3.12%) in respiratory mortality (0–5 day lag). In general, associations were stronger for cardiovascular and respiratory mortality than all-cause mortality, during warm versus cold months, and among those ≥ 75 versus < 75 years of age. Associations with PM_2.5–10 were positive but not statistically significant in most analyses, whereas associations with PM₁₀ seemed to be driven by PM_2.5.Conclusions: We found evidence of adverse effects of PM_2.5 on mortality outcomes in the European Mediterranean region. Associations with PM_2.5–10 were positive but smaller in magnitude. Associations were stronger for respiratory mortality when cumulative exposures were lagged over 0–5 days, and were modified by season and age.     

Organic Dusts,Sulfur Dioxide,and the Respiratory Tract of Swine

Six piglets were continuously exposed to corn dust, corn dust and sulfur dioxide, or corn starch and SO₂. There were no clinical or pathological changes in the piglets exposed to corn dust alone. When combined with SO₂, both corn dust and com starch produced lesions similar to those observed earlier with SO₂ alone. Clinical changes included ocular and nasal irritation with increased salivation and central nervous system depression. Histologically, alterations in the epithelium of the turbinates and trachea included loss of cilia, disappearance of goblet cells, alteration of cell type, and metaplasia. There was a loss of cilia from epithelium of larger bronchi following exposure to corn starch and SO₂. There were no changes in the respiratory area of the lung which were attributable to exposure to dust or SO₂.     

Concentration, Origin and Health Hazard from Fine Particle-Bound PAH at Three Characteristic Sites in Southern Poland

Suspended particles with the aerodynamic diameters not greater than 2.5 μm (PM_2.5) and 1 μm (PM₁, sub-fraction of PM_2.5) were sampled at three sites: an urban background site, rural background site, and urban traffic site in southern Poland. In total, there were 240 samples taken within 02.08.2009–27.12.2010. Fifteen polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) were determined in each dust fraction. The averages of the concentration of total PAH (ΣPAH) and of particular PAH, as well as the share of carcinogenic PAH in total PAH (ΣPAH_carc/ΣPAH), carcinogenic equivalent, mutagenic equivalent, and TCDD-toxic equivalent appeared high compared to other areas in the world. Their high values express the significance of health hazard from PM and PM-bound PAH in southern Poland. The diagnostic ratios suggest that PM-bound PAH originate from municipal (PM_1?2.5) and vehicular (PM₁) combustion.     

Exposure to Organic Dusts,Endotoxins, and Microorganisms in the Municipal Waste Industry

Abstract

The waste-collection and -processing industry in Europe is developing rapidly due to environmental constraints in the direction of separate collection, processing, and recycling of waste. It is likely that this will lead to an increase in the number of workers involved in the handling and processing of municipal waste, and an increase in the number of workers exposed to organic dust. This paper reports the results of an occupational hygiene study of the waste-collection and -processing industry (a compost-screening facility, a resource recovery facility, and two waste-transfer facilities) in The Netherlands. It focuses on organic dusts, endotoxins, and microorganisms (total and gram-negative bacteria and fungi). Levels of exposure to inhalable organic dusts were highest in the waste-processing facilities (compost screening and resource recovery), with average concentrations for organic dusts up to 14.3 mg/m³ during manual separation of waste and 9.7 mg/m³ during compost screening activities. Personal endotoxin exposure was highest in the resource-recovery facility, ranging from 32.0 ng/m³ for the supervisor to 131.1 ng/m³ during manual separation of waste. High concentrations of microorganisms were found in all facilities. The highest levels for both total fungi and bacteria (≥ 10⁶ cfu/m³) were recorded in the dumping pit at the resource-recovery plant and in the dumping pit at one of the waste-transfer plants. It is concluded that high levels of exposures to microorganisms, and to a lesser extent organic dusts and endotoxins, are likely to occur in many processes and activities in the waste-transfer and -processing industry, and that the possibility of health effects due to these exposures cannot be excluded.     

Evaluation of Coarse and Fine Particulate Sources Using a Portable Aerosol Monitor in a Desert Community

The purpose of this study was to use a portable aerosol monitor as a preliminary screening tool to identify local sources of coarse (PM(10-2.5)) and fine (PM(2.5)) particulate matter within the Coachella Valley, a low-elevation desert community. The portable aerosol monitor proved to be useful in identifying particle sources unique to the region, namely, sand dunes with sparse ground cover (vegetation), a river wash, and diesel truck and freight train traffic. The general limitations relate to discrepancies in the fraction of PM(10-2.5) when compared to regional air quality data and a lack of accurate mass-based data.     

中国矿工吸入钍尘后健康效应的研究

目的 研究白云鄂博稀土铁矿接尘矿土长期吸入高浓度含钍稀土矿尘及(气土)的短寿命子体后对矿工健康的影响。方法 采用负高压呼出气中(气土)子体测定装置。结果 流行病学调查表明,接尘矿工肺癌的SM R明显高于对照组的SMR,差别十分显著。结论 首次发现接尘矿工由于长期(30 a以上)吸入高浓度含钍稀土矿尘及(气土)短寿命子体后可以诱发超额肺癌的发生。长期吸烟和采矿现场的γ外照射的协同作用不能排除。     

Seasonal Air Quality Profile of Size-Segregated Aerosols in the Ambient Air of a Central Indian Region

Seasonal distribution trends of size-segregated aerosols i.e. submicron (PM₁), fine (PM_2.5) and coarse (PM_2.5–10) and their relationship with meteorological variables employing correlation analysis were studied in the ambient air of central India from July 2009 to June 2010. The annual mean concentrations of PM₁, PM_2.5 and PM_2.5–10 were found to be 65.7, 135.0 and 118.5 μg m^?3, respectively. The annual mean PM_2.5 concentration is three times higher than the National Ambient Air Quality Standards of India (NAAQS). Higher concentrations of PM₁, PM_2.5 and PM_2.5–10 were found during winter due to enormous biomass burning especially during night time due to the use of combustible goods like fire wood and dung cake in the open space by the peoples to keep themselves warm and lower concentrations were observed during monsoon when there were high precipitations. PM_2.5 showed high positive correlation with PM₁ (r = 0.69) and moderate correlation with PM_2.5–10 indicating that variation in PM_2.5 mass is governed by the variation in PM₁ mass or vice versa.     

Ambient Fine Particulate Matter Air Pollution and Risk of Weight Gain and Obesity in United States Veterans: An Observational Cohort Study

Background: Experimental evidence and studies of children and adolescents suggest that ambient fine particulate matter [particulate matter ≤2.5μm in aerodynamic diameter (PM2.5)] air pollution may be obesogenic, but the relationship between PM2.5 and the risk of body weight gain and obesity in adults is uncertain.Objectives: Our goal was to characterize the association between PM2.5 and the risks of weight gain and obesity.Methods: We followed 3,902,440 U.S. Veterans from 2010 to 2018 (median 8.1 y, interquartile range: 7.3–8.4) and assigned time-updated PM2.5 exposures by linking geocoded residential street addresses with satellite-based estimates of surface-level PM2.5 mass (at ∼1-km2 resolution). Associations with PM2.5 were estimated using Cox proportional hazards models for incident obesity [body mass index (BMI)≥30kg/m2] and a 10-lb increase in weight relative to baseline and linear mixed models for associations with intra-individual changes in BMI and weight.Results: A 10-μg/m3 higher average annual PM2.5 concentration was associated with risk of incident obesity [n=2,325,769; hazard ratio (HR)=1.08 (95% CI: 1.06, 1.11)] and the risk of a 10-lb (4.54kg) increase in weight [HR=1.07 (95% CI: 1.06, 1.08)] and with higher intra-individual changes in BMI [0.140kg/m2 per year (95% CI: 0.139, 0.142)] and weight [0.968 lb/y (95% CI: 0.955, 0.981)]. Nonlinear exposure–response models indicated associations at PM2.5 concentrations below the national standard of 12μg/m3. As expected, a negative exposure control (ambient air sodium) was not associated with obesity or weight gain. Associations were consistent in direction and magnitude across sensitivity analyses that included alternative outcomes and exposures assigned at different spatial resolutions.Discussion: PM2.5 air pollution was associated with the risk of obesity and weight gain in a large predominantly male cohort of U.S. Veterans. Discussions about health effects of PM2.5 should include its association with obesity, and deliberations about the epidemiology of obesity should consider its association with PM2.5. Investigation in other cohorts will deepen our understanding of the relationship between PM2.5 and weight gain and obesity. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP7944     

Empirical Models to Predict Parsimoniously the Mass and Number Concentrations of Ultrafine Particulate in Ambient Atmosphere

The main objective of this study was to develop parsimonious empirical models for predicting the mass and number concentrations of ultrafine particulate (UFP, aerodynamic diameter < 0.1 or 0.18 μm) in the atmospheric environment. We found strong correlations existed between the mass/number concentration of UFP and the mass concentration of PM_2.5 (aerodynamic diameter < 2.5 μm) by fitting the experimental data. Therefore, we were easily able to obtain UFP mass and number concentrations by using the presented empirical models. The empirical equations should be used with care since limitations existed.     

Effect of Temporary Closure of the Mouth of an Estuary on the Benthic Macroinfauna: Lenga-Chile, A Case Study

No abstract available.     

Short-term Associations between Fine and Coarse Particulate Matter and Hospitalizations in Southern Europe: Results from the MED-PARTICLES Project

Background: Evidence on the short-term effects of fine and coarse particles on morbidity in Europe is scarce and inconsistent.Objectives: We aimed to estimate the association between daily concentrations of fine and coarse particles with hospitalizations for cardiovascular and respiratory conditions in eight Southern European cities, within the MED-PARTICLES project.Methods: City-specific Poisson models were fitted to estimate associations of daily concentrations of particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter ≤ 2.5 μm (PM_2.5), ≤ 10 μm (PM₁₀), and their difference (PM_2.5–10) with daily counts of emergency hospitalizations for cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. We derived pooled estimates from random-effects meta-analysis and evaluated the robustness of results to co-pollutant exposure adjustment and model specification. Pooled concentration–response curves were estimated using a meta-smoothing approach.Results: We found significant associations between all PM fractions and cardiovascular admissions. Increases of 10 μg/m³ in PM_2.5, 6.3 μg/m³ in PM_2.5–10, and 14.4 μg/m³ in PM₁₀ (lag 0–1 days) were associated with increases in cardiovascular admissions of 0.51% (95% CI: 0.12, 0.90%), 0.46% (95% CI: 0.10, 0.82%), and 0.53% (95% CI: 0.06, 1.00%), respectively. Stronger associations were estimated for respiratory hospitalizations, ranging from 1.15% (95% CI: 0.21, 2.11%) for PM₁₀ to 1.36% (95% CI: 0.23, 2.49) for PM_2.5 (lag 0–5 days).Conclusions: PM_2.5 and PM_2.5–10 were positively associated with cardiovascular and respiratory admissions in eight Mediterranean cities. Information on the short-term effects of different PM fractions on morbidity in Southern Europe will be useful to inform European policies on air quality standards.Citation: Stafoggia M, Samoli E, Alessandrini E, Cadum E, Ostro B, Berti G, Faustini A, Jacquemin B, Linares C, Pascal M, Randi G, Ranzi A, Stivanello E, Forastiere F, the MED-PARTICLES Study Group. 2013. Short-term associations between fine and coarse particulate matter and hospitalizations in Southern Europe: results from the MED-PARTICLES project. Environ Health Perspect 121:1026–1033; http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/ehp.1206151