Traffic-Related Particulate Matter and Acute Respiratory Symptoms among New York City Area Adolescents

Background

Exposure to traffic-related particulate matter (PM) has been associated with adverse respiratory health outcomes in children. Diesel exhaust particles (DEPs) are a local driver of urban fine PM [aerodynamic diameter ≤ 2.5 μm (PM_2.5)]; however, evidence linking ambient DEP exposure to acute respiratory symptoms is relatively sparse, and susceptibilities of urban and asthmatic children are inadequately characterized.

Objectives

We examined associations of daily ambient black carbon (BC) concentrations, a DEP indicator, with daily respiratory symptoms among asthmatic and nonasthmatic adolescents in New York City (NYC) and a nearby suburban community.

Methods

BC and PM_2.5 were monitored continuously outside three NYC high schools and one suburban high school for 4–6 weeks, and daily symptom data were obtained from 249 subjects (57 asthmatics, 192 nonasthmatics) using diaries. Associations between pollutants and symptoms were characterized using multilevel generalized linear mixed models, and modification by urban residence and asthma status were examined.

Results

Increases in BC were associated with increased wheeze, shortness of breath, and chest tightness. Multiple lags of nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) exposure were associated with symptoms. For several symptoms, associations with BC and NO₂ were significantly larger in magnitude among urban subjects and asthmatics compared with suburban subjects and nonasthmatics, respectively. PM_2.5 was not consistently associated with increases in symptoms.

Conclusions

Acute exposures to traffic-related pollutants such as DEPs and/or NO₂ may contribute to increased respiratory morbidity among adolescents, and urban residents and asthmatics may be at increased risk. The findings provide support for developing additional strategies to reduce diesel emissions further, especially in populations susceptible because of environment or underlying respiratory disease.     

Zinc Levels in Suspended Particulate Matter in Zagreb Air

Monitoring of zinc in total suspended particulate matter (TSPM) started in Zagreb, Croatia in 1972 at two measuring sites, located in the city centre and in the northern part of the city. Monitoring of zinc concentrations in PM₁₀ started in the northern part of the city in 2003. The obtained data show a decreasing trend of zinc in TSPM. Over the past 3 years, the measurement of zinc in PM₁₀ particles has been performed, and the obtained data, in comparison to zinc in TSPM, have shown that 82%–93% of zinc was in the small PM₁₀ particles.     

Immigration and HIV/AIDS in the New York Metropolitan Area

Because the HIV pandemic undergoes continual change in its locations and affected populations, it is crucial to study HIV risk behaviors among mobile and immigrant groups within and across borders. The impact of cross-cultural migrations and the importance of studying that impact in terms of demographic characteristics as well as cultural and environmental factors has not received adequate attention in public health research. This collaborative analysis utilizes data from three studies of immigrant groups in New York to describe and compare these factors that provide the context for risk and prevention of HIVAIDS and other health challenges. Data discussed were obtained utilizing multi-method approaches to identify and describe HIV risks among both new and more established immigrant populations within the urban settings of North America, with NYC as a central focus. Demographic and epidemiological data situate the analysis within the larger contexts of US migration and the HIV/AIDS epidemic in NYC. The authors identify risk and protective factors embedded to varying degrees in immigrants' multiple cultures and sub-cultures. The three populations studied include: 1) new Hispanic immigrants from the Dominican Republic, Mexico and Central America; 2) West Indian (Caribbean) immigrants from Jamaica, Trinidad/Tobago and other anglophone Caribbean nations; and 3) South Asian immigrants from India (Indian Americans). The paper seeks differences and commonalities, focusing on the social, attitudinal and behavioral factors that contribute to increased HIV/AIDS vulnerability among these populations. The data presented also identify some of the attitudes and behaviors of individuals and groups, as well as other facilitators and obstacles to transmission for immigrants as they adapt to new environments. Topics addressed include factors affecting HIV/AIDS vulnerability of immigrant groups, goals and expectations, health and mental heath issues, gender role change, sexual risk, alcohol and other drug use, perception of HIV/AIDS risk and implications for prevention.     

大气中总悬浮颗粒物和可吸入颗粒物中多环芳烃的测定

悬浮颗粒物是最普遍存在的空气污染物,但这些颗粒物粒径大小的范围很广,粒径小的颗粒物能进入呼吸道,在上、下呼吸道及肺泡区产生部分沉降。近年来,由于消烟除尘技术的改进,空气中细颗粒和粗颗粒的比率逐年增加,同时发现细颗粒比粗颗粒含有较多的重金属和多环芳烃(PAH)等有机成份,这些成分对人体的健康能产生极大的危害。     

Impact Assessment of Respirable Suspended Particulate Matter from Diesel Generator Sets Used for Pumping Station

Prediction of respirable suspended particulate matter impacts of diesel generator sets used for pumping station has been made using meteorological data, information on stack characteristics and emission rate, baseline ambient particulate matter and Industrial Source Complex Short Term (ISCST-3) model. It is observed that particulate matter emission from pumping station-S workplace diesel generator sets ranged from 2.4 to 436.5 mg Nm⁻³ and while at pumping station-C, it ranged from 23.2 to 186.5 mgNm⁻³. The predicted and ambient respirable suspended particulate matter concentrations are below the national air quality standard for respirable suspended particulate matter in a mixed industrial area. Metals contents in respirable suspended particulate matter indicate the origin of crustal and mobile sources. Therefore, the impact of diesel generator sets used for pumping of crude oil on local air quality would be acceptable.     

A New Protocol for the Analysis of Pharmaceuticals,Pesticides, and Hormones in Sediments and Suspended Particulate Matter From Rivers and Municipal Wastewaters

We developed a protocol to quantify 12 emerging contaminants (ECs) (pharmaceuticals and hormones) and pesticides extracted from suspended particulate matter (SPM) of river water and municipal wastewaters samples as well as river sediments. The separation of suspended solids was realized using filtration of water samples. We tested a series of six different filter types. The effect of filtration on the concentrations of dissolved contaminants was evaluated to minimize losses of target compounds. The river sediment samples were lyophilized, and both SPM and sediment samples were subjected to ultrasonic extraction combined with C18 cartridge clean-up. Quantifications were realized using mass spectrometry. The method recoveries of all compounds ranged from 38 to 112 % in all studied matrices; poorer recoveries were achieved for sulfamethoxazole and diclofenac (as low as 38 %), whereas the recoveries for all other compounds in the wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) samples were between 68 and 111 %. The detection limits in sediments and SPM from river samples for the 12 analytes varied from 0.7 to 9.4 ng g^?1 and from 21 to 92 ng g^?1 for WWTP SPM samples. All targeted ECs were detected with concentrations ranging from 3 to 5,440 ng g^?1 in the studied matrices with the highest concentrations observed in WWTP SPM samples. A significant portion of the contaminants in a water sample is clearly associated with the suspended particulates. Optimization of water-treatment processes and environmental fate must absolutely consider the fraction of contaminants that is particulate-bound if one hopes to have a reasonable mass balance.     

Pyrethroid Insecticide Transport into Monterey Bay Through Riverine Suspended Solids

Pyrethroid pesticides are used widely in both agricultural and urban landscapes. Toxicity has been recorded in creeks and rivers throughout California, confirming that pyrethroids move at least short distances from the areas of terrestrial application into downstream waterways. However, their further downstream transport into the marine ecosystem has received little study. The Monterey Bay was chosen as the study system in the current project due to the close proximity of both urban centers and intense agriculture. Suspended sediments were sampled from three major rivers during storm events and showed that pyrethroids were routinely discharged from these coastal rivers, with concentrations of bifenthrin and permethrin in suspended solids of 22 and 83?ng/g, respectively. These suspended solids were deposited in estuaries and downstream reaches of rivers as they approached the coast where concentrations of pyrethroids in the sediment were greater than those expected to be toxic. However, despite their transport onto the continental shelf, pyrethroid residues were not detected in bed sediments of the shelf or in the nearby deep sea canyon, presumably due to dilution and degradation.     

Residues of Organochlorine Pesticides in Water and Suspended Particulate Matter from Xiangshan Bay,East China Sea

Residual levels, distribution and possible sources of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in nine water column and suspended particulate matter (SPM) samples collected from Xiangshan Bay, East China Sea were investigated. Total OCPs concentrations in water column and SPM ranges from 2.88 to 34.72 ng/L and 2.47 to 29.94 ng/L, respectively, which exceed the US Environmental Protection Agency regulatory limits. Moreover, low ratio of α-HCH/γ-HCH and high ratios β- and γ-HCH suggested the cocktail input pattern of fresh and weathered HCHs. Meanwhile, low ratio of (DDE + DDD)/DDT and high ratios p,p′- and o,p′-DDT reflected a “dicofol type DDT pollution” pattern.     

Occurrence of Aliphatic Hydrocarbons in Water, Suspended Particulate Matter and Sediments of Daliao River System, China

In August of 2005 a study was carried out to evaluate contamination of aliphatic hydrocarbons(AHc) in water, suspended particulate matter (SPM) and sediments from Daliao River system composed of the Hun River, Taizi River, and Daliao River in a heavy industrial area of northeast of China. The content of AHc ranged from 13.39 to 283.62 μg L⁻¹ in surface water, from 22.68 to 5,725.36 μg g⁻¹ in dry SPM, and from 61.37 to 229.42 μg g⁻¹ in dry sediments. High hydrocarbon levels were generally found in the areas associated with high anthropogenic impact and port activities. The calculated hydrocarbon indexes suggest that the stations with petrogenic sources and biogenic origin predominance would constitute aliphatic hydrocarbons for the river system. Hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) of aliphatic hydrocarbons is correspondence with hydrocarbons indexes results.     

Source Identification of Particulate Matter in a Semi-urban Area of Malaysia Using Multivariate Techniques

This study aims to determine the composition and sources of particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter of 10 μm or less (PM₁₀) in a semi-urban area. PM₁₀ samples were collected using a high volume sampler. Heavy metals (Fe, Zn, Pb, Mn, Cu, Cd and Ni) and cations (Na⁺, K⁺, Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺) were detected using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, while anions (SO₄ ^2?, NO₃ ^?, Cl^? and F^?) were analysed using Ion Chromatography. Principle component analysis and multiple linear regressions were used to identify the source apportionment of PM₁₀. Results showed the average concentration of PM₁₀ was 29.5 ± 5.1 μg/m³. The heavy metals found were dominated by Fe, followed by Zn, Pb, Cu, Mn, Cd and Ni. Na⁺ was the dominant cation, followed by Ca²⁺, K⁺ and Mg²⁺, whereas SO₄ ^2? was the dominant anion, followed by NO₃ ^?, Cl^? and F^?. The main sources of PM₁₀ were the Earth’s crust/road dust, followed by vehicle emissions, industrial emissions/road activity, and construction/biomass burning.     

大气颗粒物污染特征研究

目的探讨并比较不同来源颗粒物的污染特征.方法选择北京和太原的两个采样点,采用TSP-PM10-PM2.5-2型颗粒物分级采样器并配以玻璃纤维滤膜采集大气颗粒物,测定不同季节不同条件下日常及沙尘暴爆发时气溶胶的质量浓度、粒径分布;采用高效液相色谱仪分离并测定沙尘暴及日常气溶胶尤其是细颗粒物中的苯并[a]芘,采用原子吸收分光光度法测定细颗粒物上铅的浓度.结果太原和北京的PM10分别为0.401 mg/m3和0.226mg/m3,TSP分别为0.551 mg/m3和0.381 mg/m3,均超过我国空气质量二级标准0.15 mg/m3和0.30mg/m3.太原和北京的PM2.5分别为0.275 mg/m3和0.169 mg/m3,均超过美国EPA细颗粒物空气质量标准0.065 mg/m3.沙尘暴期间和非沙尘暴期间北京的PM2.5分别为0.373 mg/m3和0.165 mg/m3;苯并[a]芘浓度分别为1.38 ng/m3和7.7 ng/m3.结论我国北京和太原两城市颗粒物污染严重,沙尘暴爆发时更为严重.     

Temporal Variability of Organic Micropollutants in Suspended Particulate Matter of the River Elbe at Hamburg and the River Mulde at Dessau, Germany

The compound classes of n-alkanes, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and a number of chlorinated hydrocarbons (CHs) in the River Elbe and its tributary Mulde were investigated on the basis of monthly mixed samples of suspended particulate matter (SPM). Covering the period from September 1994 to August 1995, samples from the River Elbe were taken at Hamburg, those from the River Mulde at Dessau. The samples were extracted by supercritical fluid extraction (SFE). Analysis of all substance groups were performed by highperformance liquid chromatography (HPLC), followed by gas chromatography with mass spectrometric detection (GC/MSD). As a statistical approach for the interpretation of data, hierarchical cluster analysis of the individual compound classes were performed to determine differences or similarities between the sampling sites Hamburg and Dessau to find spatial and seasonal concentration patterns. These analysis showed that, with a high significance, the concentration patterns of n-alkanes, PAHs, and CHs were sampling site–specific in both the Elbe and Mulde throughout the entire sampling period. In all cases, clustering of mostly consecutive months indicated continuous, slow changes of input, which moreover showed a constancy with respect to annual cycles. Correlation analysis of pollutant loads with different hydrographic parameters showed a number of linear dependencies of the contaminants with temperature, SPM content, and water discharge. Annual fluxes of particle-bound pollutants were calculated for each sampling site, taking into account the average monthly SPM levels and the water discharge. The particle-bound pollutant loads for the River Elbe at Hamburg were estimated to 13.4 t/a n-alkanes, 4.1 t/a PAHs, and 175.8 kg/a CHs. The pollutant loads for the River Mulde at Dessau amounted 0.55 t/a n-alkanes, 0.14 t/a PAHs, and 15.5 kg/a CHs during the monitoring period. The input of n-alkanes originated from different sources. The n-alkane pattern of samples of the River Elbe showed a predominance of odd-numbered compounds in the range of C-20 and C-30 originating from terrestrial plants and, depending on the season, high concentrations of C-15 and C-17 due to aquatic organisms. Only a small proportion of n-alkane input originated from petroleum sources. Samples from the River Mulde showed high amounts of the n-alkanes C-12 to C-15, indicating the input of light oil throughout the entire sampling period, constituting approximately 25% of the total n-alkane concentration. PAHs, which are considered combustion products, were widely distributed in all samples. Although the major inputs of PAHs were probably combustion sources and urban runoff, unusually high concentrations were found for some PAHs, which can be explained by point sources. A comparison of the standardized PAH patterns in samples from both stations clearly showed that higher fused ring systems, which mainly originate from combustion processes (four- to six-ring systems), had considerably higher relative concentrations in SPM from the Elbe than from the Mulde, where higher relative concentrations of the two- and three-ring systems were measured. This confirms findings that petroleum input was higher in the Mulde than in the Elbe. Concentrations of chlorinated hydrocarbons in SPM samples from the river Mulde had comparatively high levels. The largest differences were found for p,p′-DDT and its metabolites p,p′-DDD and p,p′-DDE. On average, concentrations of p,p′-DDT, p,p′-DDD, and p,p′-DDE in the Mulde were about 10, 15, and 25 times higher, respectively, than in the Elbe. Concentrations of HCB, which in the samples from Hamburg had the highest concentrations of all CHs, were found to be higher by about a factor of 3 in the Mulde River. The PCB levels in samples from the Mulde and Elbe were about equal, although there were differences in the pattern of PCB congeners. Received: 26 January 1999/Accepted: 5 August 1999