Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Nur 'atiah Zaini, Ali Najah Ahmed, Lee Woen Ean, Ming Fai Chow, Marlinda Abdul Malek
Summary: Accurate air pollution forecasting is crucial for urban planning and health risk management. This study utilizes hybrid deep learning models to forecast PM2.5 concentration in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and improves prediction accuracy through analyzing neighboring station data and optimizing model parameters.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Benjamin Bowe, Andrew K. Gibson, Yan Xie, Yan Yan, Aaron van Donkelaar, Randall V. Martin, Ziyad Al-Aly
Summary: The study found a correlation between PM2.5 and the risks of weight gain and obesity, especially at PM2.5 concentrations below the national standard. Results were consistent across different sensitivity analyses, suggesting that PM2.5 air pollution may contribute to obesity and weight gain.
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Nelson Gouveia, Josiah L. Kephart, Iryna Dronova, Leslie McClure, Jose Tapia Granados, Ricardo Morales Betancourt, Andrea Cortinez O'Ryan, Jose Luis Texcalac-Sangrador, Kevin Martinez-Folgar, Daniel Rodriguez, Ana Diez-Roux
Summary: The study found that a significant proportion of the population in Latin American cities live in areas with air pollution levels above WHO standards. Larger cities, higher GDP, higher motorization rate, and congestion tend to have higher PM2.5 levels. On the other hand, areas with higher population density tend to have lower levels of PM2.5.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Aaron van Donkelaar, Melanie S. Hammer, Liam Bindle, Michael Brauer, Jeffery R. Brook, Michael J. Garay, N. Christina Hsu, Olga Kalashnikova, Ralph A. Kahn, Colin Lee, Robert C. Levy, Alexei Lyapustin, Andrew M. Sayer, Randall Martin
Summary: This study developed a methodology for monthly PM2.5 estimates and uncertainties using satellite retrievals, chemical transport modeling, and ground-based measurements. Findings show higher winter PM2.5 concentrations in many densely populated regions, with South Asia and East Asia having particularly high levels, although East Asia showed a decreasing trend in PM2.5 concentrations over the period studied.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ying-Ying Meng, Yu Yu, Mohammad Z. Al-Hamdan, Miriam E. Marlier, Joseph L. Wilkins, Diane Garcia-Gonzales, Xiao Chen, Michael Jerrett
Summary: This study investigated the impact of short-term exposure to particulate matter (PM2.5) on work loss due to sickness. The findings showed a positive association between short-term ambient PM2.5 exposure and work loss, which was stronger among individuals with higher exposure to wildfire smoke. This suggests the need for further strengthening of PM2.5 standards in California to protect public health.
ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL
(2023)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Leen Rasking, Kenneth Vanbrabant, Hannelore Bove, Michelle Plusquin, Katrien De Vusser, Harry A. Roels, Tim S. Nawrot
Summary: This review summarizes the relevant knowledge on the effects of ambient PM2.5 on kidney function in adults. Most studies showed that PM2.5 exposure worsened kidney outcomes, but contradictory results were also found. The included studies have limitations, and further investigations are needed to determine the extent of PM2.5's adverse effects on the kidney.
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
(2022)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Amy McCarron, Sean Semple, Christine F. Braban, Colin Gillespie, Vivien Swanson, Heather D. Price
Summary: This study investigates the acute effects of personal exposure to PM2.5 on self-reported asthma-related health. The results show individual exposure to PM2.5 varies across microenvironments and is associated with asthma symptoms. However, there is no significant association between exposure and reliever inhaler use.
SOCIAL SCIENCE & MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Xianggui Li, Weidong Zhang, Francine Laden, Gary C. Curhan, Eric B. Rimm, Xinbiao Guo, Jaime E. Hart, Shaowei Wu
Summary: This study found that dietary nitrate intake and consumption of green leafy vegetables are associated with reduced risk of hypertension. However, long-term exposure to ambient PM2.5 is associated with an increased risk of hypertension. Furthermore, the associations between dietary factors and hypertension risk are weakened with increasing levels of PM2.5.
ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Junhui Wu, Yaohua Tian, Yao Wu, Zijing Wang, Yiqun Wu, Tao Wu, Xueying Qin, Mengying Wang, Xiaowen Wang, Jiating Wang, Yonghua Hu
Summary: The study revealed a significant association between PM2.5 levels and outpatient visits for venous thromboembolism in Beijing, with a more pronounced relationship observed during the warm season. Adjusting for temperature at various time lags should be considered when investigating seasonal associations.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Kevin J. Sullivan, Xinhui Ran, Fan Wu, Chung-Chou H. Chang, Ravi Sharma, Erin Jacobsen, Sarah Berman, Beth E. Snitz, Akira Sekikawa, Evelyn O. Talbott, Mary Ganguli
Summary: This study examined the association between ambient PM2.5 levels and the risk of incident MCI and dementia in an older population, finding that higher estimated PM2.5 levels were associated with increased risk of both conditions, particularly with longer-term exposure.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN GERIATRICS SOCIETY
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Kohei Hasegawa, Teruomi Tsukahara, Tetsuo Nomiyama
Summary: There is limited research on the relationship between low levels of daily fine particulate matter (PM2.5) exposure and morbidity or mortality in non-western countries, especially at PM2.5 concentrations below 15 μg/m3, the latest WHO AQG value. This study in Japan found that even at low concentrations, an increase in PM2.5 was associated with an increase in cardiorespiratory hospital admissions. The findings suggest that the current WHO guideline value may be insufficient for protecting public health.
ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Rashmi Choudhary, Amit Agarwal
Summary: Incorporating high spatiotemporal resolution improves prediction accuracy. This study identifies the most suitable spatial resolution using hexagonal tessellations. A hybrid deep-learning-based prediction model is developed and compared for different grid sizes. The results show that the 3 km grid performs best in terms of data aggregation and prediction accuracy. Future work can include mobile monitoring data to further enhance the models' accuracy.
ATMOSPHERIC POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Abosede S. Alli, Sierra N. Clark, Allison Hughes, James Nimo, Josephine Bedford-Moses, Solomon Baah, Jiayuan Wang, Jose Vallarino, Ernest Agyemang, Benjamin Barratt, Andrew Beddows, Frank Kelly, George Owusu, Jill Baumgartner, Michael Brauer, Majid Ezzati, Samuel Agyei-Mensah, Raphael E. Arku
Summary: Sub-Saharan Africa is experiencing rapid urbanization, with air pollution emerging as a major concern in growing cities, especially in Accra, Ghana. The study found that commercial, business, and industrial areas have the highest levels of PM2.5 pollution, with concentrations 2-4 times higher than WHO guidelines. Additionally, PM2.5 levels peak during the dry dusty Harmattan period, and have decreased by 50% compared to measurements in 2006-2007. Effective policies are needed to reduce pollution levels and protect public health in urban areas.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Chung-Shin Yuan, Ching-Shu Lai, Yu-Lun Tseng, Ping-Chi Hsu, Chieh-Mo Lin, Fu-Jen Cheng
Summary: The study showed that exposure to PM2.5 induced inflammatory signaling and cytokines upregulation in the liver, as well as increased cell proliferation signals. Different exposure groups exhibited distinct biological effects on liver inflammation and cell proliferation.
ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Zehui Liu, Mi Zhou, Youfan Chen, Dan Chen, Yuepeng Pan, Tao Song, Dongsheng Ji, Qi Chen, Lin Zhang
Summary: Recent Chinese air pollution actions have significantly lowered PM2.5 levels in North China through controlling SO2 and NOx emissions, but unregulated NH3 emissions pose a challenge. Reductions in NH3 emissions can greatly mitigate PM2.5 pollution. NH3 emission control should be considered in conjunction with SO2 and NOx emission controls when designing strategies to mitigate PM2.5 pollution.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yasmine Emara, Olivier Jolliet, Matthias Finkbeiner, Stefanie Hess, Marissa Kosnik, Peter Fantke
Summary: To guide environmental and public health policies, it is important to assess antibiotic resistance selection pressure under measured environmental concentrations (MECs) and compare mitigation strategies. This study aims to derive minimum selective concentrations (MSCs) and species sensitivity distributions (SSDs) for different antibiotics. The results highlight specific environmental compartments and antibiotics that should be examined for their role in resistance dissemination.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2023)
Review
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Periklis Charalampous, Juanita A. Haagsma, Lea S. Jakobsen, Vanessa Gorasso, Isabel Noguer, Alicia Padron-Monedero, Rodrigo Sarmiento, Joao Vasco Santos, Scott A. McDonald, Dietrich Plass, Grant M. A. Wyper, Ricardo Assuncao, Elena von der Lippe, Balazs Adam, Ala'a AlKerwi, Jalal Arabloo, Ana Lucia Baltazar, Boris Bikbov, Maria Borrell-Pages, Iris Brus, Genc Burazeri, Serafeim C. Chaintoutis, Jose Chen-Xu, Nino Chkhaberidze, Seila Cilovic-Lagarija, Barbara Corso, Sarah Cuschieri, Carlotta Di Bari, Keren Dopelt, Mary Economou, Theophilus Emeto, Peter Fantke, Florian Fischer, Alberto Freitas, Juan Manuel Garcia-Gonzalez, Federica Gazzelloni, Mika Gissler, Artemis Gkitakou, Hakan Gulmez, Sezgin Gunes, Sebastian Haller, Romana Haneef, Cesar A. Hincapie, Paul Hynds, Jane Idavain, Milena Ilic, Irena Ilic, Gaetano Isola, Zubair Kabir, Maria Kamusheva, Pavel Kolkhir, Naime Meric Konar, Polychronis Kostoulas, Mukhtar Kulimbet, Carlo La Vecchia, Paolo Lauriola, Miriam Levi, Marjeta Majer, Enkeleint A. Mechili, Lorenzo Monasta, Stefania Mondello, Javier Munoz Laguna, Evangelia Nena, Edmond S. W. Ng, Paul Nguewa, Vikram Niranjan, Iskra Alexandra Nola, Ronan O'Caoimh, Marija Obradovic, Elena Pallari, Mariana Peyroteo, Vera Pinheiro, Nurka Pranjic, Miguel Reina Ortiz, Silvia Riva, Cornelia Melinda Adi Santoso, Milena Santric Milicevic, Tugce Schmitt, Niko Speybroeck, Maximilian Sprugel, Paschalis Steiropoulos, Aleksandar Stevanovic, Lau Caspar Thygesen, Fimka Tozija, Brigid Unim, Hilal Bektas Uysal, Orsolya Varga, Milena Vasic, Rafael Jose Vieira, Vahit Yigit, Brecht Devleesschauwer, Sara M. Pires
Summary: This systematic literature review provides an overview of studies applying the disability-adjusted life years (DALY) concept for infectious diseases in European countries. Among the 105 included studies, food- and water-borne diseases were the most frequently studied. The number of burden of infectious disease studies has increased over time, but there is less consensus in methodological approaches.
EPIDEMIOLOGY AND INFECTION
(2023)
Article
Agronomy
Zijian Li, Peter Fantke
Summary: The degradation kinetics of pesticides in plants play a crucial role in modeling pesticide residual concentrations. This study proposes a modeling approach using potatoes as a model crop to estimate the degradation rate constants of pesticides in plants. The simulations show that the growth dynamics of potatoes and variations in weather conditions and soil properties can significantly affect the degradation kinetics of pesticides in plants.
PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Cecilia Askham, Valentina H. Pauna, Anne-Marie Boulay, Peter Fantke, Olivier Jolliet, Jerome Lavoie, Andy M. Booth, Claire Coutris, Francesca Verones, Miriam Weber, Martina G. Vijver, Amy Lusher, Carla Hajjar
Summary: Current efforts focus on quantifying and describing the magnitude of plastic pollution and its impacts on human and environmental health. This study examines existing approaches for gathering and reporting data on micro-and nanoplastics (MNPs) exposure and effects in order to improve the integration of this data into Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). The outcomes suggest the need for improved data collection, validation, and reporting, and propose a set of requirements for increasing the potential use of receptor-oriented studies in LCA.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Jacob O. Bor, Sabrina Assoumou, Kevin I. Lane, Yareliz Diaz, Bisola Ojikutu, Julia Raifman, Jonathan Levy
Summary: This study examined the vaccination and booster coverage across different ZIP codes in Massachusetts and found significant inequities in coverage. The share of children vaccinated ranged from under 40% to over 90% across ZIP codes, while the share of elderly adults boosted ranged from under 60% to 100%. Education levels were the strongest predictor of vaccine and booster uptake. After adjusting for age and education levels, vaccine and booster uptake was higher in ZIP codes with many Black/Latino/Indigenous residents or essential workers. These inequities may lead to disparities in morbidity, mortality, and economic losses due to COVID-19.
Editorial Material
Energy & Fuels
Jonathan I. Levy
Summary: Historically redlined communities have faced disproportionate environmental and social challenges due to lower housing values and unequal access to investments and resources. New research examines the potential correlation between redlining and the location of fossil fuel power plants, and how this relationship has evolved over time.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Kanan Patel, Sahil Bhandari, Shahzad Gani, Purushottam Kumar, Nisar Baig, Gazala Habib, Joshua Apte, Lea Hildebrandt Ruiz
Summary: New Delhi, India, the most polluted megacity, experiences extreme pollution episodes due to various factors. By using machine learning models, we can estimate the concentrations, composition, sources, and dynamics of particulate matter (PM) and analyze the influences of different factors.
AEROSOL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Kevin J. Lane, Jonathan I. Levy, Allison P. Patton, John L. Durant, Wig Zamore, Doug Brugge
Summary: This study used structural equation modeling to assess the association between traffic-related air pollution and social stressors with inflammation. The results showed a strong correlation between traffic-related air pollution and inflammation, and a negative correlation between socio-economic status and inflammation. Structural equation modeling played an important role in the analysis.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Rachna Bhoonah, Alice Maury-Micolier, Olivier Jolliet
BUILDING AND ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Kyle J. Colonna, Barrak Alahmad, Ernani F. Choma, Soad Albahar, Ali Al-Hemoud, Patrick L. Kinney, Petros Koutrakis, John S. Evans
Summary: This study analyzed the impact of daily PM2.5 exposure on respiratory hospitalizations in Kuwait, using local data. The results showed that exposure to ambient PM2.5 had harmful effects, with dust as a significant source of PM2.5 and regional PM2.5 having a potential risk increase. No significant effects were observed from traffic emissions and other sources. The study also found that the effects of PM2.5 exposure varied among different population groups based on sex, nationality, and age.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Zhehan Huang, Gael Kijko, Kelly Scanlon, Shannon Lloyd, Andrew Henderson, Peter Fantke, Olivier Jolliet, Shaobin Li
Summary: This study proposes a system approach and new data set to characterize and evaluate occupational health impacts in work environments, aiming to improve the comprehensiveness of life cycle assessment methods. The study finds that the data set of characterization factors for occupational health impacts varies significantly by industry, indicating that occupational health impacts are concentrated in a small portion of industries. A case study demonstrates the feasibility and importance of incorporating occupational health impacts into life cycle impact assessment methods.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Sarabeth Buckley, Catherine L. Connolly, Pamela H. Templer, Jacqueline Ashmore, Luis Carvalho, Nathan Phillips, Patricia Fabian
Summary: Simultaneous rooftop garden and ventilation upgrades can reduce CO2 emissions, save energy, and decrease costs.
SUSTAINABLE CITIES AND SOCIETY
(2023)
Article
Health Policy & Services
Beth M. Haley, Prasad Patil, Jonathan I. Levy, Keith R. Spangler, Koen F. Tieskens, Fei Carnes, Xiaojing Peng, R. Monina Klevens, T. Scott Troppy, M. Patricia Fabian, Kevin J. Lane, Jessica H. Leibler
Summary: Occupational exposure to SARS-CoV-2 varies by profession, but essential workers are often considered in aggregate in COVID-19 models. We used census tract-resolution American Community Survey data to develop novel essential worker categories among the occupations designated as COVID-19 Essential Services in Massachusetts. Our findings show elevated COVID-19 case incidence in census tracts with higher proportions of workers in construction/transportation/buildings maintenance, production, and public-facing sales and services occupations. We also found that a greater percentage of essential workers able to work from home was associated with reduced case incidence. Estimating industry-specific risk for essential workers is important in targeting interventions for COVID-19 and other diseases.
JOURNAL OF COMMUNITY HEALTH
(2023)
Review
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Vanessa Gorasso, Joana Nazare Morgado, Periklis Charalampous, Sara M. Pires, Juanita A. Haagsma, Joao Vasco Santos, Jane Idavain, Che Henry Ngwa, Isabel Noguer, Alicia Padron-Monedero, Rodrigo Sarmiento, Vera Pinheiro, Elena Von der Lippe, Lea Sletting Jakobsen, Brecht Devleesschauwer, Dietrich Plass
Summary: Within the framework of the burden of disease (BoD) approach, this study reviewed the methods used in BoD assessments and risk assessments in Europe. The results showed substantial variation in the methods used in comparative risk assessment (CRA), which can affect the comparability of estimates.
ARCHIVES OF PUBLIC HEALTH
(2023)
Review
Biodiversity Conservation
Hongdou Liu, Lizhen Cui, Tong Li, Calogero Schillaci, Xiufang Song, Paolo Pastorino, Hongtao Zou, Xiaoyong Cui, Zhihong Xu, Peter Fantke
Summary: This study conducts a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of research on micro-and nanoplastics in soil, revealing trends, key authors and institutions, and international collaborations. The research findings demonstrate a growing interest in studying MNPs pollution in soil over the past decade, highlighting the need for interdisciplinary approaches to address this complex challenge.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2023)