Article
Business
Nico Pestel, Florian Wozny
Summary: Low Emission Zones reduce air pollution levels in urban areas, leading to small but statistically significant population health benefits by lowering the proportion of diagnoses related to air pollution in hospitals located within these zones. The improvements are mainly seen in reductions in circulatory and chronic lower respiratory diseases.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL ECONOMICS AND MANAGEMENT
(2021)
Article
Economics
Shushanik Margaryan
Summary: This study evaluates the impact of low emission zones implemented in large cities across Germany and finds that they can significantly reduce the number of patients with cardiovascular disease, especially among those over the age of 65. The findings suggest that low emission zones can be an effective way to reduce air pollution and improve health.
JOURNAL OF HEALTH ECONOMICS
(2021)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Maksymilian Madziel
Summary: This research develops a CO2 emission model for hybrid vehicles using artificial neural networks, achieving a high R2 coefficient and MSE. The model provides valuable information for further improvements in emission modeling and is important for effective traffic planning in low-emission zones.
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Javier Tarrino-Ortiz, Juan Gomez, Julio A. Soria-Lara, Jose M. Vassallo
Summary: Research on the implementation of the Madrid Central LEZ has shown a significant decrease in car use and promotion of cleaner modes of transportation, contributing to reducing air pollution. Modal shift is mainly associated with socio-demographic variables, individual perceptions towards LEZs, and mobility habits, while attitudinal variables are found to be irrelevant for explaining modal shift.
SUSTAINABLE CITIES AND SOCIETY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Studies
Xiaodong Zhang, Qi Yang, Xiaoqing Xu, Na Zhang
Summary: Traffic restrictions have gained attention in academia as a major measure to control urban air pollution. This study conducted comparative experiments in 32 key cities in China and found that implementing traffic restriction policies can improve urban air pollution. The effects of these policies vary in different regions.
TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH PART D-TRANSPORT AND ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Javier Tarrino-Ortiz, Julio A. Soria-Lara, Juan Gomez, Jose Manuel Vassallo
Summary: The study found that socio-economic and demographic variables have a weak impact on public acceptability of LEZs, while individual political ideology, environmental awareness, primary transport mode, use of shared mobility systems, and frequency of access to LEZs have a higher explanatory power. This information could be useful for policymakers to understand factors that increase public acceptability of LEZs.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yanju Chen, Peishi Gu, Nico Schulte, Xiaochi Zhou, Steve Mara, Bart E. E. Croes, Jorn D. D. Herner, Abhilash Vijayan
Summary: This paper presents an integrated mobile measurement and data analysis approach to study community-level air pollution patterns. The study found that traffic was the dominant primary source of air pollution in both urban and suburban settings. It also identified the contribution of regional and local sources to air pollution and suggested the use of repeated measurements for mapping air pollution patterns within the community.
ATMOSPHERIC ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Review
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Rosemary C. Chamberlain, Daniela Fecht, Bethan Davies, Anthony A. Laverty
Summary: We conducted a systematic review to examine the effects of low emission zones (LEZs) and congestion charging zones (CCZs) on air pollution-related health outcomes and road traffic injuries. The review included 16 studies that evaluated the implementation of LEZs or CCZs, with positive effects observed on air pollution-related outcomes in LEZ studies and reductions in total or car road traffic injuries in CCZ studies. However, the evidence on health outcomes other than cardiovascular disease and on CCZs outside of London is limited. Ongoing evaluation of these interventions is needed to understand their long-term effects on health.
LANCET PUBLIC HEALTH
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Irene Lebrusan, Jamal Toutouh
Summary: The design of most cities prioritizes motorized vehicles, causing negative impacts on urban health. Air pollution, especially nitrogen dioxide (NO2), is a major concern in the EU. The implementation of low emission zones like Madrid Central has been shown to effectively reduce air pollutants without causing pollution displacement, leading to a positive impact on overall city air quality.
AIR QUALITY ATMOSPHERE AND HEALTH
(2021)
Article
Geography
Thomas Verbeek, Stephen Hincks
Summary: This study contributes a data-driven perspective to the debate on low emission zones (LEZs) by analyzing the unequal exposure to air pollution and the unequal accessibility impact in London and Brussels. The study shows that geographically weighted regression (GWR) is a promising method for distributional environmental justice research, enabling customized policy instruments and targeted support.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Erika Moreno, Lara Schwarz, Sabine Host, Olivier Chanel, Tarik Benmarhnia
Summary: This study evaluates the most equitable approach to implementing the second phase of the low emission zone in Paris and presents a literature review of the benefits associated with low emission zones in Europe. The results show that expanding the low emission zone perimeter and increasing vehicle standards can prevent the highest number of cases and achieve a more equitable distribution of health benefits across different socioeconomic groups.
AIR QUALITY ATMOSPHERE AND HEALTH
(2022)
Article
Economics
Virginie Lurkin, Julien Hambuckers, Tom van Woensel
Summary: Environmental traffic restrictions, such as Low Emission Zones (LEZs), are being implemented in many cities to regulate or restrict polluting vehicles' access to urban areas. However, the impact of LEZs on reducing air pollution depends not only on the severity of operational rules, but also on user behavior interaction. It is important to consider these aspects before establishing an LEZ.
TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH PART A-POLICY AND PRACTICE
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Meng Wang, Yusen Duan, Zhuozhi Zhang, Juntao Huo, Yu Huang, Qingyan Fu, Tao Wang, Junji Cao, Shun-cheng Lee
Summary: This study analyzed data from a highway sampling site in Shanghai from 2016 to 2019 using a machine learning algorithm, and found that non-exhaust emissions (road dust) have increased their contribution to PM2.5 over recent years, with road dust increasing at a faster rate than exhaust emissions.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2022)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Piotr Holnicki, Andrzej Kaluszko, Zbigniew Nahorski
Summary: A low emission zone (LEZ) is a mechanism that regulates exhaust emissions to reduce the negative impact of traffic pollution on urban environments. LEZs are gaining popularity in Western European countries, but are still rare in Eastern and Central Europe. Warsaw plans to launch an LEZ in 2024 with gradually tightened emission criteria. Computer simulations show that the LEZ will significantly reduce NOX concentrations, but have only a slight impact on PM2.5 concentrations.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Jeffrey Perala-Dewey, Katy Orr, Kimberly J. Hageman, Peyman Zawar-Reza, Pourya Shahpoury
Summary: The atmospheric transport distance of PAHs into alpine valleys can vary greatly depending on their position relative to regional winds. Current understanding of atmospheric transport of PAHs in alpine areas is limited due to complex meteorology and topography. This study measured PAH concentrations in lichens along transects in three nearby alpine valleys to better understand atmospheric transport. The results showed that PAH concentrations differed depending on the orientation of regional winds and the distance from the highway, highlighting the importance of both physical transport and chemical partitioning in alpine areas.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Yi Yang, Lu Xu, Susan Dekkers, Lijie Grace Zhang, Flemming R. Cassee, Yi Y. Zuo
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2018)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Danail Hristozov, Lisa Pizzol, Gianpietro Basei, Alex Zabeo, Aiga Mackevica, Steffen Foss Hansen, Ilse Gosens, Flemming R. Cassee, Wim de Jong, Antti Joonas Koivisto, Nicole Neubauer, Araceli Sanchez Jimenez, Elena Semenzin, Vrishali Subramanian, Wouter Fransman, Keld Alstrup Jensen, Wendel Wohlleben, Vicki Stone, Antonio Marcomini
Editorial Material
Toxicology
Ulla Vogel, Flemming R. Cassee
PARTICLE AND FIBRE TOXICOLOGY
(2018)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Wim H. De Jong, Eveline De Rijk, Alessandro Bonetto, Wendel Wohlleben, Vicki Stone, Andrea Brunelli, Elena Badetti, Antonio Marcomini, Ilse Gosens, Flemming R. Cassee
Article
Toxicology
Estefania Bernal-Melendez, Marie-Christine Lacroix, Pascaline Bouillaud, Jacques Callebert, Benoit Olivier, Marie-Annick Persuy, Didier Durieux, Delphine Rousseau-Ralliard, Josiane Aioun, Flemming Cassee, Anne Couturier-Tarrade, Sarah Valentino, Pascale Chavatte-Palmer, Henri Schroeder, Christine Baly
PARTICLE AND FIBRE TOXICOLOGY
(2019)
Review
Toxicology
Michael Riediker, Daniele Zink, Wolfgang Kreyling, Gunter Oberdorster, Alison Elder, Uschi Graham, Iseult Lynch, Albert Duschl, Gaku Ichihara, Sahoko Ichihara, Takahiro Kobayashi, Naomi Hisanaga, Masakazu Umezawa, Tsun-Jen Cheng, Richard Handy, Mary Gulumian, Sally Tinkle, Flemming Cassee
PARTICLE AND FIBRE TOXICOLOGY
(2019)
Review
Medicine, Legal
Peter M. J. Bos, Ilse Gosens, Liesbeth Geraets, Christiaan Delmaar, Flemming R. Cassee
REGULATORY TOXICOLOGY AND PHARMACOLOGY
(2019)
Article
Allergy
Dingyu Liu, James G. Wagner, Jack R. Harkema, Miriam E. Gerlofs-Nijland, Elena Pinelli, Gert Folkerts, Rob J. Vandebriel, Flemming R. Cassee
WORLD ALLERGY ORGANIZATION JOURNAL
(2020)
Article
Toxicology
Dingyu Liu, James G. Wagner, Rob Mariman, Jack R. Harkema, Miriam E. Gerlofs-Nijland, Elena Pinelli, Gert Folkerts, Flemming R. Cassee, Rob J. Vandebriel
INHALATION TOXICOLOGY
(2020)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Maria Joao Bessa, Fatima Brandao, Paul Fokkens, Flemming R. Cassee, Apostolos Salmatonidis, Mar Viana, Adriana Vulpoi, Simion Simon, Eliseo Monfort, Joao Paulo Teixeira, Sonia Fraga
Summary: The study highlighted the potential hazard associated with exposure to incidental nanoparticles in industrial settings. Results indicated that process-generated nanoparticles and fine particles possess higher toxicity potential compared to engineered nanoparticles in terms of mass per area unit. However, the presence of a mucociliary apparatus as a defense mechanism significantly attenuated the observed toxic effects.
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Ariana Lammers, Anne H. Neerincx, Susanne J. H. Vijverberg, Cristina Longo, Nicole A. H. Janssen, A. John F. Boere, Paul Brinkman, Flemming R. Cassee, Anke H. Maitland van der Zee
Summary: This study explored the effects of short-term exposure to air pollution on the exhaled breath profiles of healthy adults, finding that high levels of air pollution may influence breath composition, although the impact may be minimal for regular daily exposures.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Maria Joao Bessa, Fatima Brandao, Paul H. B. Fokkens, Daan L. A. C. Leseman, A. John F. Boere, Flemming R. Cassee, Apostolos Salmatonidis, Mar Viana, Adriana Vulpoi, Simion Simon, Eliseo Monfort, Joao Paulo Teixeira, Sonia Fraga
Summary: Diverse industries have incorporated engineered nanoparticles (ENP) into their production processes, increasing the risk of worker inhalation exposure. In vitro models, particularly using air-liquid interface (ALI) cell cultures, are valuable for studying ENP toxicity. When comparing submerged and ALI conditions for ENP exposure, it was found that ALI cultures were more sensitive to the cytotoxic effects of ENP on human alveolar epithelial-like cells.
Article
Toxicology
Yvonne C. M. Staal, Yixuan Li, Lora-Sophie Gerber, Paul Fokkens, Hans Cremers, Flemming R. Cassee, Reinskje Talhout, Remco H. S. Westerink, Harm J. Heusinkveld
Summary: The direct effects of inhaled harmful constituents primarily affect the airways, but these compounds can also be rapidly absorbed and cause systemic effects. This study combines in vitro systems to evaluate the neurological effects of inhaled compounds. The results demonstrate that exposure to e-cigarette vapor induces the production of cytokines in lung cells and the translocation of compounds across the cell culture. Furthermore, exposure-related changes in neuronal electrical activity were observed when the cell culture medium was transferred to neuronal cells. This approach can realistically assess the neurotoxic effects of inhaled compounds and contribute to future risk assessment strategies based on mechanisms.
INHALATION TOXICOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Nienke Ruijter, Lya G. Soeteman-Hernandez, Marie Carriere, Matthew Boyles, Polly McLean, Julia Catalan, Alberto Katsumiti, Joan Cabellos, Camilla Delpivo, Araceli Sanchez Jimenez, Ana Candalija, Isabel Rodriguez-Llopis, Socorro Vazquez-Campos, Flemming R. Cassee, Hedwig Braakhuis
Summary: The Safe-by-Design (SbD) concept aims to enhance the development of safer materials/products by reducing hazards and exposures through timely interventions. This review evaluates commonly used in vitro assays for their suitability in SbD hazard testing of nanomaterials (NMs). It also discusses the effects of various factors on predictivity and the compatibility of assays with advanced materials and NMs released during the lifecycle.
Article
Toxicology
Ali Reza Nosratabadi, Mats Gustafsson, Karin Loven, Stefan A. Ljunggren, Ulf Olofsson, Saeed Abbasi, Goran Blomqvist, Helen Karlsson, Anders G. Ljungman, Flemming R. Cassee, Miriam E. Gerlofs-Nijland, Anders Gudmundsson
Summary: This study investigated the effects of road and brake wear particles on pulmonary function and biomarkers in isolated perfused rat lungs. The results showed that particles from road quartzite and brake materials had significant effects on tidal volume and cytokine levels. The choice of rock material in road pavements has the potential to affect the toxicity of road wear particles.
INHALATION TOXICOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Toshimi Nakajima, Mao Kuragano, Makoto Yamada, Ryo Sugimoto
Summary: This study compared the contribution of submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) to river nutrient budgets at nearshore and embayment scales, and found that SGD-derived nutrients become more important at larger spatial scales.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Fan Liu, Lei Zhang, Chongyang Zhang, Ziguang Chen, Jingguang Li
Summary: NO2 emissions from wall-mounted gas stoves used for household heating have become a significant source of indoor pollution in Chinese urban areas. The high indoor concentration of NO2 poses potential health risks to residents. It is urgently necessary to establish relevant regulations and implement emission reduction technologies to reduce NO2 emissions from wall-mounted gas stoves.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Letter
Environmental Sciences
Hans Peter H. Arp, Raoul Wolf, Sarah E. Hale, Sivani Baskaran, Juliane Gluege, Martin Scheringer, Xenia Trier, Ian T. Cousins, Harrie Timmer, Roberta Hofman-Caris, Anna Lennquist, Andre D. Bannink, Gerard J. Stroomberg, Rosa M. A. Sjerps, Rosa Montes, Rosario Rodil, Jose Benito Quintana, Daniel Zahn, Herve Gallard, Tobias Mohr, Ivo Schliebner, Michael Neumann
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Philomina Onyedikachi Peter, Binessi Edouard Ifon, Francois Nkinahamira, Kayode Hassan Lasisi, Jiangwei Li, Anyi Hu, Chang-Ping Yu
Summary: This study investigates the relationship between dissolved organic matter (DOM) and Rare Earth Elements (REEs) in sediments from Yundang Lagoon, China. The results show four distinct fluorescent components, with protein-like substances being the most prevalent. Additionally, the total fluorescence intensity and LREE concentrations exhibit a synchronized increase from Outer to Inner to Songbai Lake core sediments. The findings demonstrate a strong correlation between DOM content and pollution levels.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Surya Gupta, Pasquale Borrelli, Panos Panagos, Christine Alewell
Summary: The objective of this study is to incorporate soil hydraulic properties into the erodibility factor (K) of USLE-type models. By modifying and improving the existing equations for soil texture and permeability, the study successfully included information on saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ksat) into the calculation of K factor. Using the Random Forest machine learning algorithm, two independent K factor maps with different spatial resolutions were generated. The results show that the decrease in K factor values has a positive impact on the modeling of soil erosion rates.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jesmin Akter, Wendy J. M. Smith, Yawen Liu, Ilho Kim, Stuart L. Simpson, Phong Thai, Asja Korajkic, Warish Ahmed
Summary: The choice of workflow in wastewater surveillance has a significant impact on SARS-CoV-2 concentrations, while having minimal effects on HF183 and no effect on HAdV 40/41 concentrations. Certain components in the workflow can be interchangeable, but factors such as buffer type, chloroform, and homogenization speed can affect the recovery of viruses and bacteria.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yu Luo, Xueting Yang, Diwei Wang, Hongmei Xu, Hongai Zhang, Shasha Huang, Qiyuan Wang, Ningning Zhang, Junji Cao, Zhenxing Shen
Summary: Atmospheric PM2.5, which can generate reactive oxygen species (ROS), is associated with cardiorespiratory morbidity and mortality. The study found that both the mass concentration of PM2.5 and the DTT activity were higher during the heating season than during the nonheating season. Combustion sources were the primary contributors to DTT activity during the heating season, while secondary formation dominated during the nonheating season. The study also revealed that biomass burning had the highest inherent oxidation potential among all sources investigated.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Erin L. Murphy, Leah R. Gerber, Chelsea M. Rochman, Beth Polidoro
Summary: Plastic pollution has devastating consequences for marine organisms. This study uses a trait-based framework to develop a vulnerability index for marine mammals, seabirds, and sea turtles in Hawai'i. The index ranks 63 study species based on their vulnerability to macroplastic pollution, providing valuable information for species monitoring and management priorities.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Kenji Maurice, Amelia Bourceret, Sami Youssef, Stephane Boivin, Liam Laurent-Webb, Coraline Damasio, Hassan Boukcim, Marc-Andre Selosse, Marc Ducousso
Summary: Growing pressure from climate change and agricultural land use is destabilizing soil microbial community interactions. Little is known about microbial community resistance and adaptation to disturbances, hindering our understanding of recovery latency and implications for ecosystem functioning. This study found that anthropic disturbance and natural disturbance have different effects on the topology and stability of soil microbial networks.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yunhao Li, Yali Feng, Haoran Li, Yisong Yao, Chenglong Xu, Jinrong Ju, Ruiyu Ma, Haoyu Wang, Shiwei Jiang
Summary: Deep-sea mining poses a serious threat to marine ecosystems and human health by disturbing sediment and transmitting metal ions through the food chain. This study developed a new regenerative adsorption material, OMN@SA, which effectively removes metal ions. The adsorption mechanism and performance of the material for metal ion fixation were investigated.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Antonio Medici, Margherita Lavorgna, Marina Isidori, Chiara Russo, Elena Orlo, Giovanni Luongo, Giovanni Di Fabio, Armando Zarrelli
Summary: Valsartan, a widely used antihypertensive drug, has been detected in high concentrations in surface waters due to its unchanged excretion and incomplete degradation in wastewater treatment plants. This study investigated the degradation of valsartan and identified 14 degradation byproducts. The acute and chronic toxicity of these byproducts were evaluated in key organisms in the freshwater trophic chain.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jiang Lin, Lianbao Chi, Qing Yuan, Busu Li, Mingbao Feng
Summary: This study investigated the photodegradation behavior and product formation of two representative pharmaceuticals in simulated estuary water. The study found that the formed transformation products of these pharmaceuticals have potential toxicity on marine organisms, including oxidative stress and damage to cellular components.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Hua Fang, Dongdong Jiang, Ye He, Siyi Wu, Yuehong Li, Ziqi Zhang, Haoting Chen, Zixin Zheng, Yan Sun, Wenxiang Wang
Summary: This study revealed that exposure to lower levels of air pollutants led to decreased pregnancy rates, with PM10, NO2, SO2, and CO emerging as the four most prominent pollutants. Individuals aged 35 and above exhibited heightened susceptibility to pollutants.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ali Shaan Manzoor Ghumman, Rashid Shamsuddin, Amin Abbasi, Mohaira Ahmad, Yoshiaki Yoshida, Abdul Sami, Hamad Almohamadi
Summary: In this study, inverse vulcanized polysulfides (IVP) were synthesized by reacting molten sulfur with 4-vinyl benzyl chloride, and then functionalized using N-methyl D-glucamine (NMDG). The functionalized IVP showed a high mercury adsorption capacity and a machine learning model was developed to predict the amount of mercury removed. Furthermore, the functionalized IVP can be regenerated and reused, providing a sustainable and cost-effective adsorbent.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Rita Bonfiglio, Renata Sisto, Stefano Casciardi, Valeria Palumbo, Maria Paola Scioli, Erica Giacobbi, Francesca Servadei, Gerry Melino, Alessandro Mauriello, Manuel Scimeca
Summary: This study investigated the presence of aluminum in human colon cancer samples and its potential association with biological processes involved in cancer progression. Aluminum was found in tumor areas of 24% of patients and was associated with epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) and cell death. Additional analyses revealed higher tumor mutational burden and mutations in genes related to EMT and apoptosis in aluminum-positive colon cancers. Understanding the molecular mechanisms of aluminum toxicity may improve strategies for the management of colon cancer patients.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2024)