Article
Engineering, Environmental
Ying Hu, John S. Ji, Bin Zhao
Summary: This study aims to estimate the mortality and economic losses attributable to indoor PM2.5 in urban areas in China. The results showed that indoor sources remain the main cause of deaths and economic losses, even when outdoor PM2.5 concentrations are reduced to 5 μg/m3.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ling-Chuan Guo, Tao Liu, Guanhao He, Hualiang Lin, Jianxiong Hu, Jianpeng Xiao, Xing Li, Weilin Zeng, Yan Zhou, Min Li, Shengbing Yu, Yanjun Xu, Han Zhang, Zhanlu Lv, Jinliang Zhang, Wenjun Ma
Summary: This study evaluated PM2.5 samples collected from the urban region of Guangzhou from 2015 to 2016 and analyzed the metal components. The results showed that lead, cadmium, selenium, thallium, and aluminum had a greater contribution to PM2.5-related mortality risk. Attention should be paid to the short-term exposure risks of PM2.5-bound metals in designing early warning and self-prevention measures. Comprehensive exposure assessment of PM2.5-bound metals is necessary to understand and reduce PM2.5-related health risks.
ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Erin E. McDuffie, Randall Martin, Joseph Spadaro, Richard Burnett, Steven J. Smith, Patrick O'Rourke, Melanie S. Hammer, Aaron van Donkelaar, Liam Bindle, Viral Shah, Lyatt Jaegle, Gan Luo, Fangqun Yu, Jamiu A. Adeniran, Jintai Lin, Michael Brauer
Summary: Ambient fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is one of the most important environmental health risk factors in many regions. The authors assessed PM2.5 emission sources and related health impacts across global to sub-national scales, finding that over 1 million deaths were avoidable in 2017 by eliminating PM2.5 mass associated with fossil fuel combustion emissions.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Kayihan Pala, Nilufer Aykac, Yesim Yasin
Summary: Utilizing the AirQ+ program, this research revealed that 44,617 premature deaths in Turkey in 2018 were caused by long-term exposure to PM2.5, with the highest estimated mortality proportion in the provinces of Igdir and Kahramanmaras and the highest estimated number of mortality cases per 100,000 population in the provinces of Manisa and Afyonkarahisar. The study indicates that meeting WHO's PM2.5 limits could have prevented these premature deaths.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Kelvin C. Fong, Michelle L. Bell
Summary: This study found that immigrants in the United States are exposed to slightly higher levels of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) compared to US-born individuals, resulting in higher premature mortality rates. Disparities between immigrant groups were more pronounced among those originating from Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Time since immigration did not significantly impact these disparities.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Jun Song, Chunlin Li, Yuanman Hu, Jing Zhang, Jieming Kang, Lujia Zhao
Summary: The study analyzed the premature deaths and economic losses attributable to long-term and short-term exposure to PM2.5 in mainland China. It found that the number of premature deaths and economic losses related to long-term exposure showed a fluctuating trend, while those related to short-term exposure declined significantly. Improving air quality has helped reduce the impact of PM2.5 exposure, but the aging population partially offset the benefits.
ECOSYSTEM HEALTH AND SUSTAINABILITY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Therese S. Carter, Gaige Hunter Kerr, Heresh Amini, Randall Martin, Ufuoma Ovienmhada, Joel Schwartz, Aaron van Donkelaar, Susan Anenberg
Summary: This paper discusses the disproportionate levels of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) air pollution experienced by communities of color and lower income in the US. The study finds that high-resolution PM2.5 datasets are consistent with the 12 km dataset in terms of national and regional averages, but differ in intraurban disparities. The datasets consistently indicate higher regional average PM2.5 concentrations in the least White and most Hispanic census tracts. However, in the ten most populous cities, the datasets differ in the order of least-to-most exposed population subgroups. The 12 km dataset fails to capture intraurban disparities and may mischaracterize disproportionately exposed neighborhoods.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ye Li, Franz Munoz-Ibanez, Ana Maldonado-Alcaino, Darby Jack, Beizhan Yan, Li Xu, Marco Acuna, Manuel Leiva-Guzman, Ana Valdes, Dante D. Caceres
Summary: This study estimated the cancer disease burden in two urban Chilean Municipalities, Coyhaique and Independencia, attributable to exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5). The results showed that the primary source of PM2.5 in Coyhaique was firewood burning, resulting in higher concentrations of PAHs and B[a]P compared to Independencia. However, Independencia had significantly higher levels of As and Pb. The health risk indexes (HI and HQ) exceeded acceptable limits in both cities, mainly due to B[a]P and As. The attributable fraction of deaths due to lung cancer and cardiopulmonary cancer from long-term PM2.5 exposure was higher in Coyhaique compared to Independencia. The presence of chemical compounds bound to particles from PM2.5 exposure contributed to a significant fraction of cancer cases and potential adverse effects. Further studies are needed to inform policy-making, particularly regarding PM2.5-bound toxic species from other emission sources, such as firewood burning.
AEROSOL AND AIR QUALITY RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Katarzyna Juda-Rezler, Elwira Zajusz-Zubek, Magdalena Reizer, Katarzyna Maciejewska, Eliza Kurek, Ewa Bulska, Krzysztof Klejnowski
Summary: The study in Warsaw, Poland, analyzed the bioavailability and potential risk of trace elements bound to atmospheric PM2.5 during a 40-day winter period. The findings showed that the elements exhibited high bioavailability and risk, with concentrations rising significantly during episodes days, leading to increased health risks for human exposure.
ATMOSPHERIC ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Yuzhou Wang, Joshua S. Apte, Jason D. Hill, Cesunica E. Ivey, Regan F. Patterson, Allen L. Robinson, Christopher W. Tessum, Julian D. Marshall
Summary: Air pollution levels in the United States have decreased, but racial-ethnic exposure disparities persist. Targeting specific locations for emission reductions can eliminate national exposure inequalities, while existing regulatory strategies require significant reductions. Additionally, location-specific strategies are found to be the most effective in reducing overall exposure and national inequalities.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Arshad Arjunan Nair, Shao Lin, Gan Luo, Ian Ryan, Quan Qi, Xinlei Deng, Fangqun Yu
Summary: This study, Quantitative Air Pollution Exposure Assessment in New York State, reveals significant spatial and demographic disparities in exposure to UFP and PM2.5 in New York State. Minority groups and low-income residents face higher levels of aerosol pollutant exposure.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Yunquan Zhang
Summary: This study in China found that long-term exposure to ambient PM2.5 is associated with increased risk of all-cause mortality in adults. In 2015, an estimated total of 2.68 million deaths were attributed to ambient PM2.5, showing a significant decrease compared to the estimate in 2010.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Hedi Katre Kriit, Bertil Forsberg, Daniel Oudin Astrom, Anna Oudin
Summary: This study estimated that approximately 5% of annual dementia cases in Sweden could be attributed to PM2.5 exposure, leading to a substantial monetary burden. These findings highlight the importance of considering airborne toxic pollutants associated with dementia incidence in public health policy decisions.
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
(2021)
Article
Psychology, Biological
Yiqun Ma, Emma Zang, Ijeoma Opara, Yuan Lu, Harlan M. Krumholz, Kai Chen
Summary: Average ambient fine particulate matter (PM2.5) concentrations have decreased in the US, but the health benefits among different racial/ethnic groups are unknown. A study found that for every 1 μg/m³ increase in PM2.5 concentration, there was a significant increase in cardiovascular disease (CVD) deaths among Black individuals compared to non-Hispanic white individuals. The study also showed a reduction in PM2.5-attributable CVD mortality burden between different racial/ethnic groups, although disparities still remained.
NATURE HUMAN BEHAVIOUR
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Helen V. S. Cole, Isabelle Anguelovski, James J. T. Connolly, Melissa Garcia-Lamarca, Carmen Perez-del-Pulgar, Galia Shokry, Margarita Triguero-Mas
Summary: Theories of epidemiologic transition analyze changes in mortality causes due to shifts in risk factors over time. However, they do not consider health inequities resulting from environmental injustice. A study on seven case neighborhoods in the United States and Western Europe found that a history of environmental injustice, urban renewal, and green gentrification have complex impacts on health inequity.
SOCIAL SCIENCE & MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Daniel B. Odo, Ian A. Yang, Sagnik Dey, Melanie S. Hammer, Aaron van Donkelaar, Randall V. Martin, Guang-Hui Dong, Bo-Yi Yang, Perry Hystad, Luke D. Knibbs
Summary: Exposure to ambient air pollution, specifically fine particulate matter (PM2.5), is associated with adverse effects on cognitive development in young children in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). An increase in annual average PM2.5 concentration is linked to a higher likelihood of cognitive delay. The study suggests that reducing air pollution levels can have significant long-term benefits for educational attainment and overall health outcomes in children.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Md Mostafijur Rahman, Sarah A. Carter, Jane C. Lin, Ting Chow, Xin Yu, Mayra P. Martinez, Zhanghua Chen, Jiu-Chiuan Chen, Daniel Rud, Juan P. Lewinger, Aaron van Donkelaar, Randall V. Martin, Sandrah Proctor Eckel, Joel Schwartz, Fred Lurmann, Michael J. Kleeman, Rob McConnell, Anny H. Xiang
Summary: This retrospective cohort study examined the associations between prenatal exposure to major fine particulate matter (PM2.5) components and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The study included 318,750 mother-child pairs and found that pregnancy-average exposure to PM2.5, EC/BC, OM, and SO42- were associated with ASD after adjusting for other factors, while the association with NO3- was least consistent. The effect estimates for EC/BC and OM were larger and more consistent in the first and second trimester, while SO42- was more consistent in the third trimester.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Stewart Isaacs, Olga Kalashnikova, Michael J. Garay, Aaron van Donkelaar, Melanie S. Hammer, Huikyo Lee, Danielle Wood
Summary: The proximity of West Africa to the Sahara Desert leads to significant power generation reductions in photovoltaic (PV) systems due to soiling caused by particulates settling on solar panel surfaces. Existing global PV soiling models have limitations in this region due to the accuracy of input PM concentration values, methods for computing power loss, and the use of decentralized solar systems. In this study, a new methodology based on the Coello framework is developed and applied, reducing error in soiling-related power loss estimates by approximately 50%. The study also finds that soiling losses can exceed 50% in highly affected locations during the Harmattan season.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Daniel B. Odo, Ian A. Yang, Sagnik Dey, Melanie S. Hammer, Aaron van Donkelaar, Randall V. Martin, Guang-Hui Dong, Bo-Yi Yang, Perry Hystad, Luke D. Knibbs
Summary: This study aimed to determine the impact of long-term exposure to ambient fine particulate matter pollution on hemoglobin levels and the prevalence of anemia in children (<5 years old) in 36 low- and middle-income countries. The results showed that exposure to fine particulate matter pollution was associated with lower hemoglobin levels and an increased risk of anemia, with additional effects related to household wealth index and place of residence.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
D. Y. Ahn, D. L. Goldberg, Toby Coombes, Gary Kleiman, S. C. Anenberg
Summary: Under the leadership of the C40, approximately 1100 global cities have committed to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. Accurate calculation of emissions at the city-scale is crucial, and this study bridges the gap between city-scale accounting and global-scale gridded datasets. The study finds good correlations between different emission calculation methods for C40 cities, but also highlights the need to prioritize certain measures to reduce discrepancies, such as using local-specific emission factors and incorporating satellite-derived CO2 datasets.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Therese S. Carter, Gaige Hunter Kerr, Heresh Amini, Randall Martin, Ufuoma Ovienmhada, Joel Schwartz, Aaron van Donkelaar, Susan Anenberg
Summary: This paper discusses the disproportionate levels of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) air pollution experienced by communities of color and lower income in the US. The study finds that high-resolution PM2.5 datasets are consistent with the 12 km dataset in terms of national and regional averages, but differ in intraurban disparities. The datasets consistently indicate higher regional average PM2.5 concentrations in the least White and most Hispanic census tracts. However, in the ten most populous cities, the datasets differ in the order of least-to-most exposed population subgroups. The 12 km dataset fails to capture intraurban disparities and may mischaracterize disproportionately exposed neighborhoods.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Veronica Southerland, Ami R. Zota, Vidisha Parasram, Camila Alvarez, Matthew Clement, Susan Anenberg
Summary: This study analyzes sociodemographic data from 34,068 census tracts surrounding 2,457 industrial facilities between 2001 and 2019. The findings reveal that fenceline communities have experienced a higher growth in the percentage of Latinx populations compared to neighboring communities. While the percentage of Black populations remained stable in fenceline communities, there was a slightly higher percentage of Black residents in these communities compared to neighboring ones. Additionally, the study finds that an increase in the percentage of Latinx populations within a community is associated with a decrease in land development rate.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Deepangsu Chatterjee, Erin E. McDuffie, Steven J. Smith, Liam Bindle, Aaron Van Donkelaar, Melanie S. Hammer, Chandra Venkataraman, Michael Brauer, Randall V. Martin
Summary: This study evaluates the contribution of emission sectors and fuels to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in South Asia, finding that residential combustion, industry, and power generation are the primary contributors to PM2.5-related mortality. Solid biofuel is the leading combustible fuel contributing to PM2.5-attributable mortality, followed by coal and oil and gas. State-level analyses reveal higher contributions from residential combustion in states with high ambient PM2.5 levels. Reducing emissions from traditional energy sources across multiple sectors in South Asia can improve population health.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Xianda Gong, Jiaoshi Zhang, Betty Croft, Xin Yang, Markus M. Frey, Nora Bergner, Rachel Y. -W. Chang, Jessie M. Creamean, Chongai Kuang, Randall V. Martin, Ananth Ranjithkumar, Arthur J. Sedlacek, Janek Uin, Sascha Willmes, Maria A. Zawadowicz, Jeffrey R. Pierce, Matthew D. Shupe, Julia Schmale, Jian Wang
Summary: The Arctic warms faster than the global average, and aerosols have a significant impact on Arctic climate change. Observations show that blowing snow in the central Arctic produces abundant sea salt aerosols, which increase cloud condensation nuclei concentrations and lead to surface warming.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Chi Li, Aaron van Donkelaar, Melanie S. Hammer, Erin E. Mcduffie, Richard T. Burnett, Joseph V. Spadaro, Deepangsu Chatterjee, Aaron J. Cohen, Joshua S. Apte, Veronica A. Southerland, Susan C. Anenberg, Michael Brauer, Randall V. Martin
Summary: Satellite observations show a recent reversal from increase to decrease in global fine particulate matter air pollution, driven by unprecedented exposure reduction in China and slowed exposure growth in South Asia, the Middle East, and Africa.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
David M. Stieb, Marc Smith-Doiron, Matthew Quick, Tanya Christidis, Guoliang Xi, Rosalin M. Miles, Aaron van Donkelaar, Randall V. Martin, Perry Hystad, Michael Tjepkema
Summary: Recent studies have found inequality in the distribution of air pollution attributable health impacts, but no research has been done on this in Canadian cities. This study evaluated the extent and sources of inequality in air pollution attributable mortality in seven of Canada's largest cities. The findings showed that areas with a higher prevalence of low income and Indigenous identity had significantly higher air pollution attributable mortality. Reducing inequality in air pollution mortality requires addressing disparities in baseline mortality and air pollution exposure.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Haihui Zhu, Randall V. Martin, Betty Croft, Shixian Zhai, Chi Li, Liam Bindle, Jeffrey R. Pierce, Rachel Y. -W. Chang, Bruce E. Anderson, Luke D. Ziemba, Johnathan W. Hair, Richard A. Ferrare, Chris A. Hostetler, Inderjeet Singh, Deepangsu Chatterjee, Jose L. Jimenez, Pedro Campuzano-Jost, Benjamin A. Nault, Jack E. Dibb, Joshua S. Schwarz, Andrew Weinheimer
Summary: This study uses a global chemical transport model to analyze airborne measurements from the United States and South Korea, and proposes a parameterization method for representing aerosol size. This method improves the agreement between the simulation model and ground-measured data.
ATMOSPHERIC CHEMISTRY AND PHYSICS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Chi Li, Randall V. Martin, Ronald C. Cohen, Liam Bindle, Dandan Zhang, Deepangsu Chatterjee, Hongjian Weng, Jintai Lin
Summary: This study investigated the simulation of nitrogen oxides (NOx) over the eastern United States using the high-performance implementation of the GEOS-Chem chemical transport model (GCHP) at different horizontal grid resolutions. The results showed that increasing the grid size led to a decrease in afternoon surface NOx mixing ratios over the Great Lakes region and an increase over the southern states. It was also observed that nighttime titration of ozone by surface nitric oxide (NO) was more efficient at coarser resolutions, resulting in longer NOx lifetimes and higher surface mixing ratios of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) over the Great Lakes region. Additionally, the study found that coarse-resolution simulations generally underestimated surface NO2 over the Great Lakes region and overestimated it over the southern states in summer.
ATMOSPHERIC CHEMISTRY AND PHYSICS
(2023)