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1.
J Environ Sci (China) ; 148: 298-305, 2025 Feb.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39095166

RESUMEN

Ultrasonic humidifiers are commonly used in households to maintain indoor humidity and generate a large number of droplets or spray aerosols. However, there have been various health concerns associated with humidifier use, largely due to aerosols generated during operation. Here, we investigated the size distribution, chemical composition, and charged fraction of aerosol particles emitted from commercial ultrasonic humidifiers. Heavy metals in water used for humidifiers were found to be highly enriched in the ultrasonic humidifier aerosols (UHA), with the enrichment factors ranging from 102 to 107. This enrichment may pose health concerns for the building occupants, as UHA concentrations of up to 106 particles/cm3 or 3 mg/m3 were observed. Furthermore, approximately 90% of UHA were observed to be electrically charged, for the first time according to our knowledge. Based on this discovery, we proposed and tested a new method to remove UHA by using a simple electrical field. The designed electrical field in this work can efficiently remove 81.4% of UHA. Therefore, applying this electrical field could be an effective method to significantly reduce the health risks by UHA.


Asunto(s)
Aerosoles , Humidificadores , Metales Pesados , Aerosoles/análisis , Metales Pesados/análisis , Contaminación del Aire Interior/prevención & control , Contaminación del Aire Interior/análisis , Contaminantes Atmosféricos/análisis , Ultrasonido , Monitoreo del Ambiente/métodos
2.
J Environ Sci (China) ; 148: 69-78, 2025 Feb.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39095200

RESUMEN

There are limited biosecurity measures directed at preventing airborne transmission of viruses in swine. The effectiveness of dust mitigation strategies such as oil sprinkling, to decrease risk of airborne virus transmission are unknown. Metagenomics and qPCR for common fecal viruses were used to hunt for a ubiquitous virus to serve as a proxy when evaluating the efficiency of mitigation strategies against airborne viral infectious agents. Air particles were collected from swine buildings using high-volume air samplers. Extracted DNA and RNA were used to perform specific RT-qPCR and qPCR and analyzed by high-throughput sequencing. Porcine astroviruses group 2 were common (from 102 to 105 genomic copies per cubic meter of air or gc/m3, 93% positivity) while no norovirus genogroup II was recovered from air samples. Porcine torque teno sus virus were detected by qPCR in low concentrations (from 101 to 102 gc/m3, 47% positivity). Among the identified viral families by metagenomics analysis, Herelleviridae, Microviridae, Myoviridae, Podoviridae, and Siphoviridae were dominant. The phage vB_AviM_AVP of Aerococcus was present in all air samples and a newly designed qPCR revealed between 101 and 105 gc/m3 among the samples taken for the present study (97% positivity) and banked samples from 5- and 15-year old studies (89% positivity). According to the present study, both the porcine astrovirus group 2 and the phage vB_AviM_AVP of Aerococcus could be proxy for airborne viruses of swine buildings.


Asunto(s)
Microbiología del Aire , Monitoreo del Ambiente , Metagenómica , Animales , Porcinos , Monitoreo del Ambiente/métodos , Aerosoles/análisis , Virus/aislamiento & purificación , Contaminación del Aire Interior/análisis , Vivienda para Animales
3.
J Environ Sci (China) ; 148: 79-87, 2025 Feb.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39095203

RESUMEN

Furniture is identified as a vital volatile organic compound (VOC) emission source in the indoor environment. Leather has become the most common raw and auxiliary fabric material for upholstered furniture, particularly with extensive consumption in sofas, due to its abundant resources and efficient functions. Despite being widely traded across the world, little research has been conducted on the VOCs released by leather materials and their health risk assessment in the indoor environment. Accordingly, this study investigated the VOC emissions of leather with different grades and the health risk of the inhalation exposure. Based on the ultra-fast gas phase electronic nose (EN) and GC-FID/Qtof, the substantial emissions of aliphatic aldehyde ketones (Aks), particularly hexanal, appear to be the cause of off-flavor in medium and low grade (MG and LG) sofa leathers. The health risk assessment indicated that leather materials barely pose non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic effects to residents. Given the abundance of VOC sources and the accumulation of health risks in the indoor environment, more stringent specifications concerning qualitative and quantitative content should be extended to provide VOC treatment basic for the manufacturing industry and obtain better indoor air quality.


Asunto(s)
Contaminación del Aire Interior , Compuestos Orgánicos Volátiles , Compuestos Orgánicos Volátiles/análisis , Contaminación del Aire Interior/análisis , Contaminación del Aire Interior/estadística & datos numéricos , Medición de Riesgo , Monitoreo del Ambiente , Contaminantes Atmosféricos/análisis , Humanos , Diseño Interior y Mobiliario , Exposición por Inhalación/análisis , Exposición por Inhalación/estadística & datos numéricos , Textiles/análisis
4.
J Environ Sci (China) ; 147: 642-651, 2025 Jan.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39003079

RESUMEN

Nowadays, it is still a challenge to prepared high efficiency and low cost formaldehyde (HCHO) removal catalysts in order to tackle the long-living indoor air pollution. Herein, δ-MnO2 is successfully synthesized by a facile ozonation strategy, where Mn2+ is oxidized by ozone (O3) bubble in an alkaline solution. It presents one of the best catalytic properties with a low 100% conversion temperature of 85°C for 50 ppm of HCHO under a GHSV of 48,000 mL/(g·hr). As a comparison, more than 6 times far longer oxidation time is needed if O3 is replaced by O2. Characterizations show that ozonation process generates a different intermediate of tetragonal ß-HMnO2, which would favor the quick transformation into the final product δ-MnO2, as compared with the relatively more thermodynamically stable monoclinic γ-HMnO2 in the O2 process. Finally, HCHO is found to be decomposed into CO2 via formate, dioxymethylene and carbonate species as identified by room temperature in-situ diffuse reflectance infrared fourier transform spectroscopy. All these results show great potency of this facile ozonation routine for the highly active δ-MnO2 synthesis in order to remove the HCHO contamination.


Asunto(s)
Formaldehído , Compuestos de Manganeso , Óxidos , Ozono , Ozono/química , Compuestos de Manganeso/química , Formaldehído/química , Óxidos/química , Contaminantes Atmosféricos/química , Oxidación-Reducción , Temperatura , Contaminación del Aire Interior/prevención & control , Catálisis
5.
Sci Rep ; 14(1): 20630, 2024 09 04.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39232024

RESUMEN

We implemented a crossover study design exposing 15 participants to two indoor air quality conditions in the Well Living Lab. The first condition, the Standard Control Condition, resembled the ventilation and air supply of a typical home in the USA with a manually operated stove hood. The second condition, Advanced Control, had an automated: (i) stove hood, (ii) two portable air cleaners (PAC), and (iii) bathroom exhaust. The PM2.5 sensors were placed in the kitchen, living room, bedroom, and bathroom. Once the sensor detected a PM2.5 level of 15 µg/m3 or higher, an air quality intervention (stove hood, PAC or bathroom exhaust) in that space was activated and turned off when the corresponding PM2.5 sensor had three consecutive readings below 6 µg/m3. Advanced Control in the overall apartment reduced PM2.5 concentration by 40% compared to the Standard Control. The PM2.5 concentration difference between Advanced and Standard Control was ~ 20% in the kitchen. This can be attributed to using the stove hood manually in 66.5% of cooking PM2.5 emission events for 323.6 h compared to 88 h stove hood used in automated mode alongside 61.9 h and 33.7 h of PAC use in living room and bedroom, respectively.


Asunto(s)
Contaminación del Aire Interior , Culinaria , Vivienda , Material Particulado , Ventilación , Contaminación del Aire Interior/análisis , Contaminación del Aire Interior/prevención & control , Culinaria/métodos , Culinaria/instrumentación , Humanos , Material Particulado/análisis , Ventilación/métodos , Estudios Cruzados , Automatización , Monitoreo del Ambiente/métodos , Contaminantes Atmosféricos/análisis
6.
Environ Monit Assess ; 196(10): 935, 2024 Sep 16.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39278887

RESUMEN

There is growing global concern regarding the detrimental health impacts of PM2.5 emissions from traditional stoves that utilize polluting fuels. Conventional methods for estimating daily personal PM2.5 exposure involve personal air samplers and measuring devices placed in a waist pouch, but these instruments are cumbersome and inconvenient. To address this issue, we developed a novel neck-mounted PM2.5 monitoring device (Pocket PM2.5 Logger) that is compact, lightweight, and can operate continuously for 1 week without recharging. Twelve participants who utilized charcoal, firewood, or propane gas for cooking in rural regions of Rwanda wore the Pocket PM2.5 Logger continuously for 1 week, and time-series variations in personal PM2.5 exposure were recorded at 5-min intervals. Individual daily exposure concentrations during cooking differed significantly among users of the different fuel types, and PM2.5 exposure was at least 2.6 and 3.4 times higher for charcoal and firewood users, respectively, than for propane gas users. Therefore, switching from biomass fuels to propane gas would reduce daily individual exposure by at least one-third. An analysis of cooking times showed that the median cooking time per meal was 30 min; however, half the participants cooked for 1.5 h per meal, and one-third cooked for over 4.5 h per meal. Reducing these extremely long cooking times would reduce exposure with all fuel types. The Pocket PM2.5 Logger facilitates the comprehensive assessment of personal PM2.5 exposure dynamics and is beneficial for the development of intervention strategies targeting household air pollution.


Asunto(s)
Contaminantes Atmosféricos , Contaminación del Aire Interior , Culinaria , Monitoreo del Ambiente , Material Particulado , Población Rural , Rwanda , Material Particulado/análisis , Humanos , Culinaria/instrumentación , Monitoreo del Ambiente/métodos , Monitoreo del Ambiente/instrumentación , Contaminación del Aire Interior/análisis , Contaminación del Aire Interior/estadística & datos numéricos , Contaminantes Atmosféricos/análisis , Adulto , Masculino , Femenino , Exposición a Riesgos Ambientales/estadística & datos numéricos , Exposición a Riesgos Ambientales/análisis , Carbón Orgánico , Persona de Mediana Edad
7.
J Prim Care Community Health ; 15: 21501319241280905, 2024.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39279342

RESUMEN

This study examines the association between state laws limiting local control (preemption laws) and local smoke-free policies. We utilized policy data from the American Nonsmokers' Rights Foundation. The primary outcome variable is the presence of a "100% smoke-free policy," across any of 4 indoor settings: workplaces, restaurants, bars, and gaming venues. We employed generalized structural equation modeling to investigate the relationship between state laws pre-empting smoke-free indoor air regulation and local adoption of policies requiring smoke-free air in any public venues, or for specific venues, adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics. Our findings reveal a significant association between state preemption laws and the presence of a local 100% smoke-free indoor policy as of 2023. In states with preemption laws, cities were less likely to have a 100% smoke-free indoor policy at any venue than cities in states without preemption laws (OR = 0.07, 95% CI = 0.05-0.10). When considering specific smoke-free venues, cities in states with preemption laws were less likely to have a 100% smoke-free indoor policy covering workplaces (OR = 0.05, 95% CI = 0.03-0.09), restaurants (OR = 0.04, 95% CI = 0.02-0.07), bars (OR = 0.04, 95% CI = 0.03-0.08), and gaming venues (OR = 0.03, 95% CI = 0.01-0.09) compared to cities in states without preemption laws. Our study suggests that state preemption laws limit local decision-making and the implementation of public health policies focused on tobacco harms.


Asunto(s)
Contaminación del Aire Interior , Restaurantes , Política para Fumadores , Gobierno Estatal , Contaminación por Humo de Tabaco , Lugar de Trabajo , Humanos , Estados Unidos , Política para Fumadores/legislación & jurisprudencia , Restaurantes/legislación & jurisprudencia , Contaminación por Humo de Tabaco/legislación & jurisprudencia , Contaminación por Humo de Tabaco/prevención & control , Contaminación del Aire Interior/legislación & jurisprudencia , Contaminación del Aire Interior/prevención & control , Lugar de Trabajo/legislación & jurisprudencia , Gobierno Local
8.
Front Public Health ; 12: 1372320, 2024.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39234094

RESUMEN

Background: Air pollution is one of the biggest problems in societies today. The intensity of indoor and outdoor air pollutants and the urbanization rate can cause or trigger many different diseases, especially lung cancer. In this context, this study's aim is to reveal the effects of the indoor and outdoor air pollutants, and urbanization rate on the lung cancer cases. Methods: Panel data analysis method is applied in this study. The research includes the period between 1990 and 2019 as a time series and the data type of the variables is annual. The dependent variable in the research model is lung cancer cases per 100,000 people. The independent variables are the level of outdoor air pollution, air pollution level indoor environment and urbanization rate of countries. Results: In the modeling developed for the developed country group, it is seen that the variable with the highest level of effect on lung cancer is the outdoor air pollution level. Conclusions: In parallel with the development of countries, it has been determined that the increase in industrial production wastes, in other words, worsening the air quality, may potentially cause an increase in lung cancer cases. Indoor air quality is also essential for human health; negative changes in this variable may negatively impact individuals' health, especially lung cancer.


Asunto(s)
Contaminación del Aire , Neoplasias Pulmonares , Humanos , Neoplasias Pulmonares/etiología , Neoplasias Pulmonares/epidemiología , Contaminación del Aire/efectos adversos , Contaminación del Aire/análisis , Países Desarrollados/estadística & datos numéricos , Contaminantes Atmosféricos/análisis , Contaminantes Atmosféricos/efectos adversos , Contaminación del Aire Interior/efectos adversos , Contaminación del Aire Interior/análisis , Análisis de Datos , Urbanización , Renta/estadística & datos numéricos , Exposición a Riesgos Ambientales/efectos adversos , Exposición a Riesgos Ambientales/estadística & datos numéricos
10.
Environ Sci Technol ; 58(37): 16316-16326, 2024 Sep 17.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39226123

RESUMEN

Exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) primarily occurs via consumption of contaminated drinking water and food; however, individuals can also be exposed dermally and via inhalation indoors. This study developed an analytical method for measuring volatile PFASs in silicone wristbands and used them to assess personal exposure in a Midwestern community (n = 87). Paired samples of blood and wristbands were analyzed for PFASs using LC-MS/MS and GC-HRMS to monitor both non-volatile and volatile PFASs. The most frequently detected PFASs in wristbands were: 6:2 diPAP, 6:2 FTOH, MeFOSE and EtFOSE. Females had a 4-fold higher exposure to 6:2 diPAP compared to males and age-dependent differences in exposure to 6:2 FTOH, MeFOSE and EtFOSE were observed. Exposure to MeFOSE and EtFOSE differed based on the average time spent in the home. Frequently detected PFASs in blood were: PFOA, PFOS, PFHxS, PFHpS, and N-MeFOSAA. A strong correlation was found between MeFOSE in the wristbands and N-MeFOSAA in serum (rs = 0.90, p-value <0.001), suggesting exposure to this PFAS was primarily via inhalation and dermal exposure. These results demonstrate that wristbands can provide individual level data on exposure to some polyfluoroalkyl precursors present indoors that reflect serum levels of their suspected biotransformation products.


Asunto(s)
Siliconas , Humanos , Femenino , Masculino , Fluorocarburos , Monitoreo del Ambiente/métodos , Contaminación del Aire Interior/análisis , Exposición a Riesgos Ambientales , Adulto
11.
Sensors (Basel) ; 24(17)2024 Sep 05.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39275677

RESUMEN

Recent advances in sensor technology for air pollution monitoring open new possibilities in the field of environmental epidemiology. The low spatial resolution of fixed outdoor measurement stations and modelling uncertainties currently limit the understanding of personal exposure. In this context, air quality sensor systems (AQSSs) offer significant potential to enhance personal exposure assessment. A pilot study was conducted to investigate the feasibility of the NO2 sensor model B43F and the particulate matter (PM) sensor model OPC-R1, both from Alphasense (UK), for use in epidemiological studies. Seven patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or asthma had built-for-purpose sensor systems placed inside and outside of their homes at fixed locations for one month. Participants documented their indoor activities, presence in the house, window status, and symptom severity and performed a peak expiratory flow test. The potential inhaled doses of PM2.5 and NO2 were calculated using different data sources such as outdoor data from air quality monitoring stations, indoor data from AQSSs, and generic inhalation rates (IR) or activity-specific IR. Moreover, the relation between indoor and outdoor air quality obtained with AQSSs, an indoor source apportionment study, and an evaluation of the suitability of the AQSS data for studying the relationship between air quality and health were investigated. The results highlight the value of the sensor data and the importance of monitoring indoor air quality and activity patterns to avoid exposure misclassification. The use of AQSSs at fixed locations shows promise for larger-scale and/or long-term epidemiological studies.


Asunto(s)
Contaminación del Aire Interior , Monitoreo del Ambiente , Estudios de Factibilidad , Dióxido de Nitrógeno , Material Particulado , Humanos , Material Particulado/análisis , Contaminación del Aire Interior/análisis , Monitoreo del Ambiente/métodos , Monitoreo del Ambiente/instrumentación , Dióxido de Nitrógeno/análisis , Masculino , Asma , Enfermedad Pulmonar Obstructiva Crónica , Contaminantes Atmosféricos/análisis , Femenino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Anciano , Exposición a Riesgos Ambientales , Proyectos Piloto
12.
Environ Monit Assess ; 196(10): 932, 2024 Sep 13.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39271556

RESUMEN

Air pollution has been a significant environmental and public health concern in Ulaanbaatar, the capital city of Mongolia, for many years. The city experiences severe air pollution, particularly during the winter months. This study investigated the annual trends of outdoor and indoor PM2.5 concentrations at two neighboring sites in Ulaanbaatar: an office and a household, using low-cost sensors. Both locations exhibited similar fluctuations in outdoor PM2.5 concentrations over time, with ambient PM2.5 levels beginning to rise in October and declining in April. During the mid-term of the heating season (November to February), hourly averaged PM2.5 concentrations were exceptionally high, with peak pollution events exceeding ~ 1000 µg/m3. Notably, PM2.5 concentrations were elevated during this heating season period. Time-activity patterns showed a decrease in PM2.5 concentrations during the periods of 06:00-08:00 and 14:00-18:00. Furthermore, the study found that the indoor environment could remain safe when windows were well-sealed, even under severe outdoor pollution conditions. Overall, this study provided accurate insights into the annual patterns of PM2.5 concentrations and demonstrated their fluctuations during the heating season when pollution levels were particularly high. The findings offer valuable recommendations for individuals to consider when going outside and for taking actions to improve indoor air quality in Ulaanbaatar.


Asunto(s)
Contaminantes Atmosféricos , Contaminación del Aire Interior , Monitoreo del Ambiente , Material Particulado , Estaciones del Año , Mongolia , Material Particulado/análisis , Contaminación del Aire Interior/análisis , Contaminación del Aire Interior/estadística & datos numéricos , Contaminantes Atmosféricos/análisis , Contaminación del Aire/estadística & datos numéricos , Ciudades
13.
BMC Geriatr ; 24(1): 750, 2024 Sep 10.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39256646

RESUMEN

BACKGROUND: Exposure to indoor air pollution from solid cooking fuel use may increase mental disorders risk through pathways such as oroxidative stress, neuroinflammation, or cerebrovascular damage. However, few studies have explored the underlying mechanism between solid cooking fuel use and psychological distress. The present study aims to investigate the mediating role of sleep quality on the relationship between solid cooking fuel use and psychological distress among older adults in rural Shandong, China. METHODS: This study used the cross-sectional data from the second follow-up survey of the Shandong Rural Elderly Health Cohort (SREHC). A total of 3,240 rural older adults were included in the analysis. Logistic regression and the Karlson, Holm, and Breen (KHB) mediation analyses were performed to investigate the relationship between solid cooking fuel use and psychological distress, as well as the mediating role of sleep quality in this association. RESULTS: This study found that solid cooking fuel use was significantly and positively associated with psychological distress among older adults in rural Shandong, China (OR = 1.38, 95% CI: 1.12,1.70). Mediation analysis revealed that sleep quality mediated the association between solid cooking fuel use and psychological distress among older adults (ß = 0.06, P = 0.011). The mediation effect accounted for 16.18% of the total effect. CONCLUSIONS: Our study showed that solid cooking fuel use was associated with psychological distress among rural older adults, and sleep quality mediated this association. Interventions should focus on addressing cooking fuel types and poor sleep quality to reduce psychological distress. In the future, more aggressive environmental protection policies would be needed to lessen the adverse effects of indoor air pollution on the health of older adults in rural China.


Asunto(s)
Contaminación del Aire Interior , Culinaria , Población Rural , Calidad del Sueño , Humanos , China/epidemiología , Masculino , Anciano , Femenino , Estudios Transversales , Contaminación del Aire Interior/efectos adversos , Distrés Psicológico , Persona de Mediana Edad , Anciano de 80 o más Años
14.
Ecotoxicol Environ Saf ; 283: 116800, 2024 Sep 15.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39096691

RESUMEN

The exposure of organic UV filters has been increasingly confirmed to induce adverse effects on humans. However, the critical exposure pathway and the vulnerable population of organic UV filters are not clearly identified. This paper attempts to evaluate the health risk of commonly used organic UV filters from various exposure routes based on comprehensive analysis strategy. The estimated daily intakes (EDI) and hazard quotient (HQ) values of organic UV filters through four pathways (dermal exposure, indoor dust, indoor air, and drinking water) for various age groups were determined. Although the total HQ values (0.01-0.4) from comprehensive exposure of organic UV filters were below risk threshold (1.0), infants were identified as the most vulnerable population, with EDI (75.71 ng/kg-bw/day) of 2-3 times higher than that of adults. Additionally, the total EDI values of individual exposure pathways were estimated and ranked as follows: indoor air (138.44 ng/kg-bw/day) > sunscreen application (37.2 ng/kg-bw/day) > drinking water (21.87 ng/kg-bw/day) > indoor dust (9.24 ng/kg-bw/day). Moreover, we successfully tailored the Sankey diagram to depict the EDI proportion of individual organic UV filters from four exposure pathways. It was noted that EHMC (ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate) and EHS (ethylhexyl salicylate) dominated the contribution of EDI (72 %) via indoor air exposure routes. This study serves as a crucial reference for enhancing public health risk awareness concerning organic UV filters, with a special focus on the vulnerable populations such as infants and children.


Asunto(s)
Exposición a Riesgos Ambientales , Protectores Solares , Humanos , Medición de Riesgo , Protectores Solares/análisis , Protectores Solares/toxicidad , Exposición a Riesgos Ambientales/estadística & datos numéricos , Lactante , Niño , Adulto , Preescolar , Rayos Ultravioleta , Contaminación del Aire Interior/análisis , Contaminación del Aire Interior/estadística & datos numéricos , Agua Potable/química , Polvo/análisis , Cinamatos/análisis , Adolescente , Adulto Joven , Salicilatos/análisis , Persona de Mediana Edad
15.
Environ Sci Technol ; 58(36): 16016-16027, 2024 Sep 10.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39102498

RESUMEN

Residential solid fuel combustion significantly impacts air quality and human health. Pelletized biomass fuels are promoted as a cleaner alternative, particularly for those who cannot afford the high costs of gas/electricity, but their emission characteristics and potential effects remain poorly understood. The present laboratory-based study evaluated pollution emissions from pelletized biomass burning, including CH4 (methane), NMHC (nonmethane hydrocarbon compounds), CO, SO2, NOx, PM2.5 (particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter ≤2.5 µm), OC (organic carbon), EC (element carbon), PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons), EPFRs (environmentally persistent free radicals), and OP (oxidative potential) of PM2.5, and compared with those from raw biomass burning. For most targets, except for SO2 and NOx, the mass-based emission factors for pelletized biomass were 62-96% lower than those for raw biomass. SO2 and NOx levels were negatively correlated with other air pollutants (p < 0.05). Based on real-world daily consumption data, this study estimated that households using pelletized biomass could achieve significant reductions (51-95%) in emissions of CH4, NMHC, CO, PM2.5, OC, EC, PAHs, and EPFRs compared to those using raw biomass, while the differences in emissions of NOx and SO2 were statistically insignificant. The reduction rate of benzo(a)pyrene-equivalent emissions was only 16%, much lower than the reduction in the total PAH mass (78%). This is primarily attributed to the more PAHs with high toxic potentials, such as dibenz(a,h)anthracene, in the pelletized biomass emissions. Consequently, impacts on human health associated with PAHs might be overestimated if only the mass of total PAHs was counted. The OP of particles from the pellet burning was also significantly lower than that from raw biomass by 96%. The results suggested that pelletized biomass could be a transitional substitution option that can significantly improve air quality and mitigate human exposure.


Asunto(s)
Contaminantes Atmosféricos , Biomasa , Material Particulado , Contaminantes Atmosféricos/análisis , Hidrocarburos Policíclicos Aromáticos/análisis , Contaminación del Aire Interior , Humanos , Oxidación-Reducción
16.
Environ Sci Pollut Res Int ; 31(40): 52804-52814, 2024 Aug.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39160406

RESUMEN

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are continuously emitted into the atmosphere from natural and anthropogenic sources and rapidly spread from the atmosphere to different environments. A large group of VOCs has been included in the class of air pollutants; therefore, their determination and monitoring using reliable and sensitive analytical methods represents a key aspect of health risk assessment. In this work, an untargeted approach is proposed for the evaluation of the exposure to volatile organic compounds of workers in an engine manufacturing plant by GC-MS measurements, coupled with solid-phase microextraction (SPME). The analytical procedure was optimized in terms of SPME fiber, adsorption time, desorption time, and temperature gradient of the chromatographic run. For the microextraction of VOCs, the SPME fibers were exposed to the air in two different zones of the manufacturing factory, i.e., in the mixing painting chamber and the engine painting area. Moreover, the sampling was carried out with the painting system active and running (system on) and with the painting system switched off (system off). Overall, 212 compounds were identified, but only 17 were always present in both zones (mixing painting chamber and engine painting area), regardless of system conditions (on or off). Finally, a semi-quantitative evaluation was performed considering the peak area value of the potentially most toxic compounds by multivariate data analyses.


Asunto(s)
Contaminación del Aire Interior , Monitoreo del Ambiente , Cromatografía de Gases y Espectrometría de Masas , Microextracción en Fase Sólida , Compuestos Orgánicos Volátiles , Compuestos Orgánicos Volátiles/análisis , Contaminación del Aire Interior/análisis , Monitoreo del Ambiente/métodos , Contaminantes Atmosféricos/análisis , Humanos , Lugar de Trabajo , Condiciones de Trabajo
17.
Sci Rep ; 14(1): 20238, 2024 08 30.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39215124

RESUMEN

Despite the significant amount of time spent in the domestic environment, culture-independent size distribution data of bioaerosols are largely missing. This study investigated the temporal changes in size-resolved bacterial aerosols in urban and semi-urban residential settings. Overall, airborne bacterial taxa identified in both sites were dispersed across particles of various sizes. qPCR analysis showed that outdoors bacteria dominated particles > 8 µm, whilst indoor bacterial loadings were greater with 1-2 µm (winter) and 2-4 µm (summer) ranges. Indoor and outdoor aerosols harboured distinct bacterial communities due to the dominance of human-associated taxa (Staphylococcus, Micrococcus, Corynebacterium) in indoor air. The aerosol microbiome exhibited significant temporal variation, with Actinobacteria, Gammaproteobacteria and Bacilli predominant indoors, whereas Actinobacteria, Alphaproteobacteria and Gammaproteobacteria were the most abundant taxa outdoors. The variation between the two residences was mostly driven by particles < 2 µm, whereas differences between indoors and outdoors were mostly influenced by particles > 2 µm. Source-tracking analysis estimated that household surfaces accounted for the greatest source proportion of bacteria, surpassing that of outdoor air, which varied due to natural ventilation throughout the year. Our findings provide new insights into the factors governing the aerosol microbiome in residential environments which are crucial for exposure assessment.


Asunto(s)
Aerosoles , Microbiología del Aire , Bacterias , Aerosoles/análisis , Bacterias/clasificación , Bacterias/genética , Bacterias/aislamiento & purificación , Humanos , Microbiota , Contaminación del Aire Interior/análisis , Monitoreo del Ambiente/métodos , Tamaño de la Partícula , Ciudades , Estaciones del Año , Vivienda
18.
Front Public Health ; 12: 1429626, 2024.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39206014

RESUMEN

Introduction: Air flow driven by air-conditioner has a significant impact on the indoor environment, however, the bacterial contamination conditions in the different parts of air-conditioners have not been fully elucidated. Methods: In this study, we assessed the bacterial pollution in the four parts, including air outlet, filter net, cooling fin and water sink, of ten household air-conditioners quantitatively and qualitatively from Chengdu, southwestern China. Results: The microbial cultivation results showed the large total bacterial counts of 5042.0, 9127.6, 6595.1, and 12296.2 CFU/cm2 in air outlet, filter net, cooling fin, and water sink. Furthermore, the sequencing data showed that these four parts displayed different bacterial characteristics. At the level of genus, Caproiciproducens and Acidipropionibacterium were predominant in air outlet. Bacillus, Acinetobacter, Paracoccus, and Corynebacterium were detected as the characteristic bacteria in filter net. For cooling fin, Rhodococcus, Achromobacter, and Nocardioides were the dominant bacteria. The genera of Methylobacterium-Methylorubrum, Brevibacterium, Stenotrophomonas, and Psychrobacter were identified as the bioindicators in water sink. The bioinformatic analysis on the sequencing data illustrated that the bacteria from air-conditioners were associated with metabolic disturbance. Discussion: This study reveals the distinct bacterial compositions in the different parts of air-conditioner, and provides new clues for the non-negligible bacterial pollution in this common appliance from Chinese households.


Asunto(s)
Aire Acondicionado , Microbiología del Aire , Contaminación del Aire Interior , Bacterias , China , Contaminación del Aire Interior/análisis , Bacterias/aislamiento & purificación , Bacterias/clasificación , Bacterias/genética , Humanos , Monitoreo del Ambiente
19.
Environ Res ; 260: 119783, 2024 Nov 01.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39142457

RESUMEN

The present study explores the modifications of cardiovascular autonomic control (CAC) during wake and sleep time and the systemic inflammatory profile associated with exposure to indoor air pollution (IAP) in a cohort of healthy subjects. Twenty healthy volunteers were enrolled. Indoor levels of fine particulate matter (PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were monitored using a portable detector for 7 days. Together, a 7-day monitoring was performed through a wireless patch that continuously recorded electrocardiogram, respiratory activity and actigraphy. Indexes of CAC during wake and sleep time were derived from the biosignals: heart rate and low-frequency to high-frequency ratio (LF/HF), index of sympathovagal balance with higher values corresponding to a predominance of the sympathetic branch. Cyclic variation of heart rate index (CVHRI events/hour) during sleep, a proxy for the evaluation of sleep apnea, was assessed for each night. After the monitoring, blood samples were collected to assess the inflammatory profile. Regression and correlation analyses were performed. A positive association between VOC exposure and the CVHRI (Δ% = +0.2% for 1 µg/m3 VOCs, p = 0.008) was found. The CVHRI was also positively associated with LF/HF during sleep, thus higher CVHRI values corresponded to a shift of the sympathovagal balance towards a sympathetic predominance (r = 0.52; p = 0.018). NO2 exposure was positively associated with both the pro-inflammatory biomarker TREM-1 and the anti-inflammatory biomarker IL-10 (Δ% = +1.2% and Δ% = +2.4%, for 1 µg/m3 NO2; p = 0.005 and p = 0.022, respectively). The study highlights a possible causal relationship between IAP exposure and higher risk of sleep apnea events, associated with impaired CAC during sleep, and a pro-inflammatory state counterbalanced by an increased anti-inflammatory response in healthy subjects. This process may be disrupted in vulnerable populations, leading to a harmful chronic pro-inflammatory profile. Thus, IAP may emerge as a critical and often neglected risk factor for the public health that can be addressed through targeted preventive interventions.


Asunto(s)
Contaminación del Aire Interior , Sistema Nervioso Autónomo , Frecuencia Cardíaca , Sueño , Humanos , Masculino , Adulto , Contaminación del Aire Interior/efectos adversos , Contaminación del Aire Interior/análisis , Femenino , Sistema Nervioso Autónomo/efectos de los fármacos , Sistema Nervioso Autónomo/fisiopatología , Contaminantes Atmosféricos/análisis , Contaminantes Atmosféricos/efectos adversos , Inflamación/inducido químicamente , Material Particulado/análisis , Material Particulado/efectos adversos , Compuestos Orgánicos Volátiles/análisis , Dióxido de Nitrógeno/análisis , Dióxido de Nitrógeno/efectos adversos , Adulto Joven , Persona de Mediana Edad
20.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39200594

RESUMEN

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has emerged as a conspicuous global public health threat. The World Health Organization (WHO) has launched the "One-Health" approach, which encourages the assessment of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) within an environment to constrain and alleviate the development of AMR. The prolonged use and overuse of antibiotics in treating human and veterinary illnesses, and the inability of wastewater treatment plants to remove them have resulted in elevated concentrations of these metabolites in the surroundings. Microbes residing within these settings acquire resistance under selective pressure and circulate between the air-land interface. Initial evidence on the indoor environments of wastewater treatment plants, hospitals, and livestock-rearing facilities as channels of AMR has been documented. Long- and short-range transport in a downwind direction disseminate aerosols within urban communities. Inhalation of such aerosols poses a considerable occupational and public health risk. The horizontal gene transfer (HGT) is another plausible route of AMR spread. The characterization of ARGs in the atmosphere therefore calls for cutting-edge research. In the present review, we provide a succinct summary of the studies that demonstrated aerosols as a media of AMR transport in the atmosphere, strengthening the need to biomonitor these pernicious pollutants. This review will be a useful resource for environmental researchers, healthcare practitioners, and policymakers to issue related health advisories.


Asunto(s)
Aerosoles , Transferencia de Gen Horizontal , Aerosoles/análisis , Humanos , Monitoreo Biológico , Farmacorresistencia Microbiana/genética , Microbiología del Aire , Contaminación del Aire Interior/análisis , Monitoreo del Ambiente , Antibacterianos/análisis , Farmacorresistencia Bacteriana/genética
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