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A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 February 2018) | Viewed by 21503

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Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Gabriele Grunig

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Guest Editor

Department of Environmental Medicine and Division of Pulmonary Medicine in the Department of Medicine, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, Tuxedo, NY 10987, USA
Interests: pulmonary hypertension; asthma; lung immunology; effects of PM2.5 exposure; effects of e-cigarette exposure on health; World Trade Center induced lung diseases
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Prof. Dr. Judy Zelikoff

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Guest Editor

NYU Langone Medical Center, Department of Environmental Medicine, 57 Old Forge Rd. Second Floor, Tuxedo, NY 10987, USA
Interests: environmental toxicology; developmental toxicology; airborne pollution-induced effects from inhaled metals and mixtures, including wood smoke, diesel exhaust, tobacco smoke, e-cigarettes and ambient air pollution

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In recent years, the detrimental effects of pollution, particularly air pollution, on lung development and function have come to be appreciated. However, many questions remain that require urgent attention, particularly in regards to these areas that we hope to address in the Special Issue. Examples include: (a) global warming, fungal growth and fungal products; (b) effects of air pollution on the respiratory versus the cardiovascular systems; (c) air pollution and lung development; (d) air pollution and the pulmonary vasculature; (e) traditional and new tobacco products and electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) and lung health; and (f) air pollutants and the immune system, with emphasis on the microbiome (virome, mycobiome, macrobiome) in the airways and lungs.

Prof. Dr. Gabriele Grunig
Prof. Dr. Judy Zelikoff
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2500 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

Pollution;
Particulate Matter;
PM2.5, toxicology;
Lung Immunology;
Airways;
Pulmonary Vasculature;
Pulmonary Fibrosis;
Asthma;
COPD

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

12 pages, 1303 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Exposure to Quartz in Finnish Workplaces Declined during the First Six Years after the Signing of the NEPSI Agreement, but Evened out between 2013 and 2017

by Tapani Tuomi, Markku Linnainmaa and Sirpa Pennanen

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(5), 906; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15050906 - 03 May 2018

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2921

Abstract

To reduce the incidence of occupational diseases related to exposure to respirable silica at work, the main industries in the EU associated with respirable silica agreed on measures to improve working conditions through the application of good practices. These practices were included in “The Agreement on Workers Health Protection through the Good Handling and Use of Crystalline Silica and Products Containing it” (NEPSI agreement), signed in April 2006. In Finland, we have previously seen a decline in exposure to respirable quartz in relevant industries upon the treaty coming into effect, during the years 2006–2013. The present paper examines trends in exposure to respirable crystalline silica in Finland from 2006 to the end of 2017. In addition, we looked at changes in the number of exposed workers and the prevalence of silicosis and lung cancer associated with the exposure during the same period. The aim was to find out whether the decline in exposure previously recorded had continued, and whether this, in addition to the previously reported descent in exposure, was reflected in the amount and prevalence of occupational diseases associated with inhaling respirable quartz. In the present study, during the period 2013 to 2017 no further improvements were observed. The exposure remained at an average level of 20–50% of the current OEL_8h. This is not necessarily sufficient to eliminate silicosis, lung cancer or other health effects associated with exposure to respirable silica in affected workplaces. To bring about further improvements in exposure, we suggest the present OEL_8h in Finland (0.05 mg/m³) and particularly in the many EU countries with an OEL_8h of 0.1 mg/m³ be lowered to 0.020–0.025 mg/m³. Secondly, branches outside of the NEPSI treaty where the number of exposed workers is increasing in Finland and possibly in some other EU countries as well, namely building and refinery industries, would be advised to sign the treaty. In addition, as a result of signing, good practices should be developed for work tasks where exposure to respirable silica is of concern in these industries. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Lung Diseases Associated with Environmental Pollutants)

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17 pages, 1647 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Environmental Air Pollution on Pulmonary Function Level of Residents in Korean Industrial Complexes

by Eunju Hong, Seokwon Lee, Geun-Bae Kim, Tae-Jong Kim, Hyoung-Wook Kim, Kyoungho Lee and Bu-Soon Son

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(5), 834; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15050834 - 24 Apr 2018

Cited by 17 | Viewed by 5038

Abstract

This study aims to identify environmental air pollution adversely affecting pulmonary function among a community-based general population living in Korean industrial complexes. A total of 1963 residents participated in a pulmonary function test (PFT). The sample population consisted of an exposed group (n = 1487) living within a radius of 5 km of industrial complexes and a control group (n = 476) living over a radius of 10 km from the industrial complexes in Gwangyang and Yeosu cities. PFT results were calculated for each resident of the study population. On-site questionnaire surveys with face-to-face interviews were also conducted to collect more detailed information on personal lifestyles, medical history, exposure to air pollution, and respiratory disease and related symptoms. A total of 486 measured samples were collected by eight automated air-monitoring stations installed in four counties of Gwangyang and four counties of Yeosu in South Korea from January 2006 to February 2007. Mean levels of SO₂ (0.012 ppm), CO (0.648 ppm), NO₂ (0.02 ppm), O₃ (0.034 ppm), and PM₁₀ (43.07 μg/m³), collected within a radius of 5 km, were significantly higher than those collected over a radius of 10 km from Gwangyang and Yeosu industrial complexes. Prevalence odds ratio (OR) of abnormal pulmonary function in the exposed group of residents (<5 km) was elevated at 1.24 (95% CI 0.71–1.96), but not statistically significant (p > 0.05). In multiple linear regression analysis, forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV₁) and forced vital capacity (FVC) levels significantly declined as SO₂, CO, and O₃ levels increased when adjusting for age, sex, body mass index (BMI), alcohol, smoking, secondhand smoke, and respiratory disease and related symptoms (n = 1963) (p < 0.05). These results suggest that exposure to air pollution affects pulmonary function levels of residents living in Korean industrial complexes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Lung Diseases Associated with Environmental Pollutants)

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14 pages, 785 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Associations between Ambient Particulate Matter and Nitrogen Dioxide and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases in Adults and Effect Modification by Demographic and Lifestyle Factors

by Dirga Kumar Lamichhane, Jong Han Leem and Hwan Cheol Kim

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(2), 363; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15020363 - 19 Feb 2018

Cited by 36 | Viewed by 4247

Abstract

This study was undertaken to investigate the associations between chronic exposure to particulate matter of medium aerodynamic diameter ≤10 or ≤2.5 µm (PM₁₀ or PM_2.5) and nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) levels and lung function and to examine a possible change in these relationships by demographic and lifestyle factors. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) was defined using the Global Initiative for COPD criteria (forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1)/forced vital capacity (FVC) of <70%). Associations of lung function and COPD with PM₁₀ or PM_2.5 or NO₂ were examined using linear and logistic regression analyses among 1264 Korean adults. The highest tertiles of PM_2.5 (≥37.1 μg/m³) and NO₂ (≥53.8 μg/m³) exposure were significantly associated with COPD (highest versus lowest tertile of PM_2.5: adjusted odds ratio (OR) = 1.79, 95% CI: 1.02–3.13; highest versus lowest tertile of NO₂: adjusted OR = 1.83, 95% CI: 1.04–3.21). A 10 μg/m³ increase in PM₁₀ concentration was associated with a 1.85 L (95% CI –3.65 to –0.05) decrease in FEV1 and a 1.73 L (95% CI –3.35 to –0.12) decrease in FVC, with the strongest negative association among older people and those with less education. Reduced lung function was associated with PM_2.5 exposure in subjects with no physical activity. This study provides evidence that exposure to ambient air pollution has adverse effects on lung function in adults. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Lung Diseases Associated with Environmental Pollutants)

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484 KiB

Open AccessArticle

LRBA Gene Polymorphisms and Risk of Coal Workers’ Pneumoconiosis: A Case–Control Study from China

by Yi Liu, Jingjin Yang, Qiuyun Wu, Ruhui Han, Weiwen Yan, Jiali Yuan, Xiaoming Ji, Yan Li, Wenxi Yao and Chunhui Ni

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2017, 14(10), 1138; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph14101138 - 27 Sep 2017

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3791

Abstract

The lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-responsive beige-like anchor protein (LRBA) is a member of the WDL-BEACH-WD (WBW) gene family. Defects in this gene are associated with the disordered autoimmunity in various diseases, including pulmonary fibrosis. In this study, we investigated the association between the functional polymorphisms in LRBA and risk of coal workers’ pneumoconiosis (CWP) in a Chinese population. Three potentially functional polymorphisms (rs2290846, rs3749574, and rs1782360) in LRBA were genotyped and analyzed in a case–control study, including 703 CWP cases and 705 controls. Genotyping was performed by the ABI 7900HT Real Time PCR system. Our results suggested that genotype rs2290846 AA was significantly associated with decreased risk of CWP (Adjusted OR = 0.61, 95% CI = 0.41–0.92), and the recessive model also supported the protective role of the genotype (Adjusted OR = 0.60, 95% CI = 0.40–0.89). Further, the polymorphism of rs2290846 decreased the CWP risk among cases over 27 years of dust exposure (adjusted OR = 0.51, 95% CI = 0.28–0.94) and non-smokers (adjusted OR = 0.58, 95% CI = 0.34–1.00). A potential role of rs2290846 AA has been proposed by expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). The present results suggest that LRBA SNPs are associated with CWP susceptibility in a Chinese population. Further studies focused on detailed mechanism or larger cohorts are warranted to validate our findings. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Lung Diseases Associated with Environmental Pollutants)

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909 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Residence in Proximity of a Coal-Oil-Fired Thermal Power Plant and Risk of Lung and Bladder Cancer in North-Eastern Italy. A Population-Based Study: 1995–2009

by Paolo Collarile, Ettore Bidoli, Fabio Barbone, Loris Zanier, Stefania Del Zotto, Simonetta Fuser, Fulvio Stel, Chiara Panato, Irene Gallai and Diego Serraino

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2017, 14(8), 860; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph14080860 - 31 Jul 2017

Cited by 17 | Viewed by 5041

Abstract

This study investigated the risk of lung and bladder cancers in people residing in proximity of a coal-oil-fired thermal power plant in an area of north-eastern Italy, covered by a population-based cancer registry. Incidence rate ratios (IRR) by sex, age, and histology were computed according to tertiles of residential exposure to benzene, nitrogen dioxide (NO2), particular matter, and sulfur dioxide (SO2) among 1076 incident cases of lung and 650 cases of bladder cancers. In men of all ages and in women under 75 years of age, no significant associations were observed. Conversely, in women aged ≥75 years significantly increased risks of lung and bladder cancers were related to high exposure to benzene (IRR for highest vs. lowest tertile: 2.00 for lung cancer and 1.94 for bladder cancer) and NO2 (IRR: 1.72 for lung cancer; and 1.94 for bladder cancer). In these women, a 1.71-fold higher risk of lung cancer was also related to a high exposure to SO2. Acknowledging the limitations of our study, in particular that we did not have information regarding cigarette smoking habits, the findings of this study indicate that air pollution exposure may have had a role with regard to the risk of lung and bladder cancers limited to women aged ≥75 years. Such increased risk warrants further analytical investigations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Lung Diseases Associated with Environmental Pollutants)

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