Health Effects of Urban Atmospheric Aerosols

A special issue of Atmosphere (ISSN 2073-4433). This special issue belongs to the section "Air Quality and Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 June 2022) | Viewed by 17349

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
CESAM—Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies, Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
Interests: atmospheric organic aerosols; water-soluble organic aerosols; source signatures; health effects of organic aerosols; wet and dry deposition of organic aerosols; atmospheric stressors
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Guest Editor
Department of Chemistry & CESAM, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
Interests: environmental and analytical chemistry; natural organic matter; nano- and microplastics; structural characterization; molecular tracers; chemical speciation; optical fiber sensors and nanosensors
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The impacts of atmospheric particulate matter (either PM2.5, PM10 or ultrafine particles (UFPs)) on public health have become of great concern, particularly at urban locations. Epidemiological and toxicological studies have shown associations between both chronic and long-term exposure to urban particulate matter (PM) and a plethora of adverse health effects, including airway damages, and cardiopulmonary disorders. Recent findings have also shown that the chemical and physical properties of urban PM may elicit different types and degrees of detrimental effects. Furthermore, understanding how urban aerosols may affect air quality in indoor environments is also essential for assessing potential adverse health outcomes.

This Special Issue aims to present new contributions on the health effects of atmospheric urban PM. We encourage submissions that address the various links between the oxidative potential and inflammatory effects of urban PM and its physicochemical properties. This can also include source apportionment studies to identify the sources of the oxidative/inflammatory activity in ambient PM, as well as the molecular mechanism(s) by which atmospheric PM and its constituents act on human health. Contributions may also include epidemiologic studies and surveys on the association between outdoor and indoor air pollution and adverse health effects, as well as discussion on potential air pollution abatement strategies that may maximize benefits to public health.

Dr. Regina Duarte
Prof. Dr. Armando da Costa Duarte
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • urban atmospheric aerosols
  • organic aerosols
  • toxic elements
  • air pollution—adverse effects
  • health risks
  • long-term exposure
  • indoor exposure
  • environment and public health
  • health policy

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Editorial

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3 pages, 195 KiB  
Editorial
Health Effects of Urban Atmospheric Aerosols
by Regina M. B. O. Duarte and Armando C. Duarte
Atmosphere 2023, 14(2), 309; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos14020309 - 4 Feb 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1619
Abstract
The impact of atmospheric particulate matter (PM), including PM2 [...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Health Effects of Urban Atmospheric Aerosols)

Research

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19 pages, 6516 KiB  
Article
The Contents of Potentially Toxic Elements and Emission Characteristics of PM2.5 in Soil Fugitive Dust around Six Cities of the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau in China
by Jianwu Shi, Xiaochen Pang, Yuzhai Bao, Xinyu Han, Yaoqian Zhong, Jianmin Wang, Pingwei Zhao, Feng Xiang, Shuai Li and Ping Ning
Atmosphere 2022, 13(5), 678; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos13050678 - 23 Apr 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2105
Abstract
The contents of potentially toxic elements (V, Cr, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Cd, and Pb) and emission characteristics of PM2.5 in soil fugitive dust (SFD) in six Yunnan cities (Baoshan, Kunming, Wenshan, Honghe, Yuxi, and Zhaotong) were investigated in this [...] Read more.
The contents of potentially toxic elements (V, Cr, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Cd, and Pb) and emission characteristics of PM2.5 in soil fugitive dust (SFD) in six Yunnan cities (Baoshan, Kunming, Wenshan, Honghe, Yuxi, and Zhaotong) were investigated in this research. The results showed that the contents of Zn and Pb in PM2.5 of SFD were the highest around Honghe and Yuxi, respectively, while the contents of Mn were the highest in PM2.5 of SFD around the other four cities. The enrichment factor and correlation indicated that the potentially toxic elements’ pollution degrees of PM2.5 of SFD around Kunming, Yuxi, and Honghe were higher than those around the other three cities and that potentially toxic elements were generally affected by metal smelting activities, and in Zhaotong, were affected by coal burning activities, while in Wenshan and Baoshan were less affected by human activities. The total emission of PM2.5 of SFD in the six cities was 7705.49 t in 2018. The total emission factor of PM2.5 of SFD reached the highest level from January to May and the lowest level from July to October. The health risk assessment showed that the potentially toxic elements in PM2.5 of SFD for children in the six cities and for adults in Baoshan, Kunming, Honghe, and Zhaotong had non-carcinogenic risk (non-carcinogenic risk thresholds were greater than 1), and As contributes most to non-carcinogenic risk. The carcinogenic risk value of Cr in PM2.5 of SFD in Kunming and Zhaotong was between 1 × 10−6 and 1 × 10−4, which had a certain carcinogenic risk. More attention should be paid to alleviate health risks posed by particle-bound potentially toxic elements through SFD. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Health Effects of Urban Atmospheric Aerosols)
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24 pages, 2010 KiB  
Article
Population Health Risks Assessment from Air Pollution Exposure in an Industrialized Residential Area in Greece
by Michail Pachoulis, Thomas Maggos, Panagiotis Panagopoulos, Maria Dasopoulou, Dimitra Balla, Asimina Stamatelopoulou, Manousos Ioannis Manousakas, Konstantinos Eleftheriadis and Dikaia Saraga
Atmosphere 2022, 13(4), 615; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos13040615 - 11 Apr 2022
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 2989
Abstract
Industrial activities nearby residential areas lead to poor local air quality. Therefore, short-term exposure to an aggravated environment and the subsequent health effects should be the subject of further research. The purpose of this study is to estimate the health risks resulting from [...] Read more.
Industrial activities nearby residential areas lead to poor local air quality. Therefore, short-term exposure to an aggravated environment and the subsequent health effects should be the subject of further research. The purpose of this study is to estimate the health risks resulting from such exposure in population groups living in an industrialized area. The risk estimation was performed using different approaches suggested in relative literature. Monitoring of the air quality in an industrial zone of Attica was carried out including 24-h measurements of PM2.5 and analysis of their chemical composition for Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons and heavy metals (Pb, Cd, As, Ni, Hg, Cu, Zn). Samples of Volatile Organic Compounds were also collected. Health effects on different population subgroups were estimated for the targeted pollutants through different mathematical approaches provided by the literature, taking into consideration different parameters (e.g., age, gender, exposure duration). Inhalation rate and body weight were important parameters to estimate the exposure dose of people, and they can vary greatly depending on the age, gender, and daily activity of the person under consideration. The results indicated that the risk for potential carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic effects varies depending on the applied methodology. In any case, the acceptable limits for cancer risk provided by the OEHHA, EPA, and WHO were not exceeded. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Health Effects of Urban Atmospheric Aerosols)
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7 pages, 1091 KiB  
Article
Genotoxicity of PM2.5 and PM1.0 Particulates on Human Peripheral Blood Lymphocytes in Manila, Philippines
by Ma. Katrina Gale Estonilo, Joedith Anne Cazeñas, Carlos Josef Villafuerte, Custer Deocaris, Gloriamaris Caraos, Gerardo Jose Robles, Maria Cecilia Galvez, Celia Asaad and Edgar Vallar
Atmosphere 2022, 13(1), 6; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos13010006 - 21 Dec 2021
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3265
Abstract
Urban air quality is increasingly being studied as a fraction of the world’s population is living in megacities. In this study, particulate matter (PM) along Taft Avenue, Manila, the Philippines, is investigated in terms of its ability to induce genetic damage in human [...] Read more.
Urban air quality is increasingly being studied as a fraction of the world’s population is living in megacities. In this study, particulate matter (PM) along Taft Avenue, Manila, the Philippines, is investigated in terms of its ability to induce genetic damage in human peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs). Size-segregated roadside air samples were obtained from 2015–2017 near a university gate and analyzed using in vitro micronucleus (MN) and cytokinesis-block proliferation tests. While cellular proliferation was unaffected by 0–0.1 kg/m3 of PM1.0 and PM2.5, PBL cells treated with PM2.5 displayed a significantly higher micronucleus count (p = 0.03) compared to the cells treated with PM1.0. Atomic absorption spectroscopy revealed greater amounts of Cd, Ca, Pb, K, Na, and Zn in PM2.5 compared to PM1.0. The results indicate that the differences in composition of the two size fractions of air particulates are associated with their genotoxicities. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Health Effects of Urban Atmospheric Aerosols)
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13 pages, 1132 KiB  
Article
Seasonal Variations in the Daily Mortality Associated with Exposure to Particles, Nitrogen Dioxide, and Ozone in Stockholm, Sweden, from 2000 to 2016
by Henrik Olstrup, Christer Johansson, Bertil Forsberg, Christofer Åström and Hans Orru
Atmosphere 2021, 12(11), 1481; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos12111481 - 9 Nov 2021
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2773
Abstract
Urban air pollutant emissions and concentrations vary throughout the year due to various factors, e.g., meteorological conditions and human activities. In this study, seasonal variations in daily mortality associated with increases in the concentrations of PM10 (particulate matter), PM2.5–10 (coarse particles), [...] Read more.
Urban air pollutant emissions and concentrations vary throughout the year due to various factors, e.g., meteorological conditions and human activities. In this study, seasonal variations in daily mortality associated with increases in the concentrations of PM10 (particulate matter), PM2.5–10 (coarse particles), BC (black carbon), NO2 (nitrogen dioxide), and O3 (ozone) were calculated for Stockholm during the period from 2000 to 2016. The excess risks in daily mortality are presented in single and multi-pollutant models during the whole year and divided into four different seasons, i.e., winter (December–February), spring (March–May), summer (June–August), and autumn (September–November). The excess risks in the single-pollutant models associated with an interquartile range (IQR) increase for a lag 02 during the whole year were 0.8% (95% CI: 0.1–1.4) for PM10, 1.1% (95% CI: 0.4–1.8) for PM2.5–10, 0.5% (95% CI: −0.5–1.5) for BC, −1.5% (95% CI: −0.5–−2.5) for NO2, and 1.9% (95% CI: 1.0–2.9) for O3. When divided into different seasons, the excess risks for PM10 and PM2.5–10 showed a clear pattern, with the strongest associations during spring and autumn, but with weaker associations during summer and winter, indicating increased risks associated with road dust particles during these seasons. For BC, which represents combustion-generated particles, the pattern was not very clear, but the strongest positive excess risks were found during autumn. The excess risks for NO2 were negative during all seasons, and in several cases even statistically significantly negative, indicating that NO2 in itself was not harmful at the concentrations prevailing during the measurement period (mean values < 20 µg m−3). For O3, the excess risks were statistically significantly positive during “all year” in both the single and the multi-pollutant models. The excess risks for O3 in the single-pollutant models were also statistically significantly positive during all seasons. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Health Effects of Urban Atmospheric Aerosols)
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12 pages, 1741 KiB  
Article
A Comparison Analysis of Causative Impact of PM2.5 on Acute Exacerbation of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) in Two Typical Cities in China
by Xiaolin Xia, Ling Yao, Jiaying Lu, Yangxiaoyue Liu, Wenlong Jing and Yong Li
Atmosphere 2021, 12(8), 970; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos12080970 - 28 Jul 2021
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2295
Abstract
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major and increasingly prevalent respiratory health problem worldwide and the fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is now becoming a rising health threat to it. This study aims to conduct a comparison analysis of health effect [...] Read more.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major and increasingly prevalent respiratory health problem worldwide and the fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is now becoming a rising health threat to it. This study aims to conduct a comparison analysis of health effect on acute exacerbation of COPD (AECOPD) associated with PM2.5 exposure in two typical cities (Beijing and Shenzhen) with different levels of PM2.5 pollution. Both correlational relationship and causal connection between PM2.5 exposure and AECOPD are investigated by adopting a time series analysis based on the generalized additive model (GAM) and convergent cross mapping (CCM). The results from GAM indicate that a 10 μg/m3 increase in PM2.5 concentration is associated with 2.43% (95% CI, 0.50–4.39%) increase in AECOPD on Lag0-2 in Beijing, compared with 6.65% (95% CI, 2.60–10.87%) on Lag0-14 in Shenzhen. The causality detection with CCM reveals similar significant causative impact of PM2.5 exposure on AECOPD in both two study areas. Findings from two methods agree that PM2.5 has non-negligible health effect on AECOPD in both two study areas, implying that air pollution can cause adverse consequences at much lower levels than common cognition. Our study highlights the adverse health effect of PM2.5 on people with COPD after exposure to different levels of PM2.5 and emphasizes that adverse effect in area with relative low pollution level cannot be overlooked. Governments in both high-pollution and low-pollution cities should attach importance to the adverse effects of PM2.5 on humans and take corresponding measures to control and reduce the related losses. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Health Effects of Urban Atmospheric Aerosols)
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