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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 July 2021) | Viewed by 24677

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Dr. Haider A. Khwaja

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Guest Editor

Environmental Atmospheric Chemistry Laboratory, School of Public Health, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, NY, USA
Interests: acid rain; cloud water chemistry; water and human health issues; health impacts of air pollution
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Azhar Siddique

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Guest Editor

Environment and Sustainability Center, Qatar Environment and Energy Research Institute, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Doha, Qatar
Interests: air pollution studies; air quality; water quality; public health; environmental chemistry; environmental science; environmental analysis; health risk assessment; environmental pollution; environmental monitoring
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Mirza M. Hussain

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Guest Editor

Wadsworth Center, New York state Department of Health, Albany, NY, USA
Interests: air quality; particulate matter; atmospheric pollution; air pollution studies; air sampling; aerosol chemistry
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Outdoor air pollution is emerging as one of the top risk factors for death and disability worldwide in the 21^st century. In 2017, it was the fifth highest mortality risk factor globally, and was responsible for nearly 5 million deaths and 147 million healthy life-years lost. Rapid population and economic growth are accompanied with intense but poorly regulated human activities. Anthropogenic emissions from fossil-fuel combustion, agriculture burning, industrial activities, vehicular traffic, household cooking and heating activities, etc., mixing with natural emissions, form a multifaceted environment. Many pollutants such as gaseous (ozone, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, volatile organic compounds), biological particles (bacteria, fungi, pollen), and particulate matter (inorganic and organic components) are considered key indicators of outdoor air pollution. Air pollution exposure is well known as a driver of respiratory diseases, heart disease, stroke, lung cancer, as well as communicable diseases like pneumonia. Recent epidemiological studies have suggested that air pollution is also linked with diabetes, low birth weight, tuberculosis, mental health, and cognitive impacts such as autism, Alzheimer’s disease, and dementia. A better understanding of the levels and sources of air pollutants and key contributors to their health burden is critical for implementing effective air pollution control strategies. This Special Issue will consider all innovative papers on “Outdoor Air Pollution and Its Impact on Human Health”.

Dr. Haider A. Khwaja
Dr. Azhar Siddique
Dr. Mirza M. Hussain
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. Atmosphere 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 2400 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

air pollution
particulate matter
source apportionment
exposure assessment
epidemiological studies
biological mechanisms
mitigation strategies

Published Papers (10 papers)

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Editorial

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2 pages, 158 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

Outdoor Air Pollution and Human Health

by Haider Abbas Khwaja, Azhar Siddique and Mirza M. Hussain

Atmosphere 2023, 14(1), 54; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos14010054 - 28 Dec 2022

Viewed by 1427

Abstract

“Outdoor Air Pollution and Human Health” addresses one of the most critical areas of concern in society [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Outdoor Air Pollution and Human Health)

Research

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13 pages, 284 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Prolonged Exposure to Air Pollution Increases Periodontal Disease Risk: A Nationwide, Population-Based, Cohort Study

by Han-Jie Lin, Stella Chin-Shaw Tsai, Frank Cheau-Feng Lin, Yi-Chao Hsu, Shih-Wei Chen, Ruey-Hwang Chou, Cheng-Li Lin, Chung Y. Hsu and Kuang-Hsi Chang

Atmosphere 2021, 12(12), 1668; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos12121668 - 12 Dec 2021

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3028

Abstract

(1) Background: No association between air pollution and periodontitis has yet been shown. Thus, we merged two nationwide databases to evaluate the risk of periodontitis in Taiwanese residents with long-term exposure to air pollution. (2) Methods: We conducted a nationwide retrospective cohort study using the Longitudinal Generation Tracking Database and the Taiwan Air Quality-Monitoring Database. The daily average air pollutant concentrations were categorized into quartiles (Q1, Q2, Q3, and Q4). We carried out Cox proportional hazards models to compute the hazard ratios of periodontitis, with 95% confidence intervals, in Q2–Q4 of the daily average air pollutant concentrations, compared with Q1. (3) Results: the adjusted HR (95 CI%) for periodontitis in Q2–Q4 increased with increased exposure to SO₂, CO, NO, NO₂, NO_X, PM_2.5, and PM₁₀ from 1.72 (1.70, 1.76) to 4.86 (4.78–4.94); from 1.89 (1.85–1.93) to 2.64 (2.59–2.70); from 1.04 (1.02–1.06) to 1.52 (1.49–1.55); from 1.61 (1.58–1.64) to 2.51 (2.47–2.56); from 1.48 (1.45–1.51) to 2.11 (2.07–2.15); from 2.02 (1.98–2.06) to 22.9 (22.4–23.4, and from 2.71 (2.66–2.77) to 17.2 (16.8–17.6), respectively, compared to Q1. (4) Conclusions: Residents in Taiwan with long-term exposure to higher levels of air pollutants had a greater risk of periodontitis. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Outdoor Air Pollution and Human Health)

14 pages, 924 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Winter Air Pollution and Genotoxic Effects in Children Living in a Highly Polluted Urban Area

by Claudia Zani, Elisabetta Ceretti, Donatella Feretti, Milena Villarini, Massimo Moretti, Marco Verani, Antonella De Donno, Sara Bonetta, Annamaria Buschini, Alberto Bonetti, Silvia Bonizzoni, Umberto Gelatti and on behalf of the MAPEC-LIFE Study Group

Atmosphere 2021, 12(9), 1191; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos12091191 - 15 Sep 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1826

Abstract

Air pollutants, especially PM, have been found to determine various effects on human health, including genotoxic effects. The aim of this study was to assess DNA damage with micronuclei (MN) and comet tests on buccal cells of 6–8 years old children living in an area with high air pollution. Both tests were repeated in the same children in two consecutive winters to compare the levels of DNA damage under different pollution conditions. A complete data set including lifestyle, air pollutants levels and biological sampling was available for 180 children in the two winters. A high mean MN frequency was found in both seasons, with higher value in the first (0.51 ± 0.59) than the second winter (0.40 ± 0.52), whereas DNA damage measured with comet test showed higher damage in the second versus the first winter (visual score 208.8 ± 67.1 vs. 173.2 ± 50.8). The associations between air pollutant levels (CO, NO₂, SO₂, benzene, O₃, PM_10, and PM_2.5; PM_0.5 and PAHs) and DNA damage were investigated at different lag times, and mainly, no significant association was found. This study on repeated measure of MN frequency and DNA damage in children’s buccal did not show an association with various air pollutants evaluated in an area with high levels of air pollution. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Outdoor Air Pollution and Human Health)

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10 pages, 274 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Exercise under Exposure to Air Pollution and Spirometry in Healthy Adults with and without Allergy

by Krzysztof Kocot, Kamil Barański, Edyta Melaniuk-Wolny, Eliwra Zajusz-Zubek and Małgorzata Kowalska

Atmosphere 2021, 12(9), 1168; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos12091168 - 11 Sep 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1736

Abstract

Ambient air pollution is a major environmental threat to human health. The acute effects of exposure to ambient air pollution during physical exercise may depend on allergy status. The aim of the study was to assess the acute respiratory responses to air pollution exposure during physical training in young adults with and without allergies. The studied group included 71 healthy young adults (n = 16 with allergy and n = 55 without allergy). Students completed two indoor physical training trials lasting 45–60 min: when air pollutants concentrations were high (exposure trial) and low (control trial). During each trial, we monitored outdoor and indoor environmental conditions. Participants performed spirometry at baseline and directly after the exercise. Exercise during exposure trials led to a small decrease in the percentage of predicted forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV₁ ref). Only during the control trials did the FEV₁/forced vital capacity quotient (FEV₁/FVC) statistically significantly increase. Moreover, just in the allergy group, there were statistically significant negative correlations between post-exercise FEV₁/FVC change and 3 h average outdoor particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter <10 µm (PM₁₀) and nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) concentrations (PM₁₀: r = −0.54, p = 0.02, NO₂: r = −0.60, p = 0.02). In young and healthy adults, sports training under exposure to high levels of ambient air pollutants leads to a small decrease in FEV₁. The allergy might be a modifying factor in the respiratory responses to air pollution. Post-exercise decrease in FEV₁/FVC was related to pre-exercise 3 h averages of PM₁₀ and NO₂ only in people with ever-diagnosed upper-respiratory allergy. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Outdoor Air Pollution and Human Health)

17 pages, 4419 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Three-Year Variations in Criteria Atmospheric Pollutants and Their Relationship with Rainwater Chemistry in Karst Urban Region, Southwest China

by Jie Zeng, Xin Ge, Qixin Wu and Shitong Zhang

Atmosphere 2021, 12(8), 1073; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos12081073 - 21 Aug 2021

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1972

Abstract

Air pollutants have been investigated in many studies, but the variations of atmospheric pollutants and their relationship with rainwater chemistry are not well studied. In the present study, the criteria atmospheric pollutants in nine monitoring stations and rainwater chemistry were analyzed in karst Guiyang city, since the time when the Chinese Ambient Air Quality Standards (CAAQS, third revision) were published. Based on the three-year daily concentration dataset of SO₂, NO₂, CO, PM₁₀ and PM_2.5, although most of air pollutant concentrations were within the limit of CAAQS III-Grade II standard, the significant spatial variations and relatively heavy pollution were found in downtown Guiyang. Temporally, the average concentrations of almost all air pollutants (except for CO) decreased during three years at all stations. Ratios of PM_2.5/PM₁₀ in non- and episode days reflected the different contributions of fine and coarse particles on particulate matter in Guiyang, which was influenced by the potential meteorological factors and source variations. According to the individual air quality index (IAQI), the seasonal variations of air quality level were observed, that is, IAQI values of air pollutants were higher in winter (worst air quality) and lower in summer (best air quality) due to seasonal variations in emission sources. The unique IAQI variations were found during the Chinese Spring Festival. Air pollutant concentrations are also influenced by meteorological parameters, in particular, the rainfall amount. The air pollutants are well scoured by the rainfall process and can significantly affect rainwater chemistry, such as SO₄²⁻, NO₃⁻, Mg²⁺, and Ca²⁺, which further alters the acidification/alkalization trend of rainwater. The equivalent ratios of rainwater SO₄²⁻/NO₃⁻ and Mg²⁺/Ca²⁺ indicated the significant contribution of fixed emission sources (e.g., coal combustion) and carbonate weathering-influenced particulate matter on rainwater chemistry. These findings provide scientific support for air pollution management and rainwater chemistry-related environmental issues. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Outdoor Air Pollution and Human Health)

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10 pages, 253 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Ambient Air Pollution Exposure and Risk of Developmental Delay in Children and Teenagers in Taiwan

by Hung-Lin Chen, Ruihong Zhang, Stella Chin-Shaw Tsai, Ruey-Hwang Chou, Yi-Chao Hsu, Hueng-Chuen Fan, Chih-Hsin Muo, Chung Y. Hsu and Kuang-Hsi Chang

Atmosphere 2021, 12(8), 1039; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos12081039 - 13 Aug 2021

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1915

Abstract

(1) Background: Studies on the association between air pollution and developmental delay in children are limited. Therefore, we evaluated the risk of developmental delay in Taiwanese children exposed to air pollution. (2) Methods: We merged the two nationwide databases, and the annual average pollutant concentrations were grouped into tertiles to evaluate the risk of developmental delay (ICD-9 code 315.9). We identified the patients’ active residential locations based on the location of the clinic or hospital in which they sought treatment for acute upper respiratory infections (ICD 9 code 460). The two nationwide databases were linked for analysis based on the active residential locations of each participant and the locations of the 74 ambient air quality monitoring stations. (3) Results: We observed an increased risk of developmental delay in children and teenagers exposed to SO₂, CO, and NO₂. The adjusted odds ratios (ORs) of developmental delay for comparison among the tertiles with respect to SO₂, CO, and NO₂ exposures were 1.12 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.01–1.24), 1.21 (95% CI, 1.09–1.34), and 1.40 (95% CI, 1.261.55), respectively. (4) Conclusions: The present findings suggest that air pollution exposure increases the risk of developmental delay in children and teenagers in Taiwan. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Outdoor Air Pollution and Human Health)

12 pages, 811 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Association of Cardiovascular Disease and Long-Term Exposure to Fine Particulate Matter (PM_2.5) in the Southeastern United States

by R. Burciaga Valdez, Mohammad Z. Al-Hamdan, Mohammad Tabatabai, Darryl B. Hood, Wansoo Im, Derek Wilus, Amruta Nori-Sarma, Aramandla Ramesh, Macarius M. Donneyong, Michael A. Langston, Charles P. Mouton and Paul D. Juárez

Atmosphere 2021, 12(8), 947; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos12080947 - 23 Jul 2021

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2519

Abstract

There is a well-documented association between ambient fine particulate matter air pollution (PM_2.5) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) morbidity and mortality. Exposure to PM_2.5 can cause premature death and harmful and chronic health effects such as heart attack, diabetes, and stroke. The Environmental Protection Agency sets annual PM_2.5 standards to reduce these negative health effects. Currently above an annual average level of 12.0 µg/m is considered unhealthy. Methods. We examined the association of long-term exposure to PM_2.5 and CVD in a cohort of 44,610 individuals who resided in 12 states recruited into the Southern Community Cohort Study (SCCS). The SCCS was designed to recruit Black and White participants who received care from Federally Qualified Health Centers; hence, they represent vulnerable individuals from low-income families across this vast region. This study tests whether SCCS participants who lived in locations exposed to elevated ambient levels of PM_2.5 concentrations were more likely to report a history of CVD at enrollment (2002–2009). Remotely sensed satellite data integrated with ground monitoring data provide an assessment of the average annual PM_2.5 in urban and rural locations where the SCCS participants resided. We used multilevel logistic regression to estimate the associations between self-reported CVD and exposure to elevated ambient levels of PM_2.5. Results. We found a 13.4 percent increase in the odds of reported CVD with exposure to unhealthy levels of PM_2.5 exposure at enrollment. The SCCS participants with medical histories of hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, and smoking had, overall, 385 percent higher odds of reported CVD than those without these clinical risk factors. Additionally, Black participants were more likely to live in locations with higher ambient PM_2.5 concentrations and report high levels of clinical risk factors, thus, they may be at a greater future risk of CVD. Conclusions: In the SCCS participants, we found a strong relation between exposures to high ambient levels of PM_2.5 and self-reported CVD at enrollment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Outdoor Air Pollution and Human Health)

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11 pages, 624 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Association between Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Exposure and Diarrhea in Adults

by Chia-Che Wu, Wen-Hui Fang, Chung-Ching Wang, Ching-Huang Lai and Wei-Liang Chen

Atmosphere 2021, 12(7), 919; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos12070919 - 17 Jul 2021

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2329

Abstract

Objective: Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are not only natural but also anthropogenic contaminants that exist in many places in the environment. Human beings often accidentally ingest PAHs via smoking. Furthermore, smoking may increase the risk of bowel disorder, including diarrhea and other gastrointestinal problems. Therefore, PAH exposure is hypothesized to be related to diarrhea risk. This study discusses the association between diarrhea and PAH exposure in the United States adult population. Method: 10,537 participants from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES 2001–2006) were involved in this cross-sectional analysis. Bowel disorders were assessed via examination of stool frequency and stool type. The concentrations of urinary PAH metabolites were used to evaluate PAH exposure. The association between bowel habits and PAH exposure was assessed using a multivariate logistic regression model with covariate assessment of gender, age, race, liver function, kidney function, and common chronic health diseases. Results: All PAH metabolites except 1-hydroxynaphthalene, 1-hydroxypyrene, and 9-hydroxyfluorene were substantially correlated with an increased risk of diarrhea (p < 0.05) after modification of relevant covariables. This study also revealed significant association in the group of females (p < 0.05). Furthermore, all PAH metabolites except 1-hydroxynaphthalene, 2-hydroxyphenanthrene, 1-hydroxypyrene, and 9-hydroxyfluorene show significantly positive association in the non-obesity group (BMI < 30, p < 0.05). Conclusions: PAH exposure is highly associated with risk of bowel disorders among the adult population in the United States, especially in female and non-obesity populations. More research is necessary to shed light on the pathophysiological mechanisms associated to PAH exposure and diarrhea. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Outdoor Air Pollution and Human Health)

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14 pages, 807 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Saccharides Emissions from Biomass and Coal Burning in Northwest China and Their Application in Source Contribution Estimation

by Kun He, Jian Sun, Xin Wang, Bin Zhang, Yue Zhang, Renjian Zhang and Zhenxing Shen

Atmosphere 2021, 12(7), 821; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos12070821 - 27 Jun 2021

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2154

Abstract

Saccharides are important tracers in aerosol source identification but results in different areas varied significantly. In this study, six saccharides (levoglucosan, arabitol, glucose, mannitol, inositol, and sucrose) were determined for their emission factors and diagnostic ratios from domestic combustion of typical biomass and coal fuels in Northwest China. Three types of coal (i.e., anthracitic coal, bituminous coal, and briquettes) and five types of biomass (i.e., maize straw, wheat straw, corn cob, wood branches, and wood block) collected from regional rural areas were selected. Overall, the ranking of the fuel types in terms of the emission factor of particulate matter less than 2.5 μm in diameter (PM_2.5) was coal < firewood fuel < straw fuel, with a range of 0.14–36.70 g/kg. Furthermore, the emission factor (e.g., organic carbon (OC) levels) of traditional stove-Heated Kang in the Guanzhong Plain differed significantly from that of wood stoves burning the same fuel, which is attributable to differences in the combustion conditions. The combined diagnostic ratios of levoglucosan (LG)/OC and arabitol/elemental carbon can be used to accurately distinguish the source contribution from coal and biomass combustion to atmospheric PM. Estimation of the biomass burning (BB) contribution to PM_2.5 had an uncertainty of −2.7% to 41.0% and overestimation of 9.9–28.2% when LG was used as the sole tracer, despite its widespread use in other studies; thus, these estimation methods are inadequate and require improvement. The results also revealed that specialized emission control and clean energy strategies are required for both residential BB and non-BB sources on a regional scale. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Outdoor Air Pollution and Human Health)

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Review

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12 pages, 563 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

Effects of PM_2.5 on Chronic Airway Diseases: A Review of Research Progress

by Xin Li and Xiaoju Liu

Atmosphere 2021, 12(8), 1068; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos12081068 - 20 Aug 2021

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 3750

Abstract

The adverse effects of polluted air on human health have been increasingly appreciated worldwide. It is estimated that outdoor air pollution is associated with the death of 4.2 million people globally each year. Accumulating epidemiological studies indicate that exposure to ambient fine particulate matter (PM_2.5), one of the important air pollutants, significantly contributes to respiratory mortality and morbidity. PM_2.5 causes lung damage mainly by inducing inflammatory response and oxidative stress. In this paper, we reviewed the research results of our group on the effects of PM_2.5 on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, and lung cancer. And recent research progress on epidemiological studies and potential mechanisms were also discussed. Reducing air pollution, although remaining a major challenge, is the best and most effective way to prevent the onset and progression of respiratory diseases. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Outdoor Air Pollution and Human Health)

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