Search Results (269)

Black carbon is an important light-absorbing component of atmospheric particulate matter, with significant implications for urban air quality, climate forcing, human health, and sustainable urban development. Reliable monitoring of black carbon is therefore essential for assessing combustion-related pollution and supporting sustainable air quality management and emission-reduction strategies. This study evaluated the performance of the Multi-Wavelength Absorption Black Carbon Instrument for the offline determination of aerosol light absorption and equivalent black carbon under contrasting urban conditions. PM_2.5 and PM₁₀ samples were collected at urban-background sites in Krakow, Poland, and Athens, Greece, during winter and summer 2024, thereby covering heating and non-heating periods and a broad range of aerosol concentrations. Samples were collected in parallel on Quartz-fibre and Teflon filters. Their light absorption was measured offline using the Multi-Wavelength Absorption Black Carbon Instrument at 870 nm. Elemental carbon concentrations were independently determined on Quartz-fibre filters by thermo-optical transmittance using the EUSAAR_2 protocol, while continuous absorption measurements from an AE33 Aethalometer operated in Athens were used to assess the comparability of offline and online measurements. The consistency of two independent Multi-Wavelength Absorption Black Carbon Instruments operated in Krakow and Athens was also examined using a common set of filters. Strong linear relationships were observed between the offline absorption coefficients and elemental carbon concentrations, with coefficients of determination exceeding 0.90 for the investigated datasets. The offline measurements also reproduced the variability observed by the AE33, although they systematically yielded higher absorption coefficients than the continuous instrument. Quartz-fibre filters produced higher absorption values and higher apparent mass absorption cross-sections than Teflon filters, demonstrating a pronounced substrate-dependent effect. The differences in the quartz-based relationships between Krakow and Athens indicated that aerosol composition, source characteristics, ageing, and mixing state may also affect the relationship between optical absorption and elemental carbon concentration. These findings confirm that the instrument is suitable for offline and retrospective assessment of equivalent black carbon, particularly where continuous monitoring is unavailable. Reliable quantitative application requires filter-specific calibration and, where necessary, site-specific mass absorption cross-section values. By enabling the use of archived and routinely collected filter samples for black carbon assessment, this approach can complement continuous monitoring networks and support more accessible and sustainable air quality monitoring. Such measurements can contribute to the evaluation of pollution trends, emission-control measures, and evidence-based strategies aimed at improving urban environmental quality and advancing sustainability goals. Full article

Airborne microplastics (AMPs) are increasingly recognized as an emerging air pollutant. However, observational data remain scarce in Southeast Asia. This study provides the first observations of AMPs in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, using µFTIR-ATR imaging. Number concentration, morphology, polymer composition, aerodynamic size distribution, Feret diameter, and surface aging characteristics were investigated together with meteorological parameters, gaseous pollutants, water-soluble ionic tracers, and HYSPLIT backward trajectories to examine possible source attribution. AMPs were dominated by polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), and polyethylene terephthalate (PET), with 52% classified as fragments and 82% having Feret diameter smaller than 30 µm. Across four independent 72-h sampling periods (n = 4), AMP concentrations ranged from 0.55 to 1.27 MP m⁻³ in TSP, with a mean ± standard deviation of 0.97 ± 0.30 MP m⁻³, and from 0.23 to 0.49 MP m⁻³ in the PM_2.5 fraction, with a mean ± standard deviation of 0.33 ± 0.10 MP m⁻³. In total, 134 particles were identified in TSP, of which 46 were detected in the PM_2.5 fraction. Carbonyl and hydroxyl indices indicated that PE and PP were relatively fresh and in low-to-moderate surface aging states. Pearson correlations suggested that the abundances of individual polymers were varied differently in relation to local environmental and precipitation-related variables; however, the limited number of sampling periods precludes source or process attribution. In addition, HYSPLIT backward trajectories showed that some air masses arriving in Phnom Penh had passed over marine regions under southwest monsoon flow. These findings provide the first baseline dataset for AMP pollution in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, and highlight the combined importance of local emissions and regional atmospheric transport in Southeast Asia. Full article

Airborne microplastics and nanoplastics (MNPs) are increasingly reported in indoor, outdoor, and occupational air, but their aerobiological significance remains incompletely defined. This narrative review proposes the aeroplastic exposome as a cautious, testable framework for evaluating airborne MNPs as interfaces among aerosol transport, biological and chemical loading, aeroallergen co-exposure, inhalation, respiratory deposition, clearance, and airway immune response. Evidence from environmental monitoring, indoor and occupational exposure studies, and human respiratory-sample and lung-tissue detection studies supports the occurrence of airborne MNPs, the plausibility of inhalation exposure, reported detection in human respiratory samples, and experimental hazard under selected conditions. However, evidence that airborne plastic particles routinely carry bioaerosols or aeroallergens remains insufficient or model-dependent. The aeroplastic exposome is therefore not proposed as a disease entity, validated exposure metric, or established explanation for asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, fibrosis, infection, or cancer. Instead, it is a framework for organizing testable questions about polymer identity, aerodynamic fraction, morphology, aging state, biological loading, co-exposure context, deposition, clearance, epithelial–immune responses, and host susceptibility. Priority research needs to include standardized airborne sampling, same-particle polymer–bioaerosol–allergen characterization, exposure-relevant aerosol systems, factorial co-exposure experiments, and prospective human studies with repeated personal exposure assessment. Full article

This study examines the long-term associations between ambient air pollutants and the burden of major respiratory and infectious diseases in this geographically sensitive region. A retrospective analysis was conducted using ICD-10-coded hospital records of patients diagnosed with asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), bronchitis, and tuberculosis from January 2020 to June 2026. These data were integrated with in situ air quality measurements, including PM₁₀, PM_2.5, and SO₂, as well as satellite-derived Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD) from MODIS. Disease incidence was stratified by year, sex, and age groups (0–85+ years) to assess demographic susceptibility patterns. Respiratory diseases constituted a substantial public health burden over the study period. Asthma showed a marked female predominance (≈29,700 females vs. ≈16,000 males) and a bimodal age distribution with peaks in early childhood (0–5 years) and mid-adulthood (35–50 years). COPD was predominantly observed in males (≈8300 males vs. ≈5500 females), with a higher median age range (≈67–70 years). Bronchitis exhibited a similar bimodal pattern, disproportionately affecting both pediatric and elderly populations, while overall case numbers declined over time. Tuberculosis incidence was approximately threefold higher in males than females, with notable age-related divergence, affecting younger females (≈30–32 years) and middle-aged males (≈42–45 years). The findings suggest a spatial–temporal correspondence between elevated pollutant concentrations and respiratory disease prevalence in the Iğdır Basin. The observed sex- and age-specific disparities underscore the potential value of region-specific environmental health strategies, strengthened air quality management, and continuous epidemiological surveillance in enclosed basin environments. Full article

Despite their introduction two decades ago as cessation tools, vaping devices and electronic cigarettes (ECs) have surged dramatically among adolescents and adults worldwide. The widespread misconception that ECs are harmless has raised substantial concern about their potential contribution to chronic diseases associated with oxidative stress (OS) pathways. To map this rapidly growing field, we combined a bibliometric analysis of human research on vaping-associated OS over the past decade with a narrative review of EC component toxicology and regulatory updates. The bibliometric analysis of 189 human studies identified four keyword clusters reflecting clinico-epidemiological, biological/mechanistic, methodological, and acute-event research themes. The results of this bibliometric analysis structure the narrative synthesis, which evaluates the chemical constituents of ECs, including e-liquid constituents, device-derived contaminants, and their aerosol by-products, and links them to pathways associated with OS development. Oxidative stress was the most frequent bridging keyword, reflecting predominant academic trends as research shifted from acute-focused investigations toward mechanistic chronic disease research. No prior review has integrated EC component toxicology with bibliometric evidence to map this landscape. This combined approach provides researchers, clinicians, and policymakers with an integrated evidence base and identifies priority areas for future investigation, including long-term exposure thresholds, age- and sex-specific outcomes, and the urgent need for harmonized global regulation. Full article

Background: Wound infections are common sequelae of wound treatment in horses. Secondary bacterial colonization with antimicrobial resistant microorganisms is of particular concern and is of crucial importance regarding the “One Health Concept”. Due to frequent antimicrobial resistance (AMR), conventional treatments often involve determining resistance and sensitivity using time-consuming antibiograms. Infections with multi-resistant pathogens are especially challenging. This case series presents studies of four horses evaluating the efficacy of Cold Atmospheric Plasma-Aerosol (CAP-A) as a standalone treatment for equine wound infections. Methods: A sampling unit of horses aged 5 weeks to 11 years presented with various infected wounds which were treated with CAP-A. Treatment was administered once daily for up to two months; each session consisted of 2 × 3 min nebulization cycles. Following 10 days of treatment, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was no longer culturally detectable, and advanced wound healing was observed. Microbiological samples were collected before and after the treatment period, and the antibiotic resistance of pathogens was determined. Photographs were used to document wound progression and healing process. Results: Antibiograms and microbiological examinations identified several multi-resistant bacteria in all horses. CAP-A treatment decreased microbial load of pathogenic flora and removed MRSA without the use of antibiotics. Conclusions: CAP-A therapy demonstrated promising results as a non-pharmacological treatment option for equine wound infections with multi-resistant bacteria such as MRSA and multi-resistant Gram-negative bacteria, achieving both clinical and microbiological improvement. Horses tolerated sessions without any signs of discomfort. Further research should be based on a clinical follow-up as part of a prospective study with a larger sample size and negative control to draw definite conclusions about the efficacy of the treatment. Full article

The longitudinal impact of fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) and its specific chemical drivers on multi-system physiological dysregulation, quantified by the allostatic load index (ALI), remains unclear. Leveraging panel data from 7421 middle-aged and older adults in the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS), we employed individual fixed-effects models—strictly controlling for time-invariant confounding—to evaluate the associations of PM_2.5 and five components with ALI. Within-person increases in PM_2.5 and all evaluated components significantly elevated ALI scores. Notably, secondary inorganic aerosols (SIAs: nitrate, ammonium, and sulfate) exerted the most pronounced effects, exhibiting J-shaped non-linear dose-response curves that suggest high-concentration exposures may overwhelm homeostatic buffering thresholds. This study provides the first longitudinal evidence identifying SIAs as the primary pollutants driving cumulative multi-system physiological decline in aging populations, offering critical support for component-specific air quality management. Full article

Background: “Third-hand” exposure produced by “second-hand” environmental vaping aerosol (EVA) has been reported as a parallel analogue of “third-hand smoke” (THS) produced by residues of environmental tobacco smoke (ETS). Methods: To assess the plausibility and scope of “third-hand” vaping exposure, we examine the available evidence on THS phenomenology and the physicochemical properties of EVA. We also evaluate daily intake doses from direct dermal exposure to nicotine under simplified but minimally realistic scenarios for vaping and smoking. Results: The only THS phenomenology fully reproduced in EVA is the adsorption of nicotine and its byproducts on indoor surfaces. Unlike significant, measurable THS exposures in normal environments (homes, hospitality venues, cars), third-hand exposures from vaping have only been found under special conditions: laboratory-generated aerosols or in vape shops where excessively abnormal and intense vaping activity takes place. Conclusions: The physicochemical properties of EVA are incompatible with an aging process leading to a THS analogue under the environmental conditions in which vaping normally takes place. However, objectively and rigorously evaluating the risks of dermal exposure from smoking and vaping remains an open issue. Full article

Ship diesel engines are a significant source of aerosol particles and gaseous pollutants for the marine atmospheric boundary layer (MABL). To assess the environmental impact of maritime transport on the MABL, it is important to understand how aerosol particles are transported, dispersed and transformed in ship exhaust plumes. The dynamics of aerosol particle size distributions, ranging from 5 nm to 4 µm at a height of 1.5 m above sea level, were measured on board a boat behind cruising ships in German waters in the Baltic Sea. Exhaust plumes were measured at ages of 2–60 s at distances of 20–600 m from cruising ships; the number concentration of 5–340 nm particles increased about a hundred times in comparison with background levels, while the mass of supermicron particles increased only by 1–6% compared to background levels. Changes in aerosol particle number size distributions were mainly driven by plume expansion. However, in plumes aged 6–16 s at distances of 50–150 m, a sudden drop in number concentration by 30% for 20 nm particles was observed. Their scavenging followed by fast sedimentation with sea spray microdroplets generated by ship movement is a possible explanation for this. A significant reduction in the residence time of nanoparticles may imply extensive environmental consequences. Full article

Background and Objectives: The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic disrupted oral and maxillofacial surgery (OMS) services worldwide because of the high aerosol-generating nature of head-and-neck procedures, restricted access to elective dental care, and systemic reallocation of hospital resources. Continuous longitudinal multi-year data covering both the pandemic and the post-pandemic phases from regional Romanian (and more broadly central and southeastern European) emergency centers remain scarce. We aimed to quantify the impact of the pandemic on OMS activity in a large Romanian regional referral center and to evaluate post-pandemic resilience. Materials and Methods: We conducted a retrospective single-center study of all inpatient admissions to the OMS Clinic of a tertiary emergency hospital in western Romania between 1 January 2018 and 31 December 2024. Three periods were pre-specified: pre-pandemic (2018–2019), pandemic (2020–2022) and post-pandemic (2023–2024). A Newey–West segmented interrupted-time-series (ITS) regression and a negative-binomial monthly count model with Fourier seasonality were fitted; length of hospital stay was further analyzed with a multivariable gamma-log generalized linear model adjusted for age, sex, county, primary ICD-10 chapter and total ICD-10 codes. Variables analyzed included case volume, demographics, primary and secondary ICD-10 diagnoses, length of hospital stay (LOS), case complexity (total ICD-10 codes per admission) and in-hospital mortality. Results: A total of 11,628 inpatient admissions corresponding to 8084 unique patients (56.5% male; mean age 52.2 ± 19.2 years) were analyzed. Compared with the pre-pandemic baseline (mean 2037 admissions/year), annual volume dropped by 45.1% in 2020, 44.0% in 2021 and 32.3% in 2022, with a nadir of −76% during the first state of emergency (April 2020; n = 34 admissions). Recovery was rapid; 2024 exceeded the pre-pandemic baseline by +10.1% on raw counts and by +16.2% on admissions per 100,000 catchment population using year-specific INS denominators. The segmented ITS regression confirmed an immediate level drop of −114.2 admissions/month in March 2020 (95% CI −133.1 to −95.3; p < 0.001) and a positive post-intervention slope of +2.06 admissions/month (95% CI 1.23–2.88; p < 0.001), with observed monthly volume returning to the counterfactual projection by October 2023. The case mix shifted significantly (χ² = 406.9, p < 0.0001); elective benign neoplasm admissions were reduced from 7.2% to 2.0%, while neoplasms of uncertain behavior nearly doubled from 15.7% to 27.5%. Case complexity increased during the pandemic (mean ICD codes 4.08 ± 2.42 vs. 3.44 ± 2.30; p < 0.001); after exclusion of administrative codes (whole Z chapter and U07.x), the difference attenuated to 3.34 vs. 3.17 codes (still p < 0.001 by Kruskal–Wallis), indicating that the largest portion of the unadjusted increase was driven by the new mandatory pre-admission SARS-CoV-2 screening code Z11.5 rather than true clinical complexity. Notably, the clinically interpretable proxy R63.3 (feeding difficulty) independently rose from 41.5% to 53.1%. The crude median LOS did not differ between the pre-pandemic and pandemic periods (3.07 vs. 3.06 d; p = 0.19) and dropped significantly post-pandemic (2.22 d; p < 0.001); however, after multivariable adjustment for case mix, age, sex, county and code count, the LOS was 15.7% shorter during the pandemic (adjusted ratio 0.84, 95% CI 0.82–0.87; p < 0.001) and 22.8% shorter post-pandemic (adjusted ratio 0.77, 95% CI 0.75–0.80; p < 0.001) relative to baseline. Conclusions: The pandemic caused a severe but transient contraction of OMS activity accompanied by increased case complexity and a marked shift away from elective surgery. Inpatient volume returned to and exceeded the pre-pandemic baseline by 2024. These results support the value of standing pandemic-preparedness protocols, sustained access to preventive dental care, and integrated tele-triage pathways for future public-health crises. Full article

Heterogeneous reactions on mineral dust surfaces during dust storm events significantly influence atmospheric chemistry by modifying aerosol composition. This study employed high-resolution scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX) to investigate the morphology and elemental composition of dust particles collected during four dust events in Qinhuangdao, a coastal city in Northern China. The results revealed that clay minerals were the most abundant (53.5% ± 13.7%), followed by feldspar (12.0% ± 3.6%), quartz (11.9% ± 3.2%) and carbonate minerals (7.3% ± 4.1%). In contrast, sulfate and NaCl particles constituted only a minor fraction, representing 1.1% and 0.9% of the particles, respectively. Elemental analysis indicated that sulfur (S)-containing particles, although scarce during the initial stages, increased as the dust storms evolved, eventually accounting for about half of the particles by the end of the events. This trend suggests increasing heterogeneous processing on dust particle surfaces. Furthermore, single-particle analysis demonstrated a marked increase in chlorine (Cl)-containing particles (excluding NaCl) from 2.4% at the onset to 30.9% ± 16.5% by the end of the dust events. In contrast to studies conducted in inland cities, where Cl-containing particles are seldom observed, our findings underscore the crucial role of marine aerosols in facilitating the chlorine enrichment of dust particles in coastal atmospheric environments. Overall, these findings provide new insights into the aging processes of mineral dust in coastal atmospheres and suggest potential interactions between dust particles and marine aerosols during heterogeneous halogen and sulfur processing in dust events. Full article

Coxiella burnetii is an intracellular bacterium responsible for an anthropozoonosis that can be asymptomatic or manifest as acute or chronic Q fever. This extensive series of 588 patients represents one of the largest single-center studies on sporadic acute Q fever, highlighting the Canary Islands as a high-incidence region in Spain. Epidemiologically, the domestic cycle is the primary driver of infection, with caprine livestock serving as the main reservoir, showing a local prevalence of 60.4%. Transmission is predominantly airborne via aerosols; the environmental resilience of C. burnetii facilitates its transport into urban areas, where the majority of patients reside despite lacking direct animal contact. While fever, headache, and diaphoresis are hallmark symptoms, over 90% of patients exhibit transient urinalysis abnormalities, a finding that often leads to misdiagnosis and inappropriate antimicrobial use. Clinically, the non-specific (45.7%) and hepatic (44.1%) forms are most prevalent, whereas the pulmonary form (7.8%) is strongly associated with smoking and alcohol consumption. Although localized forms affecting the nervous system or skin (such as panniculitis) were observed, the overall prognosis remains excellent with no progression to chronic Q fever in this series. In summary, the extensive series described characterizes acute Q fever patients in the Autonomous Community of the Canary Islands, with features that are similar in some cases but also show notable differences compared to other national and international series. Furthermore, depending on the patients’ age, the time elapsed between the onset of clinical manifestations and hospital evaluation, and the clinical form, acute Q fever displays significant differences. Full article

Atmospheric sea spray aerosol (SSA) undergoes chemical aging during long-distance transport, leading to significant alterations in its climate effects. However, the aging mechanisms of SSA driven by oxygenated volatile organic compounds (OVOCs) remain unclear. Hence, the aging processes of NaCl particles driven by glyoxal (GL), a representative OVOC, are systematically investigated using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. MD simulations with high GL coverage show that GL readily mixes with NaCl and preferentially orients its carbonyl groups toward the NaCl surface. The adsorption of GL on the NaCl surface is dominated by the interaction between the O atom of GL (O_GL) and the Na atom of the surface. DFT calculations with single GL coverage further reveal the formation of the O_GL–Na bond between GL and NaCl. The mixing process of GL and NaCl is regulated by both the number of aldehyde groups engaging in the interfacial coordination and the corresponding lengths of O_GL–Na bonds. The subsequent heterogeneous oxidation of GL by an OH radical proceeds mainly via a barrierless H-abstraction pathway to form HC(O)CO radicals, which may further react with methylamine/ammonia and contribute to brown carbon formation. Our results reveal the importance of incorporating such aging mechanisms into atmospheric models to improve climate predictions. Full article

Titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO₂ NPs) are incorporated into automotive coatings to enhance durability, corrosion, UV resistance, and, in some formulations, photocatalytic self-cleaning. While the toxicology of pristine TiO₂ is well studied, the behavior of TiO₂ NPs embedded in polymer matrices and subjected to real-world aging, maintenance, and removal remains poorly characterized. This narrative review synthesizes 24 publications spanning the lifecycle of TiO₂ nano-enabled automotive coatings, from synthesis and formulation through application, in-service weathering, repair, refinishing, and end-of-life environmental fate. Upstream properties, such as coating functionality and performance, have been examined as determinants of later-life release, exposure, and fate. Across studies, dispersion state, interfacial compatibility, and surface modification—together with transformations such as agglomeration, photocatalysis, weathering, and eco-corona formation—shape particle stability, release, exposure relevance, and toxicological risk. Evidence indicates that sanding and accelerated weathering predominantly generate matrix-associated, polymer-fragment-dominated aerosols rather than pristine TiO₂ NPs, while NP-specific exposure measurements during spray application remain limited. Hazard data suggest matrix embedding may attenuate, but does not eliminate, biological responses relative to pure particles. Wastewater treatment plants and biosolids have been shown to act as sinks with potential for soil accumulation following sludge application. Regulatory frameworks rarely account for aging, transformation, and release, stressing the need for synchronized testing of aged materials and nano-specific exposure metrics to support safer-by-design coatings and risk governance. Full article

Background/Objectives: Heated tobacco products (HTPs) are a gateway to nicotine addiction for non-smokers, especially young people. The short- and long-term health effects of using heated tobacco products are not yet fully understood. The study aimed to assess the effect of heated tobacco use on blood pressure and heart rate in young, healthy individuals aged 18–30. The study also assessed exposure to tobacco smoke by measuring salivary cotinine concentration. Methods: The case–control study was conducted in 2022–2025 among 200 healthy individuals aged 18–30 years: 70 I-Quit-Ordinary-Smoking users (IQOS), 65 daily traditional cigarette smokers (DS), and 65 non-smokers (NS). The research tool was a questionnaire containing information on the use of tobacco products. The participants completed a questionnaire and then underwent blood pressure measurements, anthropometric measurements, and saliva collection for cotinine levels. Results: The average age of initiation of IQOS use was 18.5 years, and smoking had continued for an average of 2.3 years. The average age of initiation of smoking traditional cigarettes was 16.3 years, and smoking had continued for 4.4 years. There were no statistically significant differences in median values between systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) between the IQOS, DS, and NS groups (p > 0.05). High SBP values ≥ 140 mm Hg were observed in 10% of the IQOS users, 18.5% of the daily smokers of conventional cigarettes, and 12.3% of the non-smokers. High DBP values ≥ 90 mm Hg were observed in 11.4% of IQOS, 7.7% of DS, and 7.7% of NS. The cigarette smokers demonstrated significantly higher median cotinine levels compared to the IQOS users and non-smokers: 153.7 vs. 64.3 vs. 0.5 ng/mL (p < 0.01). Salivary cotinine levels were positively correlated (ρ = 0.38; p < 0.01) with the daily number of heated tobacco sticks among IQOS users (weak correlation), as well as among DS (ρ = 0.42; p < 0.01) with a higher daily number of cigarettes (moderate correlation). Conclusions: Long-term studies are needed to determine the health effects of heated tobacco products among young people in Poland. Furthermore, the potential impact of HTP aerosols on passive smokers should be examined. Further studies should consider the use of salivary cotinine as a biomarker. Full article