Ambient particulate matter (PM), a major component of air pollution, aggravates ocular discomfort and inflammation, similarly to dry eye disease (DED) or allergies. However, the mechanism(s) by which PM induces the ocular inflammatory response is unknown. This study investigated the immunological response of traffic-related fine particulate matter (PM2.5) on the ocular surface in a murine model. C57BL/6 mice were exposed by topical application to PM2.5 or vehicle for 14 days to induce experimental environmental ocular disease. Corneal fluorescein staining and the number of ocular inflammatory cells were assessed in both groups. The expression of IL-1β, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and mucin 5AC (MUC5AC) in the ocular surface were evaluated by real-time PCR. An immunohistochemical assay evaluated apoptosis and goblet cell density. ELISA was used to determine the levels of serum IgE and cytokines of Type 1 helper (Th1) and Type 2 helper (Th2) cells after in vitro stimulation of T cells in the draining lymph nodes (LNs). Exposure to traffic-related PM2.5 significantly increased corneal fluorescein staining and cellular toxicity in the corneal epithelium compared with the vehicle control. A significant increase in the number of CD11b+ cells on the central cornea and mast cells in the conjunctiva was observed in the PM2.5 group. Exposure to PM2.5 was associated with a significant increase in the corneal or conjunctival expression of IL-1β, IL-6, TNF, and MUC5AC compared to the vehicle, and increased maturation of dendric cells (DCs) (MHC-IIhighCD11c+) in draining LNs. In addition, PM2.5 exposure increased the level of serum IgE and Th2 cytokine production in draining LNs on day 14. In conclusion, exposure to traffic-related PM2.5 caused ocular surface damage and inflammation, which induced DC maturation and the Th2-cell-dominant allergic immune response in draining LNs.
A port has been regarded as a significant contributor to air pollution in the surrounding areas. Port-related air pollutants are released from not only marine vessels, but also various land-side sources at ports, which include cargo handling equipment, vehicles, locomotives, and fugitive dust sources by port activities such as bulk handling and vehicle movements. However, most studies in Korea have only focused on vessel emissions and there is a lack of information on the emissions from other sources at port. In this study, in order to establish the port-related emission inventory and evaluate the relative contribution of these sources to air emissions from the Port of Incheon, the emissions from land-side sources were estimated and the CAPSS (Clean Air Policy Support System) data for vessel emissions were used. In particular, the detailed information and activity data for the cargo handling equipment source were collected and the emission factors and emissions by equipment types were calculated using U.S. EPA methodologies. Total HC, CO, NO x , PM 10 , and SO 2 emissions from port-related sources including the vessel in 2007 were calculated as 229 ton/year, 638 ton/year, 4,861 ton/year, 307 ton/year, and 3,995 ton/year, respectively. It was found that the vessel was the largest contributor to air pollutant emissions from the port, the cargo handling equipment was responsible for about from 8% to 13% of HC, CO, and NO x emissions and the resuspended road dust contributed about 39% for PM 10 emissions. The results of this study will be used to establish the management and reduction strategies of air pollution in the port.
In order to reduce the risk of death from hypothermia for the fishing vessel`s crew at sea, this paper suggests that the criteria of equipment of fishing vessels should be revised for fishing vessels engaged in coastal and inshore fisheries to be equipped with the immersion suit. The criteria of equipment of fishing vessels for immersion suits was amended to reflect the sinking of No.501 Oryongho but it was only reflected in ocean fisheries at Bering sea and Antarctic ocean that immersion suits must be provided with the same number of the total number of crew on board. Therefore, this paper analyses the relationship between maritime accident of fishing vessels and weather condition based on sea water temperature to find out the risk of hypothermia and also compares the international conventions (SFV Protocol 1993, Cape Town Agreement 2012, STCW-F 1995 and SOLAS 1974 and domestic law concerning criteria of equipment of fishing vessels. As a result, fishing vessels engaged in coastal and inshore fisheries are exposed to the risk of hypothermia when they are in distress and the criteria of equipment of fishing vessels should be amended to provide the immersion suits in accordance with the revision trend of international conventions.
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