Air Pollution and Health in Urban Areas

Abstract

In this paper, recent reviews of the World Health Organization, other review papers, and more recent literature on the human health effects of current air pollution trends in urban areas are reviewed and summarized as follows: Sulphur dioxide. Some studies, but not others, found associations between sulphur dioxide (SO2) exposure and daily mortality and morbidity. Single-pollutant correlations sometimes disappeared when other pollutants, especially suspended particulate matter (SPM), were included. Cross-sectional studies with asthmatics revealed significant, non-threshold relations between SO2 and decrements of the forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1). Nitrogen dioxide. Weak associations between short-term nitrogen dioxide (NO2) exposure from gas cooking and respiratory symptoms and a decrement in lung function parameters were found in children, but not consistently in exposed women. With long-term exposure, children, but not adults, exhibit increased respiratory symptoms, decreased lung function, and increased incidences of chronic cough, bronchitis, and conjunctivitis. A causal relationship between NO2 exposure and adverse health effects has not yet been established. Carbon monoxide. Binding of CO in the lungs with hemoglobin in the blood forms carboxyhemoglobin (COHb), which impairs the transport of oxygen. The health effects of CO include hypoxia, neurological deficits and neurobehavioral changes, and increases in daily mortality and hospital admissions for cardiovascular diseases. The latter persists even at very low CO levels, indicating no threshold for the onset of these effects. Whether the relation between daily mortality and exposure to CO are causal or whether CO might act as a proxy for SPM is still an open question. Ambient CO may have even more serious health consequences than does COHb formation and at lower levels than that mediated through elevated COHb levels. Ozone. Short-term acute effects of O3 include pulmonary function decrements, increased airway responsiveness and airway inflammation, aggravation of pre-existing respiratory diseases like asthma, increases in daily hospital admissions and emergency department visits for respiratory causes, and excess mortality. Exposure-response relations are non-linear for the respective associations between O3 and FEV1, inflammatory changes, and changes in hospital admissions, whereas the relation between percent change in symptom exacerbation among adults and asthmatics is linear. Single-pollutant associations between O3 exposure and daily mortality and hospital admissions for respiratory diseases is statistically significant, even in multi-pollutant models. Suspended particulate matter. Associations between SPM concentrations and mortality and morbidity rates are significant. The acute health effects of SPM, even at short-term low levels of exposure, include increased daily mortality and hospital admission rates for exacerbation of respiratory disease, fluctuations in the prevalence of bronchodilator use, and cough and peak flow reductions, as...

Heterogeneity of cardiovascular risk among smokers is related to degree of carbon monoxide exposure

“…Among smokers matched for daily tobacco consumption there are marked variations of the amount of carbon monoxide hemoglobin (2,21). To what extent this may be accounted for by air pollution (22), brand of tobacco, use of filter, inhalation habits and time since last smoked cigarette remains to be evaluated. It can be concluded, however, that cardiovascular risk estimates based solely on the number of cigarettes smoked per day are improved by levels of CO in blood or expired air.…”

Expressing urine from a gel disposable diaper for biomonitoring using phthalates as an example

“…A relationship between ambient air pollution and daily mortality and morbidity rates has been reported for many cities throughout the world (Schwela, 2000;Stieb et al, 2002;Glinianaia et al, 2004;Gordon et al, 2004). The relevant contaminants include sulfur dioxide, suspended particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, ozone, and lead (Schwela, 2000).…”

“…There is a consistent body of evidence that exposure to ambient air pollution is associated with increased respiratory symptoms of cough, bronchitis, respiratory infection, and upper respiratory tract illness in children (Dockery et al, 1989;Raizenne et al, 1996;Schwela, 2000). Although the effects of pollutants appear small, they occur at levels within the national ambient air quality standards of most countries and have the potential to affect large populations of children.…”

“…The relevant contaminants include sulfur dioxide, suspended particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, ozone, and lead (Schwela, 2000). Ambient air pollution has been declared an important health problem for developing countries.…”

Indoor air quality in a restaurant kitchen using margarine for deep-frying

“…Frying fumes have also irritating content such as aldehydes, aerosols, and VOCs (Svendsen et al 2003), some of which are mutagenic substances (Sjaastad and Svendsen 2008). PM have been linked to pulmonary, cardiac, renal, and dermal toxic effects (Schwela 2000).…”