Personal Exposure to Fine Particulate Air Pollution among Brick Workers in Nepal

Johnston, James D.; Collingwood, Scott C.; LeCheminant, James D.; Peterson, Neil E.; Reynolds, Paul R.; Arroyo, Juan A.; South, Andrew J.; Farnsworth, Clifton B.; Chartier, Ryan T.; Layton, Lindsey N.; Lu, James H.; Penrod, Marli S.; Sanjel, Seshananda; Beard, John D.

doi:10.3390/atmos14121783

Cited by 2 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 29 publications

(44 reference statements)

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…This study was designed as a cross-sectional, observational study that aimed to characterize health status, exposure burden to respirable crystalline silica and PM 2.5 [ 24 ], and to obtain serum from brick workers in Bhaktapur, Nepal. The manufacture of bricks in the Kathmandu Valley occurs during the dry season—from November to March.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…All participants were adult employees of the brick kiln primarily sampled from four job categories: administration (management and office employees), fire masters (workers who added coal to bricks during the firing process), green brick hand molders (workers that formed green bricks using hand molds), and top loaders ( Figure 1 ; workers who removed soil from the top of the brick kiln after firing had been completed). Workers in each category experienced temporal exposure trends to PM 2.5 coincident with diverse dust/silica species [ 24 ]. For this particular study, a sample size of 8 for each of the 4 job categories was evaluated, with equal representation by age for each job description ( Table 1 ).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Differential Inflammatory Cytokine Elaboration in Serum from Brick Kiln Workers in Bhaktapur, Nepal

Curtis,

Chang,

Johnston

et al. 2024

Diseases

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Previous studies involving workers at brick kilns in the Kathmandu Valley of Nepal have investigated chronic exposure to hazardous levels of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) common in ambient and occupational environments. Such exposures are known to cause and/or exacerbate chronic respiratory diseases, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma. However, there is a paucity of data regarding the status of systemic inflammation observed in exposed workers at brick manufacturing facilities within the country. In the current study, we sought to elucidate systemic inflammatory responses by quantifying the molecular cytokine/chemokine profiles in serum from the study participants. A sample of participants were screened from a kiln in Bhaktapur, Nepal (n = 32; 53% female; mean ± standard deviation: 28.42 ± 11.47 years old) and grouped according to job category. Blood was procured from participants on-site, allowed to clot at room temperature, and centrifuged to obtain total serum. A human cytokine antibody array was used to screen the inflammatory mediators in serum samples from each of the participants. For the current study, four job categories were evaluated with n = 8 for each. Comparisons were generated between a control group of administration workers vs. fire master workers, administration workers vs. green brick hand molders, and administration workers vs. top loaders. We discovered significantly increased concentrations of eotaxin-1, eotaxin-2, GCSF, GM-CSF, IFN-γ, IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, TGF-β1, TNF-α, and TIMP-2 in serum samples from fire master workers vs. administration workers (p < 0.05). Each of these molecules was also significantly elevated in serum from green brick hand molders compared to administration workers (p < 0.05). Further, each molecule in the inflammatory screening with the exception of TIMP-2 was significantly elevated in serum from top loaders compared to administration workers (p < 0.05). With few exceptions, the fire master workers expressed significantly more systemic inflammatory molecular abundance when compared to all other job categories. These results reveal an association between pulmonary exposure to PM2.5 and systemic inflammatory responses likely mediated by cytokine/chemokine elaboration. The additional characterization of a broader array of inflammatory molecules may provide valuable insight into the susceptibility to lung diseases among this population.

show abstract

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Differential Inflammatory Cytokine Elaboration in Serum from Brick Kiln Workers in Bhaktapur, Nepal

Curtis,

Chang,

Johnston

et al. 2024

Diseases

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

Advancements and Innovations in PM2.5 Monitoring: A Comprehensive Review of Emerging Technologies

Onaiwu,

Ayidu

2024

FJS

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This comprehensive review examines the evolving landscape of PM2.5 monitoring, emphasizing its critical role in environmental chemistry, public health and electrical/electronic engineering. Traditional methods, including manual sampling, gravimetric analysis, and the Federal Reference Method (FRM), have long been relied upon for PM2.5 measurement but are hindered by limitations in spatial coverage, temporal resolution, and cost. In response, emerging technologies such as wireless sensor networks, low-cost sensor technologies, remote sensing techniques, and machine learning algorithms offer promising solutions to overcome these challenges. Through an analysis of case studies and applications in various environmental settings, including urban areas, industrial zones, and indoor environments, the review highlights the effectiveness of monitoring networks in enhancing spatial and temporal resolution, as well as the need for community engagement and real-time monitoring solutions. Furthermore, technological innovations such as sensor fusion, data analytics, and artificial intelligence hold great promise for improving the accuracy, reliability, and accessibility of PM2.5 monitoring data. Regulatory agencies and policymakers play a crucial role in advancing PM2.5 monitoring by harmonizing monitoring standards, strengthening quality assurance measures, and developing evidence-based regulations to mitigate air pollution and protect public health. In conclusion, international cooperation and collaboration are essential for addressing transboundary air pollution and global environmental challenges. Regional monitoring networks and international agreements provide frameworks for data sharing, standardization of monitoring practices, and collaborative research efforts. To this end, stakeholders can leverage PM2.5 monitoring by adopting new technologies, improving data quality, and supporting evidence-based actions to safeguard public health, the environment, and sustainability

show abstract

Personal Exposure to Fine Particulate Air Pollution among Brick Workers in Nepal

Cited by 2 publications

References 29 publications

Differential Inflammatory Cytokine Elaboration in Serum from Brick Kiln Workers in Bhaktapur, Nepal

Differential Inflammatory Cytokine Elaboration in Serum from Brick Kiln Workers in Bhaktapur, Nepal

Advancements and Innovations in PM2.5 Monitoring: A Comprehensive Review of Emerging Technologies

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About