Wood smoke risk assessment: Defining the questions

Morandi, Maria T.; Ward, Tony

doi:10.3109/08958370903008854

Cited by 12 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 52 publications

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“…Several studies carried out in different populations around the world have established that domestic exposure to biomass solid fuels combustion products is now considered an important risk factor for COPD, mainly in developing countries [3,4,6,18]. A number of similarities including mortality among COPD associated with TS and BE have been observed [3,6].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

FEV1 inversely correlates with metalloproteinases 1, 7, 9 and CRP in COPD by biomass smoke exposure

Montaño¹,

Sansores²,

Becerril³

et al. 2014

Respir Res

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Background Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and C-reactive protein (CRP) are involved in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) pathogenesis. The aim of the present work was to determine plasma concentrations of MMPs and CRP in COPD associated to biomass combustion exposure (BE) and tobacco smoking (TS). Methods Pulmonary function tests, plasma levels of MMP-1, MMP-7, MMP-9, MMP-9/TIMP-1 and CRP were measured in COPD associated to BE (n = 40) and TS (n =40) patients, and healthy non-smoking (NS) healthy women (controls, n = 40). Results Plasma levels of MMP-1, MMP-7, MMP-9, and MMP-9/TIMP-1 and CRP were higher in BE and TS than in the NS healthy women ( p <0.01 ). An inverse correlation between MMP-1, MMP-7, MMP-9, MMP-9/TIMP-1 and CRP plasma concentrations and FEV 1 was observed. Conclusions Increase of MMPs and CRP plasma concentrations in BE suggests a systemic inflammatory phenomenon similar to that observed in COPD associated to tobacco smoking, which may also play a role in COPD pathogenesis.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

FEV1 inversely correlates with metalloproteinases 1, 7, 9 and CRP in COPD by biomass smoke exposure

Montaño¹,

Sansores²,

Becerril³

et al. 2014

Respir Res

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“…, elemental and organic carbon) may play a larger role than other constituents (e.g., [ 149 , 150 ]), and others suggesting the importance of certain trace metals and other components [ 151 , 152 ]. However, despite some similarities in composition compared with other types of combustion emissions, PM from biomass combustion can have very different composition and physicochemical properties, and thus potentially differing toxicity [ 6 , 140 , 153 , 154 ]. Some studies (e.g., [ 147 , 155 , 156 ]) suggest that biomass combustion PM, and in particular that associated with quasi-complete combustion in well-operated boilers, is of lesser toxicity than other types of combustion emissions.…”

Section: Potential Occupational Risksmentioning

confidence: 99%

Potential Occupational Exposures and Health Risks Associated with Biomass-Based Power Generation

Rohr

Campleman

Long

et al. 2015

IJERPH

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Biomass is increasingly being used for power generation; however, assessment of potential occupational health and safety (OH&S) concerns related to usage of biomass fuels in combustion-based generation remains limited. We reviewed the available literature on known and potential OH&S issues associated with biomass-based fuel usage for electricity generation at the utility scale. We considered three potential exposure scenarios—pre-combustion exposure to material associated with the fuel, exposure to combustion products, and post-combustion exposure to ash and residues. Testing of dust, fungal and bacterial levels at two power stations was also undertaken. Results indicated that dust concentrations within biomass plants can be extremely variable, with peak levels in some areas exceeding occupational exposure limits for wood dust and general inhalable dust. Fungal spore types, identified as common environmental species, were higher than in outdoor air. Our review suggests that pre-combustion risks, including bioaerosols and biogenic organics, should be considered further. Combustion and post-combustion risks appear similar to current fossil-based combustion. In light of limited available information, additional studies at power plants utilizing a variety of technologies and biomass fuels are recommended.

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“…It is well recognized that wood smoke particles can differ in their chemical composition and physicochemical properties from other combustion-related PM types, such as traffic-related PM and coal combustion PM (Lighty et al 2000 ; Naeher et al 2007 ; Morandi and Ward 2010 ; Kocbach Bolling et al 2009 ). While a topic of intensive research in recent years, the relative toxicity of source-specific PM, including wood smoke PM, remains highly uncertain.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…As these examples show, the evidence regarding the relative potency of wood smoke PM versus other ambient PM is inconsistent (Naeher et al 2007 ; Morandi and Ward 2010 ). Moreover, it is possible that there may be variability in the relative potency of different types of wood smoke PM due to differences in its composition and other properties (e.g., particle size) depending on vegetation type and combustion conditions (Liu et al 2015 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Long-range fine particulate matter from the 2002 Quebec forest fires and daily mortality in Greater Boston and New York City

Tao

Long

et al. 2015

Air Qual Atmos Health

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During July 2002, forest fires in Quebec, Canada, blanketed the US East Coast with a plume of wood smoke. This “natural experiment” exposed large populations in northeastern US cities to significantly elevated concentrations of fine particulate matter (PM2.5), providing a unique opportunity to test the association between daily mortality and ambient PM2.5 levels that are uncorrelated with societal activity rhythms. We obtained PM2.5 measurement data and mortality data for a 4-week period in July 2002 for the Greater Boston metropolitan area (which has a population of over 1.7 million people) and New York City (which has a population of over 8 million people). Daily average PM2.5 concentrations were markedly increased for 3 days over this period, reaching as high as 63 μg/m3 for Greater Boston and 86 μg/m3 for New York City from background ambient levels of 4–48 μg/m3 in the non-smoke days. We examined temporal patterns of natural-cause deaths and 24-h ambient PM2.5 concentrations in July 2002 and did not observe any discernible increase in daily mortality subsequent to the dramatic elevation in ambient PM2.5 levels. Comparison to mortality rates over the same time periods in 2001 and 2003 showed no evidence of impact. Results from Poisson regression analyses suggest that 24-h ambient PM2.5 concentrations were not associated with daily mortality. In conclusion, substantial short-term elevation in PM2.5 concentrations from forest fire smoke were not followed by increased daily mortality in Greater Boston or New York City.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s11869-015-0332-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

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Wood smoke risk assessment: Defining the questions

Cited by 12 publications

References 52 publications

FEV1 inversely correlates with metalloproteinases 1, 7, 9 and CRP in COPD by biomass smoke exposure

FEV1 inversely correlates with metalloproteinases 1, 7, 9 and CRP in COPD by biomass smoke exposure

Potential Occupational Exposures and Health Risks Associated with Biomass-Based Power Generation

Long-range fine particulate matter from the 2002 Quebec forest fires and daily mortality in Greater Boston and New York City

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