Beijing one of China’s worst offenders in air pollution in May

Posted on June 14, 2018 by Respro® UK Ltd

China’s capital was once again identified as one of the worst places for air quality in May, ministry data showed on Wednesday, although general air quality in its nearby regions improved.

Concentration of small breathable particles, known as PM2.5, rose 8 percent to 54 micrograms per cubic meter in Beijing last month, ranking the city at No.5 from the bottom of total 74 major monitored cities, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment said in a statement.

It did not give explanation, but pointed out that “unfavorable weather conditions” and “increasing emissions from industrial operations” were major reasons for declining air quality in April.

The smog-prone Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, however, saw a decline in PM2.5 level last month – down 6.4 percent to 44 micrograms per cubic meter from a year ago – although Tangshan, Shijiazhuang, Handan and Baoding city in Hebei also appeared in the bottom 10 for worst performance on air pollution control.

The Beijing Municipal Environmental Protection Bureau said last week that the city would step up anti-pollution measures this year, targeting dust, volatile organic compounds, produced by burning fossil fuels, and diesel exhausts.

A level of PM2.5 in 25 cities in the Yangtze River Delta region rose 5.6 percent to 38 micrograms per cubic meters compared to May last year, the ministry data showed.

China aims to keep national concentrations of PM2.5 below 35 micrograms by around 2035.

The ministry has warned ozone pollution could be the major air contaminant during summer months, which according to studies has caused an increase in deaths from strokes and heart disease.

via Embattled ZTE seeks $10.7 billion credit line, nominates 8 board members

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Study Shows Air Pollution Makes Genetic Changes in the Brain

Posted on June 7, 2018 by Respro® UK Ltd

There’s little question that air pollution is toxic for the human body. Studies have shown that particulate matter in the air can lead to lung disease, heart disease, strokes, and lung cancer. But researchers thought the brain might be protected due to the blood brain barrier—a natural system that filters out foreign substances and certain neurotransmitters before they circulate in the brain. A new study from researchers at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles shows that many heavy metals found in the air may make it into brain tissue, and those pollutants are activating genes that may lead to cancers or neurodegenerative disorders.

To understand how air pollution impacts the brain, doctor Julia Ljubimova, director of the Nanomedicine Research Center at Cedars-Sinai, produced air with the same chemical makeup as that found in Riverside, California, in the Los Angeles Basin. She and her team then subjected rats to the air, with different groups of rats breathing the polluted air for two weeks, one to three months, and 12 months. After examining the rodent brains, the researchers found higher than normal concentrations of heavy metals including cadmium, cobalt, lead, nickel, vanadium, and zinc accumulated in the rats exposed to the pollution for a month or more. Even more disturbing, coarse particles of the pollutants had switched on certain genes. The research appears in the journal Scientific Reports.

“Initially I was even skeptical we could find anything. For example, a smoker has to smoke 20 years to develop lung cancer,” Ljubimova says, “so I was not sure that in three, six, or 12 months of exposure we would detect changes in these animals’ brains at the genomic level. I was very, very surprised when we found so many changes.”

So how are these heavy metals making it into the brain despite the blood brain barrier? The coarse particulate material gets in through the lungs, which absorb the pollution particles into the bloodstream and may somehow beat the blood brain barrier, which can weaken due to high blood pressure, inflammation, and other stresses. Particulates inhaled through the nose have a more direct route into the brain through the olfactory system and may accumulate through that pathway. Once in the brain, the metals cause inflammation, switching on certain genes including those that cause both benign and malignant tumors, and others that are suspected of causing neurodegenerative disorders like Parkinson’s, ALS, Alzheimer’s, and other types of dementia—something that other recent studies have also found.

There are still many questions the study can’t answer. For instance, do these heavy metals accumulate throughout a lifetime, or can the body flush them out? And most importantly, can a study on rats translate to humans? While Ljubimova says it’s likely that the same systems are at work in humans and rodents, her team is also studying Cedars-Sinai’s archive of human brain tissue to see if there’s evidence of these coarse particles accumulating in the brains of people who lived in areas with air pollution.

Ljubimova says that while the pollutants in her study were based on Los Angeles, she guesses many of the same effects are happening in cities across the world with similar loads of coarse pollutants. The hope, she says, is that the study and future follow-ups will galvanize policymakers to take a closer look at the health impacts of industry, auto emissions, agriculture, and military activities in L.A. and other areas with pollution problems. She points out that more and more people are being exposed to questionable air as urbanization expands, and scientists don’t know all the possible organs and ill effects exposure can cause.

“We thought that nature protected the brain through the blood brain barrier,” she says. “But now we see that no, air pollution affects even isolated and protected organs such as the brain. This is important information for thinking about new developments and ways to protect the public.”

via Study Shows Air Pollution Makes Genetic Changes in the Brain | Sierra Club

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The health effect of air pollution from traffic

Posted on June 5, 2018 by Respro® UK Ltd

What would happen if all petrol and diesel-powered vehicles were removed from a smaller European city? Up to 4% of all premature deaths could be prevented, according to a new study from Lund University in Sweden. The researchers used Malmö, Sweden, as a case study to calculate the health costs of inner city traffic.

Every year, over 400,000 people in Europe die prematurely due to air pollution — and there is clear evidence that the mortality rate is higher among people living in areas with more polluted air.

Malmö, Sweden, with a population of 320,000, generally stays below the recommended EU threshold for small particles and nitrogen oxides annually. Despite this, the health benefits of removing exhaust fumes from the city would be significant.

“Decreased pollution would prevent 55-93 premature deaths (2-4% of all cases) each year, 21 new cases of childhood asthma (6% of all cases), 95 cases of childhood bronchitis (10% of all cases), 30 hospitalisations for respiratory diseases (1% of all cases), 87 dementia cases (4% of all cases) and 11 cases of pregnant women with preeclampsia (11% of all cases),” explains Ebba Malmqvist, researcher at the Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine at Lund University.

The change would also prevent 2 729 days of sick leave and 16 472 days of reduced activity due to ill health, the study found.

The researchers have been very cautious in their interpretations, and the effects of decreased air pollution would probably be far greater in reality.

In Malmö, seven times more people die from these sources of air pollution than from traffic accidents.

“Our vision is zero traffic deaths, and considerable investments are made to ensure this — yet we turn a blind eye to the health effects of air pollution,” says Ebba Malmqvist.

Malmö generally stays below EU average air pollution levels of small particles and nitrogen oxides. According to the researchers, the chosen threshold is a compromise between the World Health Organisation’s guidelines and political considerations. However, the epidemiological studies do not include limit values; as the values increase so do the risks.

“The limit value is to give EU citizens some protection against high levels of particles, but it does not represent a safe level. There is nothing to suggest that simply being below the limit value would have any health effects — on the contrary, we see negative effects even at levels below the EU value,” says Anna Oudin, also researcher at the Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.

Despite the fact that researchers have been working on environmental considerations for more than 10 years, the decision-makers have apparently not absorbed the information.

“There is a tendency to believe that because we currently meet the environmental quality standards, our work is essentially done,” says Anna Oudin.

As a result of the study, a number of workshops will be offered for employees working with urban planning issues in the City of Malmö, to discuss how to solve environmental issues in the future. One of several ideas is to introduce environmental zones:

“Environmental zones exist in other cities, where the strictest zone prohibits cars fuelled by petrol or diesel. But Malmö must figure out what suits them. However, we have shown that promoting cleaner air and better health of the population is worthwhile,” concludes Ebba Malmqvist.

EXPLAINER VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hz5eyg-12WE

Story Source:

Materials provided by Lund University. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.

via The health effect of air pollution from traffic — ScienceDaily

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Pollution and Alzheimer’s

Posted on June 4, 2018 by Respro® UK Ltd

Alzheimer’s disease is a neurodegenerative disorder causing dementia, abnormal brain functions, and complete dependence on others in the long run.

It was named after Dr. Alois Alzheimer, a neurologist. Several categorizations are developed based on the parameters such as severity (mild, moderate, or severe), onset time (late-onset, or early-onset), and inflammatory response (inflammatory, non-inflammatory, or cortical).

The patients suffer from memory lapses which are persistent and even worsen over the period of time. These individuals tend to forget the familiar names, events, or appointments. They also find it difficult to navigate even in known places.

Decision-making becomes an extremely challenging task for them because of deteriorated mental function. Behavioral changes such as mood swings, depression, irregular sleeping patterns, and apathy are also common.

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia worldwide. It affects people of all ethnicities. Millions of people globally are diagnosed with this condition every year.

The risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease increases with age (especially during the mid-60’s). Also, females are at a relatively higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s compared to males. Strong evidence for genetic triggers of Alzheimer’s is becoming known, albeit the role of lifestyle-related, occupational, and environmental risk factors cannot be denied.

Air Pollution and Particulate Matter

Various metals and chemicals are suspended in the air due to their small particle size. Barring the natural defense mechanisms of the body, the particulate matter enters the systematic circulation. Studies have shown a higher amount of beta-amyloid protein in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients who reside in polluted areas.

Studies also suggest that long-term exposure to polluted air and smog may contribute to dementia. In one study, the subjects exposed to polluted air showed a deterioration in brain function equivalent to that of two years of aging. This alarms a severe concern for increased risk of early-onset Alzheimer’s in polluted cities.

Magnetite Particles

Magnetite is a form of iron and is frequently found in the fine particulate matter. Magnetite particles are generated due to the burning of industrial fuels and are also produced inside the body via natural biochemical processes. Scientists have successfully made a clear distinction among the magnetite particles created externally and those created inside the body. They were able to further investigate the course of magnetite particles in the brain due to their magnetic properties. The study showed that the particles inside the brain were of an external source, proving that magnetite particles from the polluted air can pass into the brain. Moreover, they were found in high concentrations inside the amyloid-beta plaques in the brain tissues.

However, as the mere presence of magnetite particles inside plaques could not establish their role in the creation of plaques or cell death, the contribution of magnetite particles in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s remains debatable.

Oxidative Stress Theory

Air pollution has a direct impact on body’s receipt of oxygen. When environmental toxins and chemicals dissolve in the blood along with oxygen and traverse to the brain cells, they cause oxidative stress. Chronic oxidative stress in neural tissues is seen as a strong risk factor for Alzheimer’s.

Nickel Nanoparticles

Nickel nanoparticles emitted from the exhaust of motor vehicles are known to increase the levels of amyloid peptides inside the brain. This resembles with the plaque formation phenomenon, the hallmark of Alzheimer’s. Scientists claim that at least 5 out of 100 cases of Alzheimer’s may be caused by nickel nanoparticles in the air.

Role of Age and ApoE4

As the etiology of Alzheimer’s is multifactorial, other variables such as gender, age, and familial or genetic predisposition need to be factored in.

A recent study revealed a dramatic rise in the risk of developing Alzheimer’s in response to air pollution when the patients were females and carried Apolipoprotein E4 (ApoE4) genetic variant. In another large-scale study of geriatric women, the occurrence of dementia upon exposure to air pollution was found to be three times higher in those with ApoE4 variant.

Even though several studies indicate a correlation of pollution with the incidence of Alzheimer’s, a direct link has not yet been established for pollution to be called as the causative factor for Alzheimer’s. This is because of many other confounding variables into the play. Nevertheless, the risk that air pollution poses and its role in Alzheimer’s is unanimously accepted worldwide.

via Pollution and Alzheimer’s

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Ulsan exposed to yearlong toxic fine dust: study

Posted on June 1, 2018 by Respro® UK Ltd

The coastal city of Ulsan, 60 kilometers north of Busan, is susceptible to toxic fine dust all-year-round due to the city’s shipbuilding industrial region, research showed Wednesday.

Ulsan’s volatile organic compound emission volume is the highest among cities in Korea, according to a study led by Choi Sung-deuk, professor of urban and environmental engineering at Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology.

The city’s toxic fine dust levels stay unchanged throughout the year due to the shipbuilding complex’s emission of VOCs that turn toxic in the air, requiring an in-depth study of the region’s air pollution.

The air pollution level in Korea tends to go up in spring, when the seasonal wind from China carries in the yellow dust from Gobi Desert.

Choi’s research team took air samples from the UNIST campus each season and analyzed its polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons concentration. PAHs are toxic substance created in the process of incomplete combustion of organic matter.

The research revealed that Ulsan’s PAHs density was above the national average even during summer, when fine dust levels are believed to recede elsewhere in Korea.

Choi claimed that the higher PAHs density level was due to the pollutants from Ulsan’s coastal shipbuilding industrial area that produced toxic contaminants which were trapped inland by the wind blowing in from the sea.

Choi said that the country’s analysis methods for fine dust concentration is misguided. Korea focuses on the volume of fine dust in comprehending its ill effects, while in fact, ‘high concentration’ of fine dust based on the current standard may be a collection of relatively clean sand particles. In addition, the ‘lower concentration’ result could contain a higher density of toxic substance that is more hazardous to human system.

According to Choi’s study, the PAHs level increased in Ulsan in both winter, between January and February, and in spring, between March and May. In summer, between June and August, the total mass of fine dust decreased but the PAHs density remained unchanged.

Choi’s research was published in the May issue of international journal Environmental Pollution.

via Ulsan exposed to yearlong toxic fine dust: study

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What is Vog? Hazardous pollutant seen spewing out from Hawaii’s volcano other than lava

Posted on May 31, 2018 by Respro® UK Ltd

It has been more than three weeks that the Kilauea volcano on Hawaii’s Big Island is hotting out lava, ash in the sky. The ash cloud can be seen from miles away. However, along with the molten rock and deadly ash cloud, one can also find a deadly ‘vog’ in the picture.

It has been more than three weeks that the Kilauea volcano on Hawaii’s Big Island is hotting out lava, ash in the sky. The ash cloud can be seen from miles away. However, along with the molten rock and deadly ash cloud, one can also find a deadly ‘vog’ in the picture. As per scientists, higher sulfur dioxide emissions recorded at the volcano’s vents in recent days are creating the potential for heavier than usual vog, or volcanic smog.

So what exactly is vog?

This type of air pollution can be referred to as Volcanic Smog or Vog. As of now, vapour mixed with carbon dioxide and sulfur dioxide gas is being released from Kilauea volcano. This mixture of gas reacts with sunlight, oxygen, moisture and other elements and particles. This mixture of various gasses converts fine particles which scatter sunlight, thus creating a haze. As per The Interagency Vog Dashboard, this haze can be seen downwind of Kilauea. As per the U.S. Geological Survey, the sulfur dioxide emissions from Kilauea have increased more than doubled since the current eruption began.

Every day, Kilauea was spewing 15,000 tons of which is up from 6,000 tons prior to the May 3 eruption. As for the people living miles away from eruption have raised an issue about the increased amount of noxious fumes.

Are there any health impacts?

“Everyone is having symptoms now on some level,” Dr. Josh Green was quoted as saying by CBS news. Symptoms from the Vog usually include burning eyes, headaches and sore throats. However, the symptoms become deadly from the people with diseased like asthma or other respiratory problems. They can end up being in the hospital. Although, people who lead an active and healthy lifestyle can tolerate the basic symptoms said Dr Green.

Is the vog worse now?

As per environmental health specialist for the state health department’s Clean Air Branch, Lisa Young, with increased emissions from the volcano, there’s definitely more vog. A retired photojournalist, Chris Stewart, said, “There is one good thing about vog and that is it intensifies the colours of a sunset. However, it depends on how thick the haze actually is. On some days, it’s thin enough for you to see the sun passing.” Stewart added, “But on other days we just go inside because we can’t see it at all.”

via What is Vog? Hazardous pollutant seen spewing out from Hawaii’s volcano other than lava – The Financial Express

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Nanoparticles may be linked to early first period in Korea: study

Posted on May 30, 2018 by Respro® UK Ltd

Exposure to air pollution, particularly to nanoparticles classified as PM2.5, may cause early first periods among young girls, which is known to increase one’s risk of developing other health conditions, such as breast cancer and early menopause, a new study showed on Tuesday.

Scholars at Ewha Womans University came to the conclusion after researching 639 young girls aged 13-17 who participated in a survey from 2010-2012. Their findings showed that participants’ exposure to nanoparticles was linked with an increased chance of experiencing early menarche, or first menstruation.

Previous overseas studies have already shown that air pollution can have a negative impact on women’s hormonal activity, metabolic syndrome and fertility.

Korea joined the ranks of the world’s most polluted countries last year, with air pollution in the first months of 2017 reaching record levels. An OECD report released earlier this year showed that Korea’s air quality is among the worst among its member countries, particularly due to its high nanoparticles levels.

Better known as “fine dust” among Koreans, nanoparticles have been classified as a Group 1 carcinogen by the World Health Organization. Also known as PM2.5, the fine particles with a diameter of 2.5 micrometers or less are known to penetrate deep into the respiratory system and can cause a number of health conditions, including cancer.

Researchers at Ewha Womans University claimed that one’s chance of experiencing early menarche increased by 1.08 times per every 1 cubic meter of level increase of nanoparticles in the past year.

“This research shows that young girls may be especially vulnerable to exposure to PM2.5,” said Dr. Ha Eun-hee, a medical doctor and professor at the Ewha Womans University who organized the research.

Researches have shown that girls who start their periods early have an increased risk of a number of illnesses, including breast cancer and depression, partially due to the hormonal upheaval arising from exposure to estrogens at an early age.

Dr. Ha claimed that further research is needed to verify whether PM2.5 can indeed be classified as an estrogen disrupting hazardous air pollutant.

It is not just young girls who are being affected by air pollution. A study last year by New York University School of Medicine found that exposure to air pollution early in one’s pregnancy may increase risk or preterm birth and low weight among the newborns.

via Nanoparticles may be linked to early first period in Korea: study

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Seoul to ban old diesel vehicles on fine dust days

Posted on May 30, 2018 by Respro® UK Ltd

Starting next month, drivers of old, diesel-powered vehicles driven between 6 a.m. and 9 p.m. in Seoul amid fine-dust alerts will be fined 100,000 won ($89), the city government said, Tuesday.

Over 2.2 million vehicles registered before Dec. 31, 2005 will be immediately subject to the ban from June 1. Those equipped with exhaust-reducing air treatment systems will be exempt from the ban. A nine-month grace period will be allowed to drivers of vehicles registered in non-Seoul regions and old cargo trucks that weigh below 2.5 tons as well as drivers with disabilities, giving them time to get equipped with the anti-pollution system.

The alert is issued if three conditions are met: if average daily levels of Particulate Matter (PM) 2.5, a fine particulate matter which is 2.5 micrometers or smaller in diameter, are above 50 microns per cubic meter of air between midnight and 4 p.m.; if the level is expected to remain above 100 microns per cubic meter the following day for more than three hours; and if a fine dust alert is issued in one of nine designated areas in Seoul, Incheon and Gyeonggi Province as of 5 p.m.

Up to 9.28 million won in financial support will be given to install the air treatment systems, the city government said, to owners of vehicles over 2.5 tons registered before Dec. 31, 2005. The city will give up to 7.7 million won to owners of trucks lighter than 2.5 tons, on which such installation is not feasible, who have no choice but to give them up.

The measure is among a slew of efforts to reduce air-pollution including an odd-even vehicle use ban subject only to civil servants, under which vehicles with odd-number plates must not be driven on even-numbered dates and vice-versa. Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon, who is seeking a third term in the upcoming June 13 local election, said he would push harder to revise the law to make the odd-even vehicle ban mandatory when the PM 2.5 concentration average is over 50 micrometers for more than two days. Currently, the city can only issue non-binding recommendations with no penalty for people who fail to follow them.

The move comes amid heightened public concern about potential health risks posed by inhaling fine particulate matter known to cause respiratory ailments and weaken the body’s immune system, among other health risks. Fine dust refers to particles that are smaller than 10 micrometers and are not caught in the mucous membranes of the nose, but penetrate into the lungs. If a particle is smaller than 2.5 micrometers it is called ultrafine dust. According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer under the World Health Organization (WHO), small particulate matter is classified as carcinogenic to humans. Vehicle emissions are one of the main sources of fine dust that produces PM 2.5.

via Seoul to ban old diesel vehicles on fine dust days

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