Study links air pollution with increased Alzheimer’s markers

Posted on February 22, 2024 by Respro® UK Ltd

People with higher exposure to traffic-related air pollution were more likely to have high amounts of amyloid plaques in their brains associated with Alzheimer’s disease after death, according to a study published in the February 21, 2024, online issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. Researchers looked at fine particulate matter, PM2.5, which consists of pollutant particles of less than 2.5 microns in diameter suspended in air.

The study does not prove that air pollution causes more amyloid plaques in the brain. It only shows an association.

“These results add to the evidence that fine particulate matter from traffic-related air pollution affects the amount of amyloid plaque in the brain. More research is needed to investigate the mechanisms behind this link.” – Anke Huels, PhD, study author of Emory University in Atlanta

For the study, researchers examined the brain tissue of 224 people who agreed to donate their brains at death to advance research on dementia. The people had died at an average age of 76.

Researchers looked at the traffic-related air pollution exposure based on the people’s home address in the Atlanta area at the time of death. Traffic-related PM2.5 concentrations are a major source of ambient pollution in urban areas like the metro-Atlanta area where most donors lived. The average level of exposure in the year before death was 1.32 micrograms per cubic meter (µg/m3) and 1.35 µg/m3 in the three years before death.

Researchers then compared pollution exposures to measures of the signs of Alzheimer’s disease in the brain: amyloid plaques and tau tangles. They found that people with higher exposures to air pollution one and three years before death were more likely to have higher levels of amyloid plaques in their brains. People with 1 µg/m3 higher PM2.5 exposure in the year before death were nearly twice as likely to have higher levels of plaques, while those with higher exposure in the three years before death were 87% more likely to have higher levels of plaques.

Researchers also looked at whether having the main gene variant associated with Alzheimer’s disease, APOE e4, had any effect on the relationship between air pollution and signs of Alzheimer’s in the brain. They found that the strongest relationship between air pollution and signs of Alzheimer’s was among those without the gene variant.

“This suggests that environmental factors such as air pollution could be a contributing factor to Alzheimer’s in patients in which the disease cannot be explained by genetics,” Huels said.

A limitation of the study is that researchers only had the home address of people at the time of their death for measuring air pollution, so it’s possible that pollution exposure may have been misclassified. The study also involved mainly white people who were highly educated, so the results may not be representative of other populations.

The study was supported by the HERCULES Pilot Project, Goizueta Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center and the Rollins School of Public Health Dean’s Pilot and Innovation Grant.

Source:

American Academy of Neurology

Study links air pollution with increased Alzheimer’s markers

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‘It stinks!’: Milan residents grapple with high pollution

Posted on February 21, 2024 by Respro® UK Ltd

Pietro De Luca lives in Italy’s finance and fashion capital Milan but often thinks of moving to a cleaner city with his wife and three children to escape high pollution and the health risks it causes.

“It stinks! I smell a constant stench of smog, I cough, I feel my throat burning,” said De Luca, who lives in a second floor apartment in Milan’s eastern Città Studi district.

Levels of fine particulates and other pollutants in Milan rank among the highest in Europe, data from the European Union’s Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service and Italian environmental lobby Legambiente showed this month.

Some residents are wearing face masks outdoors to reduce exposure to the dirty air.

Roberto Lorenzutti, who used to live in Milan, says he breathes much better since he left. He had an opportunity to work remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic, and relocated to the island of Sardinia.

“In Milan you have to try and survive in this swamp for five days a week, and get yourself out for the weekend to get a breath of fresh air,” he said.

Milan and surrounding cities in Italy’s affluent northern region of Lombardy have responded by activating measures on Tuesday to limit the use of the most polluting vehicles during the main hours of the day.

Milan, a city of just over one million people, lies within the densely populated Po Valley, which houses almost one third of Italy’s population.

The valley’s 17 million inhabitants make it one of the most polluted areas in Europe, for which Italy was in 2020 found in breach of EU clear air directives by the EU Court of Justice.

The problems are caused by dense agricultural and industrial activity in the valley, amplified by its geography which traps the air, said Valentina Bosetti, professor of Environmental and Climate Change Economics at the city’s Bocconi University.

In Milan, the levels of air pollutants PM2.5, PM10 and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) last year all breached the guidelines set by the World Health Organization, Legambiente noted.

The issue is a long-standing one for the area and Giorgio Maione, Lombardy regional councillor for the environment, says progress has been made, citing a 39% reduction in PM10 concentration and 45% in NO2 over the past two decades.

Milan environment councillor Elena Eva Maria Grandi, however, said that pollution levels remain very high, and asked for closer cooperation between municipal and regional authorities to evaluate emergency measures for a city that will co-host the Winter Olympics in 2026.

“We are very worried, it is evident,” she said.

‘It stinks!’: Milan residents grapple with high pollution | Reuters

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Air Pollution Reaches Unhealthy Levels in Laos, Affecting Three Main Provinces

Posted on February 19, 2024 by Respro® UK Ltd

Laos is experiencing a rise in air pollution levels, reaching unhealthy levels in three main provinces, including Vientiane Capital, Luang Prabang Province, and Champasack Provinces.

Vientiane Capital’s air quality has measured an unhealthy level Air Quality Index (AQI) of 155-160 today, on 19 February, while Luang Prabang Province and Pakse district in Champasack Province both registered around 158-160, according to the IQ Air website.

The pollution rate began to worsen over the weekend between 17-18 February in these provinces. Luang Prabang recorded AQI levels of 163 and 154, Pakse at 155 and 158, and Vientiane Capital at 148 and 145 on Saturday and Sunday, respectively.

Last October, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment reported that Laos typically experiences heightened air pollution during its dry season, spanning from November to April annually. This period sees an increase in practices such as waste burning, deforestation, and the burning of agricultural land, all of which are significant contributors to high air pollution levels.

In an attempt to reduce the smog, the ministry, alongside the World Health Organization (WHO), discussed solutions to be implemented, including building public awareness of the short- and long-term health risks, conducting climate change awareness workshops, and decentralizing fire. This aligned with the government’s goal to reduce the number of unregulated fires by 35 percent in 2025

However, there have been no concrete updates on the progress ever since the meeting was conducted.

Throughout March 2023, Vientiane Capital and Luang Prabang were also coping with the continuously rising air pollution, with the latter recording the AQI level at 500 as a result of forest fires, agricultural burning, and hunting practices.

The pollution madness, at that time, led to a huge demand for air purifiers in Vientiane Capital, with some electronic shops reporting that such machines in their places were all sold out.

Thailand, a close neighbor of Laos, has also been facing severe air pollution issues, with the AQI reaching an unhealthy 156. In certain areas, the AQI exceeded 163, as reported by The Associated Press News on 15 February. In a prompt response, the Thai government instructed city employees in Bangkok to work from home until the situation improves, given that Thailand is currently in its dry season, as well.

Air Pollution Reaches Unhealthy Levels in Laos, Affecting Three Main Provinces – Laotian Times

Air Pollution Reaches Unhealthy Levels in Laos, Affecting Three Main Provinces

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High air pollution levels in Thai capital spark order for city employees to work from home

Posted on February 16, 2024 by Respro® UK Ltd

City employees in Thailand’s capital, Bangkok, were ordered Thursday to work from home for two days, and those in the private sector were encouraged to do so as well, as air pollution soared to unhealthy levels.

Air pollution has been a problem for many years in Thailand’s north, where the burning of forests and agricultural waste are major contributing factors. But in recent years Bangkok has also begun to suffer greatly with extended periods of high pollution that have led to school closings and other disruptions.

The Department of Pollution Control declared last month that Bangkok had officially entered its annual smog season, but the region has suffered from deteriorating air quality since late last year. For Chiang Mai and other northern provinces which experience prolonged high levels of microscopic dust, the season usually begins in late February, when dry weather and an atmospheric inversion layer cause airborne particles to accumulate.

Bangkok’s Air Quality Index measured an unhealthy 156 on Thursday, with readings of over 163 in some areas, prompting the stay-at-home order, according to the city government.

High air pollution levels in Thai capital spark order for city employees to work from home | AP News

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Wood-burning stoves largely offset fall in particulate pollution from roads in UK

Posted on February 15, 2024 by Respro® UK Ltd

Pollution from heating homes using solid fuel such as wood increased by 19% from 2012 to 2022, data shows

A rise in harmful emissions from wood-burning stoves has largely offset decreases in particulate pollution from road and energy sources in the UK, government data reveals.

Emissions of PM2.5 and PM10 from domestic combustion – heating homes using solid fuel such as wood – increased by 19% between 2012 and 2022, counteracting efforts made to travel and produce commercial energy in less polluting ways.

Government statisticians said: “This reflects the greater popularity of solid fuel appliances in the home such as wood-burning stoves.”

Despite the environmental menace caused by wood-burning stoves, they are soaring in popularity, partly because of their “cosy” appearance, which has become increasingly fashionable. According to figures from the Stoves Industry Alliance, sales were up by 67% in the last three months of 2022 compared with the previous year. SIA says an estimated 1.5m homes in the UK have one.

PM2.5 particles are those which are less than 2.5 micrometres in diameter, which is small enough to make its way into the human lung. According to a growing body of research, they are responsible for a wide range of health problems. These include heart and lung disease, as well as diabetes, cancer, brain function and premature births.

It is estimated that they lead to the early death of more than 400,000 people across Europe each year. Last year, a study from Prof Chris Whitty, the chief medical officer for England, found that even “eco design” wood-burning stoves produced 450 times more toxic air pollution than gas central heating, while older stoves, now banned from sale, produced 3,700 times more.

Dr Gary Fuller, an air pollution scientist at Imperial College London, said: “Smoke from home fires feels like a problem from a Dickens novel but the rising popularity of solid fuel heating is slowing progress in cleaning our air and undermining the major investments in reducing air pollution from traffic and industry.

“Government advice is framed around burning the right fuels, such as dry wood, and manufacturers are encouraging the sale of less polluting stoves to solve the problem but we need to be clear in our messages: any use of solid fuel is the most polluting way to heat your home.

“The latest update from Defra points to successes in some areas but also that some sources of air pollution are being overlooked. These include burning solid fuels at home and also air pollution from farming. Ammonia lost from fertiliser and manure is polluting both our air and our rivers. There is a big opportunity to work with farmers to improve our environment and our health but they are rarely at the table when we talk about air pollution solutions.”

Home emissions are a large source of PM2.5; the statistics found that emissions from the domestic combustion of wood contributed 22% of emissions of the tiny particles.

Another growing source of it comes from the industrial combustion of biomass, statistics show. There has been recent anger at the government’s decision to offer the Drax power plant extra subsidies to burn trees for electricity.

Wood-burning stoves largely offset fall in particulate pollution from roads in UK | Air pollution | The Guardian

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Death toll shows extreme air pollution events are a growing urban threat

Posted on February 1, 2024 by Respro® UK Ltd

New Curtin University-led research has estimated that 1,454 avoidable deaths (one person every five days) occurred in Australian capital cities in the past 20 years because of fine particle air pollution from extreme events such as bushfires and dust storms, wood-heater smoke or industrial accidents.

The study also found that nearly one-third of deaths from extreme air pollution exposure days could be prevented if pollution events were reduced by as little as 5%. The study, “Mortality burden attributable to exceptional PM 2.5 air pollution events in Australian cities: A health impact assessment,” was published in the journal Heliyon.

Lead researcher Dr. Lucas Hertzog from Curtin’s World Health Organization Collaborating Center for Climate Change and Health Impact Assessment said the findings highlighted the urgent need for effective strategies to manage air quality, particularly during extreme weather events like bushfires and dust storms, which are becoming more common due to climate change.

“Using data from 2001 to 2020 from air pollution monitoring sites, combined with a range of satellite and land use-related data, we modeled the exposure to exceptional levels of particulate matter air pollution (PM2.5) for each extreme pollution exposure day,” Dr. Hertzog said.

“Despite relatively low daily PM2.5 levels generally (compared to global averages), Australian cities experience days with extreme pollution levels where PM2.5 concentrations exceed the WHO Air Quality Guideline standard.

“Sydney and Melbourne reported the highest number of deaths attributable to extreme air pollution events, with 541 and 438 deaths respectively, followed by Brisbane and Perth with 171 and 132 deaths.”

“Adelaide and Hobart were the cities that showed, across the 20-year period, fewer days exceeding WHO air quality exposure recommendations, with Adelaide recording only five days and Hobart 11 days above the threshold.

“Darwin, despite its relatively low number of deaths due to PM2.5 exposure events, experienced a high number of days exceeding WHO recommendations, 10 times more than cities like Melbourne.”

Dr. Hertzog said the findings show how extreme air pollution events could seriously affect health in urban areas, and understanding this link was crucial, as climate change may increase the frequency and intensity of such pollution events.

“Diseases associated with particulate matter air pollution include asthma and COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) as well as cardiovascular disorders,” Dr. Hertzog said.

“Our study’s insights can aid in protecting public health by helping to inform policy development and actions to reduce impacts from extreme air pollution events.

“While responding to bushfires and dust storms is an increasingly challenging task, authorities have a crucial role in land use management. They also regulate energy policy and control wood heater regulations. Additional strategies to reduce emissions from industrial accidents or road transport-related smog events could enhance the control of sources of air pollution and improve well-being.

“It is also possible to reduce the burden of mortality by improving public health warnings and increasing community awareness of smoke avoidance behaviors.”

https://phys.org/news/2024-01-death-toll-extreme-air-pollution.html

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Bangkok battles severe PM2.5 pollution, health warnings issued

Posted on January 29, 2024 by Respro® UK Ltd

Bangkok and several provinces across Thailand are currently grappling with dangerously high levels of PM2.5 particulate matter, exceeding standard pollution values and posing a significant health risk. Bangkok’s Phra Khanong district recorded the highest levels, urging the public to wear masks outdoors at all times for protection.

The situation monitored hourly, is a collaborative effort involving the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESRI), the Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA), the National Research Council, the Pollution Control Department, Kasetsart University, and Chiang Mai University.

Data from satellite imagery and applications has revealed that 20 provinces are experiencing orange-level air quality, indicating a detrimental impact on health. Notable examples include Phetchaburi with 74.2 micrograms, Ratchaburi with 71.2 micrograms, and Samut Songkhram with 70.6 micrograms of PM2.5.

In Bangkok, 46 districts are affected by poor air quality, with Phra Khanong at 56.5 micrograms, Bang Na at 52.9 micrograms, and Klong Toey at 49.4 micrograms of PM2.5. Some areas are at a yellow level, indicating moderate health effects, including Lak Si, Bang Kapi, Bang Sue, and Wang Thonglang.

Bangkok battles severe PM2.5 pollution, health warnings issued | Thaiger

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Research finds evergreens with smaller leaves offer better air pollution mitigation

Posted on January 17, 2024 by Respro® UK Ltd
Graphical abstract. Credit: Science of The Total Environment (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.169713

If you’re trying to take pollution out of the air, choose evergreen trees with smaller leaves. That’s according to a new study from the University of Surrey.

Researchers from Surrey’s Global Center for Clean Air Research (GCARE) tested 10 trees beside a busy main road. They studied which caught the most particles of pollution and which best allowed the rain to wash those particles safely to the ground.

The paper, which helps promote the UN Sustainability Goals 3, 11, 13 and 15, is published in the journal Science of the Total Environment.

It had been thought that leaves with rougher surfaces and minute hairs would catch more pollutants. Yet that wasn’t borne out by the evidence.

Yendle Barwise, former forester and University of Surrey researcher, said, “When tackling air pollution, the ideal leaves cling on to particles when it’s windy—but let go of them in the rain. That means the wind blows less pollution back into the air—but rain can wash it safely to the ground.

“Being rough and hairy isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. To remove more particle pollutants over time, leaves need to be washed by rainfall, and it seems that the size and shape of the leaf is much more important from this perspective.”

Many planting projects use deciduous trees, which lose their leaves in winter—even though that’s when air pollution is worst in towns and cities. For that reason, scientists chose ten evergreen specimens and placed them in plant pots beside the A3 in Guildford. Some 80,000 vehicles drive past every day.

Of those studied, Yew (taxus baccata) was the plant which removed most air pollution. The most effective leaf types were awl-shaped. They were found on Japanese cedar (camellia japonica) and Lawson’s Cypress (chamaecyparis lawsoniana).

The study also suggested that stomata—the ‘pores’ of the leaf—could help plants ‘catch’ particles. For Yew, more particles of pollution gathered on the porous underside of the leaf. That’s despite the other side of the leaf being 47% rougher, and despite previous research suggesting roughness mattered more.

Professor Prashant Kumar, founder of the University of Surrey’s Global Center for Clean Air Research, said, “We know that planting trees by roadsides can make a big difference to air quality. Our study shows that by choosing your trees carefully, that difference can be even bigger.”

“We’ve shown that smarter choice of plants can take even more pollution out of the air. We just studied the shapes and textures of the leaves themselves. Other factors, like the tree’s height, leaf chemistry, or how many trees you plant, could also make a big difference. Those are well worth investigating in the future.”

Research finds evergreens with smaller leaves offer better air pollution mitigation

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