Facts About Air Pollution

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AIR POLLUTION MAKING DELHI CHILDREN ASTHMATIC: SURVEY
NEW DELHI: With the continuous exposure to air pollution, the number of children suffering
from chronic bronchial asthma is on rise in the national capital, reveals a survey.
"We examined children of age group 7-15 years in nine industrial and residential pockets of
Delhi. Among total of 3,456 children examined, 7.7 per cent were diagnosed having asthma,
which was highest in industrial areas, 11.8 per cent," says Dr Raj Kumar of Vallabhbhai Patel
Chest Institute, who was associated with the project.
The survey was conducted in Shahdara, Sahibabad, Nizamuddin, Siri Fort, Ashoka Vihar and
Janakpuri. Also two rural pockets -- Dhallupura and Jagatpur -- were surveyed.
"Today indoor air pollution level is becoming a matter of concern in big metros like Delhi, which
is triggering asthmatic symptoms among the children residing in those areas," Dr Kumar says.
The 4-year-long study was carried out jointly by the representatives of Vallabhbhai Patel Chest
Institute and the Geology Department of Delhi University.
In the last few years, children's health has also deteriorated due to exposure of air pollutants in
indoor environments ie indoor air pollution, the survey points out.
"Generally people express their concern about outdoor air pollution caused by industrial
emissions, but nobody thinks that it can affect children's health inside the home as well," he adds.
Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disorder, with the symptoms of cough, common cold,
sneezing and feeling of heaviness on chest, besides breathing problems, doctors say.
Source : http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/

Feb 3, 2008

EXPOSURE TO AIR POLLUTION INCREASES RISK OF OBESITY
Laboratory rats who breathed Beijing's highly polluted air gained weight and experienced cardiorespiratory and metabolic dysfunctions after three to eight weeks of exposure.
A study appearing in the March issue of the Journal of the Federation of American Societies for
Experimental Biology (FASEB) placed pregnant rats and their offspring in two chambers, one
exposed to outdoor Beijing air and the other containing an air filter that removed most of the air
pollution particles.
After only 19 days, the lungs and livers of pregnant rats exposed to the polluted air were heavier
and showed increased tissue inflammation. These rats had 50 percent higher LDL cholesterol; 46
percent higher triglycerides; and 97 percent higher total cholesterol. Their insulin resistance
level, a precursor of Type 2 diabetes, was higher than their clean air-breathing counterparts.
All of these measures support the study's conclusion that air pollution exposure results in
metabolic dysfunction, a precursor to obesity. Indeed, pollution-exposed rats were significantly
heavier at the end of their pregnancy even though the rats in both groups were fed the same diet.
Similar results were shown in the rat offspring, which were kept in the same chambers as their
mothers.
However, the results showed that the negative effects of air pollution were less pronounced after
three weeks than they were at eight weeks, suggesting that long-term exposure may be needed to
generate the continuous inflammatory and metabolic changes that ultimately increase body
weight. At eight weeks old, female and male rats exposed to the pollution were 10 percent and 18
percent heavier, respectively, than those exposed to clean air.
The results of this study, which was funded by several agencies of the Chinese government, are
consistent with other studies that show air pollution induces oxidative stress and inflammation in
the organs and circulatory system. The findings also echo previous studies linking air pollution
with increased insulin resistance and altered fat tissue.
"Since chronic inflammation is recognized as a factor contributing to obesity and since metabolic
diseases such as diabetes and obesity are closely related, our findings provide clear evidence that
chronic exposure to air pollution increases the risk for developing obesity," said Junfeng "Jim"
Zhang, a professor of global and environmental health at Duke University and a senior author of
the paper.
"If translated and verified in humans, these findings will support the urgent need to reduce air
pollution, given the growing burden of obesity in today's highly polluted world," Zhang said.
Source: Duke University
Date: February 19, 2016
www.sciencedaily.com/ article releases/

URBAN AIR POLLUTION: WHAT ARE THE MAIN SOURCES ACROSS THE
WORLD?
Particulate matter (PM) in the air can enter the human body, affecting the cardiovascular system
as well as other major organs. Chronic exposure leads to a number of health risks. The European
Commission's in-house science service, the Joint Research Centre (JRC) and the World Health
Organization (WHO) have identified the main categories of PM in urban air in 51 different cities
around the world. On average, traffic is the biggest source of air pollution, responsible for one
quarter of particulate matter in the air.
In order to reduce the negative health impact of air pollution, it is important to know its sources
and quantity. Measurements of fine particles PM2.5 and PM10 serve as indicators of air quality.
The recently published study shows, based on the available information, that traffic (25%),
combustion and agriculture (22%), domestic fuel burning (20%), natural dust and salt (18%), and
industrial activities (15%) are the main sources of particulate matter contributing to cities' air
pollution. However, there are significant differences between various regions of the world.
Atmospheric processes that lead to the formation of particles as a result of gaseous traffic,
heating and agriculture emissions appear to be most considerable in North America, Western
Europe, Turkey and the Republic of Korea. Domestic fuel burning dominates the contributions to
particulate matter in Eastern Europe and in many developing countries in Africa. In the
developing countries, this source is likely to be associated with cooking, while in Eastern Europe
the use of coal for heating seems to be the most probable reason. Natural dust is the main source
of PM10 in the Middle-East and Northern African countries, likely due to their vicinity to arid
areas. Sea salt is the most important natural source of PM10 in north-western Europe.
The database resulting from this study is published on the WHO website.
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) Date: December 1, 2015
www.sciencedaily.com/ article releases/

STROKE FROM POOR AIR QUALITY
Air pollution and smog have health consequences for affected populations ranging from
respiratory problems to death. Fine particulate matter especially has become the focus in recent
years, because it increases the probability of dying from respiratory or cardiovascular disease. In
addition, the risk of stroke is increased, as shown by Barbara Hoffmann and her coauthors in a
recent study in Deutsches Ärzteblatt International (Dtsch Arztebl Int 2015; 112: 195-201). In a
population of the German Ruhr region, she investigated how often stroke and cardiovascular
disease occurred, as well as how much particulate matter and noise inhabitants were exposed to.
More than 4400 residents of Bochum, Essen, and Mülheim an der Ruhr participated in the study.
Participants were selected over the time period from 2000 to 2003, and were aged between 45
and 74 years. Information regarding stroke or cardiovascular disease occurrence and/or
associated mortality was collected annually. In addition, the authors evaluated exposure to
particulate matter and noise according to participants' place of residence. The results indicate that
stroke is more likely to occur with increased air pollution. The results for coronary events are
less clear, and exposure to noise pollution showed no clear effect. The authors point out,
however, that the data indicates a tendency for increased risk of cardiovascular disease through
particulate matter exposure.
Source:
Deutsches Aerzteblatt International
www.sciencedaily.com/ article releases/

Date: April 13, 2015

REDUCTION IN AIR POLLUTION FROM WOOD STOVES ASSOCIATED WITH
SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED RISK OF DEATH
Male deaths from all-causes, but particularly cardiovascular and respiratory disease, could be
significantly reduced with a decrease in biomass smoke (smoke produced by domestic cooking
and heating and woodland fires), a paper published January 8 on the British Medical Journal
website suggests.
The researchers say this could have significant impact on further interventions to reduce
pollution from this source.
Although a large amount of research has been carried out on the adverse health effects of air
pollution, no studies have reported reductions in deaths associated with interventions to reduce
biomass smoke pollution.
In 2001, Launceston (in Tasmania, Australia) was the setting for a series of interventions to
reduce wood smoke pollution. The interventions dramatically accelerated a general trend towards
using electric rather than wood heaters. As such, wood stove prevalence fell from 66% to 30% of
all households and average particulate air pollution during winter was reduced by 40% (44 µg/m³
-- 27 µg/m³).
Researchers from Australia and Canada used this data to assess whether there were any
significant changes in all-cause, cardiovascular and respiratory mortality.
This is the first study to assess changes in mortality associated with a reduction in smoke from
domestic wood heaters. The researchers compared the population of Launceston with the
population of Hobart (also in Tasmania), which did not have any air quality interventions.
The reductions in mortality (deaths per 1000 people at risk per year, adjusted for age) between
1994-2001 and 2001-2007 were not significant for males and females combined (2.7% for allcause mortality; 4.9% for cardiovascular mortality; 8.5% respiratory mortality). However,
reductions were statistically significant for males alone: differences of 11.4% for all-cause
mortality; 17.9% for cardiovascular and 22.8% for respiratory.
Results taken during the winter months (June -- August) showed even higher reductions:
cardiovascular 20%; respiratory 28%.
The researchers conclude that a trend was found in reduced all-cause, cardiovascular and
respiratory mortality during the period of improved air quality which was greatest during winter
with stronger associations in males. They say that the findings "highlight the potential for
important public health gains from interventions to reduce ambient pollution from biomass
smoke."
Source:
BMJ-British Medical Journal
www.sciencedaily.com/ article releases/

Date: January 8, 2013

BAD AIR MEANS BAD NEWS FOR SENIORS' BRAINPOWER
Living in areas of high air pollution can lead to decreased cognitive function in older adults,
according to new research presented in San Diego at The Gerontological Society of America's
(GSA) 65th Annual Scientific Meeting.
This finding is based on data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Health and
Retirement Study. The analysis was conducted by Jennifer Ailshire, PhD, a National Institute on
Aging postdoctoral fellow in the Center for Biodemography and Population Health and the
Andrus Gerontology Center at the University of Southern California.
"As a result of age-related declines in health and functioning, older adults are particularly
vulnerable to the hazards of exposure to unhealthy air," Ailshire said. "Air pollution has been
linked to increased cardiovascular and respiratory problems, and even premature death, in older
populations, and there is emerging evidence that exposure to particulate air pollution may have
adverse effects on brain health and functioning as well."
This is the first study to show how exposure to air pollution influences cognitive function in a
national sample of older men and women. It suggests that fine air particulate matter -- composed
of particles that are 2.5 micrometers in diameter and smaller, thought to be sufficiently small that
if inhaled they can deposit deep in the lung and possibly the brain -- may be an important
environmental risk factor for reduced cognitive function.
The study sample included 14,793 white, black, and Hispanic men and women aged 50 and older
who participated in the 2004 Health and Retirement Study (a nationally representative survey of
older adults). Individual data were linked with data on 2004 annual average levels of fine air
particulate matter from the Environmental Protection Agency's Air Quality System monitors
across the country. Cognitive function was measured on a scale of 1 to 35 and consisted of tests
assessing word recall, knowledge, language, and orientation.
Ailshire discovered that those living in areas with high levels of fine air particulate matter scored
poorer on the cognitive function tests. The association even remained after accounting for several
factors, including age, race/ethnicity, education, smoking behavior, and respiratory and
cardiovascular conditions.
Fine air particulate matter exposures ranged from 4.1 to 20.7 micrograms per cubic meter, and
every ten point increase was associated with a 0.36 point drop in cognitive function score. In
comparison, this effect was roughly equal to that of aging three years; among all study subjects, a
one-year increase in age was associated with a drop 0.13 in cognitive function score.
Source:
The Gerontological Society of America
www.sciencedaily.com/ article releases/

Date: November 16, 2012

AIR POLLUTION LINKED TO SLOWER COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT IN
CHILDREN
Attendance at schools exposed to high levels of traffic-related air pollution is linked to slower
cognitive development among 7-10-year-old children in Barcelona, according to a study
published by Jordi Sunyer and colleagues from the Centre for Research in Environmental
Epidemiology (CREAL), Spain, published in this week's PLOS Medicine.
The researchers measured three cognitive outcomes (working memory, superior working
memory, and attentiveness) every 3 months over a 12-month period in 2715 primary school
children attending 39 schools. By comparing the development of these cognitive outcomes in the
children attending schools where exposure to air pollution was high to those children attending a
school with a similar socio-economic index where exposure to pollution was low, they found that
the increase in cognitive development over time among children attending highly polluted
schools was less than among children attending paired lowly polluted schools, even after
adjusting for additional factors that affect cognitive development.
Thus, for example, there was an 11.5% 12-month increase in working memory at the lowly
polluted schools but only a 7.4% 12-month increase in working memory at the highly polluted
schools. These results were confirmed using direct measurements of traffic related pollutants at
schools.
The findings suggest that the developing brain may be vulnerable to traffic-related air pollution
well into middle childhood, a conclusion that has implications for the design of air pollution
regulations and for the location of new schools. While the authors controlled for socioeconomic
factors, the accuracy of these findings may be limited by residual confounding, that is, the
children attending schools where traffic-related pollution is high might have shared other
unknown characteristics that affected their cognitive development.
Source:
PLOS Medicine
www.sciencedaily.com/ article releases/

Date: March 3, 2015

EXPOSURE TO TRAFFIC AIR POLLUTION IN INFANCY IMPAIRS LUNG
FUNCTION IN CHILDREN
Exposure to ambient air pollution from traffic during infancy is associated with lung function
deficits in children up to eight years of age, particularly among children sensitized to common
allergens, according to a new study.
"Earlier studies have shown that children are highly susceptible to the adverse effects of air
pollution and suggest that exposure early in life may be particularly harmful," said researcher
Göran Pershagen, MD, PhD, professor at the Karolinska Institutet Institute of Environmental
Medicine in Stockholm, Sweden. "In our prospective birth cohort study in a large population of
Swedish children, exposure to traffic-related air pollution during infancy was associated with
decreases in lung function at age eight, with stronger effects indicated in boys, children with
asthma and particularly in children sensitized to allergens."
The findings were published online ahead of print publication in the American Thoracic Society's
American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.
The study included more than 1,900 children who were followed from birth through age eight
with repeated questionnaires, spirometry and immunoglobulin E measurements. Outdoor
concentrations of particulate matter from road traffic were estimated for residential, daycare and
school addresses using dispersion modeling, a mathematical simulation of how air pollutants
disperse in the atmosphere.
A 5th to 95th percentile difference in time-weighted exposure to outdoor concentrations of
particulate matter from road traffic during the first year of life was associated with a reduced
forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) of -59.3 mL (95% confidence interval (CI):
-113.0 to -5.6) at age eight. This negative association was particularly pronounced in children
who were sensitized to common inhalant and/or food allergens and also seemed stronger among
boys and among children with asthma.
Exposure to traffic-related air pollution after the first year of life appeared to have less impact on
subsequent lung function.
The study had a few limitations. Calculations of particulate matter concentrations were only
performed for the year 2004 and were extrapolated to the other years of follow-up, and some
miscalculation of individual exposure levels was likely.
"Our study shows that early exposure to traffic-related air pollution has long-term adverse effects
on respiratory health in children, particularly among atopic children," concluded Dr. Pershagen.
"These results add to a large body of evidence demonstrating the detrimental effects of air
pollution on human health."
Source:
American Thoracic Society (ATS)
www.sciencedaily.com/ article releases/

Date: October 12, 2012

METROS-AIR-QUALITY-GETTING-WORSE-STUDY
Yes, being stuck in horrible traffic jam on a daily basis can kill you. With the worsening air quality in
Metro Manila, commuters who get stuck on the road for hours and endure long lines to catch a ride in
public transportation are exposed to various kinds of pollutants, making them highly vulnerable to
developing respiratory disease and cardiovascular illnesses, according to health experts.
“Traffic is really bad for our health,” Dr. Anthony Leachon, a cardiologist at Manila Doctors Hospital and
the president of the Philippine College of Physicians Foundation, told the Philippine Daily Inquirer on
Sunday. Leachon said air pollution, a major problem particularly in urban centers, could lead to lung
diseases such as bronchitis, exacerbation of bronchial asthma and recurrent respiratory tract infections
and allergies.
Air pollution also contributes to cardiovascular diseases and deaths, according to Leachon, citing a 2010
report of the American Heart Association, stating that short-term exposure to air pollution increases the
risk of heart attacks, strokes, irregular heart beats or cardiac arrhythmia in predisposed individuals. These
vulnerable individuals include the elderly and those with pre-existing medical conditions such as diabetes,
chronic obstructive heart disease and hypertension, he said.
He also cited a study conducted by researchers at the Institute of Epidemiology of Helmholtz Center in
Munich, Germany, showing that heavy traffic, regardless of what mode of transportation taken, could
triple one’s risk of heart attack within an hour due to the air pollution from car fumes. The researchers had
also interviewed 1,454 people who survived heart attacks in a previous study and found out that many of
them had been stuck in terrible traffic in the hour before their heart attack. The study also suggested that
stress brought about by heavy road gridlock could be a contributing factor. “Thus, traffic woes are fatal.
And the government should embark on a major strategic plan in the next six years or longer to alleviate
this stressful malady afflicting daily commuters and the whole nation as well,” said Leachon.
In a statement, Dr. Leo Olarte, chair of the environmental group Coalition of Clean Air Advocates of the
Philippines, said traffic jams in the capital worsened all the deadly effects of unabated motor vehicle
emissions on the health and lives of daily commuters.
“If you’re a patient with cardiovascular ailments, the intensive particulate matter or soot exposure that
you can be subjected to when caught in monstrous traffic jams for several hours can possibly trigger lifethreatening episodes of heart attack, stroke and even sudden death right there and then even when you’re
inside your air conditioned cars,” said Olarte.
Latest records from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources showed that Metro Manila’s
air quality situation has worsened in terms of total suspended particulates from 106 µg/Ncm from July to
December 2014 to 130 µg/Ncm from January to April this year. Both figures are beyond the maximum
safe level of 90 µg/Ncm.
Particulate Matter of 10microns in diameter (PM10) in Metro Manila’s air also jumped from 52 µg/Ncm
from July to December 2014 to 62 µg/Ncm during the first four months of the year, two points higher
than the standard PM10. Eighty-five percent of the capital’s total air emissions come from vehicles,
records show.
Source :

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/source/philippine-daily-inquirer
Jocelyn R. Uy
Date: August 23rd, 2015

WHY INDOOR AIR POLLUTION MAY BE WORSE THAN IT IS OUTDOORS
Air pollution, be it the indoor variety or the more visible outdoor type, is bad for your health. The thing
many people tend to overlook is that it can also make you look older. There's no doubt that air pollution
has a detrimental effect on the skin. It's been scientifically proven to be one of the main sources of skin
damage; toxins in the air cause skin to age prematurely, especially on the face, neck and hands. It's
important to recognise the problem, identify the danger signs and look at simple ways to either prevent, or
at least minimise, damage. Indoor pollutants in dust and air are often generated from sources such as
environmental tobacco smoke, building materials, furniture, cleaning and hygiene products, air
fresheners, computers, printers, cooking and other indoor activities, and from people themselves.
Air pollutants of current interest among researchers include ozone, nitrogen oxides, and bioaerosols. The
mechanisms of pollutant activity depend on the particle size, solubility, site of deposit and specific
chemical properties. Recent studies have shown that different pollutants provoke different immunological
and non-immunological responses in those exposed. Interaction between air pollutants and allergens can
take place outside the exposed person, within the allergen itself, or inside the organism on mucous
membranes and skin.
Five simple steps to improve indoor air quality are:
Keep your floors fresh & maintain a healthy level of humidity
Make your home a no-smoking zone
Test for radon. Whether you have a new or old home, you could have a problem
Smell good naturally. Avoid synthetic fragrances
As you age your skin naturally begins to lose moisture and elasticity, but there are changes we can make
to slow down the skin ageing process.
For example, it's been shown that indoor air pollution from cooking with coal or firewood accelerates skin
ageing in northern Chinese women. It was significantly associated with an increased appearance of
wrinkles on the forehead, under the eyes and on the backs of arms and hands.
Particulate matter, chemicals such as phthalates and organic compounds such as polycyclic aromatic
hydrocarbons (PAHs) can also have a detrimental effect on skin. Recent studies have identified links
between the concentration of phthalates in indoor dust and allergic symptoms in the skin. One of the main
sources of phthalate esters indoors are plasticised polyvinyl chloride (PVC) materials used in floor and
wall covering materials, shower curtains, adhesives, synthetic leather, toys, cosmetics and other consumer
products. Phthalates are constantly being emitted into the air and indoor dust because they are not
chemically bound to the PVC structure. Because the indoor environment is protected from environmental
degradation, PAHs associated with dust persist for long periods. So concentrations in indoor dust are
much higher than they are in outdoor dust and soil.
Particulate matter causes strong oxidative stress to skin, leading to premature skin ageing, while research
shows that indoor contributions of particulate matters are much higher when open windows are exposed
to traffic fumes. Recognition of pollutant sources, environmental control and avoidance remain the most
effective countermeasures. Regular cleaning of air conditioners and filters will help. You should avoid
pollutants from traffic emissions through open windows and consider using antioxidants, moisturisers and
barrier protecting skincare products.

Source:

South China Morning Post , Dr Kong Ching-boon
http://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health/article/

Date: June 15, 2015

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