Sulfur dioxide inhibits mast cell degranulation by sulphenylation of galectin-9 at cysteine 74.

Objectives: Mast cell (MC) degranulation is a key process in allergic reactions and inflammatory responses. Aspartate aminotransferase 1 (AAT1)-derived endogenous sulfur dioxide (SO2) is an important regulator of MC function. However, the mechanism underlying its role in MC degranulation remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the mechanism by which endogenous SO2 controlled MC degranulation. Methods: HMC-1 and Rat basophilic leukemia cell MC line (RBL-2H3) were used in the cell experiments. SO2 content was detected by in situ fluorescent probe. MC degranulation represented by the release rate of MC ß-hexosaminidase was determined using a colorimetric assay. Sulfenylation of galectin-9 (Gal-9) in MCs and purified protein was detected using a biotin switch assay. Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was used to determine the exact sulfenylation sites of Gal-9 by SO2. Animal models of passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA) and hypoxia-driven pulmonary vascular remodeling were used to investigate the effect of SO2 on mast cell activation in vivo. Site-directed mutation of Gal-9 was conducted to confirm the exact site of SO2 and support the significance of SO2/Gal-9 signal axis in the regulation of MC degranulation. Results: Degranulation was increased in AAT1-knockdowned MCs, and SO2 supplementation reversed the increase in MC degranulation. Furthermore, deficiency of endogenous SO2 contributed to IgE-mediated degranulation in vitro. Besides, SO2 inhibited IgE-mediated and hypoxia-driven MC degranulation in vivo. Mechanistically, LC-MS/MS analysis and site-directed mutation results showed that SO2 sulfenylated Gal-9 at cysteine 74. Sulfenylation of the 74th cysteine of Gal-9 protein was required in the SO2-inhibited MC degranulation under both physiological and pathophysiological conditions. Conclusion: These findings elucidated that SO2 inhibited MC degranulation via sulfenylating Gal-9 under both physiological and pathophysiological conditions, which might provide a novel treatment approach for MC activation-related diseases.

Similar experimental study on diffusion and distribution of diesel exhaust in confined space of a coal mine.

In the confined space of the underground coal mine, which is dominated by transportation lanes, explosion-proof diesel-powered trackless rubber-wheeled vehicles are becoming the main transportation equipment, and the exhaust gas produced by them is hazardous to the health of workers and pollutes the underground environment. In this experiment, a similar test platform is built to study the effects of wind speed, vehicle speed, and different wind directions on the diffusion characteristics of exhaust gas. In this paper, CO and SO2 are mainly studied. The results show that the diffusion of CO and SO2 gas is similar and the maximum SO2 concentration only accounts for 11.4% of the CO concentration. Exhaust gas is better diluted by increasing the wind speed and vehicle speed, respectively. Downwind is affected by the reverse wind flow and diffuses to the driver's position, which is easy to cause occupational diseases. When the wind is a headwind, the exhaust gases spread upwards and make a circumvention movement, gathering at the top. When the wind speed and vehicle speed are both 0.6 m/s, the CO concentration corresponds to the change trend of the Lorentz function when the wind is downwind and the CO concentration corresponds to the change trend of the BiDoseResp function when the wind is headwind. The study of exhaust gas diffusion characteristics is of great significance for the subsequent purification of the air in the restricted mine space and the protection of the workers' occupational health.

Characterization of air pollution and associated health risks in Gansu Province, China from 2015 to 2022.

Air pollution poses a major threat to both the environment and public health. The air quality index (AQI), aggregate AQI, new health risk-based air quality index (NHAQI), and NHAQI-WHO were employed to quantitatively evaluate the characterization of air pollution and the associated health risk in Gansu Province before (P-I) and after (P-II) COVID-19 pandemic. The results indicated that AQI system undervalued the comprehensive health risk impact of the six criteria pollutants compared with the other three indices. The stringent lockdown measures contributed to a considerable reduction in SO2, CO, PM2.5, NO2 and PM10; these concentrations were 43.4%, 34.6%, 21.4%, 17.4%, and 14.2% lower in P-II than P-I, respectively. But the concentration of O3 had no obvious improvement. The higher sandstorm frequency in P-II led to no significant decrease in the ERtotal and even resulted in an increase in the average ERtotal in cities located in northwestern Gansu from 0.78% in P-I to 1.0% in P-II. The cumulative distribution of NHAQI-based population-weighted exposure revealed that 24% of the total population was still exposed to light pollution in spring during P-II, while the air quality in other three seasons had significant improvements and all people were under healthy air quality level.

Particulate and gaseous air pollutants exceed WHO guideline values and have the potential to damage human health in Faisalabad, Metropolitan, Pakistan.

First-ever measurements of particulate matter (PM2.5, PM10, and TSP) along with gaseous pollutants (CO, NO2, and SO2) were performed from June 2019 to April 2020 in Faisalabad, Metropolitan, Pakistan, to assess their seasonal variations; Summer 2019, Autumn 2019, Winter 2019-2020, and Spring 2020. Pollutant measurements were carried out at 30 locations with a 3-km grid distance from the Sitara Chemical Industry in District Faisalabad to Bhianwala, Sargodha Road, Tehsil Lalian, District Chiniot. ArcGIS 10.8 was used to interpolate pollutant concentrations using the inverse distance weightage method. PM2.5, PM10, and TSP concentrations were highest in summer, and lowest in autumn or winter. CO, NO2, and SO2 concentrations were highest in summer or spring and lowest in winter. Seasonal average NO2 and SO2 concentrations exceeded WHO annual air quality guide values. For all 4 seasons, some sites had better air quality than others. Even in these cleaner sites air quality index (AQI) was unhealthy for sensitive groups and the less good sites showed Very critical AQI (> 500). Dust-bound carbon and sulfur contents were higher in spring (64 mg g-1) and summer (1.17 mg g-1) and lower in autumn (55 mg g-1) and winter (1.08 mg g-1). Venous blood analysis of 20 individuals showed cadmium and lead concentrations higher than WHO permissible limits. Those individuals exposed to direct roadside pollution for longer periods because of their occupation tended to show higher Pb and Cd blood concentrations. It is concluded that air quality along the roadside is extremely poor and potentially damaging to the health of exposed workers.

AI-Enabled Portable E-Nose Regression Predicting Harmful Molecules in a Gas Mixture.

The biomimetic electronic nose (e-nose) technology is a novel technology used for the identification and monitoring of complex gas molecules, and it is gaining significance in this field. However, due to the complexity and multiplicity of gas mixtures, the accuracy of electronic noses in predicting gas concentrations using traditional regression algorithms is not ideal. This paper presents a solution to the difficulty by introducing a fusion network model that utilizes a transformer-based multikernel feature fusion (TMKFF) module combined with a 1DCNN_LSTM network to enhance the accuracy of regression prediction for gas mixture concentrations using a portable electronic nose. The experimental findings demonstrate that the regression prediction performance of the fusion network is significantly superior to that of single models such as convolutional neural network (CNN) and long short-term memory (LSTM). The present study demonstrates the efficacy of our fusion network model in accurately predicting the concentrations of multiple target gases, such as SO2, NO2, and CO, in a gas mixture. Specifically, our algorithm exhibits substantial benefits in enhancing the prediction performance of low-concentration SO2 gas, which is a noteworthy achievement. The determination coefficient (R2) values of 93, 98, and 99% correspondingly demonstrate that the model is very capable of explaining the variation in the concentration of the target gases. The root-mean-square errors (RMSE) are 0.0760, 0.0711, and 3.3825, respectively, while the mean absolute errors (MAE) are 0.0507, 0.0549, and 2.5874, respectively. These results indicate that the model has relatively small prediction errors. The method we have developed holds significant potential for practical applications in detecting atmospheric pollution detection and other molecular detection areas in complex environments.

Association between residential air pollution exposure and cardiovascular risk factors in adults living in northern France.

Air pollution is associated with elevated cardiovascular mortality and an increase in cardiovascular risk factors. However, the literature data on associations between air pollution and cardiovascular risk factors are contradictory. To explore the relationship between residential exposure to atmospheric pollutants and cardiovascular risk factors (lipid biomarker and blood pressure levels). We studied a sample of 2339 adult participants in the ELISABET study from the Dunkirk and Lille urban areas of France. The mean annual exposure to atmospheric pollutants (PM10, NO2 and SO2) at the home address was estimated via an air dispersion model. The associations were probed in multivariate linear regression models. The mean NO2 level was 26.05 µg/m3 in Lille and 19.96 µg/m3 in Dunkirk. The mean PM10 level was 27.02 µg/m3 in Lille and 26.53 µg/m3 in Dunkirk. We detected a significant association between exposure to air pollutants and the high-density lipoprotein (HDL) (which is a protective factor against cardiovascular diseases) level: for a 2 µg/m3 increment in PM10, the HDL level decreased by 1.72% (p = 0.0037). None of the associations with other lipid variables or with blood pressure were significant. We didn't find evidence significant associations for most of the risk factors but, long-term exposure of adults to moderate levels of ambient air pollution was associated with a decrement in HDL.

A near-infrared lysosomal probe for dynamic sulfur dioxide monitoring in inflammation.

Inflammation is a complex physiological response involving various cellular and molecular events. Sulfur dioxide (SO2), recognized as both an endogenous signaling molecule and anti-inflammatory agent, plays a crucial role in modulating inflammation and maintaining cellular homeostasis. To gain deeper insights into the dynamics of inflammation-related processes, real-time monitoring of SO2 concentrations within cellular organelles is imperative. Here, we developed a near-infrared fluorescent probe, R2, equipped with lysosomal targeting features. R2 effectively monitors dynamic SO2 concentration changes during inflammation. The fluorescence intensity at 703 nm of R2 shows a strong linear correlation with the concentration of SO2, displaying a rapid response time to SO2 within 10 s and maintaining excellent photostability. The successful application of R2 in elucidating dynamic SO2 concentration changes in lysosomal during cellular and rat inflammatory processes underscores its significant potential as a tool for understanding the pathogenesis of inflammation-related diseases.

A mitochondria-specific NIR fluorescence probe for dual-detection of sulfur dioxide and viscosity in living cells and mice.

The level of sulfur dioxide (SO2) and viscosity in mitochondria play vital roles in various physiological and pathological processes. Abnormalities in mitochondrial SO2 and viscosity are closely associated with numerous biological diseases. It is of great significance to develop novel fluorescence probes for simultaneous detection of SO2 and viscosity within mitochondria. Herein, we have developed a water-soluble, mitochondrial-targeted and near-infrared fluorescent probe, CMBT, for the simultaneous detection of SO2 and viscosity. The probe CMBT incorporates benzothiazolium salt as a mitochondrial targeting moiety and 7-diethylaminocoumarin as a rotor for viscosity detection, respectively. Based on the prompt reaction between nucleophilic HSO3-/SO32- and the backbone of the benzothiazolium salt derivative, probe CMBT displayed high sensitivity and selectivity toward SO2 with a limit of detection as low as 0.17 µM. As viscosity increased, the twisted intramolecular charge transfer (TICT) process was restricted, resulting in fluorescence emission enhancement at 690 nm. Moreover, probe CMBT demonstrated exceptional mitochondrial targeting ability and was successfully employed to image variations of SO2 and viscosity in living cells and mice. The work highlights the great potential of the probe as a convenient tool for revealing the relationship between SO2 and viscosity in biological systems.

Assessment of spatial air quality on the East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia utilizing environmetric techniques.

The presence of harmful substances in the atmosphere poses significant risks to the environment and public health. These pollutants can come from natural sources like dust and wildfires, or from human activities such as industrial, transportation, and agricultural practices. The objective of this study was to assess air quality on the East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia by analyzing historical data from the Department of Environment, Malaysia. Daily measurements of PM10, O3, SO2, NO2, and CO were collected from eight monitoring stations over 11 years (2011-2021) and analyzed using environmetric techniques. Hierarchical agglomerative cluster analysis (HACA) classified two stations as belonging to the high pollution cluster (HPC), three stations as part of the moderate pollution cluster (MPC), and three stations as the low pollution cluster (LPC). Discriminant analysis revealed a correct assignment rate of 90.50%, indicating that all five parameters were able to differentiate pollution levels with high significance (p < 0.0001). Principal component analysis (PCA) was conducted to validate the pattern of air quality variables in relation to the identified clusters (HPC, MPC, and LPC). The results showed that two verifactors (VFs) were extracted in HPC and LPC, while three VFs were identified in MPC. The cumulative variance explained by the PCA for HPC, MPC, and LPC was 69.43%, 82.32%, and 62.16%, respectively. Finally, an artificial neural network (ANN) was used to forecast the air pollutant index (API) levels, using the R2 and RMSE performance metrics. The PCA-MLP Model A yielded an R2 value of 0.8470 and an RMSE of 6.6470, while PCA-MLP Model B achieved an R2 value of 0.8591 and an RMSE of 6.3000, both indicating a significant and strong correlation.

Quantifying air quality co-benefits to industrial decarbonization: the local Air Emissions Tracking Atlas.

Introduction: Many decarbonization technologies have the added co-benefit of reducing short-lived climate pollutants, such as particulate matter (PM), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and sulfur dioxide (SO2), creating a unique opportunity for identifying strategies that promote both climate change solutions and opportunities for air quality improvement. However, stakeholders and decision-makers may struggle to quantify how these co-benefits will impact public health for the communities most affected by industrial air pollution. Methods: To address this problem, the LOCal Air Emissions Tracking Atlas (LOCAETA) fills a data availability and analysis gap by providing estimated air quality benefits from industrial decarbonization options, such as carbon capture and storage (CCS). These co-benefits are calculated using an algorithm that connects disparate datasets that separately report greenhouse gas emissions and other pollutants at U.S. industrial facilities. Results: Version 1.0 of LOCAETA displays the estimated primary PM2.5 emission reduction co-benefits from additional pretreatment equipment for CCS on industrial and power facilities across the state of Louisiana, as well as the potential for VOC and NH3 generation. The emission reductions are presented in the tool alongside facility pollutant emissions information and relevant air quality, environmental, demographic, and public health datasets, such as air toxics cancer risk, satellite and in situ pollutant measurements, and population vulnerability metrics. Discussion: LOCAETA enables regulators, policymakers, environmental justice communities, and industrial and commercial users to compare and contrast quantifiable public health benefits due to air quality impacts from various climate change mitigation strategies using a free and publicly-available tool. Additional pollutant reductions can be calculated using the same methodology and will be available in future versions of the tool.

Ambient air pollution exposure and COVID-19 related hospitalizations in Santiago, Chile.

Morbidity and mortality from several diseases are increased on days of higher ambient air pollution. We carried out a daily time-series analysis with distributive lags to study the influence of short-term air pollution exposure on COVID-19 related hospitalization in Santiago, Chile between March 16 and August 31, 2020. Analyses were adjusted for temporal trends, ambient temperature, and relative humidity, and stratified by age and sex. 26,579 COVID-19 hospitalizations were recorded of which 24,501 were laboratory confirmed. The cumulative percent change in hospitalizations (95% confidence intervals) for an interquartile range increase in air pollutants were: 1.1 (0.2, 2.0) for carbon monoxide (CO), 0.30 (0.0, 0.50) for nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and 2.7 (1.9, 3.0) for particulate matter of diameter ≤ 2.5 microns (PM2.5). Associations with ozone (O3), particulate matter of diameter ≤ 10 microns (PM10) and sulfur dioxide (SO2) were not significant. The observed effect of PM2.5 was significantly greater for females and for those individuals ≥ 65 years old. This study provides evidence that daily increases in air pollution, especially PM2.5, result in a higher observed risk of hospitalization from COVID-19. Females and the elderly may be disproportionately affected.

Photochemistry of Imidazole-2-carbaldehyde in Droplets as a Potential Source of H2O2 and Its Oxidation of SO2.

Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) plays a crucial role as an oxidizing agent within the tropospheric environment, making a substantial contribution to sulfate formation in hydrated aerosols and cloud and fog droplets. Field observations show that high levels of H2O2 are often observed in heavy haze events and polluted air. However, the source of H2O2 remains unclear. Here, using the droplets formed in situ by the deliquescence of hygroscopic compounds under a high relative humidity (RH), the formation of H2O2 by the photochemistry of imidazole-2-carbaldehyde (2-IC) under ultraviolet irradiation was explored. The results indicate that 2-IC produces IM-C•-OH and IM-C•═O radicals via H transfer itself to its excited triplet state and generates H2O2 and organic peroxides in the presence of O2, which has an evident oxidizing effect on SO2, suggesting the potential involvement of this pathway in the formation of atmospheric sulfate. H2O2 formation is limited in acidic droplets or droplets containing ammonium ions, and no H2O2 is detected in droplets containing nitrate, whereas droplets containing citric acid have an obvious promotion effect on H2O2 formation. These findings provide valuable insights into the behaviors of atmospheric photosensitizers, the source of H2O2, and the formation of sulfate in atmospheric droplets.

Air pollution and cancer daily mortality in Hangzhou, China: an ecological research.

BACKGROUND: Long-term exposure to air pollution has been linked to cancer incidence. However, the evidence is limited regarding the effect of short-term exposure to air pollution on cancer mortality. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate associations between short-term exposure to air pollutants (sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter <10 mm (PM10) and PM2.5) and cancer daily mortality. METHODS: This study used air quality, meteorological and daily cancer death data from 2014 to 2019 in Hangzhou, China. Generalised additive models (GAM) with quasi-Poisson regression were used to analyse the associations between air pollutants and cancer mortality with adjustment for confounding factors including time trends, day of week, temperature and humidity. Then, we conducted stratified analyses by sex, age, season and education. In addition, stratified analyses of age, season and education were performed within each sex to determine whether sex difference was modified by such factors. RESULTS: After adjusting for potential confounders, the GAM results indicated a statistically significant relationship between increased cancer mortality and elevated air pollution concentrations, but only in the female population. For every 10 µg/m3 rise in pollutant concentration, the increased risk of cancer death in females was 6.82% (95% CI 3.63% to 10.10%) for SO2 on lag 03, and 2.02% (95% CI 1.12% to 2.93%) for NO2 on lag 01 and 0.89% (95% CI 0.46% to 1.33%) for PM10 on lag 03 and 1.29% (95% CI 0.64% to 1.95%) for PM2.5 on lag 03. However, no statistically significant association was found among males. Moreover, the differences in effect sizes between males and females were more pronounced during the cold season, among the elderly and among subjects with low levels of education. CONCLUSIONS: Increased cancer mortality was only observed in females with rising concentrations of air pollutants. Further research is required to confirm this sex difference. Advocate for the reduction of air pollutant emissions to protect vulnerable groups.

A FRET-based multifunctional fluorescence probe for the simultaneous detection of sulfite and viscosity in living cells.

Viscosity and sulfur dioxide derivatives were significant indicators for the assessment of health threat and even cancers, therefore, on-site and real time detection of viscosity and sulfur dioxide derivatives has obtained considerable attentions. An FRET-based fluorescence probe JZX was designed and synthesized based on a novel energy donor of N,N-diethyl-4-(1H-phenanthro[9,10-d]imidazol-2-yl)benzamide fluorophore. JZX exhibited a large Stokes shift (230 nm), high energy transfer efficiency, wide emission channel gap (135 nm) and excellent stability and biocompatibility. JZX detected sulfur dioxide with low detection limit (55 nM), fast responding (16 min), high selectivity and sensitivity. Additionally, JZX tend to target endoplasmic reticulum of which normal metabolism will be disturbed by the abnormal levels of viscosity and sulfur dioxide derivatives. Prominently, JZX could concurrently detect viscosity and sulfur dioxide derivatives depending on different fluorescence signals in living cells for the screening of cancer cells. Hence, probe JZX will be a promising candidate for the detection of viscosity and sulfur dioxide derivatives, and even for the diagnosis of liver cancers.

Identifying vagal bronchopulmonary afferents mediating cough response to inhaled sulfur dioxide in mice.

Sulfur dioxide (SO2), a common environmental and industrial air pollutant, possesses a potent effect in eliciting cough reflex, but the primary type of airway sensory receptors involved in its tussive action has not been clearly identified. This study was carried out to determine the relative roles of three major types of vagal bronchopulmonary afferents [slowly adapting receptors (SARs), rapidly adapting receptors (RARs), and C-fibers] in regulating the cough response to inhaled SO2. Our results showed that inhalation of SO2 (300 or 600 ppm for 8 min) evoked an abrupt and intense stimulatory effect on bronchopulmonary C-fibers, which continued for the entire duration of inhalation challenge and returned toward the baseline in 1-2 min after resuming room air-breathing in anesthetized and mechanically ventilated mice. In stark contrast, the same SO2 inhalation challenge generated a distinct and consistent inhibitory effect on both SARs and phasic RARs; their phasic discharges synchronized with respiratory cycles during the baseline (breathing room air) began to decline progressively within 1-3 min after the onset of SO2 inhalation, ceased completely before termination of the 8-min inhalation challenge, and then slowly returned toward the baseline after >40 min. In a parallel study in awake mice, inhalation of SO2 at the same concentration and duration as that in the nerve recording experiments evoked cough responses in a pattern and time course similar to that observed in the C-fiber responses. Based on these results, we concluded that stimulation of vagal bronchopulmonary C-fibers is primarily responsible for triggering the cough response to inhaled SO2.NEW & NOTEWORTHY This study demonstrated that inhalation of a high concentration of sulfur dioxide, an irritant gas and common air pollutant, completely and reversibly inhibited the neural activities of both slowly adapting receptor and rapidly adapting receptor, two major types of mechanoreceptors in the lungs with their activities conducted by myelinated fibers. Furthermore, the results of this study suggested that stimulation of vagal bronchopulmonary C-fibers is primarily responsible for triggering the cough reflex responses to inhaled sulfur dioxide.

Impact of haze on potential pathogens in surface bioaerosol in urban environments.

Air quality considerably affects bioaerosol dynamics within the atmosphere. Frequent haze events, with their associated alterations in bioaerosol composition, may pose potential health risks. This study investigated the microbial diversity, community structure, and factors of PM2.5 within an urban environment. We further examined the impact of haze on potentially pathogenic bacteria in bioaerosols, and analyzed the sources of haze pollution. Key findings revealed that the highest levels of microbial richness and diversity were associated with lightly polluted air conditions. While the overall bacterial community structure remained relatively consistent across different air quality levels, the relative abundance of specific bacterial taxa exhibited variations. Meteorological and environmental conditions, particularly sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, and carbon monoxide, exerted a greater influence on bacterial diversity and community structure compared to the physicochemical properties of the PM2.5 particles themselves. Notably, haze events were observed to strengthen interactions among airborne pathogens. Stable carbon isotope analysis suggested that coal combustion and automobile exhaust were likely to represent the primary source of haze during winter months. These findings indicate that adoption of clean energy alternatives such as natural gas and electricity, and the use of public transportation, is crucial to mitigate particle and harmful pollutant emissions, thereby protecting public health.

Insights into the Formation Mechanism of Reactive Oxygen Species in the Interface Reaction of SO2 on Hematite.

The interplay between sulfur and iron holds significant importance in their atmospheric cycle, yet a complete understanding of their coupling mechanism remains elusive. This investigation delves comprehensively into the evolution of reactive oxygen species (ROS) during the interfacial reactions involving sulfur dioxide (SO2) and iron oxides under varying relative humidity conditions. Notably, the direct activation of water by iron oxide was observed to generate a surface hydroxyl radical (•OH). In comparison, the aging of SO2 was found to markedly augment the production of •OH radicals on the surface of α-Fe2O3 under humid conditions. This augmentation was ascribed to the generation of superoxide radicals (•O2-) stemming from the activation of O2 through the Fe(II)/Fe(III) cycle and its combination with the H+ ion to produce hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) on the acidic surface. Moreover, the identification of moderate relative humidity as a pivotal factor in sustaining the surface acidity of iron oxide during SO2 aging underscores its crucial role in the coupling of iron dissolution, ROS production, and SO2 oxidation. Consequently, the interfacial reactions between SO2 and iron oxides under humid conditions are elucidated as atmospheric processes that enhance oxidation capacity rather than deplete ROS. These revelations offer novel insights into the mechanisms underlying •OH radical generation and oxidative potential within atmospheric interfacial chemistry.

Air pollution in Bialowieza forest: Analysis of short-term trends from 2014 to 2021.

Air pollution caused by sulphur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) has negative impacts on forest health and can initiate forest dieback. Long-term monitoring and analysis of these pollution are carried out in Bialowieza Forest in NE Poland due to the threats from abiotic, biotic and anthropogenic factors. The main objective of our study was to monitor the levels and trends of air pollutant deposition in Bialowieza Forest. During a short-term monitoring period over six years (2014-2021), the concentration of SO2 in the air decreased significantly (from 2.03 µg m-3 in December 2015 to 0.20 µg m-3 in July 2016), while the concentration of NO2 in the air showed a non-significant decrease (from 8.24 µg m-3 in December 2015 to 1.61 µg m-3 May 2016). There was no significant linear trend in the wet deposition of S-SO4 anions. Mean monthly S-SO4 deposition varies between 4.54 and 94.14 mg m-2month-1. Wet nitrogen deposition, including oxidized nitrogen (N-NO3) and reduced nitrogen (N-NH4), showed a non-significant increase. Mean monthly precipitation of N-NO3 and N-N H4 ranged from 1.91 to 451.73 mg m-2month-1. Neither did total sulphur deposition nor total nitrogen deposition exceed the mean deposition values for forests in Europe (below 6 ha-1yr-1 and 3-15 ha-1yr-1, respectively). Our results indicate that air pollutants originate from local sources (households), especially from the village of Bialowieza, as demonstrated by the level and spatial distribution of air pollutant deposition. This indicates that air pollutants from the village of Bialowieza could spread to other parts of Bialowieza Forest in the future and may have a negative impact on forest health and can initiate forest dieback. It is therefore important to continue monitoring air pollution to assess the threats to this valuable forest ecosystem.

Assessing the impact of environmental regulations on environmental performance in Chinese cities: A spatial Stochastic Frontier Model with endogeneity analysis.

The Chinese government has implemented environmental regulations to address the deterioration of air quality associated with rapid industrialization. However, there is no consensus on whether environmental regulations are beneficial to environmental performance. The technical challenges related to endogeneity and spatial correlation may bias the estimation of the emission reduction effect of regulations. In this study, we comprehensively evaluate the environmental performance of sulfur dioxide regulations in Chinese cities using a novel stochastic frontier model that introduces the single control function to correct estimation errors caused by spatial spillovers and endogeneity. Our analysis emphasizes that insufficient resolution of endogeneity or spatial spillovers may lead to underestimation or neglect of the environmental performance improvements achieved by these regulations. On the contrary, our revised research results indicate that regulations aimed at reducing sulfur dioxide emissions not only successfully control sulfur dioxide emissions, but also have a positive impact on reducing carbon emissions. In addition, we conduct in-depth research on the mechanisms by which environmental regulations improve performance by stimulating green technology innovation and promoting industrial structure upgrading. Based on our research findings, we propose policy recommendations to establish a city cooperation mechanism of technology exchange to achieve synergistic emission reduction and strengthen regional factor circulation.

Sulfur dioxide-triggered visualization tool for auxiliary diagnosis of alcohol-induced "anti-inflammatory and pro-inflammatory" development process.

Inflammation is the most common disease in humans. Alcohol has been part of human culture throughout history. To avoid alcohol prompting inflammation to develop into a more serious disease, it is important for human health to explore the effects of alcohol on the development of inflammation.Endogenous sulfur dioxide (SO2) is considered an important regulator of the development of inflammation and is involved in the entire development process of inflammation. Taken together, it is of great significance to explore the impact of alcohol on the development process of inflammation through changes in SO2 concentration in the inflammatory microenvironment. Herein, we report the development of a molecular tool (Nu-SO2) with rapid (5 s) response to the important inflammatory modulator sulfur dioxide (SO2) for the diagnosis of inflammation, assessment of therapeutic effects, and evaluation of the development process of alcohol-induced inflammation. The rationality of Nu-SO2 was confirmed through molecular docking calculations, density functional theory (DFT) theoretical calculations, DNA/RNA titration experiments and co-localization experiments. Furthermore, Nu-SO2 was effectively applied for specific response and highly sensitive visualization imaging of SO2 in solution, cells and mice. Importantly, Nu-SO2 was successfully used to diagnose lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammation in cells and mice and evaluate the efficacy of dexamethasone in treating inflammation. More significantly, based on the excellent performance of Nu-SO2 in dynamically reporting the further development of inflammation in mice triggered by alcohol, we successfully elucidated the "anti-inflammatory and pro-inflammatory" trend in the development of inflammation caused by alcohol stimulation. Thus, this work not only advances the research on the relationship between alcohol, inflammation and SO2, but also provides a new non-invasive assessment method for the development mechanism of inflammation induced by external stimuli and the precise diagnosis and treatment of drug efficacy evaluation.