The correlation between respiratory infectious diseases, air pollution, and meteorological factors in Jinan, China from 2021 to 2023.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the epidemiological patterns of respiratory infectious diseases in Jinan from 2021 to 2023 and to elucidate the relationship among these diseases, meteorological factors, and air pollution. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective analysis of outpatient and inpatient data related to respiratory infectious diseases recorded by the Jinan Health Care Development Center from 2021 to 2023. Additionally, we gathered data on outdoor air pollution indicators and meteorological variables from 14 environmental monitoring stations in Jinan. A generalized Poisson regression model for time series analysis was employed to examine the correlation between meteorological factors, air pollution levels, and hospitalization rates for respiratory infectious diseases. RESULTS: From 2021 to 2023, the daily average concentrations of atmospheric pollutants sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and carbon monoxide (CO) adhered to the national air quality standards, while the daily average concentrations of inhalable particulate matter (PM10) and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) exceeded the national first-class limits. The daily average concentration of ozone (O3) surpassed the national secondary standard, indicating severe O3 pollution. Regarding respiratory disease patients, the relative risk (RR) values of PM10, PM2.5, SO2, NO2, and CO were highest at a lag of 07 d. Compared to other age groups, PM2.5, SO2, NO2, and CO had a more significant impact on respiratory disease treatment on children aged 0-12, while PM10 significantly affected individuals aged 60 and above. In the single pollution model, RR values corresponding to PM10, PM2.5, SO2, CO, and NO2 were 1.008, 1.058, 1.224, 1.405, and 1.102 respectively on lag07d. The multi-pollutant model maintained the positive relationship between the total hospitalization frequency of respiratory diseases and CO, NO2, SO2, PM10, and PM2.5. CONCLUSION: Our study found a strong, positive correlation with a lag effect between total number of hospitalizations for common respiratory diseases and pollutants CO, NO2, SO2, PM10, and PM2.5 in the examined sample.

Innovative Air-Preconditioning Method for Accurate Particulate Matter Sensing in Humid Environments.

Smart cities rely on a network of sensors to gather real-time data on various environmental factors, including air quality. This paper addresses the challenges of improving the accuracy of low-cost particulate matter sensors (LCPMSs) which can be compromised by environmental conditions, such as high humidity, which is common in many urban areas. Such weather conditions often lead to the overestimation of particle counts due to hygroscopic particle growth, resulting in a potential public concern, although most of the detected particles consist of just water. The paper presents an innovative design for an indicative air-quality measuring station that integrates the particulate matter sensor with a preconditioning subsystem designed to mitigate the impact of humidity. The preconditioning subsystem works by heating the incoming air, effectively reducing the relative humidity and preventing the hygroscopic growth of particles before they reach the sensor. To validate the effectiveness of this approach, parallel measurements were conducted using both preconditioned and non-preconditioned sensors over a period of 19 weeks. The data were analyzed to compare the performance of the sensors in terms of accuracy for PM1, PM2.5, and PM10 particles. The results demonstrated a significant improvement in measurement accuracy for the preconditioned sensor, especially in environments with high relative humidity. When the conditions were too severe and both sensors started measuring incorrect values, the preconditioned sensor-measured values were closer to the actual values. Also, the period of measuring incorrect values was shorter with the preconditioned sensor. The results suggest that the implementation of air preconditioning subsystems in LCPMSs deployed in smart cities can provide a cost-effective solution to overcome humidity-related inaccuracies, thereby improving the overall quality of measured air pollution data.

Adverse health effects of exposure to plastic, microplastics and their additives: environmental, legal and policy implications for Israel.

BACKGROUND: Israel is a regional "hotspot" of plastic pollution, with little discussion of potential adverse health effects from exposure to plastic. This review aims to stimulate discussion and drive policy by focusing on these adverse health effects. MAIN BODY: Plastics are synthetic polymers containing additives which can leach from food- and beverage-contact plastic into our food and beverages, and from plastic textiles onto our skin. Plastics persist in the environment for generations, fragmenting into MNPs: Micro (1 micron-5 mm)-Nano (1 nm-1 micron)-Plastic, which contaminate our atmosphere, water, and food chain. MNP can enter the human body through ingestion, inhalation and touch. MNP < 10 microns can cross epithelial barriers in the respiratory and gastrointestinal systems, and fragments < 100 nm can cross intact skin, enabling entry into body tissues. MNP have been found in multiple organs of the human body. Patients with MNP in atheromas of carotid arteries have increased risk of a combined measure of stroke, cardiovascular disease, and death. Toxic additives to plastics include bisphenols, phthalates, and PFAS, endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) which cause dysregulation of thyroid function, reproduction, and metabolism, including increased risk of obesity, diabetes, endometriosis, cancer, and decreased fertility, sperm count and quality. Fetal exposure to EDCs is associated with increased rates of miscarriages, prematurity and low birth weight. There is likely no safe level of exposure to EDCs, with increasing evidence of trans-generational and epigenetic effects. There are several existing Israeli laws to reduce plastic use and waste. Taxes on single-use plastic (SUP) were recently cancelled. There are many gaps in regulatory standards for food-, beverage- and child- safe plastic. Existing standards are poorly enforced. CONCLUSION: Reduction in production and use of plastic, promotion of recycling and reduction of leaching of toxic additives into our food and beverages are essential policy goals. Specific recommendations: Periodic monitoring of MNP in bottled beverages, food, indoor air; Strengthen enforcement of standards for food-, beverage-, and child-safe plastic; Renew tax on SUPs; National ban on SUP at public beaches, nature reserves and parks; Ban products manufactured with MNP; Increase research on sources and health outcomes of exposure to MNP and EDCs.

Air quality and mental illness: role of bioaerosols, causal mechanisms and research priorities.

BACKGROUND: Poor air quality can both trigger and aggravate lung and heart conditions, as well as affecting child development. It can even lead to neurological and mental health problems. However, the precise mechanisms by which air pollution affect human health are not well understood. AIMS: To promote interdisciplinary dialogue and better research based on a critical summary of evidence on air quality and health, with an emphasis on mental health, and to do so with a special focus on bioaerosols as a common but neglected air constituent. METHOD: A rapid narrative review and interdisciplinary expert consultation, as is recommended for a complex and rapidly changing field of research. RESULTS: The research methods used to assess exposures and outcomes vary across different fields of study, resulting in a disconnect in bioaerosol and health research. We make recommendations to enhance the evidence base by standardising measures of exposure to both particulate matter in general and bioaerosols specifically. We present methods for assessing mental health and ideal designs. There is less research on bioaerosols, and we provide specific ways of measuring exposure to these. We suggest research designs for investigating causal mechanisms as important intermediate steps before undertaking larger-scale and definitive studies. CONCLUSIONS: We propose methods for exposure and outcome measurement, as well as optimal research designs to inform the development of standards for undertaking and reporting research and for future policy.

Atmospheric concentrations of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and their emissions at a waste recycling facility producing refuse-derived paper and plastics densified fuel.

To better understand the types and concentrations of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) emitted into the air from waste recycling facilities that produce refuse-derived paper and plastics densified fuel (RPF) from industrial waste, we conducted an air sampling campaign at a waste recycling facility in Japan. Both passive and active air sampling were conducted, and the samples collected were used to quantify the PFAS emitted into the air during the production of RPF. Overall, few ionic PFAS were detected in the air at the facility; however, high levels of neutral PFAS (8.21-53.4 ng/m3; 20.7-130 pmol/m3) were measured in the air near the heat molding machines. The two neutral PFAS detected at the highest concentrations were 6:2 fluorotelomer alcohol and 6:2 fluorotelomer methacrylate, which are currently unregulated under the Stockholm Convention, suggesting that product manufacturers have shifted away from using regulated PFAS. Small amounts of regulated PFAS such as 8:2 fluorotelomer methacrylate and 8:2 fluorotelomer acrylate were measured in some parts of the facility. Analysis of the concentrations of PFAS in the exhaust gas from the heat molding machines revealed neutral PFAS concentrations (537-2160 ng/m3; 1350-5040 pmol/m3) that were 1-2 orders of magnitude higher than those in the surrounding indoor air. The total emission of neutral PFAS from the facility to the environment was estimated to be 0.066-0.260 g/day (0.168-0.607 mmol/day), depending on whether air volume discharged as exhaust gas or as indoor ventilation was considered. A contribution analysis of the emissions revealed that treating the exhaust gas from the heat molding machines, which constitutes over 94 % of the total emissions, is very effective at reducing PFAS emissions from the facility.

Pollution of the environment and building interiors during asbestos removal as a result of lack of negative pressure in the working areas.

The paper presents examples of the consequences of the lack of negative pressure in the work zone during asbestos removal. The asbestos fibre concentrations generated in those work zones were relatively low. This was due to the leakage in barriers restricting the work zone. Therefore the asbestos content in the outside air, near the renovated rooms was increasing. In the cases discussed, these works resulted in short-term pollution of the building's outdoor air to a depth of up to 15 m. Such contamination can cover the entire interior of the building. This may lead to long-term retention of asbestos fibre in the facility, despite the completion of asbestos removal. For example, non-friable asbestos-cement sheets removal in those work conditions increased indoor air by contamination up to 3000 f/m3 (outside the work zone). In the case of removing friable asbestos inside the building type "LIPSK", indoor air contamination locally was up 21,000-51,000 f/m3, and outside the work zone to 18,000-28,900 f/m3. These values are above the average concentration of asbestos fibres in the same type of buildings (< 300-400 f/m3) in regular use.

Ambient air pollution contributed to pulmonary tuberculosis in China.

Published studies on outdoor air pollution and tuberculosis risk have shown heterogeneous results. Discrepancies in prior studies may be partially explained by the limited geographic scope, diverse exposure times, and heterogeneous statistical methods. Thus, we conducted a multi-province, multi-city time-series study to comprehensively investigate this issue. We selected 67 districts or counties from all geographic regions of China as study sites. We extracted data on newly diagnosed pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) cases, outdoor air pollutant concentrations, and meteorological factors in 67 sites from January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2019. We utilized a generalized additive model to evaluate the relationship between ambient air pollutants and PTB risk. Between 2014 and 2019, there were 172,160 newly diagnosed PTB cases reported in 67 sites. With every 10-µg/m3 increase in SO2, NO2, PM10, PM2.5, and 1-mg/m3 in CO, the PTB risk increased by 1.97% [lag 0 week, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.26, 2.68], 1.30% (lag 0 week, 95% CI: 0.43, 2.19), 0.55% (lag 8 weeks, 95% CI: 0.24, 0.85), 0.59% (lag 10 weeks, 95% CI: 0.16, 1.03), and 5.80% (lag 15 weeks, 95% CI: 2.96, 8.72), respectively. Our results indicated that ambient air pollutants were positively correlated with PTB risk, suggesting that decreasing outdoor air pollutant concentrations may help to reduce the burden of tuberculosis in countries with a high burden of tuberculosis and air pollution.

Influence of meteorological conditions on the variability of indoor and outdoor particulate matter concentrations in a selected Polish health resort.

The article evaluates air pollution by particulate matter (PM) in indoor and outdoor air in one of the Polish health resorts, where children and adults with respiratory diseases are treated. The highest indoor PM concentrations were recorded during the winter season. Therefore, the maximum average daily concentration values in indoor air for the PM10, PM2.5, and PM1 fractions were 50, 42 and 23 µg/m3, respectively. In the case of outdoor air, the highest average daily concentrations of PM2.5 reached a value of 40 µg/m3. The analyses and backward trajectories of episodes of high PM concentrations showed the impact of supra-regional sources and the influx of pollutants from North Africa on the variability of PM concentrations. The correlation between selected meteorological parameters and PM concentrations shows the relationship between PM concentrations and wind speed. For example, the correlation coefficients between PM1(I) and PM1(O) concentrations and wind speed were - 0.8 and - 0.7 respectively. These factors determined episodes of high PM concentrations during winter periods in the outdoor air, which were then transferred to the indoor air. Elevated concentrations in indoor air during summer were also influenced by chimney/gravity ventilation and the appearance of reverse chimney effect.

Outdoor Air Pollution and Pediatric Respiratory Disease.

Outdoor air pollution is ubiquitous, and no safe level of exposure has been identified for the most common air pollutants such as ozone and particle pollution. Children are uniquely more susceptible to the harms of outdoor air pollution, which can cause and exacerbate respiratory disease. Although challenging to identify the effects of outdoor air pollution on individual patients, understanding the basics of outdoor air pollution is essential for pediatric respiratory health care providers. This review covers basic information regarding outdoor air pollution, unique considerations for children, mechanisms for increased susceptibility, and association with incident and exacerbation of respiratory disease in children.

Air quality in a revitalized special economic zone at the center of an urban monocentric agglomeration.

In this study, we have examined the air quality within a revitalized, post-industrial urban area in Lódz, Poland. The use of Dron technology with mobile measurement equipment allowed for accurate assessment of air quality (particulate matter and gaseous pollutants) and factors influencing air quality (wind speed and direction) on a local scale in an area of 0.18 km2 and altitudes from 2 to 50 m. The results show that the revitalization carried out in the Lodz special economic zone area contributed to eliminate internal air pollution emitters through the use of ecological and effective heat sources. The exceedances permissible concentration values were local, and concerned mainly the higher measurement zones of the troposphere (more than 30 m above ground level). In the case of gaseous pollutants, higher wind speeds were associated with a decrease in the concentration of SO2 and an increase in H2S concentration. In both cases, the wind contributed to the occurrence of local areas of accumulation of these gaseous pollutants in the spaces between buildings or wooded areas.

Epidemiology, Mechanisms and Prevention in the Etiology of Environmental Factor-Induced Cardiovascular Diseases.

Cardiovascular diseases are a significant cause of mortality worldwide, and their prevalence can be amplified by a range of environmental factors. This review article critically evaluated the published information on the epidemiology and pathophysiological mechanisms of various environmental factors such as air indoor and outdoor air pollution, water pollution, climate change, and soil pollution. Preventative measures to mitigate these effects including public health responses are discussed with gaps in our knowledge for future studies.

Residential exposure to air pollution and incidence of leukaemia in the industrial area of Viadana, Northern Italy.

BACKGROUND: Exposure to air pollution has been proposed as one of the potential risk factors for leukaemia. Work-related formaldehyde exposure is suspected to cause leukaemia. METHODS: We conducted a nested register-based case-control study on leukaemia incidence in the Viadana district, an industrial area for particleboard production in Northern Italy. We recruited 115 cases and 496 controls, frequency-matched by age, between 1999 and 2014. We assigned estimated exposures to particulate matter (PM10, PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and formaldehyde at residential addresses, averaged over the susceptibility window 3rd to 10th year prior to the index date. We considered potential confounding by sex, age, nationality, socio-economic status, occupational exposures to benzene and formaldehyde, and prior cancer diagnoses. RESULTS: There was no association of exposures to PM10, PM2.5, and NO2 with leukaemia incidence. However, an indication of increased risk emerged for formaldehyde, despite wide statistical uncertainty (OR 1.46, 95%CI 0.65-3.25 per IQR-difference of 1.2 µg/m3). Estimated associations for formaldehyde were higher for acute (OR 2.07, 95%CI 0.70-6.12) and myeloid subtypes (OR 1.79, 95%CI 0.64-5.01), and in the 4-km buffer around the industrial facilities (OR 2.78, 95%CI 0.48-16.13), although they remained uncertain. CONCLUSIONS: This was the first study investigating the link between ambient formaldehyde exposure and leukaemia incidence in the general population. The evidence presented suggests an association, although it remains inconclusive, and a potential significance of emissions related to industrial activities in the district. Further research is warranted in larger populations incorporating data on other potential risk factors.

Concentrations of Volatile Methyl Siloxanes in New York City Reflect Emissions from Personal Care and Industrial Use.

Volatile methyl siloxanes (VMS) are a group of organosilicon compounds of interest because of their potential health effects, their ability to form secondary organic aerosols, and their use as tracer compounds. VMS are emitted in the gas-phase from using consumer and personal care products, including deodorants, lotions, and hair conditioners. Because of this emission route, airborne concentrations are expected to increase with population density, although there are few studies in large urban centers. Here, we report summertime concentrations and daily variations of VMS congeners measured in New York City. Median concentrations of the 6 studied congeners, D3 (20 ng m-3), D4 (57 ng m-3), D5 (230 ng m-3), D6 (11 ng m-3), L5 (2.5 ng m-3), and L7 (1.3 ng m-3) are among the highest reported outdoor concentrations in the literature to date. Average congener ratios of D5:D4 and D5:D6 were consistent with previously reported emissions ratios, suggesting that concentrations were dominated by local emissions. Measured concentrations agree with previously published results from a Community Multiscale Air Quality model and support commonly accepted emissions rates for D4, D5, and D6 of 32.8, 135, and 6.1 mg per capita per day. Concentrations of D4, D5, D6, L5, and L7 and total VMS were significantly lower during the day than during the night, consistent with daytime oxidation reactivity. Concentrations of D3 did not show the same diurnal trend but exhibited a strong directional dependence, suggesting that it may be emitted by industrial point sources in the area rather than personal care product use. Concentrations of all congeners had large temporal variations but showed relatively weak relationships with wind speed, temperature, and mixing height.

A review of sample collection and analytical methods for detecting per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in indoor and outdoor air.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a unique class of chemicals synthesized to aid in industrial processes, fire-fighting products, and to benefit consumer products such as clothing, cosmetics, textiles, carpets, and coatings. The widespread use of PFAS and their strong carbon-fluorine bonds has led to their ubiquitous presence throughout the world. Airborne transport of PFAS throughout the atmosphere has also contributed to environmental pollution. Due to the potential environmental and human exposure concerns of some PFAS, research has extensively focused on water, soil, and organismal detection, but the presence of PFAS in the air has become an area of growing concern. Methods to measure polar PFAS in various matrices have been established, while the investigation of polar and nonpolar PFAS in air is still in its early development. This literature review aims to present the last two decades of research characterizing PFAS in outdoor and indoor air, focusing on active and passive air sampling and analytical methods. The PFAS classes targeted and detected in air samples include fluorotelomer alcohols (FTOHs), perfluoroalkane sulfonamides (FASAs), perfluoroalkane sulfonamido ethanols (FASEs), perfluorinated carboxylic acids (PFCAs), and perfluorinated sulfonic acids (PFSAs). Although the manufacturing of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) has been largely phased out, these two PFAS are still often detected in air samples. Additionally, recent estimates indicate that there are thousands of PFAS that are likely present in the air that are not currently monitored in air methods. Advances in air sampling methods are needed to fully characterize the atmospheric transport of PFAS.

An evaluation of fungal contamination and its relationship with PM levels in public transportation systems.

Transmission of fungi in the air and its impact on health are regarded as important public health issues. Bioaerosols play an important role in causing or exacerbating infectious diseases, acute toxic effects, allergies, and cardiopulmonary symptoms. As many people use the public transportation system daily, it is necessary to determine the type and manner of dispersal and abundance of airborne fungi in public transport places. Three public transportation systems including a bus station, a train station, and an airport in Ahvaz city (Iran) were examined. At each of these stations, the air samples were taken from inside and outside the hall stations, and in-vehicle. A bio-stage Anderson sampler was used by suctioning air and passing it over a Petri dish containing culture medium Sabouraud Dextrose Agar (SDA). Relative humidity (RH, %), temperature (T, ◦C), and mass concentration of particulate matter (PM1, PM2.5, and PM10, µg/m3) at the sampling points were measured. The highest concentration of airborne fungi was observed in the airport. The concentration of fungi in the ambient air was higher than that in the indoor air of halls and in-vehicle. In all sampling points, the ambient predominant airborne fungi were Cladosporium and Alternaria, while the indoor predominant airborne fungi were Cladosporium, Aspergillus, and Penicillium. The indoor to outdoor ratio showed that the fungi were of an external origin. Due to the influence of the ambient air on indoor air, it is recommended to use proper ventilation and enhance the hygiene level of vehicles in public transportation systems to reduce exposure to environmentally pathogenic bioaerosols.

Indoor sulfur dioxide prediction through air quality modeling and assessment of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide levels in industrial and non-industrial areas.

In this study, the levels of sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) were measured indoors and outdoors using passive samplers in Tymar village (20 homes), an industrial area, and Haji Wsu (15 homes), a non-industrial region, in the summer and the winter seasons. In comparison to Haji Wsu village, the results showed that Tymar village had higher and more significant mean SO2 and NO2 concentrations indoors and outdoors throughout both the summer and winter seasons. The mean outdoor concentration of SO2 was the highest in summer, while the mean indoor NO2 concentration was the highest in winter in both areas. The ratio of NO2 indoors to outdoors was larger than one throughout the winter at both sites. Additionally, the performance of machine learning (ML) approaches: multiple linear regression (MLR), artificial neural network (ANN), and random forest (RF) were compared in predicting indoor SO2 concentrations in both the industrial and non-industrial areas. Factor analysis (FA) was conducted on different indoor and outdoor meteorological and air quality parameters, and the resulting factors were employed as inputs to train the models. Cross-validation was applied to ensure reliable and robust model evaluation. RF showed the best predictive ability in the prediction of indoor SO2 for the training set (RMSE = 2.108, MAE = 1.780, and R2 = 0.956) and for the unseen test set (RMSE = 4.469, MAE = 3.728, and R2 = 0.779) values compared to other studied models. As a result, it was observed that the RF model could successfully approach the nonlinear relationship between indoor SO2 and input parameters and provide valuable insights to reduce exposure to this harmful pollutant.

Outdoor air pollution and near-fatal/fatal asthma attacks in children: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Globally, observational studies have demonstrated an association between high levels of air pollution and asthma attacks in children. It remains unclear whether and to what extent exposure may be associated with increased near-fatal/fatal attacks. OBJECTIVE: To systematically review the evidence for an association between ambient outdoor air pollution and fatal and/or near-fatal asthma (NFA). METHODS: Following Cochrane methodology, we searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science, Scopus, and Open Grey electronic databases for studies reporting the association of fatal/NFA and air pollution (particulate matter [PM], sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, black carbon and ozone [O3]) in children. NFA was defined as requiring intensive care unit (ICU) management. RESULTS: Two reviewers independently screened 1358 papers. A total of 276 studies identified asthma attacks related to air pollution, 272 did not meet inclusion criteria after full-text review. Four observational studies described fatal/NFA, of which three addressed NFA. PM2.5 (per 12.5 µg/m3 increase) and O3 (per 22 ppb increase) were associated with NFA in one study (PM2.5, relative risk: 1.26, confidence interval [CI] [1.10-1.44]), O3 (1.19 [1.01-1.40]). PM10 was associated with ICU admission in the context of thunderstorm asthma. Elemental carbon was associated equally with NFA that did not require an ICU admission (p = 0.67). Studies of fatal asthma including children did not demarcate age within the analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Ozone and PM2.5 have been associated with NFA in children but synthesis is limited by the paucity of studies and methodological heterogeneity. Poor reporting of severities of asthma attacks hinders the assessment of whether outdoor air pollution is associated with an increased number of NFA/fatal attacks in children.

Objective and subjective measures of air pollution and self-rated health: the evidence from Chile.

PURPOSE: The literature exploring individual differences in self-rated health has grown fast in recent years. Self-rated health (SRH) is a good indicator of general health status. This empirical study explores the association between outdoor air pollution and SRH in Chile. This type of analysis is infrequent in Latin America. METHODS: We used objective and subjective air pollution measures. The first corresponds to PM2.5, and the latter to the perception of a high level of air pollution. Drawing on data from two independent and repeated nationwide surveys over the period 2006-2017 at the individual level in Chile, we performed repeated cross-sectional analyses for each year of survey application. Ordered Logit (OL) and Logit (L) multivariate models were used to investigate the association between SRH and air pollution measures, considering other socioeconomic and demographic covariates. RESULTS: We found that the higher is the level of air pollution, the lower the SRH in Chile, regardless of whether air pollution is physically measured or perceived by respondents. The results were consistent over the years in the sign and significance of regression coefficients using two surveys and two forms of the outcome variable. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings add evidence that air pollution is a relevant determinant of SRH. In addition, they show that subjective measures of air pollution can be as reliable as physical measures in the analysis of the association between air pollution and human health.

Characterization of microplastics in outdoor and indoor air in Ranchi, Jharkhand, India: First insights from the region.

The study focused on detecting and characterizing microplastics in outdoor and indoor air in Ranchi, Jharkhand, India during post-monsoon (2022) and winter (2023). Stereo microscopic analysis showed that plastic fibres had a dominant presence, fragments were less abundant, whereas fewer films could be detected in indoor and outdoor air. The atmospheric deposition of microplastics outdoors observed 465 ± 27 particles/m2/day in PM10 and 12104 ± 665 and 13833 ± 1152 particles/m2/day in PM2.5 in quartz and PTFE, respectively during the post-monsoon months. During winter, microplastic deposition rates in PM10 samples were found to be 689 ± 52 particles/m2/day and 19789 ± 2957 and 30087 ± 13402 in quartz and PTFE particles/m2/day respectively in PM2.5. The mean deposition rate in indoor environment during post-monsoon was 8.3 × 104 and 1.03 × 105 particles/m2/day in winter. During the post-monsoon period in PM10, there were fibres from 7.7 to 40 µm and fragments from 2.3 µm to 8.6 µm. Indoor atmospheric microplastics, fibres ranged from 1.2 to 47 µm and fragments from 0.9 to 16 µm present respectively during the post-monsoon season. Fibres and fragment sizes witnessed during winter were 3.6-6.9 µm and 2.3-34 µm, respectively. Indoor air films measured in the range of 4.1-9.6 µm. Fourier transform infrared analysis showed that outdoor air contained polyethylene, polypropylene, Polystyrene, whereas indoor air had polyvinyl chloride. Polyethylene mainly was present in outdoor air, with lesser polypropylene and polystyrene than indoors, where polyvinyl chloride and polyethylene were in dominant proportions. Elemental mapping of outdoor and indoor air samples showed the presence of elements on the microplastics. The HYSPLIT models suggest that the particles predominantly were coming from North-West during the post-monsoon season. Principal component analysis indicated wind speed and direction influencing the abundance of microplastics. Microplastics concentration showed strong seasonal influence and potential to act as reservoir of contaminants.

Organophosphate triesters and their diester degradation products in the atmosphere-A critical review.

Organophosphate triesters (tri-OPEs) have found substantial use as plasticizers and flame retardants in commercial and industrial products. Despite upcoming potential restrictions on use of OPEs, widespread environmental contamination is likely for the foreseeable future. Organophosphate diesters (di-OPEs) are known biotic or abiotic degradation products of tri-OPEs. In addition, direct use of di-OPEs as commercial products also contributes to their presence in the atmosphere. We review the available data on contamination with tri-OPEs and di-OPEs in both indoor and outdoor air. Concentrations of tri-OPEs in indoor air exceed those in outdoor air. The widespread discovery of tri-OPE traces in polar regions and oceans is noteworthy and is evidence that they undergo long-range transport. There are only two studies on di-OPEs in outdoor air and no studies on di-OPEs in indoor air until now. Current research on di-OPEs in indoor and outdoor air is urgently needed, especially in countries with potentially high exposure to di-OPEs such as the UK and the US. Di-OPE concentrations are higher at e-waste dismantling areas than at surrounding area. We also summarise the methods employed for sampling and analysis of OPEs in the atmosphere and assess the relative contribution to atmospheric concentrations of di-OPEs made by environmental degradation of triesters, compared to the presence of diesters as by-products in commercial triester products. Finally, we identify shortcomings of current research and provide suggestions for future research.