Global air pollution exposure and poverty

Nature Communications, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 14(1)

Published: July 22, 2023

Abstract Air pollution is one of the leading causes health complications and mortality worldwide, especially affecting lower-income groups, who tend to be more exposed vulnerable. This study documents relationship between ambient air exposure poverty in 211 countries territories. Using World Health Organization’s (WHO) 2021 revised fine particulate matter (PM2.5) thresholds, we show that globally, 7.3 billion people are directly unsafe average annual PM2.5 concentrations, 80 percent whom live low- middle-income countries. Moreover, 716 million world’s lowest income (living on less than $1.90 per day) areas with levels pollution, Sub-Saharan Africa. particularly high lower-middle-income countries, where economies rely heavily polluting industries technologies. These findings based high-resolution population maps global coverage, as well subnational estimates harmonized household surveys.

Language: Английский

---

Global health burden of ambient PM2.5 and the contribution of anthropogenic black carbon and organic aerosols

Environment International, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 159, P. 107020 - 107020

Published: Dec. 8, 2021

Chronic exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) poses a major global health risk, commonly assessed by assuming equivalent toxicity for different PM2.5 constituents. We used data-informed atmospheric model and recent exposure–response functions calculate the burden of ambient from ten source categories. estimate 4.23 (95% confidence interval 3.0–6.14) million excess deaths annually PM2.5. distinguished contributions sources black carbon (BC), primary organic aerosols (POA) anthropogenic secondary (aSOA). These components make up ∼20% total in South East Asia Africa. find that domestic energy use burning solid biofuels is largest contributor BC, POA aSOA globally. Epidemiological toxicological studies indicate these compounds may be relatively more hazardous than other such as soluble salts, related their high potential inflict oxidative stress. performed sensitivity analyses considering species harmful compared PM2.5, suggested using range relative risks. show emerges leading cause mortality attributable notably acknowledge uncertainties inherent our assumed enhanced BC aerosol components, which suggest need better understand mechanisms magnitude associated risks consequences regulatory policies. However assessment importance emissions premature robust assumptions about risk.

Language: Английский

---

Revealing Drivers of Haze Pollution by Explainable Machine Learning

Environmental Science & Technology Letters, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 9(2), P. 112 - 119

Published: Jan. 4, 2022

Many places on earth still suffer from a high level of atmospheric fine particulate matter (PM2.5) pollution. Formation pollution event or haze episode (HE) involves many factors, including meteorology, emissions, and chemistry. Understanding the direct causes key drivers behind HE is thus essential. Traditionally, this done via chemical transport models. However, substantial uncertainties are introduced into model estimation when there significant changes in emissions inventory due to interventions (e.g., COVID-19 lockdown). Here we applied Random Forest coupled with Shapley additive explanation algorithm, post hoc technique, investigate roles major meteorological primary chemistry five severe HEs that occurred before during lockdown China. We discovered that, addition PM2.5 these episodes was largely driven by effects (with average contributions 30–65 μg m–3 for HEs), followed (∼15–30 m–3). Photochemistry likely pathway formation nitrate, while air humidity predominant factor forming sulfate. Our results highlight machine learning data has potential be complementary tool predicting interpreting

Language: Английский

---

Gene–environment interactions and their impact on human health

Genes and Immunity, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 24(1), P. 1 - 11

Published: Dec. 30, 2022

Abstract The molecular processes underlying human health and disease are highly complex. Often, genetic environmental factors contribute to a given or phenotype in non-additive manner, yielding gene–environment (G × E) interaction. In this work, we broadly review current knowledge on the impact of interactions health. We first explain independent variation environment. next detail well-established G E that involving toxicants, pollution, viruses, sex chromosome composition. conclude with possibilities challenges for studying interactions.

Language: Английский

---

Improved Mechanistic Model of the Atmospheric Redox Chemistry of Mercury

Environmental Science & Technology, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 55(21), P. 14445 - 14456

Published: Aug. 17, 2021

We present a new chemical mechanism for Hg0/HgI/HgII atmospheric cycling, including recent laboratory and computational data, implement it in the GEOS-Chem global chemistry model comparison to observations. Our includes oxidation of Hg0 by Br OH, subsequent HgI ozone radicals, respeciation HgII aerosols cloud droplets, speciated photolysis gas aqueous phases. The tropospheric Hg lifetime against deposition is 5.5 months, consistent with observational constraints. reproduces observed surface concentrations wet fluxes. OH make comparable contributions net HgII. Ozone principal oxidant, enabling efficient OH. BrHgIIOH HgII(OH)2, initial products oxidation, respeciate clouds organic inorganic complexes, volatilize photostable forms. Reduction takes place largely through HgII–organic complexes. 71% oceans. Major uncertainties modeling include concentrations, stability reactions HgI, speciation photoreduction clouds.

Language: Английский

---

Global estimates of daily ambient fine particulate matter concentrations and unequal spatiotemporal distribution of population exposure: a machine learning modelling study

The Lancet Planetary Health, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 7(3), P. e209 - e218

Published: March 1, 2023

Language: Английский

---

Updated World Health Organization Air Quality Guidelines Highlight the Importance of Non-anthropogenic PM_2.5

Environmental Science & Technology Letters, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 9(6), P. 501 - 506

Published: June 6, 2022

The World Health Organization recently updated their air quality guideline for annual fine particulate matter (PM2.5) exposure from 10 to 5 μg m-3, citing global health considerations. We explore if this is attainable across different regions of the world using a series model sensitivity simulations 2019. Our results indicate that >90% population exposed PM2.5 concentrations exceed m-3 and only few sparsely populated (largely in boreal North America Asia) experience average <5 m-3. find even under an extreme abatement scenario, with no anthropogenic emissions, more than half world's would still exposures above (including >70% >60% African Asian populations, respectively), largely due fires natural dust. demonstrate large heterogeneity composition highlight how sensitive reductions emissions. thus suggest use speciated aerosol guidelines help facilitate region-specific management decisions improve health-burden estimates exposure.

Language: Английский

---

Air pollution deaths attributable to fossil fuels: observational and modelling study

BMJ, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. e077784 - e077784

Published: Nov. 29, 2023

Abstract Objectives To estimate all cause and specific deaths that are attributable to fossil fuel related air pollution assess potential health benefits from policies replace fuels with clean, renewable energy sources. Design Observational modelling study. Methods An updated atmospheric composition model, a newly developed relative risk satellite based data were used determine exposure ambient pollution, disease mortality, attribute them emission categories. Data sources the global burden of 2019 study, observational fine particulate matter population National Aeronautics Space Administration (NASA) satellites, chemistry, aerosol, for 2019. Results Globally, excess due ozone estimated at 8.34 million (95% confidence interval 5.63 11.19) per year. Most (52%) mortality is cardiometabolic conditions, particularly ischaemic heart (30%). Stroke chronic obstructive pulmonary both account 16% burden. About 20% undefined, arterial hypertension neurodegenerative diseases possibly implicated. 5.13 (3.63 6.32) year globally use therefore could potentially be avoided by phasing out fuels. This figure corresponds 82% maximum number averted controlling anthropogenic emissions. Smaller reductions, rather than complete phase-out, indicate responses not strongly non-linear. Reductions in levels can decrease substantially. Estimates avoidable markedly higher this study most previous studies these reasons: new model has implications high income (largely intensive) countries low middle where increasing; accounts addition mortality; large reduction phase-out greatly reduce exposure. Conclusions Phasing deemed an effective intervention improve save lives as part United Nations' goal climate neutrality 2050. Ambient would no longer leading, environmental factor if superseded equitable access clean energy.

Language: Английский

---

Air quality impacts of crop residue burning in India and mitigation alternatives

Nature Communications, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 13(1)

Published: Nov. 14, 2022

Crop residue burning contributes to poor air quality and imposes a health burden on India. Despite government bans other interventions, this practice remains widespread. Here we estimate the impact of changes in agricultural emissions across India quantify potential benefit district-level actions using an adjoint modeling approach. From 2003 2019, find that caused 44,000-98,000 particulate matter exposure-related premature deaths annually, which Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh contribute 67-90%. Due combination relatively high downwind population density, output, cultivation residue-intensive crops, six districts Punjab alone 40% India-wide annual impacts from burning. Burning two hours earlier could avert up 9600 (95% CI: 8000-11,000) each year, valued at 3.2 0.49-7.3) billion US dollars. Our findings support use targeted potentially low-cost interventions mitigate crop India, pending further research regarding cost-effectiveness feasibility.

Language: Английский

---

Mortality Attributable to Ambient Air Pollution: A Review of Global Estimates

GeoHealth, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 7(1)

Published: Dec. 20, 2022

Abstract Since the publication of first epidemiological study to establish connection between long‐term exposure atmospheric pollution and effects on human health, major efforts have been dedicated estimate attributable mortality burden, especially in context Global Burden Disease (GBD). In this work, we review estimates excess outdoor air at global scale, by comparing studies available literature. We find large differences estimates, which are related response functions as well number health outcomes included calculations, aspects where further improvements necessary. Furthermore, show that despite considerable advancements our understanding impacts consequent improvement accuracy their precision has not increased last decades. offer recommendations for future measurements research directions, will help improve quantification pollution‐health relationships.

Language: Английский

---