Long-Term Trends in Urban Atmospheric Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons and Nitropolycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons: China, Russia, and Korea from 1999 to 2014.

Total suspended particulate matter (TSP) was collected during the summer and winter in five cities in China (Shenyang, Beijing, and Shanghai), Russia (Vladivostok), and Korea (Busan) from 1997 to 2014. Nine polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) with four to six rings, including pyrene (Pyr) and benzo[a]pyrene (BaP), were determined using high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection. Two nitropolycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (NPAHs), 1-nitropyrene (1-NP) and 6-nitrobenzo[a]pyrene (6-NBaP), were also determined using high-performance liquid chromatography with online reduction/chemiluminescence detection. Two Chinese cities, Beijing and Shenyang, showed very high concentrations of total PAHs (ΣPAH) and total NPAHs (ΣNPAH) with a large seasonal difference (winter > summer), although the concentrations decreased over time. In both cities, maximum mean concentrations of ΣPAH over 200 ng m-3 were observed in the winter. In Beijing, an increase in the ΣPAH concentration was observed in the winter of 2010, which was after the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. The [1-NP]/[Pyr] ratio, a diagnostic parameter for source, was smaller in the winter than in the summer over the monitoring period, suggesting a large contribution of coal heating systems in the winter. In Vladivostok, concentrations of ΣPAH and ΣNPAH were lower than in the above two Chinese cities. The [1-NP]/[Pyr] ratio was larger than in the above Chinese cities even in the winter, suggesting that the contribution of coal combustion facilities, such as power plants for heating, was not very large. In Shanghai and Busan, concentrations of ΣPAH and ΣNPAH were much lower than in the above three cities. At the beginning of the monitoring periods, the [1-NP]/[Pyr] ratios, which were as large as those of Japanese commercial cities, suggested a large contribution from automobiles. After that, the contribution of automobiles decreased gradually. However, BaP concentrations were still over 1 ng m-3 in all cities monitored in China, Russia, and Korea, suggesting that the urban air pollution of PAHs and NPAHs in these regions should not be ignored.

Factors associated with preferences for elderly care mode and choice of caregivers among parents who lost their only child in a central China city.

AIM: It is forecasted that the figure of families in China who lost their only child will reach 10 million by 2035. Traditional Chinese culture places these families in a particularly disadvantaged position for elderly care. It is quite important to understand the elderly care needs of the parents. METHODS: The cluster sampling method was used to select the parents who lost their only child in Wuhu city, China. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis models were carried out to analyze factors influencing the parents' preferences for elderly care mode and choice of caregivers. RESULTS: The Geriatric Depression Scale score (P < 0.001) was significantly associated with the parents' preferences for elderly care mode. Parents with different sex, marital status and grandchildren status had different preferences for their choice of caregivers. The number of chronic diseases and Geriatric Depression Scale scores were significantly associated with preferences for choice of caregivers. CONCLUSIONS: These parents should have a preferential policy of check in to a nursing home and simplify the check-in procedure. The parents should receive prompt for depression and stay in the community for elderly care. The government should guarantee that spouseless parents have priority in enjoying nurse/nursing home worker services. The government should support the development of volunteer services. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2020; 20: 112-117.