Effects of ambient air pollutants on hospital admissions and deaths for cardiovascular diseases: a time series analysis in Tehran.

Short-term exposures to air pollution have been associated with various adverse health effects. In this study, we investigated the associations between ambient air pollutants with the number of hospital admissions and mortality from cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). This time series study was conducted in Tehran for the years 2014-2017 (1220 day). We collected the ambient air pollutant concentration data from the regulatory monitoring stations. The health data were obtained from the Ministry of Health and Medical Education. A distributed lag non-linear model (DLNM) was used for the analyses. Total CVDs and ischemic heart disease (IHD) admissions were associated with CO for each 1 mg/m3 increase at lags of 6 and 7 days. Also, there was a positive association between total CVDs (RR 1.01; 1.001 to 1.03), IHD (RR 1.04; 1.006 to 1.07), and cerebrovascular diseases (RR 1.03; 1.005 to 1.07) mortality with SO2 at a lag of 4 days. PM2.5 and PM10 were associated with cerebrovascular disease admissions in females aged 16-65 years and 16 years and younger for each 10 µg/m3 increase, respectively. Short-term exposure to SO2, NO2, and CO was associated with hospital admissions and mortality for CVDs, IHD, cerebrovascular diseases, and other cardiovascular diseases at different lags. Moreover, females were more affected by ambient air pollutants than males in terms of their burden of CVDs. Therefore, identifying the likely harmful effects of pollutants given their current concentrations requires the planning and implementation of strategies to reduce air pollution.

Emission of BTEX compounds from the frying process: Quantification, environmental effects, and probabilistic health risk assessment.

Frying is one of the cooking methods which generates mono aromatic hydrocarbons, including benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene (BTEX); subsequently, it affects health through carcinogenic (CR) and non-carcinogenic risks (n-CR). However, their environmental effects known by secondary organic aerosols (SOA) and ozone formation potential (OFP) were also attended by many scientists. Therefore, this study quantified the BTEX emissions from 4 types of most commonly used edible oils (canola, corn, sunflower, and blend) under various frying conditions of temperatures and food additives. Furthermore, the effects of the chemicals in the light of health (CR and n-CR) and environment (SOA and OFP) were also investigated. The study results showed that higher temperatures could significantly increase the emissions, while the addition of food ingredients significantly reduces the emissions. The rank order of emitted chemical was obtained as T > B > E > X. The blend had the most emission among oils, followed by, in descending order, corn, sunflower, and canola. In association with environmental effects, the orders of X > T > E > B and T âˆ¼ E > X > B were obtained for OFP and SOA, respectively. THQ for blend, corn, canola, and sunflower oils was higher than 1 (1.76, 1.35, 1.27, and 1.002, respectively), showing a considerable n-CR when the hood was off. In this respect, TCR for the oils (1.78 × 10-4, 1.45 × 10-4, 1.39 × 10-4, and 1.05 × 10-4, respectively) shown the probable risk for all oils. Moreover, hood switching reduced the risk by about 11-81%.

Estimation of air pollutants emission (PM10, CO, SO2 and NOx) during development of the industry using AUSTAL 2000 model: A new method for sustainable development.

There is well-documented relationship between industrial development and environmental pollution, but there are no enough studies that have predicted development impacts on pollutants emission. In the current study, impacts of three development periods of Bojnourd cement factory on pollutants emission (CO, SO2, NOx, and PM10) were investigated using the AUSTAL 2000 model. The collected emission data during 19 years were classified for each period and analyzed via the model, separately. Two sets of monitoring point (each contains 5 points) determined at the model; first set for estimation of pollutants concentration in residential areas (three villages, one suburban, and one city), and the second set for model validity assessment which located near the factory. •According to model results, the second development period had the highest emission load per unit area for PM10 and SO2 by 164% and 262%, respectively. However, by applying the bag filter at the beginning of the third period, SO2 and PM10 concentrations were reduced significantly to the same as the first period.•Unlike the two previous pollutants, emissions load of NOx and CO per unit area were increased in both the second period (167% and 154%, respectively) and third period (182% and 337%, respectively). Moreover, the model showed a good agreement compared with the field measured data that it could be usable to predict pollutants emission.•The findings of this paper prove the predicting importance of the emissions prior to construction or any stages of industries upgrading and development. In other words, it emphasizes environmental protection during economic boost to maintain harmony between nature and sustainable development. Also, the model showed how the use of pollution control equipment (bag filter) during development can be effective to reduce the pollutants emission.

Alzheimer and depressive cognitive-like behaviors in male and female rats: A new method for exposure to ambient air pollution.

In the previous studies regarding the effects of exposure to ambient air pollution on biological markers and/or behavior of animals, the gaseous pollutants are not separated from the particulate matter (PM). Hence the synergetic effect of gaseous pollutants and PM was not considered. In this regard, current study was aimed to devolve a new method for separation of PM from gaseous pollutants. Also, the effect of exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) on the Alzheimer and depressive cognitive-like behaviors in rats after 3 and 6 months were investigated. Three chambers were designed including exposure group 1 (PM2.5 plus gaseous pollutants alone), exposure group 2 (gaseous pollutants alone) and control group (clean air). Exposure time was 5 h per day (9.00 a.m.-2.00 p.m.) for 4 days per week. The concentration of PM2.5 and gaseous pollutants (O3, NO2, and SO2) were monitored in the exposure hours, continuously. Concentration of PM2.5 by beta attenuation method and concentration of O3, NO2, and SO2 by UV fluorescence was monitored. Also, the concentration of metals including Al, Cr, Mn, Pb, Cd, Ni, Fe, and Cu and 16-polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) bound PM2.5 by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) were analyzed, respectively. Cognitive-like behavior related to Alzheimer and depressive behaviors were determined by Y maze and Force swimming. The concentration of PM2.5 in the 3 and 6 months exposure was higher than WHO guideline, significantly (p-value <0.05). The concentration of O3, NO2 and SO2 in the 3 and 6 months exposure was lower than WHO guideline, significantly (p-value <0.05). The order of metals in the PM2.5 according to mean concentration Al > Ca > Cu > Cd > Na > Fe > Cr > Ni > Mn > Pb. Also, the sum concentration of 16-PAHs in the PM2.5 in the 3 and 6 months exposure was 45.7 ± 37.15 ng/m3 and 30.04 ± 25.27 ng/m3, respectively. Exposure to PM2.5 cannot significantly increase Alzheimer and depressive cognitive-like behaviors in the rats. Also, a significant difference between male and female in Alzheimer and depressive cognitive-like behaviors not observed. •A new method for separation of PM2.5 from other PM in the ambient air by ECO-PM sampler was presented.•A new method for separation of PM2.5 from gaseous pollutants in the ambient air by HEPA filter and active carbon was presented.•Tow exposure groups including exposure 1: PM2.5 plus gaseous pollutants and exposure 2: gaseous pollutants only were designed for increased accuracy of the in-vivo study.•Exposure to PM2.5 cannot cause significant increased Alzheimer and depressive cognitive-like behaviors in the rats.

Concentration, sources and human health risk of heavy metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons bound PM2.5 ambient air, Tehran, Iran.

The exposure to heavy metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) bound to particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5) ambient air can result in some adverse health effect. In the current study, PM2.5 ambient air of Tehran metropolitan, Iran, was characterized by the aid of scanning electron microscope and energy-dispersive X-ray techniques. Also, the human health risk of heavy metals and PAHs bound PM2.5 for adults and children was assessed using the Monte Carlo simulation method. According to our findings, a size range of 0.97-2.46 µm with an average diameter of 1.56 µm for PM2.5 was noted. The average concentration of PM2.5 in ambient air (8.29E+04 ± 2.94E+04 ng m-3) significantly (p < 0.05) was suppressed the national (2.50E+04 ng m-3), World Health Organization (2.50E+04 ng m-3) and Environmental Protection Agency (3.50E+04 ng m-3) standard limits. The rank order of heavy metals bound PM2.5 was determined as Al > Cu > Cd > Cr > Pb > Ni > Fe > Mn. The maximum concentration among 16 PAHs compounds investigated was correlated with Phenanthrene. Considering the principal component analysis, the main source of heavy metals (Ni, Pb and Cr) is vehicle combustion. Moreover, the rank order of exposure pathways based on their health risk was ingestion > inhalation > dermal contact. Moreover, the significant health risks for Tehran residents due to heavy metals bound PM2.5 [target hazard quotient > 1; carcinogenic risk > 1.00E-06)] were noted based on the health risk assessment. Excessive carcinogenic risk (ECR) of PAHs bound PM2.5 was 4.16E-07 that demonstrated that there is no considerable risk (ECR < 1.00E-06).

Air Quality Analysis by Using Fuzzy Inference System and Fuzzy C-mean Clustering in Tehran, Iran from 2009-2013.

BACKGROUND: Since the industrial revolution, the rate of industrialization and urbanization has increased dramatically. Regarding this issue, specific regions mostly located in developing countries have been confronted with serious problems, particularly environmental problems among which air pollution is of high importance. METHODS: Eleven parameters, including CO, SO2, PM10, PM2.5, O3, NO2, benzene, toluene, ethyl-benzene, xylene, and 1,3-butadiene, have been accounted over a period of two years (2011-2012) from five monitoring stations located at Tehran, Iran, were assessed by using fuzzy inference system and fuzzy c-mean clustering. RESULTS: These tools showed that the quality of criteria pollutants between the year 2011 and 2012 did not as much effect the public health as the other pollutants did. CONCLUSION: Using the air EPA AQI, the quality of air, and also the managerial plans required to improve the quality can be misled.

Long-term trends of Nitrogen oxides and surface ozone concentrations in Tehran city, 2002-2011.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Tropospheric ozone is a problem with multi aspects - hazard to human health, plant, and welfare and a key factor to climate change, air pollution and atmosphere chemistry, as well. Behavior of ozone and nitrogen oxides (NO, and NO2) concentration is highly complex and variable; therefore, their trends as short and long-term were significantly attended. Most of the studies were carried out on the behavior of pollutant concentrations in North America, Europe, and East Asia, but few studies have been conducted in west Asia. The aim of this study was to assess daily changes and long-term trend of ozone and nitrogen oxides concentrations in Tehran city, Iran from March 2002 to September 2011. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Data were collected from 18 air quality monitoring stations. The data were sorted as daily mean of 10 years (daily changes) and annual mean for each year (long-term trend). One-sample test was used to assess the statistical significance. RESULTS: Current findings indicated that changes of ozone, NO, and NO2 concentrations are dependent from job shifts and photochemical reactions. Annual mean concentrations of ozone and NO2 were gradually increased, long-term trend of ozone and NO2 concentration indicated. The correlation between long term trend of ozone and NO2 was significant (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The controlling program was the most important factor in long-term concentration of ozone, and nitrogen oxides, but some problems and difficulties were accounted to perform controlling program.