Oil and gas production is one of the largest emitters of methane, a potent greenhouse gas and a significant contributor of air pollution emissions. While research on methane emissions from oil and gas production has grown rapidly, there is comparatively limited information on the distribution of impacts of this sector on air quality and associated health impacts. Understanding the contribution of air quality and health impacts of oil and gas can be useful for designing mitigation strategies. Here we assess air quality and human health impacts associated with ozone, fine particulate matter, and nitrogen dioxide from the oil and gas sector in the US in 2016, and compare this impact with that of the associated methane emissions. We find that air pollution in 2016 from the oil and gas sector in the US resulted in 410 000 asthma exacerbations, 2200 new cases of childhood asthma and 7500 excess deaths, with $77 billion in total health impacts. NO2 was the highest contributor to health impacts (37%) followed by ozone (35%), and then PM2.5 (28%). When monetized, these air quality health impacts of oil and gas production exceeded estimated climate impact costs from methane leakage by a factor of 3. These impacts add to the total life cycle impacts of oil and gas, and represent potential additional health benefits of strategies that reduce consumption of oil and gas. Policies to reduce oil and gas production emissions will lead to additional and significant health benefits from co-pollutant reductions that are not currently quantified or monetized.
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ISSN: 2752-5309
Environmental Research: Health is a multidisciplinary, open access journal devoted to addressing important global challenges at the interface of the environment and public health in a way that bridges scientific progress and assessment with efforts relating to impact/future risks, resilience, mitigation, adaptation, security and solutions in the broadest sense. All research methodologies are encouraged comprehensively covering qualitative, quantitative, experimental, theoretical and applied approaches; exposure assessments; implementation studies; and policy analysis. For detailed information about subject coverage see the About the journal section.
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Jonathan J Buonocore et al 2023 Environ. Res.: Health 1 021006
Kimberly A Terrell et al 2024 Environ. Res.: Health 2 021002
Previous studies indicate that pollution exposure can increase risks of adverse birth outcomes, but Black communities are underrepresented in this research, and the potential moderating role of neighborhood context has not been explored. These issues are especially relevant in Louisiana, which has a high proportion of Black residents, an entrenched history of structural racism, the most pounds of toxic industrial emissions annually, and among the nation's highest rates of low birthweight (LBW), preterm birth (PTB), and infant mortality. We investigated whether air pollution and social polarization by race and income (measured via the index of concentration at the extremes [ICE]) were associated with LBW and PTB among Louisiana census tracts (n = 1101) using spatial lag models. Data sources included 2011–2020 birth records, U.S. Census Bureau 2017 demographic data, and 2017 respiratory hazard (RH) from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Both RH and ICE were associated with LBW (z = 4.4, P < 0.0001; z = −27.0, P < 0.0001) and PTB (z = 2.3, P = 0.019; z = −16.7, P < 0.0001), with no interaction. Severely polluted tracts had 25% higher and 36% higher risks of LBW and PTB, respectively, versus unpolluted tracts. On average, 2166 low birthweight and 3583 preterm births annually were attributable to pollution exposure. Tracts with concentrated social deprivation (i.e. low ICE scores) had 53% higher and 34% higher risks of LBW and PTB, respectively, versus intermediate or mixed tracts. On average, 1171 low birthweight and 1739 preterm births annually were attributable to concentrated deprivation. Our ecological study found that a majority of adverse birth outcomes in Louisiana (i.e. 67% of LBW and PTB combined) are linked to air pollution exposure or disadvantage resulting from social polarization. These findings can inform research, policy, and advocacy to improve health equity in marginalized communities.
Daniel J Smith et al 2023 Environ. Res.: Health 1 032001
Climate change, the greatest public health threat of the 21st century, will uniquely affect rural areas that are geographically isolated and experience greater health inequities. This systematic review describes and evaluates interventions to lessen the effects of climate change on human health in the rural United States, including interventions on air pollution, vector ecology, water quality, severe weather, extreme heat, allergens, and water and food supply. Searches were constructed based on the eight domains of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Framework "Impact of Climate Change on Human Health." Searches were conducted in EBSCO Environment Complete, EBSCO GreenFILE, Embase.com, MEDLINE via PubMed, and Web of Science. Duplicate citations were removed, abstracts were screened for initial inclusion, and full texts were screened for final inclusion. Pertinent data were extracted and synthesized across the eight domains. Article quality was assessed using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. Of 8471 studies screened, 297 were identified for full text review, and a total 49 studies were included in this review. Across the domains, 34 unique interventions addressed health outcomes due to air pollution (n = 8), changes in vector ecology (n = 6), water quality (n = 5), severe weather (n = 3), extreme heat (n = 2) increasing allergens (n = 1), water and food supply (n = 1), and across multiple CDC domains (n = 8). Participatory action research methodology was commonly used and strived to mobilize/empower communities to tackle climate change. Our review identified three randomized controlled trials, with two of these three published in the last five years. While original research on the impact of climate change on health has increased in the past decade, randomized control trials may not be ethical, cost effective, or feasible. There is a need for time-efficient and high-quality scholarship that investigates intervention efficacy and effectiveness for reducing health impacts of climate change upon rural populations.
Stefan Wheat et al 2023 Environ. Res.: Health 1 021008
While evidence points to climate change adversely impacting health and wellbeing, there remains a great need for more authoritative and actionable data that better describes the full magnitude and scope of this growing crisis. Given the uncertainty inherent to current detection and attribution studies, the improved specificity offered by the 10th revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10) coding of climate-sensitive health outcomes at the point of care may help to better quantify the connection between more intense and frequent extreme weather events and specific health sequela. With improved application of the available ICD-10 codes designed to capture climate-sensitive health outcomes, the ICD-10 system can function as a leading indicator. In this collaboration, publicly available ICD-10 code data was downloaded from Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services archives and cross-referenced with 29 keywords (e.g. heat, hurricane, smoke, etc) determined by relevance to climate impacts on human health from consensus literature. We identified 46 unique ICD-10 codes for climate-sensitive health conditions. By highlighting the need for broader application of these codes and advocating for the development of new codes that better document the growing burden of climate-sensitive health outcomes, we hope to drive the development of more evidence-based, health-protective interdisciplinary climate action strategies across health systems.
Tomáš Liška et al 2024 Environ. Res.: Health 2 025006
A large number of epidemiological studies have identified air pollution as a major risk to human health. Exposures to the pollutants PM2.5, NO2 and O3 cause cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, cancer and premature mortality. Whilst previous studies have reported demographic inequalities in exposure, with the most deprived and susceptible often being disproportionately exposed to the highest pollutant concentrations, the vast majority of these studies have quantified exposure based only on individuals' place of residence. Here we use anonymised personal data from UK Census 2011, and hourly modelled air pollution concentrations at 0.8 km × 1.4 km spatial resolution in the Central Belt of Scotland, to investigate how inclusion of time spent at place of work or study affects demographic inequalities in exposure. We split the population by sex, ethnic group, age and socio-economic status. Exposure gradients are observed across all demographic characteristics. Air pollution exposures of males are more affected by workplace exposures than females. The White ethnic group has the lowest exposures to NO2 and PM2.5, and highest to O3. Exposures to NO2 and PM2.5 tend to peak between the ages of 21 and 30, but those aged 31–50 tend to be most impacted by the inclusion of time spent at workplace in the exposure assessment. People in the two least deprived deciles consistently have the lowest residential-only and combined residential-workplace exposure to NO2 and PM2.5, but experience the highest increase in exposure when including workplace. Overall, including workplace exposure results in relatively small change in median exposure but attenuates some of the exposure inequalities associated with ethnicity and socioeconomic status observed in exposure assessments based only on place of residence.
Sagar Rathod et al 2023 Environ. Res.: Health 1 041002
Ammonia has been proposed to replace heavy fuel oil (HFO) in the shipping industry by 2050. When produced with low-carbon electricity, ammonia can reduce greenhouse gas emissions. However, ammonia emissions also contribute to local air pollution via the formation of secondary particulate matter. We estimate the potential ammonia emissions from storage and bunkering operations for shipping in Singapore, a port that accounts for 20% of global bunker fuel sales, and their impacts on air quality and health. Fuel storage and bunkering can increase total gaseous ammonia emissions in Singapore by up to a factor of four and contribute to a 25%–50% increase in ambient PM2.5 concentration compared to a baseline scenario with HFO, leading to an estimated 210–460 premature mortalities in Singapore (30%–70% higher than the baseline). Proper abatement on storage and bunkering can reduce these emissions and even improve ambient PM2.5 concentrations compared to the baseline. Overall, while an energy transition from HFO to ammonia in the shipping industry could reduce global greenhouse gas and air pollutant burdens, local policies will be important to avoid negative impacts on the communities living near its supply chain.
Wuyue Yu and George D Thurston 2023 Environ. Res.: Health 1 045002
With the widespread implementation of air pollution mitigation strategies for health and climate policy, there is an emerging interest in accountability studies to validate whether a reduction of air pollution exposure, in fact, produces the human health benefits estimated from past air pollution epidemiology. The closure of a coal coking plant provides an ideal 'natural' experiment opportunity to rigorously evaluate the health benefits of air pollution emissions reductions. In this study, we applied an interrupted time series model to test the hypothesis that the substantial reduction in air pollution induced by the closure of the Shenango, Inc. coke plant in Pittsburgh, PA during January, 2016 was followed by immediate and/or longer-term cumulative local cardiovascular health benefits. We observed a 90% decrease in nearby SO2 levels, as well as significant reductions in coal-related fine particulate matter constituents (sulfate and arsenic), after the closure. Statistically significant cardiovascular health benefits were documented in the local population, including a 42% immediate drop (95% CI: 33%, 51%) in cardiovascular emergency department (ED) visits from the pre-closure mean. A longer-term downward trend was also observed for overall emergency visits at −0.14 (95% CI: −0.17, −0.11) visits per week rate of decrease after the closure, vs. a rise of 0.17 (95% CI: 0.14, 0.20) visits per week before. Similarly, inpatient cardiovascular hospitalizations per year showed a decrease after closure (−27.97 [95% CI: −46.90, −9.04], as compared with a 5.09 [95% CI: −13.84, 24.02] average increase in cases/year over the prior three years). Our study provides clear evidence that this intervention lowering fossil fuel-associated air pollution benefited public health in both the short and longer term, while also providing validation of the past use of observational air pollution epidemiology effect estimates in policy analyses.
Melissa J Marchese et al 2024 Environ. Res.: Health 2 035001
Artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) is the largest global anthropogenic mercury (Hg) source and is widespread in the Peruvian Amazon. Consuming Hg-laden foods exposes people to this potent neurotoxin. While numerous studies have examined fish Hg content near ASGM, Hg accumulation in other commonly consumed animal-and plant-based foods from terrestrial environments is often overlooked. In this study, we aim to address understudied dietary Hg exposures.
To understand Hg exposure from food staples in the Peruvian Amazon, we measured total and methyl Hg in local crops, fish, chicken meat, chicken feathers, and eggs from ASGM-impacted and upstream (reference) communities. Diet surveys were used to estimate probable weekly Hg intake from each food. Fish and chicken stable carbon and nitrogen isotope signatures were analyzed to evaluate trophic magnification.
Though few crops exceeded food safety recommendations, rice methyl Hg proportions were high (84%). Trophic level was an expected key predictor of fish Hg content. 81% (17 of 21) of local carnivorous fish exceeded WHO and EPA recommendations. Compared to upstream communities, mining-impacted communities demonstrated elevated total Hg in crops (1.55 (interquartile ranges (IQR): 0.60–3.03) μg kg−1 upstream versus 3.38 (IQR: 1.62–11.58) in mining areas), chicken meats (2.69 (IQR: BDL–9.96) μg kg−1 versus 19.68 (IQR: 6.33–48.1)), and feathers (91.20 (IQR: 39.19–216.13) μg kg−1 versus 329.99 (IQR: 173.22–464.99)). Chicken meats from mining areas exhibited over double the methyl Hg concentrations of those upstream. Methyl Hg fractions in chicken muscle tissue averaged 93%. Egg whites and livers exceeded Hg recommendations most frequently. Proximity to mining, but not trophic position, was a predictor of chicken Hg content.
Our results demonstrate that terrestrial and aquatic foods can accumulate Hg from mining activity, introducing additional human Hg exposure routes. However, locally sourced carnivorous fish was the largest contributor to an estimated three-fold exceedance of the provisional tolerable weekly Hg intake.
Kazutaka Oka et al 2024 Environ. Res.: Health 2 035002
The heat-related health impacts of extremely high temperatures have become increasingly severe worldwide. Quantitative information on these impacts is necessary to plan and implement adaptation measures. The present study aimed to predict the number of heatstroke ambulance calls (HAC) and ambulance occupancy rate of patients with heatstroke (AORPH) under extremely high temperatures in Tokyo, Japan. Extremely high temperatures were defined as the annual highest value of daily maximum temperature that occurs once every 30 y (30 y temp) or 50 y (50 y temp). Combinations of three greenhouse gas (GHG) emission scenarios and five climate models were adopted to predict the impacts during the base years (1985–2014), mid-21st century (2021–2050), and late 21st century (2071–2100). Furthermore, two types of populations were adopted: fixed and changing. In the case of 50 y temp, the HAC during the peak hour in the base years ranged from 52 to 130 persons across the climate models. In the case of a fixed population, in the late 21st century it ranged from 123 to 2618 persons across the climate models and GHG scenarios. In the case of a changing population, the corresponding values in late 21st century ranged from 128 to 3078 persons. The AORPH during the peak hour ranged from 32% to 80% during the base years for 50 y temp, assuming that all ambulances were dispatched for heatstroke only. In the late 21st century, it ranged from 75% to 1605% in the fixed population case. With population change, the corresponding values in late 21st century ranged from 83% to 1781%. In many scenarios, not all patients with heatstroke could be transported (AORPH > 100%) even if all ambulances have been dispatched. Therefore, adaptation measures that mitigate such an ambulance transport system collapse must be planned and implemented.
Michael Joseph Lee et al 2024 Environ. Res.: Health 2 025002
The health risks associated with wildfires are expected to increase due to climate change. Children are susceptible to wildfire smoke, but little is known about indoor smoke exposure at childcare facilities. The objective of this analysis was to estimate the effects of outdoor PM2.5 and wildfire smoke episodes on indoor PM2.5 at childcare facilities across British Columbia, Canada. We installed low-cost air-quality sensors inside and outside 45 childcare facilities and focused our analysis on operational hours (Monday–Friday, 08:00–18:00) during the 2022 wildfire season (01 August–31 October). Using random-slope random-intercept linear mixed effects regression, we estimated the overall and facility-specific effects of outdoor PM2.5 on indoor PM2.5, while accounting for covariates. We examined how wildfire smoke affected this relationship by separately analyzing days with and without wildfire smoke. Average indoor PM2.5 increased by 235% on wildfire days across facilities. There was a positive relationship between outdoor and indoor PM2.5 that was not strongly influenced by linear adjustment for meteorological and area-based socio-economic factors. A 1.0 μg m−3 increase in outdoor PM2.5 was associated with a 0.55 μg m−3 [95% CI: 0.47, 0.63] increase indoors on non-wildfire smoke days and 0.51 μg m−3 [95% CI: 0.44, 0.58] on wildfire-smoke days. Facility-specific regression coefficients of the effect of outdoor PM2.5 on indoor PM2.5 was variable between facilities on wildfire (0.18–0.79 μg m−3) and non-wildfire days (0.11–1.03 μg m−3). Indoor PM2.5 responded almost immediately to increased outdoor PM2.5 concentrations. Across facilities, 89% and 93% of the total PM2.5 infiltration over 60 min occurred within the first 10 min following an increase in outdoor PM2.5 on non-wildfire and wildfire days, respectively. We found that indoor PM2.5 in childcare facilities increased with outdoor PM2.5. This effect varied between facilities and between wildfire-smoke and non-wildfire smoke days. These findings highlight the importance of air quality monitoring at childcare facilities for informed decision-making.
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Emily Nix et al 2024 Environ. Res.: Health 2 035003
Links between cooking with polluting fuels (e.g. wood and charcoal), air pollution and health in domestic settings are well-established. However, few studies have been conducted in schools that rely on such fuels for catering. This study is the first investigation of air pollution, cooking, and health in schools in Nairobi, Kenya. We carried out an in-depth mixed-methods study in three schools (two primary schools and a college) in an informal settlement using wood and/or charcoal for catering. In each school, repeated 24-hour air pollution measurements (fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and carbon monoxide (CO)) were collected to assess concentrations in the main kitchen and a nearby classroom, in addition to personal exposure for the main cook. Surveys with catering staff collected data on perspectives on air pollution and health symptoms. Focus groups were conducted with catering staff, teachers and senior management to understand perceived impacts on health and the school environment. 24 hour levels of PM2.5 were found to surpass world health organization interim target level 1 (IT-1) (35 μg m−3) in all schools—with levels three times higher (107.6 μg m−3) in classrooms, ten times higher (316.2 μg m−3) in kitchens and nearly six times higher (200.9 μg m−3) among cooks. Peak levels of pollution were closely linked to times of stove use, as concentrations doubled in classrooms and tripled in kitchens during cooking. Catering staff reported being concerned about their health, and reported experiencing wheezing, chest pains, eye irritation and headaches and attempted to avoid the smoke to reduce exposure. Disturbance to classes from cooking smoke was reported by teachers, with students reporting coughing and sneezing from exposure. Support is needed to enable clean cooking transitions in schools to create a healthy and safe learning environment.
Kazutaka Oka et al 2024 Environ. Res.: Health 2 035002
The heat-related health impacts of extremely high temperatures have become increasingly severe worldwide. Quantitative information on these impacts is necessary to plan and implement adaptation measures. The present study aimed to predict the number of heatstroke ambulance calls (HAC) and ambulance occupancy rate of patients with heatstroke (AORPH) under extremely high temperatures in Tokyo, Japan. Extremely high temperatures were defined as the annual highest value of daily maximum temperature that occurs once every 30 y (30 y temp) or 50 y (50 y temp). Combinations of three greenhouse gas (GHG) emission scenarios and five climate models were adopted to predict the impacts during the base years (1985–2014), mid-21st century (2021–2050), and late 21st century (2071–2100). Furthermore, two types of populations were adopted: fixed and changing. In the case of 50 y temp, the HAC during the peak hour in the base years ranged from 52 to 130 persons across the climate models. In the case of a fixed population, in the late 21st century it ranged from 123 to 2618 persons across the climate models and GHG scenarios. In the case of a changing population, the corresponding values in late 21st century ranged from 128 to 3078 persons. The AORPH during the peak hour ranged from 32% to 80% during the base years for 50 y temp, assuming that all ambulances were dispatched for heatstroke only. In the late 21st century, it ranged from 75% to 1605% in the fixed population case. With population change, the corresponding values in late 21st century ranged from 83% to 1781%. In many scenarios, not all patients with heatstroke could be transported (AORPH > 100%) even if all ambulances have been dispatched. Therefore, adaptation measures that mitigate such an ambulance transport system collapse must be planned and implemented.
Melissa J Marchese et al 2024 Environ. Res.: Health 2 035001
Artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) is the largest global anthropogenic mercury (Hg) source and is widespread in the Peruvian Amazon. Consuming Hg-laden foods exposes people to this potent neurotoxin. While numerous studies have examined fish Hg content near ASGM, Hg accumulation in other commonly consumed animal-and plant-based foods from terrestrial environments is often overlooked. In this study, we aim to address understudied dietary Hg exposures.
To understand Hg exposure from food staples in the Peruvian Amazon, we measured total and methyl Hg in local crops, fish, chicken meat, chicken feathers, and eggs from ASGM-impacted and upstream (reference) communities. Diet surveys were used to estimate probable weekly Hg intake from each food. Fish and chicken stable carbon and nitrogen isotope signatures were analyzed to evaluate trophic magnification.
Though few crops exceeded food safety recommendations, rice methyl Hg proportions were high (84%). Trophic level was an expected key predictor of fish Hg content. 81% (17 of 21) of local carnivorous fish exceeded WHO and EPA recommendations. Compared to upstream communities, mining-impacted communities demonstrated elevated total Hg in crops (1.55 (interquartile ranges (IQR): 0.60–3.03) μg kg−1 upstream versus 3.38 (IQR: 1.62–11.58) in mining areas), chicken meats (2.69 (IQR: BDL–9.96) μg kg−1 versus 19.68 (IQR: 6.33–48.1)), and feathers (91.20 (IQR: 39.19–216.13) μg kg−1 versus 329.99 (IQR: 173.22–464.99)). Chicken meats from mining areas exhibited over double the methyl Hg concentrations of those upstream. Methyl Hg fractions in chicken muscle tissue averaged 93%. Egg whites and livers exceeded Hg recommendations most frequently. Proximity to mining, but not trophic position, was a predictor of chicken Hg content.
Our results demonstrate that terrestrial and aquatic foods can accumulate Hg from mining activity, introducing additional human Hg exposure routes. However, locally sourced carnivorous fish was the largest contributor to an estimated three-fold exceedance of the provisional tolerable weekly Hg intake.
Tomáš Liška et al 2024 Environ. Res.: Health 2 025006
A large number of epidemiological studies have identified air pollution as a major risk to human health. Exposures to the pollutants PM2.5, NO2 and O3 cause cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, cancer and premature mortality. Whilst previous studies have reported demographic inequalities in exposure, with the most deprived and susceptible often being disproportionately exposed to the highest pollutant concentrations, the vast majority of these studies have quantified exposure based only on individuals' place of residence. Here we use anonymised personal data from UK Census 2011, and hourly modelled air pollution concentrations at 0.8 km × 1.4 km spatial resolution in the Central Belt of Scotland, to investigate how inclusion of time spent at place of work or study affects demographic inequalities in exposure. We split the population by sex, ethnic group, age and socio-economic status. Exposure gradients are observed across all demographic characteristics. Air pollution exposures of males are more affected by workplace exposures than females. The White ethnic group has the lowest exposures to NO2 and PM2.5, and highest to O3. Exposures to NO2 and PM2.5 tend to peak between the ages of 21 and 30, but those aged 31–50 tend to be most impacted by the inclusion of time spent at workplace in the exposure assessment. People in the two least deprived deciles consistently have the lowest residential-only and combined residential-workplace exposure to NO2 and PM2.5, but experience the highest increase in exposure when including workplace. Overall, including workplace exposure results in relatively small change in median exposure but attenuates some of the exposure inequalities associated with ethnicity and socioeconomic status observed in exposure assessments based only on place of residence.
Kimberly A Terrell et al 2024 Environ. Res.: Health 2 021002
Previous studies indicate that pollution exposure can increase risks of adverse birth outcomes, but Black communities are underrepresented in this research, and the potential moderating role of neighborhood context has not been explored. These issues are especially relevant in Louisiana, which has a high proportion of Black residents, an entrenched history of structural racism, the most pounds of toxic industrial emissions annually, and among the nation's highest rates of low birthweight (LBW), preterm birth (PTB), and infant mortality. We investigated whether air pollution and social polarization by race and income (measured via the index of concentration at the extremes [ICE]) were associated with LBW and PTB among Louisiana census tracts (n = 1101) using spatial lag models. Data sources included 2011–2020 birth records, U.S. Census Bureau 2017 demographic data, and 2017 respiratory hazard (RH) from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Both RH and ICE were associated with LBW (z = 4.4, P < 0.0001; z = −27.0, P < 0.0001) and PTB (z = 2.3, P = 0.019; z = −16.7, P < 0.0001), with no interaction. Severely polluted tracts had 25% higher and 36% higher risks of LBW and PTB, respectively, versus unpolluted tracts. On average, 2166 low birthweight and 3583 preterm births annually were attributable to pollution exposure. Tracts with concentrated social deprivation (i.e. low ICE scores) had 53% higher and 34% higher risks of LBW and PTB, respectively, versus intermediate or mixed tracts. On average, 1171 low birthweight and 1739 preterm births annually were attributable to concentrated deprivation. Our ecological study found that a majority of adverse birth outcomes in Louisiana (i.e. 67% of LBW and PTB combined) are linked to air pollution exposure or disadvantage resulting from social polarization. These findings can inform research, policy, and advocacy to improve health equity in marginalized communities.
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Mayank Gangwar et al 2024 Environ. Res.: Health 2 012001
Indoor air quality (IAQ) in schools has received attention over the past decades but still lacks specific standards and regulations. This study aimed to review the impact of bioaerosol activity in indoor environments on acute respiratory diseases and explore whether carbon dioxide can be used as an indicator of bioaerosol and respiratory diseases in indoor environments in K-12 school systems. Findings suggest a lack of a consensual approach to evaluate bioaerosols impacting IAQ in indoor infrastructures, particularly in school environments; an elevated CO2 concentration inside the school classrooms was not uncommon, and the evidence of unsatisfactory and degraded IAQ (surpassing ASHRAE standards) at public schools in rural and urban settings in one of the North Central County, Florida. It was found that CO2 levels can be associated with bioaerosol activity, and sufficient ventilation within the space substantially reduces the airborne time of respiratory droplets and CO2 levels. CO2 monitoring can act as an effective, low-cost alternative to surveying or detecting the prevalence of respiratory diseases, which may hold strength through establishing critical CO2 thresholds and, thereafter associating it with the infectious doses of pathogen activity.
J V F Coumans and S Al Jaaidi 2023 Environ. Res.: Health 1 032002
Exposure to air pollution (AP) is inevitable in daily life and an increasing number of epidemiological studies have reported that exposure to ambient particulate matter (PM) is associated with adverse health outcomes. Intrauterine, childhood, and adolescence are vulnerable periods, during which PM exposure can cause molecular changes, potentially leading to changes in metabolism and development. PM-induced oxidative stress is the underlying mechanism. Biomarkers can be used as illustrative measures of PM exposure to facilitate the assessment of potential health effects and provide a better understanding of the underlying mechanisms. The purpose of this scoping review is to report -OMICS biomarkers found in body fluids that are primarily related to oxidative stress and are already used to evaluate ambient AP exposure, as well as to identify knowledge gaps. Web of Science, PubMed, and Scopus databases were independently searched for all studies published between January 2013 and December 2022 that reported on -OMICS signature changes during pregnancy, childhood, and adolescence. Of the initial 757 articles, 36 met our inclusion criteria and reported on genomic, epigenomic, transcriptomic, proteomic, lipidomic, and metabolomic biomarkers. The findings of this scoping review indicate that exposure to various ambient pollutants in early life can cause oxidative stress. Integrating biomarkers from top-down -OMICS studies in an epidemiological context may provide a clear picture of the biomarker selection process to establish a causal relationship between PM exposure and disease pathogenesis. This knowledge could lead to the conceptualization and subsequent development of novel preventative strategies.
Kathleen A Clark and Mary Sheehan 2023 Environ. Res.: Health 1 022002
The emergence and global spread of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 converged with wildfire seasons of unprecedented extent. These co-occurring crises brought the potential for amplified health impacts. A systematized literature review was conducted to identify the health impacts from co-exposure to wildfires and the COVID-19 pandemic. A search of PubMed and Scopus identified 373 distinct references which were screened according to predetermined criteria. A total of 22 peer-reviewed publications were included in the final analysis. Studies were located in Australia and the western United States, with a single study in the Amazonian region of Brazil. The studies identified focused primarily on the impact of wildfire smoke exposure on COVID-19 infection and mortality, and the impact of exposure to both crises on mental health. The collective evidence shows that wildfire exposure within the context of the pandemic exacerbated COVID-19 infection and mortality as well as various adverse mental health effects. Additional research is needed in more diverse contexts and with individual-level data. Findings highlight the need for public health preparedness to anticipate overlapping, related crises and to advance climate change mitigation to protect public health.
Daniel J Smith et al 2023 Environ. Res.: Health 1 032001
Climate change, the greatest public health threat of the 21st century, will uniquely affect rural areas that are geographically isolated and experience greater health inequities. This systematic review describes and evaluates interventions to lessen the effects of climate change on human health in the rural United States, including interventions on air pollution, vector ecology, water quality, severe weather, extreme heat, allergens, and water and food supply. Searches were constructed based on the eight domains of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Framework "Impact of Climate Change on Human Health." Searches were conducted in EBSCO Environment Complete, EBSCO GreenFILE, Embase.com, MEDLINE via PubMed, and Web of Science. Duplicate citations were removed, abstracts were screened for initial inclusion, and full texts were screened for final inclusion. Pertinent data were extracted and synthesized across the eight domains. Article quality was assessed using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. Of 8471 studies screened, 297 were identified for full text review, and a total 49 studies were included in this review. Across the domains, 34 unique interventions addressed health outcomes due to air pollution (n = 8), changes in vector ecology (n = 6), water quality (n = 5), severe weather (n = 3), extreme heat (n = 2) increasing allergens (n = 1), water and food supply (n = 1), and across multiple CDC domains (n = 8). Participatory action research methodology was commonly used and strived to mobilize/empower communities to tackle climate change. Our review identified three randomized controlled trials, with two of these three published in the last five years. While original research on the impact of climate change on health has increased in the past decade, randomized control trials may not be ethical, cost effective, or feasible. There is a need for time-efficient and high-quality scholarship that investigates intervention efficacy and effectiveness for reducing health impacts of climate change upon rural populations.
Mardelle McCuskey Shepley et al 2023 Environ. Res.: Health 1 022001
Background. The positive impact of greenspace on human health has been well documented, including several literature reviews and meta-analyses that have examined the broad benefits of nature connections. Researchers have also examined the relationship between nature and crime reduction and identified potential mechanisms underlying this outcome, such as the physiological impact of nature, lowered temperatures due to a reduction in the heat island effect, and places for community interaction. However, a critical shortcoming of this study is the lack of deep community involvement in the research process. Community-based participatory research (CBPR) is critical to ensuring that the findings are meaningful to communities and translatable. This study expands on recent literature reviews on greenspace outcomes by focusing on community-engaged research (CER). By gathering and summarizing studies on this topic, we address two subjects: (a) strategies that can be used to improve community engagement, and (b) environmental factors that impact community outcomes in greenspace settings. Methods. To explore these issues, we used a modified version of Arksey and O'Malley's framework for a structured literature review, employing the Web of Science, EbscoHost, Scopus, ProQuest Global, and Google Scholar databases. Results. We retrieved 772 publications using permutations of keywords related to violent crime, greenspaces, and CBPR. After eliminating duplicates, the reviewers worked in parallel to evaluate 700 titles and abstracts and identified 51 potentially relevant papers, ten of which met the requirements for inclusion in this analysis. Discussion. Based on the studies explored in this literature review, we identified the following strategies for improving CER: building partnerships, facilitating power-sharing, utilizing community-specific indicators of success, embracing perspectives of communities of color, and empowering community researchers. In the sample of studies described here, the factors contributing to the relationship between greenspace and violent crime were maintenance, activity programming, green interventions, and community involvement.
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Ke et al
The COVID-19 pandemic, coupled with more frequent and stronger heatwaves, has introduced a novel confluence of challenges. for example, it has become very difficult for emergency transport staffs to differentiate between COVID-19 and heat stroke at the scene because they share some similar symptoms. This paper studied the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on heat-related ambulance calls and identifies the challenges faced by local fire departments in the Kansai region of Japan 2020-2022 by using historical data analysis and an online questionnaire survey. We utilized a heat-related ambulance calls prediction model developed in our previous research based on the historical data (2008 ~ 2019) and projected the expected number of heat-related ambulance calls from 2020 to 2022. Then, a comparison was done between the expected number and the actual number of daily heat-related ambulance calls to examine the changes of heat-related ambulance calls in six prefectures of the Kansai region. We found a statistically significant decrease, ranging from 77.1% to 96.8%, of heat-related ambulance calls during the COVID-19 pandemic in all Kansai prefectures. The decline in heat-related ambulance calls can be attributed by changes in people's daily lifestyles such as the increase of remote work and decrease of outdoor exercise. However, it may also be influenced by the strain on the emergency medical resource. Another research finding highlighted significant pressures on local fire departments and emergency medical transport systems during the pandemic. The predominant challenge for local fire departments was finding available medical facilities for their patients. Improving the efficiency of emergency medical transport system and enhancing the coordination between emergency medical services and healthcare facilities may offer a more resilient response in future crises.
Aylward et al
Climate change exerts a profound and far-reaching toll on mental health, resulting in mental illness, diminished wellbeing, and strained social relations, with the severity of these impacts anticipated to intensify under future climate change. News coverage of climate-mental health issues can shape public perceptions and responses, and therefore understanding this coverage is vital for creating and implementing strategies to lessen climate-mental health risks. We systematically examined the extent, nature, and range of news articles from Canada and the United States that covered climate-mental health impacts. Five electronic databases were searched. Articles were included if they were print or online news stories that covered climate-mental health impacts and were published in English or French by sources in Canada or the United States between 2016 and 2020. A total of 1,085 articles (642 unique stories) met the inclusion criteria and underwent data extraction and analysis using descriptive statistics and thematic analysis. Coverage of climate-mental health outcomes increased in both Canada and the United States from 2016 to 2019. There was, however, a substantial decrease in coverage by Canadian news outlets from 2019 to 2020. Further, although 468 different news outlets published at least one story on the topic, repeat coverage by any one news outlet was infrequent. Most opinion pieces presented climate-mental health impacts as legitimate or expressed support for people experiencing these issues. Roughly half of the included stories identified populations that are vulnerable to climate-mental health impacts, particularly children and young people. Additionally, approximately half of the included stories identified potential interventions or coping strategies to protect mental health, most often involving changes to individual lifestyles or behaviour. More sustained coverage that focuses on protective factors, interventions, and coping strategies is needed, as this could help foster public understanding and drive action to reduce climate-mental health risks.
Glover et al
Background and Aim: Urban green and blue spaces have been found to have health enhancing properties 
(e.g. promotion of physical activity, social connectedness, and stress reduction). We examined the 
associations of urban green and blue spaces and cognitive function and aimed to identify any 
mechanistic pathways involving urban green and blue spaces and cognitive function. 
Methods: The initial search from four databases (MEDLINE, Embase, PSYCHInfo, Web of Science) 
yielded 4838 studies when duplicates were removed to undergo abstract screening. Following abstract 
and full text screening, included studies were classified as 'observational' (proximity to urban green 
and blue space, n=28/35) or 'intervention' (n=7/35). 
Results: Of the included studies, 71.4% (n=24/28) of 'observational' studies and 57.1% (n=4/7) of 
'intervention' studies found positive associations indicating urban green and blue space is beneficial for 
cognitive function (i.e. enhanced cognitive function, lowered risk of cognitive impairment or protective 
of cognitive function). Overall, 71.4% (n=20/35) of studies included within this review were considered 
to have a medium risk of bias. 
Discussion: Current studies have identified relationships between urban green and blue space and 
cognitive function however, further work is required globally to broaden our understanding and provide 
a reliable evidence base. Current literature has elucidated numerous mechanistic pathways by which 
urban green and blue spaces have the capacity to operate within including Attention Restoration Theory 
and Stress Reduction Theory. 
Conclusion: Advancing the evidence of the mechanistic pathways between urban green and blue space 
and cognitive function is required. This may advise future urban green and blue space policies to 
improve the health and well-being of the environment and the globally ageing population.