Humans ; COVID-19/epidemiology* ; Environmental Pollution/statistics & numerical data*

BACKGROUND: Among the environmental risk factors, household air pollution exposure from traditional cooking practices is one of the biggest killers globally, which mainly impacts developing countries where many families rely on traditional cooking practices. Although improved cookstove adoption is central to tackle this public health issue, the efforts to disseminate cookstove technologies have faced challenges, and the adoption rates are reported to be very low in many developing countries including Ethiopia. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the magnitude and identify potential factors that may act as facilitators or barriers to adoption from users' point of view. METHODS: As part of the wider stove trial project, a cross-sectional study was conducted among a total of 5830 households under randomly selected clusters. The required data were collected through face-to-face interviews, and a backward stepwise logistic regression analysis technique was applied to evaluate the effect of potential predictor variables on adoption using adjusted odds ratio (AOR) as measures of effect. RESULTS: The prevalence of adoption was found to be 12.3% (95% CI 11.5-13.2), and households headed by females (AOR 1.96; 95% CI 1.24-3.10), private house ownership (AOR 4.58; 95% CI 3.89-6.19), separate cooking location (AOR 1.84; 95% CI 1.49-2.78), fuel purchasing (AOR 2.13; 95% CI 1.64-2.76), health benefit (AOR 1.76; 95% CI 1.15-2.70), optimistic social interaction (AOR 1.81; 95% CI 1.46-2.26), traditional suitability (AOR 1.58; 95% CI 1.28-1.95), stove use demonstration experience (AOR 2.47; 95% CI 1.98-3.07), cheap price (AOR 2.48; 95% CI 1.91-3.21), availability (AOR 1.81; 95% CI 1.5-1, 2.17), fuel-saving benefit (AOR 1.63; 95% CI 1.18-2.24), and more durable stove (AOR 1.71; 95% CI 1.30-2.26) of cookstove played a significant role as facilitators to adoption. In addition, lower educational level of head (AOR 0.31; 95% CI 0.23-0.42) and fuel processing requirement (AOR 0.55; 95% CI 0.44-0.70) of cookstove were found to be barriers for adoption. CONCLUSIONS Extremely lower improved cookstove adoption was observed due to household- and setting-related, cookstove technology-related, user knowledge- and perception-related, and financial- and market development-related factors. Therefore, to gain successful adoption, implementers and policymakers should consider those important factors in the implementation of clean cooking solutions to the community.
Air Pollution, Indoor ; Cooking ; methods ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Environmental Health ; Ethiopia ; Household Articles ; statistics & numerical data

Tightening of air quality standards for populated urban areas has led to increasing attention to assessment of air quality management areas, where violation of air quality standards occurs, and development of control strategies to eliminate such violation of air quality standards. The Quetta urban area is very densely built and has heavy motorized traffic. The increase of emissions mainly from traffic and industry are responsible for the increase in atmospheric pollution levels during the last years. The dust examined in the current study was collected by both deposit gauge and Petri dish methods at various sites of Quetta Valley. Smoke particles were obtained by bladder method from the exhausts of various types of motor vehicles. The concentration of lead found in the smoke ranged from 1.5x10(-6) to 4.5x10(-6).
Air Pollution ; analysis ; Cities ; statistics & numerical data ; Dust ; analysis ; Environmental Monitoring ; methods ; Pakistan ; Particle Size ; Smoke ; analysis ; Vehicle Emissions ; analysis

OBJECTIVETo assess the effects of ambient air pollutants on hospital outpatient visits for allergic disease and pollinosis.

METHODSThe monitoring data of daily air pollution (SO(2), NO(2) and PM(10)) in 8 national monitoring and controlling sites of Beijing air quality, airborne pollen in 4 monitoring sites of Beijing, and daily meteorological data, along with the daily numbers of outpatients visits for allergic disease and pollinosis at the Allergy Department of Beijing Shijitan Hospital from April to September in 2004 were collected. Associations between the levels of air pollutants and outpatient visits for allergic disease and pollinosis were estimated by time serial analysis using a generalized addictive model (GAM), considering lag effect and the influence of multipollutants.

RESULTSDuring the study period, the average daily ambient concentrations of SO(2), NO(2) and PM(10) were (20.9 ± 12.9), (58.6 ± 13.6) and (126.8 ± 64.1) µg/m(3), respectively. The mean daily pollen count was (163.8 ± 209.0) grains/1000 mm(2), while the average daily numbers of doctor visits for allergic disease and pollinosis were (16.3 ± 5.3) and (3.5 ± 5.0), respectively. Time serial analysis showed that significant positive associations were found between levels of airborne pollen and doctor visits, with an excess risk (ER) of 2.44% (95%CI: 0.75% - 4.13%)for allergic disease and 6.58% (95%CI: 3.82% - 9.34%) for pollinosis per 100 grains/1000 mm(2) increase in pollen, in single-pollutant models. There were associations between ambient air pollutants (SO(2), NO(2), PM(10)) and doctor visits with lag effects. A 10 µg/m(3) increase in NO(2) was associated with a 3.14% (95%CI: 0.42% - 5.85%) increase in doctor visits for allergic disease at lag 6 d. For pollinosis, the highest ER was observed for 10 µg/m(3) increases in SO(2) at lag 1 d, NO(2) at lag 6 d, PM(10) at lag 3 d. However, this association was not statistically significant (RR (95%CI) were 1.0460 (0.9640 - 1.1280), 1.0325 (0.9633 - 1.1017), 1.0079 (0.9942 - 1.0217), respectively). The associations enhanced slightly in multi-pollutant models with an ER of 2.56% (95%CI: 0.80% - 4.31%) for allergic disease and 6.81% (95%CI: 3.91% - 9.71%) for pollinosis per 100 grains/1000 mm(2) of pollen.

CONCLUSIONSOur results suggest that level of airborne pollen may have a stronger effect than ambient air pollutants on allergic disease and pollinosis.

Air Pollutants ; analysis ; Air Pollution ; analysis ; Environmental Illness ; prevention & control ; Environmental Monitoring ; Humans ; Outpatient Clinics, Hospital ; statistics & numerical data ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal ; prevention & control

OBJECTIVETo investigate the annual effective doses from indoor radon received by academic staff in the Faculty building.

METHODSMeasurements of indoor radon concentrations were performed in the Arts and Sciences Faculty of Dokuz Eylül University for two surveys of about 1 month duration respectively using the SSNTD (Solid State Nuclear Track Detectors) method with LR115 detectors. Time integrated measurements comprised different locations inside the faculty building: classrooms, toilets, canteen and offices. Homes of academic staff were also tested for radon.

RESULTSThe arithmetic mean radon concentration is 161 Bq m-3 with a range between 40 and 335 Bq m-3 in the Faculty. Six offices and three classrooms have a radon concentration above 200 Bq m-3. The results show that the radon concentration in classrooms is generally higher than in offices. Based on the measured indoor radon data, the annual effective doses received by staff in the Faculty were estimated to range from 0.79 to 4.27 mSv, according to UNSCEAR methodology. The annual effective doses received by staff ranged from 0.78 to 4.20 mSv in homes. On average, the Faculty contributed 56% to the annual effective dose.

CONCLUSIONReported values for radon concentrations and corresponding doses are within the ICRP recommended limits for workplaces.

Air Pollution, Indoor ; analysis ; Environmental Monitoring ; Faculty ; Housing ; statistics & numerical data ; Humans ; Radiation Dosage ; Radon ; analysis ; Risk Assessment ; Turkey ; Universities ; statistics & numerical data

It is reported that depression has caused heavy disease burden across the world, with an possible association between ambient air pollution and depressive symptoms. In this paper, we reviewed relative literature in this field and summarized the research events on association between ambient air pollution and depression, both in China and abroad and found that the results of the existed studies were inconsistent, with most studies showing that there existed a positive correlation between the exposure of air pollution and depression, but few studies showing the negative correlation or no correlation between the two.
Air Pollutants/analysis* ; Air Pollution/statistics & numerical data* ; China ; Depression/epidemiology* ; Depressive Disorder ; Environmental Exposure/statistics & numerical data* ; Female ; Humans ; Particulate Matter/analysis* ; Research/trends* ; Residence Characteristics

OBJECTIVES: To identify any association between implementing smoking regulation policies and workers' urine cotinine concentration levels in Korea. METHODS: From the first stage of the Korean National Environmental Health Survey conducted by the National Institute of Environmental Research from 2009 to 2011, 2,475 non-smoking workers selected. We analyzed the trend in the changes of cotinine concentration in urine using the general linear model and linear regression, in various jobs as categorized by the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) and Korea Standard Classification of Occupations (KSCO). RESULTS: The urine cotinine concentration tended to decrease every year (2.91 ng/ml in 2009, 2.12 ng/ml in 2010, and 1.31 ng/ml in 2011), showing a decreasing trend (P < 0.001). The total subjects' decreased cotinine concentration in urine between 2009 and 2011 was 2.72 ng/ml (54.1 % relative decrease). The changes in each subgroup's urine cotinine concentration ranged from 1.59 to 6.03 ng/ml (33.2 to 77.5 %). All groups except for the managerial group (n = 49), which had a small sample size, had statistically significant negative regression coefficients (p < 0.05). The ranges of the decrease in urine cotinine were 2.75 ng/ml (53.6 %) for males and 2.72 ng/ml (54.9 %) for females. The negative slope in urine cotinine level was statistically significantly greater in men than women. The changes in urine cotinine by occupation as classified by the NCHS occupational categories ranged from 2.43 to 3.36 ng/ml (46.6 to 61.5 % relative decrease). The negative slopes in urine cotinine levels of the white-collar and farm workers were statistically significantly greater than those of the service workers and blue-collar workers. The change by occupation as classified by the KSCO ranged from 1.59 to 6.03 ng/ml (a 33.2 to 77.5 % relative decrease). The negative slopes in urine cotinine levels of the professionals and related workers and clerks were statistically significantly greater than those of the service workers and plant and machine operators and assemblers. CONCLUSIONS: The cotinine concentration in urine among non-smoking worker groups tended to decline from 2009 to 2011. Such a result may be an indirect indicator of the effectiveness of smoking regulation policies including the revision of the National Health Promotion Act.
Classification ; Cotinine* ; Environmental Health ; Female ; Health Promotion ; Humans ; Korea* ; Linear Models ; Male ; National Center for Health Statistics (U.S.) ; Occupations ; Plants ; Sample Size ; Smoke* ; Smoking* ; Tobacco Smoke Pollution

OBJECTIVETo explore a way of determining the weights of variables in synthetic evaluation.

METHODSBased on the attribute synthetic evaluation system, similarity weight was used to cluster and rank the atmospheric quality on 11 large cities.

RESULTSRealized the classification and ranking for the atmospheric quality of the cities given, the results were almost comparable to that achieved by Topsis evaluation.

CONCLUSIONThe method of comprehensive assessment using similarity weight in the attribute synthetic evaluation system seemed to be objective and rational. Not only it embodied the weights of variables involved, but also exploiting the information presented by the sample.

Air Pollution ; prevention & control ; statistics & numerical data ; China ; epidemiology ; Data Interpretation, Statistical ; Decision Making ; Environmental Monitoring ; Epidemiological Monitoring ; Evaluation Studies as Topic ; Humans ; Models, Theoretical

OBJECTIVETo determine the best statistical distribution of concentration data of major air pollutants in Shanghai.

METHODSFour types of theoretic distributions (lognormal, gamma, Pearson V and extreme value) were chosen to fit daily average concentration data of PM10, SO2 and NO2 from June 1, 2000 to May 31, 2003 in Shanghai by using the maximum likelihood method. The fit results were evaluated by Chi-square test.

RESULTSThe best-fit distributions for PM10, SO2 and NO2 concentrations in Shanghai were lognormal, Pearson V, and extreme value distributions, respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe results can be further applied to local air pollution prediction and control, e.g., the probabilities exceeding the air quality standard and emission source reduction of air pollutant concentration to meet the standard.

Air Pollutants ; analysis ; Air Pollution ; statistics & numerical data ; China ; Environmental Monitoring ; Nitric Oxide ; analysis ; Particle Size ; Statistical Distributions ; Sulfur Dioxide ; analysis

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have suggested that exposure to air pollution may increase stroke risk, but the results remain inconsistent. Evidence of more recent studies is highly warranted, especially gas air pollutants. METHODS: We searched PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science to identify studies till February 2020 and conducted a meta-analysis on the association between air pollution (PM RESULTS: A total of 68 studies conducted from more than 23 million participants were included in our meta-analysis. Meta-analyses showed significant associations of all six air pollutants and stroke hospital admission (e.g., PM CONCLUSIONS Exposure to air pollution was positively associated with an increased risk of stroke hospital admission (PM
Air Pollutants/adverse effects* ; Air Pollution/adverse effects* ; Environmental Exposure/adverse effects* ; Hospitalization/statistics & numerical data* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Particle Size ; Particulate Matter/adverse effects* ; Stroke/mortality*