OBJECTIVETo explore acute effects of SO(2) and NO(2) on mortality in the six cities of China.

METHODSSurveillance data on daily air quality, meteorology and the cause of death were collected from January 1, 2007 to December 31, 2009 in Beijing, Tianjin, Xi'an, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Wuhan. Generalized additive model was used to explore the relationship between the daily average concentration of SO(2) and NO(2) and daily mortality, after adjusting the effects of long-term and seasonal trend and weather conditions.

RESULTSIn Beijing, Tianjin, Xi'an, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Wuhan, the daily average concentration of SO(2) and NO(2) were in the range of 39.8-59.5 µg/m(3) and 41.4-60.1 µg/m(3) respectively; the daily mortality for non-accidental were 174.5, 101.4, 27.7, 108.4, 50.6, 17.8, cardiovascular were 86.9, 53.3, 12.8, 34.8, 16.3, 8.1 and respiratory were 18.3, 8.6, 2.6, 18.6, 9.0, 1.8 respectively. The daily average concentration of SO(2) were negatively correlated with daily average temperature in Beijing, Tianjin, Xi'an and Wuhan (the correlation coefficients were -0.66, -0.73, -0.67 and -0.39 respectively, P<0.05). The daily average concentration of SO(2) were negativeiy correlated with relative humidity in Tianjin, Shanghai and Wuhan (the correlation coefficients were -0.26, -0.46 and -0.28 respectively, P<0.05). The daily average concentration of NO(2) were negative correlated with daily average temperature in Beijing, Tianjin, Xi'an and Wuhan (the correlation coefficients were -0.27, -0.49, -0.45 and -0.38 respectively, P<0.05). When the day concentration of SO(2) increased every 10 µg/m(3), the non-accidental mortality in Tianjin and Wuhan raised 0.44%(95%CI: 0.11%-0.78%) and 0.96%(95%CI: 0.22%-1.72%) respectively. When the 1 day-lag concentration of SO(2) increased every 10 µg/m(3), the non-accidental mortality in Shanghai, Guangzhou and Wuhan raised 0.28% (95% CI: 0.02%-0.54% ), 0.41% (95% CI: 0.04%-0.79% ) and 1.14% (95% CI: 0.44%-1.84%) respectively. When the day and 1 day-lag concentration of SO(2) increased every 10 µg/m(3), the non-accidental mortality and the cardiovascular mortality at the six cities scale raised 0.40% (95% CI: 0.13%-0.67%) and 0.48% (95% CI: 0.11%-0.85%) respectively. When the day concentration of NO2 increased every 10 µg/m(3), the non-accidental mortality in Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Wuhan raised 0.60% (95% CI: 0.26%-0.95%), 0.96% (95% CI: 0.29%-1.64%), 0.43% (95% CI: 0.09%-0.78%), 1.17%(95%CI: 0.69%-1.66%) and 1.23%(95%CI: 0.19%-2.28%) respectively; the cardiovascular mortality in Beijing, Tianjin, Xi'an, Guangzhou and Wuhan raised 0.83% (95% CI: 0.34%-1.32%), 1.09% (95% CI: 0.25%-1.94%), 1.98% (95% CI: 0.00%-4.01%), 1.52% (95% CI: 0.70%-2.36%) and 2.04% (95% CI: 0.54%-3.56%) respectively. When the 1 day-lag concentration of NO(2) increased every 10 µg/m(3), the non-accidental mortality in Guangzhou and Wuhan raised 0.97% (95% CI: 0.49%-1.46%) and 1.67% (95% CI: 0.66%-2.70%)respectively; the cardiovascular mortality in Guangzhou and Wuhan raised 1.06% (95% CI: 0.24%-1.89%)and 2.42% (95% CI: 0.97%-3.89%) respectively. When the day and 1 day-lag concentration of NO(2) increased every 10 µg/m(3), the non-accidental mortality and the cardiovascular mortality at the six cities scale raised 0.81% (95% CI: 0.35%-1.28%), 1.03% (95% CI: 0.40%-1.66%) respectively.

CONCLUSIONExposure to SO(2) and NO(2) was significantly associated with daily non-accidental morality and cardiovascular morality at the multi-city scale in China.

Air Pollution ; adverse effects ; China ; Cities ; Humans ; Mortality ; Nitric Oxide ; adverse effects ; Particulate Matter ; Sulfur Dioxide ; adverse effects ; Temperature ; Weather

No abstract available.
Air Pollution, Indoor/*adverse effects ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Sulfur Dioxide/*adverse effects ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary/*epidemiology ; *Urban Health

The effect of air pollution on the lung function of adults with asthma remains unclear to date. This study followed 112 patients with asthma at 3-month intervals for 2 years. The pollutant exposure of the participants was estimated using the inverse distance weight method. The participants were divided into three groups according to their lung function level at every visit. A linear mixed-effect model was applied to predict the change in lung function with each unit change in pollution concentration. Exposure to carbon monoxide (CO) and particles less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter (PM_2.5) was negatively associated with large airway function in participants. In the severe group, exposure to chronic sulfur dioxide (SO2) was negatively associated with post-bronchodilator forced expiratory flow at 50%, between 25% and 75% of vital capacity % predicted (change of 95% CI per unit: -0.34 (-0.55, -0.12), -0.24 (-0.44, -0.03), respectively). In the mild group, the effect of SO₂ on the small airways was similar to that in the severe group, and it was negatively associated with large airway function. Exposure to CO and PM_2.5 was negatively associated with the large airway function of adults with asthma. The negative effects of SO₂ were more evident and widely observed in adults with severe and mild asthma than in adults with moderate asthma. Patients with asthma react differently to air pollutants as evidenced by their lung function levels.
Adult ; Air Pollutants/analysis* ; Air Pollution/adverse effects* ; Asthma/epidemiology* ; Beijing/epidemiology* ; Environmental Exposure/adverse effects* ; Humans ; Lung ; Particulate Matter/analysis* ; Sulfur Dioxide/adverse effects*

To compare the differences of the active ingredient contents and the sulfur dioxide residue in Astragali Radix before and after sulfur fumigation and provide a basis for establishing an alternative processing method. Astragali Radix, harvested at the same time in Longxi Gansu, were processed with different methods. high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used to determine the contents of the active ingredients in Astragali Radix and the revised method of the pharmacopoeia of China in 2011 was applied to determine the sulfur dioxide residue. The results show that the three-fold sulfur-fumigation group has the highest level of astragaloside IV and the dried sulfur-fumigation group with 10% water has the lowest level; the content of calycosin-7-O-β-D-glucoside is the highest in naturally dried group and the lowest in the group of sulfur fumigating for 3 times; the sulfur dioxide residue of all sulfur-fumigation groups exceeds certain limit significantly and the group of sulfur fumigating for 3 times reaches the highest level.
Astragalus Plant ; chemistry ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Fumigation ; adverse effects ; Sulfur Dioxide ; analysis ; Technology, Pharmaceutical ; methods

OBJECTIVETo study the present situations of lung cancer in Wuhan and to explore the relationship between the potential years of life lost of lung cancer and air pollution, especially vehicle emissions.

METHODSData gathered between 1986 and 1995 in Wuhan city, including air pollution and tobacco production and data on lung cancer between 1991 and 2000 were collected extensively. Simple Correlation and Grey Relational Analysis were used to analyze the relationship of them.

RESULTSThere was a ascending tendency in variance of oxides of nitrogen (NOx). The degree of grey incidence (DGI) between the concentration of air pollutants and the male's or female's potential years of life lost of lung cancer (PYLL) were calculated respectively. In males, the values of DGI were 0.6702, 0.7071, 0.6199 on sulfur dioxide (SO2), NOx, total suspensions (TSP) respectively. In females,the values of DGI were 0.6188, 0.8555, 0.5842 according to the same order as listed above. Significant positive correlation was found between the concentration of NOx and with lung cancer in both males and females by spearman correlation test (rmale = 0.63523, P = 0.0484; rfemale = 0.76396, P = 0.0101).

CONCLUSIONWith the fast growing speed of the quantity of vehicles, pollution of vehicle emission-caused air pollution posed an important risk factor for lung cancer, despite the fact that tobacco smoking still played the leading role.

Air Pollution ; adverse effects ; China ; Female ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; mortality ; Male ; Nitrogen Oxides ; analysis ; Sulfur Dioxide ; analysis ; Vehicle Emissions ; analysis

Air pollution in China comes from multiple sources, including coal consumption, construction and industrial dust, and vehicle exhaust. Coal consumption in particular directly determines the emissions of three major air pollutants: dust, sulfur dioxide (SO(2)), and nitrogen oxide (NOx). The rapidly increasing number of civilian vehicles is expected to bring NOx emission to a very high level. Contrary to expectations, however, existing data show that the concentrations of major pollutants [particulate matter-10 (PM10), SO(2), and nitrogen dioxide (NO(2))] in several large Chinese cities have declined during the past decades, though they still exceed the national standards of ambient air quality. Archived data from China does not fully support that the concentrations of pollutants directly depend on local emissions, but this is likely due to inaccurate measurement of pollutants. Analyses on the cancer registry data show that cancer burden related to air pollution is on the rise in China and will likely increase further, but there is a lack of data to accurately predict the cancer burden. Past experience from other countries has sounded alarm of the link between air pollution and cancer. The quantitative association requires dedicated research as well as establishment of needed monitoring infrastructures and cancer registries. The air pollution-cancer link is a serious public health issue that needs urgent investigation.
Air Pollutants ; toxicity ; Air Pollution ; adverse effects ; Carcinogens, Environmental ; toxicity ; China ; Coal ; Humans ; Neoplasms ; etiology ; Nitrogen Dioxide ; toxicity ; Particulate Matter ; toxicity ; Sulfur Dioxide ; toxicity ; Vehicle Emissions ; toxicity

OBJECTIVETo calculate the latent period of lung cancer induced by air pollution.

METHODSThe degree of grey incidence (DGI) between the concentrations of TSP or SO(2) and the mortality of lung cancer were assessed through a grey system model. According to the maximum values of DGI, the total latent period of lung cancer was calculated. Data was collected in H city.

RESULTSThe maximum DGI value of TSP was 0.886 while the relationship between the comparison sequence from 1985 to 1989 and the reference sequence from 1994 to 1998 was greatly correlated. The maximum DGI value of SO(2) was 0.919 while the relationship between the comparison sequence from 1986 to 1990 and the reference sequence from 1994 to 1998 was most correlated.

CONCLUSIONSThe latent periods of lung cancer induced by TSP and SO(2) were 7 and 8 years respectively in H city. The model of grey system was less affected by the confounding factors, and the calculation process was relatively simple. A feasible and useful new way was provided by the model of grey system for quantitative analysis of the latent period of lung cancer induced by air pollutants.

Air Pollutants ; adverse effects ; China ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; epidemiology ; etiology ; mortality ; Models, Biological ; Particle Size ; Risk Factors ; Sulfur Dioxide ; adverse effects

OBJECTIVEHypoxic pulmonary hypertension is an important pathophysiologic process of various cardiovascular diseases. Sulfur dioxide (SO2) was considered as a kind of toxic gas previously, but recent studies suggested that SO2 could act as a key bioactive molecule in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases. Therefore, this study was designed to examine the effect of sulfur dioxide on pulmonary vascular structure of hypoxic pulmonary hypertensive rats treated with SO2 donor substances.

METHODSThe rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: control group(n = 8), hypoxic group(n = 8) and hypoxic + SO2 group (n = 10, treated with SO2 donor Na2SO3/NaHSO3). The rats of hypoxic group and hypoxic + SO2 group were under a hypoxic condition for 21 days, while the rats of control group were exposed to room air. The mean pulmonary artery pressure was tested by means of right cardiac catheterization and the content of SO2 in plasma was investigated by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The change in relative medial thickness (RMT) of pulmonary arteries was examined under optical microscope. The ultra-structural changes were observed under a transmission electron microscope. The data were analyzed through one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) by SPSS 13.0 software.

RESULTSCompared with control group [(2.25 +/- 0.50) kPa], the mean pulmonary artery pressure of hypoxic group [(5.12 +/- 0.51) kPa] raised significantly (t = 5.091, P < 0.01) and RMT of hypoxic group (9.66 +/- 1.27) compared with control group (6.83 +/- 1.57) significantly raised (t = 3.392, P < 0.01). Ultrastructural observation showed the proliferation and degeneration of endothelial cells in small pulmonary arteries in rats with pulmonary hypertension. The internal elastic lamina was irregular. The proliferation of medial smooth muscle cells of arteries was shown at the level of respiratory bronchioles. The collagens also increased. Meanwhile, compared with control group [(33.36 +/- 5.62) micromol/L], the content of SO2 in plasma of hypoxic group [(27.01 +/- 4.17) micromol/L] declined (t = 2.067, P < 0.05). Whereas compared with that of hypoxic group [(5.12 +/- 0.51) kPa], the mean pulmonary artery pressure of hypoxic + SO2 group [(3.94 +/- 0.33) kPa] declined (t = 2.712, P < 0.01) and RMT of hypoxic + SO2 group (6.97 +/- 1.83) decreased compared with hypoxic group (9.66 +/- 1.27) (t = 3.009, P < 0.01). Compared with those of hypoxic group, the pulmonary artery ultrastructural changes in hypoxic group ameliorated obviously after using exogenous sulfur dioxide donor. The endothelial cells became flat and the smooth muscle cells of arteries slightly enlarged and arranged regularly. At the same time, compared with hypoxic group [(27.01 +/- 4.17) micromol/L], the content of SO2 in plasma of hypoxic + SO2 group [(29.89 +/- 4.52) micromol/L] raised (t = 1.263, P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSulfur dioxide plays an important role in the regulation of small pulmonary artery structural changes in hypoxic pulmonary hypertensive rats. The hypoxic pulmonary hypertensive damages can be ameliorated significantly after using exogenous SO2 donor.

Animals ; Hypertension, Pulmonary ; blood ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Hypoxia ; blood ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Male ; Pulmonary Artery ; drug effects ; pathology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Sulfur Dioxide ; adverse effects ; blood

OBJECTIVETo study the relationship between ambient air pollution and daily mortality of SARS in Beijing.

METHODSThe approach of time-series Poisson regression was used to assess the relationship between daily SARS mortality, ambient air pollution, and other factors from April 25 to May 31, 2003 in Beijing.

RESULTSAn increase of each 10 microg/m3 over a 5-day moving average of PM10, SO2 and NO2 corresponded to 1.06 (1.00-1.12), 0.74 (0.48-1.13) and 1.22 (1.01-1.48) relative risks (RRs) of daily SARS mortality, respectively. The relative risks (RRs) values depended largely on the selection of lag days.

CONCLUSIONThe daily mortality of SARS might be associated with certain air pollutants in Beijing.

Air Pollutants ; adverse effects ; analysis ; toxicity ; Air Pollution ; adverse effects ; analysis ; China ; epidemiology ; Cities ; Dust ; analysis ; Environmental Monitoring ; Epidemiological Monitoring ; Humans ; Nitrogen Dioxide ; analysis ; Particle Size ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk ; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ; epidemiology ; mortality ; Sulfur Dioxide ; analysis

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Although indoor air pollution is a well-known risk factor for tuberculosis (TB), the possible link between outdoor air pollution and TB development has not been examined fully. We assessed the impact of outdoor air pollution on TB development in the Seoul metropolitan area, South Korea. METHODS: The mean concentrations of ambient particulate matter (PM) with an aerodynamic diameter < or = 10 microm (PM10), O3, CO, NO2, and SO2 levels in Seoul, between January 1, 1997 and December 31, 2006, were determined. Furthermore, their association with the risk of developing TB after adjusting for socioeconomic status, between January 1, 2002 and December 31, 2006, was investigated. RESULTS: Between January 1, 2002 and December 31, 2006, a total of 41,185 TB cases were reported in Seoul. Concentrations of PM10, O3, CO, and NO2 were not associated with TB incidence in males or females. However, the interquartile increase in SO2 concentration was associated with a 7% increment in TB incidence (relative risk [RR], 1.07; 95% credible interval [CrI], 1.03 to 1.12) in males but not in females (RR, 1.02; 95% CrI, 0.98 to 1.07). CONCLUSIONS: Long-term exposure to ambient SO2 increased the risk of TB in males.
Adult ; Aged ; Air Pollution, Indoor/*adverse effects ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Inhalation Exposure/adverse effects ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Odds Ratio ; Particle Size ; Particulate Matter/adverse effects ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Assessment ; Risk Factors ; Sex Factors ; Sulfur Dioxide/*adverse effects ; Time Factors ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary/diagnosis/*epidemiology/microbiology ; *Urban Health