Air Pollution/analysis* ; Environmental Exposure/analysis* ; China/epidemiology* ; Air Pollutants/analysis* ; Particulate Matter/analysis* ; Environmental Monitoring

BACKGROUND: Metabolic Dysfunction-associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD) has become a global epidemic, and air pollution has been identified as a potential risk factor. This study aims to investigate the non-linear relationship between ambient air pollution and MASLD prevalence. METHOD: In this cross-sectional study, participants undergoing health checkups were assessed for three-year average air pollution exposure. MASLD diagnosis required hepatic steatosis with at least 1 out of 5 cardiometabolic criteria. A stepwise approach combining data visualization and regression modeling was used to determine the most appropriate link function between each of the six air pollutants and MASLD. A covariate-adjusted six-pollutant model was constructed accordingly. RESULTS: A total of 131,592 participants were included, with 40.6% met the criteria of MASLD. "Threshold link function," "interaction link function," and "restricted cubic spline (RCS) link functions" best-fitted associations between MASLD and PM_2.5, PM₁₀/CO, and O₃ /SO₂/NO₂, respectively. In the six-pollutant model, significant positive associations were observed when pollutant concentrations were over: 34.64 µg/m³ for PM_2.5, 57.93 µg/m³ for PM₁₀, 56 µg/m³ for O₃, below 643.6 µg/m³ for CO, and within 33 and 48 µg/m³ for NO₂. The six-pollutant model using these best-fitted link functions demonstrated superior model fitting compared to exposure-categorized model or linear link function model assuming proportionality of odds. CONCLUSION Non-linear associations were found between air pollutants and MASLD prevalence. PM_2.5, PM₁₀, O₃, CO, and NO₂ exhibited positive associations with MASLD in specific concentration ranges, highlighting the need to consider non-linear relationships in assessing the impact of air pollution on MASLD.
Humans ; Nitrogen Dioxide ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Air Pollution/analysis* ; Air Pollutants/analysis* ; Particulate Matter/analysis* ; Liver Diseases ; Environmental Exposure/analysis*

At present, the negative impact caused by white pollution has spread to all aspects of human society economy, ecosystem, and health, which causes severe challenges for developing the circular bioeconomy. As the largest plastic production and consumption country in the world, China has shouldered an important responsibility in plastic pollution control. In this context, this paper analyzed the relevant strategies of plastic degradation and recycling in the United States, Europe, Japan and China, measured the literature and patents in this field, analyzed the status quo of technology from the perspective of research and development trends, major countries, major institutions, and discussed the opportunities and challenges faced by the development of plastic degradation and recycling in China. Finally, we put forward future development suggestions which include the integration of policy system, technology path, industry development and public cognition.
Humans ; Plastics ; Ecosystem ; Environmental Pollution ; Recycling ; Policy

Objective To explore the overall level,distribution characteristics,and differences in household fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) pollution caused by fuel burning in urban and rural areas in China. Methods The relevant articles published from 1991 to 2021 were retrieved and included in this study.The data including the average concentration of household PM_2.5 and urban and rural areas were extracted,and the stoves and fuel types were reclassified.The average concentration of PM_2.5 in different areas was calculated and analyzed by nonparametric test. Results The average household PM_2.5 concentration in China was (178.81±249.91) μg/m³.The mean household PM_2.5 concentration was higher in rural areas than in urban areas[(206.08±279.40) μg/m³ vs. (110.63±131.16) μg/m³;Z=-5.45,P<0.001] and higher in northern areas than in southern areas[(224.27±301.66) μg/m³ vs.(130.11±140.61) μg/m³;Z=-2.38,P=0.017].The north-south difference in household PM_2.5 concentration was more significant in rural areas than in urban areas[(324.19±367.94) μg/m³ vs.(141.20±151.05) μg/m³,χ²=-5.06,P<0.001].The PM_2.5 pollution level showed differences between urban and rural households using different fuel types (χ²=92.85,P<0.001),stove types (χ²=74.42,P<0.001),and whether they were heating (Z=-4.43,P<0.001).Specifically,rural households mainly used solid fuels (manure,charcoal,coal) and traditional or improved stoves,while urban households mainly used clean fuels (gas) and clean stoves.The PM_2.5 concentrations in heated households were higher than those in non-heated households in both rural and urban areas (Z=-4.43,P<0.001). Conclusions The household PM_2.5 pollution caused by fuel combustion in China remains a high level.The PM_2.5 concentration shows a significant difference between urban and rural households,and the PM_2.5 pollution is more serious in rural households.The difference in the household PM_2.5 concentration between urban and rural areas is more significant in northern China.PM_2.5 pollution in the households using solid fuel,traditional stoves,and heating is serious,and thus targeted measures should be taken to control PM_2.5 pollution in these households.
Humans ; Particulate Matter/analysis* ; Air Pollution, Indoor/analysis* ; Cooking ; Environmental Exposure/analysis* ; China ; Rural Population

Climate change is the great health challenge for human beings in the 21^st century. Air pollution is also an important public health problem worldwide. China announced the climate commitment to achieve carbon peaking by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2060. Achieving these goals would not only have far-reaching effects on air pollution control and climate change, but also improve the population health in China. Air pollution and climate change epidemiology are important aspects of environmental epidemiology. In this paper, we discuss the current status and future development of epidemiological research of air pollution and climate change in the context of achieving carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals to provide ideas and suggestions for environmental and health studies in the future.
Humans ; Climate Change ; Goals ; Air Pollution/analysis* ; Environmental Health ; Public Health ; China/epidemiology* ; Carbon

In China, the level of ambient fine particulate matter (PM 2.5 ) pollution far exceeds the air quality standards recommended by the World Health Organization. Moreover, the health effects of PM 2.5 exposure have become a major public health issue. More than half of PM 2.5 -related excess deaths are caused by cardiopulmonary disease, which has become a major health risk associated with PM 2.5 pollution. In this review, we discussed the latest epidemiological advances relating to the health effects of PM 2.5 on cardiopulmonary diseases in China, including studies relating to the effects of PM 2.5 on mortality, morbidity, and risk factors for cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. These data provided important evidence to highlight the cardiopulmonary risk associated with PM 2.5 across the world. In the future, further studies need to be carried out to investigate the specific relationship between the constituents and sources of PM 2.5 and cardiopulmonary disease. These studies provided scientific evidence for precise reduction measurement of pollution sources and public health risks. It is also necessary to identify effective biomarkers and elucidate the biological mechanisms and pathways involved; this may help us to take steps to reduce PM 2.5 pollution and reduce the incidence of cardiopulmonary disease.
Humans ; Particulate Matter/analysis* ; Air Pollution/adverse effects* ; Risk Factors ; Respiratory Tract Diseases ; China/epidemiology* ; Environmental Exposure/adverse effects*

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the association of ambient PM_2.5 exposure with blood pressure (BP) at the population level in China. METHODS: A total of 14,080 participants who had at least two valid blood pressure records were selected from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Survey during 2011-2015. Their long-term PM_2.5 exposure was assessed at the geographical level, on the basis of a regular 0.1° × 0.1° grid over China. A mixed-effects regression model was used to assess associations. RESULTS: Each decrease of 10 μg/m³ in the 1 year-mean PM_2.5 concentration (FPM_1Y) was associated with a decrease of 1.24 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.84-1.64] mmHg systolic BP (SBP) and 0.50 (95% CI: 0.25-0.75) mmHg diastolic BP (DBP), respectively. A robust association was observed between the long-term decrease in PM_2.5 and decreased BP in the middle-aged and older population. Using a generalized additive mixed model, we further found that SBP increased nonlinearly overall with FPM_1Y but in an approximately linear range when the FPM_1Y concentration was < 70 µg/m³; In contrast, DBP increased approximately linearly without a clear threshold. CONCLUSION Efficient control of PM_2.5 air pollution may promote vascular health in China. Our study provides robust scientific support for making the related air pollution control policies.
Middle Aged ; Humans ; Aged ; Particulate Matter/analysis* ; Blood Pressure ; Air Pollutants/analysis* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hypertension/etiology* ; East Asian People ; Environmental Exposure/analysis* ; Air Pollution/analysis* ; China/epidemiology*

Ozone/toxicity* ; Air Pollution/analysis* ; Air Pollutants/analysis* ; China/epidemiology* ; Environmental Exposure/analysis* ; Mortality ; Particulate Matter/analysis*

Humans ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/epidemiology* ; Air Pollution/adverse effects* ; Air Pollutants/toxicity* ; Risk Assessment ; Particulate Matter ; Environmental Exposure

L-homophenylalanine (L-HPA) is an important non-natural amino acid that has been used as a key intermediate for the synthesis of Puli drugs for the treatment of hypertension. At present, L-HPA is synthesized using chemical methods, which has the disadvantages of expensive raw materials, tedious steps and serious pollution. Therefore, researchers have conducted in-depth research on the enzymatic production of L-HPA. This review summarizes the research progress on the enzymatic synthesis of L-HPA, including the dehydrogenase process, the transaminase process, the hydantoinase process, and the decarboxylase process, with the hope to facilitate the industrial production of L-HPA.
Amino Acids ; Environmental Pollution ; Industry ; Protein Biosynthesis