Weathering Effects on Degradation of Low-Density Polyethylene-Nanosilica Composite with Added Pro-oxidant.

Nanomaterials are increasingly used in polymer composites to enhance their properties, such as mechanical performance and durability, increased electrical conductivity, and improved optical clarity. Here results are presented of a study simulating effects of weathering on degradation of a nanosilica-low-density polyethylene (LDPE) composite. Release of nanosilica from LDPE composites is a potential source of toxic SiO.

Associations between multipollutant day types and select cardiorespiratory outcomes in Columbia, South Carolina, 2002 to 2013.

Background: Health studies of air pollution are increasingly aiming to study associations between air pollutant mixtures and health.

Objective: Estimate associations between observed combinations of ambient air pollutants and select cardiorespiratory outcomes in Columbia, SC during 2002 to 2013.

Methods: We estimate associations using a two-stage approach.

The role of the indoor environment: Residential determinants of allergy, asthma and pulmonary function in children from a US-Mexico border community.

The El Paso Children's Health Study examined environmental risk factors for allergy and asthma among fourth and fifth grade schoolchildren living in a major United States-Mexico border city. Complete questionnaire information was available for 5210 children, while adequate pulmonary function data were available for a subset of 1874. Herein we studied indoor environmental health risk factors for allergy and asthma.

Community-based participatory research for the study of air pollution: a review of motivations, approaches, and outcomes.

Neighborhood level air pollution represents a long-standing issue for many communities that, until recently, has been difficult to address due to the cost of equipment and lack of related expertise. Changes in available technology and subsequent increases in community-based participatory research (CBPR) have drastically improved the ability to address this issue. However, much still needs to be learned as these types of studies are expected to increase in the future.

Biomonitoring Human Exposure to Household Air Pollution and Association with Self-reported Health Symptoms - A Stove Intervention Study in Peru.

Background: Household air pollution (HAP) from indoor biomass stoves contains harmful pollutants, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and is a leading risk factor for global disease burden. We used biomonitoring to assess HAP exposure and association with self-reported symptoms in 334 non-smoking Peruvian women to evaluate the efficacy of a stove intervention program.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study within the framework of a community randomized control trial.

A Pilot Study Characterizing Real Time Exposures to Particulate Matter and Carbon Monoxide from Cookstove Related Woodsmoke in Rural Peru.

Nearly half of the world's population is exposed to household air pollution (HAP) due to long hours spent in close proximity to unvented cooking fires. We aimed to use PM and CO measurements to characterize exposure to cookstove generated woodsmoke in real time among control (n=10) and intervention (n=9) households in San Marcos, Cajamarca Region, Peru. Real time personal particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter ≤2.

Concentrations of urinary 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine and 8-isoprostane in women exposed to woodsmoke in a cookstove intervention study in San Marcos, Peru.

Nearly half of the world's population is exposed to household air pollution (HAP) due to long hours spent in close proximity to unvented cooking fires. The effect of woodsmoke exposure on oxidative stress was examined by investigating the association between woodsmoke exposure and biomarkers of DNA oxidation (8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine [8-OHdG]) and lipid peroxidation (8-isoprostane) among control and intervention stove users. HAP exposure assessment was conducted within the framework of a community-randomized controlled trial of 51 communities in San Marcos Province, Cajamarca Region, Peru.

Carbon monoxide exposures and kitchen concentrations from cookstove-related woodsmoke in San Marcos, Peru.

Background: Nearly half of the world's population is exposed to household air pollution (HAP) due to long hours spent in close proximity to biomass-fueled fires.

Objective: We compare CO exposures and concentrations among study promoted intervention stove users and control stove users in San Marcos Province, Cajamarca region, Peru.

Methods: Passive CO diffusion tubes were deployed over a 48-hour sampling period to measure kitchen CO concentrations and personal mother and child CO exposures in 197 control and 182 intervention households.

Inflammatory effects of woodsmoke exposure among wildland firefighters working at prescribed burns at the Savannah River Site, SC.

Wildland firefighters in the United States are occupationally exposed to high levels of woodsmoke. Results from experimental studies show that exposure to woodsmoke induces inflammation. A study was conducted to investigate the effect of occupational woodsmoke exposure on inflammatory biomarkers in firefighters working at prescribed burns.

Radionuclide activity concentrations in forest surface fuels at the Savannah River Site.

Background/objective: A study was undertaken at the United States Department of Energy's Savannah River Site (SRS), Aiken, South Carolina to investigate radionuclide activity concentrations in litter and duff from select areas at SRS. Litter (i.e.