The Impact of Russia-Ukraine geopolitical conflict on the air quality and toxicological properties of ambient PM in Milan, Italy.

The geopolitical conflict between Russia and Ukraine has disrupted Europe's natural gas supplies, driving up gas prices and leading to a shift towards biomass for residential heating during colder months. This study assessed the consequent air quality and toxicological impacts in Milan, Italy, focusing on fine particulate matter (PM, d < 2.5 μm) emissions.

The oxidative potential of particulate matter (PM) in different regions around the world and its relation to air pollution sources.

In this study, we investigated the impact of urban emission sources on the chemical composition of ambient particulate matter (PM) as well as the associated oxidative potential. We collected six sets of PM samples in five urban location sites around the world over long time periods varying from weeks to months, intentionally selected for their PM to be dominated by unique emission sources: (1) PM produced mainly by traffic emissions in central Los Angeles, United States (US); (2) PM dominated by biomass burning in Milan, Italy; (3) PM formed by secondary photochemical reactions thus dominated by secondary aerosols in Athens, Greece; (4) PM emitted by refinery and dust resuspension in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (SA); (5) PM generated by dust storms in Riyadh, SA, and (6) PM produced mainly by industrial and traffic emissions in Beirut, Lebanon. The PM samples were chemically analyzed and their oxidative potential were quantified by employing the dithiothreitol (DTT) assay.

The impact of stay-home policies during Coronavirus-19 pandemic on the chemical and toxicological characteristics of ambient PM in the metropolitan area of Milan, Italy.

The goal of this study was to characterize changes in components and toxicological properties of PM during the nationwide 2019-Coronavirus (COVID-19) lockdown restrictions in Milan, Italy. Time-integrated PM filters were collected at a residential site in Milan metropolitan area from April 11th to June 3rd at 2020, encompassing full-lockdown (FL), the followed partial-lockdown (PL2), and full-relaxation (FR) periods of COVID-19 restrictions. The collected filters were analyzed for elemental and organic carbon (EC/OC), water-soluble organic carbon (WSOC), individual organic species (e.

A Case-Crossover Study to Investigate the Effects of Atmospheric Particulate Matter Concentrations, Season, and Air Temperature on Accident and Emergency Presentations for Cardiovascular Events in Northern Italy.

Atmospheric particulate matter (PM) has multiple adverse effects on human health, high temperatures are also associated with adverse health outcomes, and the frequency of cardiovascular events (CVEs) varies with season. We investigated a hypothesized increase in PM-related accident and emergency (A&E) presentations for CVE with high temperature, warm season, days of high influenza incidence, and in people with a cancer diagnosis, using a time-stratified case-crossover study design. Outcomes were associations of A&E presentation for CVE with atmospheric PM ≤ 10 μm (PM), season, and air temperature.

[Formaldehyde in electronic cigarettes and in heat-not-burn products: let's make the point].

The spread of electronic cigarettes (e-cigs) and of the so-called heat-not-burn (HnB), also known as heated tobacco products, presented as a less harmful alternative to traditional cigarettes, required further in-depth studies to demonstrate the real benefits or possible risks linked to this type of habit among smokers and possible new smokers. There are numerous harmful substances produced by these devices, such as metals, organic compounds, and aldehydes. The presence of formaldehyde is particularly worrying: its indoor concentration is 2.

Respiratory illness and air pollution from the steel industry: the case of Piquiá de Baixo, Brazil (Preliminary report).

Background: This report is based on an independent study carried out by medical professionals of the Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori (National Cancer Institute) in Milan, Italy, and  aimed to assess the incidence of respiratory diseases in a Brazilian community (Piquiá de Baixo, in the city of Açailandia) exposed to extreme air pollution in connection to a local steel manufacturing plant. The study has the objective to contribute to the existing literature on the health risks associated with fine particle pollution (PM2.5) due to steel production with data from Brazil.

Erratum to: Particulate matters from diesel heavy duty trucks exhaust versus cigarettes emissions: a new educational antismoking instrument.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1186/s40248-016-0042-7.].

Particulate matters from diesel heavy duty trucks exhaust versus cigarettes emissions: a new educational antismoking instrument.

Background: Indoor smoking in public places and workplaces is forbidden in Italy since 2003, but some health concerns are arising from outdoor secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure for non-smokers. One of the biggest Italian Steel Manufacturer, with several factories in Italy and abroad, the Marcegaglia Group, recently introduced the outdoor smoking ban within the perimeter of all their factories. In order to encourage their smoker employees to quit, the Marcegaglia management decided to set up an educational framework by measuring the PM1, PM2.

Comparison between particulate matter and ultrafine particle emission by electronic and normal cigarettes in real-life conditions.

Aims: Electronic cigarettes may be safer than conventional cigarettes as they generate less indoor pollution in terms of particulate matter (PM); however, recent findings in experimental conditions demonstrated that secondhand exposure to PM may be expected from e-cigarette smoking. The aim of the present study was to investigate the emission of PM generated by e-cigarettes and normal cigarettes under real-life conditions.

Methods: Real-time measurement and comparison of PM and ultrafine particles (UFP) generated by electronic cigarettes with and without nicotine and by normal cigarettes in a 50 m3 office of an Italian comprehensive cancer center was performed.

The electronic cigarette: potential health benefit or mere business?

Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) have attracted considerable attention as a possible alternative to tobacco cigarettes, but uncertainties about their impact on health and indoor air quality as well as their commercial success without a clear regulatory framework are arousing concern. We have therefore tried to summarize the health-related implications of the use of e-cigarettes in order to help physicians and health professionals provide accurate information on this device. Given the lack of unequivocal scientific data on their toxicity and safety, we conclude that at the moment there is no reason to approve e-cigarettes as a safe alternative to tobacco smoke.

[Observed smoking in car: results of a study of the Regional Health Prevention Service of Veneto, Northern Italy].

Objective: to estimate the prevalence of smokers inside cars or duty vehicles and the presence of children exposed to second hand smoke on board, in the NHS districts of Veneto Region.

Design: an observational study was carried out by the technicians of the Prevention department from October 1st to October 17th 2008. The observers had to record sex of the driver and of the passengers, their presumed ages, verify if drivers or passengers were smoking, and if there were any children on board.

[Smoking in car: monitoring pollution of particulate matter, of organic volatile compounds and of carbon monoxide. The effect of opening the driver's window].

Objective: to identify the most suitable marker for monitoring ETS inside a moving car, and to verify the efficacy of window opening to reduce ETS pollution inside the car.

Design: experimental pilot study. SSETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: monitoring of ETS markers in a moving car.

Efficacy of pins and diplomas as a reward for long-term smoking cessation.

Aims And Background: Since 2004, the Antismoking Center of the National Cancer Institute of Milan has rewarded those who have been ex-smokers for longer than a year with a "former smoker" pin and a diploma. We investigated firstly whether these rewards contributed to maintain smoking withdrawal, secondly, which one of these was more appreciated and why, and thirdly, how they may have influenced the ex-smokers' perception of smoking and how this was reflected on those surrounding them (i.e.

[The effects of the traffic restriction fee (Ecopass) in the center of Milan on urban pollution with particulate matter: the results of a pilot study].

Background: the city of Milan introduced a traffic charging zone in city center in January 2008, named Ecopass.

Aim Of The Study: to compare PM1, PM2,5 and PM10 levels in and outside the restricted area before and after the enforcement of the charging scheme.

Methods: PM1, PM2,5 and PM10 exposures were measured by means of pre-calibrated portable laser-operated particle analyzers.