Global preterm births attributable to BTEX (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene) exposure.

Epidemiological studies have shown that long-term exposure to toxic volatile organic compounds, such as benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene (BTEX), is associated with preterm births (PTB). However, global PTB attributable to long-term BTEX exposure has not been reported in the literature yet. In this study, we employed a global chemical transport model, GEOS-Chem (Goddard Earth Observing System coupled with chemistry), in conjunction with an epidemiological model, to quantify the global country-specific PTB associated with long-term BTEX exposure at the horizontal resolution of 1 km × 1 km for the year 2015.

Impacts of Global Solid Biofuel Stove Emissions on Ambient Air Quality and Human Health.

Global solid biofuel stove emissions strongly impact air quality, climate change, and human health. However, investigations of the impacts of global solid biofuel stove emissions on human health associated with PM (particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter ≤2.5 μm) and ozone (O) are limited.