Association between Outdoor and Indoor Air Pollution Sources and Atopic Eczema among Preschool Children in South Africa.

The objective of the study was to investigate the association between outdoor and indoor air pollution sources and atopic eczema among preschool children in South Africa. A cross-sectional design, following the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) Phase III protocol, was applied. The study was conducted in Mabopane and Soshanguve Townships in the City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality in Gauteng, South Africa.

Source apportionment of fine atmospheric particles in Bloemfontein, South Africa, using positive matrix factorization.

Air pollution is of major health and environmental concern globally and in South Africa. Studies on the sources of PM air pollution in low- and middle-income countries such as South Africa are limited. This study aimed to identify local and distant sources of PM pollution in Bloemfontein.

A New Global Air Quality Health Index Based on the WHO Air Quality Guideline Values With Application in Cape Town.

This study developed an Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) based on global scientific evidence and applied it to data from Cape Town, South Africa. Effect estimates from two global systematic reviews and meta-analyses were used to derive the excess risk (ER) for PM, PM, NO, SO and O. Single pollutant AQHIs were developed and scaled using the ERs at the WHO 2021 long-term Air Quality Guideline (AQG) values to define the upper level of the "low risk" range.

Case-crossover study for the association between increased hospital admissions for respiratory diseases and the increase in atmospheric PM and PM-bound trace elements in Pretoria, South Africa.

Outdoor PM was sampled in Pretoria, 18 April 2017 to 28 February 2020. A case-crossover epidemiology study was associated for increased PM and trace elements with increased hospital admissions for respiratory disorders (J00-J99). The results included a significant increase in hospital admissions, with total PM of 2.

Health risk assessment of PM and PM-bound trace elements in Pretoria, South Africa.

Exposure to outdoor air pollutants poses a risk for both non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic respiratory disease outcomes. A standardized health risk assessment (US EPA) utilizes air quality data, body mass and breathing rates to determine potential risk. This health risk assessment study assesses the hazard quotient (HQ) for total PM and trace elemental constituents (Br, Cl, K, Ni, S, Si, Ti and U) exposure in Pretoria, South Africa.

Health Risks of Temperature Variability on Hospital Admissions in Cape Town, 2011-2016.

Epidemiological studies have provided compelling evidence of associations between temperature variability (TV) and health outcomes. However, such studies are limited in developing countries. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between TV and hospital admissions for cause-specific diseases in South Africa.

Short-Term Effects of PM, NO, SO and O on Cardio-Respiratory Mortality in Cape Town, South Africa, 2006-2015.

Background: The health effect of air pollution is rarely quantified in Africa, and this is evident in global systematic reviews and multi-city studies which only includes South Africa.

Methods: A time-series analysis was conducted on daily mortality (cardiovascular (CVD) and respiratory diseases (RD)) and air pollution from 2006-2015 for the city of Cape Town. We fitted single- and multi-pollutant models to test the independent effects of particulate matter (PM), nitrogen dioxide (NO), sulphur dioxide (SO) and ozone (O) from co-pollutants.

Particulate Matter (PM) Characterization, Air Quality Level and Origin of Air Masses in an Urban Background in Pretoria.

Several sources have been identified as contributing to the concentration of ambient fine particulate matter, which has been associated to a variety of health issues. The chemical characteristics and sources of trace elements in PM, as well as the air quality index, were investigated in this study. Twenty four-hour fine aerosol particles were collected in an urban area in Pretoria, South Africa, from April 2017 to April 2018.

Temperature modifies the association between air pollution and respiratory disease mortality in Cape Town, South Africa.

The aim of this 10-year study was to investigate whether and how temperature modifies the association between daily ambient PM, NO SO air pollution and daily respiratory disease mortality in Cape Town. A time-stratified case-crossover epidemiological design was applied. Susceptibility by sex and age groups (15-64 years and ≥65 years) was also investigated.

Incident cardiovascular disease and long-term exposure to source-specific air pollutants in a Swedish cohort.

Background: Air pollution is associated with cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, but its role in the development of congestive heart failure (CHF) and the role of different pollution sources in cardiovascular disease remain uncertain.

Methods: Participants were enrolled in the Malmö Diet and Cancer cohort in 1991-1996 with information on lifestyle and clinical indicators of cardiovascular disease. The cohort participants were followed through registers until 2016.

Short-Term Joint Effects of PM, NO and SO on Cardio-Respiratory Disease Hospital Admissions in Cape Town, South Africa.

Background/aim: In sub-Sahara Africa, few studies have investigated the short-term association between hospital admissions and ambient air pollution. Therefore, this study explored the association between multiple air pollutants and hospital admissions in Cape Town, South Africa.

Methods: Generalized additive quasi-Poisson models were used within a distributed lag linear modelling framework to estimate the cumulative effects of PM, NO, and SO up to a lag of 21 days.

Allergy and Household Living Conditions among Adolescents Living near Gold Mine Tailing Dumps in the Gauteng and North West Provinces of South Africa.

This quantitative exploratory baseline study aimed to investigate whether allergy among adolescents was associated with household living conditions, including living near gold mine tailing dumps in South Africa. A questionnaire based on the International Study of Asthma and Allergies was used to collect information on allergy and household risk factors among adolescents ( = 5611). A chi-square test was applied to determine the relationship between community (exposed/unexposed) and confounding variables.

Source apportionment of fine atmospheric particles using positive matrix factorization in Pretoria, South Africa.

In Pretoria South Africa, we looked into the origins of fine particulate matter (PM), based on 1-year sampling campaign carried out between April 18, 2017, and April 17, 2018. The average PM concentration was 21.1 ± 15.

Association between ambient air pollution and cause-specific mortality in Cape Town, Durban, and Johannesburg, South Africa: any susceptible groups?

Studies have confirmed that adverse human health effects that are associated with exposure to air pollution may differ depending on other factors such as age, gender, environmental conditions, and socio-economic factors. This study was conducted to assess the association between ambient air pollution and cause-specific mortality in the three big cities in South Africa and to determine the susceptible groups thereof. Cause-specific mortality data for all ages and PM, NO, and SO in Cape Town, Durban, and Johannesburg for the period from 1 January 2006 to 31 December 2010 were obtained.

Health Risk Assessment of PM and PM-Bound Trace Elements in Thohoyandou, South Africa.

We assessed the health risks of fine particulate matter (PM) ambient air pollution and its trace elemental components in a rural South African community. Air pollution is the largest environmental cause of disease and disproportionately affects low- and middle-income countries. PM samples were previously collected, April 2017 to April 2018, and PM mass determined.

Health Impact of Air Pollution from Shipping in the Baltic Sea: Effects of Different Spatial Resolutions in Sweden.

In 2015, stricter regulations to reduce sulfur dioxide emissions and particulate air pollution from shipping were implemented in the Baltic Sea. We investigated the effects on population exposure to particles <2.5 µm (PM) from shipping and estimated related morbidity and mortality in Sweden's 21 counties at different spatial resolutions.

PM chemical composition and geographical origin of air masses in Cape Town, South Africa.

PM in the indoor and outdoor environment has been linked in epidemiology studies to the symptoms, hospital admissions and development of numerous health outcomes including death. The study was conducted during April 2017 and April 2018. PM samples were collected over 24 h and every third day.

Temperature as a modifier of the effects of air pollution on cardiovascular disease hospital admissions in Cape Town, South Africa.

Climate change and air pollution are two independent risk factors to cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Few studies investigated their interaction and potential effect modification of one another in developing countries. Individual level CVD hospital admission (ICD10: I00-I99) data for 1 January 2011 to 31 October 2016 were obtained from seven private hospitals in Cape Town.

Factors associated with parent-reported wheeze and cough in children living in an industrial area of Gauteng, South Africa.

We examined the factors associated with mother-reported wheeze and dry cough in children living in Tembisa, a residential and industrial community in South Africa. A cross-sectional sample of parents reported wheezing and dry cough in children (aged 1 to 26 months) by completing the standardised International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood questionnaire with additional questions concerning tobacco use, income, living conditions, and mothers' educational level. Data were analysed using chi-square, univariate, and multivariable logistic regressions.

Respiratory Health Symptoms among Schoolchildren in Relation to Possible Food-Related Risk and Protective Factors.

Respiratory health outcomes are among the top five causes of child morbidity and mortality around the world. We aimed to investigate possible food-related risk and protective factors for respiratory health outcomes in children. Structured questionnaires completed by primary caregivers of 10-year old children were used to collect information on demographics, socio-economic status, house characteristics and child respiratory health status.

Long-range transport clusters and positive matrix factorization source apportionment for investigating transboundary PM in Gothenburg, Sweden.

Source apportionment studies of particulate matter are common and have been performed either as source region analyses using air mass back trajectories or by source type using source apportionment techniques. By combining the two approaches, it is possible to estimate the relative importance of emitters in different regions. PM samples were collected in Gothenburg between September 2008 and September 2009.

Heat effects of ambient apparent temperature on all-cause mortality in Cape Town, Durban and Johannesburg, South Africa: 2006-2010.

Due to climate change, an increase of 3-4°C in ambient temperature is projected along the South African coast and 6-7°C inland during the next 80years. The objective of this study was to investigate the association between daily ambient apparent temperature (Tapp) and daily all-cause non-accidental mortality (hereafter mortality) in Cape Town, Durban and Johannesburg during a 5-year study period (2006-2010). Susceptibility by sex and age groups (<15years, 15-64years and ≥65years) was also investigated.

Indoor and outdoor PM levels at schools located near mine dumps in Gauteng and North West Provinces, South Africa.

Background: Few studies in South Africa have investigated the exposure of asthmatic learners to indoor and outdoor air pollution at schools. This study compared outdoor PM and SO exposure levels in exposed (1-2 km from gold mine dumps) and unexposed schools (5 km or more from gold mine dumps). It also examined exposure of asthmatic children to indoor respirable dust at exposed and unexposed schools.

Allergic rhinitis, rhinoconjunctivitis and hayfever symptoms among children are associated with frequency of truck traffic near residences: a cross sectional study.

Background: Allergic rhinitis (AR) is an increasing and common condition affecting many people globally, especially children. The aim of the study was to investigate the association between the frequency of truck traffic and allergic rhinitis symptoms, rhinoconjunctivitis and hayfever among 13 to 14 year old school children in Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality, Gauteng Province, South Africa.

Methods: In a cross-sectional study design, 3764 children from 16 randomly selected high schools were eligible to participate, 3468 completed the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) Phase I questionnaire of which 3424 were suitable for analysis; the overall response rate was 92%.

Environmental tobacco smoke and the risk of eczema symptoms among school children in South Africa: a cross-sectional study.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the association between eczema ever (EE) and current eczema symptoms (ES) in relation to exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS).

Design: A cross-sectional study using the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood questionnaire.

Setting: 16 schools were randomly selected from two neighbourhoods situated in Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality, Gauteng Province, South Africa.