Personal exposure monitoring of fine and coarse particulate matter using exposure assessment models for elderly residents in Hong Kong.

This study investigated the determinants of personal exposures (PE) to coarse (PM) and fine particulate matter (PM) for elderly communities in Hong Kong. The mean PE PM and PM were 23.6 ± 10.

Prediction model for air particulate matter levels in the households of elderly individuals in Hong Kong.

Air pollution has shown to cause adverse health effects on mankind. Aging causes functional decline and leaves elderly people more susceptible to health threats associated with air pollution exposure. Elderly spend approximately 80% of their lifetime at home every day.

Characterization of chemical components and cytotoxicity effects of indoor and outdoor fine particulate matter (PM) in Xi'an, China.

The chemical and cytotoxicity properties of fine particulate matter (PM) at indoor and outdoor environment were characterized in Xi'an, China. The mass concentrations of PM in urban areas (93.29~96.

Abiotic Formation of Humic-Like Substances through Freezing-Accelerated Reaction of Phenolic Compounds and Nitrite.

A previously unknown abiotic humification pathway which is highly accelerated in frozen solution containing phenolic compounds and nitrite was investigated and proposed. The production of humic-like acids (HLA) and fulvic-like acids (FLA) was observed in the frozen solution (-20 °C) whereas it was negligible in aqueous solution (20 °C). Inorganic nitrogen was transformed into organic nitrogen during the humification process.

Characterization of the chemical components and bioreactivity of fine particulate matter produced during crop-residue burning in China.

Five types of crop residue (rice, wheat, corn, sorghum, and sugarcane) collected from different provinces in China were used to characterize the chemical components and bioreactivity properties of fine particulate matter (PM) emissions during open-burning scenarios. Organic carbon (OC) and elemental carbon (EC) were the most abundant components, contributing 41.7%-54.

Cancer risk from gaseous carbonyl compounds in indoor environment generated from household coal combustion in Xuanwei, China.

Airborne carbonyls were characterized from emitted indoor coal combustion. Samples were collected in Xuanwei (Yunnan Province), a region in China with a high rate of lung cancer. Eleven of 19 types of samples (58%) demonstrated formaldehyde concentrations higher than the World Health Organization exposure limit (a 30-min average of 100 μg m).

Revisiting nitrous acid (HONO) emission from on-road vehicles: A tunnel study with a mixed fleet.

Unlabelled: Nitrous acid (HONO) is an important precursor of OH radicals in the atmosphere. In urban areas, emissions from vehicles are the main source of air pollutants, including reactive nitrogen. Previously reported emission ratios of HONO (HONO/NO) from vehicles were measured in the late 1990s and need to be updated due to the significant changes in emission control technologies.

Effects of polycyclic aromatic compounds in fine particulate matter generated from household coal combustion on response to EGFR mutations in vitro.

Induction of PM-associated lung cancer in response to EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKI) remains unclear. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and their polar derivatives (oxygenated PAHs: OPAHs and azaarenes: AZAs) were characterized in fine particulates (PM) emitted from indoor coal combustion. Samples were collected in Xuanwei (Yunnan Province), a region in China with a high rate of lung cancer.

Speciation and mobility of arsenic in agricultural lime.

Agricultural liming materials are used to correct soil acidity and to improve plant growth and microbial functionality. A relatively low-grade agricultural lime was found to contain up to 125 mg kg(-1) arsenic (As), which is above any fertilizing materials code threshold. The color of the milled material is brown due to ample oxide dendrites.