Extreme temperature increases the risk of COPD morbimortality: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: This systematic review examines how extreme temperatures impact chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) morbidity and mortality, focusing on identifying vulnerable subpopulations.

Methods: We conducted a systematic literature search from January 1, 2000, to November 6, 2024, across databases like PubMed, MEDLINE and EMBASE, Web of Science, and Scopus, focusing on observational studies that quantitatively defined extreme temperatures and their impacts on COPD morbidity and mortality. Out of 3140 records, 25 studies met the inclusion criteria.

New mechanisms of PM induced atherosclerosis: Source dependent toxicity and pathogenesis.

Exposure to fine particulate matter (PM) is recognized to induce atherosclerosis, but the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. This study used ambient PM samples collected in one of the highly polluted regions of Guanzhong Plain in China (2017-2020) and an ApoE mouse model to investigate the association between exposure to PM and atherosclerosis. Despite a substantial decrease in the ambient concentration of PM from 266.

The risk of hospitalization associated with hot nights and excess nighttime heat in a subtropical metropolis: a time-series study in Hong Kong, 2000-2019.

Background: Recent studies showed increased mortality risks after hot nights, but their effect on hospitalizations, especially in vulnerable populations, remains under-studied.

Methods: Daily hospitalization, meteorological (including hourly), and air pollution data were collected for the hot seasons (May-October) of 2000-19 in Hong Kong. We derived three hot-night metrics: HNday, daily minimum temperature ≥28 °C, the governmental definition of hot nights; HNe, hot night excess calculated by summing heat excess of hourly temperatures above 28 °C at night; and HNday, hot nights classified using the 90th percentile HNe (17.

Integrating Doppler LiDAR and machine learning into land-use regression model for assessing contribution of vertical atmospheric processes to urban PM pollution.

Air pollution has been recognized as a global issue, through adverse effects on environment and health. While vertical atmospheric processes substantially affect urban air pollution, traditional epidemiological research using Land-use regression (LUR) modeling usually focused on ground-level attributes without considering upper-level atmospheric conditions. This study aimed to integrate Doppler LiDAR and machine learning techniques into LUR models (LURF-LiDAR) to comprehensively evaluate urban air pollution in Hong Kong, and to assess complex interactions between vertical atmospheric processes and urban air pollution from long-term (i.

The joint effect of long-term exposure to multiple air pollutants on non-accidental and cause-specific mortality: A longitudinal cohort study.

The long-term joint impacts of fine particulate matter (PM), nitrogen dioxide (NO), and ozone (O) on mortality are inconclusive. To bridge this research gap, we included 283,568 adults from the Taiwan MJ cohort between 2005 and 2016 and linked with the mortality data until 31 May 2019. Participants' annual average exposures to PM, NO, and O were estimated using satellite-based spatial-temporal models.

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.

Exposure to BTEX is associated with cardiovascular disease, dyslipidemia and leukocytosis in national US population.

Background: Comprehensive research on the effects of individual benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes (BTEX) and their mixture measured in blood samples, on cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and related risk factors among the general population is limited.

Objectives: To investigate the effects of blood individual and mixed BTEX on total CVD and its subtypes, lipid profiles, and white blood cell (WBC) count.

Methods: Survey-weighted multivariate logistic regression was used to examine the associations between blood individual and mixed BTEX with CVD and its subtypes in 17,007 participants from NHANES 1999-2018.

Effects of long-term indoor air purification intervention on cardiovascular health in elderly: a parallel, double-blinded randomized controlled trial in Hong Kong.

Ambient fine particulate matter (PM) is a leading environmental risk factor globally, and over half of the associated disease burden are caused by cardiovascular disease. Numerous randomized controlled trials (RCT) have investigated the short-term cardiovascular benefits of indoor air purifiers (IAPs), but major knowledge gaps remain on their longer-term benefits. In this 1-year, randomized, double-blinded, parallel controlled trial of 47 elderly (n = 24; n = 23) aged ≥70 years, true-purification reduced household PM levels by 28% and maintained lower exposure throughout the year compared to the sham-purification group.

Origin and transformation of volatile organic compounds at a regional background site in Hong Kong: Varied photochemical processes from different source regions.

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are important gaseous constituents in the troposphere, impacting local and regional air quality, human health, and climate. Oxidation of VOCs, with the participation of nitrogen oxides (NO), leads to the formation of tropospheric ozone (O). Accurately apportioning the emission sources and transformation processes of ambient VOCs, and effectively estimation of OH reactivity and ozone formation potential (OFP) will play an important role in reducing O pollution in the atmosphere and improving public health.

Characterization of a smog chamber for studying formation of gas-phase products and secondary organic aerosol.

Smog chambers provide a potent approach to explore the secondary organic aerosol formation under varied conditions. This study describes the construction and characterization of a new smog chamber facility for studying the formation mechanisms of gas-phase products and secondary organic aerosol from the photooxidation of volatile organic compounds. The chamber is a 5.

High spatial resolution estimates of major PM components and their associated health risks in Hong Kong using a coupled land use regression and health risk assessment approach.

Few studies have focused on the spatial distribution of the typical components and source tracers of PM and their associated health risks, despite the fact that the chemical components of PM pose potentially significant and independent risks to human health. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the spatial distribution of major PM components and their associated health risks in Hong Kong using a coupled land use regression and health risk assessment modeling approach. The established land use regression models of the major PM components and source tracers achieved a relatively high statistical performance, with training and leave-one-out cross-validation R values of 0.

Climate change, air quality, and respiratory health: a focus on particle deposition in the lungs.

This review article delves into the multifaceted relationship between climate change, air quality, and respiratory health, placing a special focus on the process of particle deposition in the lungs. We discuss the capability of climate change to intensify air pollution and alter particulate matter physicochemical properties such as size, dispersion, and chemical composition. These alterations play a significant role in influencing the deposition of particles in the lungs, leading to consequential respiratory health effects.

Characterising personal, household, and community PM exposure in one urban and two rural communities in China.

Background: Cooking and heating in households contribute importantly to air pollution exposure worldwide. However, there is insufficient investigation of measured fine particulate matter (PM) exposure levels, variability, seasonality, and inter-spatial dynamics associated with these behaviours.

Methods: We undertook parallel measurements of personal, household (kitchen and living room), and community PM in summer (May-September 2017) and winter (November 2017-Janauary 2018) in 477 participants from one urban and two rural communities in China.

The joint association of ambient air pollution and different sleep posture with mild obstructive sleep apnea: A study conducted at Taipei Sleep Center.

Background: Growing evidence suggests the detrimental impact of supine position and air pollution on obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), as well as the potential benefits of nonsupine positions. However, their interaction effects on OSA remain unclear.

Objectives: To evaluate the interaction effects of air pollution (NO/PM) and sleep position on OSA on additive and multiplicative scales.

Evaluation of intervention measures in reducing the driver's exposure to respiratory particles in a taxi with infected passengers.

In the fifth wave of the COVID-19 epidemic in Hong Kong in early 2022, the large number of infected persons caused a shortage of ambulances and transportation vehicles operated by the government. To solve the problem, taxi drivers were recruited to transport infected persons to hospitals in their taxis. However, many of the drivers were infected after they began to participate in the plan.

Association between ambient BTEX mixture and neurological hospitalizations: A multicity time-series study in Taiwan.

Background: Benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes, collectively known as BTEX, are hazardous chemical mixtures, and their neurological health effects have not been thoroughly evaluated. We examined the association between BTEX exposure and neurological hospital admissions.

Methods: This was a multicity time-series study conducted in five major Taiwanese cities.

Air pollution exacerbates mild obstructive sleep apnea by disrupting nocturnal changes in lower-limb body composition: a cross-sectional study conducted in urban northern Taiwan.

Background: Few studies have explored the role of body composition linking air pollution to obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

Objective: To estimate the effects of air pollution on body composition and OSA, and that of body composition on OSA.

Methods: This study included 3550 individuals.

Low-dose blood BTEX are associated with pulmonary function through changes in inflammatory markers among US adults: NHANES 2007-2012.

The effects of blood benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes (BTEX) on lung function among general adults remain unknown. We enrolled 5519 adults with measured blood BTEX concentrations and lung function from the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2007-2012. Weighted linear models were fitted to assess the associations of BTEX with lung function and inflammation parameters (white blood cell five-part differential count and C-reactive protein).