Understanding the Occurrence and Fate of Atmospheric Microplastics and Their Potential Risks to Human Health: Protocol for a Cross-Sectional Analysis.

Background: Plastic pollution has reached an alarming magnitude, defining the contemporary era as the "Plastic Age." Uncontrolled plastic production and inadequate recycling processes have led to widespread contamination of the environment with micro and nanoplastics.

Objective: The study aims to assess the environmental and human health consequences of exposure to microplastic particles (MPs) and their additives among plastic recycling workers in Dhaka.

Long-term contributions of VOC sources and their link to ozone pollution in Bronx, New York City.

Changes in energy and environmental policies along with changes in the energy markets of New York State over the past two decades, have spurred interest in evaluating their impacts on emissions from various energy generation sectors. This study focused on quantifying these effects on VOC (volatile organic compounds) emissions and their subsequent impacts on air quality within the New York City (NYC) metropolitan area. NYC is an EPA nonattainment region for ozone (O) and likely is a VOC limited region.

Elucidating sources of VOCs in the Capital Region of New York State: Implications to secondary transformation and public health exposure.

Exposure to ambient volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in urban areas is of interest because of their potential adverse effects to public health. A study was carried out to elucidate ambient sources of VOCs in the Capital Region of New York State for the period 2015-2019. A combined dataset of VOCs and PM species was used in positive matrix factorization (PMF) model to better interpret the complex nature of different sources.

Ambient volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in two coastal cities in western Canada: Spatiotemporal variation, source apportionment, and health risk assessment.

Ambient volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in urban areas is of great interest due to their important roles in the atmospheric photochemistry as well as their potential adverse effects on public health. Limited information is available on the spatiotemporal variation, sources, and health risks of VOCs in the coastal cities of Canada, where the population density is much higher than inland areas. In this study, we investigated ambient VOCs levels, their potential sources and associated health risks in two coastal cities in Metro Vancouver during 2012-2016.

Airborne particles in the city center of Kuala Lumpur: Origin, potential driving factors, and deposition flux in human respiratory airways.

Equatorial warming conditions in urban areas can influence the particle number concentrations (PNCs), but studies assessing such factors are limited. The aim of this study was to evaluate the level of size-resolved PNCs, their potential deposition rate in the human respiratory system, and probable local and transboundary inputs of PNCs in Kuala Lumpur. Particle size distributions of a 0.

Ambient volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in Calgary, Alberta: Sources and screening health risk assessment.

Exposure to ambient volatile organic compound (VOCs) in urban areas is of interest because of their potential chronic and acute adverse effects to public health. Limited information is available about VOC sources in urban areas in Canada. An investigation of ambient VOCs levels, their potential sources and associated risks to public health was undertaken for the urban core of Alberta's largest city (downtown Calgary) for the period 2010-2015.

Ambient volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in communities of the Athabasca oil sands region: Sources and screening health risk assessment.

An investigation of ambient levels and sources of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and associated public health risks was carried out at two northern Alberta oil sands communities (Fort McKay and Fort McMurray located < 25 km and >30 km from oil sands development, respectively) for the period January 2010-March 2015. Levels of total detected VOCs were comparatively similar at both communities (Fort McKay: geometric mean = 22.8 μg/m, interquartile range, IQR = 13.

Ambient fine particulate matter (PM) in Canadian oil sands communities: Levels, sources and potential human health risk.

An investigation of levels and potential sources affecting ambient fine particulate matter (PM) and associated risk to public health was undertaken at two Canadian oil sands communities (Fort McKay and Fort McMurray) using a 4-year dataset (2010-2013). Geometric mean concentrations of PM at Fort McKay and Fort McMurray are not considered high and were 5.47μg/m (interquartile range, IQR=3.

Concentrations, sources and human health risk of inhalation exposure to air toxics in Edmonton, Canada.

With concern about levels of air pollutants in recent years in the Capital Region of Alberta, an investigation of ambient concentrations, sources and potential human health risk of hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) or air toxics was undertaken in the City of Edmonton over a 5-year period (2009-2013). Mean concentrations of individual HAPs in ambient air including volatile organic compounds (VOCs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and trace metals ranged from 0.04 to 1.

Characteristics of air quality and sources affecting fine particulate matter (PM) levels in the City of Red Deer, Canada.

With concern about levels and exceedances of Canadian and provincial standards and objectives for fine particulate matter (PM) in recent years, an investigation of air quality characteristics and potential local and long-range sources influencing PM concentrations was undertaken in the City of Red Deer, Alberta. The study covered the period May 2009 to December 2015. Comparatively higher concentrations of PM were observed in winter (mean: 11.

Fine particulate matter (PM) in Edmonton, Canada: Source apportionment and potential risk for human health.

To design effective PM control strategies in urban centers, there is a need to better understand local and remote sources influencing PM levels and associated risk to public health. An investigation of PM levels, sources and potential human health risk associated with trace elements in the PM was undertaken in Edmonton over a 6-year period (September 2009-August 2015). The geometric mean PM concentration of was 7.

Evaluation of air quality indicators in Alberta, Canada - An international perspective.

There has been an increase in oil sands development in northern Alberta, Canada and an overall increase in economic activity in the province in recent years. An evaluation of the state of air quality was conducted in four Alberta locations - urban centers of Calgary and Edmonton, and smaller communities of Fort McKay and Fort McMurray in the Athabasca Oil Sands Region (AOSR). Concentration trends, diurnal hourly and monthly average concentration profiles, and exceedances of provincial, national and international air quality guidelines were assessed for several criteria air pollutants over the period 1998 to 2014.

Eight-year (2007-2014) trends in ambient fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and its chemical components in the Capital Region of Alberta, Canada.

Currently there have been questions about ambient fine particulate matter (PM2.5) levels in the Capital Region of Alberta, Canada. An investigation of temporal trends in PM2.

Twelve-year trends in ambient concentrations of volatile organic compounds in a community of the Alberta Oil Sands Region, Canada.

Environmental exposure to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in ambient air is one of a number of concerns that the First Nation Community of Fort McKay, Alberta has related to development of Canada's oil sands. An in-depth investigation of trends in ambient air VOC levels in Fort McKay was undertaken to better understand the role and possible significance of emissions from Alberta's oil sands development. A non-parametric trend detection method was used to investigate trends in emissions and ambient VOC concentrations over a 12-year (2001-2012) period.

Indoor and Outdoor Levels and Sources of Submicron Particles (PM1) at Homes in Edmonton, Canada.

Exposure to submicron particles (PM1) is of interest due to their possible chronic and acute health effects. Seven consecutive 24-h PM1 samples were collected during winter and summer 2010 in a total of 74 nonsmoking homes in Edmonton, Canada. Median winter concentrations of PM1 were 2.

Particle-phase concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in ambient air of rural residential areas in southern Germany.

An important source of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in residential areas, particularly in the winter season, is the burning process when wood is used for domestic heating. The target of this study was to investigate the particle-phase PAH composition of ambient samples in order to assess the influence of wood combustion on air quality in residential areas. PM(10) samples (particulate matter <10 mum) were collected during two winter seasons at two rural residential areas near Stuttgart in Germany.