(ragweed) pollen - A growing aeroallergen of concern in South Africa.

Background: Ragweed is an invasive, highly allergenic weed predicted to expand its habitat with warming global temperatures. Several species have been identified in South Africa for well over a century; however, its presence remained undetected by allergists and aerobiologists until the development of an extensive aerospora monitoring system across South African urban areas since 2019. This paper presents the inventory of preliminary investigation of the airborne pollen and the taxonomic identification of ragweed species.

Short-term, lagged association of airway inflammation, lung function, and asthma symptom score with PM exposure among schoolchildren within a high air pollution region in South Africa.

Background: Asthma affects millions of people globally, and high levels of air pollution aggravate asthma occurrence. This study aimed to determine the association between short-term lagged PM exposure and airway inflammation, lung function, and asthma symptom scores among schoolchildren in communities in the Highveld high-pollution region in South Africa.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among schoolchildren aged 9-14 years in six communities in the Highveld region in South Africa, between October 2018 and February 2019.

Temporal variations in the short-term effects of ambient air pollution on cardiovascular and respiratory mortality: a pooled analysis of 380 urban areas over a 22-year period.

Background: Ambient air pollution, including particulate matter (such as PM and PM) and nitrogen dioxide (NO), has been linked to increases in mortality. Whether populations' vulnerability to these pollutants has changed over time is unclear, and studies on this topic do not include multicountry analysis. We evaluated whether changes in exposure to air pollutants were associated with changes in mortality effect estimates over time.

Elemental Characterization of Ambient Particulate Matter for a Globally Distributed Monitoring Network: Methodology and Implications.

Global ground-level measurements of elements in ambient particulate matter (PM) can provide valuable information to understand the distribution of dust and trace elements, assess health impacts, and investigate emission sources. We use X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy to characterize the elemental composition of PM samples collected from 27 globally distributed sites in the Surface PARTiculate mAtter Network (SPARTAN) over 2019-2023. Consistent protocols are applied to collect all samples and analyze them at one central laboratory, which facilitates comparison across different sites.

Ozone-related acute excess mortality projected to increase in the absence of climate and air quality controls consistent with the Paris Agreement.

Short-term exposure to ground-level ozone in cities is associated with increased mortality and is expected to worsen with climate and emission changes. However, no study has yet comprehensively assessed future ozone-related acute mortality across diverse geographic areas, various climate scenarios, and using CMIP6 multi-model ensembles, limiting our knowledge on future changes in global ozone-related acute mortality and our ability to design targeted health policies. Here, we combine CMIP6 simulations and epidemiological data from 406 cities in 20 countries or regions.

Mā te Whakarongo-a qualitative study exploring the impact of middle ear disease on New Zealand Māori.

Aim: The study aimed to explore the impact of middle ear disease on the lives of New Zealand Māori. Ear disease is common, yet there is a paucity of research into the effect it has on people's lives, particularly indigenous populations.

Method: The study used Kaupapa Māori-based qualitative methodology and involved a series of seven semi-structured interviews with Māori adults living with middle ear disease.

The South African Pollen Monitoring Network: Insights from 2 years of national aerospora sampling (2019-2021).

Background: Pollen monitoring has been discontinuously undertaken in South Africa, a country with high biodiversity, a seasonal rainfall gradient, and nine biomes from arid to subtropical. The South African Pollen Monitoring Network was set up in 2019 to conduct the first long-term national aerospora monitoring across multiple biomes, providing weekly reports to allergy sufferers and healthcare providers.

Methods: Daily airborne pollen concentrations were measured from August 2019 to August 2021 in seven cities across South Africa.

Joint effect of heat and air pollution on mortality in 620 cities of 36 countries.

Background: The epidemiological evidence on the interaction between heat and ambient air pollution on mortality is still inconsistent.

Objectives: To investigate the interaction between heat and ambient air pollution on daily mortality in a large dataset of 620 cities from 36 countries.

Methods: We used daily data on all-cause mortality, air temperature, particulate matter ≤ 10 μm (PM), PM ≤ 2.

Heat-related cardiorespiratory mortality: Effect modification by air pollution across 482 cities from 24 countries.

Background: Evidence on the potential interactive effects of heat and ambient air pollution on cause-specific mortality is inconclusive and limited to selected locations.

Objectives: We investigated the effects of heat on cardiovascular and respiratory mortality and its modification by air pollution during summer months (six consecutive hottest months) in 482 locations across 24 countries.

Methods: Location-specific daily death counts and exposure data (e.

The Risk of Orofacial Cleft Lip/Palate Due to Maternal Ambient Air Pollution Exposure: A Call for Further Research in South Africa.

Background: Despite being underreported, orofacial cleft lip/palate (CLP) remains in the top five of South Africa's most common congenital disorders. Maternal air pollution exposure has been associated with CLP in neonates. South Africa has high air pollution levels due to domestic burning practices, coal-fired power plants, mining, industry, and traffic pollution, among other sources.

Lagged acute respiratory outcomes among children related to ambient pollutant exposure in a high exposure setting in South Africa.

Unlabelled: Acute ambient air pollution impacts on the respiratory health of children may be lagged across time. We determined the short-term lagged effects of particulate matter (PM), sulphur dioxide (SO), and oxides of nitrogen (NO) on the respiratory health of children living in low-income communities.

Methods: A school-based study was conducted using a repeated measures design, across summer and winter, in four schools in each of four suburbs in the Vaal Triangle, South Africa.

Coarse Particulate Air Pollution and Daily Mortality: A Global Study in 205 Cities.

The associations between ambient coarse particulate matter (PM) and daily mortality are not fully understood on a global scale. To evaluate the short-term associations between PM and total, cardiovascular, and respiratory mortality across multiple countries/regions worldwide. We collected daily mortality (total, cardiovascular, and respiratory) and air pollution data from 205 cities in 20 countries/regions.

Climate change and health within the South African context: A thematic content analysis study of climate change and health expert interviews.

Background:  Climate change presents an unprecedented and urgent threat to human health and survival. South Africa's health response will require a strong and effective intersectoral organisational effort.

Aim:  Exploratory interview outcomes are used to advance practice and policy recommendations, as well as for broad input in the development of a draft national framework for a health risk and vulnerability assessment (RVA) for national departments.

Differential Mortality Risks Associated With PM2.5 Components: A Multi-Country, Multi-City Study.

Background: The association between fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and mortality widely differs between as well as within countries. Differences in PM2.

Mortality risk attributable to wildfire-related PM pollution: a global time series study in 749 locations.

Background: Many regions of the world are now facing more frequent and unprecedentedly large wildfires. However, the association between wildfire-related PM and mortality has not been well characterised. We aimed to comprehensively assess the association between short-term exposure to wildfire-related PM and mortality across various regions of the world.

A global observational analysis to understand changes in air quality during exceptionally low anthropogenic emission conditions.

This global study, which has been coordinated by the World Meteorological Organization Global Atmospheric Watch (WMO/GAW) programme, aims to understand the behaviour of key air pollutant species during the COVID-19 pandemic period of exceptionally low emissions across the globe. We investigated the effects of the differences in both emissions and regional and local meteorology in 2020 compared with the period 2015-2019. By adopting a globally consistent approach, this comprehensive observational analysis focuses on changes in air quality in and around cities across the globe for the following air pollutants PM, PM, PMC (coarse fraction of PM), NO, SO, NOx, CO, O and the total gaseous oxidant (OX = NO + O) during the pre-lockdown, partial lockdown, full lockdown and two relaxation periods spanning from January to September 2020.

Major climate change-induced risks to human health in South Africa.

There are many climatic changes facing South Africa which already have, or are projected to have, a detrimental impact on human health. Here the risks to health due to several alterations in the climate of South Africa are considered in turn. These include an increase in ambient temperature, causing, for example, a significant rise in morbidity and mortality; heavy rainfall leading to changes in the prevalence and occurrence of vector-borne diseases; drought-associated malnutrition; and exposure to dust storms and air pollution leading to the potential exacerbation of respiratory diseases.

Short term association between ozone and mortality: global two stage time series study in 406 locations in 20 countries.

Objective: To assess short term mortality risks and excess mortality associated with exposure to ozone in several cities worldwide.

Design: Two stage time series analysis.

Setting: 406 cities in 20 countries, with overlapping periods between 1985 and 2015, collected from the database of Multi-City Multi-Country Collaborative Research Network.

Short-term association between ambient temperature and homicide in South Africa: a case-crossover study.

Background: Criminology research has traditionally investigated sociodemographic predictors of crime, such as sex, race, age, and socioeconomic status. However, evidence suggests that short-term fluctuations in crime often vary more than long-term trends, which sociodemographic factors cannot explain. This has redirected researchers to explore how environmental factors, such as meteorological variables, influence criminal behavior.

Ambient Particulate Air Pollution and Daily Mortality in 652 Cities.

Background: The systematic evaluation of the results of time-series studies of air pollution is challenged by differences in model specification and publication bias.

Methods: We evaluated the associations of inhalable particulate matter (PM) with an aerodynamic diameter of 10 μm or less (PM) and fine PM with an aerodynamic diameter of 2.5 μm or less (PM) with daily all-cause, cardiovascular, and respiratory mortality across multiple countries or regions.

Students' Perceived Heat-Health Symptoms Increased with Warmer Classroom Temperatures.

Temperatures in Africa are expected to increase by the end of the century. Heat-related health impacts and perceived health symptoms are potentially a problem, especially in public schools with limited resources. Students (n = 252) aged ~14-18 years from eight high schools completed an hourly heat-health symptom log over 5 days.