Implications of photochemical losses of VOCs: An integrated approach for source apportionment, ozone formation potential and health risk assessment.

The increasing ozone (O) concentration has received significant attention recently, yet the health risks posed by volatile organic compounds (VOCs) cannot be ignored. Accurately identifying the primary sources of VOCs contributing to health risks and O formation has been challenging due to their high reactivity with oxidants in ambient air. This study conducted field measurements of VOCs seasonally and diurnally in an urban area of central Taiwan, aiming to elucidate the effects of photochemical loss of VOCs on the source apportionment of O, as well as health risks of VOCs under different levels of O.

A nationwide case-referent study on elevated risks of adenocarcinoma lung cancer by long-term PM exposure in Taiwan since 1997.

Background: The effects of long-term PM exposures since 1968 on adenocarcinoma lung cancer (AdLC) were not studied before.

Methods: This case-referent study used nationwide cancer registry data since 1997 and air pollution data since 1968 in Taiwan to estimate risks of 30-year PM exposures on AdLC. Cases were all AdLC, while references were all non-AdLC.

Quantifying source contributions to ambient NH using Geo-AI with time lag and parcel tracking functions.

Ambient ammonia (NH) plays an important compound in forming particulate matters (PMs), and therefore, it is crucial to comprehend NH's properties in order to better reduce PMs. However, it is not easy to achieve this goal due to the limited range/real-time NH data monitored by the air quality stations. While there were other studies to predict NH and its source apportionment, this manuscript provides a novel method (i.

Association between ambient air pollution exposure and insomnia among adults in Taipei City.

Ambient air pollution was known to cause central nervous system diseases and depressive symptoms. In this study, we examined the associations between air pollution exposure and the prevalence of insomnia in Taipei City of Taiwan. We applied the health information system of electrical medical records of Taipei City Hospital to collect a total of 5108 study subjects (insomniacs N = 912 and non-insomniacs N = 4196) over 18 years old from the family medicine and internal medicine outpatients of six branches of Taipei City Hospital.

Indoor Air Pollution Increases the Risk of Lung Cancer.

(1) Background: Cooking and burning incense are important sources of indoor air pollutants. No studies have provided biological evidence of air pollutants in the lungs to support this association. Analysis of pleural fluid may be used to measure the internal exposure dose of air pollutants in the lung.

A hybrid methodology to quantitatively identify inorganic aerosol of PM source contribution.

It is difficult to identify inorganic aerosol (IA) (primary and secondary), the main component of PM, without the significant tracers for sources. We are not aware of any studies specifically related to the IA's local contribution to PM. To effectively reduce the IA load, however, the contribution of local IA sources needs to be identified.

Predicting carbonaceous aerosols and identifying their source contribution with advanced approaches.

Organic carbon (OC) and elemental carbon (EC) play important roles in various atmospheric processes and health effects. Predicting carbonaceous aerosols and identifying source contributions are important steps for further epidemiological study and formulating effective emission control policies. However, we are not aware of any study that examined predictions of OC and EC, and this work is also the first study that attempted to use machine learning and hyperparameter optimization method to predict concentrations of specific aerosol contaminants.

A novel lung alveolar cell model for exploring volatile biomarkers of particle-induced lung injury.

Quartz can increase oxidative stress, lipid peroxidation, and inflammation. The objective of this study was to explore the volatile biomarkers of quartz-induced lung injury using a lung alveolar cell model. We exposed the human alveolar A549 cell line to 0, 200, and 500 μg/mL quartz particles for 24 h and used gas chromatography-mass spectrometry to measure the volatile metabolites in the headspace air of cells.

Associations of soluble metals and lung and liver toxicity in mice induced by fine particulate matter originating from a petrochemical complex.

Adverse health effects have been observed in nearby residents due to exposure to petrochemical-derived chemicals. The objective of this study was to examine associations of soluble metals with lung and liver toxicity in fine particulate matter (PM) in the vicinity of a petrochemical complex. PM was collected in the vicinity of a petrochemical complex of Mailiao Township (Yunlin County, Taiwan) to investigate lung and liver toxicity in BALB/c mice.

Liver fibrosis associated with potential vinyl chloride and ethylene dichloride exposure from the petrochemical industry.

Background: The understanding of the relationship between exposure to carcinogenic vinyl chloride (VCM) and ethylene dichloride (EDC) and liver fibrosis is limited.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the associations between the urinary metabolite levels of VCM and EDC and the risk of liver fibrosis in residents living near a petrochemical complex.

Methods: Our study comprised 447 adult residents of two townships with questionnaire survey and health examination near the largest petrochemical complex in central Taiwan.

Pilot Studies of VOC Exposure Profiles during Surgical Operations.

Volatile organic chemical exposure resulting from surgical operations is common in operating room personnel. The potential risk of long-term exposure to these low-level chemicals is always a concern. This study was conducted in an area hospital located in northern Taiwan to investigate the internal exposure scenario for operating room personnel.

Ambient VOCs in residential areas near a large-scale petrochemical complex: Spatiotemporal variation, source apportionment and health risk.

This study investigated ambient volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and assessed excess health risks for child, adult and elderly populations in a residential area near a large-scale petrochemical complex in central Taiwan. A total of 155 daily VOC samples were collected in canisters from nine sites in spring, summer and winter during 2013-2014. We used a positive matrix factorization (PMF) model incorporating a conditional probability function (CPF) to quantify the potential sources of VOCs with the influences of local source directions.

Cluster analysis of fine particulate matter (PM) emissions and its bioreactivity in the vicinity of a petrochemical complex.

This study evaluated associations between the bioreactivity of PMin vitro and emission sources in the vicinity of a petrochemical complex in Taiwan. The average PM was 30.2 μg/m from 9 February to 23 March 2016, and the PM was clustered in long-range transport (with major local source) (12.

Increased cancers among residents living in the neighborhood of a petrochemical complex: A 12-year retrospective cohort study.

This study investigates whether cancers are increased for residents living in the vicinity of a petrochemical complex with coal power plants and refineries. We recruited a residential cohort of 2388 long-term residents aged above 35 years in 2009-2012 who lived within a 40 km radius of the complex. We measured their internal exposure biomarkers of urinary carcinogenic metals and retrospectively compared cancer incidences between those who lived fewer than 10 km from the complex (high exposure, HE) and those who lived more than 10 km from the complex (low exposure, LE).

Development of breath test for pneumoconiosis: a case-control study.

Background: Lipid peroxidation plays an important role in the pathogenesis of pneumoconiosis. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) generated from lipid peroxidation might be used to detect pneumoconiosis. The objective of this study was to develop a breath test for pneumoconiosis.

Linking sources to early effects by profiling urine metabolome of residents living near oil refineries and coal-fired power plants.

Background: This study aims at identifying metabolic changes linking external exposure to industrial air toxics with oxidative stress biomarkers.

Methods: We classified 252 study subjects as 111 high vs. 141 low exposure subjects by the distance from their homes to the two main emission sources, oil refineries and coal-fired power plants.

Increased incidence of allergic rhinitis, bronchitis and asthma, in children living near a petrochemical complex with SO pollution.

This study aims to investigate incidence of allergic rhinitis, bronchitis and asthma, in children living near a petrochemical complex with SO pollution obtained by air monitoring stations. A total of 587 children aged 11 to 14 were recruited and classified into high and low exposure groups based on a radius of 10km from the complex. To study the influence of health on children since the operation of complex in 1999 and observe the difference of these diseases' short-term and long-term impact, we obtained the incidence rates of allergic rhinitis (ICD-9: 477), bronchitis (490-491) and asthma (493) from the Taiwan Health Insurance Database for three periods: 1999-2002, 1999-2006, and 1999-2010.

Cancer mortality in a population exposed to nephrite processing.

Objectives: Although asbestos has been recognised as a strong carcinogen, many asbestos minerals exist in concrete masses, and the health risks of these materials remain inconclusive. Nephrite jade is a concrete mass of amphibole that consists of asbestiform and non-asbestiform particles. The objective of the study was to explore the carcinogenetic effect of nephrite.

Hearing loss in workers exposed to epoxy adhesives and noise: a cross-sectional study.

Objectives: Epoxy adhesives contain organic solvents and are widely used in industry. The hazardous effects of epoxy adhesives remain unclear. The objective of this study was to investigate the risk of hearing loss among workers exposed to epoxy adhesives and noise.

Burden of disease attributable to ambient fine particulate matter exposure in Taiwan.

Background/purpose: There is compelling epidemiological evidence that links air pollution to increased risk of mortality from cardiopulmonary disease and lung cancer. We quantified the burden of mortality attributable to ambient fine particulate matter (PM) among the Taiwanese population in 2014 at the national and subnational levels.

Methods: Subnational PM exposure levels were obtained from Taiwan Air Quality Monitoring Network.

Assessment of urinary thiodiglycolic acid exposure in school-aged children in the vicinity of a petrochemical complex in central Taiwan.

Background: School-aged children living in the vicinity of vinyl chloride (VCM)/polyvinyl chloride (PVC) factories may have an increased risk of exposure to hazardous air pollutants.

Objectives: We aimed to evaluate the urinary thiodiglycolic acid (TDGA) level, as TDGA is a major metabolite of VCM, for students at elementary schools near a petrochemical complex in central Taiwan.

Methods: We recruited 343 students from 5 elementary schools based on distance to the VCM/PVC factory.

The distance-to-source trend in vanadium and arsenic exposures for residents living near a petrochemical complex.

Biological monitoring of vanadium (V) and arsenic (As) for residents living near a big petrochemical complex has not been previously studied. This study aims to investigate distance-to-source trends in urinary levels and dispersion-estimated concentrations of V and As in areas surrounding a petrochemical complex in central Taiwan. Our study subjects were 1424 residents living in the townships up to ~40 km from the petrochemical complex, and categorized as near (Zone A), further (Zone B) and furthest (Zone C) from the complex.

Assessment of the levels of urinary 1-hydroxypyrene and air polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon in PM2.5 for adult exposure to the petrochemical complex emissions.

The relationship between external exposure and internal doses of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) has not been established for people living in industrial areas. This study was carried out to estimate the relationship between particle-phase PAH exposure and urinary 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OHP) levels among the adults living near a large petrochemical complex in Mailiao, Taiwan. We measured urinary 1-OHP in 781 residents above 35 years old and PM2.