Incentivizing emission controls toward clean air and carbon neutrality in China: Perspectives from a risk-based approach for air quality management.

Air Quality Standards (AQSs) worldwide have continued to employ concentration-based approaches since their first implementation under the 1970 Clean Air Act in the United States. The primary objective of establishing these AQSs is widely recognized as protecting public health. With the significantly improved understanding of the health risks associated with air pollutants today, it is an opportune time to reassess air pollution management from a fundamental risk perspective.

Contributions of residential traffic noise to depression and mental wellbeing in Hong Kong: A prospective cohort study.

Prior studies on the association between traffic noise and mental health have been mostly conducted in settings with lower population densities. However, evidence is lacking in high population-density settings where traffic noise is more pervasive and varies by topography and the vertical elevation of the residential unit. This study aimed to assess the mental health impact of residential traffic noise in one of the world's most urbanised populations.

Association of ambient ozone with pneumonia hospital admissions in Hong Kong and Taipei: A tale of two Southeast Asian cities.

Ozone (O) is a reactive oxidant exerting both inflammatory and oxidative damages to the respiratory system. With the ground-level O progressively increasing in the past decade, the reevaluation of the pneumonia hospitalization risk from exposure to O is of public health interest. We conducted an ecological time-series study to examine the city-specific association between short-term O exposure and pneumonia hospitalizations in Hong Kong and Taipei, respectively.

Role of fomites in SARS transmission during the largest hospital outbreak in Hong Kong.

The epidemic of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) had a significant effect on global society in the early 2000s and the potential of its resurgence exists. Studies on the modes of transmission of SARS are limited though a number of outbreak studies have revealed the possible airborne route. To develop more specific and effective control strategies, we conducted a detailed mechanism-based investigation that explored the role of fomite transmission in the well-known Ward 8A outbreak.

Prenatal dioxin exposure and neurocognitive development in Hong Kong 11-year-old children.

Background And Objectives: In utero exposure to dioxins and related compounds have been associated with adverse neurocognitive development in infants. It is unclear whether neurodevelopmental deficits persist to childhood. We assessed the association of prenatal dioxin exposure with neurocognitive function in 11-year-old children, and to test whether the association is modified by duration of breastfeeding.

Frequent use of household cleaning products is associated with rhinitis in Chinese children.

Background: Despite the popular use of household cleaning products worldwide, there is no published study investigating the health effects of these products on rhinitis in children.

Objective: We sought to investigate the household use of cleaning products and rhinitis patterns in Chinese children.

Methods: A total of 2299 children were recruited from 21 primary schools with wide geographic coverage in Hong Kong.

Prediction models and risk assessment for silicosis using a retrospective cohort study among workers exposed to silica in China.

This study aims to develop a prognostic risk prediction model for the development of silicosis among workers exposed to silica dust in China. The prediction model was performed by using retrospective cohort of 3,492 workers exposed to silica in an iron ore, with 33 years of follow-up. We developed a risk score system using a linear combination of the predictors weighted by the LASSO penalized Cox regression coefficients.

Greater temperature variation within a day associated with increased emergency hospital admissions for asthma.

Asthma is one of the most common chronic conditions affecting both children and adults. Examining the health effects of environmental triggers such as temperature variation may have implications for maintenance of asthma control and prevention. We hypothesized that large diurnal temperature range (DTR) might be a source of additional environmental stress and therefore a risk factor for asthma exacerbation.

Coarse particulate matter associated with increased risk of emergency hospital admissions for pneumonia in Hong Kong.

Background: Epidemiological research on the effects of coarse particles (PMc, particulate matter between 2.5 and 10 μm in aerodynamic diameter) on respiratory morbidity is sparse and inconclusive. Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of lung caused by infections, which may be triggered and exacerbated by PMc exposure.

Seasonality of fetal trisomy 21--have ambient air pollutants played a role?

Objective: To examine the seasonality of fetal trisomy 21 and its relationship with ambient air pollutants.

Methods: The averaged incidence by month-of-conception of the 113 cases (2002-2009) in our registry was correlated with month of conception and monthly ambient levels of nitrogen oxides (NOx, NO and NO2), sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, and ozone as reported by the Hong Kong Environmental Protection Department at the month of, and four-week after, conception.

Results: The incidence was highest in February (3.

Short-term associations of cause-specific emergency hospitalizations and particulate matter chemical components in Hong Kong.

Despite an increasing number of recent studies, the overall epidemiologic evidence associating specific particulate matter chemical components with health outcomes has been mixed. The links between components and hospitalizations have rarely been examined in Asia. We estimated associations between exposures to 18 chemical components of particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter less than 10 μm (PM10) and daily emergency cardiorespiratory hospitalizations in Hong Kong, China, between 2001 and 2007.

Chronic effects of ambient air pollution on respiratory morbidities among Chinese children: a cross-sectional study in Hong Kong.

Background: The chronic health effects from exposure to ambient air pollution are still unclear. This study primarily aims to examine the relationship between long-term exposure to ambient air pollution and respiratory morbidities in Chinese children.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 2,203 school children aged 8-10 in three districts with different air pollution levels in Hong Kong.

Association between air pollution and general outpatient clinic consultations for upper respiratory tract infections in Hong Kong.

Background And Objectives: Many studies have shown the adverse effects of air pollution on respiratory health, but few have examined the effects of air pollution on service utilisation in the primary care setting. The aim of this study was to examine the association between air pollution and the daily number of consultations due to upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) in general outpatient clinics (GOPCs) in Hong Kong.

Methods: Daily data on the numbers of consultations due to URTIs in GOPCs, the concentrations of major air pollutants, and the mean values of metrological variables were retrospectively collected over a 3-year period (2008-2010, inclusive).

Severe acute respiratory syndrome beyond Amoy Gardens: completing the incomplete legacy.

The temporal and spatial distributions of the 2003 severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) outbreak in Amoy Gardens of Hong Kong was reexamined using all confirmed cases. The outbreak actually extended to nearby residential complexes. Airborne spread was the most likely explanation, and the SARS coronavirus could have spread over a distance of 200 m.

Noise exposure and hearing impairment among Chinese restaurant workers and entertainment employees in Hong Kong.

Background: Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) is a major concern in the non-manufacturing industries. This study aimed to investigate the occupational noise exposure and the NIHL among Chinese restaurant workers and entertainment employees working in the service industry in Hong Kong.

Methods: This cross-sectional survey involved a total of 1,670 participants.

Is greater temperature change within a day associated with increased emergency hospital admissions for heart failure?

Background: Although the seasonal variation and the effect of cold temperature on heart failure (HF) morbidity have been well documented, it is unknown whether the temperature variation within a day, that is, diurnal temperature range (DTR), is an independent risk factor for HF. We hypothesized that large DTR might be a source of additional environmental stress and, therefore, a risk factor for HF exacerbation. We aimed to test the association between DTR and HF hospitalization and to examine the effect modifiers, such as age, sex, and season.

Should they play outside? Cardiorespiratory fitness and air pollution among schoolchildren in Bogotá.

Objective: This study was aimed at comparing cardiorespiratory fitness (CF), measured as VO2 max, amongst school children exposed to varying levels of particulate matter (PM10), and air pollution in Bogotá, Colombia.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study; it involved 1,045 children aged 7-12 attending four public schools served by different public transit routes and systems. Three schools were classified as being highly polluted (HP) and one slightly polluted (SP).

Environmental factors in the first trimester and risk of oral-facial clefts in the offspring.

The averaged incidences of nonsyndromal/isolated cleft lip (CL), cleft palate (CP), and cleft lip with cleft palate (CLCP) by each month-of-conception, and managed in our hospital in from 2002 to 2009 were correlated with the reported levels of sunshine, ultraviolet radiation, and ambient nitrogen oxides (nitrogen oxide, nitrogen monoxide, and nitrogen dioxide), sulfur dioxide, and ozone, at the month of, and then at 4 and 8 weeks after, conception. There were 25, 12, and 22 cases each of CL, CP, and CLCP, respectively, totaling 59 cases (1.21 of 1000 births).

Chronic effects of ambient air pollution on lung function among Chinese children.

Objectives: To examine the association between long-term exposure to air pollution and lung function among Chinese schoolchildren in Southern China (Hong Kong).

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study among 3168 schoolchildren (aged 8-10 years) in 3 districts in Hong Kong. Annual means of ambient PM10 (particulate matter <10 µm), SO2, NO2 and O3 from 1996 to 2003 were used to estimate the individual exposure of the subjects.

Cool and dry weather enhances the effects of air pollution on emergency IHD hospital admissions.

Background: Associations between ambient pollution and cardiovascular morbidity including ischemic heart disease (IHD) have been confirmed. Weather factors such as temperature, season and relative humidity (RH) may modify the effects of pollution. We conducted this study to examine the effects of air pollution on emergency IHD hospital admissions varied across seasons and RH levels, and to explore the possible joint modification of weather factors on pollution effects.

Levels of PCDDs, PCDFs, and dioxin-like PCBs in human milk among Hong Kong mothers.

Dioxins are a family of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) listed under the Stockholm Convention, and include PCDDs, PCDFs, and dioxin-like PCBs. These toxic chemicals are carcinogenic, widely dispersed, and have long half-lives. They have contaminated the food web and, being fat-soluble, accumulate in adipose tissues and milk in the human body.

Effects of coarse particulate matter on emergency hospital admissions for respiratory diseases: a time-series analysis in Hong Kong.

Background: Many epidemiological studies have linked daily counts of hospital admissions to particulate matter (PM) with an aerodynamic diameter ≤ 10 μm (PM10) and ≤ 2.5 μm (PM2.5), but relatively few have investigated the relationship of hospital admissions with coarse PM (PMc; 2.

Effect of dust storm events on daily emergency admissions for cardiovascular diseases.

Background: Dust storm is a meteorological phenomenon and dust particles have been suspected as harmful to heart and lungs. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between coarse particles and emergency hospital admissions for cardiovascular diseases (CVD) in Hong Kong.

Methods And Results: Data on mean daily emergency admissions for CVD to major hospitals in Hong Kong, concentrations of air pollutants and meteorological variables from January 1998 to December 2002 were obtained from several government departments.

Effect of dust storm events on daily emergency admissions for respiratory diseases.

Background And Objective: The harmful effect of dust storm on lung health is controversial. This study aimed to assess any associations between dust storms and emergency hospital admissions due to respiratory disease in Hong Kong.

Methods: Data on daily emergency admissions for respiratory diseases to major hospitals in Hong Kong, and indices of air pollutants and meteorological variables from January 1998 to December 2002 were obtained from several government departments.