Using energy expenditure to estimate the minute ventilation and inhaled load of air pollutants: a pilot survey in young Chinese adults.

Existing equations to estimate ventilation (VE) may not represent the Chinese population. The objective is to develop regression equations to predict the basal metabolic rate (BMR) for ventilation estimation. 80 participants underwent the incremental tests on a bicycle ergometer, wearing a fitted facial mask with an airflow sensor connected to the cardiopulmonary gas analyzer, where the energy expenditure, metabolic factors and VE were monitored simultaneously.

Prospect of China's ambient air quality standards.

Ambient air quality standards are the core strategic goal of ambient air quality management. Countries worldwide have given importance to research on the development of ambient air quality standards. To understand the history of the development of China's ambient air quality standards, this study analyzed the background associated with all previous formulations and revisions of the standards, classification of functional areas, standard grading, pollutants, and evolution of the standard limits over the past 40 years.

Multivariate correlation analysis of bio-accumulation with soil properties and potential health risks of cadmium and lead in rice seeds and cabbage in pollution zones, China.

A total of 475 representative cultivated land and 435 crop samples from 11 provinces of China were collected, and lead and cadmium in 6 polluted areas by wastewater irrigation and metallurgy industry were analyzed. Rice is the major cash crop and staple food of Chinese residents. Cabbage is also a common food in Chinese daily life.

[Comparative Analysis of NO Emission Characteristics of Non-Ultra-Low- and Ultra-Low-Emission Coal-Fired Power Units During the Start-Up Process].

Based on the NO emission information of 671 coal-fired power units, the NO emission characteristics of non-ultra-low-emission (non-ULE) and ultra-low-emission (ULE) coal-fired power units during the start-up process were compared and analyzed. The results showed that in the start-up stage of non-ULE units, the exceeding standard rate (ESR) of NO emission concentration was 81.53%, the average exceeding standard hours (ESHs) was 2.

Effect modification of the association between temperature variability and daily cardiovascular mortality by air pollutants in three Chinese cities.

There is limited evidence showing the mortality effects of temperature variability (TV) on cardiovascular diseases. The joint effects between TV and air pollutants are also less well-established. This study aims to assess the effect modification of TV-cardiovascular mortality by air pollutants in three Chinese cities (Beijing, Nanjing and Chengdu).

Comparison of inorganic chemical compositions of atmospheric TSP, PM and PM in northern and southern Chinese coastal cities.

To compare the inorganic chemical compositions of TSP (total suspended particulate), PM (particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter less than 10μm) and PM (particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter less than 2.5μm) in southern and northern cities in China, atmospheric particles were synchronously collected in Dalian (the northern city) and Xiamen (the southern city) in spring and autumn of 2004. The mass concentrations, twenty-three elements and nine soluble ions were assessed.

Acute Effects of Nitrogen Dioxide on Cardiovascular Mortality in Beijing: An Exploration of Spatial Heterogeneity and the District-specific Predictors.

The exploration of spatial variation and predictors of the effects of nitrogen dioxide (NO) on fatal health outcomes is still sparse. In a multilevel case-crossover study in Beijing, China, we used mixed Cox proportional hazard model to examine the citywide effects and conditional logistic regression to evaluate the district-specific effects of NO on cardiovascular mortality. District-specific predictors that could be related to the spatial pattern of NO effects were examined by robust regression models.

Chemical composition, mass closure and sources of atmospheric PM10 from industrial sites in Shenzhen, China.

Concentrations of atmospheric PM10 and chemical components (including twenty-one elements, nine ions, organic carbon (OC) and elemental carbon (EC)) were measured at five sites in a heavily industrial region of Shenzhen, China in 2005. Results showed that PM10 concentrations exhibited the highest values at 264 microg/m3 at the site near a harbor with the influence of harbor activities. Sulfur exhibited the highest concentrations (from 2419 to 3995 ng/m3) of all the studied elements, which may be related to the influence of coal used as fuel in this area for industrial plants.

Short-term exposure to sulfur dioxide and daily mortality in 17 Chinese cities: the China air pollution and health effects study (CAPES).

Sulfur dioxide (SO(2)) is a major air pollutant and has significant impacts upon human health. Few multi-city studies in Asia have examined the acute health effects of SO(2). As part of the China Air Pollution and Health Effects Study (CAPES), this study aimed at investigating the short-term association between SO(2) and daily mortality in 17 Chinese cities.

Associations between short-term exposure to nitrogen dioxide and mortality in 17 Chinese cities: the China Air Pollution and Health Effects Study (CAPES).

Few multi-city studies in Asian developing countries have examined the acute health effects of ambient nitrogen dioxide (NO(2)). In the China Air Pollution and Health Effects Study (CAPES), we investigated the short-term association between NO(2) and mortality in 17 Chinese cities. We applied two-stage Bayesian hierarchical models to obtain city-specific and national average estimates for NO(2).

Alternative ozone metrics and daily mortality in Suzhou: the China Air Pollution and Health Effects Study (CAPES).

Controversy remains regarding the relationship between various metrics of ozone (O(3)) and mortality. In China, the largest developing country, there have been few studies investigating the acute effect of O(3) on death. We used three exposure metrics of O(3) (1-hour maximum, maximum 8-hour average and 24-hour average) to examine its short-term association with daily mortality in Suzhou, China.

[Health risk assessment of heavy metals in drinking water based on field measurement of exposure factors of Chinese people].

This study was carried out in Biyang County, located in the junction of Yangtze river and Huaihe river. Drinking water samples of 20 sites in urban and rural areas in this county were collected to measure 14 heavy metals by ICP/MS. About 2 500 subjects with different age and sex were selected to measure exposure factors.