The present study combined air sampling with pulmonary function tests (PFTs) to determine both the extent of air pollution proximal to an electric arc furnace (EAF) and its impact on human health. The mass concentrations of particulate matter with aerodynamic diameters less than 2.5 µm (PM) in exposure areas were not significantly higher than the samples taken at a control area. However, the concentrations of five metal elements, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, and Zn in PM were significantly higher in the exposure area than that of the control area. PFTs showed that the average forced vital capacity (FVC) of boys was decreased with decreasing distance from the EAF factory. With normalization of pulmonary function by age, height, and weight, we found that the FVC became more negative with a decrease in distance from the EAF. Lastly, regression analysis was performed to analyze the impact of the concentrations of the five metals in PM on the performance of pulmonary function. The results showed that the metals can be ranked from the highest to the lowest in terms of impact on the FVC of boys as follows: Cr, Cd, Ni, Cu, and Zn. This finding is consistent with the ranking of metal toxicity reported in the literature for a rat lung epithelial cell line. The results of this study showed that only measuring PM mass concentrations may not provide a full explanation of its toxicity and health effects. The chemical composition of the PM can be an important factor that determined the health impact of PM.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0748233717754173DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

pulmonary function
16
electric arc
8
arc furnace
8
mass concentrations
8
control area
8
fvc boys
8
distance eaf
8
metal composition
4
composition ambient
4
ambient influences
4

Similar Publications

Patient-Centered Physical Activity Intervention in Lung Cancer Patients: A Clinical Severity and Functional Capacity Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Cancer Nurs

January 2025

Author Affiliations: Departments of Physiotherapy (Drs Heredia Ciuró, Martín Núñez, Navas Otero, Calvache Mateo, Torres Sánchez, and Valenza) and Nursing (Dr Granados Santiago), Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Granada, Granada, Spain.

Background: Increasing physical activity levels is a significant unmet need in cancer survivors, and it can likely be enhanced through a better understanding of the interventions developed. Some studies on patient-centered physical activity interventions have shown promising results in increasing daily activity levels among lung cancer survivors. However, the programs present a high heterogeneity, and there is no consensus on the parameters and their effectiveness.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Context: COVID-19 has been associated with features of a cytokine storm syndrome with some patients sharing features with the hyperinflammatory disorder, secondary hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (sHLH).

Hypothesis: We hypothesized that proteins associated with sHLH from other causes will be associated with COVID-sHLH and that subjects with fatal COVID-sHLH would have defects in immune-related pathways.

Methods And Models: We identified two cohorts of adult patients presenting with COVID-19 at two tertiary care hospitals in Seattle, Washington in 2020 and 2021.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a fibrotic disease driven by both environmental and genetic factors. Epigenetics refers to changes in gene expression or cellular phenotype that do not involve alterations to DNA sequence. KMT2A is a member of the SET family which catalyses H3K4 methylation.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Arterial Stiffness and Markers of Atrial Myopathy.

Ann Noninvasive Electrocardiol

March 2025

Department of Clinical Sciences, Malmö, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden.

Background: Arterial stiffness, measured using carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (c-f PWV) and heart rate-corrected augmentation index (Aix75), is associated with cardiovascular disease, and in some studies incident atrial fibrillation (AF). In this cross-sectional study, we aimed to investigate whether arterial stiffness is associated with markers of atrial myopathy, which refers to structural and electrical changes in the atria that indicate increased AF risk.

Methods: We included 1050 participants (age 57 ± 4.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

We assessed the validity, reliability, and transferability of gas exchange and ventilatory variables from two commonly used metabolic measurement systems (COSMED Quark and VO2Master Pro). Two identical devices from each system were independently connected to a metabolic simulator (VacuMed), and 2 min of steady-state data was recorded at simulated oxygen uptake (V̇O) of 1, 2, 3, and 4 L∙min achieved through minute ventilation (V̇) of 30, 60, 105, and 150 L∙min. Each metabolic analyzer recorded data three times for each "intensity" in a randomized order, and assessments were completed on two separate days.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!