Suchergebnisse

Abstract Background Pooled estimates of air pollution health effects are important drivers of environmental risk communications and political willingness. In China, there is a lack of review studies to provide such estimates for health impact assessments. Methods We systematically searched the MEDLINE database using keywords of 80 major Chinese cities in Mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan on 30 June 2012, yielding 350 abstracts with 48 non-duplicated reports either in English or Chinese after screening. We pooled the relative risks (RR) per 10 μg/m 3 of particulate matter (PM 10 ), nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 ), sulphur dioxide (SO 2 ) and ozone (O 3 ). Results For short-term effects, the pooled RR (p < 0.05) ranges were: 1.0031 (PM 10 ) to 1.0140 (NO 2 ) for all-cause mortality, 1.0034 (cardiopulmonary, PM 10 ) to 1.0235 (influenza and pneumonia, SO 2 ) for 9 specific-causes mortality, 1.0021 (cardiovascular, PM 10 ) to 1.0162 (asthma, O 3 ) for 5 specific-causes hospital admissions. For birth outcomes, the RR (p < 0.05) ranged from 1.0051 (stillbirth, O 3 ) to 1.1189 (preterm-birth, SO 2 ) and for long-term effect on mortality from 1.0150 (respiratory, SO 2 ) to 1.0297 (respiratory, NO 2 ). Publication bias was absent (Egger test: p = 0.326 to 0.624). Annual PM 10 and NO 2 concentrations were inversely associated with RR of mortality (p = 0.017-0.028). Conclusions Evidence on short-term effects of air pollution is consistent and sufficient for health impact assessment but that on long-term effects is still insufficient.

This study empirically evaluates the impact of air pollution on China's economic growth, based on a province-level sample for the period 2002–2017. Air pollution is measured by the concentration of fine particulate matter (PM2.5), and economic growth is measured by the annual growth rate of gross domestic product (GDP) per capita. A panel data fixed-effects regression model is built, and the instrumental variables estimation method is utilized for quantitative analyses. The study reports a significant negative impact of air pollution on the macroeconomic growth of China. According to our instrumental variables estimation, holding other factors constant, if the concentration of PM2.5 increases by 1%, then the GDP per capita growth rate will decline by 0.05818 percentage points. In addition, it is found that the adverse effect of atmospheric pollution is heterogeneous across different regions. The effect is stronger in the eastern region and in provinces with smaller state-owned enterprise shares, fewer governmental expenditures for public health services, and fewer medical resources. The study results reveal that air pollution poses a substantial threat to the sustainable economic growth of China. Taking actions to abate air pollution will generate great economic benefits, especially for those regions which are heavily damaged by pollution.

The UK Committee on Air Pollution Effects Research (CAPER) was established 40 years ago. This special section was compiled to mark this anniversary. During this time there have been dramatic changes in the composition of the air over the UK. The four papers in this special section of Environmental Pollution represent the current air pollution effects research focus on ozone and nitrogen deposition, two related issues and are proving from a policy perspective to be quite intractable issues. The UK CAPER research community continues to advance the underpinning science and engages closely with the user community in government departments.

Air quality in Poland for many years is one of the lowest in the European Union, while the level of pollution is many times higher than the standards set by the World Health Organization (WHO). As a consequence, it has a negative effect on the human body. The article shows the problem of air pollution and the health effects of harmful factors emitted to the atmosphere.

Air quality in Poland for many years is one of the lowest in the European Union, while the level of pollution is many times higher than the standards set by the World Health Organization (WHO). As a consequence, it has a negative effect on the human body. The article shows the problem of air pollution and the health effects of harmful factors emitted to the atmosphere.

Air quality in Poland for many years is one of the lowest in the European Union, while the level of pollution is many times higher than the standards set by the World Health Organization (WHO). As a consequence, it has a negative effect on the human body. The article shows the problem of air pollution and the health effects of harmful factors emitted to the atmosphere.

Purpose of the reviewAir pollution continues to be a major public health concern affecting nine out of 10 individuals living in urban areas worldwide. Exposure to air pollution is the ninth leading risk factor for cardiopulmonary mortality. The aim of this review is to examine the current literature for the most recent updates on health effects of specific air pollutants and their impact on asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, and respiratory infection.Recent findingsA total of 52 publications were reviewed to establish new insights as to how air pollution is associated with pulmonary morbidity and mortality. Considerable past evidence suggests that air pollution is an important factor that enhances pulmonary disease, while also causing greater harm in susceptible populations, such as children, the elderly, and those of low socio-economic status worldwide. Asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, and respiratory infections all seem to be exacerbated because of exposure to a variety of environmental air pollutants with the greatest effects because of particulate matter, ozone, and nitrogen oxides. New publications reviewed reaffirm these findings.SummaryContinued vigilance will be essential to lessen the effects of air pollution on human health and pulmonary disease. Cooperation at a multinational level will be required on the part of governments, industry, energy-based enterprises, and the public working together to solve our air quality issues at the local, national, and global level.