Suchergebnisse

Abstract
The health risks associated with individual air pollutant exposures have been studied and documented, but in real-life, the population is exposed to a multitude of different substances, designated as mixtures. A body of literature on air pollutants indicated that the next step in air pollution research is investigating pollutant mixtures and their potential impacts on health, as a risk assessment of individual air pollutants may actually underestimate the overall risks. This review aims to synthesize the health effects related to air pollutant mixtures containing selected pollutants such as: volatile organic compounds, particulate matter, sulfur and nitrogen oxides. For this review, the PubMed database was used to search for articles published within the last decade, and we included studies assessing the associations between air pollutant mixtures and health effects. The literature search was conducted according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. A number of 110 studies were included in the review from which data on pollutant mixtures, health effects, methods used, and primary results were extracted. Our review emphasized that there are a relatively small number of studies addressing the health effects of air pollutants as mixtures and there is a gap in knowledge regarding the health effects associated with these mixtures. Studying the health effects of air pollutant mixtures is challenging due to the complexity of components that mixtures may contain, and the possible interactions these different components may have.

Abstract

Background
Environmental research involving children often relies on the self-report or parental report of symptoms and environmental issues. While previous studies explored the agreements between child and parental reports, few of them were conducted in younger children and in developing countries. In this study, we addressed the research gaps by assessing the agreement between child and parental report on respiratory symptoms and school environment in Romanian primary schools.


Methods
Two hundred and eighty students from five schools and their parents participated in this study. Information on child's respiratory symptoms and perceptions of school environment was collected via both student and parent questionnaires. Agreement between the two questionnaires was assessed by absolute agreement rates and kappa statistics. Prevalence index (PI), bias index (BI) and maximum attainable kappas were calculated to identify potential sources of disagreements.


Results
The agreement between student and parent questionnaires was low. Compared to the student's report, parents often reported more symptoms than their children, particularly flu-like symptoms, and school environment problems. Parent and child tend to agree when there was no symptom reported, but disagreements often occurred when symptoms were reported. After adjusting for the PI, the agreements for asthma and allergic symptoms improved substantially. Disagreement on reporting of flu-like symptoms was strongly affected by pre-existing causes, such as different understandings of the questions between students and parents.


Conclusion
Parental report may have a higher sensitivity in capturing a child's respiratory symptoms and school environment problems compared to self-report among young children in developing countries.

Abstract
Formaldehyde has become a ubiquitous contaminant in the air, and people are exposed to it worldwide. However, few studies have evaluated the temporal-spatial levels/changes of formaldehyde exposure at residences, and the relationship between its outdoor and indoor levels has been rarely examined. The aim of this study was to assess community formaldehyde exposure in Sebes and Aiud, Romania to identify: (1) home environment characteristics that may play an important role in exposure; and understand: (2) if there were differences in formaldehyde levels between the two cities; (3) if there were temporal variations within each city; and (4) whether outdoor formaldehyde levels influence indoor levels. We simultaneously performed indoor and outdoor active air sampling for formaldehyde at each investigated residential location over a 3-year period and analyzed the samples by gas chromatography with flame ionization detector (GC-FID). The mean values of indoor and outdoor formaldehyde levels in both cities fell in the range 0.014–0.035 mg/m3. The correlation analysis indicated mostly positive but not significant (p > 0.05) correlations between indoor formaldehyde and microclimate factors (temperature, humidity, pressure). Notably, home insulation was found to be significantly correlated with increased indoor formaldehyde levels. There were no significant differences in mean indoor or outdoor formaldehyde levels between Sebes and Aiud over the 3-year study period. When comparing the formaldehyde levels in both cities over the 3-year period, only outdoor formaldehyde levels were significantly higher in 2016, as compared to those in 2017 and 2018.

Abstract
Hard-rock mining for metals, such as gold, silver, copper, zinc, iron and others, is recognized to have a significant impact on the environmental media, soil and water, in particular. Toxic contaminants released from mine waste to surface water and groundwater is the primary concern, but human exposure to soil contaminants either directly, via inhalation of airborne dust particles, or indirectly, via food chain (ingestion of animal products and/or vegetables grown in contaminated areas), is also, significant. In this research, we analyzed data collected in 2007, as part of a larger environmental study performed in the Rosia Montana area in Transylvania, to provide the Romanian governmental authorities with data on the levels of metal contamination in environmental media from this historical mining area. The data were also considered in policy decision to address mining-related environmental concerns in the area. We examined soil and water data collected from residential areas near the mining sites to determine relationships among metals analyzed in these different environmental media, using the correlation procedure in the SAS statistical software. Results for residential soil and water analysis indicate that the average values for arsenic (As) (85 mg/kg), cadmium (Cd) (3.2 mg/kg), mercury (Hg) (2.3 mg/kg) and lead (Pb) (92 mg/kg) exceeded the Romanian regulatory exposure levels [the intervention thresholds for residential soil in case of As (25 mg/kg) and Hg (2 mg/kg), and the alert thresholds in case of Pb (50 mg/kg) and Cd (3 mg/kg)]. Average metal concentrations in drinking water did not exceed the maximum contaminant level (MCL) imposed by the Romanian legislation, but high metal concentrations were found in surface water from Rosia creek, downstream from the former mining area.

Hard-rock mining for metals, such as gold, silver, copper, zinc, iron and others, is recognized to have a significant impact on the environmental media, soil and water, in particular. Toxic contaminants released from mine waste to surface water and groundwater is the primary concern, but human exposure to soil contaminants either directly, via inhalation of airborne dust particles, or indirectly, via food chain (ingestion of animal products and/or vegetables grown in contaminated areas), is also, significant. In this research, we analyzed data collected in 2007, as part of a larger environmental study performed in the Rosia Montana area in Transylvania, to provide the Romanian governmental authorities with data on the levels of metal contamination in environmental media from this historical mining area. The data were also considered in policy decision to address mining-related environmental concerns in the area. We examined soil and water data collected from residential areas near the mining sites to determine relationships among metals analyzed in these different environmental media, using the correlation procedure in the SAS statistical software. Results for residential soil and water analysis indicate that the average values for arsenic (As) (85 mg/kg), cadmium (Cd) (3.2 mg/kg), mercury (Hg) (2.3 mg/kg) and lead (Pb) (92 mg/kg) exceeded the Romanian regulatory exposure levels [the intervention thresholds for residential soil in case of As (25 mg/kg) and Hg (2 mg/kg), and the alert thresholds in case of Pb (50 mg/kg) and Cd (3 mg/kg)]. Average metal concentrations in drinking water did not exceed the maximum contaminant level (MCL) imposed by the Romanian legislation, but high metal concentrations were found in surface water from Rosia creek, downstream from the former mining area.

This document was produced under the SINPHONIE (Schools Indoor Pollution and Health – Observatory Network in Europe) project, funded by the European Parliament and carried out under a contract with the European Commission's Directorate-General for Health and Consumers (DG SANCO) (SANCO/2009/C4/04, contract SI2.570742). The co-authors of this report wish to express their deep gratitude to all of their collaborators for their outstanding contribution to the execution of the SINPHONIE project and the preparation of the guidelines for healthy environments within European schools. Special recognition goes to the teachers, pupils and parents who participated in the SINPHONIE project, for their enthusiasm and close cooperation. ; This document describes the guidelines framework for healthy environments within European schools which was developed within SINPHONIE (Schools Indoor Pollution and Health – Observatory Network in Europe) project. Its objective is to provide a reference guide which links together both coherently and comprehensively the most up-to-date knowledge informed by the outcome of the SINPHONIE project. This includes key drivers and prevention, control, remediation and communication strategies for a healthy school environment in Europe. These guidelines for healthy environments within European schools are primarily directed at the relevant policy-makers at both European and national levels and at local authorities aiming to improve the indoor school environment in their countries while respecting the specificities (environmental, social, economic) of their national and local situations. A second target group which is expected to benefit directly from these guidelines includes school-building designers and managers (responsible for the design, construction and renovation of school buildings), schoolchildren and their parents, teachers and other school staff. Users of this guidance should consult relevant national guidance in the first instance and use this publication to access supplementary information. ; N/A