Dataset Information

Use of visual range measurements to predict fine particulate matter exposures in Southwest Asia and Afghanistan.

ABSTRACT: Military personnel deployed to Southwest Asia and Afghanistan were exposed to high levels of ambient particulate matter (PM). However, quantitative ambient exposure data for conducting health studies are limited due to a lack of PM monitoring stations. Since visual range (VR) is proportional to particle light extinction, VR can serve as a surrogate for PM2.5 (particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter ?2.5 µm) concentrations. We used data on VR, relative humidity (RH), and PM2.5 ground measurements collected in Kuwait from years 2004-2005 to establish the relationship between PM2.5 and VR. Model validation obtained by regressing trimester average PM2.5 predictions against PM2.5 measurements in Kuwait produced an r2 value of 0.84. Cross validation of urban and rural sites in Kuwait also revealed good model fit. We applied this relationship to location-specific visibility data at 104 regional sites between years 2000-2012 to estimate monthly average PM2.5 concentrations. Monthly averages at sites in Iraq, Afghanistan, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Djibouti, and Qatar ranged from 10 to 365 µg/m3 during this period, while site averages ranged from 22 to 80 µg/m3, indicating considerable spatial and temporal heterogeneity in ambient PM2.5 across these regions. These data support the use of historical visibility data to estimate location-specific PM2.5 concentrations for application in epidemiological studies. IMPLICATIONS:This study demonstrates the ability to use airport visibility to estimate PM2.5 concentrations in Southwest Asian and Afghanistan. This supports the use of historical and ongoing visibility data to estimate PM2.5 exposure in this region of the world, where PM exposure information is otherwise scarce. This is of high utility to epidemiologists investigating the relationship between chronic exposure to PM2.5 and respiratory diseases among deployed military personnel stationed at various military bases throughout the region. Such information will enable the drafting of improved policies relating to military health.

SUBMITTER: Masri S

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5177516 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Use of visual range measurements to predict fine particulate matter exposures in Southwest Asia and Afghanistan.

Masri Shahir S Garshick Eric E Hart Jaime J Bouhamra Walid W Koutrakis Petros P

Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association (1995) 20170101 1

Military personnel deployed to Southwest Asia and Afghanistan were exposed to high levels of ambient particulate matter (PM). However, quantitative ambient exposure data for conducting health studies are limited due to a lack of PM monitoring stations. Since visual range (VR) is proportional to particle light extinction, VR can serve as a surrogate for PM<sub>2.5</sub> (particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter ≤2.5 µm) concentrations. We used data on VR, relative humidity (RH), and PM<sub ...[more]

PMID: 27700621

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Project description:In order to study effects of ambient particulate matter (PM) it was previously necessary to have access to a comprehensive air monitoring network. However, there are locations in the world where PM levels are above generally accepted exposure standards but lack a monitoring infrastructure. This is true in Iraq and other locations in Southwest Asia and Afghanistan where U.S. and other coalition troops were deployed beginning in 2001. Since aerosol optical depth (AOD), determined by satellite, and visibility are both highly related to atmospheric PM2.5 (particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter ?2.5 ?m) concentrations, we employed a novel approach that took advantage of historic airport visibility measurements to calibrate the AOD-visibility relationship and determine visibility spatially and temporally (2006-2007) over an approximately 17,000 km2 region of Iraq. We obtained daily visibility predictions that were highly associated with satellite-based 1x1 km AOD daily observations (R2=0.87). Based on a previously derived calibration between PM2.5 and visibility, we were able to predict spatially and temporally resolved PM2.5 concentrations. Variability of PM2.5 among sites was high, with daily concentrations differing by as much as ~30 ?g/m3. This study demonstrates the feasibility of characterizing historic PM2.5 exposures in Iraq and other locations in Southwest Asia and Afghanistan with similar climate characteristics. This is of utility for epidemiologists seeking to assess the potential health effects related to PM2.5 exposures among previously deployed military personnel and of the population of the region. IMPLICATIONS:This study demonstrates the ability to utilize aerosol optical depth to successfully estimate visibility spatially and temporally in Southwest Asia and Afghanistan. This enables for the estimation of spatially resolved PM2.5 concentrations in the region. The ability to caracterize PM2.5 concentrations in Southwest Asia and Afghanistan is highly important for epidemiologists investigating the relationship between chronic exposure to PM2.5 and respiratory diseases among military personnel deployed to the region. This information will better position policy makers to draft meaningful legislation relating to military health.

Project description:BackgroundEpidemiological studies report fairly consistent associations between various air pollution metrics and autism spectrum disorder (ASD), with some elevated risks reported for different prenatal and postnatal periods.ObjectivesTo examine associations between ASD and ambient fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and ozone concentrations during the prenatal period through the second year of life in a case-control study.MethodsASD cases (n = 428) diagnosed at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center were frequency matched (15:1) to 6420 controls from Ohio birth records. We assigned daily PM2.5 and ozone estimates for 2005-2012 from US EPA's Fused Air Quality Surface Using Downscaling model to each participant for each day based on the mother's census tract of residence at birth. We calculated adjusted odds ratios (aORs) using logistic regression across continuous and categorical exposure window averages (trimesters, first and second postnatal years, and cumulative measure), adjusting for maternal- and birth-related confounders, both air pollutants, and multiple temporal exposure windows.ResultsWe detected elevated aORs for PM2.5 during the 2nd trimester, 1st year of life, and a cumulative period from pregnancy through the 2nd year (aOR ranges across categories: 1.41-1.44, 1.54-1.84, and 1.41-1.52 respectively), and for ozone in the 2nd year of life (aOR range across categories: 1.29-1.42). Per each change in IQR, we observed elevated aORs for ozone in the 3rd trimester, 1st and 2nd years of life, and the cumulative period (aOR range: 1.19-1.27) and for PM2.5 in the 2nd trimester, 1st year of life, and the cumulative period (aOR range: 1.11-1.17).DiscussionWe saw limited evidence of linear exposure-response relationships for ASD with increasing air pollution, but the elevated aORs detected for PM2.5 in upper exposure categories and per IQR unit increases were similar in magnitude to those reported in previous studies, especially for postnatal exposures.

Project description:Background: Air pollution is a major environmental risk factor for cardiorespiratory disease. Exposures to household air pollution from cooking and other activities, are particularly high in Southern Africa. Following an extended period of participant observation in a village in Malawi, we aimed to assess individuals' exposures to fine particulate matter (PM 2.5) and carbon monoxide (CO) and to investigate the different sources of exposure, including different cooking methods. Methods: Adult residents of a village in Malawi wore personal PM 2.5 and CO monitors for 24-48 hours, sampling every 1 (CO) or 2 minutes (PM 2.5). Subsequent in-person interviews recorded potential exposure details over the time periods. We present means and interquartile ranges for overall exposures and summaries stratified by time and activity (exposure). We employed multivariate regression to further explore these characteristics, and Spearman rank correlation to examine the relationship between paired PM 2.5 and CO exposures. Results : Twenty participants (17 female; median age 40 years, IQR: 37-56) provided 831 hours of paired PM 2.5 and CO data. Concentrations of PM 2.5 during combustion activity, usually cooking, far exceeded background levels (no combustion activity): 97.9μg/m 3 (IQR: 22.9-482.0), vs 7.6μg/m 3, IQR: 2.5-20.6 respectively. Background PM 2.5 concentrations were higher during daytime hours (11.7μg/m 3 [IQR: 5.2-30.0] vs 3.3μg/m 3 at night [IQR: 0.7-8.2]). Highest exposures were influenced by cooking location but associated with charcoal use (for CO) and firewood on a three-stone fire (for PM 2.5). Cooking-related exposures were higher in more ventilated places, such as outside the household or on a walled veranda, than during indoor cooking. Conclusions : The study demonstrates the value of combining personal PM 2.5 exposure data with detailed contextual information for providing deeper insights into pollution sources and influences. The finding of similar/lower exposures during cooking in seemingly less-ventilated places should prompt a re-evaluation of proposed clean air interventions in these settings.

Project description:BackgroundAmbient fine particulate matter [PM ≤2.5μm in aerodynamic diameter (PM2.5)] is a major health risk for children, particularly in South Asia, which currently experiences the highest PM2.5 levels globally. Nevertheless, there is comparatively little epidemiological evidence from this region to quantify the effects of PM2.5 on child survival.ObjectivesWe estimated the association between PM2.5 exposure and child survival in India.MethodsWe constructed a large, retrospective, and nationally representative cohort of children <5 years of age, born between 2009-2016, from the publicly available, cross-sectional 2015-2016 Demographic Health Surveys in India. In utero and post-delivery lifetime average ambient PM2.5 exposures were estimated with data from satellite remote sensing, meteorology, and land use information (model R2= 0.82). We used Cox proportional hazards regression to estimate the association between both average in utero and post-delivery lifetime PM2.5 and all-cause child mortality, controlling for individual- and household-level covariates, seasonality, location, and meteorology.ResultsOver 7,447,724 child-months of follow-up, there were 11,559 deaths at <5 years of age reported by the children's mothers. The mean concentrations of 9-month in utero and post-delivery lifetime average ambient PM2.5 exposure were 71.1 μg/m3 (range: 20.9-153.5 μg/m3) and 73.7 μg/m3 (range: 14.0-247.3 μg/m3), respectively. Estimated child mortality adjusted hazard ratios were 1.023 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.008, 1.038] and 1.013 (95% CI: 1.001, 1.026) per 10-μg/m3 increase of in utero and post-delivery lifetime PM2.5, with both exposures in the model.DiscussionThis study adds to the growing body of evidence about the adverse health effects of PM2.5 by demonstrating the association between exposure, both in utero and post-delivery, on child survival at the national level in India. Strategies to reduce ambient air pollution levels, including steps to minimize in utero and early life exposures, are urgently needed in India and other countries where exposures are above recommended guideline values. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP8910.

Dataset Information

Use of visual range measurements to predict fine particulate matter exposures in Southwest Asia and Afghanistan.

Publications

Use of visual range measurements to predict fine particulate matter exposures in Southwest Asia and Afghanistan.

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