Dataset Information

Air Pollution Monitoring Design for Epidemiological Application in a Densely Populated City.

ABSTRACT: Introduction: Many studies have reported the association between air pollution and human health based on regulatory air pollution monitoring data. However, because regulatory monitoring networks were not designed for epidemiological studies, the collected data may not provide sufficient spatial contrasts for assessing such associations. Our goal was to develop a monitoring design supplementary to the regulatory monitoring network in Seoul, Korea. This design focused on the selection of 20 new monitoring sites to represent the variability in PM2.5 across people's residences for cohort studies. Methods: We obtained hourly measurements of PM2.5 at 37 regulatory monitoring sites in 2010 in Seoul, and computed the annual average at each site. We also computed 313 geographic variables representing various pollution sources at the regulatory monitoring sites, 31,097 children's homes from the Atopy Free School survey, and 412 community service centers in Seoul. These three types of locations represented current, subject, and candidate locations. Using the regulatory monitoring data, we performed forward variable selection and chose five variables most related to PM2.5. Then, k-means clustering was applied to categorize all locations into several groups representing a diversity in the spatial variability of the five selected variables. Finally, we computed the proportion of current to subject location in each cluster, and randomly selected new monitoring sites from candidate sites in the cluster with the minimum proportion until 20 sites were selected. Results: The five selected geographic variables were related to traffic or urbanicity with a cross-validated R² value of 0.69. Clustering analysis categorized all locations into nine clusters. Finally, one to eight new monitoring sites were selected from five clusters. Discussion: The proposed monitoring design will help future studies determine the locations of new monitoring sites representing spatial variability across residences for epidemiological analyses.

SUBMITTER: Min KD

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5551124 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

Air Pollution Monitoring Design for Epidemiological Application in a Densely Populated City.

Min Kyung-Duk KD Kwon Ho-Jang HJ Kim KyooSang K Kim Sun-Young SY

International journal of environmental research and public health 20170625 7

<i>Introduction</i>: Many studies have reported the association between air pollution and human health based on regulatory air pollution monitoring data. However, because regulatory monitoring networks were not designed for epidemiological studies, the collected data may not provide sufficient spatial contrasts for assessing such associations. Our goal was to develop a monitoring design supplementary to the regulatory monitoring network in Seoul, Korea. This design focused on the selection of 20 ...[more]

PMID: 28672831

Similar Datasets

Project description:Most of the microbial degradation in oil reservoirs is believed to take place at the oil-water transition zone (OWTZ). However, a recent study indicates that there is microbial life enclosed in microliter-sized water droplets dispersed in heavy oil of Pitch Lake in Trinidad and Tobago. This life in oil suggests that microbial degradation of oil also takes place in water pockets in the oil-bearing rock of an oil leg independent of the OWTZ. However, it is unknown whether microbial life in water droplets dispersed in oil is a generic property of oil reservoirs rather than an exotic exception. Hence, we took samples from three heavy-oil seeps, Pitch Lake (Trinidad and Tobago), the La Brea Tar Pits (California, USA), and an oil seep on the McKittrick oil field (California, USA). All three tested oil seeps contained dispersed water droplets. Larger droplets between 1 and 10 μl revealed high cell densities of up to 109 cells ml-1 Testing for ATP content and LIVE/DEAD staining showed that these populations consist of active and viable microbial cells with an average of 60% membrane-intact cells and ATP concentrations comparable to those of other subsurface ecosystems. Microbial community analyses based on 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing revealed the presence of known anaerobic oil-degrading microorganisms. Surprisingly, the community analyses showed similarities between all three oil seeps, revealing common OTUs, although the sampling sites were thousands of kilometers apart. Our results indicate that small water inclusions are densely populated microhabitats in heavy oil and possibly a generic trait of degraded-oil reservoirs.IMPORTANCE Our results confirmed that small water droplets in oil are densely populated microhabitats containing active microbial communities. Since these microhabitats occurred in three tested oil seeps which are located thousands of kilometers away from each other, such populated water droplets might be a generic trait of biodegraded oil reservoirs and might be involved in the overall oil degradation process. Microbial degradation might thus also take place in water pockets in the oil-bearing oil legs of the reservoir rock rather than only at the oil-water transition zone.

Project description:BackgroundThe recent rise in the incidence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infections in a densely populated city of eastern India ("mixing vessel" of people of varied socio-economic and immune status) prompted this study. Applying saliva on fingers for enumerating bank notes is a common practice in the Indian subcontinent. Paper notes may be a potential source of "horizontal" transmission of this virus, especially if there are cuts/bruises on the oral mucous membrane or skin.AimTo investigate whether paper currencies could be a plausible mode of horizontal transmission of HBV infection.MethodsPolymerase chain reactions (PCR) followed by nucleotide sequencing was done for the detection of HBV. Hepatitis B virus surface antigen enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(HBsAg ELISA) was performed on all HBV deoxyribonucleic acid-positive samples to check the detectability of the virus. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) was carried out for visual confirmation of HBV particles in ultracentrifuged/immunoprecipitated samples from currency paper washings.ResultsHBV-specific PCRs on pellets obtained after ultracentrifugation/ immunoprecipitation of the currency paper washings detected potentially intact/viable HBV (genotype D2) in 7.14% of samples (n = 70). AFM gave the visual confirmation of HBV particles in ultracentrifuged/immunoprecipitated samples from currency paper washings. However, HBV isolates from the currency notes could not be detected by HBsAg ELISA.ConclusionIt is a common practice in the Indian subcontinent to count paper currencies by applying saliva on fingertips. Paper notes may be a potential source of "horizontal" transmission of this virus, especially if there are cuts/bruises on the oral mucous membrane or skin, but it was practically not possible to demonstrate experimentally such transmission. Detection of potentially intact/viable and "occult" HBV from currency poses potential risk of silent transmission of this virus among the general population.

Project description:Key performance indicator (KPI) data provide candidate information required for effective network planning, performance analysis and optimization. However, inadequate KPI data could limit efficient network planning leading to escalating operational cost, and this could adversely affect the subscribers of the network. To this end, this article presents radio frequency (RF) measurements and evaluation of KPIs taken at 1876.6MHz with a bandwidth of 10MHz, for an operational 4G LTE network in Nigeria. The measurements campaign specifically examine the behaviour of the RSRP, RSRQ, RSSI, SINR, PCC PHY DL Throughput, and the PDCP DL Throughput. Huawei Technologies Modem E392 was used for the propagation measurements, and RF measurements cover three evolved node base stations (eNodeBs) with average heights of 25 m. The geographical coordinates of the sites are as follows: Site 1 (Latitude 6.43543333; Longitude 3.44539667), Site 2 (Latitude 6.55639500; Longitude 3.36693333), and Site 3 (Latitude 6.51879500; Longitude 3.39911000). The E392 4G (LTE) Modem is capable of propagation measurements at the various LTE frequency bands, enables LTE download Speed of 100 Mbit/s, supports LTE upload Speed of 50 Mbit/s, utilizes LTE 2x2 MIMO (Multiple Input Multiple Output), and supports 64QAM (Quadrature Amplitude Modulation). The Drive Test (DT) Software version-Genex prove V16, and Genex Assistance V16 were deployed, and the test car carried a test terminal station, a GPS, a Windows supported Computer, and the accompanying drive test system. The test vehicle was driven such that it considered the actual road traffic conditions at a relatively medium speed of up to 30km/h with uniformity thereby reducing possible Doppler effects. Terminal connection was established, and data download services was started (using file transfer protocol - ftp, a drive test software, which has the function to download a large file of around 20GB). Thereafter, the download simultaneous file downloading limit was set to 5 files (such that 5 files can be downloaded simultaneously with quality download speed). When connection drops, simultaneous connection was re-established using the ftp software, and drive test was carried out within a planned cluster on a bright and sunny day. Statistical descriptions and probability distribution functions of the KPI data is reported and interdependence amongst the KPIs are presented to ease understanding of the interrelationships among the tested KPIs. The data reported would find useful applications in RF planning, radio channel measurements and modelling, feasibility studies and formulation of appropriate regulatory policies for wireless communication systems. Network operators could leverage on the data for appropriate KPI analyses, radio resources management, and research and development.

Project description:Background The association between fine particulate matter and cardiovascular disease has been convincingly demonstrated. The role of traffic-related air pollutants is less clear. To better understand the role of traffic-related air pollutants in cardiovascular disease development, we examined associations between NO2, carotid atherosclerotic plaque, and cardiometabolic disorders associated with cardiovascular disease. Methods and Results Cross-sectional analyses were conducted among 2227 patients (62.9±13.8 years; 49.5% women) from the Stroke Prevention and Atherosclerosis Research Centre (SPARC) in London, Ontario, Canada. Total carotid plaque area measured by ultrasound, cardiometabolic disorders, and residential locations were provided by SPARC medical records. Long-term outdoor residential NO2 concentrations were generated by a land use regression model. Associations between NO2, total carotid plaque area, and cardiometabolic disorders were examined using multiple regression models adjusted for age, sex, smoking, and socioeconomic status. Mean NO2 was 5.4±1.6 ppb in London, Ontario. NO2 was associated with a significant increase in plaque (3.4 mm2 total carotid plaque area per 1 ppb NO2), exhibiting a linear dose-response. NO2 was also positively associated with triglycerides, total cholesterol, and the ratio of low- to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (P<0.05). Diabetes mellitus mediated the relationship between NO2 and total carotid plaque area (P<0.05). Conclusions Our results demonstrate that even low levels of traffic-related air pollutants are linked to atherosclerotic plaque burden, an association that may be partially attributable to pollution-induced diabetes mellitus. Our findings suggest that reducing ambient concentrations in cities with NO2 below current standards would result in additional health benefits. Given the billions of people exposed to traffic emissions, our study supports the global public health significance of reducing air pollution.

Dataset Information

Air Pollution Monitoring Design for Epidemiological Application in a Densely Populated City.

Publications

Air Pollution Monitoring Design for Epidemiological Application in a Densely Populated City.

Similar Datasets

OmicsDI is part of the ELIXIR infrastructure

Tweets