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Environmental Toxins
Published in Gia Merlo, Kathy Berra, Lifestyle Nursing, 2023
Particulate matter (PM) is a phrase that describes a mixture of solid particles and liquid droplets found in the air. Particles may be visible to the naked eye, such as dust or smoke, or may be so small that they are visible only when using an electron microscope. Information about particulate matter is reported according to the size of the particle being studied, either PM10 or PM2.5. PM10 are inhalable particles, with diameters that are generally 10 micrometers and smaller, whereas PM2.5 are considered to be fine inhalable particles, with diameters of 2.5 micrometers and smaller. To provide a scale, a single human hair is typically 50–70 micrometers (EPA, 2021b).
Naturopathic Medicine and the Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular Disease
Published in Stephen T. Sinatra, Mark C. Houston, Nutritional and Integrative Strategies in Cardiovascular Medicine, 2022
Research shows that reductions in particulate matter exposure over a few years lower cardiovascular mortality rates.116 Although many of us live in urban centers and are exposed to ever-increasing levels of particulate matter and air pollution, we can reduce our risk of CVD by reducing exposure. The best way to reduce our exposure to toxins is avoidance of them in the first place. Additionally, we can support the body’s detoxification pathways by helping mobilize and eliminate toxins that have been stored. Working in concert together, the organ systems are able to effectively remove toxins that we accumulate through the air, water, and soil.
Effects of Air Pollution on Allergy and Asthma
Published in Pudupakkam K Vedanthan, Harold S Nelson, Shripad N Agashe, PA Mahesh, Rohit Katial, Textbook of Allergy for the Clinician, 2021
Advocate for policy change: A study in the United States has estimated that if ambient air pollution levels were reduced to match levels in the cleanest community, then annual asthma related emergency department visits and hospitalization rates would decrease from 22 to 6%, prevalence of bronchitis would decrease from 40 to 20%, asthma related school absenteeism would reduce by two thirds and new cases of asthma among the most active children living in polluted communities would decrease by 75%. With the realization that ambient levels of air pollutants in most cities and towns worldwide are associated with a significant impact on the health of the lungs, it is imperative to take appropriate steps to reduce the levels of key pollutants, such as particulate matter, oxides of nitrogen, sulphur dioxide and ozone in the ambient air.
Effect of subchronic exposure to ambient fine and ultrafine particles on rat motor activity and ex vivo striatal dopaminergic transmission
Published in Inhalation Toxicology, 2023
María-de-los-Angeles Andrade-Oliva, Yazmín Debray-García, Guadalupe-Elide Morales-Figueroa, Juan Escamilla-Sánchez, Omar Amador-Muñoz, Raúl V. Díaz-Godoy, Michael Kleinman, Benjamín Florán, José-Antonio Arias-Montaño, Andrea De Vizcaya-Ruiz
Environmental particle pollution is a persistent problem that has a serious negative impact on human health. Particulate matter (PM) is a complex mixture of organic and inorganic compounds with variable temporal and spatial compositions. Fine particles (FP, aerodynamic diameter ≤2.5 μm; also referred to as PM2.5) are the main components of the mass of inhalable particles in the air, while ultrafine particles (UFP, aerodynamic diameter ≤0.1 μm) are more numerous and exhibit greater surface area as well as higher reactivity, toxicity, and ability to penetrate deeper into the respiratory tract. Both FP and UFP elicit oxidative stress and inflammatory responses in the peripheral and central nervous systems in a size-dependent manner (Gillespie et al. 2013; Guerra et al. 2013; Aztatzi-Aguilar et al. 2015).
Enhanced Cerebral Microbleeds by Long-Term Air Pollution Exposure in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats
Published in Neurological Research, 2022
Lipeng Cai, Jianjie Yang, Eric Cosky, Ruiqiang Xin, Xiaokun Geng, Yuchuan Ding
A potential biological mechanism underlying the observed effect of PM2.5 exposure on blood pressure (BP) might be its effects on the autonomic nervous system (ANS). It is already well-established that the ANS modulates BP. When particulate matter is inhaled in the upper respiratory tract and lung it causes reflexive irritative cardiovascular changes that increase BP[42]. These ANS imbalances are triggered by the pulmonary system and provoked by particulate matter stimulation of nervous system receptor subtypes in the upper airways [42,43]. Furthermore, a study on the mechanisms of air pollution exposure on BP in healthy humans showed that human airways are lined with nerve endings and receptors that once stimulated by inhaled PM2.5 may be capable of altering reflexive ANS pathways leading to a blunting of cardiovascular parasympathetic tone [44]. Moreover, the mechanisms of particulate matter impairment of vascular tone may involve inflammatory and oxidative stress, which directly or indirectly affect BP. This study, consistent with other studies [45,46] demonstrated that inflammation and oxidative stress are induced by exposure to PM2.5. An increased plasma endothelin-1 concentration and a decreased endogenous nitric oxide production were proposed as possible molecular mechanisms that are triggered by PM2.5 exposure [47,48].
Negative and positive environmental perspective of COVID-19: air, water, wastewater, forest, and noise quality
Published in Egyptian Journal of Basic and Applied Sciences, 2021
Ranjan K Mohapatra, Pradeep K Das, Khan Sharun, Ruchi Tiwari, Saumya Ranjan Mohapatara, Pranab K. Mohapatra, Ajit Behera, Tamoghna Acharyya, Venkataramana Kandi, Kudrat-E Zahan, Senthilkumar Natesan, Muhammad Bilal, Kuldeep Dhama
Particulate matters (such as dust, tiny parts of metals, microplastics, soil, chemicals, etc.) are formed in the air mainly due to burning fossil fuels, use of automobiles, steel making, etc. Particulate matter (PM) is described in micrometers. The commonly used terms are PM10 (< 10 µm) and PM2.5 (< 2.5 µm). According to the study reported in Hindustan Times [131], Mumbai (third most polluted city) observed a 42% decrease in PM2.5 levels between 23rd March and 13th April, compared to the past four years (during the same period), and 34% reduction in comparison to 2019 (during the same period). It is also reported that the city has a PM2.5 concentration of 28.8 μg/m3 in this lockdown period. Wuhan is the most adulterated city (35.1 μg/m3) followed by Delhi (32.8 μg/m3), the second most polluted city. New York (4.4 μg/m3) had the lowest PM2.5 levels, followed by Los Angeles (5.5 μg/m3) and Madrid (6.4 μg/m3). In addition, the study also suggested that nine out of ten global cities experienced 25–60% reduction in PM2.5 levels from the same period in 2019.