Introduction: The effect of air ambient pollution on human health is a widely discussed subject among environmental experts and socio-economists worldwide. Despite a large number of research being conducted on the topic, the relationship between public health and air quality in Indian cities remains questionable. The study was carried out to assess the impact of air pollution on the health of people of different socio-economic section of the society. Materials and methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among the residents of Rourkela city who were exposed to air pollution, and the logistic regression model was applied. Results: The findings revealed that human health is significantly impacted by air pollution in terms of flu/fever (46%), runny nose/cold (36 %) and others respiratory and cardiovascular disease. The individuals who were breathing in polluted air were 10.65 times more likely to have gotten sick from air pollution (β=2.37; SE=0.33; p<0.01) when compared to the people who were not breathing in polluted air. In contrast, a rise of one unit in the AQI in Rourkela corresponds to an 8.4% higher chance of being ill due to air pollution-related diseases (β=0.08; SE=0.02; p˂0.01). A high, rising linear trend (R2=0.67) of mortality by major air pollution-related diseases was also recorded in Rourkela during the period of 2016–2022. Hence, it is evidenced that rising AQI values correspond to rising health hazards associated with air pollution in Rourkela. Conclusion: The study's conclusions offer a thorough understanding of the negative impacts of air pollution, locals' perceptions of it, and the practical ramifications for local government when assessing more efficient approaches for reducing pollution.

Introduction: Exposure to particulate matter in the workplace has been identified as a major contributing factor to respiratory diseases including decreased lung function. In developing countries, health and safety of landfill workers receives little attention. Thus, it is necessary to conduct an in-depth investigation into particulate matter exposure and its link to disease. This study to investigate the relationship between exposure of Particulate Matter (PM2.5) on forced vital capacity and respiratory symptoms in landfill workers. Materials and methods: Measurements of PM2.5 parameter air samples were taken using an SNDWAY brand detector from five locations. Interviews using questionnaires with 49 landfill worker respondents were conducted to determine respiratory symptoms. Forced vital capacity was examined with a Voldyne 4000 incentive spirometer and the results were analyzed with chisquare statistical analysis. Results: The highest PM2.5 concentrations occurred during the day in the west, east, and center, which fall into the unhealthy category. Most of the respondents had abnormal forced vital capacity (32 people, 65.3%) and respiratory symptoms (43 respondents, 87.8%). Chi-square analysis showed a statistically significant association between PM2.5 exposure and abnormal FVC with a p-value of 0.002 and an Odds Ratio (OR) of 10.0 (95% CI: 2.41–41.58). Conclusion: This study found a significant association between PM2.5 exposure and abnormal Forced Vital Capacity (FVC) in landfill workers (p = 0.002; OR= 10.0; 95% CI: 2.41–41.58). These findings indicate that workers exposed toPM2.5 are at increased risk of lung function impairment, underscoring the need for routine respiratory health monitoring and targeted exposure mitigation in landfill environments.

ISBN papier : 978-2-7592-4083-8, ISBN PDF : 978-2-7592-4084-5; DOI ebook PDF : 10.35690/978-2-7592-4084-5; Ouvrage issu du colloque "Biodiversité et pollutions plastiques : des impacts aux solutions", Banyuls-sur-Mer, 11-12 Janvier 2023 : https://biodivoc.edu.umontpellier.fr/accueil/animation-scientifique/biodiversite-et-pollutions-plastiques/colloque-biodiversite-et-pollutions-plastiques-des-impacts-aux-solutions/ | National audience | À chaque étape de leur cycle de vie, les plastiques libèrent des débris, des particules et des molécules qui contaminent les écosystèmes terrestres, aquatiques et marins. Ils contribuent alors aux trois grandes crises environnementales : la pollution, la perte de biodiversité et le changement climatique.Aucune espèce n’est épargnée : de la tortue marine au phytoplancton, du blé au hérisson européen, en passant par le brochet ou le héron cendré, toutes sont concernées par cette pollution, en grande partie invisible car principalement composée de micro- et de nanoplastiques, désormais présente dans tous les compartiments de l’environnement.Issu d’un travail collectif réunissant plusieurs organismes de recherche et universités, cet ouvrage aborde les différentes facettes de ce problème devenu global. Il s’appuie sur les dernières avancées scientifiques ayant permis de mieux quantifier et caractériser cette pollution, d’en étudier les impacts sur la biodiversité et le fonctionnement des écosystèmes — via le biomonitoring, l’étude des espèces sentinelles, les recherches en écotoxicologie et d’autres approches innovantes. Les auteurs proposent également un cadre réglementaire, ainsi que des solutions ou alternatives à destination des politiques publiques pour faire face aux enjeux liés à cette menace.Cet ouvrage s’adresse autant aux décideurs qu’aux chercheurs, étudiants en écologie, biologie ou sciences de l’environnement, ainsi qu’aux citoyens soucieux de mieux comprendre les multiples formes que prend aujourd’hui la pollution plastique et les enjeux qu’elle soulève.

We present results from a randomized controlled trial in Bangladesh that introduced operational practices to improve energy efficiency and reduce emissions in 276 “zigzag” brick kilns. Of all intervention kilns, 65% adopted the improved practices. Treatment assignment reduced energy use by 10.5% ( P -value <0.001) and decreased CO 2 and PM 2.5 emissions by 171 and 0.45 metric tons, respectively, per kiln per year. Valuing the CO 2 reductions using a social cost of carbon of 185 USD per metric ton, we find that the social benefits outweigh costs by a factor of 65 to 1. The intervention, which required no new capital investment, also decreased fuel costs and increased brick quality. Our results demonstrate the potential for privately profitable, as well as publicly beneficial, improvements to address environmental problems in informal industries.

International audience | Arctic winter meteorology and orography in the Fairbanks North Star Borough (FNSB, interior Alaska) promote stably stratified boundary layers, often causing acute pollution episodes that exceed the US-EPA National Ambient Air Quality Standards. Power plant emission contributions to breathing level (0-10 m) pollution are estimated over the FNSB using highresolution Lagrangian tracer simulations run with temporally varying emissions and power plant plume rise accounting for atmospheric boundary layer stability and validated against comprehensive ALPACA-2022 observations. Average relative power plant contributions of 5-23% and 4-28% are diagnosed for SO 2 and NO x , respectively, with lower relative contributions in polluted conditions due to larger surface emissions. Highest population-weighted contributions are found in central and eastern (residential) areas of Fairbanks. Significant temporal variability in power plant contributions is revealed, depending on power plant operations and Arctic boundary layer stability. Vertical transport of power plant tracers to the surface depends on the interplay between the presence of temperature inversion layers and power plant stack heights as well as prevailing large-scale or local winds. Notably, power plant emissions can be transported to the surface even under strongly stable conditions, especially from shorter stacks, whereas down mixing from tall stacks mainly occurs under weakly stable conditions.

Sediments in agricultural ecosystems serve as critical indicators of environmental pollution, particularly in regions subjected to intensive agricultural practices. This research evaluates the environmental hazards and implications of heavy metal (HM) contamination in river sediments from the Sidi Allal Tazi area within Morocco’s Sebou basin. Twenty sediment samples were extracted from strategically designated locations, and the contamination levels were analyzed using a multi-index integration approach, multi-statistical analyses (MSA), and Geographic Information Systems (GIS). The results revealed considerable spatial variability in HM concentrations, with Cd and As displaying the highest contamination levels. Statistical analysis, incorporating Principal Component Analysis (PCA), identified anthropogenic activities as the primary contributors to contamination. Hierarchical Cluster Analysis (HCA) categorized metals based on common pollution pathways, while GIS mapping revealed the spatial distribution of contamination across vulnerable areas. Pollution indicators like the Geo-accumulation Index (Igeo) as well as the Pollution Load Index (PLI). revealed that 75% of sites were categorized under “very high pollution”, emphasizing the severity of contamination. Contamination Factor (CF) classified 90% of Cd samples and 100% of As samples as “very high contamination”. Risk indices indicated significant ecological threats, with Cd contributing to an RI exceeding 600 in many areas, signifying “very high risk”. These findings highlight the urgent need for targeted mitigation strategies and sustainable agricultural practices. The integration of multi-index and GIS methodologies provides a comprehensive framework for assessing and managing sediment contamination, offering critical insights for policymakers and environmental managers.

Agricultural production in urban areas plays an important role in food systems in low- and middle-income countries but also may also be subject to significant environmental hazards. We analyze samples of leafy greens grown on farms in Nairobi County selected via random geographical sampling for three heavy metals harmful to human health (lead, cadmium, and mercury). The mean levels of contamination are 0.68 ppm for lead, 0.09 ppm for cadmium, and 0.11 ppm for mercury. Spatial analysis shows that crops grown closer to roadways have higher levels of lead contamination and those grown near industrial sites have higher levels of mercury. We disaggregate our sample and test native greens and kale sourced from outside Nairobi as potential substitutes for urban-grown kale but find similar contamination levels. We estimate that 71% of adults and 69% of children in our sample are exposed to lead in excess of daily reference levels, with 12% of adults exceeding levels for cadmium and 52% exceeding levels for mercury via leafy greens alone. Using representative data for Nairobi and results from sampling leafy greens from local wholesale markets, we estimate similar dietary exposure levels for the population of the city as a whole. Our findings demonstrate the importance of systematic surveillance of foods in LMICs for heavy metals and the need to identify and mitigate sources of contamination.

Groundwater is one of the most vital natural resources worldwide. However, shallow aquifers are prone to contamination, posing significant risks to human health, livestock, agricultural productivity, and economic growth. Identifying appropriate land management strategies is critical for mitigating groundwater vulnerability to pollution. This study evaluates groundwater vulnerability to pollution under various land management scenarios using the modified DRASTIC model in Bahir Dar City, Ethiopia. The analysis incorporates multiple parameters within the ArcGIS environment, including depth to water table, net recharge, aquifer characteristics, soil properties, topography, vadose zone, hydraulic conductivity, and land use/land cover (LULC). In this study, LULC was added as an additional parameter to enhance the DRASTIC model. Groundwater vulnerability to pollution was evaluated under four distinct land management scenarios: baseline, agricultural expansion, urbanization, and reforestation. A single-parameter sensitivity analysis and a map removal sensitivity analysis were performed to identify the most influential parameters affecting groundwater vulnerability under the baseline LULC conditions. The result revealed that groundwater vulnerability in Bahir Dar City under baseline conditions is primarily influenced by LULC and net recharge. The areal average groundwater vulnerability to pollution index at the baseline scenario was 184. Agricultural expansion and urbanization increased the areal average groundwater vulnerability to pollution by 4.9 % and 1.6 %, respectively, while the reforestation scenario reduced it by 1.6 %. These findings highlight the critical role of effective land management practices, such as reforestation, in mitigating groundwater susceptibility to pollution. The results also indicate that groundwater vulnerability to pollution varies across different geological formations. Therefore, given the influence of geological variability on groundwater vulnerability, incorporating geological considerations into urban expansion planning is essential for minimizing the risk of groundwater contamination.