Although interests in assessing the relationship between temperature and mortality have arisen due to climate change, relatively few data are available on lag structure of temperature–mortality relationship, particularly in the Southern Hemisphere. This study identified the lag effects of mean temperature on mortality among age groups and death categories using polynomial distributed lag models in Brisbane, Australia, a subtropical city, 1996–2004. For a 1 °C increase above the threshold, the highest percent increase in mortality on the current day occurred among people over 85 years (7.2% (95% CI: 4.3%, 10.2%)). The effect estimates among cardiovascular deaths were higher than those among all-cause mortality. For a 1 °C decrease below the threshold, the percent increases in mortality at 21 lag days were 3.9% (95% CI: 1.9%, 6.0%) and 3.4% (95% CI: 0.9%, 6.0%) for people aged over 85 years and with cardiovascular diseases, respectively. These findings may have implications for developing intervention strategies to reduce and prevent temperature-related mortality.

We aimed to verify whether hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) accumulation and cell death are detected early in three bioindicators of ozone (O₃), Nicotiana tabacum ‘Bel-W3’, Ipomoea nil ‘Scarlet O’Hara’ and Psidium guajava ‘Paluma’, and whether environmental factors also affect those microscopic markers. The three species were exposed to chronic levels of O₃ in a subtropical area and a histo-cytochemical technique that combines 3,3′-diaminobenzidine (DAB) with Evans blue staining was used in the assessments. The three species accumulated H₂O₂, but a positive correlation with O₃ concentration was only observed in N. tabacum. A positive correlation between O₃ and cellular death was also observed in N. tabacum. In I. nil and P. guajava, environmental factors were responsible for symptoms at the microscopic level, especially in P. guajava. We conclude that the most appropriate and least appropriate bioindicator plant for O₃ monitoring in the subtropics are N. tabacum ‘Bel-W3’ and P. guajava ‘Paluma’, respectively.

This study assessed the effect of temperature and thermal atmospheric conditions on all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in Bangladesh. In particular, differences in the response to elevated temperatures between urban and rural areas were investigated. Generalized additive models (GAMs) for daily death counts, adjusted for trend, season, day of the month and age were separately fitted for urban and rural areas. Breakpoint models were applied for determining the increase in mortality above and below a threshold (equivalent) temperature. Generally, a ’V’-shaped (equivalent) temperature–mortality curve with increasing mortality at low and high temperatures was observed. Particularly, urban areas suffered from heat-related mortality with a steep increase above a specific threshold. This adverse heat effect may well increase with ongoing urbanization and the intensification of the urban heat island due to the densification of building structures. Moreover, rising temperatures due to climate change could aggravate thermal stress.

Several organisms have been used as indicators, bio-monitoring agents or test organisms in ecotoxicological studies. A close relative of the well established Japanese medaka, the Java medaka (Oryzias javanicus), has the potential to be a test organism. The fish is native to the estuaries of the Malaysian Peninsula, Thailand, Indonesia and Singapore. In this study, newly fertilised eggs were exposed to different concentrations of Cd and Hg. Observations were done on the development of the embryos. Exposure to low levels of Cd and Hg (0.01–0.05ppm) resulted in several developmental disorders that led to death. Exposure to ⩾1.0ppm Cd resulted in immediate developmental arrest. The embryos of Java medaka showed tolerance to a certain extent when exposed to ⩾1.0ppm Hg compared to Cd. Based on the sensitivity of the embryos, Java medaka is a suitable test organism for ecotoxicology in the tropical region.

Numerous time series studies have quantified the potential association between daily variations in air pollution and daily variations in non-accidental deaths. In order to account for the presence of unmeasured confounders, a smooth function of time trend is typically used as a proxy for these variables. We shed light on the validity of the results obtained by using this approach. Specifically, we use data from the National Morbidity, Mortality and Air Pollution Study database, and carry out a carefully designed simulation study. Our findings suggest that the use of a smooth function of time trend cannot fully account for the presence of unmeasured confounders, especially when their impact is strong relatively to the effect of air pollution, and when several unobservables are not included in the model.

In recent years, Microcystis bloom occurs frequently and causes a wide range of social, environmental, and economic problems. In this study, dose-dependent inhibitory effect of cinnamaldehyde on the growth of Microcystis aeruginosa was investigated. It was found that cinnamaldehyde with the concentration more than 0.6 mM showed algicide activity against M. aeruginosa. When M. aeruginosa was exposed to 0.6 mM cinnamaldehyde, considerable reactive oxygen species (ROS) were generated followed by lipid peroxidation and decrease in the content of both chlorophyll a and soluble protein. Although superoxide dismutase had made response to the stress caused by cinnamaldehyde, activity increasing after a time of lag could not prevent the lysis of M. aeruginosa cells. Interestingly, the addition of antioxidants glutathione and L-ascorbic acid (Vc) could prevent the lysis of M. aeruginosa cells. All the results suggested that cinnamaldehyde induced the death of M. aeruginosa cells via inducing ROS burst. Further understanding of the mechanism of cinnamaldehyde-induced M. aeruginosa cell death would contribute to the control of cyanobacteria pollution.

To evaluate the potential public health impact of exposure to airborne particulate matter, concentrations of PM10 and PM2.5 were measured at 16 monitoring stations in Pearl River Delta. Epidemiological studies were collected, and meta-analysis method was used to get the exposure-response functions for health effects on mortality of residents in China. Chinese studies reported somewhat lower exposure-response coefficients as compared with studies abroad. Both Poisson model and life-table approach were used to estimate the health effects including acute effects and chronic effects. For short-term exposure, 2,700 (95% confidence interval (CI), 2,200–3,400) premature deaths would be prevented annually if PM10 daily concentrations reduced to below World Health Organization (WHO) guideline value. Much more benefits would be gained for long-term exposure. The annual avoidable deaths would be 42,000 (95% CI, 28,000–55,000) and 40,000 (95% CI, 23,000–54,000) for PM10 and PM2.5, respectively, if the particulate matter annual concentrations were reduced to below WHO guideline values. And the average lifespan of residents would prolong 2.57 years for PM10 and 2.38 years for PM2.5 if reducing the PM annual concentrations. The benefits varied greatly in different areas and different manage strategies should be carried out to protect human health effectively.

INTRODUCTION: Cadmium (Cd) in plants interrupts numerous metabolic processes and reduces the water and nutrient uptake that cause chlorosis, growth retardation, and ultimately plant death. Response of Brassica napus L. to calcium (Ca) enrichment in growth medium for reducing Cd toxicity stress by strengthening the photosynthesis organelles and their functionality was explored in this study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: B. napus seedlings of two cultivars (ZS 758 and ZS 72) were exposed to Cd toxicity at 500 μM in hydroponics, and it was ameliorated with Ca at 2.0 mM. The study included determinations and evaluations pertaining to physiological attributes of plant growth, chlorophyll, and photosynthesis. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Cadmium stress significantly depressed the seedling growth and reduced photosynthetic rate (Pn), stomatal conductivity (Gs), and transpiration rate (Tr). Further, Cd toxicity markedly decreased the electron transport rate of PSII, effective quantum yield of photochemical energy conversion in PSII [Y(II)], photosynthetic active radiation, coefficient of photochemical quenching (qP), and chlorophyll fluorescence decrease ratio (RFd). Addition of Ca in Cd-stressed plants antagonized the toxicity effects on all the above-mentioned attributes. Calcium amendment also reversed the Cd stress-induced increase in intercellular CO2 concentration (Ci) and non-photochemical quenching, and countered the Cd accumulation in seedlings. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that Ca2+ in the proximity of plasma membrane is proficient in alleviating Cd toxicity by reducing the cell-surface negativity and competing for Cd2+ ion influx. Consequently, both the plant growth and activity of diurnal photosynthetic system remain the least altered under Cd-provoked toxicity stress.