Acid rain still poses a global problem today, exerting many adverse effects on man, animal, and materials. As its research question, the present study tries to find out whether or not acid rains exist in Akure, Nigeria. For so doing, it determines physico-chemical properties of rain water samples, namely pH, temp, Electrical Conductivity (EC), TDS, acidity, SO4-, NO2-, Cl-, and Free CO2. According to the results, the pH ranged between 6.0 and 7.8, never falling below 5.6 which is an indication of acid rain. Also, the minimum EC was 3µS/cm and the maximum, 201µS/cm. Moreover, TDS was between 1 and 100mg/L, while Free CO2 had a mean of 23.00 and Standard Deviation of 6.16. The dominant ion was SO4- (10-11%), followed by NO3-, and Cl-. Results from the first six months (July-December 2015) reveal slight correlations in the following: TDS with pH (0.532), EC and pH (0.501), Temp and Free CO2 (0.59), whereas strong correlations have been recorded in the following parameters: Acidity with pH (0.71) and Temperature (0.69), NO2- with pH (0.96) and acidity (0.96), SO4- with temp (0.68) and NO2- (0.83), and finally Cl-  with Free CO2 (0.61), NO2- (0.73), and Cl- (0.65). It can be concluded that in the environment under this study there have been no acid rain within the period.

Air pollution exposure is a public health emergency, which attributes globally to an estimated seven million deaths on a yearly basis We are all exposed to air pollutants, varying from ambient air pollution hanging over cities to dust inside the home. It is a mixture of airborne particulate matter and gases that can be subdivided into three categories based on particle diameter. The smallest category called PM₀.₁ is the most abundant. A fraction of the particles included in this category might enter the blood stream spreading to other parts of the body. As air pollutants can enter the body via the lungs and gut, growing evidence links its exposure to gastrointestinal and respiratory impairments and diseases, like asthma, rhinitis, respiratory tract infections, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, and abdominal pain. It has become evident that there exists a crosstalk between the respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts, commonly referred to as the gut-lung axis. Via microbial secretions, metabolites, immune mediators and lipid profiles, these two separate organ systems can influence each other. Well-known immunomodulators and gut health stimulators are probiotics, prebiotics, together called synbiotics. They might combat air pollution-induced systemic inflammation and oxidative stress by optimizing the microbiota composition and microbial metabolites, thereby stimulating anti-inflammatory pathways and strengthening mucosal and epithelial barriers. Although clinical studies investigating the role of probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics in an air pollution setting are lacking, these interventions show promising health promoting effects by affecting the gastrointestinal- and respiratory tract. This review summarizes the current data on how air pollution can affect the gut-lung axis and might impact gut and lung health. It will further elaborate on the potential role of probiotics, prebiotics and synbiotics on the gut-lung axis, and gut and lung health.

Exposure to outdoor fine particulate matter (PM₂.₅)-bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) is linked to reproductive dysfunction. However, it is unclear which component of PAHs is responsible for the adverse outcomes. In the Male Reproductive Health in Chongqing College Students (MARHCS) cohort study, we measured the exposure levels of 16 PAHs by collecting air PM₂.₅ particles and assessed eight PAHs metabolites from four parent PAHs, including naphthalene, fluorene, phenanthrene, and pyrene in urine samples. We investigated compositional profiles and variation characteristics for 16 PAHs in PM₂.₅, and then assessed the association between PAHs exposure and semen routine parameters, sperm chromatin structure, and serum hormone levels in 1452 samples. The results showed that naphthalene (95% CI: −17.989, −8.101), chrysene (95% CI: −64.894, −47.575), benzo[a]anthracene (95% CI: −63.227, −45.936) and all the high molecular weight (HMW) PAHs in PM₂.₅ were negatively associated with sperm normal morphology. Most of the low molecular weight (LMW) PAHs, such as acenaphthylene, fluorene, phenanthrene, fluoranthene, pyrene, chrysene, benzo[a]anthracene, ∑LMW PAHs and ∑16 PAHs, were correlated with increased sperm motility (all corrected P < 0.05). On the other hand, sperm normal morphology was all negatively associated with urinary metabolites of ∑OH-Nap (95% CI: −5.611, −0.536), ∑OH-Phe (95% CI: −5.741, −0.957), and ∑OH-PAHs (95% CI: −5.274, −0.361). Urinary concentrations of ∑OH-PAHs were found to be negatively associated with sperm high DNA stainability (HDS) (P = 0.023), while ∑OH-Phe were negatively associated with serum testosterone level and sperm HDS (P = 0.004). Spearman correlation analysis showed that except for the urinary OH-Nap metabolites, the rest of the urinary OH-PAHs metabolites were negatively correlated with their parent PAHs in air. The results of this study suggest that various PAHs’ components may affect reproductive parameters differently. Inhalation of PAHs in air, especially HMW PAHs, may be a potential risk factor for male reproductive health.

Environmental contaminants, to which humans are widely exposed, cause or worsen several diseases, like cardiovascular diseases and cancers. Among these molecules, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) stand out since they are ubiquitous pollutants found in ambient air and diet. Because of their toxic effects, public Health agencies promote development of research studies aiming at increasing the knowledge about PAHs and the discovery of biomarkers of exposure and/or effects.Extracellular vesicles (EVs), including small extracellular vesicles (S-EVs or exosomes) and large extracellular vesicles (L-EVs or microvesicles), are delivery systems for multimolecular messages related to the nature and status of the originating cells. Because they are produced by all cells and detected within body fluids, EV releases could act as cell responses and thereby serve as biomarkers.To test whether EVs can serve as biomarkers of PAHs exposure, we evaluate the effects of these pollutants on EV production using an in vitro approach (human endothelial cell line, HMEC-1) and an in vivo approach (urine samples from PAHs-exposed rats). Our study indicates that, i) PAH exposure increases in vitro the EV production by endothelial cells and in vivo the release of EVs in urine, and that the stimulating effects of PAHs concern both S-EVs and L-EVs; ii) PAH exposure and more particularly exposure to B[a]P, can influence the composition of exosomes produced by endothelial cells; iii) the aryl hydrocarbon receptor, a cytosolic receptor associated to most deleterious effects of PAHs, would be involved in the PAH effects on the release of S-EVs, but not L-EVs.These results suggest that EVs may have utility for monitoring exposure to PAHs, and more particularly to B[a]P, considered as reference PAH, and to detect the related early cellular response prior to end-organ damages.

Both air pollution and meteorological factors in metropolitan areas increased emergency department (ED) visits from people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Few studies investigated the associations between air pollution, meteorological factors, and COPD-related health disorders in Asian countries. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between the environmental factors and COPD-associated ED visits of susceptible elderly population in the largest Taiwanese metropolitan area (Taipei area, including Taipei city and New Taipei city) between 2000 and 2013. Data of air pollutant concentrations (PM10, PM2.5, O3, SO2, NO2 and CO), meteorological factors (daily temperature, relative humidity and air pressure), and daily COPD-associated ED visits were collected from Taiwan Environmental Protection Administration air monitoring stations, Central Weather Bureau stations, and the Taiwan National Health Insurance database in Taipei area. We used a case-crossover study design and conditional logistic regression models with odds ratios (ORs), and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for evaluating the associations between the environmental factors and COPD-associated ED visits. Analyses showed that PM2.5, O3, and SO2 had significantly greater lag effects (the lag was 4 days for PM2.5, and 5 days for O3 and SO2) on COPD-associated ED visits of the elderly population (65–79 years old). In warmer days, a significantly greater effect on elderly COPD-associated ED visits was estimated for PM2.5 with coexistence of O3. Additionally, either O3 or SO2 combined with other air pollutants increased the risk of elderly COPD-associated ED visits in the days of high relative humidity and air pressure difference, respectively. This study showed that joint effect of urban air pollution and meteorological factors contributed to the COPD-associated ED visits of the susceptible elderly population in the largest metropolitan area in Taiwan. Government authorities should review existing air pollution policies, and strengthen health education propaganda to ensure the health of the susceptible elderly population.

Surface and building runoff can significantly contribute to the total metal loading in urban runoff waters, with potential adverse effects on the receiving ecosystems. The present paper analyses the corrosion-induced metal dissolution (Fe, Mn, Cr, Ni, Cu) from weathering steel (Cor-Ten A) with or without artificial patinas, exposed for 3 years in unsheltered conditions at a marine urban site (Rimini, Italy). The influence of environmental parameters, atmospheric pollutants and surface finish on the release of dissolved metals in rain was evaluated, also by means of multivariate analysis (two-way and three-way Principal Component Analysis). In addition, surface and cross-section investigations were performed so as to monitor the patina evolution. The contribution provided by weathering steel runoff to the dissolved Fe, Mn and Ni loading at local level is not negligible and pre-patination treatments seem to worsen the performance of weathering steel in term of metal release. Metal dissolution is strongly affected by extreme events and shows seasonal variations, with different influence of seasonal parameters on the behaviour of bare or artificially patinated steel, suggesting that climate changes could significantly influence metal release from this alloy. Therefore, it is essential to perform a long-term monitoring of the performance, the durability and the environmental impact of weathering steel.

We investigated whether there might be excess ovarian cancer mortality among women residing near Spanish industries, according to different categories of industrial groups and toxic substances. An ecologic study was designed to examine ovarian cancer mortality at a municipal level (period 1997–2006). Population exposure to pollution was estimated by means of distance from town to facility. Using Poisson regression models, we assessed the relative risk of dying from ovarian cancer in zones around installations, and analyzed the effect of industrial groups and pollutant substances. Excess ovarian cancer mortality was detected in the vicinity of all sectors combined, and, principally, near refineries, fertilizers plants, glass production, paper production, food/beverage sector, waste treatment plants, pharmaceutical industry and ceramic. Insofar as substances were concerned, statistically significant associations were observed for installations releasing metals and polycyclic aromatic chemicals. These results support that residing near industries could be a risk factor for ovarian cancer mortality.

Road traffic noise is the most pervasive source of ambient outdoor noise pollution in Europe. Traffic noise prediction models vary in parameterisation and therefore may produce different estimates of noise levels depending on the geographical setting in terms of emissions sources and propagation field. This paper compares three such models: the European standard, Common Noise Assessment Methods for the EU Member States (hereafter, CNOSSOS), Nord2000 and Traffic Noise Exposure (TRANEX) model based on the UK methodology, in terms of their source and propagation characteristics. The tools are also compared by analysing estimated noise (LAₑq) from CNOSSOS, Nord2000 (2006 version), and TRANEX for more than one hundred test cases (N = 111) covering a variety of source and receiver configurations (e.g. varying source to receiver distance). The main aim of this approach was to investigate the potential pattern in differences between models’ performance for certain types of configurations. Discrepancies in performance may thus be linked to the differences in parameterisations of the CNOSSOS, Nord2000, and TRANEX (e.g. handling of diffraction, refraction). In most cases, both CNOSSOS and TRANEX reproduced LAₑq levels of Nord2000 (2006 version) within three to five dBA (CNOSSOS: 87%, TRANEX: 94%). The differences in LAₑq levels of CNOSSOS, compared to Nord2000, can be related to several shortcomings of the existing CNOSSOS algorithms (e.g. ground attenuation, multiple diffractions, and mean ground plane). The analyses show that more research is required in order to improve CNOSSOS for its implementation in the EU. In this context, amendments for CNOSSOS proposed by an EU Working Group hold significant potential. Overall, both CNOSSOS and TRANEX produced similar results, with TRANEX reproducing Nord2000 LAₑq values slightly better than the CNOSSOS. The lack of measured noise data highlights one of the significant limitations of this study and needs to be addressed in future work.

This study quantified the temporal variability of concentration of carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (c-PAHs), genotoxicity, oxidative DNA damage and dioxin-like activity of the extractable organic matter (EOM) of atmospheric aerosol particles of aerodynamic diameter (dae, μm) coarse (1 < dae < 10), upper- (0.5 < dae < 1) and lower-accumulation (0.17 < dae < 0.5) and ultrafine (<0.17) fractions. The upper accumulation fraction formed most of the aerosol mass for 22 of the 26 study days and contained ∼44% of total c-PAHs, while the ultrafine fraction contained only ∼11%. DNA adduct levels suggested a crucial contribution of c-PAHs bound to the upper accumulation fraction. The dioxin-like activity was also driven primarily by c-PAH concentrations. In contrast, oxidative DNA damage was not related to c-PAHs, as a negative correlation with c-PAHs was observed. These results suggest that genotoxicity and dioxin-like activity are the major toxic effects of organic compounds bound to size segregated aerosol, while oxidative DNA damage is not induced by EOM.

To investigate the association and effects of air pollution level on male semen quality in urban and rural areas, this study examines the outdoor concentrations of particulate matter (PM10), sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrous dioxide (NO2) and semen quality outcomes for 1346 volunteers in both urban and rural areas in Chongqing, China. We found the urban area has a higher pollution level than the rural area, contrasted with better semen quality in the rural residents, especially for sperm morphology and computer assistant semen analysis (CASA) motility parameters. A multivariate linear regression analysis demonstrates that concentrations of PM10, SO2, and NO2 significantly and negatively are associated with normal sperm morphology percentage (P < 0.001) and sperm kinetic parameters. In conclusion, exposure to higher concentrations of PM10, SO2, and NO2 in urban ambient air may account for worse semen quality in urban males.