BACKGROUND Exposure to air pollution in the form of particulate matter smaller than 10 μm in diameter (PM10) has been associated with increased morbidity and mortality. However, since air pollution is correlated with confounding factors that might otherwise affect health, identifying the causal link has proven challenging. OBJECTIVES To identify the effect of PM10 on hospital admissions due t...

The estimation of ambient particulate matter with diameter less than 10 μm (PM10) at high spatial resolution is currently quite limited in China. In order to make the distribution of PM10 more accessible to relevant departments and scientific research institutions, a semi-physical geographically weighted regression (GWR) model was established in this study to estimate nationwide mass concentrat...

BACKGROUND Asian sand dust (ASD) that originates in the Mongolian Desert in the spring induces serious respiratory health problems throughout East Asia (China, Korea, Japan). PM10 (particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter <10 μm) is a major air pollutant component in ASD. We studied the effects of PM10 on allergy symptoms in patients with allergic rhinitis during the spring season, when ...

UNLABELLED The emission of particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5) and ammonia (NH3) by aeration processes at wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) with and without odor control units was examined. Local concentrations of PM2.5, PM10, and NH3 at the aeration basins were within urban ranges. Emission fluxes of NH3 and PM2.5 for a medium-sized WWTP were determined to be 136 g day(-1) and 43 g day(-1), ...

OBJECTIVE Particulate matter with a diameter below 10 µ (PM10) has been a major concern in the Tamar Valley, Launceston, where wood heaters are extensively used. We examined the relationship between PM10 levels, meteorological variables, respiratory medications and hospital admissions for respiratory disease over the decade 1992-2002. METHODS PM10 levels were provided by the Department of Pri...

BACKGROUND Panel studies have shown adverse effects of air pollution from biomass burning on children's health. This study estimated the effect of current levels of outdoor air pollution in the Amazonian dry season on peak expiratory flow (PEF). METHODS A panel study with 234 schoolchildren from 6 to 15 years old living in the municipality of Tangará da Serra, Brazil was conducted. PEF was me...

The spatial distribution of the aerosols over 86 Chinese cities was reconstructed from air pollution index (API) records for summer 2000 to winter 2006. PM10 (particulate matter≤10 μm) mass concentrations were calculated for days when PM10 was the principal pollutant, these accounted for 91.6% of the total 150 428 recorded days. The 83 cities in mid-eastern China (100 E to 130 E) were separated...