News from EOM

Pollution with particular matter (PM) in all EU states

25 November, 2017

Atmospheric Chemistry

Istvan Lagzi and his colleagues have analyzed pollution data for all 27 EU member states and show that the major pollution source represent residential heating with 21.7% for PM 10 values and 28.6 for fine PM 2.5 particles. As expected is the traffic responsible for 15.9% PM10 pollution and 17.8 PM 2.5%. To note however that for the residual 62% (PM10) and 53% (PM2.5) the sources are the industrial processes, manufacturing, metal production, mineral products and 6.5% soil emissions.

http://elte.prompt.hu/sites/default/files/tananyagok/AtmosphericChemistry/ch02s03.html#d0e1556

Aquatic pollution provides threats to human health

25 November, 2017

Threats to human health by great ocean garbage patches

Marine plastic pollution has been considered a remote environmental problem. However, a latent threat to marine life has become an acute threat to human health. Biochemical pathways of degraded and decomposed materials and xenobiotics released by great ocean garbage patches are clear enough to alert us and stimulate us to work on prevention of an otherwise immense health problem.

Thomas Efferth, Norbert W Paul. The Lancet Planetary Health, Vol. 1, No. 8, e301–e303

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S2542-5196(17)30140-7

http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanplh/article/PIIS2542-5196(17)30140-7/fulltext

Challenges in characterizing the environmental fate and effects of carbon nanotubes and inorganic nanomaterials in aquatic systems

The release of highly persistent carbon nanotubes (CNTs) from nanocomposites is determined to be a potential source of environmental contamination. Furthermore, the nanomaterials play a role in dissolution and the contribution of ions versus particles to nanomaterials toxicity. A phenomenon of particular relevance for the environment is photoactivation of nanomaterials. This is elucidated with regard to its consequences in complex aquatic ecosystems.

Peter Laux et al., Environmental Science, 2017, in press

https://www.sintef.no/publikasjoner/publikasjon/?pubid=CRIStin+1502455

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/320281999_Challenges_in_Characterizing_the_Environmental_Fate_and_Effects_of_Carbon_Nanotubes_and_Inorganic_Nanomaterials_in_Aquatic_Systems

Pollution is the largest environmental cause of disease and premature death in the world today

20 October 2017

Philip J Landrigan et al

The Lancet Commission on pollution and health

“Diseases caused by pollution were responsible for an estimated 9 million premature deaths in 2015—16% of all deaths worldwide—three times more deaths than from AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria combined and 15 times more than from all wars and other forms of violence. In the most severely affected countries, pollution-related disease is responsible for more than one death in four”
The Lancet Commission on pollution and health addresses the full health and economic costs of air, water, and soil pollution. Through analyses of existing and emerging data, the Commission reveals pollution’s severe and underreported contribution to the Global Burden of Disease. It uncovers the economic costs of pollution to low-income and middle-income countries. The Commission will inform key decision makers around the world about the burden that pollution places on health and economic development, and about available cost-effective pollution control solutions and strategies.

Infographic: http://www.thelancet.com/pb-assets/Lancet/stories/commissions/pollution-2017/Pollution_and_Health_Infographic.pdf

The Lancet commission on pollution and health: http://thelancet.com/commissions/pollution-and-health

New work of the EOM fellows

Budnik LT, Austel N, Gadau S, Kloth S, Schubert J, Jungnickel H, Luch A: Experimental outgassing of toxic chemicals to simulate the characteristics of hazards tainting globally shipped products. PloS one 2017, 12:e0177363.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/term=Experimental+outgassing+of+toxic+chemicals+to+simulate+the+characteristics+of+hazards+tainting+globally+shipped+products

Abrahamsen R, Fell AK, Svendsen MV, Andersson E, Toren K, Henneberger PK, Kongerud J: Association of respiratory symptoms and asthma with occupational exposures: findings from a population-based cross-sectional survey in Telemark, Norway. BMJ Open 2017, 7:e014018.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=Association+of+respiratory+symptoms+and+asthma+with+occupational+exposures%3A+findings+from+a+population-based+cross-sectional+survey+in+Telemark%2C+Norway

Thurston GD, Kipen H, Annesi-Maesano I, Balmes J, Brook RD, Cromar K, De Matteis S, Forastiere F, Forsberg B, Frampton MW, Grigg J, Heederik D, Kelly FJ, Kuenzli N, Laumbach R, Peters A, Rajagopalan ST, Rich D, Ritz B, Samet JM, Sandstrom T, Sigsgaard T, Sunyer J, Brunekreef B: A joint ERS/ATS policy statement: what constitutes an adverse health effect of air pollution? An analytical framework. The European respiratory journal 2017, 49(1)

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=A+joint+ERS%2FATS+policy+statement%3A+what+constitutes+an+adverse+health+effect+of+air+pollution%3F+An+analytical+framework