Air Pollution and Trace Metals: Health Effects and Environmental Impact

Offensive Odors

Poor air quality investigated by Medieval Governments caused in part by decaying horse manure.

Foul Air

The subject of investigation by 4 different commissions in England (1285-1310).

Industrial Revolution (1600-1800s)

Single biggest source of air pollution.

Donora, PA

Location where smog resulting from a temperature inversion in October, 1948, causes 20 deaths and 5,900 illnesses.

Smog in London during 1952

Poor air quality kills 4000 people in 4 days.

Bronchitis

Inflammation of the bronchi of the lungs leading to reduced air flow into the lungs.

Emphysema

Distention of the alveoli or terminal air sacs in the lungs caused by reduced air flow into the lungs due to bronchitis.

Air Pollution

The discharge of undesirable physical, chemical or biological stressors into the atmosphere by natural and/or anthropogenic activities that may ultimately affect ecosystem and/or human health.

out of every 6 premature deaths in the world in 2015 or about 9 million deaths

the number of deaths attributed to disease from toxic exposure, according to a major study released in Oct. 2017 in the Lancet Medical Journal.

$4.6 billion or about 6.2% of global economy

The financial cost from pollution-relateddeath, sickness and welfare in 2015 according to this Lancet Report

COPD

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease caused in part by air pollution and also by smoking.

Asphyxiants

Chemicals that cause a lack of oxygen in the blood stream (CO and H2S).

Irritants

Chemicals produced as by-products of technology that irritate the lining of the throat and lungs (O3, SO2 and NO2).

Asbestosis

A disease of the lung caused by chronic inhalation of asbestos fibers from construction activities (shipyards).

Mesotheliomas

A specific type of lung cancer caused only by asbestos exposure from places like shipyards or building materials containing asbestos.

Silicosis

A disease of the lungs caused by chronic inhalation of silicon fibers from quartz dusts from mining.

Byssinosis or Brown Lung Disease

A disease of the lungs caused by chronic inhalation of cotton fibers.

Inversions

A meteorological condition where warm air over-rides cooler air resulting in a barrier for air pollution to vertically disperse.

Acid Rain

Rain with a pH <5.60.

Smog

The interaction of fog and air pollution which produces highly harmful and irritating formed air pollutants such as ozone, PAN, and formaldehyde.

Peroxyacetyl Nitrates (PAN)

An air pollutant formed by the interaction of combusted petroleum, sunlight and the nitrogen cycle.

Aldehydes and Formaldehyde

Air pollutants formed by the interaction of combusted petroleum, sunlight and the nitrogen cycle.

Bhopal India

Site of the largest air pollution incident involving a release of methyl isocyanate which killed 2,000-5,000 people and injured 10,000-25,000 people.

Graniteville, SC

Site of a train derailment involving chlorine gas which killed 9 people and caused the evacuation of 5400 people.

Elements in Dry Air

Nitrogen (N2)= 78.08%; Oxygen (O2) = 20.94%; Argon (Ar) = 0.93%; Carbon dioxide (CO2) = 0.03%; and Ozone (O3) = Less than 0.00005%.

air pollution

- Morbidity and Mortality - (1) Smog in Donora, PA in October, 1948 - a temperature inversion causing 20 deaths and 5,900 illnesses; (2)Smog in London during 1952 - 4000 people killed in 4days;(3) Smog in London during 1962 - 700 people killed; (4) Smog in New York City in 1953, 1963, and1966 - Caused 700 excess deaths .

Anatomy of airways

Mouth/Nose --> Nasal/Oral Passages --> Pharynx --> Larynx --> Trachea --> Bronchus --> Bronchi --> Bronchioles --> Alveoli

body defense systems against air pollution

(1) Nasal Hairs; (2) Mucous Secretions/Cilia; (3) Macrophages; (4) Decreasing Diameter of the Airways.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Causes and contributions to COPD

Smoking - 90% (Entirely Preventable); Chronic Respiratory Infections - 5% (Mostly Preventable); Occupational/Env. - 4% (Mostly Preventable); Asthma/Congenital Heart and Lung Disease - 1% (Not Preventable).

Carbon Monoxide (CO)

Combines with hemoglobin in the blood to prevent transport of oxygen and offloading of CO2.

Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S)

Affects the portion of the brain that controls inspiration (intake of air).

Irritants

compounds which cause irritation and may include ozone

Erhlich et al. Study of NOx and Ozone

Study examined the individual and mixture effects of two irritants Ozone (O3) and Nitrogen Oxides (NOx).

Rush Hour Traffic (Ozone)

Increased rate of bronchitis infections in runners that exercised in rush hour traffic versus non rush hour traffic.

Los Angeles Olympics (Ozone and PAN)

Frequency and severity of asthma attacks were correlated with the vigor required for athletic events.

Beijing Olympics

China shuts down industrial production during the Olympics to reduce air pollution to prevent health effects from air borne irritants such as ozone and NOx.

Occupational Exposure to Air Pollution

As a class of diseases may cause (1) Irritation; (2) Allergic Reactions; (3) Scarring of Lung Tissue.

Symptoms/Effects of Air Pollution

(1) Coughing; (2) Shortness of breath; (3) Pneumonia; (4) Chronic Bronchitis; (5) Emphysema; and (6) Lung Cancer.

Byssinosis

Brown Lung Disease caused by chronic inhalation of cotton fibers.

Clean Air Act

Established National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for criteria air pollutants.

Primary Standards

Pre-existing illness, margin of safety, cost & feasibility of technology not considered.

Secondary Standards

More stringent, long range goals, cost & feasibility of technology are considered.

Criteria Air Pollutants

Particulate Matter (PM); Carbon Monoxide (CO); Sulfur Dioxides (SOx); Nitrogen Oxides (NOx); Ozone (O3); Lead (Pb); and Hydrocarbons.

Pollution Standards Index

A method for normalizing each air quality standard from numerical standards to a percentage-based standard with 100% representing the average acute air quality standard.

Factors Affecting Air Quality Standards

(1) Precipitation; (2) Humidity; (3) Sunshine; (4) Wind; (5) Mountains and Hills; (6) Valleys and Basins.

Smog Formation

Involves a photolytic cycle of NO2 and UV light leading to the formation of ozone and oxidized compounds.

Bhopal Disaster

A leak at the Union Carbide plant in Bhopal resulted in the release of methyl isocynanate, causing 2,000-5,000 immediate deaths.

Graniteville Train Derailment

A train collision caused the discharge of chlorine gas, resulting in 9 fatalities and 552 injuries.

Indoor Air Pollution

Generally a greater hazard than outdoor air pollution due to lack of ventilation in modern buildings.

Cigarettes and Air Pollution

Increased lung cancer and cardiovascular disease at levels > 0.5-1 cigarettes/day.

Harvard 6 City Study

A 10 µg/m3 elevation in fine particulate matter associated with an 8 - 18% increase in mortality risk.

NAS 2023 Study

Estimates 360,000 people die each year in the US from air pollution.

Air Pollutants

Includes various pollutants ranked by emissions and health effects.

Air Pollution Sources

Includes major pollution sources ranked by % emissions and health effects.

Premature Deaths from Toxic Exposure

One out of every six premature deaths in the world in 2015 or about 9 million deaths attributed to disease from toxic exposure.

Financial Cost of Pollution

$4.6 Trillion or about 0.62 percent of the global economy - The financial cost from pollution-related death, sickness, and welfare in 2015.

Heavy Metal

A metal that has a high atomic weight with a specific gravity that exceeds the specific gravity of water by five or more times at 4° C.

Trace Metals

Metals that occur naturally in trace concentration within the crust of the Earth.

Hyperactivity Syndrome and/or Overt Aggressiveness

Brain effects of Pb trace metal exposure in humans and rats, leading to learning disorders in humans.

Methyl Mercury

Most toxic form of Hg.

Sulfhydryl Groups on Amino Acids

Active sites on proteins in which Hg outcompetes the Sulfur for binding.

Minamata Bay

A fishing village which was the location of major human Hg poisoning in Japan.

>$2-$44 billion/year

Annual economic impact of Hg in US due to ADHD and IQ loss

$51 billion/year

annual economic impact of PB Health effects in the US due to ADHD and IQ loss

Economic Impact of Hg in US

Annual economic impact of Hg in the US due to ADHD and IQ loss averages $8.7 Billion per year.

Economic Impact of Pb in US

Annual economic impact of Pb health effects in the US due to ADHD and IQ loss is $51 Billion per year.

Leaded Gasoline

Gasoline which contained Pb as an octane booster additive, resulting in major Pb contamination along roadways in the US.

PICA

Name given to Pb paint chips which taste sweet and may be consumed by toddlers/infants leading to childhood Pb poisoning.

Ferrochelatase

An enzyme that catalyzes the formation of hemoglobin which is adversely affected by Pb exposure resulting in anemia.

Pb Palsy

Wrist drop condition in industrial workers excessively exposed to Pb, resulting in loss of muscle control over the wrist.

Nephritis

Damage to the kidney caused by trace metals such as Pb and Cd.

Ca-EDTA

Antidote for adult Pb exposure.

Dimercaptopropanol and

Antidote for inorganic Hg.

Penicillamine (PAL)

Antidote for organic Hg.

Itai-Itai Disease

Ouch Ouch Disease caused by Cd exposure in Japan.

Metallothionein

Protein biomarkers induced by trace metal exposure which act to remove trace metals from blood into the kidney.

Nanomaterials

Particles < 1 micron in size that may be used for new product development and are a new class of pollution.

Top 5 Metals at Superfund Sites

Arsenic, Cadmium, Chromium, Lead, and Mercury.

Top 5 Metals at Superfund Sites in the US

arsenic, cadmium, chromium, lead, and mercury

metal occur naturally in trace concentrations within sediments within the Earth's crust

and mayinclude Al, Ca, Fe, Mg, K, & Na.

Body Burden

Major metals include Ca, Fe, Mg, K, Na & Zn.

Sources of Trace Metal Pollution

Includes Arsenic, Cadmium, Chromium, Mercury, and Lead.

Symptoms of Acute Trace Metal Poisonings

Gastrointestinal effects (vomiting and stomach pain) and neurological effects (headaches, suppression of normal breathing, and convulsions).

Chronic Trace Metal Pollution Risks

Greatest risks in children and pregnant women, including reduced cognitive functioning and mimicking chronic disease symptoms.

Trace Metal Chronic Pollution Risks in Children

Higher doses of heavy or trace metals due to smaller body weight, leading to impairment of physical and mental development.

Hg Toxicology

Affected by valence state of Hg including HgO, Hg+, Hg++, and -CH3Hg.

Sources of Hg

Includes mining, HgCl, and HgNO3, with major sources from air emissions.

Most Mercury Contaminated Sites

From Hg mining and processing, chlor alkali plants, gold and silver mining, and metal smelters.

Atmospheric Deposition

Major sources of Hg in oceans, leading to contamination of seafood.

Minamata Bay Incident

Hg poisoning incident in Japan (1952-53) caused by Chisso Corp.

Vinyl Chloride

Manufactured using acetaldehyde with Hg as a catalyst.

Bioconcentration of Organic Hg

Process by which fish and shellfish accumulate organic mercury.

Bioaccumulation of Hg

Accumulation of mercury in humans from consuming contaminated seafood.

Symptoms of Hg Poisoning

Blurred vision, twitching, violent thrashing, paralysis, and death.

Niigata Bay

Site of Hg contamination with 47 cases and 6 deaths in 1965.

Toxicology of Hg

Hg replaces Sulfhydryl (SH) groups on amino acids, blocking active sites.

Hg Bioaccumulation Rates

Inorganic Hg - 7% uptake; Organic Hg - 95% uptake at GI tract.

Target Organs for Hg

Kidney and Brain have the highest concentration of mercury.

Critical Organ for Hg

Central Nervous System is most affected by mercury exposure.

Hg Half Life

70 days for Organic Hg; 40 days for Inorganic Hg.