Shih-Chun Candice Lung

High wintertime particulate matter pollution over an offshore island (Kinmen) off southeastern China: An overview

Both the Yangtze River Delta (YRD) and the Pearl River Delta (PRD), the two most rapidly developing areas in eastern China, have suffered from serious air pollution, and thus, numerous investigations were devoted to studying these problems. Other areas in eastern China have received less attention despite similar rapid development in their industries and economy. In this study, we analyzed air‐quality data from Kinmen Island (24°27′26′′N, 118°19′36′′E) located off Fujian Province and between the two above‐mentioned deltas. Our results clearly show that the study area is experiencing serious air quality deterioration. Particularly, high levels of suspended particulate matter (PM) were observed during winter, when the northeasterly monsoon prevails. For example, concentrations of wintertime PM10 (particles ≤ 10 mm in diameter) frequently exceeded 100 mg/m3 in the last three years. In addition to the air‐quality data analysis, aerosol samples were collected between 22 November 2007 and 6 March 2008 and subjected to chemical analyses of various species. Our findings show that the three principal PM components include organic, mineral, and sulfate species with moderate to minor fractions of nitrate, sea salt, elemental carbon, and trace metal oxides. The high PM levels observed over the island may be partly attributed to the transport from a mixed‐type industrial area located ∼40 km northeast of Kinmen. Our study could partially fill the air quality data gap between the YRD and PRD regions, and highlight the alarming fact that air pollution has gradually expanded along eastern China’s coastal zone.

Exposure assessment of PM2.5 and urinary 8-OHdG for diesel exhaust emission inspector

Animal studies have shown exposure to diesel exhaust particles (DEPs) to induce production of reactive oxygen species (ROSs) and increase levels of 8-hydroxydeoxyquanosine (8-OHdG). Controversial results have been obtained regarding the effects of workplace exposure on urinary 8-OHdG level. This study assessed concentrations of environmental PM(2.5) in DEP (DEP(2.5)), personal DEP(2.5) and urinary 8-OHdG of diesel engine exhaust emission inspector (inspector) at a diesel vehicle emission inspection station (inspection station). The analysis specifically focuses on the factors that influence inspector urinary 8-OHdG. Repeated-measures study design was used to sample for five consecutive days. A total of 25 environmental PM(2.5) measurements were analyzed at 5 different locations by using a dichotomous sampler, and a total of 55 personal PM(2.5) measurements were analyzed from inspectors by using PM(2.5) personal sampler. During the sampling period, a total of 110 pre- and post-work urine samples from inspectors, and 32 samples from the control group were collected. Following age and sex matching between the inspectors and the control group, levels of urinary 8-OHdG were analyzed. Environmental and personal concentrations of DEP(2.5) were 107.25+/-39.76 (mean+/-SD) and 155.96+/-75.70 microg/m(3), respectively. Also, the concentration of urinary 8-OHdG differed significantly between inspector and control non-smokers, averaging 14.05+/-12.71 and 6.58+/-4.39 microg/g creatinine, respectively. Additionally, urinary 8-OHdG concentrations were associated with diesel exposure after controlling for smoking and cooking at home. Compared with the control group, the inspector displayed significantly increased levels of urinary 8-OHdG. Diesel exhaust is the single pollutant involved in the exposure of DEP(2.5) at the inspection station, as confirmed by the final results.

Effects of acidic processing, transport history, and dust and sea salt loadings on the dissolution of iron from Asian dust

[1] Aerosol particles collected over the East China Sea (ECS) were analyzed for water-soluble Fe (Fe s ), total Fe (Fe T ), and other chemical species. Eight samples were classified as high Asian dust (HAD) on the basis of total Al concentrations >1500 ng/m 3 . Comparisons with low Asian dust (LAD) samples showed that unlike Fe T or most other substances, the percentage of Fe T soluble in deionized water (%Fe s ) was lower in the HAD samples. The %Fe s in the HAD samples varied with transport pattern and air mass history. As the difference in Fe s concentrations between HAD and LAD is relatively small and HAD occurs several days each year, the supply of Fe s through dry deposition to the surface ocean may be less sporadic than previously thought. Soluble Fe correlated with non-sea-salt sulfate, water-soluble organic carbon, and nitrate, possibly because of an anthropogenic, relatively soluble, form of Fe or enhanced dissolution caused by reactions with anthropogenic acids. Sea salt loadings evidently have a negative effect on %Fe s , presumably due to buffering effects of the salts. Dust concentrations and %Fe s followed an inverse power law relationship with a moderate correlation, suggesting that the %Fe s may be increased by acid processing during transport as dust loadings gradually decrease.

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers in foodstuffs from Taiwan: level and human dietary exposure assessment.

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) may contaminate food through bioconcentration and biomagnification. PBDEs often exist in the food chain and are consumed by humans. This study aims to determine the concentrations of PBDEs in food intake and to estimate the daily exposure of Taiwanese citizens to PBDEs. One hundred and eight food samples from nine types of commonly consumed foodstuffs were collected from northern, central, southern, and eastern regions of Taiwan. The samples were analyzed for PBDE level by gas chromatography mass spectrometry. Also, a daily dietary intake survey was conducted of 466 adults (153 men, 313 women) in these four regions of Taiwan. Taiwanese daily dietary intake of PBDE is calculated by means of food PBDEs level and daily dietary intake. The result of this study showed the highest concentration of ΣPBDE was found in butter (890.3±309.0 pg/g wet weight), followed by egg and pork (553.0±185.0 pg/g wet weight and 545.4±181.0 pg/g wet weight). Deca-BDE was found the highest concentration among eight kinds PBDEs. The average daily intake of PBDEs for the 466 subjects was 67.95±23.01 ng/day. There was a significant difference between the daily intake of ΣPBDE in different regions of Taiwan (p<0.05). The highest daily intake of ΣPBDE was in northern Taiwan, which is also the most urbanized area.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are associated with increased risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease during haze events in China

Although exposure to particulate matter with a diameter of <2.5μm (PM2.5) is associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), the major components of PM2.5 in COPD pathogenesis are controversial. Here we employed the human lung epithelial cell line BEAS-2B to elucidate the association between COPD and the organic and water-soluble components of PM2.5. We found that the PM2.5 organic extract was a potential major risk factor for pulmonary epithelial barrier dysfunction through the depletion of proteins from the zonula occludens. This extract induced severe oxidative stress that increased DNA damage and the production of proinflammatory cytokines by BEAS-2B cells as well as decreased α1-antitrypsin expression, suggesting a mechanism that increases the risk of COPD. These effects were mainly mediated by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) through the aryl hydrocarbon receptor pathway. PAHs with high benzo(a)pyrene (BaP)-equivalent concentrations, but not major PAH components, have an increased risk of causing COPD, suggesting that BaP-equivalent concentrations represent a PM2.5-induced COPD risk metric, which may contribute to provide a rationale for the remediation of air pollution.

Industrial PM2.5 cause pulmonary adverse effect through RhoA/ROCK pathway

According to the Chinese Ministry of Health, industrial pollution-induced health impacts have been the leading cause of death in China. While industrial fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is associated with adverse health effects, the major action mechanisms of different compositions of PM2.5 are currently unclear. In this study, we treated normal human lung epithelial BEAS-2B cells with industrial organic and water-soluble PM2.5 extracts under daily alveolar deposition dose to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying adverse pulmonary effects induced by PM2.5, including oxidative damage, inflammatory response, lung epithelial barrier dysfunction, and the recruitment of macrophages. We found that water-soluble PM2.5 extracts caused more severe cytotoxic effects on BEAS-2B cells compared with that of organic extracts. Both organic and water-soluble PM2.5 extracts induced activation of the RhoA/ROCK pathway. Inflammatory response, epithelial barrier dysfunction, and the activation of NF-кB caused by both PM2.5 extracts were attenuated by ROCK inhibitor Y-27632. This indicated that both PM2.5 extracts could cause damage to epithelial cells through RhoA/ROCK-dependent NF-кB activation. Furthermore, the upregulation of macrophage adhesion induced by both PM2.5 extracts was also attenuated by Y-27632 in a co-culture model of macrophages and the epithelial cells. Therefore, our results support that industrial PM2.5 extracts-induced activation of the RhoA/ROCK-dependent NF-кB pathway induces pulmonary adverse effect. Thus, pharmacological inhibition of ROCK activation might have therapeutic potential in preventing lung disease associated with PM2.5.

ROCK inhibitor Y-27632 attenuated early endothelial dysfunction caused by occupational environmental concentrations of carbon black nanoparticles

The unique properties of carbon black nanoparticles (CBNs) make them feasible for new applications and raise concerns about cardiovascular disorders. Exposure to CBNs has been associated with the progression of atherosclerosis, whereas little is known about the mechanism. Here, we used CBNs to investigate whether the RhoA/Rho-associated coiled-coil containing protein kinase (ROCK) pathway is required to elevate the risk of developing endothelial dysfunction under realistic occupational environmental concentrations. The effect of a specific inhibitor of ROCK, Y-27632, on CBN-induced endothelial dysfunction was evaluated using endothelial monoculture and co-culture models. We evaluated the endothelial barrier integrity by measuring endothelial cell migration, transendothelial electrical resistance, tight-junction proteins, and cytoskeletal rearrangement. CBNs significantly induced endothelial barrier dysfunction, which was attenuated by Y-27632. Furthermore, upregulation of monocyte adhesion and migration was attenuated by Y-27632 in a co-culture model of monocytes, macrophages, and endothelial cells. Finally, a change in oxidized low-density lipoprotein and endothelial nitric oxide synthase, which contributes to the development of atherosclerosis, was also inhibited by Y-27632. Our results indicate that the RhoA/ROCK signaling pathway may upregulate inflammatory stress and mediate the development of early endothelial dysfunction induced by realistic occupational environmental concentrations of CBNs. Pharmacological inhibition of ROCK may have therapeutic potential in preventing CBN-associated endothelial dysfunction.