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Materials and Methods: The levels and possible sources of 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were investigated in the surface sediments of Liaodong Bay, Bohai Sea, China., Results: The sum of 16 PAHs (∑PAH(16)) concentrations varied from 144.5 to 291.7 ng/g, with a mean value of 184.7 ng/g, indicating low PAH levels compared with reported values for other bays and rivers in China and developed countries. High concentrations of PAHs were observed in the Luan River Estuary and in the vicinity of Qinhuangdao, implying that sewage from the Luan River and shipping activities are important sources of PAHs in Liaodong Bay., Conclusion: An ecological risk assessment of PAHs, based on the effect range-low quotients, indicated that adverse biological effects caused by acenaphthene occasionally may take place in the sediments of Liaodong Bay. PAH source identification suggested that PAHs in most sediments were mainly from incomplete combustion of grass, wood, and coal. At other stations near the Luan River Estuary, both petrogenic and pyrogenic inputs were significant, and the petroleum-derived PAHs were mainly from shipping activities and discharge of pollutants via rivers.

Objective: To evaluate the impact of indoor air pollution from biomass fuel use on ribosome biogenesis in airway cells and peripheral blood leukocytes using the argyrophilic nucleolar organizer region (AgNOR) staining technique., Study Design: Biomass users were represented by 78 never-smoking, premenopausal women from rural India and a control group of 73 age-matched women who cooked with liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). For silver staining, exfoliated airway cells and circulating lymphocytes and neutrophils were obtained from expectorated sputum and venous blood smears, respectively. Particulate pollution in indoor air was measured by real-time aerosol monitor., Results: Compared with the controls, a statistically significant increase was observed in mean number of AgNOR dots per nucleus, their size, and the percentage of NOR-occupied nuclear area in exfoliated airway epithelial cells, airway neutrophils, and circulating lymphocytes and neutrophils of biomass users. Biomass-using households had 2 to 4 times more particulate pollutants than that of LPG-using households; the changes in AgNOR expression, especially in proliferating basal cells, were positively associated with PM10 and PM2.5 levels in indoor air after controlling potential confounders such as age, kitchen location, and family income., Conclusion: Indoor air pollution from biomass fuel use upregulates ribosome biogenesis in both the airways and peripheral blood.

Purpose: In this study we examined the effect of biofuel smoke exposure at the national and child levels on child anemia., Methods: Data are from Demographic and Health Surveys conducted between 2003 and 2007. The respondents were women (15-49 years) and their children (0-59 months) (n = 117,454) in 29 developing countries., Results: In multinomial logistic regression models, both moderate and high exposure to biofuel smoke at the country level are associated with moderate/severe anemia (odds ratio [OR], 2.36; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 1.28-4.36 vs OR, 2.80; 95% CI, 1.37-5.72) after adjusting for covariates. Exposure to biofuel smoke at home is associated with mild anemia (OR, 1.07; 95% CI, 1.01-1.13), and there are interactions between biofuel smoke exposure and child age in months on mild anemia (OR, 1.004; 95% CI, 1.002-1.006) and moderate/severe anemia (OR, 1.006; 95% CI, 1.004-1.008). There are also interactions between biofuel smoke exposure at home and diarrhea on mild anemia (OR, 1.22; 95% CI, 1.10-1.34) and on moderate/severe anemia (OR, 1.11; 95% CI, 1.01-1.22); and fever on moderate/severe anemia (OR, 1.33; 95% CI, 1.22-1.45)., Conclusions: Given the increasing number of people relying on biofuels in developing countries, policies and programs are necessary to protect children from being exposed to this harmful smoke at home., (Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Many organizations interested in renewable, domestic energy have switched from petroleum diesel to biodiesel blends for use in transportation and heavy-duty equipment. Although considerable evidence exists on the negative health effects of petroleum diesel exhaust exposures in occupational settings, there has been little research examining biodiesel exposures. Working collaboratively with a local municipality, concentrations of particulate matter (PM) and other air toxics were measured at a recycling facility in southwestern New Hampshire while heavy equipment operated first on petroleum diesel and then on a B20 blend (20% soy-based biodiesel/80% petroleum diesel). This pilot study used a combination of established industrial hygiene and environmental air monitoring methods to estimate occupational exposure profiles to PM and air toxics from combustion of petroleum diesel and biodiesel. Results indicate that B20 use dramatically reduces work area respirable particle, PM2.5 (PM < or = 2.5 microm in aerodynamic diameter), and formaldehyde levels compared with petroleum diesel. Some volatile organic compound concentrations were higher for petroleum diesel and others were higher for the B20 blend. Overall, this study suggests that biodiesel blends reduce worker exposure to and health risk from petroleum diesel exhaust, but additional exposure research is recommended.

Background: Indoor air pollution produced by biomass cooking fuels in developing countries has been associated with acute and chronic lower respiratory diseases, but has not been identified as an occupational exposure among women., Objective: To examine the relationship between the use of biomass cooking fuels (mainly wood) and tuberculosis (TB) among women living in rural areas in Southern Mexico., Methods: We conducted a population based case-control study in the health jurisdiction of Orizaba, Mexico. Cases were all incident female pulmonary TB patients, with Mycobacterium tuberculosis in sputum, living in communities with fewer than 15,000 inhabitants, diagnosed between March 1995 and April 2003. Woodsmoke exposure was assessed by applying a standardized questionnaire (ATS-DLD-78 questionnaire). Controls were randomly selected from sex-matched neighbors. Appropriate IRB approval was obtained., Results: 42 TB cases and 84 community controls were recruited. Multivariate assessment showed that more than 20 years of exposure to smoke from biomass fuels was three times more frequent among cases than among controls [Odds ratio (OR): 3.3, 95% confidence interval (CI):1.06-10.30, p = 0.03], after controlling for age, body mass, household crowding, years of formal education and tobacco use., Conclusions: We found a strong association between the use of biomass cooking fuels and tuberculosis among women in a community-based, case-control study. Results of this study are intended to provide evidence to policy makers, community leaders and the general public on the importance of implementing gender oriented interventions that decrease the use of biomass fuels in poor communities in developing countries.