Thesis (M.S.)--West Virginia University, 2002. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains vi, 67 p. : maps (part col.). Vita. Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 53-56).

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Auburn University, 2007. / Abstract. Vita. Includes survey instruments. Includes bibliographic references (ℓ. 129-138)

The research reported in this thesis describes: the prevalence of respiratory symptoms, COPD and cardiovascular problems in rural and urban adults taking account of all major confounding factors; and estimates of exposures, both indoor and outdoor, and assessment of the relationships between measured exposure and health outcomes. A cross-sectional study was conducted in an adult population (16+ years) in Nepal to compare the respiratory and cardiovascular risk of indoor air pollution in a rural population exposed to biomass smoke compared to an urban population using liquefied petroleum gas using an investigator-delivered questionnaire, lung function and blood pressure measurements.  Direct measures of indoor particular exposure (PM_2.5 and CO) and outdoor PM_2.5 were made with other relevant factors obtained by questionnaire. Direct measures of 24-hour indoor PM_2.5were carried out in 245 rural and equal numbers of urban homes. Health outcomes were assessed in 846 rural and 802 urban dwellers.  The main risk factors studied were socio-economic status, smoking, fuel types, stove types, ventilation, BMI, income, ETS and cooking. The result suggests that cooking with biomass is associated with reduced lung function and thus a higher prevalence of COPD in the rural dwellers compared to the non-exposed urban dwellers.  No clear relationship between biomass smoke exposure and cardiovascular endpoints was found although reported cooking with biomass fuel was associated with higher blood pressure and chest pain.  Methodological issues including more invasive assessment of cardiovascular disease will in future studies be important in interpretation of this relationship.

Thesis (M.A.)--Indiana University, 2008. / Title from screen (viewed on June 1, 2009). Department of History, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI). Advisor(s): Annie Gilbert Coleman, Robert G. Barrows, Jason M. Kelly. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 152-165).

Les émissions de polluants atmosphériques ont tendance à diminuer dans l'ensemble des industrialisés. Néanmoins, l'exposition actuelle à la pollution atmosphérique engendre encore des effets néfastes sur la santé. Dans ce contexte, l'impact de la pollution environnementale sur la santé est priorité croissante de santé publique. Mon projet de thèse consiste donc à étudier les impacts sanitaires liés à la dégradation de l’environnement et d'analyser leurs conséquences macroéconomiques. Le premier objectif de cette thèse est de rassembler deux pans de la littérature en se focalisant sur les liens existant entre pollution et risques sanitaires et SI inégalités sociales d'exposition aux risques environnementaux. Par le biais d'études économétriques, étudions d'une part les taux de mortalité associés à la pollution atmosphérique selon le statut socioéconomique de la population des départements français et, d'autre part, les liens entre poil atmosphérique et santé des enfants à la naissance au sein des communes françaises en utilisant l’expérience naturelle. Par ailleurs, la dernière partie de cette thèse s'attache à mettre en regard la méthode des prix hédoniques, évaluation des références reposant sur une perception subjective des effets 1 pollution, avec la fonction de dommage, méthode de valorisation objective des coûts de la santé. / Many pollutants are declining throughout the industrialized world. However, exposure to air pollution, even at the levels commonly achieved nowadays in European countries, still leads to adverse health effects. In this context, there has been increasing global concern over the public health impacts attributed to environmental pollution. The thesis aims to examine health impacts linked to environmental pollution by sheding light on their macroeconomic consequences. The first objective of the thesis is to explore empirically the relations between socio-economic status, environmental exposures and health outcomes. Through econometric analysis, we study the total mortality rate in relation to socioeconomic status and air pollution for the French department, and the effect of energy production on new born health using a recent strike that affected oil refineries in France as a natural experiment. Finally, the last part of the thesis tries to draw inferences about individuals' valuations of risk by combining estimates of the effect of air pollution on bath property values and hospital respiratory admissions for respiratory causes.

Ph.d.-afhandling. Danmarks Tekniske Universitet, 2006. / Haves også i trykt udg. Thesis (Ph.D.). 11 ill., 6 tables; approx. 260 ref. Summaries (Da, En).

Atmospheric aerosols have adverse effects on human health, air quality, and visibility and frequently result in severe pollution events, particularly in urban areas. However, the sources of aerosols and the processes governing their behaviour in the atmosphere, including those which lead to high concentrations, are not well understood thus limit our ability to accurately assess and forecast air quality. Presented here are the first long-term chemical composition measurements from an urban environment using an Aerodyne compact Time-of-Flight Aerosol Mass Spectrometer (cToF-AMS). Organic aerosols (OA) were observed to account for a significant fraction (44%) of the total non-refractory submicron mass during 2012 at the urban background site in North Kensington, London, followed by nitrate (28%), sulphate (14%), ammonium (13%), and chloride (1%). The sources and components of OA were determined using Positive Matrix Factorisation (PMF) and attributed as hydrocarbon-like OA (HOA), cooking OA (COA), solid fuel OA (SFOA), type 1 oxygenated OA (OOA1), and type 2 oxygenated OA (OOA2), where HOA, COA, and SFOA were observed to be of equal importance across the year. The concentration of secondary OA increased during the summer yet the extent of oxidation, as defined by the oxygen content, showed no variability during the year. The main factors governing the diurnal, monthly, and seasonal trends observed in all organic and inorganic species were meteorological conditions, specific nature of the sources, and availability of precursors. Regional and transboundary pollution influenced total aerosol concentrations and high concentration events were observed to be governed by different factors depending on season. High-Resolution ToF-AMS measurements were used to further probe OA behaviour, where two SFOA factors were derived from PMF analysis in winter, which likely represent differences in burn conditions. In the summer an OA factor was identified, likely of primary origin, which was observed to be strongly associated with organic nitrates and anthropogenic emissions. This work uses instruments and techniques that have not previously been used in this way in an urban environment, where the results further the understanding of the chemical components of urban aerosols. Aerosol sources are likely to change in the future with increases in solid fuel burning as vehicular emissions decrease, with significant implications on air quality and health. Thus it is important to understand aerosol sources and behaviour in order to develop effective pollution abatement strategies.

Lead (Pb) recycling activities in Dong Mai village, Chi Dao commune, Van Lam district, Hung Yen province have been taking place for more than 30 years. The development of recycling activities contributed to the improvement of the local economics. However, along with economic development, Dong Mai craft village is facing to serious pollution. Soil, air and water polluted by lead (Pb) caused food containing Pb at higher levels than allowed limit from 20 to 40 times. The pollution had the bad effect on human health in this village. The investigation results showed that 100 % of employee who participated on melting lead and 63.5 % of local children were poisoned by Pb. Besides, the local people got diseases relating to skin, eyes, etc. This situation requires the provincial authorities to find immediate solutions to reduce the impacts of Pb recycling activities to environment and human. / Hoạt động tái chế chì của thôn Đông Mai, xã Chỉ Đạo, huyện Văn Lâm, tỉnh Hưng Yên đã diễn ra hơn 30 năm nay. Sự phát triển của nghề tái chế đã làm góp phần cải thiện kinh tế của địa phương. Tuy nhiên, cùng với sự phát triển kinh tế, làng nghề Đông Mai đã và đang đối mặt với ô nhiễm môi trường nghiêm trọng. Môi trường đất, nước không khí bị ô nhiễm bởi chì (Pb) dẫn đến thực phẩm nhiễm chì ở hàm lượng cao hơn mức cho phép từ 20- 40 lần. Sự ô nhiễm gây ra những ảnh hưởng xấu tới sức khỏe của người dân làng nghề. Kết quả điều tra cho thấy 100% công nhân tham gia nấu chì và 63.5% trẻ em địa phương bị nhiễm độc chì. Bên cạnh đó, người dân địa phương còn bị mắc của các loại bệnh ngoài da, bệnh về mắt, …. Tình trạng này đòi hỏi chính quyền địa phương phải tìm ra giải pháp khẩn cấp để giảm thiểu tác động của những hoạt động tái chế chì tới môi trường và con người.

Elevated arsenic content in food crops pose a serious human health risk. Apart from rice wheat being another main food crop is possibly cultivated on contaminated sites. But for wheat uptake mechanisms are not entirely understood especially with regard to nutrient fertilization and different moisture regimes taking into account heavy rainfall events due to climate change. Here we show that especially higher P-fertilization under changing redox conditions may enhance arsenic uptake. This counteracts with higher N-fertilization reducing arsenic transfer and translocation into aboveground plant parts for both higher P-fertilization and reducing soil conditions. Arsenic speciation did not change in grain but for leaves P-fertilization together with reducing conditions increased the As(V) content compared to other arsenic species. Our results indicate important dependencies of nutrient fertilization, moisture conditions and substrate type on As accumulation of wheat as one of the most important crop plants worldwide with implications for agricultural practices.