As a result of large-scale research collaboration, new proposals have been made for the biochemical classification of air and the regulation of air quality in Europe. The results and conclusions of the international research were published in the journal Nature. One of the authors of the article is Imre Salma, atmospheric chemist at ELTE.
As highlighted, the researchers are confident that their findings, which take into account the health effects of airborne dust more accurately, can contribute significantly to improving air quality in Europe. Poor environmental air quality, which is mainly caused by high concentrations of airborne dust (aerosols), is one of the most serious public health problems worldwide. In recent years, atmospheric chemistry research has focused on gaining a better understanding of the formation, chemical, physical, and biological properties and effects of aerosols, as well as investigating the relationship between air pollutants.
The development of diseases caused by airborne dust involves the complex interaction of several factors. Objective assessment of air quality is therefore crucial for taking appropriate measures.
The research aimed to improve air quality assessment methodology on a scientific basis,
with a particular focus on the significant air quality risks posed by road traffic and wood burning. A study summarizing the results was recently published in the journal Nature.
As a first approach, experts use aerosol mass as a measure of air quality, which is then refined by taking other properties into account. However, the latest research findings suggest that one of the most important mechanisms of the health effects of airborne dust is the disruption of the oxidant-antioxidant balance in the respiratory system at the cellular level, which can lead to oxidative stress and ultimately increase the risk of various diseases through atypical inflammation.
All of this can be caused by highly reactive chemical substances with high oxygen content that form in polluted air, reactive oxygen species, but it can also be caused by a weakening of the lungs’ antioxidant defense system. This type of aerosol-induced oxidative stress can be measured and classified using oxidative potential (OP), a value that takes into account several harmful properties of the particles.
The international collaborative study took into account results from 43 European sites, determined using the same procedure and two types of cell-free tests (AA and DTT).
The comprehensive evaluation system of the research, led by Gaëlle Uzu, professor at the University of Grenoble, included the latest results from the BpART Laboratory of the Institute of Chemistry at ELTE Faculty of Science (TTK).
“We examined the spatial distribution of oxidative potential in different types of air environments in Europe, and then, by evaluating various scenarios, we gained insight into new possibilities for air quality regulation,” said Imre Salma, head of the Hungarian group, who pointed out the significance of the research.
By analyzing different sources of pollution, they identified strategies that could lead to cleaner and healthier air.
The researchers showed that it is advisable to monitor oxidative potential and the main sources of air pollution (such as biomass combustion, combustion of solid fossil fuels, road traffic) and peak periods (heating and non-heating periods) should be considered separately from or even instead of atmospheric concentrations. Based on their findings, they have formulated scientific
recommendations to the Council of the European Union on a new regulatory methodology,
according to the press release.
As they point out, the participants in the research are confident that their findings will contribute to a more livable Europe with healthier air. At the same time, the study may be important not only for policymakers but also for the research community in order to better understand the harmful health effects of aerosols, they emphasize.
In addition to Imre Salma, the members of the BpART Laboratory include Tamás Weidinger, János Rohonczy, Anikó Vasanits, and Máté Vörösmarty. Doctoral students and final-year university students also regularly participate in the research, with three students currently working on related topics.
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Via MTI; Featured photo: Pexels
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