Tobacco smoke contains many toxic, carcinogenic and mutagenic chemicals, as well as stable and unstable free radicals and reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the particulate and the gas phase with the potential for biological oxidative damage. Epidemiological evidence established that smoking is one of the most important extrinsic factor of premature morbidity and mortality. The objective of this ...

y Available control technologies and strategies include direct PM2.5 reduction technologies such as fabric filters (baghouses), electrostatic precipitators (ESPs), and diesel particulate filters (DPFs). Once installed, these strategies range in cost-effectiveness from as little as $48/ton PM2.5 to $685/ton PM2.5 (2010$) or more, depending on the source category. However, they also may involve t...

OBJECTIVE Many interventions to reduce allergen levels in the home are recommended to asthma and allergy patients. One that is readily available and can be highly effective is the use of high performing filters in forced air ventilation systems. METHODS We conducted a modeling analysis of the effectiveness of filter-based interventions in the home to reduce airborne asthma and allergy trigger...

Determination of trace element concentrations in atmospheric aerosols is important because of their toxic effects on human health. Additionally, they are now widely used in source apportionment studies. There is a number of methods for sample preparation of ambient particulate matter. One of the most widely used is microwave-assisted digestion of filter-based samples. Since the water-soluble fr...

Ambient particulate matter and gas in Kyoto were investigated by gravimetric analysis, X-ray fluorescence spectrometry, and ion chromatography in order to clarify their behavior and origin. The size distribution and characteristics of the chemical components in ambient particulates collected on PTFE membrane filters using an Andersen air sampler were examined from August 2001 to April 2004. A f...

BACKGROUND Distal embolization of plaque particulate liberated during stenting may cause periprocedural complications. The number, size, and volume of debris released during stenting, however, have not been quantified, rendering embolic protection approaches empiric. We used a novel method of microparticle size assessment to measure volume and characterize individual sizes of particles captured...