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Limited evidence is available regarding the potential heterogeneity of ambient temperature on blood pressure (BP) in various climate zones. To explore the effect of daily ambient temperature on BP in various climate zones across 31 provinces in China. A representative population sample (n = 451,770) were obtained from the China Hypertension Survey study (CHS) from October 2012 to December 2015. Survey seasons were divided into warm and cold seasons. Survey sites were divided into three climate zones as subtropical, temperate monsoon and temperate continental zones. After adjustment for confounders, an overall 10 °C decrease in ambient temperature was statistically associated 0.74 mmHg (95% CI: 0.69, 0.79) and 0.60 mmHg (95% CI: −0.63, −0.57) rise for SBP and DBP, respectively. In the warm season, U-shaped exposure-response curves were observed between ambient temperature and BP in temperate monsoon and continental zones, and liner curves in other zones. A greater SBP change due to a lower temperature was observed in subtropical zones, so did DBP in temperate continental zones, especially for cold season. Female, rural and elderly populations were more susceptible to cold weather than their counterparts. There is a geographical disparity between temperature and BP across different climate zones, which should been taken into consideration when maintaining stable blood pressure levels. There is a geographical disparity between temperature and blood pressure across different climate zone, U-shaped curves were observed in temperate zones in the warm season. Unlabelled Image • There is a geographical disparity between temperature and blood pressure across different climate zone. • The current study observed U-shaped curves of ambient temperature and blood pressure in temperate zones. • The optimum temperatures were different among the climates. • A greater SBP change due to a lower temperature was observed in subtropical zones, especially for cold season. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The impact of a typical municipal solid waste incinerator (MSWI) on polychlorinated naphthalene (PCN) concentrations in surrounding soil was studied. We collected 6 stack gas samples from the MSWI and 21 soil samples from sampling sites at distances of between 300 and 1700m from the MSWI stack. Total dl-PCN (dioxin-like PCN) concentrations in the stack gas samples ranged from 6898 and 89,032pgm−3, with a mean value of 36,241pgm−3. The total dl-PCN concentrations in the soil samples ranged from 30.35 to 280.9pgg−1, with a mean value of 87.03 and a median value of 70.32pgg−1, while the TEQ values were between 7.7 and 130.2fg TEQ g−1, with a mean value of 41.12fg TEQ g−1 and a median value of 31.52fg TEQ g−1. The PCN homologue patterns and the results of Principal Component Analysis suggested that the MSWI may be a source of PCNs in the soils. A contour map, created using an ordinary Kriging interpolation technique, showed that a limited area (≤1000m radius) surrounding the MSWI was influenced by the emissions from the MSWI. Furthermore, an exponential function equation was proposed to quantify the relationship between TEQs of PCNs and the distance from the stack. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Dust aerosol, one of the important light-absorbing impurities in snow and ice sheets in the Tibet Plateau (TP), can significantly affect the magnitude and timing of snow melting and glacier recession by altering the surface albedo. It is thus of great importance to understand the potential source and transport mechanism of the dust aerosol over the TP. A typical dust storm case, erupted from the Thar Desert (ThD) in South Asia on 1 to 4 May 2018, was selected to understand synoptic causes and a transport mechanism to the TP using the latest Second Modern-Era Retrospective analysis for Research and Applications (MERRA-2) reanalysis data. Comparing with active/passive satellite-based and AERONET-based observations, the MERRA-2 data provide both the spatio-temporal distribution and evolution process of the dust aerosol more accurately. This study also found that the entire Indian-Gangetic Plain (IGP), Southern India, the Bay of Bengal, and even the TP were influenced by the dust event. The synoptic analysis showed that the dust storm was caused jointly by an upper-level jet stream (ULJS), an upper trough and the subtropical high. A typical south-north secondary circulation adjacent its exit zone, mainly triggered by the ULJS, promoted much stronger and higher vertical uplift of the dust aerosols over the ThD. Consequently, those uplifted dust particles were easily transported to the TP across the majestic Himalayas by the southerly airflows in front of the low-pressure trough over Afghanistan and the southern branch trough over the Bengal Bay. These results indicate that dust aerosol and anthropogenic pollutions constrained and driven by the typical atmospheric circulation condition from South Asia are likely to be transported to the TP. Therefore, it is necessary to further pay attention to the influence of dust aerosols from South Asia on the weather and climate in the TP and its downstream areas. Unlabelled Image • A typical dust case can affect the Tibetan Plateau (TP) through two routes. • A secondary circulation triggered by an upper-level jet elevates dust higher. • High trough and its northward airflows cause the transport of uplifted dust to the TP. • The evolution of a dust event described by MERRA-2 is consistent with observations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]