Photocatalytic reduction of CO2 to value-added fuels is a promising route to reduce global warming and enhance energy supply. However, poor selectivity and low efficiency of catalysts are usually the limiting factor of their applicability. Herein, a photoinduction method was developed to achieve the formation of Cu single atoms on a UiO-66-NH2 support (Cu SAs/UiO-66-NH2) that could significantly boost the photoreduction of CO2 to liquid fuels. Notably, the developed Cu SAs/UiO-66-NH2 achieved the solar-driven conversion of CO2 to methanol and ethanol with an evolution rate of 5.33 and 4.22 μmol h-1 g-1, respectively. These yields were much higher than those of pristine UiO-66-NH2 and Cu nanoparticles/UiO-66-NH2 composites. Theoretical calculations revealed that the introduction of the Cu SAs on the UiO-66-NH2 greatly facilitates the conversion of CO2 to CHO* and CO* intermediates, leading to excellent selectivity toward methanol and ethanol. This study provides new insights for designing high-performance catalyst for photocatalytic reduction of CO2 at the atomic scale.

Photoinduction of Cu Single Atoms Decorated on UiO-66-NH2 for Enhanced Photocatalytic Reduction of CO2 to Liquid Fuels.

Outdoor air pollution is a major contributor to the burden of disease worldwide. Most of the global population resides in places where air pollution levels, because of emissions from industry, power generation, transportation, and domestic burning, considerably exceed the World Health Organization's health-based air-quality guidelines. Outdoor air pollution poses an urgent worldwide public health challenge because it is ubiquitous and has numerous serious adverse human health effects, including cancer. Currently, there is substantial evidence from studies of humans and experimental animals as well as mechanistic evidence to support a causal link between outdoor (ambient) air pollution, and especially particulate matter (PM) in outdoor air, with lung cancer incidence and mortality. It is estimated that hundreds of thousands of lung cancer deaths annually worldwide are attributable to PM air pollution. Epidemiological evidence on outdoor air pollution and the risk of other types of cancer, such as bladder cancer or breast cancer, is more limited. Outdoor air pollution may also be associated with poorer cancer survival, although further research is needed. This report presents an overview of outdoor air pollutants, sources, and global levels, as well as a description of epidemiological evidence linking outdoor air pollution with cancer incidence and mortality. Biological mechanisms of air pollution-derived carcinogenesis are also described. This report concludes by summarizing public health/policy recommendations, including multilevel interventions aimed at individual, community, and regional scales. Specific roles for medical and health care communities with regard to prevention and advocacy and recommendations for further research are also described.

https://acsjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.3322/caac.21632

Outdoor air pollution and cancer: An overview of the current evidence and public health recommendations.

Effects of air pollutants on the transmission and severity of respiratory viral infections.

Health and economic impact of air pollution in the states of India: the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

Assessing the relationship between ground levels of ozone (O3) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) with coronavirus (COVID-19) in Milan, Italy.

One of our era's greatest scourges is air pollution, on account not only of its impact on climate change but also its impact on public and individual health due to increasing morbidity and mortality. There are many pollutants that are major factors in disease in humans. Among them, Particulate Matter (PM), particles of variable but very small diameter, penetrate the respiratory system via inhalation, causing respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, reproductive and central nervous system dysfunctions, and cancer. Despite the fact that ozone in the stratosphere plays a protective role against ultraviolet irradiation, it is harmful when in high concentration at ground level, also affecting the respiratory and cardiovascular system. Furthermore, nitrogen oxide, sulfur dioxide, Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), dioxins, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are all considered air pollutants that are harmful to humans. Carbon monoxide can even provoke direct poisoning when breathed in at high levels. Heavy metals such as lead, when absorbed into the human body, can lead to direct poisoning or chronic intoxication, depending on exposure. Diseases occurring from the aforementioned substances include principally respiratory problems such as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), asthma, bronchiolitis, and also lung cancer, cardiovascular events, central nervous system dysfunctions, and cutaneous diseases. Last but not least, climate change resulting from environmental pollution affects the geographical distribution of many infectious diseases, as do natural disasters. The only way to tackle this problem is through public awareness coupled with a multidisciplinary approach by scientific experts; national and international organizations must address the emergence of this threat and propose sustainable solutions.

/pdf/environmental-and-health-impacts-of-air-pollution-a-review-8y7nwckg81.pdf

Ioannis Manisalidis

Papers

Environmental and Health Impacts of Air Pollution: A Review.

Environmental Health in Psychology and Hampering Urgently Demanded Progress