Chon-Lin Lee - Profile on Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Chon-Lin Lee

Chemosphere, Apr 1, 2020

h i g h l i g h t s g r a p h i c a l a b s t r a c t PAHs and PCBs were enriched in the SML, bot... more h i g h l i g h t s g r a p h i c a l a b s t r a c t PAHs and PCBs were enriched in the SML, both for particles and dissolved compounds. Particles in the SML poses a higher risk to the marine ecosystem than in the SSW. Cluster analysis revealed that PAH-PCB patterns were different between sites.

Frontiers in Marine Science, May 13, 2022

Marine plastic debris is an environmental problem, and its degradation into microplastics (1-5000... more Marine plastic debris is an environmental problem, and its degradation into microplastics (1-5000 mm) introduces them into the food chain. In this study, small polyoxymethylene (global production ~3000 Tg per year) pellets were exposed in terrestrial and simulated marine environments to heat and light, resulting in cracking during decay with increasing IR absorption (OH-bonds). Furthermore, sunlight over three years reduced pellet mass and diameter (~10% and ~40%), initially yielding 100-300 mm fragments. Changes under UV irradiation were smaller as it could not penetrate into particle interiors. Characteristic spacing of surface striations (100-300 µm) initiated radial cracks to pellet interiors, and breakdown ultimately meant 95% of particles were <300 µm, which are potentially incorporated in marine turbidites.

Environmental Science and Pollution Research

The change in air quality in cities can be the product of regulation and emissions. Regulations r... more The change in air quality in cities can be the product of regulation and emissions. Regulations require enforcement of emission reduction, but it is often shifting economic and societal structures that influence pollutant emissions. This study examines the long-term record of air pollutants in Kaohsiung, where post-war industrialisation increased pollution substantially, although improvements are observed in recent decades as the city moved to a more mixed economy. The study tracks both gases and particles across a period of significant change in pollution sources in the city. Concentrations of SO2 and aerosol SO42− were especially high ~1970, but these gradually declined, although SO42− to a lesser extent than its precursor, SO2. While twenty-first century emissions of SO2 and NOx have declined, this has been less so for NH3, because it arises from predominantly agricultural sources. The atmosphere in Kaohsiung continues to have high concentrations of O3, and these have risen in th...

Impact of air pollutant of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) on the yearly decline of pulmonary in patients with asthma

Occupational and environmental health, 2020

RESEARCH ARTICLE Source Apportionment and Risk Assessment of Emerging Contaminants: An Approach of Pharmaco-Signature in Water Systems

This paper presents a methodology based on multivariate data analysis for characterizing potentia... more This paper presents a methodology based on multivariate data analysis for characterizing potential source contributions of emerging contaminants (ECs) detected in 26 river water samples across multi-scape regions during dry and wet seasons. Based on this methodolo-gy, we unveil an approach toward potential source contributions of ECs, a concept we refer to as the “Pharmaco-signature. ” Exploratory analysis of data points has been carried out by unsupervised pattern recognition (hierarchical cluster analysis, HCA) and receptor model (principal component analysis-multiple linear regression, PCA-MLR) in an attempt to dem-onstrate significant source contributions of ECs in different land-use zone. Robust cluster solutions grouped the database according to different EC profiles. PCA-MLR identified that 58.9 % of the mean summed ECs were contributed by domestic impact, 9.7 % by antibiotics application, and 31.4 % by drug abuse. Diclofenac, ibuprofen, codeine, ampicillin, tetracy-cline, an...

East Asia (2010): Continent Wide Dust

Taiwan

World Seas: an Environmental Evaluation, 2019

This work analyzes surface sediment samples collected from forty stations along the Kaohsiung coa... more This work analyzes surface sediment samples collected from forty stations along the Kaohsiung coast in southern Taiwan for chlorobenzenes (CBs) and hexachlorobutadiene (HCBD). The highest CBs concentrations are recorded in a station located at about 10 km west off the outlet of Da-lin-pu ocean outfall pipe, with total di-, tri-, tetra-, penta-and hexa-chlorobenzenes concentrations of 290.5, 117.1, 64.5, 15.7, and 22.3 ng/g, respectively. The major pollution source of HCBD is most likely the Tso-yin ocean outfall pipe. While the Dahlin-pu ocean outfall pipe and Kao-ping Chi estuary, located in the southern portion of Kaohsiung coast, are the major contributors of hexachlorobenzene to the area studied herein. In addition, the average sediment concentrations of

Scientific Reports, 2021

Considered that human activities mostly occur below building heights, the objective of this study... more Considered that human activities mostly occur below building heights, the objective of this study was to investigate the temporal variations of fine particular matter (PM2.5)-associated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and benzo[a]pyrene-equivalent (BaPeq) concentrations at four different elevations (6.1, 12.4, 18.4, and 27.1 m) in Kaohsiung City, the largest industrial city of southern Taiwan. Temperature variation was critical for the PM2.5-associated PAH concentrations, which were dominated by benzo[g,h,i]perylene (0.27 ± 0.04 ng m−3 and 24.43% of the total concentration) and other high molecular weight (HMW) species. The PM2.5-associated BaPeq was dominated by 5-ring PAH (36.09%). The PM2.5-associated PAH and BaPeq concentrations at all elevations were significantly increased in winter. In the night, the correlations between the PM2.5-associated PAH concentrations and atmospheric temperatures became negatively stronger, notably at lower elevations (r = − 0.73 ~ − 0.86), w...

Journal of Asthma and Allergy, 2021

Exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) associated with ambient air particulate matte... more Exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) associated with ambient air particulate matter (PM) poses significant health concerns. Increased acute exacerbation (AE) frequency in asthmatic patients has been associated with ambient PAHs, but which subgroup of patients are particularly susceptible to ambient PAHs is uncertain. We developed a new model to simulate grid-scale PM 2.5 -PAH levels in order to evaluate whether the severity of asthma as measured by the Global Initiative of Asthma (GINA) levels of treatment is related to cumulative exposure of ambient PAHs. Methods: Patients with asthma residing in the northern Taiwan were reviewed retrospectively from 2014 to 2017. PM 2.5 were sampled and analysed for PAHs twice a month over a 72-hour period, in addition to collecting the routinely monitored air pollutant data from an established air quality monitoring network. In combination with correlation analysis and principal component analysis, multivariate linear regression models were performed to simulate hourly grid-scale PM 2.5 -PAH concentrations (ng/m 3 ). A geographic information system mapping approach with ordinary kriging interpolation method was used to calculate the annual exposure of PAHs (ng/m). Results: Among the 387 patients with asthma aged 18 to 93 (median 62), 97 subjects were treated as GINA step 5 (24%). Asthmatics in GINA 5 subgroup with high annual PAHs exposure were likely to have a higher annual frequency of any AE (1 (0-12), p<0.0001). Annual PAHs exposure was correlated with the annual frequency of any exacerbation (r=0.11, p=0.02). This was more significant in the GINA 5 subgroup (r=0.29, p=0.005) and in the GINA 5 subgroup with severe acute exacerbations (r=0.51, p=0.002). Annual PAHs exposure, severe acute exacerbation and GINA steps were independent variables that predict annual frequency of any exacerbation. Conclusion: Asthmatic patients in the GINA 5 subgroup with acute exacerbations were more susceptible to the effect of environmental PAHs on their exacerbation frequency. Reducing environmental levels of PAHs will have the greatest impact on the more severe asthma patients.

Environmental Risks and Sphingolipid Signatures in Adult Asthma and Its Phenotypic Clusters: A Multi-Center Exploratory Study

SSRN Electronic Journal, 2021

Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 2020

Epidemiological studies have suggested the effects of ambient fine particles (PM 2.5) on asthma, ... more Epidemiological studies have suggested the effects of ambient fine particles (PM 2.5) on asthma, but the effects of specific components of PM 2.5 on asthma remain to be explored. Here, we studied the effect of PM 2.5-bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) on asthma acute exacerbation. The data on daily counts of emergency room visits (ERVs) were obtained from Wan Fang Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan, from 2012 to 2015. The daily concentrations of PM 2.5 and pollutant gases were obtained from a local air quality monitoring station. The levels of PM 2.5-bound PAH were estimated by an established grid-scale model. Relative risks for ERVs as the increase in the level of ambient pollutants were calculated by using a generalized additive model of Poisson regression. In the present study, we observed statistically significant positive associations between PM 2.5 and asthma ERVs for all age groups. PM 2.5-bound PAH was also associated with asthma ERVs for all age groups. In the adult subgroup analysis, there was a significant association between PM 2.5-bound PAH and asthma ERVs at lags 1 and 2 (RR 1.289, 95% CI 1.050-1.582 and RR 1.242, 95% CI 1.039-1.485). The impacts of air pollution on the risk of pediatric asthma ERV were found to be significant for PM 2.5 at lag day 0 (RR 1.310, 95% CI 1.069-1.606). Moreover, pediatric asthma ERVs were significantly associated with the levels of PM 2.5-bound PAH at lag 1 and 2 days (RR 1.576, 95% CI 1.371-1.810 and RR 1.426, 95% CI 1.265-1.607). The study provides evidence that PM 2.5-bound PAHs were associated with an increased risk of asthma attacks. Our data further suggested that traffic exhaust is a primary source of PM 2.5-bound PAHs.

Chemosphere, 2020

h i g h l i g h t s g r a p h i c a l a b s t r a c t A grid-scale model for simulating hourly BT... more h i g h l i g h t s g r a p h i c a l a b s t r a c t A grid-scale model for simulating hourly BTEX concentrations in Taiwan was developed. Hourly simulated concentrations of PAH and BTEX were compared using a grid-scale model. The model demonstrated the effects of sources on hourly BTEX distribution. A significant relationship was found between exposure risk and population density. Data visualization, via geographic information system, illustrates the BTEX spatiotemporal distribution.

Chemosphere, 2020

h i g h l i g h t s g r a p h i c a l a b s t r a c t PAHs and PCBs were enriched in the SML, bot... more h i g h l i g h t s g r a p h i c a l a b s t r a c t PAHs and PCBs were enriched in the SML, both for particles and dissolved compounds. Particles in the SML poses a higher risk to the marine ecosystem than in the SSW. Cluster analysis revealed that PAH-PCB patterns were different between sites.

Marine Pollution Bulletin, 2019

Polypropylene (PP) pellets exposed to solar radiation, ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation and heat in ... more Polypropylene (PP) pellets exposed to solar radiation, ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation and heat in four stimulated treatments: dry-air, seawater-air, seawater-darkness, and dry-darkness for 0.5-1.5 years to investigate morphology and chemical change under various environmental conditions. Scanning electron microscopy and infrared spectroscopy were employed to characterize the virgin and degraded pellets. The degraded PP pellets under solar and UVB irradiation revealed 35% and 12% cracks, respectively. Moreover, carbonyl and hydroxyl groups formed on the surface gradually extended to the interior. However, under photo-irradiation, PP pellets floating in seawater showed less degradation than those in a dry environment. The formation of biofilm may retard the photo-degradation of PP pellets in the seawater when biocides are absent. Results also indicated that the photo oxidation dominated over thermal oxidation during the degradation process in the terrestrial and marine environments.

Marine Pollution Bulletin, 2018

Virgin polyvinyl chloride (PVC) particles were exposed to heat, ultraviolet B (UVB) and solar rad... more Virgin polyvinyl chloride (PVC) particles were exposed to heat, ultraviolet B (UVB) and solar radiation either in artificial seawater or in air for different periods of time. The surface and chemical properties of fresh and degraded particle surfaces were determined via image analysis using scanning electron micrographs, a Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) specific surface area analyzer and infrared spectroscopy. Thermal and UVB degradation resulted in unique PVC morphologies. In addition, the increased presences of functional groups were evident as dehydrochlorination and oxidation during the degradation process, which altered the chemical properties of PVC. In contrast, under solar exposure with or without seawater, unevenness to the surface was noted that seems to originate from degradation of the PVC surface; in addition, no new functional groups were found. This suggests that the chemical properties of PVC are stable over extended periods in the marine environment.

Chemosphere, 2019

h i g h l i g h t s g r a p h i c a l a b s t r a c t First study on alkylphenol metabolite sourc... more h i g h l i g h t s g r a p h i c a l a b s t r a c t First study on alkylphenol metabolite sources and levels in southern Taiwan coasts. Confirmed a role for rivers and canals in transporting pollutants to coastal zones. Ocean currents disperse coastal pollutants, reducing alkylphenol ethoxylate buildup. Total organic carbon is important in controlling alkylphenol metabolite transport. Aquatic organisms were at higher risk near the canal, harbor, and outfall areas.

Marine Pollution Bulletin, 2017

The possible impact of three types of anthropogenic surfactants on the ability of marine dissolve... more The possible impact of three types of anthropogenic surfactants on the ability of marine dissolved organic carbon (DOC) to form self-assembled microgels was evaluated. The behavior of existing native microgels was also examined in the presence of surfactants. These results reveal that the release of surfactants even at low concentrations into the aquatic environment could effectively hinder the self-assembly of DOC polymers. The extent of the size reduction had the following order: anionic, cationic, and non-ionic. Furthermore, charged surfactants can disrupt existing native microgels, converting large assemblies into smaller particles. One possible mechanisms is that surfactants are able to enhance the stability of DOC polymers and disrupt aggregates due to their surface charges and protein-denaturing activities. These findings suggest that the ecological system is altered by anthropogenic surfactants, and provide useful information for ecological assessments of different types of surfactants and raise warnings about surfactant applications.

Water Research, 2018

Rivers drive large amounts of terrestrial and riverine organic matter into oceans. These organic ... more Rivers drive large amounts of terrestrial and riverine organic matter into oceans. These organic materials may alter the self-assembly of marine dissolved organic matter (DOM) polymers into microgels and can even affect the behavior of existing natural microgels. We used Suwannee River humic acid, fulvic acid, and natural organic matter as a model of riverine organic matter (ROM) to investigate the impacts of ROM input on DOM polymer and microgel conversion. Our results indicated that the release of extra ROM, even at low concentrations (0.1-10 mg L -1 ), into the marine organic matter pool decreased the size of self-assembled DOM polymers (from 4-5 µm to < 1 µm) and dispersed the existing natural microgels into smaller particles (from 4-5 µm to 2-3 µm). The particle size of the microgel phase was also less sensitive than that of the DOM polymers to external changes (addition of ROM). This size reduction in DOM aggregation and exsisting microgels may be closely tied to the surface chemistry of the organic matter, such as negative surface charge stabilization and Ca 2+ cross-linking bridges. These findings reveal that ROM inputs may therefore impede the self-assembly of DOM polymers into particulate organic matter and reduce the sedimentation flux of organic carbon and other elements from surface water to the deep ocean, thereby disturbing the biological pump, the downward transportation of nutrients, and the marine organic carbon cycle.

Journal of Hazardous Materials, 2017

We use riverine and marine DOC polymers to examine their aggregation behavior, and to evaluate th... more We use riverine and marine DOC polymers to examine their aggregation behavior, and to evaluate the roles of microgel formation in scavenging of chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM) and heavy metals in a river-sea system. Our results indicate that riverine and marine microgels did not exhibit very much difference in size and self-assembly curve; however, the assembly effectiveness ([microgel]/DOC) of marine samples was much higher than riverine. Instead of concentration of DOC, other factors such as types and sources of DOC polymers may control the microgel abundance in aquatic environments. After filtering water samples (microgels removed), the CDOM and selected metals (Cu, Ni, Mn) in the filtrate were quantified. CDOM and metals were concurrently removed to an extent via DOC polymer re-aggregation, which also suggested that the microgels had sequestering capability in CDOM and metals. This finding provides an alternative route for CDOM and heavy metals removal from the water column. As such the process of re-aggregation into microgels should then be considered besides traditional phase partitioning in the assessment of the ecological risk and fate of hazardous materials.

Chemosphere, Apr 1, 2020

h i g h l i g h t s g r a p h i c a l a b s t r a c t PAHs and PCBs were enriched in the SML, bot... more h i g h l i g h t s g r a p h i c a l a b s t r a c t PAHs and PCBs were enriched in the SML, both for particles and dissolved compounds. Particles in the SML poses a higher risk to the marine ecosystem than in the SSW. Cluster analysis revealed that PAH-PCB patterns were different between sites.

Frontiers in Marine Science, May 13, 2022

Marine plastic debris is an environmental problem, and its degradation into microplastics (1-5000... more Marine plastic debris is an environmental problem, and its degradation into microplastics (1-5000 mm) introduces them into the food chain. In this study, small polyoxymethylene (global production ~3000 Tg per year) pellets were exposed in terrestrial and simulated marine environments to heat and light, resulting in cracking during decay with increasing IR absorption (OH-bonds). Furthermore, sunlight over three years reduced pellet mass and diameter (~10% and ~40%), initially yielding 100-300 mm fragments. Changes under UV irradiation were smaller as it could not penetrate into particle interiors. Characteristic spacing of surface striations (100-300 µm) initiated radial cracks to pellet interiors, and breakdown ultimately meant 95% of particles were <300 µm, which are potentially incorporated in marine turbidites.

Environmental Science and Pollution Research

The change in air quality in cities can be the product of regulation and emissions. Regulations r... more The change in air quality in cities can be the product of regulation and emissions. Regulations require enforcement of emission reduction, but it is often shifting economic and societal structures that influence pollutant emissions. This study examines the long-term record of air pollutants in Kaohsiung, where post-war industrialisation increased pollution substantially, although improvements are observed in recent decades as the city moved to a more mixed economy. The study tracks both gases and particles across a period of significant change in pollution sources in the city. Concentrations of SO2 and aerosol SO42− were especially high ~1970, but these gradually declined, although SO42− to a lesser extent than its precursor, SO2. While twenty-first century emissions of SO2 and NOx have declined, this has been less so for NH3, because it arises from predominantly agricultural sources. The atmosphere in Kaohsiung continues to have high concentrations of O3, and these have risen in th...

Impact of air pollutant of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) on the yearly decline of pulmonary in patients with asthma

Occupational and environmental health, 2020

RESEARCH ARTICLE Source Apportionment and Risk Assessment of Emerging Contaminants: An Approach of Pharmaco-Signature in Water Systems

This paper presents a methodology based on multivariate data analysis for characterizing potentia... more This paper presents a methodology based on multivariate data analysis for characterizing potential source contributions of emerging contaminants (ECs) detected in 26 river water samples across multi-scape regions during dry and wet seasons. Based on this methodolo-gy, we unveil an approach toward potential source contributions of ECs, a concept we refer to as the “Pharmaco-signature. ” Exploratory analysis of data points has been carried out by unsupervised pattern recognition (hierarchical cluster analysis, HCA) and receptor model (principal component analysis-multiple linear regression, PCA-MLR) in an attempt to dem-onstrate significant source contributions of ECs in different land-use zone. Robust cluster solutions grouped the database according to different EC profiles. PCA-MLR identified that 58.9 % of the mean summed ECs were contributed by domestic impact, 9.7 % by antibiotics application, and 31.4 % by drug abuse. Diclofenac, ibuprofen, codeine, ampicillin, tetracy-cline, an...

East Asia (2010): Continent Wide Dust

Taiwan

World Seas: an Environmental Evaluation, 2019

This work analyzes surface sediment samples collected from forty stations along the Kaohsiung coa... more This work analyzes surface sediment samples collected from forty stations along the Kaohsiung coast in southern Taiwan for chlorobenzenes (CBs) and hexachlorobutadiene (HCBD). The highest CBs concentrations are recorded in a station located at about 10 km west off the outlet of Da-lin-pu ocean outfall pipe, with total di-, tri-, tetra-, penta-and hexa-chlorobenzenes concentrations of 290.5, 117.1, 64.5, 15.7, and 22.3 ng/g, respectively. The major pollution source of HCBD is most likely the Tso-yin ocean outfall pipe. While the Dahlin-pu ocean outfall pipe and Kao-ping Chi estuary, located in the southern portion of Kaohsiung coast, are the major contributors of hexachlorobenzene to the area studied herein. In addition, the average sediment concentrations of

Scientific Reports, 2021

Considered that human activities mostly occur below building heights, the objective of this study... more Considered that human activities mostly occur below building heights, the objective of this study was to investigate the temporal variations of fine particular matter (PM2.5)-associated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and benzo[a]pyrene-equivalent (BaPeq) concentrations at four different elevations (6.1, 12.4, 18.4, and 27.1 m) in Kaohsiung City, the largest industrial city of southern Taiwan. Temperature variation was critical for the PM2.5-associated PAH concentrations, which were dominated by benzo[g,h,i]perylene (0.27 ± 0.04 ng m−3 and 24.43% of the total concentration) and other high molecular weight (HMW) species. The PM2.5-associated BaPeq was dominated by 5-ring PAH (36.09%). The PM2.5-associated PAH and BaPeq concentrations at all elevations were significantly increased in winter. In the night, the correlations between the PM2.5-associated PAH concentrations and atmospheric temperatures became negatively stronger, notably at lower elevations (r = − 0.73 ~ − 0.86), w...

Journal of Asthma and Allergy, 2021

Exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) associated with ambient air particulate matte... more Exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) associated with ambient air particulate matter (PM) poses significant health concerns. Increased acute exacerbation (AE) frequency in asthmatic patients has been associated with ambient PAHs, but which subgroup of patients are particularly susceptible to ambient PAHs is uncertain. We developed a new model to simulate grid-scale PM 2.5 -PAH levels in order to evaluate whether the severity of asthma as measured by the Global Initiative of Asthma (GINA) levels of treatment is related to cumulative exposure of ambient PAHs. Methods: Patients with asthma residing in the northern Taiwan were reviewed retrospectively from 2014 to 2017. PM 2.5 were sampled and analysed for PAHs twice a month over a 72-hour period, in addition to collecting the routinely monitored air pollutant data from an established air quality monitoring network. In combination with correlation analysis and principal component analysis, multivariate linear regression models were performed to simulate hourly grid-scale PM 2.5 -PAH concentrations (ng/m 3 ). A geographic information system mapping approach with ordinary kriging interpolation method was used to calculate the annual exposure of PAHs (ng/m). Results: Among the 387 patients with asthma aged 18 to 93 (median 62), 97 subjects were treated as GINA step 5 (24%). Asthmatics in GINA 5 subgroup with high annual PAHs exposure were likely to have a higher annual frequency of any AE (1 (0-12), p<0.0001). Annual PAHs exposure was correlated with the annual frequency of any exacerbation (r=0.11, p=0.02). This was more significant in the GINA 5 subgroup (r=0.29, p=0.005) and in the GINA 5 subgroup with severe acute exacerbations (r=0.51, p=0.002). Annual PAHs exposure, severe acute exacerbation and GINA steps were independent variables that predict annual frequency of any exacerbation. Conclusion: Asthmatic patients in the GINA 5 subgroup with acute exacerbations were more susceptible to the effect of environmental PAHs on their exacerbation frequency. Reducing environmental levels of PAHs will have the greatest impact on the more severe asthma patients.

Environmental Risks and Sphingolipid Signatures in Adult Asthma and Its Phenotypic Clusters: A Multi-Center Exploratory Study

SSRN Electronic Journal, 2021

Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 2020

Epidemiological studies have suggested the effects of ambient fine particles (PM 2.5) on asthma, ... more Epidemiological studies have suggested the effects of ambient fine particles (PM 2.5) on asthma, but the effects of specific components of PM 2.5 on asthma remain to be explored. Here, we studied the effect of PM 2.5-bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) on asthma acute exacerbation. The data on daily counts of emergency room visits (ERVs) were obtained from Wan Fang Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan, from 2012 to 2015. The daily concentrations of PM 2.5 and pollutant gases were obtained from a local air quality monitoring station. The levels of PM 2.5-bound PAH were estimated by an established grid-scale model. Relative risks for ERVs as the increase in the level of ambient pollutants were calculated by using a generalized additive model of Poisson regression. In the present study, we observed statistically significant positive associations between PM 2.5 and asthma ERVs for all age groups. PM 2.5-bound PAH was also associated with asthma ERVs for all age groups. In the adult subgroup analysis, there was a significant association between PM 2.5-bound PAH and asthma ERVs at lags 1 and 2 (RR 1.289, 95% CI 1.050-1.582 and RR 1.242, 95% CI 1.039-1.485). The impacts of air pollution on the risk of pediatric asthma ERV were found to be significant for PM 2.5 at lag day 0 (RR 1.310, 95% CI 1.069-1.606). Moreover, pediatric asthma ERVs were significantly associated with the levels of PM 2.5-bound PAH at lag 1 and 2 days (RR 1.576, 95% CI 1.371-1.810 and RR 1.426, 95% CI 1.265-1.607). The study provides evidence that PM 2.5-bound PAHs were associated with an increased risk of asthma attacks. Our data further suggested that traffic exhaust is a primary source of PM 2.5-bound PAHs.

Chemosphere, 2020

h i g h l i g h t s g r a p h i c a l a b s t r a c t A grid-scale model for simulating hourly BT... more h i g h l i g h t s g r a p h i c a l a b s t r a c t A grid-scale model for simulating hourly BTEX concentrations in Taiwan was developed. Hourly simulated concentrations of PAH and BTEX were compared using a grid-scale model. The model demonstrated the effects of sources on hourly BTEX distribution. A significant relationship was found between exposure risk and population density. Data visualization, via geographic information system, illustrates the BTEX spatiotemporal distribution.

Chemosphere, 2020

h i g h l i g h t s g r a p h i c a l a b s t r a c t PAHs and PCBs were enriched in the SML, bot... more h i g h l i g h t s g r a p h i c a l a b s t r a c t PAHs and PCBs were enriched in the SML, both for particles and dissolved compounds. Particles in the SML poses a higher risk to the marine ecosystem than in the SSW. Cluster analysis revealed that PAH-PCB patterns were different between sites.

Marine Pollution Bulletin, 2019

Polypropylene (PP) pellets exposed to solar radiation, ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation and heat in ... more Polypropylene (PP) pellets exposed to solar radiation, ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation and heat in four stimulated treatments: dry-air, seawater-air, seawater-darkness, and dry-darkness for 0.5-1.5 years to investigate morphology and chemical change under various environmental conditions. Scanning electron microscopy and infrared spectroscopy were employed to characterize the virgin and degraded pellets. The degraded PP pellets under solar and UVB irradiation revealed 35% and 12% cracks, respectively. Moreover, carbonyl and hydroxyl groups formed on the surface gradually extended to the interior. However, under photo-irradiation, PP pellets floating in seawater showed less degradation than those in a dry environment. The formation of biofilm may retard the photo-degradation of PP pellets in the seawater when biocides are absent. Results also indicated that the photo oxidation dominated over thermal oxidation during the degradation process in the terrestrial and marine environments.

Marine Pollution Bulletin, 2018

Virgin polyvinyl chloride (PVC) particles were exposed to heat, ultraviolet B (UVB) and solar rad... more Virgin polyvinyl chloride (PVC) particles were exposed to heat, ultraviolet B (UVB) and solar radiation either in artificial seawater or in air for different periods of time. The surface and chemical properties of fresh and degraded particle surfaces were determined via image analysis using scanning electron micrographs, a Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) specific surface area analyzer and infrared spectroscopy. Thermal and UVB degradation resulted in unique PVC morphologies. In addition, the increased presences of functional groups were evident as dehydrochlorination and oxidation during the degradation process, which altered the chemical properties of PVC. In contrast, under solar exposure with or without seawater, unevenness to the surface was noted that seems to originate from degradation of the PVC surface; in addition, no new functional groups were found. This suggests that the chemical properties of PVC are stable over extended periods in the marine environment.

Chemosphere, 2019

h i g h l i g h t s g r a p h i c a l a b s t r a c t First study on alkylphenol metabolite sourc... more h i g h l i g h t s g r a p h i c a l a b s t r a c t First study on alkylphenol metabolite sources and levels in southern Taiwan coasts. Confirmed a role for rivers and canals in transporting pollutants to coastal zones. Ocean currents disperse coastal pollutants, reducing alkylphenol ethoxylate buildup. Total organic carbon is important in controlling alkylphenol metabolite transport. Aquatic organisms were at higher risk near the canal, harbor, and outfall areas.

Marine Pollution Bulletin, 2017

The possible impact of three types of anthropogenic surfactants on the ability of marine dissolve... more The possible impact of three types of anthropogenic surfactants on the ability of marine dissolved organic carbon (DOC) to form self-assembled microgels was evaluated. The behavior of existing native microgels was also examined in the presence of surfactants. These results reveal that the release of surfactants even at low concentrations into the aquatic environment could effectively hinder the self-assembly of DOC polymers. The extent of the size reduction had the following order: anionic, cationic, and non-ionic. Furthermore, charged surfactants can disrupt existing native microgels, converting large assemblies into smaller particles. One possible mechanisms is that surfactants are able to enhance the stability of DOC polymers and disrupt aggregates due to their surface charges and protein-denaturing activities. These findings suggest that the ecological system is altered by anthropogenic surfactants, and provide useful information for ecological assessments of different types of surfactants and raise warnings about surfactant applications.

Water Research, 2018

Rivers drive large amounts of terrestrial and riverine organic matter into oceans. These organic ... more Rivers drive large amounts of terrestrial and riverine organic matter into oceans. These organic materials may alter the self-assembly of marine dissolved organic matter (DOM) polymers into microgels and can even affect the behavior of existing natural microgels. We used Suwannee River humic acid, fulvic acid, and natural organic matter as a model of riverine organic matter (ROM) to investigate the impacts of ROM input on DOM polymer and microgel conversion. Our results indicated that the release of extra ROM, even at low concentrations (0.1-10 mg L -1 ), into the marine organic matter pool decreased the size of self-assembled DOM polymers (from 4-5 µm to < 1 µm) and dispersed the existing natural microgels into smaller particles (from 4-5 µm to 2-3 µm). The particle size of the microgel phase was also less sensitive than that of the DOM polymers to external changes (addition of ROM). This size reduction in DOM aggregation and exsisting microgels may be closely tied to the surface chemistry of the organic matter, such as negative surface charge stabilization and Ca 2+ cross-linking bridges. These findings reveal that ROM inputs may therefore impede the self-assembly of DOM polymers into particulate organic matter and reduce the sedimentation flux of organic carbon and other elements from surface water to the deep ocean, thereby disturbing the biological pump, the downward transportation of nutrients, and the marine organic carbon cycle.

Journal of Hazardous Materials, 2017

We use riverine and marine DOC polymers to examine their aggregation behavior, and to evaluate th... more We use riverine and marine DOC polymers to examine their aggregation behavior, and to evaluate the roles of microgel formation in scavenging of chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM) and heavy metals in a river-sea system. Our results indicate that riverine and marine microgels did not exhibit very much difference in size and self-assembly curve; however, the assembly effectiveness ([microgel]/DOC) of marine samples was much higher than riverine. Instead of concentration of DOC, other factors such as types and sources of DOC polymers may control the microgel abundance in aquatic environments. After filtering water samples (microgels removed), the CDOM and selected metals (Cu, Ni, Mn) in the filtrate were quantified. CDOM and metals were concurrently removed to an extent via DOC polymer re-aggregation, which also suggested that the microgels had sequestering capability in CDOM and metals. This finding provides an alternative route for CDOM and heavy metals removal from the water column. As such the process of re-aggregation into microgels should then be considered besides traditional phase partitioning in the assessment of the ecological risk and fate of hazardous materials.