The impacts of open-pit mining-induced mineral dust deposition on the accumulation of rare earth elements (REEs) in residential indoor dust and the associated health risks remain poorly understood. Here, indoor dust samples were collected from residential areas within and beyond the Bayan Obo mining region. By integrating chemical analyses with mineral dust deposition simulated using the Weather Research and Forecasting model coupled with Chemistry (WRF-Chem), we investigated the spatial patterns, controlling factors, and health implications of REEs in indoor dust. The open-pit mining area acted as a persistent source of mineral dust emissions throughout the year, with pronounced seasonal variability in dust flux (0.133-49.2 t km-2; mean 7.71 t km-2). Light REEs (LREEs) showed pronounced enrichment and clear distance-decay gradients relative to heavy REEs (HREEs), with concentrations decreasing progressively away from the mine. Spatial statistical analyses revealed strong positive associations between mineral dust deposition and LREE enrichment, with high-high clusters concentrated within approximately 40 km of the mine. Bayesian regression demonstrated a consistently positive and statistically robust influence of dust deposition on REEs, with substantially stronger effects on LREEs. Shapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) analysis further indicated a nonlinear response, whereby REE accumulation became markedly enhanced once dust deposition exceeded a threshold. Health risk assessment showed that non-carcinogenic risks were dominated by LREE exposure, particularly for children, and that mining-related sources contributed over 70% of non-carcinogenic risk. Overall, this study establishes a process-based linkage between open-pit mining, atmospheric dust deposition, indoor contamination, and human health risk. These findings provide critical insights for addressing similar environmental and health challenges in other mining regions.
Excessively high dust concentrations can induce pneumoconiosis, a condition presenting considerable therapeutic challenges. Dust suppressants constitute one effective means of dust control; however, research on dust suppressants has predominantly focused on characterizing their performance properties, with no systematic evaluations to date of their toxic effects on lung tissue. Therefore, through modification and response surface analysis, this study determined the optimal formulation for a composite dust suppressant to be as follows: 0.47 g modified guar gum, 0.24 mL rhamnolipid, and 5.36 g polyethylene glycol. Three toxic-exposure models were established to investigate the effects of dust and dust suppressants-both individually and in combination-on the lung tissue of C57BL/6 mice. The results indicated that low concentrations of dust suppressant (4 mg/m3) reduced total protein and immunoglobulin levels, thereby lowering mucosal infection risk; moderate concentrations (4-20 mg/m3) inhibited M1-type alveolar macrophage polarization and inflammatory factor expression (IL-6, TNF-α, etc.); and high doses (100 mg/m3) reduced the pulmonary fibrosis positivity rate from 11.31% to 1.30%, showing a tendency to reduce the probability of fibrosis. This study preliminarily complements the toxicological research system of dust suppressants and offers preliminary reference for the safe application of composite dust suppressants.
The iron and steel industry is a major PM emitter. Using data from 99 Chinese sites, an LMDI model is applied to decompose PM emission changes into five process‑specific factors: steel output, energy consumption intensity, waste gas generation coefficient, stack emission concentration, and fugitive emission factor, separating stack from fugitive emissions. Nationally, PM emissions declined 23.6% from 2011-2016. The steel output effect drove an 83.7% increase in 2010-2011 but became a reduction driver after 2014. The waste gas generation coefficient effect consistently increased PM emissions (19,516 t in 2015-2016). The stack concentration effect was the dominant inhibitor (reduction up to - 31,558 t in 2015-2016). The fugitive emission factor effect shifted from positive (5,037 t in 2010-2011) to strongly negative (- 23,320 t in 2015-2016). Energy intensity effects were small (<25% contribution). Regional analysis reveals heterogeneity. Most regions followed the national trend, but South China and Northwest China showed annual PM increases, with positive stack emission concentration and fugitive emission factor effects. In Northwest China, the total effect was positive in five of six years, ranging from 1,408 t to 8,305 t annually, with fugitive emissions contributing up to 232% of the annual change. These findings imply that uniform national policies are insufficient. Targeted interventions of accelerating dust removal deployment in South/Northwest China and strengthening fugitive controls was proposed.Implications: The iron and steel industry remains a critical contributor to particulate matter (PM) emissions, with significant implications for air quality, public health, and climate policy. This study identifies and quantifies the key drivers of PM emissions across China's steel-producing regions, providing a nuanced foundation for targeted emission-reduction strategies. The findings underscore that while national PM emissions have declined overall - driven largely by improved stack emission controls and fugitive emission management - regional disparities persist, particularly in Northwest and South China where certain factors continue to promote emission increases. These insights emphasize the need for regionally tailored policies that address local industrial practices, energy structures, and enforcement capacities. By prioritizing technological upgrades in dust removal, fugitive emission containment, and energy efficiency, policymakers and industry managers can better align steel production growth with air quality and health protection goals. Furthermore, this analysis supports China's broader efforts to achieve "blue sky" objectives and transition toward greener industrial development, offering a replicable framework for other heavy industrial sectors and regions grappling with similar pollution challenges. Ultimately, integrating such evidence-based driver analyses into environmental governance can enhance the effectiveness of PM mitigation, reduce health burdens on vulnerable populations, and promote sustainable industrial transformation in the face of ongoing economic and climatic pressures.
We present the application of particle-shape parameters for silt grains in the 4-8 µm, 8-15 µm, and 15-31 µm fractions obtained using automatic particle-shape image analysis (Morphologi G3SE). Four shape parameters (HS Circularity, Convexity, Solidity, and Aspect Ratio), supported by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) investigations and multivariate statistical analyses, were used to aid interpretation of processes and formulation of hypotheses regarding possible sedimentary environments responsible for grain shape. The analysis examined dust particles collected during four Saharan dust intrusions into Europe: Greece (2016, 2018) and Poland (2021, 2024). The results suggest that the Convexity parameter is the most useful for distinguishing individual dust events (2016, 2018, 2021, and 2024), identifying similarities between them (particularly between 2021 and 2024), and demonstrating internal variability within a single dust plume between different deposition sites during the 2021 event. In contrast, HS Circularity and Solidity exhibited lower discriminatory and interpretative potential. Grain-size fractions below 10 µm showed the strongest ability to differentiate between dust events and deposition sites. This analysis may provide a basis for linking particle shapes with environments that may have contributed to the formation of the final shape of dust particles and may reflect a long, multi-stage pathway (MSteP). More than 75% of the analyzed dust particles were classified as subrounded, rounded or well rounded, and exhibited more isometric shapes with shallow or absent microdepressions. The predominance/presence of subrounded and rounded grains may suggest processes characteristic of subaqueous (fluvial or beach) environments.
As urban areas expand in eastern USA, the convergence of historical and modern anthropogenic source inputs has resulted in a complex geochemical signature of road dust pollution, while representing a critical public health issue for communities. In this study, road dust collected at seven (7) cities in eastern USA was analyzed for 11 potential toxic elements (PTEs, e.g., Cu, Zn, As, Se, Ni, Fe, Mo, V, Co, Cd, Pb) and examined for their characteristics, sources, and potential health risks. Multivariate statistical analyses show the regional difference between northeastern (Trenton, NJ; Wilmington, DE), Piedmont (Richmond, VA; Raleigh, NC; Greensboro, NC), and southeastern cities (Charleston, SC; Augusta, GA; outlining the spatial variability of eastern USA  road dust sources. Above-unit enrichment factors (EFs > 1) from Cu, Zn, Mo, and Ni imply accumulation from non-natural sources, such as non-exhaust traffic emissions and industrial activities. Hazardous PTEs (e.g., Pb, As, Cd) exhibited EFs < 1, reflecting their historical input in surveyed cities, and were associated with low-income communities. Source apportionment approaches estimate a one-third contribution from hazardous PTEs (coal combustion, insecticide use) and two-thirds from other prominent urban sources (waste incinerators, vehicle emissions, and industrial activities). Trenton, Raleigh, and Greensboro also see a higher respirable dust fraction (< 10 µm) than other cities, leading to potentially higher inhalation health risk. Hazard index (HI) estimation shows overall 4.5-times higher values in children than adults across all cities, with Augusta, GA exhibiting elevated hazard exposure (HI > 1). Insights from this study revealed the spatial variability of road dust PTEs levels, complemented domestic legacy contaminant work, and revealed new source information for residential areas over the East Coast to highlight potential environmental impacts.
The extreme conditions of deserts such as intense solar irradiation and elevated dust concentration in the air pose significant operational issues to photovoltaic (PV) modules, optical components, and exposed functional surfaces. This research paper has presented metal-integrated silica thin-film coating materials that can be used to address dust adhesion, optical reflection loss, and environmental degradation at the same time. In this study, we investigate the metal integrated silica coatings with controlled optical and morphological properties using RF magnetron sputtering. 100 nm-SiO2, 10 nm-Ti/100 nm-SiO2, and 10 nm-ITO/100 nm-SiO2 were developed and examined systematically to understand the dust adhesion mechanism for two months. The Ti/SiO2 optimized coatings showed lower dust adhesion, and this is explained by the combined effect of the morphology, wettability, and surface energy. The potential dissipation of the electrostatic charge is expected as one of the factors. In addition, surface morphology strongly depends on the types of materials deposited on silica layers as found by average roughness (R a). Contact angle measurements confirm that the hydrophilicity of such engineered coatings can be tuned through metal content in the films. Micromechanical properties of the coatings were thoroughly studied immediately after sputtering deposition and after 2 months of outdoor exposure using Vickers microindentation analysis. Among all, as-deposited Ti/SiO2 coatings show excellent mechanical durability after a period of 2 months. As studied computationally, the power conversion efficiency (PCE) is predicted to reach almost 27.28% in the case of 10 nm Ti/100 nm silica and decreases to less than 8% at 20 μm. Ti/silica layers of the device play a crucial role in device performance. Our investigation also found that the adhesion of the dust to the films reduces as the metal films are integrated into the silica layers, which confirms the intrinsic self-cleaning nature of the coatings. Our works also investigated that dust adhesion on the surface of these metal-integrated silica coatings is inversely proportional to the metal contents in the films, confirming the coatings' self-cleaning properties. The hydrophilic characteristics of the sputtered thin films can limit the adhesion of particles to the surface, which is crucial to enhance the performance of photovoltaic systems in desert areas. Such a solution can enhance both optical and mechanical characteristics as well as the performance of PVs in harsh conditions.
Bisphenol S (BPS) analogues are increasingly used as alternatives to bisphenol A (BPA), but their occurrence, phase behavior, and exposure implications in e-waste recycling environments remain poorly characterized. Here, we conducted an integrated investigation of BPS analogues (BPSs) in indoor dust and paired gas- and particle-phase air samples from e-waste dismantling workshops in South China, to characterize their occurrence profiles, gas-particle partitioning, endocrine-disruption screening, and occupational exposure risks. BPS and 11 analogues were detected in dust, while BPS and 10 analogues were detected in indoor air. ∑12BPSs ranged from 48.1 to 2120 ng/g in dust and 135-1790 pg/m³ in air. DBSP and BPS dominated dust, whereas DBSP dominated the particulate phase and DPS dominated the gaseous phase. Notably, DPS was the only compound detected in all gas-phase samples, indicating distinct phase preference. Gas-particle partitioning coefficients correlated significantly with predicted subcooled liquid vapor pressures and octanol-air partition coefficients (p < 0.01). EDC-Predictor screening indicated endocrine-related interaction potential for several analogues, particularly DBSP and DPS. Estimated daily intakes via dust ingestion and inhalation reached 3.32 ng/kg bw/day under the high-end scenario, higher than the recently revised BPA TDI in a screening-level comparison. These findings reveal that overlooked BPS substitutes, particularly DBSP and DPS, act as phase-specific contributors to occupational exposure in e-waste workshops.
Allergic diseases are a significant global health issue commonly triggered by house dust mite (HDM) allergens. Standardized HDM extracts are currently widely used in allergen immunotherapy (AIT) and diagnostic tests. However, in several tropical regions, such as Indonesia, these standardized extracts were either expensive, difficult to obtain, or did not represent local allergen exposure. Previous studies examined crude house dust extracts (CHDE) derived from locally collected dust as a possible substitute because they reflected the complex allergenic and other composition of the local environment. Therefore, this study aimed to review the potential of Local Crude House Dust Extracts (LCHDE) as a regionally relevant substitute source of allergens for both diagnostic and therapeutic applications. LCHDE reflects real environmental exposure, including region-specific mite, fungal, and bacterial components, which could better represent local allergen profiles. LCHDE offered a promising, cost-effective, and contextually relevant option for allergy diagnosis in developing regions. However, its application in immunotherapy necessitated rigorous allergen profiling, and regional collaboration was crucial to establish a CHDE suitable for clinical use.
The rapid urban expansion of Hefei has led to the accumulation of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in urban road dust (URD), posing threats to ecological environmental safety and public health. This study collected road dust samples from five functional zones in Hefei City to assess the contamination levels, ecological and health risks, and source apportionment of 11 PTEs, As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, Ti, V, and Zn. Results revealed that the average concentrations of As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb, and Zn exceeded local background values, with contamination levels in the order Zn > Pb > Cu > Cr > As > Cd. Spatially, industrial areas and leisure areas exhibit higher pollution levels compared to other areas. Assessments using the geo-accumulation index (Igeo) and enrichment factor (EF) consistently identified Zn, Cd, Cu, and Pb as the primary pollutants. The potential ecological risk index (RI) further revealed that Cd was the primary contributor to ecological risk. Integrated analysis using principal component analysis (PCA) and positive matrix factorization (PMF) models identified three primary pollution sources: industrial emissions source (31.97%), natural sources (18.80%), and a mixed traffic-natural source (49.23%). Regarding health risks, although the risk for adults remained within an acceptable range, children showed greater susceptibility. This study provides insights for implementing zonal and categorical pollution control and risk prevention in Hefei City. It also offers a case reference and scientific basis for PTE pollution prevention strategies in other rapidly developing cities.
Dust dispersion is a critical determinant of the initiation and severity of dust explosions. This study investigates the dispersion dynamics of epoxy-polyester powder within a transparent 20 L spherical vessel using a custom eight-channel laser extinction system and CFD simulations. The dispersion process was characterized as a four-stage evolution: rapid injection, turbulent diffusion, stabilization, and sedimentation, with settling beginning after approximately 300 ms. Experimental results demonstrate that a dual-nozzle configuration markedly enhances spatial homogeneity compared to a single-nozzle setup, achieving a 61.3% reduction in the coefficient of variation and a 93.8% increase in peripheral concentration coverage. Furthermore, while increasing injection pressure (0.3-0.4 MPa) optimizes radial uniformity, it simultaneously introduces localized axial instabilities. Among the tested nozzle diameters (16 mm, 20 mm, and 32 mm), the 20 mm nozzle exhibited the optimal balance between jet momentum and volumetric coverage, yielding the most isotropic dust cloud. These findings provide essential quantitative benchmarks for the design of industrial powder coating systems and the enhancement of explosion risk assessment protocols.
The explosion hazards of noncaking coal dust have received widespread attention. To obtain the characteristics of noncaking coal dust explosions in vertical space, research has been conducted on the impact airflow and toxic and harmful gas products. It is found that the impact airflow velocity first increases and then decreases. t = 45 ms is a sufficient reaction time inside the vertical space, and the impact airflow velocity has reaches its maximum. The expansion of the high-temperature region and the high-speed airflow promote the propagation of CO, expanding the toxic range of CO. A certain concentration of CO2 is generated in the ignition region, with a mass concentration of over 0.08%. This indicates that in the initial stage of a coal dust explosion, the amount of CO2 generated has reached a certain concentration, posing a potential threat to the environment and personnel safety. The region of y = 0.13∼0.3 m is affected by the rising impact airflow and wall effects, and the CO2 generated in the central region of the pipe is much lower than that generated in the wall region. This phenomenon reveals the uneven distribution of gas products during the explosion process, which is of great significance for understanding the dynamics of explosions and the propagation mechanism of gas products.
Reactive airways dysfunction syndrome (RADS) is an acute-onset form of irritant-induced asthma that occurs after a single high-concentration exposure to irritants. Although RADS has been documented for chlorine, ammonia, and acid fumes, no published case series has attributed RADS to lithium hydroxide (LiOH) dust inhalation. We report the clinical features, diagnostic evaluation, and longitudinal management of 16 workers with persistent respiratory symptoms following acute occupational LiOH exposure at a battery cathode material production facility. In March 2024, a silicone connector failure resulted in the leakage of approximately 50-100 kg of LiOH powder at a facility in Korea, exposing over 500 workers. Sixteen workers (15 men, 1 woman; mean age 53.4 years) with persistent respiratory symptoms were evaluated at the Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. Most patients presented with cough and sputum production; 56.3% (9/16) exhibited nocturnal or early-morning exacerbation. Methacholine challenge testing was performed in 10 patients, with positive results in three patients (PC20 [provocative concentration causing a 20% decline in forced expiratory volume in 1 second]: 1.36-6.74 mg/mL). By the Brooks 1985 criteria, one case was classified as definite RADS, four as probable, six as possible, and five as unlikely; American College of Chest Physicians 2008 cross-validation yielded identical classifications. Workers' compensation recipients had significantly longer follow-up (18-23 months) compared to non-recipients (1-3 months). Pharmacological management was symptom-directed, combining leukotriene receptor antagonists, mucolytics, antihistamines, and acid-suppressive therapy. Acute high-concentration LiOH dust inhalation may induce RADS characterized by persistent respiratory symptoms and bronchial hyperresponsiveness. The extreme alkalinity, high water solubility, and exothermic dissolution of LiOH provide a plausible mechanistic framework for airway injury. Clinicians should consider RADS in workers presenting with persistent respiratory symptoms after alkaline dust exposure, even when routine investigations are unremarkable. Attention should also be given to the psychological burden associated with prolonged, poorly recognized symptoms.
This study aimed to analyze the effects of dust exposure on lung function in firefighters engaged in the rescue activities after the Great East Japan Earthquake (GEJE). The study included 42 firefighters from 6 fire departments in the coastal area of Miyagi Prefecture. Annual changes in lung function were compared between health examinations conducted before and after disaster. The association between changes in forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) during this period and factors such as smoking status, working hours on week, use of respiratory protective equipment, and body mass index were examined. During the disaster period, the decline in FEV1 was greater in non-smokers -32(-81 to -13) mL/year than in smokers -8.0(-40 to 10) mL/year. However, overall, only smoking status was significant associated with FEV1 decline. The impact of dust exposure was smaller than that of smoking. This study found no severe or irreversible health effects of dust exposure on lung function among firefighters engaged in rescue activities during the GEJE. However, these results suggest that temporary and minor effects on lung function cannot be ruled out, highlighting the necessity of establishing a specialized health management system to monitor and manage health risks for rescue workers responding to future large-scale disasters in Japan.
This manuscript is a translation of the corresponding German Guideline, available online at https://register.awmf.org/de/leitlinien/detail/020-010. The guideline provides a structured framework for the expert assessment of quartz dust-related lung disease (Occupational Disease No. 4101, German Ordinance on Occupational Diseases, BKV). It targets medical assessment experts who are responsible for determining the presence of silicosis and related conditions, assessing their causal relationship to occupational quartz dust exposure, and evaluating functional consequences including loss or reduction of earning capacity (MdE). In addition, it offers guidance for clerks of statutory accident insurance institutions as well as social courts and aims to improve the plausibility, internal consistency, and transparency of expert reports and resulting decisions for affected individuals. The guideline specifies required investigations and their evaluation, emphasizing that symptomatology, cardiopulmonary functional, and conventional chest radiography display rather low levels of correlation. It details radiological and pathological manifestations of silicosis on qualified low dose volumetric HRCT, including typical findings in lung parenchyma, hilum, mediastinum, and lymph nodes, with notes on standards, limitations, and diagnostic pitfalls.
Mining by-products are an underutilized resource with strong potential for soil restoration within a circular economy. However, the combined effects of claying and remineralization on soil health remain unclear. We evaluated sedimentary rock powder (applied for claying at low [LC] and high [HC] rates), mafic rock dust (remineralization, R), and their combination (C + R) in a degraded tropical sandy pasture soil. After 18 months, soil (0-20 cm) was analyzed using the Soil Management Assessment Framework, integrating chemical, physical, and biological indicators into a soil health index (SHI). The LC + R treatment showed the best performance, increasing SHI by 22% and soil organic carbon by 17% compared to the control. Improvements were driven by chemical and biological indicators, while physical attributes showed limited change. Principal component analysis (PCA) confirmed treatment differentiation. Results demonstrate rapid soil response to mineral amendments, highlighting their potential as regenerative inputs for climate-resilient agriculture and circular economy strategies.
Allergen immunotherapy directly addresses the biological cause of allergies like those causing asthma. For perennial allergies, the treatment involves exposure to house dust mite (HDM) extracts that aim to block T helper 2 responses. Here, we investigate whether exposure to HDM extracts affects other aspects of innate host defenses against infection using the Drosophila genetic model organism. We find that pretreatment of flies with HDM extract injection provides a degree of protection against several types of microbial infections, namely Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacterial infections as well as fungal infections. Interestingly, this protection appears to be achieved through distinct mechanisms. The priming afforded by HDM extracts against Gram-negative bacteria is mediated via a mild induction of the Immune deficiency pathway. In contrast, the protection against a Gram-positive bacterium, Staphylococcus aureus, and some Aspergillus fumigatus mycotoxins involves the induction of host antioxidant defenses via Drosophila NRF2. We conclude that HDM extract appears to stimulate distinct host defenses that are differentially relevant according to the nature of the subsequent immune challenge. Future studies on the role of the host antioxidant responses in the Drosophila model will reveal how the host is able to cope with deleterious reactive oxygen species that may be generated during infections.
Chlorination distillation is a critical step in the efficient purification of germanium, as it directly influences the quality of the product. However, the current chlorination distillation system still suffers from constrained germanium leaching efficiency and excessive acid consumption, primarily mediated by leaching kinetics. This study establishes an apparent kinetic model for the chlorination leaching system of germanium-rich fume dust within the framework of thermodynamics. The results showed that the leaching efficiency of germanium was as high as 94.43%. The leaching process kinetics of germanium follows the Avrami equation, with all n values less than 0.5 and an apparent activation energy of 8.89 kJ mol-1, indicating a diffusion-controlled process associated with mass transfer limitations. Meanwhile, impurities were found to preferentially consume hydrochloric acid to reduce the leaching efficiency of germanium, especially at low acid concentrations. Density functional theory (DFT) and sequential chemical extraction analyses indicate that germanium liberation proceeds through proton-assisted cleavage of Ge-O bonds followed by chloride coordination to form Ge-Cl-containing Ge(iv) species, with the leached germanium present as GeCl4, while unextracted germanium remains in the residue as complex germanosilicate crystalline phases. The elucidation of the leaching kinetics and efficient release mechanisms of germanium provides a theoretical foundation for the optimization of the efficiency and selectivity of chlorination leaching, which are crucial for achieving green recovery of germanium resources.
This study aims to investigate the dynamic characteristics of dust particle deposition on cylindrical fiber surfaces, focusing on the bidirectional coupling between the evolving deposit morphology and the flow field, which is often neglected in conventional filtration models. A three-dimensional numerical framework combining the lattice Boltzmann method for fluid flow and a particle deposition algorithm was developed. The model synchronously resolves the competition between diffusion, interception, and inertial impaction for multi-scale particles under varying Peclet (Pe) and Stokes (St) numbers. The results demonstrate that particle deposition significantly alters the local flow field and pressure drop. As the Pe number increases, the deposition morphology transitions from a diffusion-dominated "wrapping" pattern to an inertia-dominated "branching" pattern, and finally to a "compact" structure. This morphological evolution is parameterized by the Pe number, which governs the balance between inertial and diffusive transport mechanisms. Furthermore, the growth of the deposit increases the effective capture area, leading to a non-linear enhancement of the capture efficiency. The present work establishes a link between dimensionless transport parameters (Pe, St) and the macroscopic deposition regime. It highlights that the feedback from deposit morphology to hydrodynamics plays a crucial role in determining filtration performance. These findings provide a physical-based understanding of the mechanism-driven morphodynamic transitions in fibrous filtration.
Background and aim  Asthma symptoms are often exacerbated by poor indoor air quality (IAQ). High-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters, which remove 99.97% of particles ≥0.3 microns, may mitigate triggers. This study examines associations between HEPA use and asthma control. Methods In a cross-sectional study of 118 asthma patients, HEPA users (n=48) and non-users (n=70; no air purifiers) completed the Asthma Control Test (ACT) and the Asthma Control Questionnaire (ACQ). Outcomes included nighttime/morning symptoms, wheezing, and reliever inhaler use. Results  HEPA users showed non-significant trends toward fewer nighttime symptoms (45.1% vs. 19.7% minimal disturbances, p=0.404) and milder morning symptoms (37.3% vs. 17.0% no symptoms, p=0.120). Long-term users (>one year) reported subjective but non-significant improvements. No differences reached statistical significance (p<0.05). Conclusion While trends suggest potential benefits, HEPA filtration alone did not significantly improve asthma control. Combined IAQ strategies warrant further study.
In recent years, the incidence of allergic asthma has increased dramatically. Allergen immunotherapy (AIT) is an effective approach to achieve long-term remission of allergic asthma and has gained widespread attention. However, current AIT suffers from low efficacy and long treatment duration. In this study, we found that IL-37a transgenic mice with allergic asthma exhibited reduced pulmonary inflammation, decreased Th2 cytokines, and lower allergen-specific IgE following AIT. Mechanistic studies revealed increased IL-37+ Bregs, suggesting that IL-37a may promote AIT through Bregs. Our study demonstrates the promoting effect of IL-37 in allergen immunotherapy and suggests that Bregs may underlie this mechanism, providing insights for overcoming the limitations of AIT in the future.