House dust mites (HDMs), particularly Dermatophagoides farinae, are commonly found in household dust and play a key role in allergic diseases such as asthma and allergic rhinitis. Beyond clinical management, allergen removal strategies are crucial for improving quality of life. Hence, this study investigated the effects of ozone exposure on D. farinae, focusing on changes in protein expression, surface bacterial composition, mortality, and mobility. Mites were exposed to ozone concentrations of 0.05, 0.5, and 1 ppm for 24, 48, and 72 h in a controlled chamber, with non-exposed mites serving as controls. Western blotting using anti-Der f 1 and anti-Blo t 5 antibodies assessed changes in allergen profiles, while 16 S rRNA sequencing characterised changes in surface bacterial communities. Mortality was evaluated using 100 mites per group under varying exposure durations. To assess behavioural responses, a three-chamber mobility assay was conducted, where mites were placed in a central compartment flanked by no-ozone and low-ozone chambers, and their distribution was recorded after 72 h. Ozone exposure resulted in a concentration- and time-dependent reduction of Der f 1 protein intensity, suggesting allergen degradation. Surface bacterial profiling revealed distinct compositional shifts following ozone exposure. Mortality increased proportionally with ozone concentration and duration. In the mobility assay, mites predominantly remained in the no-ozone chamber, indicating avoidance of ozone. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that ozone exposure affects D. farinae at molecular, microbial, and behavioural levels, highlighting ozone's potential role in modulating mite allergenicity and ecology.
The Antarctic ozone hole was first reported in 1985, and small ozone losses at the global scale were also observed in the late 1980s. The combination of field and laboratory measurements, together with modeling, quickly established anthropogenic chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) as the cause of both the Antarctic and global ozone depletion. However, when, where, and why the earliest ozone depletion could have been detected has not been determined. Here, we conduct a thought experiment to investigate when human-induced ozone depletion could have first been detectable, assuming the availability of accurate stratospheric ozone observations from 1950 onward. We find that human-caused ozone depletion was likely identifiable as early as 1957 in the tropical upper stratosphere. This region's low internal variability enables the earliest detection of the anthropogenic signal, even though tropical ozone losses in the upper stratosphere were smaller than those in higher-latitude regions. Our results highlight the key role of considering both internal variability ("noise") and the forced response ("signal") in detection studies. Further, while CFCs are widely recognized as the primary drivers of current ozone depletion, we find that early ozone loss was primarily caused by human-made carbon tetrachloride (CCl4), used mainly as a solvent. These findings suggest that a clear human influence on the stratospheric ozone layer began nearly 70 y ago, even before substantial emissions of CFCs from spray cans or air conditioning.
Alveolar Osteitis (AO) is a frequent postoperative complication following tooth extraction that negatively affects patients' quality of life and requires repeated follow-up visits. To prevent this condition and reduce postoperative discomfort, several clinical strategies and therapeutic compounds have been proposed, but its incidence remains clinically relevant. This systematic review aims to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of ozone therapy in the prevention and treatment of AO in adult patients undergoing tooth extraction or diagnosed with AO. The review focused on different ozone formulations (gaseous ozone, ozonated water, and ozonated oils/gels) and assessed outcomes including AO frequency, postoperative pain, analgesic consumption, and healing. A comprehensive search on scientific databases was conducted up to April 2025. Randomized controlled trials (CTs), CTs, and prospective clinical studies evaluating ozone as a preventive or therapeutic intervention for AO in adults were included. Animal studies, in vitro studies, studies without a control group, and those using ozone only in combination with other adjunctive therapies were excluded. Two independent reviewers screened titles, abstracts, and full texts, with disagreements resolved by consensus or arbitration. Of 55 records initially identified, 8 studies (14.5%) met the inclusion criteria. Seven studies evaluated ozone as a preventive adjunct following surgical tooth extraction. Gaseous ozone and sunflower oil-based ozone gel were generally associated with a lower frequency of AO and improved postoperative pain control, although the overall certainty of evidence was limited by methodological concerns. Studies assessing ozonated water reported conflicting and inconsistent results. Only one trial investigated the therapeutic use of ozone in established AO, finding promising results when combined with concentrated growth factors. Ozone therapy may represent a promising adjunctive approach for reducing the frequency of AO and improving postoperative outcomes after third molar surgery. However, the currently available evidence remains limited and heterogeneous, and further well-designed randomized CTs are needed to clarify its clinical effectiveness and optimal delivery protocols.
Airway pollutants, like the reactive oxygen species ozone, cause significant lung injury, which can lead to the development or exacerbation of lung diseases like asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and drives worldwide morbidity and mortality. Altered epithelial function is a hallmark and trigger of ozone-induced lung injury, but its precise mechanisms are incompletely known. The extracellular matrix, and specifically its major component, hyaluronan (HA), plays a crucial role in cellular injury responses. We hypothesized that HA signaling mediates epithelial responses to ozone-induced injury. We exposed human and murine differentiated primary epithelia to ozone in vitro and evaluated epithelial integrity and transcriptomic responses. We used genetically deficient cells for cognate HA receptors cluster of differentiation 44 (CD44) and receptor for HA-mediated motility (RHAMM), and innate immune receptors toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and TLR5 to study signaling pathways, and evaluated high molecular weight HA (HMWHA) as a potential treatment for ozone-induced epithelial injury. In vitro ozone exposure caused significant reduction in epithelial integrity and very similar inflammatory changes in human and murine cells. CD44 deficiency led to decreased inflammation, while RHAMM deficiency exacerbated cell injury. HMWHA protected against ozone-induced epithelial injury, mediated by TLR4 and TLR5 but not CD44 or RHAMM. Our results identify novel contributions of HA signaling to ozone-induced epithelial injury and suggest that HMWHA protects epithelia via innate immune activation of TLR4 and TLR5.
Ambient ozone pollution represents a growing threat to public health. However, evidence regarding its association with ovarian reserve and the mediating mechanisms remains limited and inconsistent. This cross-sectional study included 8,233 women aged 20-45 who attended the Center for Reproductive Medicine at Jiangxi Maternal and Child Health Hospital between 2021 and 2023. Based on data from the Tracking Air Pollution in China project, ozone exposure was determined by assigning 10-km-resolution daily maximum 8-hour average ozone concentration to each participant's residential address. Serum anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) levels were measured to evaluate ovarian reserve, with six distinct exposure periods defined according to the stages of female follicular development. Participants' lipid profiles were characterized by total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglycerides. The ozone-AMH relationship was assessed using multivariable linear regression models, supplemented by stratified, mediation, and sensitivity analyses. Each interquartile range increase in ozone concentration was linked to an 8.14% (95% confidence intervals [CI]: 3.09% to 12.93%) decrease in AMH levels during period 4. Compared with women aged 20-29 years, this ozone-related decline was less pronounced among women over 35 (P for interaction = 0.004). Among the four lipid indicators, TC mediated 11.415% of the association between ozone and AMH levels, while LDL-C accounted for 7.38%. Similar findings were observed for period 6, while no significant linear associations were identified across the other periods. Higher ambient ozone exposure is significantly linked to diminished ovarian reserve. This association is particularly evident during the developmental window from primary and secondary follicles to small antral follicle stage, with younger women showing greater susceptibility. To the best of current knowledge, this study provides the first evidence that alterations in lipid profiles may partially mediate this relationship, offering novel insights for protecting female reproductive health and informing environmental health interventions.
Nickel-based layered materials have attracted considerable attention due to their high efficiency in ozone decomposition and related advantages. Despite unclear ozone decomposition mechanisms, this study synthesized nickel hydroxide to systematically investigate their catalytic performance and structural evolution, aiming to elucidate the critical relationship between the catalyst's crystalline structure and its activity. The results indicate that Ni(OH)2 transforms into NiOOH during ozone decomposition, with catalytic activity determined by the crystalline phase of the resultant NiOOH species. Ni(OH)2 enriched with hydroxyl groups tends to experience deep oxidation, yielding γ-NiOOH characterized by an expanded interlayer spacing. This phase exhibits superior ozone decomposition efficiency, sustaining an ozone conversion rate exceeding 93% under conditions of 80% relative humidity and a space velocity of 840 L·g-1·h-1. Conversely, catalysts that form β-NiOOH demonstrate lower activity. DFT calculations confirm that γ-NiOOH significantly lowers the energy barrier for ozone decomposition. The surface oxygen sites of γ-NiOOH facilitate rapid desorption of oxygen intermediates, effectively mitigating catalyst deactivation. Moreover, DFT analyses indicate that γ-NiOOH possesses a more favorable ozone decomposition mechanism relative to β-NiOOH. This study elucidates the dynamic transformation mechanism of layered nickel hydroxide catalysts during ozone decomposition and underscores the pivotal role of γ-NiOOH in this process.
This study conducted comprehensive measurements of key aerosol optical properties alongside concurrent monitoring of atmospheric photochemical pollution in urban Beijing during the summer of 2019. The primary objectives were to investigate aerosol optical properties, classification types, and assess their impacts on ozone photochemical formation in urban Beijing. The results showed that atmospheric aerosols in urban Beijing during the summer exhibited extinction characteristics marked by strong scattering and low absorption, which may indirectly promote ozone formation. Throughout the observation period, aerosol optical properties were identified as the primary factor influencing incremental ozone concentration (ΔO3) under conditions of low precursor concentrations. In both haze and ozone pollution episodes, the single scattering albedo (SSA) was consistently the leading contributor to ΔO3, particularly under haze-ozone co-pollution conditions. Among the four aerosol types, "Small particles low absorption mix" (Small/LA) and "Large particle low absorption mix" (Large/LA) accounted for 55.15 % and 35.17 % of total aerosols, respectively. Notably, Large/LA aerosols, formed by the mixing and aging of air masses affected by sea salt and urban pollution, showed strong scattering properties and contributed most significantly to ΔO3. Regions with high ΔO3 contributions were primarily located in the polluted urban agglomerations of southeastern Beijing and the Bohai region. These findings highlight the critical role of aerosol optical properties in ozone formation, underscoring the necessity of incorporating this factor into future integrated control strategies for aerosols and ozone.
Ozone therapy has been proposed across multiple clinical conditions based on hormetic, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory effects, but its efficacy and safety remain controversial. We conducted an umbrella review to appraise the effectiveness and safety of ozone therapy using evidence from meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials (RCTs). We searched MEDLINE, Web of Science, Embase, and the Cochrane Library from inception to 14 February 2025, with an updated search performed on 9 May 2026. Eligible studies were systematic reviews with meta-analyses comparing ozone therapy with non-active controls, including placebo, sham, saline, or standard care. Methodological quality was evaluated with AMSTAR-2 and certainty of evidence with GRADE. Of 1243 records identified, seven meta-analyses representing four clinical indications (chronic periodontitis, COVID-19, diabetic foot ulcers, and impacted mandibular third-molar surgery) were included. In chronic periodontitis, evidence was mixed: one meta-analysis found no significant adjunctive benefit, whereas a more recent meta-analysis reported improvements in probing depth and gingival index, but not in bleeding on probing, plaque index, or clinical attachment level. For COVID-19, ozone therapy reduced PCR positivity at follow-up (RR 0.07; 95% CI 0.01-0.34), although this was considered a clinically non-important surrogate endpoint, and showed no significant benefit for hospital stay, intensive care unit admission, or mortality. For diabetic foot ulcers, ozone therapy was not superior to control treatment for ulcer healing (RR 1.69; 95% CI 0.90-3.17) or reduction in ulcer area. In third-molar surgery, ozone therapy did not reduce swelling or improve mouth opening, but was associated with improved short-term quality of life and reduced analgesic use. Safety outcomes were inconsistently reported, and available data did not allow firm conclusions regarding adverse events. The certainty of evidence was low or very low for all outcomes. Despite mechanistic plausibility, current meta-analytic evidence from RCTs remains inconsistent, methodologically fragile, and largely based on low- or very low-certainty findings. Routine clinical use is not justified pending adequately powered, blinded RCTs with standardized dosing and delivery, patient-centered endpoints, and rigorous safety monitoring.
Tissue engineering and regenerative medicine (TERM) rely on advanced biomaterials and scaffolds that require strict sterilization without sacrificing their structural and functional properties. Conventional sterilization methods, including steam, ethylene oxide, and gamma irradiation, often compromise scaffold integrity, alter surface chemistry and/or leave toxic residues. Ozone (O3) has emerged as a promising alternative sterilant because of its strong oxidizing potential, broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity, and residue-free decomposition. Importantly, ozone sterilization can preserve-and in some cases enhance-scaffold bioactivity by maintaining cytocompatibility and favorable surface chemistries that support cell adhesion and differentiation. This review critically evaluates the role of ozone sterilization in the context of TERM applications, focusing on its physicochemical properties, disinfection kinetics, material compatibility and regulatory perspectives. Evidence from studies on polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) scaffolds, bone implants, and hydrogel-based systems suggests that, under optimized conditions, ozone can achieve high sterilization efficacy without significant degradation of mechanical or chemical properties. However, challenges related to process validation, health and safety considerations, and scalability remain. The review highlights opportunities for integrating ozone into automated biomanufacturing workflows and identifies key research gaps to support the broader adoption of ozone sterilization in TERM applications.
Sap flow measured at basal trunk (Fd_base) has been used to estimate canopy transpiration and ozone uptake in forests. Although diurnal patterns of Fd_base do not always correspond to those of canopy transpiration, little is known about the impact of such discrepancy on the estimation of canopy ozone uptake. We investigated the discrepancy in diurnal patterns between Fd_base and canopy transpiration, and its impact on estimating canopy ozone uptake in a Cryptomeria japonica stand. The Fd_base and sap flow near the top of the trunk (Fd_top, a proxy for canopy transpiration rate) were simultaneously measured. The Fd_top increased prior to the Fd_base in the morning and declined almost at the same time with Fd_base in the evening. Then the diurnal patterns of Fd_base were corrected to match those of Fd_top by two methods: one was the conventional 'shifting correction' (Fd_shifted) which shifts the Fd_base by the time lag between Fd_top and Fd_base, the other was the novel 'tracing correction' (Fd_traced) which traces the diurnal patterns of Fd_top. These corrections for Fd_base did not affect the estimation of daily accumulated ozone uptake of the stand. However, canopy conductance (gc) derived from Fd_base or Fd_shifted was lower than that derived from Fd_traced in the morning. Consequently, the hourly gc derived from Fd_traced significantly responded to vapour pressure deficit, while that derived from Fd_base or Fd_shifted did not. We concluded that temporal discrepancies between Fd_base and canopy transpiration should be carefully considered toward a more accurate modelling of gc and canopy ozone uptake.
Oxygen-ozone autohaemotherapy (O2-O3-AHT) has gained clinical interest as an adjunctive treatment for fibromyalgia (FM) based on its anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative properties. However, comprehensive data on safety and adverse events remain limited. This scoping review aimed to systematically evaluate documented adverse events associated with O2-O3-AHT and assess risk stratification. Following PRISMA-ScR guidelines, we searched Medline, EMBASE, AMED, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, Web of Science, TRIP, Clinical Evidence, and ROAD databases for relevant articles published in the last decade. Search terms included "ozone autohaemotherapy," "GAET," "autologous blood transfusion," "systemic ozone therapy," combined with "adverse effects," "side effects," "contraindications," and "iatrogenic complications." Studies involving local injections, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, veterinary applications, or non-systemic routes were excluded. The literature search identified predominantly case reports documenting rare but potentially serious adverse events. Major categories included: haemolysis and renal failure (associated with excessive ozone concentrations >60 μg/mL), hyperkalaemia in patients with complex comorbidities (hypertension, diabetes, chronic kidney disease), myocardial infarction and ischaemic events (attributed to vasoconstrictive and pro-thrombotic effects), cerebral gas embolism in patients with patent foramen ovale, autonomic reactions related to rapid reinfusion rates, anaphylactic reactions (linked to equipment materials), and infectious complications due to protocol breaches. The overall incidence of serious adverse events cannot be reliably quantified given the absence of prospective registries and reliable denominator data: A frequent cited historical low estimation of uncertain methodology should be interpreted with considerable caution. Most safety data were derived from mixed clinical populations and not specifically from fibromyalgia cohorts, although they are relevant for clinical decision-making in this setting. Current evidence does not identify a pattern of frequent serious unexpected harm when standardised protocol is followed. Key safety measures include mandatory glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase screening, adherence to recommended ozone concentrations (10-40 μg/mL), controlled reinfusion rates (<50 drops/minute), pre-treatment cardiovascular evaluation in selected cases, and strict aseptic technique. The estimated incidence of serious complications derived from historical global data on O2-O3 autohaemotherapy may be only inferred in a fibromyalgia population. Standardisation of treatment protocols and prospective adverse event registries are needed to further optimise safety.
To investigate the effects and underlying mechanisms of the combined ozone-pullulanase treatment on the structure and digestibility of rice starch, we applied ozone treatment followed by pullulanase modification for different durations. A significant reduction in starch digestibility was observed, and the glycemic index (GI) dropped from 89.75 to 67.07. Further analysis of the multiscale structural changes revealed that ozone treatment alone progressively disrupted the granular structure, diminished the A-type crystalline pattern, increased gel viscosity, and reduced the degree of polymerization. In contrast, subsequent pullulanase treatment induced a complete loss of granular morphology and enhanced gel elasticity, chain rearrangement, and redistribution, which increased the degree of polymerization. These results demonstrate that ozone pretreatment enhances the efficiency of pullulanase action and effectively reduces the in vitro digestibility of rice starch.
As a highly oxidizing and toxic gas, ozone (O3) poses significant hazards to human health and the environment even at low concentrations. Therefore, the development of ozone gas sensors that can operate stably at low temperatures while simultaneously exhibiting high response, fast response characteristics, excellent selectivity, and long-term stability remains a crucial challenge in the field of gas sensing. In this work, Pure In2O3 and Yb-doped urchin-like hierarchical In2O3 microspheres were successfully synthesized via a one-step hydrothermal method. The crystal structure, morphological features, elemental composition, and band structure of the as-prepared samples were systematically characterized by XRD, FESEM, TEM, HRTEM, XPS, and UV-vis spectroscopy. Gas-sensing tests demonstrated that Yb doping significantly enhanced the ozone-sensing performance of In2O3. Among all the samples, the 3%Yb-doped In2O3 sensor exhibited the best response toward 1 ppm ozone at 40 °C, reaching approximately 1015, which was about 11 times higher than that of pristine In2O3. Meanwhile, the sensor showed a response time of 172 s. In addition, the 3%Yb-doped In2O3 sensor exhibited good repeatability, excellent selectivity, and long-term stability. The excellent gas-sensing performance can be attributed to the electronic structure modulation and increased OV-related oxygen defect component induced by Yb doping, as well as the enhanced gas diffusion and interfacial reaction capability provided by the urchin-like hierarchical structure.
Tropospheric ozone (O3) pollution and potentially toxic elements (PTEs) contamination are two of the most inescapable abiotic stressors threatening plant productivity and ecosystem stability. Independently, these stressors induce profound physiological and biochemical disruptions in plants, including oxidative stress, impaired stomatal function, and nutrient imbalances. Ozone primarily affects the apoplast, triggering reactive oxygen species (ROS)-mediated signalling, stomatal closure, and reprogramming of defense-related gene expression. While PTEs infiltrate cellular compartments, compromising photosynthesis, enzyme activities, and redox balance. Emerging studies reveal that their co-occurrence can produce antagonistic, synergistic, or additive possessions, depending on plant species, developmental stage, exposure intensity and experimental system. Both the stressors unite on oxidative stress (ROS) and antioxidant responses, stomatal behaviour, photosynthetic apparatus damage and altered nutrient and metal uptake/partitioning. However, insights into their combined impacts remain scarce. Literature is fragmented by methodological heterogeneity, limited crop coverage, and a lack of comprehensive omics, tracer and transport studies. This review scrutinizes the mechanistic responses of plants to individual and concurrent exposures to O₃ and PTEs, focusing on antioxidant defense systems, signaling networks, and key physiological traits. Additionally, we explore transcriptomic shifts that command acclimation or vulnerability, highlighting the molecular pathways that administrate plant responses under these stress conditions. Understanding these interactions is crucial for breeding resilient crop varieties and optimizing phytoremediation stratagems in polluted agroecosystems. Finally, this synthesis emphasizes the urgent need for multifactorial studies, standardized protocols, and validation under diverse soil and climatic conditions, crop genotypes and O₃ regimes to more accurately predict plant behaviour under real-world environmental stress scenarios. The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12298-026-01723-5.
Gasoline evaporation is a significant source of urban volatile organic compounds (VOCs). In this study, we selected Nanjing, a major city in the Yangtze River Delta of China, and developed a high-resolution (1 km × 1 km) gridded VOC species emission inventory for gas stations based on measured VOC emission characteristics and statistical data on gasoline and diesel sales. The results show that VOC emissions from gas stations were correlated with population density and road networks, and were mainly concentrated in the downtown area. The emitted VOCs were dominated by alkanes (58%) and oxygenated VOCs (19%), with i-pentane, n-butane, and methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) as the major components. C4-C5 alkenes were identified as the key contributors to ozone (O3) formation, while aromatics contributed most to secondary organic aerosol (SOA) formation. Health risk assessment indicates that, for gas station workers, both carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks associated with gasoline and diesel VOC evaporation exceed acceptable thresholds. Benzene, 1,2-dichloroethane, and 1,2-dibromoethane posed the highest carcinogenic risks, whereas acrolein, benzene, and 1,3-butadiene contributed most to non-carcinogenic risks. For urban residents, the health risks from gas station VOC emissions were generally within acceptable levels; however, under unfavorable meteorological conditions, residents living near gas stations may still face elevated health risks. This study highlights the significant impacts of gas station-related VOC emissions on air quality and human health, and informs targeted control and mitigation strategies for gasoline evaporation.
Ground-level ozone (O3) shows strong diurnal and seasonal variability, but interpretable station-scale assessments are often constrained by the limited availability of measurements beyond routine monitoring. This study developed multivariate linear regression (MLR) models to assess daytime O3 at the Zhongli Air Quality Monitoring Station, a suburban site in northern Taiwan. Using a 10-year day-hour baseline to define deviation variables, the models estimated hourly daytime O3 (07:00-18:00) by modeling deviations from the baseline and reconstructing absolute O3 as the sum of the baseline and its estimated deviation. A predictor set was selected using correlation filtering, variance inflation factor checks, and stepwise selection guided by the Bayesian information criterion (BIC). An overlapping training window across month boundaries was applied while retaining atypical periods and events, allowing the models to capture a broad range of 10-year variability in O3 and its predictors. The models achieved an adjusted R2 of 0.765 for the 2014-2023 training period. External testing using an independent external test period from 2024 to 2025 yielded an adjusted R2 of 0.674, with a root mean square error (RMSE) of 7.00 ppb and a mean absolute error (MAE) of 5.39 ppb. This framework provides a practical and interpretable station-scale approach for assessing daytime O3 variability and complements more complex machine learning models.
We tested the hypothesis that exercising while breathing real-world ozone (O3) concentrations impairs pulmonary and cardiovascular function in individuals with exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB) and that repeated exposures induce acclimation. Participants completed consecutive 30-min cycling sessions breathing room air (RA) and 170 ppb O3. A mixed-effects model and ANOVA were used. Sixteen individuals (50% male) with mild-moderate EIB completed the study. O3 exposure produced pulmonary impairment on Day 2 in forced expiratory volume in 1 s (Estimate = -5.1, 95% CI: -8.5 to -1.7, p = 0.003), forced vital capacity (Estimate = -4.0, 95% CI: -7.1 to -0.9, p = 0.008), and forced expiratory flow in the midportion of vital capacity (Estimate = -6.7, 95% CI: -12.7 to -0.7, p = 0.008). Minute ventilation was lower on Days 3 and 4 in O3, p = 0.007 and p = 0.001. Diastolic blood pressure was lowest on Day 2 under O3, 58 mmHg (95% CI: 52, 64) versus RA, 63 mmHg (95% CI: 58, 69), and a significant overall lower HR in O3 was found across all visits, p = 0.032. These findings demonstrate a significant difference in pulmonary and cardiovascular responses to O3 compared to RA, but no statistical evidence of acclimation.
Ground-level ozone (O3) poses a serious threat to urban ornamental plants, while the underlying adaptive strategies of many common species remain poorly understood. In this study, Salvia splendens, a widely cultivated herbaceous ornamental plant, was exposed to three O3 regimes in open-top chambers: ambient air (AA), moderate O3 (AA + 40 ppb), and high O3 (AA + 80 ppb). Over a 63-day fumigation period, we comprehensively evaluated plant growth, photosynthetic performance, non-structural carbohydrates (NSCs), stomatal characteristics, and antioxidant defense responses. Moderate O3 markedly promoted vegetative growth (plant height, crown width, leaf area, and biomass) and enhanced the net photosynthetic rate, suggesting an evident compensatory growth strategy. By contrast, high O3 triggered the antioxidant defense system, as reflected by increased total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), superoxide dismutase activity (SOD), total flavonoid (TF) and reduced ascorbic acid (rAsA) content. However, this defensive activation occurred at the expense of biomass accumulation and ultimately failed to alleviate growth inhibition. Additionally, high O3 increased stomatal conductance, stomatal density and pore area, which tended to facilitate O3 uptake rather than enforcing stomatal avoidance. We conclude that S. splendens adapts to moderate O3 stress mainly via compensatory growth, instead of relying on physiological antioxidant defense or stomatal avoidance. These findings provide mechanistic insights and practical guidance for selecting O3-tolerant ornamentals in urban greening.
Fibromyalgia (FM) is a chronic pain disorder marked by widespread pain and significant impairment of daily life. Despite evolving diagnostic criteria and recognition as a primary chronic pain condition, current treatments yield limited success, and underlying mechanisms remain under investigation.This narrative review focuses on oxygen-ozone autohaemotherapy (O2-O3-AHT) as a potential intervention for FM, evaluating its biological rationale and possible mechanisms of action. The therapeutic interest in O2-O3-AHT centres on its capacity to activate the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) pathway, reduce oxidative stress, improve mitochondrial function, and address small fibre pathology. The review employed a structured narrative synthesis, adhering to SANRA guidelines to ensure methodological rigor and transparency. Comprehensive literature searches included peer-reviewed articles published in English from 2015 to 2025.Evidence suggests that O2-O3-AHT may provide multi-target benefits for FM patients by modulating redox balance, enhancing mitochondrial resilience, and potentially alleviating neuropathic components related to small fibre dysfunction. Clinical studies, though limited and often heterogeneous, report improvements in pain, sleep quality, fatigue, and overall functional status in FM patients treated with O2-O3-AHT. Biomarker analyses further support reduced oxidative stress and inflammatory mediators post-intervention. However, the variability in treatment protocols, sample sizes, and outcome measures across studies complicates definitive conclusions about efficacy and safety.O2-O3-AHT represents a promising, mechanism-based approach to FM management, particularly for patients unresponsive to conventional therapies. Its ability to target central and peripheral biological processes aligns with the complex pathophysiology of FM. However, the current evidence base is restricted by methodological inconsistencies and a paucity of large, high-quality randomised trials. Future research should prioritise standardised protocols, robust clinical endpoints, and long-term safety assessment to validate the role of O2-O3-AHT in FM treatment. Until then, its use should be considered experimental and guided by careful patient selection and monitoring.
China's implementation of the stringent Ambient Air Quality Standards (GB 3095-2012) has led to remarkable improvements in particulate matter (PM) and sulfur dioxide (SO2) pollution. However, the trends and impacts of co-emitted pollutants nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and ozone (O3) are less understood. This study comprehensively evaluates the spatiotemporal evolution, health burden, and underlying drivers of NO2 and O3 in China from 2015 to 2023. Utilizing a national monitoring dataset, we applied Theil-Sen trend analysis, meteorological normalization techniques, and the BenMAP-CE model to assess concentration changes and attributable mortality. Our findings reveal a significant decoupling: national population-weighted national average NO2 concentrations decreased by 25.9%, while O3 concentrations increased by 19.2%. This divergent trend was spatially heterogeneous, with the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region experiencing the most substantial NO2 reduction (35.4%) but the sharpest O3 increase (38.3%). Health impact assessment indicates that the joint reduction in traditional pollutants including PM, SO2 and CO collectively averted a large number of premature deaths. For the core research pollutants in this study: the reduction of NO2 avoided 99,000-120,000 premature deaths, while the rising O3 levels caused an additional 32,000-52,000 deaths, corresponding to health economic benefits and losses of 1.0-1.2 trillion CNY and 330-530 billion CNY, respectively. The "human effort" of emission reductions was the dominant driver for NO2 improvement, whereas unfavorable meteorological conditions significantly exacerbated O3 pollution. China's current air quality management framework, while successful for many pollutants, faces a critical challenge from worsening O3. Future policies must pivot towards a synergistic control strategy that specifically targets the complex photochemistry between NOₙ and VOCs to mitigate the rising O3 threat.