In 2015, stricter regulations to reduce sulfur dioxide emissions and particulate air pollution from shipping were implemented in the Baltic Sea. We investigated the effects on population exposure to particles <2.5 µm (PM_2.5) from shipping and estimated related morbidity and mortality in Sweden’s 21 counties at different spatial resolutions. We used a regional model to estimate exposure in Sweden and a city-scale model for Gothenburg. Effects of PM_2.5 exposure on total mortality, ischemic heart disease, and stroke were estimated using exposure–response functions from the literature and combining them into disability-adjusted life years (DALYS). PM_2.5 exposure from shipping in Gothenburg decreased by 7% (1.6 to 1.5 µg/m³) using the city-scale model, and 35% (0.5 to 0.3 µg/m³) using the regional model. Different population resolutions had no effects on population exposures. In the city-scale model, annual premature deaths due to shipping PM_2.5 dropped from 97 with the high-sulfur scenario to 90 in the low-sulfur scenario, and in the regional model from 32 to 21. In Sweden, DALYs lost due to PM_2.5 from Baltic Sea shipping decreased from approximately 5700 to 4200. In conclusion, sulfur emission restrictions for shipping had positive effects on health, but the model resolution affects estimations.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the top cause of mortality and a main contributor to disability globally. The evidence so far is varied on whether cold or heat modifies the CVD effects of air pollution. Weather conditions and air pollution sources and levels are different in different countries. Studies in low-and middle-income countries are lacking. Mortality data were obtained from Statistics South Africa. Air pollution and meteorological data were obtained from the South African Weather Service. A time-stratified case–crossover epidemiological design was applied. The association between air pollutants (PM₁₀, NO₂ and SO₂) and CVD mortality was investigated using conditional logistic regression models. Susceptibility by sex and age groups was investigated. In total, 54,356 CVD deaths were included in the 10-year study. The daily PM₁₀, NO₂ and SO₂ levels exceeded the daily WHO guidelines on 463, 421 and 8 days of the 3652 days, respectively. Higher air pollution risks were observed in this study compared to those reported in meta-analyses. In general, the elderly and females seemed to be vulnerable to air pollutants, especially at high and moderate apparent temperature levels. Harvesting effects were observed at longer lags. The results can be used to develop an early warning system for the city.

Background: Globally, artificial intelligence (AI) is expanding in healthcare and public health and AI education for students in these fields will be essential. It is therefore important that future public health professionals are aware of opportunities and challenges linked to AI. Aim: The aim of the study was to assess the perceptions and attitudes regarding AI among one such group of future public health professionals – Postgraduate Diploma in Public Health students – in South Africa. Methods: An online survey was sent to students enrolled for the Postgraduate Diploma in Public Health programme from 13 June 2022 to 17 June 2022. Results: Six hundred and eighteen respondents completed an online survey (81.5% response rate). Generally, respondents thought AI would be capable of performing various tasks that did not provide direct care to individuals. Most (69%) agreed that introduction of AI could reduce job availability in public health fields. Respondents agreed that AI in public health could raise ethical (84%), social (77%) and health equity (77%) challenges. Relatively few respondents (52%) thought they were being adequately trained to work alongside AI tools, and the majority (76%) felt training of AI competencies should begin at an undergraduate level. Conclusion: Respondents expect AI to eventually carry out specific functions in public health and had reservations that AI may cause ethical challenges and increase unemployment in the country. Further exploration is needed regarding the perceptions about AI and its integration into the health system and the implications for undergraduate and postgraduate curricula.

Background: Epidemiological studies reported independent effects of air pollution and temperature on health, yet these two exposures are often treated as separate risk factors. Few studies investigated temperature effect modification on the health effects of air pollution in Africa and none examined the effects of black carbon on respiratory disease (RD) hospitalisations. The aim of this study was to determine whether the association between RD hospitalisations and air pollution in the Vaal Triangle Air Pollution Priority Area was modified by apparent temperature (Tapp) during January 2013 to February 2020. Methods: RD admission data (ICD10 J00-J99) were obtained from two hospitals located in Vanderbijlpark and Vereeniging. Ambient PM10, PM2.5, BC, NO2, SO2 and O3, temperature and relative humidity data were obtained from six monitoring stations. A case-crossover epidemiological study design was applied. Lag0-1 was investigated, i.e. the average air pollutant level on the day and the day before hospitalisation. Models were adjusted for public holidays and Tapp. Effect modification was investigated by stratifying days into low, moderate and high Tapp days. Susceptibility by age and sex was investigated. Results: Of the 43 386 hospital admissions, 50.9% (n=22 092) were women and 51.4% (n=22 304) were 0-14-year olds. Air pollutants exceeded the daily WHO air quality guidelines generally on more than 50% of the days. In general, moderate Tapp worsened the effects of PM2.5, PM10, SO2 and BC, whilst the effects of NO2 and O3 were most pronounced on days with high Tapp. The elderly and females were more vulnerable to air pollution, especially on days with moderate Tapp. Conclusions: These results indicate that the risk of RD hospitalisation due to ambient air pollution exposure is different on low, moderate and high Tapp days in Vanderbijlpark and Vereeniging.

African cities are increasingly vulnerable to the effects of climate change, and to air pollution in particular. However, the comparison of measured data with people's perceptions remains an open question. This study aimed to characterize the seasonal variability of fine (PM2.5) and coarse (PM10) particulate matter, both outdoors and inside dwellings, in Yopougon (Abidjan), and to compare it with residents' perceptions. Continuous instrumental monitoring was carried out over 195 days (August 2024 to March 2025) in two neighborhoods of Yopougon, designated zone A and zone B respectively, using PurpleAir Flex sensors deployed indoors and outdoors to obtain real-time PM2.5 and PM10 measurements. The hourly data were subsequently aggregated into daily averages. In parallel, a perception survey was conducted among 525 respondents. The results show that the measured PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations were well above the WHO guideline values, although PM10 exceeded them only during the dry season. PM2.5 pollution was more pronounced indoors than outdoors, with a median concentration higher by 6.14 µg/m³ in zone A and 2.24 µg/m³ in zone B. The measurements indicate that the pollution peak occurred in December; however, residents perceived February and March as the most polluted months. This reveals a one-month lag between the population's perception of the pollution peak and the actual measurements. These findings advocate for public policies promoting anticipated awareness campaigns, from the onset of the dry season, based on measurement rather than on perception alone.