CoChat
Sign Up
Cited by 42Climate Change and GeoengineeringAir Quality and Health ImpactsAtmospheric aerosols and clouds

The DOI matches its Crossref record; the references it cites are not checked yet.

Assessing the direct occupational and public health impacts of solar radiation management with stratospheric aerosols

Open access
Effiong, Utibe, Neitzel, Richard L.·2016·Environmental Health
DOI 10.1186/s12940-016-0089-0PMC PMC4717532
Open this paper in CoChat — free accountOpen PDF

Abstract

Geoengineering is the deliberate large-scale manipulation of environmental processes that affects the Earth's climate, in an attempt to counteract the effects of climate change. Injecting sulfate aerosol precursors and designed nanoparticles into the stratosphere to (i.e., solar radiation management [SRM]), has been suggested as one approach to geoengineering. Although much is being done to unravel the scientific and technical challenges around geoengineering, there have been few efforts to characterize the potential human health impacts of geoengineering, particularly with regards to SRM approaches involving stratospheric aerosols. This paper explores this information gap. Using available evidence, we describe the potential direct occupational and public health impacts of exposures to aerosols likely to be used for SRM, including environmental sulfates, black carbon, metallic aluminum, and aluminum oxide aerosols. We speculate on possible health impacts of exposure to one promising SRM material, barium titanate, using knowledge of similar nanomaterials. We also explore current regulatory efforts to minimize exposure to these toxicants. Our analysis suggests that adverse public health impacts may reasonably be expected from SRM via deployment of stratospheric aerosols. Little is known about the toxicity of some likely candidate aerosols, and there is no consensus regarding acceptable levels for public exposure to these materials. There is also little infrastructure in place to evaluate potential public health impacts in the event that stratospheric aerosols are deployed for solar radiation management. We offer several recommendations intended to help characterize the potential occupation and public health impacts of SRM, and suggest that a comprehensive risk assessment effort is needed before this approach to geoengineering receives further consideration.

Overview

The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.

Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.

A few free checks a day · papers already verified open instantly · results are public

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1186/s12940-016-0089-0

Cites

Statistics

Figures

Fig. 1 Components of the earth’s radiation budget (adapted from NASA. http://science-edu.larc.nasa.gov/EDDOCS/whatis.html)
Fig. 1 Components of the earth’s radiation budget (adapted from NASA. http://science-edu.larc.nasa.gov/EDDOCS/whatis.html)CC BY · PubMed Central
Fig. 2 Potential methods for solar radiation management and carbon dioxide removal (adapted from http://r3zn8d.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/geoengineering.jpg)
Fig. 2 Potential methods for solar radiation management and carbon dioxide removal (adapted from http://r3zn8d.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/geoengineering.jpg)CC BY · PubMed Central

Verification

Claims the paper makes

The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.

Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.

A few free checks a day · papers already verified open instantly · results are public

Claims other papers make about this one

Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?

Self-check

Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.

The self-check needs the paper’s full text.

Citations

The citation lists are queued

They are fetched later and appear here then.

References 58 · Cited by 42

Research works printed but not linked: 50

  1. Stocker T, Qin D, Platner G. Climate change 2013: the physical science basis. Intergovernmental panel on Climate Change, Working Group I. Contribution to the IPCC Fifth Assessment Report (AR5). New York: Cambridge University Press; 2013.
  2. Crutzen P. The “anthropocene.”. In: Ehlers E, Krafft T, editors. Earth system science in the anthropocene. The Netherlands: Springer Berlin Heidelberg; 2006. p. 13–8. · DOI
  3. Pachauri RK, Reisinger A. Climate change 2007. Synthesis report. Contribution of working groups I, II and III to the fourth assessment report. Geneva, Switzerland: Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Geneva (Switzerland); 2008.
  4. Shepherd J. Geoengineering the climate: science, governance and uncertainty. Royal Society: London, England; 2009.
  5. Marchetti C. On geoengineering and the CO2 problem. Clim Change. 1977;1:59–68. · DOI
  6. Akbari H, Menon S, Rosenfeld A. Global cooling: increasing world-wide urban albedos to offset CO2. Clim Change. 2009;94:275–86. · DOI
  7. Labitzke K, Van Loon H. The stratosphere: phenomena, history, and relevance. Berlin: Springer; 1999. · DOI
  8. Crutzen PJ. Albedo enhancement by stratospheric sulfur injections: a contribution to resolve a policy dilemma? Clim Change. 2006;77:211–20. · DOI · Paper page
  9. Keith DW. Photophoretic levitation of engineered aerosols for geoengineering. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2010;107:16428–31. · DOI
  10. Caldeira K, Bala G, Cao L. The science of geoengineering. Annu Rev Earth Planet Sci. 2013;41:231–56. · DOI
  11. Wigley TML. A combined mitigation/geoengineering approach to climate stabilization. Science. 2006;314:452–4. · DOI
  12. Soskolne C, Jhangri G. Occupational exposure to sulfuric acid in southern Ontario, Canada, in association with laryngeal cancer. Scand J Work Environ Heal. 1992;18:225–32. · DOI
  13. Gardiner K, Calvert I. Occupational exposure to carbon black in its manufacture: data from 1987 to 1992. Ann Occup Hyg. 1996;40:65–77. · DOI
  14. Letzel S, Lang C, Schaller K, Angerer J. Longitudinal study of neurotoxicity with occupational exposure to aluminum dust. Neurology. 2000;54:997–1000. · DOI
  15. Ng W, Koh D. Occupational contact dermatitis in manual cloud seeding operations. Singapore Med J. 2011;52:e85–7.
  16. Christiansen S, Urquhart S. Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act of. Analysis and update. Brigham Young Univ J Public Law. 1986;1992:6.
  17. Kravitz B, Robock A, Oman L. Sulfuric acid deposition from stratospheric geoengineering with sulfate aerosols. J Geophys Res Atmos 2009, 114. · DOI · Paper page
  18. Kravitz B. Stratospheric geoengineering with black carbon aerosols. Rutgers: The State University of New Jersey; 2011.
  19. Baan R, Straif K, Grosse Y. Carcinogenicity of carbon black, titanium dioxide, and talc. Lancet Oncol. 2006;7:295–6. · DOI
  20. Hernandez O, Heiskanen M. SIDS initial assessment report for 11 Th SIAM. 2000.
  21. International agency for Research on Cancer. Occupational exposures to mists and vapours from strong inorganic acids: and other industrial chemicals. 1992.
  22. Pohl H, Liccione J, Iannucci A. Toxicological profile for sulfur dioxide. GA: Atlanta; 1998.
  23. Sandström T, Stjernberg N. Is the short term limit value for sulphur dioxide exposure safe? Effects of controlled chamber exposure investigated with bronchoalveolar lavage. Br J Ind Med. 1989;46:200–3.
  24. Rabinovitch S, Greyson N. Clinical and laboratory features of acute sulfur dioxide inhalation poisoning: Two-year follow-up. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1989;139:556–8. · DOI
  25. Skalpe I. Long-term effects of sulphur dioxide exposure in pulp mills. Br J Ind Med. 1964;21:69–73.
  26. Brooks S. Occupational and environmental asthma. In: Environmental and occupational medicine. Fourth. Philadelphia: Wolter Kluwer/Lippincott William & Wilkins; 2007. p. 418–57.
  27. Chou C. Concise International Chemical Assessment Document 53: Hydrogen Sulfide: Human Health Aspects. Geneva: Switzerland; 2003.
  28. Amoore J, Hautala E. Odor as an ald to chemical safety: odor thresholds compared with threshold limit values and volatilities for 214 industrial chemicals in air and water dilution. J Appl Toxicol. 1983;3:272–90. · DOI
  29. Hirsch A, Zavala G. Long-term effects on the olfactory system of exposure to hydrogen sulphide. Occup Environ Med. 1999;56:284–7. · DOI
  30. Jäppinen P, Kangas J, Silakoski L, Savolainen H. Volatile metabolites in occupational exposure to organic sulfur compounds. Arch Toxicol. 1993;67:104–6. · DOI
  31. Lambert T, Goodwin V. Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and sour gas effects on the eye. A historical perspective. Sci Total Environ. 2006;367:1–22. · DOI
  32. Reiffenstein R. Toxicology of hydrogen sulfide. Annu Rev Pharmacol Toxicol. 1992;32:109–34. · DOI
  33. Beauchamp R, Bus J. A critical review of the literature on hydrogen sulfide toxicity. CRC Crit Rev Toxicol. 1984;13:25–97. · DOI
  34. Interagency Testing Committee. Information Review. Carbon Oxide Sulfide; Volume Rep. no. I; 1983.
  35. Szozda R. Pneumoconiosis in carbon black workers. J UOEH. 1996;18:223–8. · DOI
  36. Occupational Safety and Health Guideline for Carbon Black. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 1988.
  37. Grant W. Toxicology of the eye. Third: Charles Thomas Publishing; 1986.
  38. Keith S, Jones D, Rosemond Z, Ingerman L, Chappell L. Toxicological profile for aluminum. GA: Atlanta; 2008.
  39. Miller R, Churg A. Pulmonary alveolar proteinosis and aluminum dust exposure. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1984;130:312–5. · DOI · Paper page
  40. Goralewski G. Die aluminiumlunge-eine neue gewerbeerkrankung. Z Gesamte Inn Med. 1947;2:665–73.
  41. McLaughlin A, Kazantzis G. Pulmonary fibrosis and encephalopathy associated with the inhalation of aluminium dust. Br J Ind Med. 1962;19:253–63.
  42. De Vuyst P, Dumortier P. Sarcoidlike lung granulomatosis induced by aluminum dusts. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1987;135:493–7.
  43. Tremblay C, Armstrong B. Estimation of risk of developing bladder cancer among workers exposed to coal tar pitch volatiles in the primary aluminum industry. Am J Ind Med. 1995;27:335–48. · DOI
  44. Maynard A, Kuempel E. Airborne nanostructured particles and occupational health. J Nanoparticle Res. 2005;7:587–614. · DOI
  45. American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists. Documentation of the threshold limit values and biological exposure indices. 2006.
  46. NIOSH. Pocket guide to chemical hazards. Washington, DC: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; 2013.
  47. U.S Environmental Protection Agency. National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). 2012.
  48. Keith DW. Geoengineering the climate: history and prospect 1. Annu Rev Energy Environ. 2000;25:245–84. · DOI · Paper page
  49. Stenchikov G, Marquardt A, Kravitz B, Robock A. Benefits, risks, and costs of stratospheric geoengineering. Geophys Res Lett. 2009;36. · DOI
  50. Strauss J, Thomas D. Health, nutrition, and economic development. J Econ Lit. 1998;36:766–817.

Metadata

Authors
Effiong, U., & Neitzel, R. L.
Affiliations
University of Michigan (US)
Corresponding author
Neitzel, Richard L.
ORCID
Venue
Environmental Health
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published
2016-01-19
Volume
15
Issue
1
Pages
7-7
ISSN
1476-069X (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1186/s12940-016-0089-0
PMC
PMC4717532
OpenAlex
W2273636835
Cited by
42
References
58
Citations by year
2026: 3 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 15 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 2 · 2016: 1
FWCI
2.47
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
cc-by
Locations
  • Environmental Health (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Deep Blue (University of Michigan) (submittedVersion)
Funders
University of Michigan (US) (Risk Science Center/MCubed)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Global and Planetary Change › Climate Change and Geoengineering
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis › Air Quality and Health Impacts
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Global and Planetary Change › Atmospheric aerosols and clouds
Keywords
solar radiation management, stratospheric aerosols, geoengineering, public health impact, occupational exposure, sulfate aerosols, black carbon, barium titanate, nanomaterials, aerosol toxicity, risk assessment
MeSH terms
Aerosols, Air Pollutants, Atmosphere, Environmental Exposure, Humans, Sunlight, Occupational Exposure, Risk Assessment, Geographic Information Systems, Particulate Matter, Climate Change

About these checks

Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.

Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.

Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.

What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›

Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review

How to cite

Cite CoChat for the checks on this page, and the paper for its own findings.

This page
CoChat. (2026). Citation check: Assessing the direct occupational and public health impacts of solar radiation management with stratospheric aerosols. https://app.cochat.ai/papers/10.1186/s12940-016-0089-0
The paper
Effiong, U., & Neitzel, R. L. (2016). Assessing the direct occupational and public health impacts of solar radiation management with stratospheric aerosols. Environmental Health. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12940-016-0089-0