Zhiqian Tong 's team at Oujiang Laboratory found that tropospheric formaldehyde can be used to monitor brain disease distribution and incidence in Chinese provinces

The research paper titled "Tropospheric Formaldehyde Levels Infer Ambient Formaldehyde-induced Brain Diseases and Global Burden in China, 2013-2019" was recently published by the team led by Zhiqian Tong, a researcher at Oujiang Laboratory. This publication appeared in the prestigious journal Science of the Total Environment, which is classified as a Q1 TOP journal in the field of international environmental science according to the Journal Citation Reports (JCR) and is affiliated with the Chinese Academy of Sciences. The journal has an impact factor of 10.8 in 2022. The article discusses the relationship between tropospheric formaldehyde (FA) levels in China and the prevalence of ambient FA-induced brain diseases, while also addressing the challenges posed by air pollution.

In recent times, with the ongoing progress and development of global economic integration, there has been a concerning deterioration in environmental pollution, particularly in relation to air pollution. However, no epidemiological study has yet explored the impact of exposure to air pollutants on brain diseases in humans. Therefore, our research team aims to investigate the correlation between tropospheric airborne pollutants and the associated health risks in individuals, utilizing a linear regression model. Specifically, we will focus on elucidating the underlying mechanisms and pathways through which brain diseases may be attributed to indoor formaldehyde (FA) pollution in China. 

The tropospheric pollutant data in China spanning the years 2013 to 2019, including CO, NO, O₃, PM2.5 or PM10, SO₂, and FA, were sourced from a satellite remote-sensing database. The prevalence rates, incidence rates, mortality rates, years of life lost (YLLs), years lived with disability (YLDs), and incidence of brain diseases among the Chinese population were acquired from the Global Burden of Diseases (GBD 2010). The data was subsequently computed and examined in conjunction with satellite cloud images. The investigation demonstrated that the concentrations of tropospheric FA could serve as an indicator of indoor air FA pollution across China on a national scale. Furthermore, a positive association was observed between tropospheric FA levels and the prevalence rates of Alzheimer's disease (AD), brain cancer, and other brain disorders. The spatial and temporal variations in tropospheric FA concentrations were found to align with the geographic patterns of AD and brain cancer cases induced by FA exposure. Furthermore, the study revealed a positive correlation between summer average temperature, car sales, and population density with tropospheric FA levels in China. Consequently, the mapping of tropospheric pollutants could serve as a valuable tool for monitoring air quality and assessing health risks. This research offers a significant perspective and theoretical framework for oncology and cancer research, while also providing novel insights and evidence for the treatment and prevention of brain diseases. 

The corresponding author of this article is Zhiqian Tong, a researcher affiliated with the Oujiang Laboratory. Financial support for this study was provided by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, Beijing Natural Science Foundation, Fund of Talent Launch Project of Oujiang Laboratory, and BK21 FOUR (Fostering Outstanding Universities for Research) program, which is funded by the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Korea (MOE) and the National Research Foundation of the Republic of Korea (NRF). According to reports, the research team is currently engaged in the development of a nonlinear statistical prediction and evaluation model to analyze the distribution of FA and its correlation with the occurrence of brain diseases in China. Furthermore, the team aims to investigate the intricate and profound mechanisms through which FA concentration affects brain health.