A new study using AI and satellite technologies has produced the most detailed coverage of air pollution in Britain to date, revealing the South-East as the most polluted region. The research also shows an overall decline in air pollution in Great Britain over the last decade, with hotspots identified in urban and industrial areas.
A study of women aged 80 found a significant association between air pollution exposure and increased depressive symptoms. Long-term exposure to nitrogen dioxide or fine particulate air pollution was linked to small but notable effects on depressive symptoms.
A new study from 23 Utah-based researchers estimates that air pollution shortens the average Utahn's life by 2 years and costs the economy around $1.9 billion annually. The study also found that many state-level actions could reduce air pollution by double-digit percentages while benefiting the economy.
Researchers found a decrease in nitrogen dioxide concentrations at most monitoring sites, but no significant improvement in particulate matter. In contrast, some areas experienced worse air quality in April 2020 compared to previous years.
Research found that areas with better air quality and higher greenness measures have lower rates of heart disease deaths. The study suggests that promoting environmental policies to support increased green spaces could lead to improved cardiovascular health.
Researchers found that particulate matter (PM2.5) is overestimated in winter and ozone (O3) is underestimated in urban areas compared to suburban areas across all of China. This highlights the need for more data outside urban areas to accurately assess air pollution impacts on ecosystem functions.
Researchers tracked and flew through wildfire plumes from the source to collect data on how chemical composition changes over time. The study found that smoke forecasts may incorrectly predict particles in staler smoke, which could impact air quality estimates.
A study estimates that long-term exposure to air pollution increases COVID-19 deaths by 15% globally, with higher proportions found in Europe and East Asia. Air pollution exacerbates health outcomes by aggravating co-morbidities and causing inflammation, leading to increased vulnerability to COVID-19.
A NUS study found that poor outdoor air quality in China drives consumers to use food delivery services, resulting in increased plastic waste from packaging. The study revealed a strong causal link between air pollution and plastic waste, with a 100 μg/m³ increase in PM2.5 levels raising food delivery consumption by 7.2%.
A new study found that COVID-19 lockdowns led to significant improvements in air quality, averting an estimated 24,200 premature deaths in China and 2,190 in Europe. The study suggests that strong measures can be implemented to reduce air pollution and mitigate its impact on human health.
Research in Salt Lake City schools found a correlation between poor air quality and increased school absences. Even mild elevations in air pollution were associated with higher absenteeism rates, particularly among elementary students. The study suggests that low-level air pollution can have cumulative effects on health and education.
Dry air is eroding Tropical Storm Norbert's strength by suppressing the development of thunderstorms that need warm, moist air to form. The storm has weakened due to entrainment of dry air, disrupting its compact system and limiting its ability to strengthen.
Aerosol particles play a significant role in heat absorption and deflection by the atmosphere. Researchers have now detected the rate at which these tiny particles leave the atmosphere, revealing a much narrower range of lifetimes than previously suggested. This new understanding can improve climate models and air quality forecasting.
A new study shows that clean air is achievable globally with policy interventions in multiple sectors, including environmental policies, energy and climate policies, and agricultural production system transformation. The required measures would also contribute to sustainable development and human development goals.
Key findings from a comprehensive literature review highlight the importance of top-down commitment to quality, mid-level leadership, and committee structure in achieving high-quality surgical outcomes. The study supports the ACS Quality Verification Program's Optimal Resources for Surgical Quality framework.
Researchers at the University of Utah found that measuring magnetic particles on evergreen needles can provide a high-resolution, year-round picture of air quality. The study correlated needle magnetism to general air quality, suggesting a new method for mapping particulate matter distributions at a high resolution and low cost.
A study found that lockdowns in Scotland had little impact on outdoor air pollution, with no decline in toxic fine particles despite a 65% reduction in vehicles on the road. Instead, people may be at greater risk from air pollution in their own homes due to increased indoor exposure.
A new study finds that asphalt is a significant source of air pollutants, particularly during hot and sunny conditions. The researchers discovered complex mixtures of organic compounds emitted by common road and roofing asphalts, comparable to motor vehicle emissions in Los Angeles.
Research presented at the European Respiratory Society International Congress shows that babies exposed to levels of air pollution within EU standards develop poorer lung function as children and teenagers. Long-term exposure to air pollution is also linked to a higher risk of developing asthma in adults, according to a second study.
Scientists developed a highly sensitive and accurate Nitrogen Dioxide sensor, which can detect below 20 parts-per-billion of NO2 in under 15 minutes. The device has potential applications in domestic, public, and industrial settings to prevent respiratory issues and infant morbidity.
Researchers found that air pollution contributed to a pre-diabetic state similar to eating an unhealthy diet, with effects reversible upon cessation. Living in densely polluted environments may be added as a risk factor for cardiometabolic diseases.
Four low-cost air quality monitors provided actionable information during wildfire events, with correlations to reference monitors being 'phenomenally good.' However, the devices required adjustments and checks to use their numbers, with an estimated adjustment factor of 0.48 for PurpleAir PA-II monitors.
Researchers developed the Cold Tube, a system of rectangular panels that absorb heat radiation from a person's body, creating a cooling sensation. This technology can be used in outdoor spaces like summer fairs and public markets, reducing energy consumption by up to 50%.
A NUS study found that households respond to air pollution by increasing electricity consumption, leading to higher carbon emissions. Cleaner urban air can reduce energy demand and mitigate carbon emissions. The study highlights the need for policymakers to consider the impact of air quality on energy demand in developing countries.
A study published in Cerebrovascular Diseases found a statistically significant link between short-term air pollution and stroke hospitalisations in Dublin. Higher levels of coarse particles, fine particles, sulphur dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide were associated with increased risks of stroke.
Honey bees from highly polluted sites in India show reduced survival rates and altered physiological characteristics, indicating air pollution's negative impact on their health. The study suggests that air pollution may also affect ecosystem services, highlighting the need for further research to address this issue.
The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted discrepancies in EU state aid provided to airlines, airports, and air transport stakeholders. Dr. Steven Truxal's article identifies the varying levels of support offered by individual EU states, with some conditions attached.
George Mason University's Daniel Tong will receive $83,748 from NOAA to develop an integrated model system predicting air quality and greenhouse gas emissions at a city scale. The three-year project aims to simulate the evolution of criteria air pollutants and greenhouse gases in a changing climate.
A new study finds that air pollution distribution has remained largely unchanged, with disadvantaged communities more likely to have higher levels of particulate pollution. The concentration of fine particulate air pollution has decreased by 70% since 1981 in the US, but socioeconomic disparities persist.
A new study analyzed China's national network of air monitoring stations and found that nitrogen dioxide concentrations dropped by 27% on average, while particulate matter (PM2.5) saw a modest reduction of 11%. Ozone pollution showed little change despite the lockdown.
Researchers found that regular physical activity is a safe approach for people living in polluted regions to prevent high blood pressure. High blood pressure risk increased with higher levels of air pollution, but each increase in physical activity level led to a lower risk.
Exposure to high levels of fine particulate air pollution from wildfires is associated with a 4% higher death rate among patients with kidney failure. Patients with kidney failure are particularly susceptible to the effects of wildfire smoke, highlighting the need for research into managing exposure during wildfire episodes.
Tropical cyclones use warm air as fuel to form and strengthen. Cloud top temperatures provide information about the strongest storms within a tropical cyclone, which can indicate heavy rain and potential hurricane formation.
A Cranfield University team will monitor and analyze air quality levels within the region, utilizing sensor technology and data analytics to inform sustainable development plans. The study aims to mitigate the impact of growth on air quality, aligning with UK Government ambitions for a neutral or positive environmental gain.
A recent study by the Institute of Atmospheric Physics found that Beijing's air quality did not improve as expected during the COVID-19 lockdown, with secondary aerosol species showing only small changes. The research highlights a challenge for mitigating secondary air pollution in regions with high concentrations of gaseous precursors.
Research on air pollution's impact on ILD reveals associations between pollutant exposure and increased risk of developing the disease. Epigenetic methods hold promise for understanding this relationship, but more study is needed to quantify effects.
A Stanford-led study reveals a strong connection between air pollution and infant mortality in sub-Saharan Africa. The researchers found that even small increases in particulate matter concentrations lead to significant increases in infant mortality rates.
Researchers linked long-term exposure to fine particulate air pollution with premature death among older Americans, suggesting current US standards are insufficient. Strengthening standards could lead to a 6%-7% decrease in mortality risk and save thousands of lives.
A new analysis of 16 years of health data reveals that long-term exposure to fine particles leads to increased mortality rates among the elderly. If current EPA standards were lowered, over 140,000 lives might have been saved within a decade.
A new study reveals strong links between exposure to air pollution and COVID-19 transmission. Analysis of air pollution, COVID-19 cases, and fatality rates in London demonstrates a connection between increased levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and particulate matter (PM2.5) and higher risk of viral transmission.
Researchers used a statistical method to remove weather influences from air pollution data in Saxony, finding that traffic density is the most important factor. Adjusted for weather, NOx concentrations decreased by an average of 10 micrograms per cubic meter between 2015 and 2018.
A study published in National Science Review found that COVID-19 lockdowns in China led to a sharp reduction in transportation emissions, but this was offset by an increase in secondary particle formation due to enhanced atmospheric oxidizing capacity. The study suggests that coordinated control of various primary emissions is necessar...
Researchers found a 8% increase in sunlight reaching solar panels in Delhi due to reduced air pollution. The cleaner air allowed for more efficient energy production from solar panels.
A recent study published in Climate and Atmospheric Science reveals that half of the world's population is exposed to increasing air pollution. The research highlights that air pollution constitutes a major threat to public health, with an estimated four million deaths annually attributed to outdoor air pollution.
Researchers found abnormal growth and increased neuroinflammation in the brains of animals exposed to air pollution, suggesting a potential risk for changes in developing brain relevant to neurodevelopmental disorders. The study used rodent models to mimic real-time exposure to traffic-related air pollution.
Researchers find air pollution can alter social behaviors in mice, causing inflammation that damages healthy tissues. Chronic exposure to particulate matter is also associated with boosted production of amyloid plaques, a key feature of Alzheimer's disease.
A new study found that China's countrywide ban on traffic mobility during the pandemic greatly limited automobile emissions and sharply reduced severe air pollution. This led to an estimated 12,125 avoided premature deaths compared to lives lost from the pandemic, with two-thirds of these being from cardiovascular diseases.
A new study reveals that minority students and charter schools experience higher concentrations of PM 2.5 levels even on clean air days, highlighting the need for policies to protect school-aged children from environmental harm. The research used a community-university partnership to analyze data from 174 public schools in Salt Lake Co...
A new study led by Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health found that the opening of a FreshDirect warehouse in Mott Haven, Bronx, increased truck and vehicle flow, leading to small increases in air and noise pollution. The researchers estimated increases of 0.06 dBA (noise) and 0.003 µg/m3 (black carbon air pollution).
A study by UC Davis found that cold air rises in the tropics due to water vapor's lightness, forming clouds and thunderstorms. This buoyancy effect helps regulate tropical climates and reduces climate warming.
Researchers have demonstrated a prototype device that uses microwave air plasmas for jet propulsion, offering a potentially viable alternative to conventional fossil fuel jet engines. The engine can generate thrusting pressures comparable to those of commercial airplane jet engines using only air and electricity.
A Louisiana State University meteorologist is studying how coronavirus-induced lockdowns improved air quality in China, which could have implications for global temperatures and weather patterns.
Three major African cities show significant reductions in visibility since the 1970s, with Nairobi experiencing the greatest loss, due to increased particulate matter emissions from vehicles and energy generation. PM pollution levels have also increased by 182% in Nairobi, 162% in Kenya, and 62% in Uganda.
A study found children are exposed to three times higher levels of PM2.5 during morning drop-offs due to idling cars. Researchers recommend safe parking and green hedges to reduce air pollution.
An international team led by Princeton atmospheric scientist Meiyun Lin found that drought-stressed vegetation reduces ozone removal, worsening pollution episodes. This study highlights the need for stronger emission controls to address ozone air quality in Europe and has broader implications.
A new nanotechnology-based air filter uses laser-induced graphene to eliminate viruses and bacteria, offering a self-sterilizing effect. This technology could be integrated into face masks and HVAC systems, providing an active layer of protection against COVID-19.
A new study found that regions with permanently high levels of nitrogen dioxide have significantly more deaths from Covid-19. This correlation suggests that persistent air pollution may have contributed to poorer health in affected populations, making them more susceptible to the virus.
Researchers found a strong correlation between air temperature and Terra Nova Bay polynya area, with lower temperatures showing stronger effects. The study provides new insights into the complex interactions between atmospheric conditions and Antarctic ice cover.
The FEPCRC developed Oxy-CFBC technology significantly reduces air pollutants, including ultra fine dusts, CO2 emissions, and NOx, making it an eco-friendly alternative to traditional coal-fired power plants. The technology operates at 60% of O2 as an oxidant, reducing thermal input and increasing system efficiency.
A twin study conducted by Monash University researchers found that even low levels of air pollution can affect gene expression, leading to long-term health consequences. The study suggests exposure to air pollutants, even at low levels, has real-life implications for the current COVID pandemic.