Articles tagged with Air Pollution
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A new study found that genetically diverse corn plants have varying responses to high ozone levels, with some experiencing yield losses of up to 10%. The research could lead to the development of ozone-resistant corn varieties, helping plant scientists address the hidden threat to corn agriculture.
Professional drivers, including taxi drivers, experience high levels of black carbon exposure while working in congested cities. Research found that taxi drivers are exposed to an average of 6.5 micrograms of black carbon per cubic meter of air, compared to office workers at home who experience similar levels.
A study of nearly eight million live births found that air pollutants like particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide, and sulphur dioxide are associated with a 20-50% increased risk of death in babies. Exposure to these pollutants also reduces lung function in children as early as the first trimester of pregnancy.
Three studies from Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center reveal a strong association between short-term air pollution exposure and exacerbations of psychiatric disorders in children, with higher risks for disadvantaged neighborhoods. The research also found links to generalized anxiety and depression in otherwise healthy children.
A recent study updated damage estimates of fine particulate matter in the United States, revealing a nationwide total GED attributable to economic activity decreased by over 20% between 2008 and 2014. The largest GED was found in agriculture, while manufacturing and transportation accounted for 75% of damages.
Air pollution from fine particulate matter is associated with premature mortality, with the US economy suffering $20 billion in damages annually. Policymakers should consider regulations that target the agriculture and transportation sectors to mitigate this issue.
A large international study found that more than 70% of cardiovascular disease and deaths globally may be attributed to a small number of modifiable risk factors. The 14 identified risk factors include hypertension, low education, poor diet, air pollution, and indoor air pollution, which have varying impacts on health across countries ...
This observational study found exposure to ozone, fine particulate matter, oxides of nitrogen, and black carbon was associated with increased emphysema progression. Ambient ozone exposure also led to a decline in lung function, while other pollutants had no significant impact.
A new study finds that long-term exposure to all major air pollutants increases the risk of emphysema by roughly the equivalent of smoking a pack of cigarettes a day for 29 years. Ground-level ozone levels are rising due to climate change, and the US study suggests that this increase may lead to an increased risk of chronic lung disease.
A new study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found a strong link between long-term exposure to air pollution and an increased risk of emphysema in the US population. The study analyzed data from over 7,000 participants and found that consistent results were found across six metropolitan regions.
Long-term exposure to ozone and other pollutants accelerates emphysema development, even among non-smokers. The study found a strong association between ozone levels and emphysema, with the strongest impact seen in people living in areas with high ozone concentrations.
A combination of local emissions, transport from outside the region, and terrain-driven circulation contribute to high aerosol loading over the eastern slope of the Tibetan Plateau. The study highlights the need for understanding aerosol transport processes and physical mechanisms to mitigate environmental risks.
A new study found that lower air pollution levels in New York State led to a 67% decrease in premature deaths between 2002 and 2012. Long-term exposure to PM2.5 is linked to respiratory and cardiovascular problems.
Scientists from the López Group study Pt single atoms supported on CeO2, proposing a dynamic charge that enables CO-oxidation at 150ºC. This new concept explains the unique reactivity of activated single platinum atoms, meeting the DOE emissions challenge.
A study in northern China suggests replacing solid fuels with electricity or natural gas can substantially reduce air pollution emissions and wintertime indoor particulate matter concentrations. Successful replacement of 60% or more households could lead to significant health benefits, lowering PM levels from 209 μg/m3 to 125 μg/m3.
Researchers found that even low levels of traffic-related air pollution can cause inflammation and mitochondrial damage in the lungs of mice. The study's results suggest that people living alongside major traffic corridors should be aware of potential respiratory health risks.
A team of Penn State researchers found that fine particles can disrupt the flow of cerebrospinal fluid through the nose, potentially contributing to neurological diseases. The study suggests a possible mechanism for how air pollution may lead to conditions like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.
A recent study published in the Journal of Transport and Land Use found that people living in high-density, mixed-use neighborhoods are more likely to commute by bike. High-density areas such as downtowns and college campuses tend to have higher rates of bike commuting due to increased safety and accessibility.
A new study published in the Journal of Public Health suggests a significant link between long-term exposure to ambient air pollution and an increased risk of developing hypertension. The researchers also found associations between air pollution levels and reduced high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, higher triglyceride levels, and ob...
A study led by St. Michael's Hospital found that living in walkable neighborhoods can have diminishing health benefits due to increased exposure to traffic-related air pollution. The research, based on nearly 2.5 million adults from Ontario municipalities, challenges the idea that walkability always improves overall health and well-being.
A large-scale study found that high levels of air pollution negatively affect ovarian reserve and female fertility marker anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) levels in Italian women. Exposure to particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide increased the risk of reduced AMH concentrations, leading to a lower ovarian reserve.
A study of 5,531 adults in peri-urban villages near Hyderabad found that long-term exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) increased hypertension prevalence by 4% in women, with significant associations with systolic and diastolic blood pressure.
A new study using a rat model with high blood pressure found that air pollution-like irritants alter the defensive heart-lung reflex, leading to increased heart rates and abnormal rhythms. The research suggests that chronic hypertension may remodel airway sensory nerves controlling this reflex.
Research reveals that urban pollution from Manaus significantly impacts cloud production and rainfall in the Amazon, with far-reaching consequences for regional and global climate patterns. The study found an average increase of 200% in secondary organic aerosols, leading to a 400% boost in aerosol formation.
A new study found that even short stays in polluted cities can cause significant breathing problems and coughing in healthy adults, which can take at least a week to recover from. The research team analyzed lung and heart health in travelers visiting highly polluted cities like India and China.
A study published in Environment International found that exposure to airborne metal pollution is associated with an increased risk of mortality. The research used moss samples to estimate human exposure to metal particles and found that participants exposed to higher concentrations of anthropogenic metals had a higher risk of death.
Exposure to fine particulate matter during pregnancy impairs fetal development, leading to smaller organs and metabolic disorders in adulthood. The study highlights the importance of reducing prenatal air pollution exposure to prevent long-term health consequences.
A new study found that exposure to particulate matter with a diameter of less than 2.5 μm during pregnancy and childhood is associated with reduced fundamental cognitive abilities, such as working memory and executive attention in boys. The study included 2,221 children between 7 and 10 years old attending schools in Barcelona.
A new study by an international team of scientists identified a significant increase in CFC-11 emissions in eastern China since 2013, posing a threat to the recovery of the stratospheric ozone layer. The findings suggest that new production of CFC-11 has taken place in the region, primarily for building insulation and refrigerators.
Researchers found significant increases in myo-inositol levels and generalized anxiety symptoms among children exposed to traffic-related air pollution. The study suggests a partial link between high TRAP exposure and increased anxiety, highlighting the potential impact on population health.
Researchers found that high levels of PM10 reduced average tree growth by up to 37% and varied interannually with pollution levels during driest months. Trees exposed to higher levels of pollution grew less in trunk diameter development throughout their lives.
Researchers from NYU Tandon School of Engineering have developed models to assess pollution exposures at the neighborhood level, but propose advancing to individual-level assessments using data from environmental sensors, mobile, and wearable devices. This could provide evidence-based arguments for change, particularly impacting indivi...
A North Carolina State University study finds that compressed wood pellet-fed stoves reduce air pollution by about 90% for a range of contaminants associated with health problems and climate change. The stoves performed well in real-world conditions, with drastic cuts in pollutant emissions.
A study by ISGlobal found that particulate matter exposure takes away 125,000 years of healthy life from European children each year. Air pollution is the leading cause of disease burden, followed by passive tobacco smoke.
China's regional pollution policies are causing unintended spillover effects, increasing air and water pollution in neighboring provinces. The models project a significant increase in pollutants, carbon dioxide emissions, and water consumption outside the capital cities.
A study by UC Berkeley scientists found that falling levels of air pollution are causing the decline in California's tule fog, which may help improve traffic safety in the region. The researchers analyzed data from 1930 to 2016 and found a strong correlation between air pollutant emissions and fog frequency.
Young children who live close to a major roadway are twice as likely to score lower on tests of communications skills. Children born to women exposed during pregnancy to higher-than-normal levels of traffic-related pollutants have a small but significantly higher likelihood of developmental delays.
A US study estimates that location-specific air pollution damages result in nearly 107,000 premature deaths annually, with a societal cost of $886 billion, highlighting the need for location-specific emissions mitigation efforts.
A study analyzing air samples from the Amazon rainforest and polluted areas found that human activity increases the production of climate-changing particles by 60-200% compared to natural forest carbon. The researchers developed an advanced computer model to simulate chemical reactions, improving predictive abilities.
A recent study suggests that rapidly phasing out air pollution emissions can prevent approximately 3.6 million avoidable deaths each year, while also increasing rainfall in drought-prone regions and limiting global warming. The researchers found that removing fossil fuel-related and all anthropogenic emissions could achieve the 2°C tar...
Research in mice found that exposure to particulate matter led to deterioration of testicular function and changes in gene expression related to sperm production. The study's findings suggest that air pollution may be a contributing factor to the increasing rates of male infertility worldwide.
Air pollution exposure varies significantly among racial-ethnic groups in the US, with blacks and Hispanics facing higher levels of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) than their individual contributions to total PM2.5 exposure. Consumption patterns also play a crucial role in determining these disparities.
A joint study by King's College London and Airparif found that air pollution in both cities has improved since 2010, but not enough to meet legal limits. Newer diesel cars and buses have led to declines in particle pollution, while nitrogen dioxide levels from traffic in London have deteriorated.
A study by Stockholm University reveals that biomass burning from neighboring regions exceeds fossil fuel emissions in New Delhi during the fall and winter. The researchers found high levels of black carbon aerosols in the city, posing a significant threat to human health.
A recent study found that short-term wood burning in small-scale room heaters and sauna stoves significantly increased residents' daily exposure to particulate air pollution. The study highlights the importance of natural ventilation in reducing indoor levels of hazardous particles.
Research from Duke University and National University of Singapore reveals pre-natal exposure to forest fire haze leads to a 1.3-inch decrease in expected height at age 17, resulting in long-term human capital losses and permanent stunting effects on children's growth.
Exposure to air pollution at school is linked to a higher risk of childhood obesity and overweight. The study found that children exposed to medium or high levels of air pollution had a higher risk of obesity and overweight compared to those with lower exposure.
A new study reveals that wildfires can affect plant growth hundreds of kilometers away from the impact zone, reducing productivity in areas far from the blaze. This finding suggests that fire pollution could pose an increasing threat to global productivity in a warming world.
A comprehensive review of air pollution effects in children reveals adverse birth outcomes, cognitive and behavioral problems, asthma incidence, and potentially childhood cancer. The study estimates that over 40% of environmental disease burden is borne by children under five.
A new study finds that British children with intellectual disabilities are more likely to live in areas with high outdoor air pollution, such as diesel particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide. This increased exposure may impede cognitive development and contribute to the higher risk of intellectual disability.
The nationwide average exposure to PM2.5 in China decreased significantly between 2005 and 2015, mainly attributed to declining household solid fuel use. Researchers estimate that replacing all remaining household solid fuels with clean energy sources could prevent an additional half-million premature deaths per year.
A study of nearly all births in Vancouver found that air pollution exposure, particularly nitric oxide, was associated with an increased risk of autism spectrum disorder. The findings suggest environmental contaminants and air pollution may be potential risk factors for ASD.
Research suggests that reducing nitrogen dioxide pollution in Copenhagen could increase average lifespan by an entire year and lead to improved quality of life. The study found that by 2040, the number of men suffering from cardiovascular diseases could be reduced by 680 per 100,000 men.
A multicity study found exposure to ground-level ozone and nitrogen oxides increases ED visits for respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. The study analyzed associations between cardiorespiratory ED visits and twelve major air pollutants across five US cities.
A Monash University study found a strong link between air pollution and the development of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in children. Exposure to fine particles (PM2.5) from vehicle exhausts, industrial emissions, and other sources increased the risk of ASD by up to 78%. The study adds to previous research on prenatal air pollution ex...
Researchers in South India measured personal exposure to fine particulate matter using a combination of techniques, finding significant differences between men and women. Men showed higher levels of personal exposure throughout the day, while women's exposures were related to cooking and industrial activities.
A comprehensive study by the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute found that air pollution and transportation noise significantly increase the risk of heart attacks. The study reveals that considering both factors together reduces the estimated effect of air pollution on cardiovascular health.
A new study found that children who have access to green spaces near their homes are less likely to experience respiratory problems as adults. The research, conducted by RHINESSA, analyzed data from over 5,400 participants and found a significant association between exposure to greenness and reduced respiratory symptoms.
A study found associations between air pollution and dementia diagnoses in London patients, with higher NO2 and PM2.5 levels linked to a 40% increased risk of dementia. The study's findings suggest that traffic-related air pollution may contribute to neurodegeneration, particularly for Alzheimer's disease.
A new study found that children carrying the ε4 variant of the APOE gene may experience adverse effects from traffic-related air pollution, including higher behaviour problem scores and slower attention capacity. The findings suggest that this genetic variant could exacerbate air pollution's impact on neurodevelopment.