Articles tagged with Air Pollution
A study of 30,000 pregnant women across nine European cities found associations between socio-economic status and exposure to environmental hazards such as air pollution, noise, and lack of green spaces. The findings highlight the need for urban planners to address environmental inequalities to reduce health disparities in pregnancy.
A new study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences reveals a previously unknown sulfur isotope effect that helps identify sources of air pollution in China. The researchers used sulfur isotopes to analyze coal and air samples, finding a connection between biomass burning and aerosol formation.
A study by University of California, Berkeley economists found that air pollution emissions from US manufacturing fell by 60% between 1990 and 2008 due to stricter environmental regulations. The researchers analyzed data on over 1,400 products and found that changes in production technologies were the primary driver of these decreases.
Researchers found that even low levels of air pollution can cause significant changes in the structure of the heart, similar to those seen in early stages of heart failure. The study, which included over 4,000 participants, linked higher exposures to pollutants like PM2.5 and NO2 to larger ventricles and more pronounced remodelling.
A new study led by Professor Sung-Deuk Choi found that Ulsan, South Korea, is affected by toxic substances in fine dust particles throughout the year. The study analyzed PAHs concentrations in air samples and showed that even in summer, when fine dust concentration is lowest, PAHs remain present.
Recent studies suggest a potential relationship between air pollution and infertility, menstrual irregularity, uterine fibroids, and endometriosis. Researchers emphasize the need for further exploration of these findings to support policy guidelines on air pollution and human health.
A review of Asian transport microenvironments found pedestrians exposed to up to 1.6 times higher fine particle levels than in European cities, while car drivers face nine times more pollution. The study highlights a significant gap in research on rural and semi-rural city exposure to air pollution.
The study reveals that MOTs prevent 133 deaths, nearly 12,000 injuries, and at least 17,700 traffic accidents a year. Additionally, MOTs reduce exposure to atmospheric pollutants, resulting in around 406 premature deaths prevented every year.
A new study finds that air pollution contributes significantly to diabetes worldwide, with even low levels posing a health risk. The researchers estimated that pollution contributed to 3.2 million new diabetes cases globally in 2016, representing about 14% of all new cases.
A new study published in Epidemiology found no association between exposure to air pollution and increased risk of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms in children aged 3-10 years. The study included data from nearly 30,000 children across seven European countries.
A new study by Lund University suggests that removing exhaust fumes from a smaller European city could prevent 55-93 premature deaths and reduce cases of childhood asthma, bronchitis, and dementia. The study found that even below EU air pollution levels, negative health effects exist.
Researchers at Lobachevsky University discovered hormesis and paradoxical effects in plants under formaldehyde exposure, affecting growth and biochemical indicators. This study contributes to improving environmental assessment methods using plant parameters.
Studies found that retiring eight fossil fuel power plants in California resulted in a significant drop of 20-25% in preterm birth rates, particularly among non-Hispanic African-American and Asian women. The researchers also observed an increase in fertility rates in the surrounding areas.
A study found that adhering to a Mediterranean diet can blunt the association between long-term exposure to air pollution and increased risk of deaths from all causes, cardiovascular disease, heart attacks, and other cardiovascular diseases. However, adherence did not protect against ozone's harmful effects on cardiac health.
A new study has found a significant association between increased prenatal CO exposure and decreased lung function in infants. Infants whose mothers were exposed to CO during the second and third trimesters were at highest risk for reduced lung function.
A recent study from the University of Pennsylvania found that dogs born between June and August are at higher risk of heart disease. The research suggests that exposure to fine air particulates during pregnancy may play a role in later development of heart disease.
Scientists at KAUST have created a 3D porous material with repeating patterns of interconnected pores using a simple method. The film, made from polystyrene-b-poly(tertbutyl acrylate), shows promise for applications such as virus filtration and biological scaffolds.
A new study found that wildfire smoke exposure is associated with increased rates of ER visits for heart-related complaints, including ischemic heart disease, irregular heart rhythm, and pulmonary embolism, among adults aged 65 and older. The risk was greatest on dense smoke days.
Researchers from Harvard have quantified the effect of NOx pollution on OH radicals in the Amazon rainforest, finding that daytime peak OH concentrations increase by at least 250% in polluted areas. This study highlights the impact of human activities on atmospheric chemistry, with potential implications for cloud formation and rainfall.
A new study found that almost 100 million adults in China suffer from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), with men having a higher prevalence than women. The study highlights the need for public health strategies to prevent COPD, including smoking cessation programs and stricter control of ambient air pollution.
A new study published in the European Respiratory Journal found that long-term exposure to high levels of road traffic and ozone significantly increases the risk of asthma symptoms and medication use. The study also identified a biological marker, 8-isoprostane, which is exhaled in the breath and linked to tissue damage in the lungs.
A new study projects that cutting carbon emissions sooner could avoid up to 153 million premature deaths globally, with the greatest gains in Asia and Africa. Cities like Kolkata and Delhi, India, could see up to 4.4 million projected saved lives.
A recent study links Beijing's persistent haze events to large-scale climatic warming and changes in the East Asian winter monsoon system. The research found a significant positive trend of haze events in Beijing from 1980 to 2016, correlating with weakened regional atmospheric circulation.
Research found Blacks have higher exposures to fine particulate matter air pollutants, associated with elevated blood glucose and cardiovascular events. The study suggests that environmental pollution may partially explain racial disparities in heart disease risk and death.
A new study has linked air pollution exposure during fetal life with brain abnormalities, including a thinner cortex, which may contribute to impaired cognitive function in school-age children. Exposure to fine particles was associated with difficulties in inhibitory control, related to mental health problems such as addiction and ADHD.
A study found exposure to fine particles during fetal life may cause permanent brain damage and contribute to impaired cognitive function in school-age children. Brain abnormalities, including a thinner outer layer of the brain cortex, were linked to difficulty with inhibitory control and related mental health problems.
A new study published in The Lancet Planetary Health finds that implementing the Paris Climate Agreement could lead to significant health savings due to reduced air pollution-related disease and death. Estimated costs range from 0.5-1% global GDP, while potential health benefits could be as high as 2.5 times greater than these costs.
A study by Indiana University researchers shows that excess emissions from industrial facilities can make serious contributions to overall air pollution, causing approximately $150 million in negative health consequences annually.
A team of researchers at Kaunas University of Technology has created a new generation indoor air cleaning device using advanced methods for breaking down pollutants. The eco-friendly technology will clean the air from nanoparticles and gas pollution, improving human health.
A study published in Psychological Science found that exposure to air pollution, whether physical or mental, is linked with transgressive behavior through increased levels of anxiety. Participants who imagined experiencing air pollution engaged in more unethical behavior than those who thought about clean environments.
Researchers found that babies exposed to high levels of air pollution in the womb had shorter telomeres, linked to higher risk of cancer, heart disease, and premature death. The study suggests that reducing air pollution exposure can have long-term benefits for children's health.
Research published in Occupational & Environmental Medicine found that air pollution is associated with poorer quality sperm. The study, which analyzed data from nearly 6,500 men in Taiwan, discovered a strong link between exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and abnormal sperm shape.
A study found that trees and green space are associated with a decrease in people admitted to hospital with asthma. In the most polluted urban areas, trees had a strong association with fewer emergency asthma cases.
A study published in Environmental Research found that while ambient air pollution decreased in Massachusetts between 2003 and 2010, exposure remained higher in predominantly Hispanic and non-Hispanic black communities. The researchers tracked disparities over space and time using data from the 2000 and 2010 Census and the American Com...
The global burden of chronic kidney disease attributable to air pollution is estimated to be over 10.7 million cases per year, with varying impacts by geography. Air pollution may contribute to the rising incidence of CKD worldwide, particularly in Central America and South Asia.
Researchers found that exposure to forest fire pollutants caused severe DNA damage and stopped lung cells from dividing. Retene, a chemical compound in polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), was the main culprit, leading to inflammation, oxidative stress, and genetic damage.
Severe air pollution in northern and eastern China blocks about 20% of sunlight from reaching solar panels, significantly reducing solar energy production. The study found that aerosol pollution reduces the potential for solar electricity generation by as much as one and a half kilowatt-hour per square meter per day.
Air pollution is the biggest contributor, linked to 6.5 million deaths in 2015, while water and workplace-related pollution pose significant risks. Welfare losses due to pollution are estimated to cost more than US$4.6 trillion each year.
A new study will investigate the biological mechanisms triggered by exposure to air pollution during pregnancy, leading to lower birth weight in newborns. The research aims to understand how air pollution affects fetal growth and development.
Exposure to fine particulate matter and black carbon during daily commutes to school impairs children's cognitive development, according to a new study. The study found an association between air pollution exposure and reduced growth of working memory, with boys being more sensitive than girls.
The University of Portsmouth's AIR Network aims to address the significant contributor to respiratory and cardiovascular disease in low-resource settings. By engaging with local communities through arts, theatre, and other methods, researchers will explore co-creating viable interventions to reduce exposure to air pollution.
A new study from Washington University School of Medicine and VA St. Louis Health Care System found that breathing dirty air may harm kidneys. The research analyzed data on nearly 2.5 million people over 8.5 years, concluding that high levels of particulate matter increase the risk of chronic kidney disease and failure.
Analysis of Chinese life expectancy data reveals a significant impact of airborne particulate matter (PM) on mortality rates. Exposure to PM smaller than 10 microns is estimated to reduce life expectancy by 0.6 years for every 10 μg/m3 of PM10.
A study in São Paulo City found that switching from bio to fossil fuels in flex-fuel cars results in a 30% increase in ultrafine particulate matter. The rise in ethanol prices led to a decrease in its consumption, causing an increase in nanoparticles pollution.
The study found that COPD is largely caused by smoking and air pollution, while asthma's causes are less clear but include smoking and allergens. Interventions can prevent or treat both diseases, but many cases go undiagnosed or undertreated.
Researchers have developed a method using mosses (bryophytes) to evaluate atmospheric conditions in urban areas, including nitrogen pollution severity and drought stress. The study found that bryophytes can indicate the degree of nitrogen pollution and drought levels, making them a valuable tool for assessing environmental changes.
A study published by the American Heart Association found that exposure to high levels of fine particulate matter increased stress hormone levels and negative metabolic changes in healthy young adults. Air purifiers reduced these effects, with significant benefits seen in blood pressure, insulin resistance, and biomarkers of inflammation.
Exposure to air pollution during the first two trimesters of pregnancy has been shown to increase risk for preterm birth and low birth weight. The study's findings also suggest that exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) can lead to decreased body length, placental weight, and anogenital distance.
A new study finds that increased air pollution particles in the air can cut life expectancy by 9-11 years, with a significant difference in estimated costs between the US and EU. The study uses a lifetable of 100,000 people to simulate the effect of long-term exposure to increased air pollution.
Exposure to particulate air pollution after liver cancer diagnosis significantly increases risk of premature death. Higher exposure levels further elevate the risk of dying from liver cancer or any cause.
A new study quantifies CO2 emissions from Sydney Harbour for the first time, finding 1000 tonnes annually, equivalent to 200 cars. The research also reveals that during periods of high rainfall, the harbour becomes a carbon sink.
A new international study reveals that man-made pollution in China's vital ecosystems is devastating its ability to absorb carbon from the atmosphere. The research found that surface ozone causes more harm than aerosol particles, which could lead to a 70% reduction in damage if pollution levels are reduced.
A study by Michigan Technological University found that transitioning to solar photovoltaics (PV) could save up to 51,999 American lives at $1.1 million invested per life. Solar power also has economic value, producing electricity that can be profitable to invest in, sometimes as much as several million dollars per life.
A new study reveals that human activity has polluted European air almost uninterruptedly for the last ca. 2000 years. Lead pollution from mining and smelting was detectable well before the Industrial Revolution and only when the Black Death pandemic halted those activities did lead in the air return to natural levels.
A study by Dr. Mihkel Pindus et al found exposure to traffic-related particulate matter (PM) was associated with cardiac diseases in Tartu, Estonia, whereas PM from residential heating had no link. The results confirm the health effects of low-level PM and highlight differences in associations depending on the PM source.
A new study found that children exposed to high levels of outdoor particulate air pollution during pregnancy and high maternal stress were more likely to develop asthma by age six. Boys were particularly affected, possibly due to slower lung maturation and increased risk of oxidative stress.
Surface ozone and anthropogenic aerosol haze pollution in China decrease the regional net primary productivity (NPP) by 9-16% of total NPP, accounting for 16-32% of total anthropogenic carbon emissions. Aerosol direct effects enhance annual NPP by 0.2 Pg C.
A University of Washington study reveals that during large climate swings, oxidants shift in a different direction than expected, leading to changes in ozone and greenhouse gas levels. Researchers propose two possible explanations: a change in atmospheric circulation patterns and chemical reactions with halogens.
During heat waves, urban trees can significantly increase air pollution levels and the formation of ozone. Researchers found that VOCs from plants contribute to about 6-20% of ozone formation in cities, but this contribution spikes to up to 60% during heat wave periods.
Researchers developed a process that purifies polluted air while generating power as hydrogen gas, which can be stored and used as fuel. The device uses specific nanomaterials and is triggered by sunlight, offering a promising solution for clean air and alternative energy production.