Articles tagged with Air Pollution
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 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 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 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 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 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 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.
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.
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.
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.
A new study published in Environmental Science & Technology shows that air conditioning increases air pollution by hundreds to thousands of metric tons, particularly sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and carbon dioxide, with a 3-4% increase per degree Celsius rise in temperature
Researchers tracked gold nanoparticles after inhalation, finding they accumulated at inflamed vascular sites and preferredentially reached susceptible areas of the cardiovascular system. This suggests that nanoparticles could increase the likelihood of heart attacks or strokes in individuals with pre-existing cardiovascular conditions.
Research suggests that high levels of traffic-related air pollution can lead to lower levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, also known as "good" cholesterol. This can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease by reducing the number and functionality of HDL particles.
A large US study found that living in areas with high fine particle air pollution may increase the chance of dense breasts, a well-established breast cancer risk factor. Women with dense breasts were more likely exposed to high PM2.5 levels.
Researchers found that snow absorbs certain polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from car emissions, increasing toxic pollutant levels in the environment. The study highlights the need for further research to reduce premature deaths caused by mild air pollution in North America.
A study published in Nature found that air pollution mortality is disproportionately felt by people living near producing regions, often far from where goods are consumed. The researchers estimated that 22% of fine-particulate-matter air pollution deaths were related to goods produced elsewhere.
A study by University of California, Irvine researchers finds that global manufacturing and trade significantly increase health risks for people in regions far from producing factories, with 22% of air pollution-related deaths associated with goods produced elsewhere.
A new study found that global climate change is linked to severe winter haze in eastern China, with Arctic sea ice loss and extensive snow contributing to poor ventilation conditions. The 2013 'airpocalypse' event was exacerbated by these factors, highlighting the need for stringent emission reductions to mitigate future haze events.
Researchers found infants in prams are exposed to higher levels of fine and ultrafine particulate matter during the morning drop-in hours compared to the afternoon drop-off hours. Bus stops and traffic lights pose significant risks to young children's health due to high concentrations of pollutants.
Excess emissions from Volkswagen's diesel cars sold between 2008 and 2015 will cause approximately 1,200 premature deaths across Europe. The countries hardest hit include Germany, Poland, France, and the Czech Republic.
Research discovered that black carbon alters bacteria's ability to survive and combat antibiotics, increasing the risk of infection. The study also found that air pollution can change the way bacteria behave and cause disease.
A new study suggests that air pollution can dissolve iron particles in airborne particles, increasing the amount of greenhouse gases that the world's oceans can absorb. Scientists have found thick sulphate coatings containing soluble iron on iron-rich particles from steel manufacturing and coal burning in the East China Sea.
A study by academics at the University of East Anglia suggests that insights from behavioral science can help design road signs to encourage drivers to switch off their engines while waiting at railway crossings. Researchers found that simple visual and written cues doubled the rate of people turning off their engines, with a more effe...
USC-led study finds that older women living in areas with high PM2.5 levels are 81% more at risk for global cognitive decline and 92% more likely to develop dementia, including Alzheimer's disease. Exposure to air pollution particles may accelerate brain aging and promote Alzheimer's disease.
Research reveals companies strategically locating facilities near downwind state borders to avoid 'not-in-my-backyard' opposition, while also sharing air pollution costs with neighboring states. The study finds a significant trend of large polluters being more likely to locate near downwind state borders.
A clinical trial in Nigeria replaced biomass and kerosene cookstoves with ethanol stoves, reducing the risk of high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease in pregnant women. The study found a significant decrease in high blood pressure among women who cooked with ethanol, with risks reduced by 97% compared to those using traditional...
A study of over 16,000 patients found air pollution reduces pulmonary vascular function and increases risk of decompensated heart failure. Limiting physical activity in heavily polluted areas is recommended.
A study by Tohoku University found that air pollutants cause hypersensitivity to itch, leading to skin inflammation and allergic diseases like asthma. The research team discovered that AhR, a transcription factor activated by air pollutants, causes itchy sensations through the expression of neurotrophic factor artemin.
Scientific cooperation on environmental pollution played a key role in easing Cold War tensions in the 1970s. Norway's lead on acid rain monitoring led to limited technological cooperation with the Eastern Bloc, paving the way for political relationships at the United Nations.
Research from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill reveals that regions close to the equator are contributing more to the total global ozone increase due to their proximity to intense sunlight and heat. The study suggests that strategic policy planning is needed to address this issue.
A UBC study recommends cyclists ride at 12-20 km/h and pedestrians walk at 2-6 km/h to reduce air pollution inhalation. The ideal travel speeds, or minimum-dose speeds, vary by age and sex group, with faster speeds increasing pollution risk.
Research found that exposure to fine particulate matter air pollution is associated with abnormal changes in the blood, including increased micro-particles indicating cell injury and death, and proteins that inhibit blood vessel growth. This suggests that living in a polluted environment could promote the development of high blood pres...