Articles tagged with Air Pollution
Researchers found high levels of Polycyclic Aromatic Compounds along the Athabasca River and its tributaries, with concentrations increasing near major oil sands up graders. The study challenges government and industry assertions that pollution is a naturally occurring seepage.
New research highlights the importance of controlling short-lived greenhouse pollutants like sulphates, methane, and black carbon to reduce global warming and improve health. The study finds that sulphates can have negative health effects while ozone pollution has a significant impact on cardiovascular mortality.
A series of studies published in The Lancet show that cutting greenhouse gases can directly reduce premature deaths and improve global health, particularly in low-income countries. The research highlights the co-benefits of tackling climate change by reducing air pollution and improving public health.
In low-income settings, household energy interventions have greater potential to improve public health than those in high-income countries. In the UK, combined insulation and behavioral changes can avert 5,500 premature deaths and save 41 megatonnes of CO2. In India, introducing efficient cooking stoves can benefit up to 87% of househo...
Research highlights from NHLBI-supported studies presented at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions include new education strategies for controlling hypertension and findings on a possible link between short-term and long-term exposure to air pollution and increased risk of constricted blood vessels. Two surgical approac...
A University of Utah engineer has developed a new method to remove oil sheen from polluted water using tiny bubbles created by pressurizing ozone gas. This method, which targets the oil sheen and other pollutants, could be used to clean wastewater discharged into coastal waters and soil contaminated with heavy metals.
Research at the University of Granada found that consuming fish more than 3 times a week during pregnancy is associated with worse cognitive performance in children. Higher levels of mercury exposure also show generalised delays in cognitive, memory, and verbal areas.
A new study found that air pollution increases the risk of bronchiolitis in infants, with higher exposure levels associated with a significant increase in risk. The research analyzed data from nearly 12,000 infant diagnoses and found that traffic-derived air pollutants were linked to an increased risk of bronchiolitis.
Researchers present findings on zinc deficiency's role in allergic asthma, air pollution's significant health risk for patients with chronic lung diseases, and electrical stimulation as a potential bronchodilation treatment. Studies also explore the reduction of daily steroids in children with asthma and the association between high-do...
Researchers argue that short- and medium-lived pollutants like soot, ozone, and methane contribute significantly to near-term climate change. Experts recommend adopting aggressive reduction targets for these pollutants and establishing a new treaty framework.
A recent study found that using a vented stove instead of traditional indoor open fires significantly improves respiratory health in Mexican women. The study showed that women who used the Patsari stove had improved lung function and reduced symptoms compared to those who used open wood fires.
Burning paraffin wax candles can release known human carcinogens into the air, posing health risks. Replacing them with soy or beeswax candles may provide a healthier alternative.
Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh have developed a fluorescent probe that glows bright green when exposed to ozone, a harmful pollutant and lung irritant. The probe's sensitivity and specificity make it a potential tool for monitoring indoor and outdoor ozone levels, as well as studying its effects on the human body.
A study suggests air pollution may contribute to non-specific abdominal pain in young women, while another study shows that moderate alcohol intake can reduce the risk of gallstones. The findings highlight the importance of environmental factors and lifestyle choices on GI health.
Research found high self-reported asthma rates in NYC children living near Ground Zero, with 50% increase in new cases following the 2001 attacks. Exposure to urban ambient pollution and toxins released by the WTC plume may contribute to the persistently high asthma incidence.
Research finds that atmospheric pollution has enhanced global plant productivity by up to a quarter since 1960, leading to a 10% increase in carbon stored by the land. This unexpected effect occurs due to increased diffuse radiation reaching the Earth's surface under hazy conditions.
Research highlights coral reefs' decline due to rising CO2 levels and ocean acidification. Ocean proximity also exacerbates ozone pollution in Houston by increasing reactive chlorine mass. New measurements reveal the impact of nitryl chloride on ozone formation, with significant increases observed.
A new decade-long database of aerosol measurements over land has been compiled, revealing a global decline in clear sky visibility from 1973 to 2007. This trend is indicative of increases in airborne pollution and its impact on climate change research.
A study of over 7,000 patients found that higher air temperature and lower barometric pressure contribute to severe headaches, challenging the notion that weather triggers headaches. The research suggests that headache sufferers should identify personal triggers with their doctors, including environmental factors.
A new study published in Neurology found that higher temperatures and lower barometric air pressure may increase the risk of headaches. Air pollution levels had no effect on headache risk in the study. The study examined 7,054 people diagnosed with headache in a Boston emergency department over seven years.
Researchers discovered a new cause of airway irritation and wheezing after exposure to ozone, a common urban air pollutant. They found that high amounts of hyaluronan, a sugar molecule, are responsible for narrowing the airways.
A meta-analysis of decades-long experimental evidence reveals that modern day concentrations of ground level ozone pollution are decreasing tree growth in northern and temperate mid-latitudes. The study predicts a 17% reduction in tree growth by the end of the century if current fossil fuel dependence continues.
A new method for tracing zinc pollution in the atmosphere has been developed, which can identify the source of the pollution. This breakthrough could improve pollution monitoring and inform national and international strategies to reduce zinc pollution.
Researchers have developed an application called Zoetrope that allows users to easily search and analyze historical web data. The system captures and stores archived websites, enabling users to view past versions of sites and track changes over time.
A study in Mexico City found that asthmatic children are more likely to experience worsening respiratory symptoms when living near high-traffic areas. The study, led by Dr Isabelle Romieu, suggests that diesel particles have a significant impact on respiratory health.
A new study suggests that air pollution can both increase and decrease rainfall, depending on local environmental conditions. The research, led by Prof. Daniel Rosenfeld of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, found that aerosol particles in the air can affect cloud formation and precipitation patterns.
Researchers used proteomics to compare the nuclear proteome of immature and mature gonadotrophic cells, revealing novel proteins that regulate gonadotropin gene transcription and RNA splicing. Urban air pollution was found to affect placental development, leading to reduced fetal growth and pregnancy complications.
A recent study found that over 30% of American public schools are within 400 meters of major highways, putting children at risk for respiratory diseases. The research suggests that proximity to highways and environmental pollutants can leave school-age children more susceptible to asthma and other chronic respiratory problems.
Researchers have identified a unique molecule essential to breaking down pollutants in the atmosphere, including acid rain. This breakthrough discovery will help scientists model pollutant reactions and predict potential outcomes.
A German research group found associations between exposure to traffic-related air pollution and the onset of allergic diseases in children. Children living less than 50m from a busy main road were 1-50% more likely to contract diseases like asthmatic bronchitis, hay fever, and eczema.
Scientists use A-Train sensors to find that polluted clouds in South America produce less rain during dry season. The study suggests aerosol pollution suppresses rainfall due to smaller ice particles not growing large enough to fall as rain.
A study found a strong association between air pollution and an increased risk of developing deep vein thrombosis, with higher exposure levels leading to faster clotting. The risk was stronger in men than women, highlighting the need for tighter air quality standards.
A new study from researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham found that carbon monoxide in air pollution and tobacco smoke triggers tuberculosis infection to shift into a dormant state. This dormant state is difficult to detect and treat, contributing to the spread of TB and its high mortality rate.
Biomonitoring utilizes bioindicators to detect pollutant accumulation and provides real-time trend monitoring. This approach is particularly suitable for environments where technological monitoring is impossible or too costly.
A University of Virginia study finds that air pollution destroys flower scents by up to 90 percent, impairing pollinators' ability to locate flowers. This decline in fragility contributes to the declining populations of bees and butterflies, which are essential for food production.
A University of Utah study reveals that polar explorers saw an aerosol 'dry haze' in the late 1800s, likely generated by smelting and coal combustion. The haze was found to contain metallic particles, including vanadium and cobalt, consistent with heavy oil and coal combustion.
Scientists found that summer storms in the Southeast drop more rainfall on weekdays than weekends. The study suggests that atmospheric pollution from humans may be driving this trend, as pollution levels peak midweek.
A new study by Queensland University of Technology scientists found that exposure to air pollution significantly reduces foetus size during pregnancy. Mothers with higher exposure to air pollution had foetuses that were smaller in terms of abdominal circumference, head circumference and femur length.
Research published in Occupational and Environmental Medicine suggests that high temperatures increase the risk of cardiovascular death from heart disease or stroke. Ozone levels are a common link between temperature fluctuations, with higher ozone levels associated with increased cardiovascular mortality.
Ozone intrusions are associated with sudden changes in tropopause altitude, damaging forests and crops. The study uses windprofilers to monitor ozone movements, highlighting the need for a better understanding of the role of human activities in atmospheric pollution.
A USC study found that driving in LA can expose people to harmful air pollutants for up to half their day. The biggest contributors are diesel-fueled trucks on freeways and hard accelerations on surface streets.
Studies in mice reveal that ozone exposure enhances lung injury in response to bacterial toxins and boosts programmed cell death in innate immune system cells. This can lead to an overactive immune response, killing key immune cells and potentially making the lung more vulnerable to subsequent invaders.
New research from Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine identifies how microscopic air pollution kills people at risk. The study found that lungs inflamed by the pollution secrete a substance that causes blood to clot, raising the risk of fatal heart attacks or strokes.
A study found that inhaling diesel exhaust causes changes in the heart's electrical activity, reducing oxygen availability during exercise. Exposure to diesel exhaust also reduced the body's ability to release a 'guardian' protein, increasing the risk of blood clots.
A lack of access to clean energy causes 1.6 million premature deaths worldwide from household fuels annually, and 0.8 million from air pollution in cities. Improving energy access through renewable resources has the potential for major health dividends.
A new UCLA study found that women exposed to high levels of air pollution in Los Angeles County were more likely to have preterm babies. The research, which analyzed data from over 2,500 births in 2003, controlled for other risk factors and found a significant link between air pollution exposure and increased preterm birth rates.
A three-year study measured lung function growth in 3,170 eight-year-old children in Mexico City, finding significant deficits in children exposed to higher levels of air pollutants. The effects of long-term exposure on lung health are associated with increased risk of chronic obstructive lung disease and cardiovascular morbidity.
Researchers found that urban air pollution increases indices of cardiovascular risk, including inflammation, oxidative stress, coagulation, and autonomic dysfunction, in healthy Taiwanese college students. The study suggests a link between air pollution and systemic inflammation/oxidative stress in young adults.
A new analysis reveals that atmospheric brown clouds over south Asia significantly contribute to observed warming, leading to the alarming retreat of Himalayan glaciers. The findings suggest that reducing air pollution could help arrest some of this melting by reducing the combined heating effect of greenhouse gases and brown clouds.
Research reveals air pollution particles can trigger inflammation in blood vessels, leading to atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease. Exposure to particulate matter increases the risk of heart attacks and strokes.
A new UCLA study finds that combining diesel exhaust particles with cholesterol fats leads to a dangerous synergy that causes blood vessel inflammation and cardiovascular disease. The researchers discovered that the interaction activates genes promoting cellular inflammation, accelerating the narrowing and blockage of blood vessels.
Researchers found that platooning with four vehicles reduces drag, saves fuel and lowers greenhouse gas emissions. Cars in a platoon experience lower drag coefficients as they move closer together.
Research by a Chinese-Israeli team shows that air pollution significantly reduces precipitation on mountains in semi-arid regions, highlighting the dire consequences for water resources in the Middle East and worldwide. The study found that increasing levels of manmade air pollution have led to a 20% decrease in precipitation on Mount ...
Scientists at UC Irvine found that ozone-emitting air purifiers can create additional microscopic particles when used with household cleaning products, increasing harmful particulate matter levels. The researchers developed a mathematical model to predict whether an air purifier will make the air dirtier in a given indoor environment.
A University of Washington study found that women living in areas with higher levels of air pollution have a greater risk of developing cardiovascular disease and dying from cardiovascular causes. Fine particulate matter, tiny airborne particles, were linked to a significant increase in cardiovascular disease events.
A study published in Inhalation Toxicology found that rats exposed to highway pollution showed a significant drop in heart rate and disruption of the autonomic nervous system. This discovery highlights the potential risks of air pollution on cardiovascular health, particularly for individuals with pre-existing heart disease.
A systematic review found smokers have a higher risk of TB infection and disease compared to non-smokers. Indoor air pollution from tobacco smoke was also associated with an increased risk of TB infection, disease, and mortality.
A systematic review and meta-analysis found consistent evidence that smoking is associated with an increased risk of tuberculosis. Passive smoking and indoor air pollution from biomass fuels were also linked to a higher TB risk.
A study by Nives Dolsak and Maureen Dunn finds that developed countries invest in developing countries' greenhouse gas emission-reduction projects mainly due to economic reasons, such as reducing air pollution and transaction costs. The authors suggest policy makers to consider regional pollution dynamics when designing international r...
A team of researchers found a significant link between ozone levels in Mexico City and US cities like Houston, highlighting the global impact of air pollution. The study used ozonesondes to measure ozone and other atmospheric variables, revealing that pollution from Asia can also affect the Pacific Northwest.