Articles tagged with Air Pollution
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.
Historical data analysis reveals that combined effects of atmospheric brown clouds and greenhouse gases negatively impacted Indian rice harvests. The study estimates that harvests would have been 20-25% higher in the 1990s if pollution-related climate impacts hadn't occurred.
Research published in Occupational and Environmental Medicine found that high hourly air pollution levels significantly increase the risk of intracerebral hemorrhage. The study analyzed data from 13 major urban areas in Japan and found a doubling of stroke risk when particulate matter levels exceeded 200 ug/m3 two hours before death.
Scientists at NASA have found that aerosol particles in air pollution can prevent clouds from forming, while lighter particles can help them form. This discovery could improve climate predictions and understanding of the Earth's climate system.
Climate change is likely to affect health through vector-borne and diarrheal diseases, malnutrition, flood-related conditions, heat and cold deaths. Increasing renewable energy use can improve health by reducing air pollution and addressing climate change.
Exposure to combustion-related urban air pollutants during pregnancy is linked to lower scores on mental development tests and a higher risk of developmental delay at age three. The study found that children exposed to the highest levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) scored significantly lower on cognitive tests.
The Maldives AUAV Campaign has demonstrated the effectiveness of lightweight AUAVs in analyzing atmospheric chemistry, revealing how pollution particles cause dimming and contribute to cloud formation. The data produced will aid in understanding climate change science.
Researchers have successfully completed 18 data-gathering missions using autonomous unmanned aerial vehicles in pollution-filled skies over the Maldives. The aircraft flew in synchronous vertical formation, collecting unprecedented detail on how pollution particles contribute to cloud formation and dimming.
The study reveals how ozone reacts with carbon-carbon double bonds to form crosslinked networks within the thin film, degrading organic surfaces with prolonged exposure. Understanding this reaction mechanism may lead to improved films for organic coatings and polymeric materials.
A study found that cities with reduced fine particulate matter pollution (PM2.5) had lower adjusted mortality rates, especially for cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. The largest drops in mortality rates were seen in cities with the greatest reduction in PM2.5 concentrations.
A research team led by Professor Eberhard Bodenschatz has experimentally tested two theories on how particles separate in strong turbulence. The results, which agree with George Batchelor's predictions but not the Richardson-Obukhov law, suggest that particles move more slowly away from each other than previously assumed.
UCLA researcher Dr. Andre Nel has developed a new testing method to evaluate the safety and health risks of engineered nanomaterials. The approach uses existing toxicity testing frameworks to predict potential hazards, enabling the classification of materials as safe or toxic.
A study by PNNL found that China's air pollution has caused a decrease in cloud cover over the past 50 years, resulting in more frequent clear skies and reduced surface heat from sunshine. The likely culprit is a nine-fold increase in fossil fuel emissions, which have entrenched China in a foggy haze.
A new study by Imperial College London found that taking a taxi can expose individuals to high levels of ultrafine particles, even when sitting in the vehicle. The study used a visualisation system to measure exposure levels across different modes of transport, revealing that walking results in the lowest exposure.
Researchers found that prolonged exposure to low levels of particulate matter (PM2.5) increases the risk of heart disease by accelerating atherosclerosis and causing vascular inflammation in mice. The study used real-world exposure to airborne pollutants to demonstrate the link between air pollution and cardiovascular disease.
A randomized controlled trial found that fish oil supplementation prevented a reduction in heart rate variability in elderly subjects exposed to indoor air pollutant particles. In contrast, soy oil supplements showed a marginal, nonsignificant protective effect against the negative impact of particulate matter on heart rate variability.
Scientists found high levels of ozone at extreme altitudes in Tibet, forming a 'halo' that may put climbers at risk due to its medical effects. Ozone concentrations are higher than expected and could exacerbate hypoxia and respiratory issues.
A worldwide compilation of exceptionally preserved fossil assemblages suggests that prehistoric global warming may have led to the formation of these fossils. The widespread death and burial of animals and their carbon created fossil bonanzas, potentially saving Earth from a heat sterilization event like Venus.
A University College London study found that heat-related deaths were largely unaffected by pollutants such as ozone and particulates. Instead, temperature rises in early summer contributed significantly to mortality rates, highlighting the need for improved heat preparedness.
This study reveals that airborne particulate matter is associated with an increased risk of heart attack, particularly in individuals with damaged arteries. The research suggests that exposure to these pollutants can lead to lung inflammation and fatal blood clots.
A University of Southern California-led study found that air pollution poses a greater danger to health than previously thought, with a two- to three-fold increase in chronic health effects compared to earlier estimates. The study revealed a significant link between fine particle levels and increased risk of death from heart disease, l...
Research found a strong link between childhood cancer and air pollution, particularly from vehicle exhausts and diesel engines. Children exposed to high levels of pollutants in the womb or shortly after birth were at increased risk of developing cancer, with proximity to emission sources also playing a critical role.
A new study found that low-income, African-American communities in Maryland are more likely to be exposed to high levels of air pollutants, increasing their cancer risk. The study suggests that targeted emissions-reduction policies can help mitigate this disparity and improve health outcomes for these communities.
Researchers found that ozone levels are closely related to the formation, intensification and movement of hurricanes. The study's findings can help improve predicted tracks and lead to better tracking of storms. Ozone data can provide a clearer view of a hurricane's eye, aiding in storm position pinpointing.
Researchers found a strong relationship between ozone levels and hurricane behavior, enabling better tracking and forecasting. Ozone data helps pinpoint the storm's eye, leading to more accurate predictions of hurricane movement.
A Harvard study finds that diabetics experience impaired blood vessel function on days with high sulfate and black carbon particle pollution, increasing heart attack risk. The research highlights a biological mechanism linking particle pollution to cardiovascular disease.
A significant association was found between air pollution and an increased risk of ventricular tachyarrhythmias among patients with implanted cardioverter defibrillators. The risk was particularly high when particulate air pollution, black carbon, nitrogen dioxide, and sulfur dioxide were present.
Researchers found that exposure to fine particles in air pollution impairs blood vessel reactivity in people with diabetes, leading to a higher risk of heart problems. The study also suggests that this association may help explain previous findings on the link between air pollution and cardiovascular issues in diabetics.
Researchers measured air toxin levels in a tollbooth and found that the ventilation system provided relatively low and constant concentrations of pollutants, protecting workers during rush-hour traffic. However, chlorinated VOCs used in cleaning products were present at higher concentrations indoors than outdoors.
A study by UCLA found that children on school buses are exposed to high levels of diesel pollution, comparable to urban areas. The researchers analyzed six buses and found that intake fraction values were significantly higher than typical U.S. urban areas.
A new UC study reveals that children inside school buses inhale significantly more exhaust pollutants than those outside, particularly among older buses. The researchers found that for every metric ton of pollution emitted by a school bus, kids on that bus inhale comparable or larger amounts of pollution.
A study found that air pollution increases the risk of heart attacks and strokes by thickening blood, a process triggered by particulate matter. Exposure to pollutants boosted inflammatory activity and promoted clotting factors in cells, suggesting a potential link between air pollution and cardiovascular disease.
A Harvard researcher predicts a decline in cleansing summer winds, leading to increased ground-level ozone pollution. This could exacerbate respiratory issues like asthma for affected populations.
Researchers found a link between air pollution and chromosomal abnormalities in babies, with stable alterations increasing cancer risk. The study monitored exposure to PAHs among African-American and Dominican mothers in NYC, finding higher abnormalities in those exposed to high pollution levels.
Researchers analyzed satellite data from four years of MISR observations to find a concentrated pool of particles over Bihar, largely due to inefficient biofuel burning. The pollution affects human health and local climate, with altered temperature and precipitation patterns.
Researchers discovered a large class of airborne particles that react with nitric acid to form calcium nitrate, altering sunlight reflection and cloud-altering properties. The newly formed particles can absorb water, scattering and absorbing sunlight, posing a new challenge for climate modelers.
A study found a significant association between short-term ozone exposure and an increase in daily death rates, particularly among older adults. The researchers estimated that a 10-ppb increase in ozone was associated with an additional 3,767 premature deaths annually in urban communities.