A recent study published in Scientific Reports found that daily smoking and heavy drinking may be associated with modest increases in relative brain age. Researchers used machine learning methods and MRI to analyze data from over 17,000 individuals and discovered a correlation between smoking habits and increased brain age.
A study by the National Institute of Standards and Technology found that used cigarette butts emit toxic chemicals, including nicotine and triacetin, into the air. These emissions can persist for several days, posing health risks to people in close proximity.
A Swedish study found that infants born to mothers who smoked during early pregnancy have a small increased risk of fractures before age 1. However, the association disappears after age 5, suggesting smoking has only short-term effects on bone health. The study followed over 1.6 million offspring from birth to young adulthood.
The law banning smoking in cars carrying children has been shown to reduce teenage exposure to secondhand tobacco smoke by 72% in England. This significant drop in exposure is attributed to the legislation, which aims to protect children from the harms of secondhand tobacco smoke.
Researchers tracked pollutants from Canadian and US wildfires to reach NYC, causing significant increases in air quality advisories. The study highlights the need for policy-makers to consider long-term air quality management plans due to increasing wildfire smoke.
Research published in the American Heart Association's journal found that hookah smoke causes blood clots to form within an average of 11 seconds, compared to 5 minutes without exposure. Hookah smoking increases the risk of heart attack or stroke.
A set of four integrated studies by Harvard researchers reveals that sadness plays a strong role in triggering addictive behavior relative to other negative emotions like disgust. The studies show that individuals experiencing sadness are more likely to be smokers and relapse into smoking after quitting.
A new study in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine reveals that young adults who use both e-cigarettes and combustible cigarettes have a nearly three times higher risk of stroke compared to non-smokers. The study also found that switching from combustible to e-cigarettes does not reduce stroke risk, highlighting the need for fu...
A new study by UCSF researchers found that JUUL delivers significantly higher levels of nicotine to the bloodstream compared to previous-generation e-cigarettes and cigarettes. The study also revealed that JUUL impairs blood vessel function similarly to cigarette smoke, which can have severe cardiovascular consequences.
Research highlights occupational reproductive hazards for female surgeons in the operating room, affecting physical health and fertility. The study emphasizes the need to mitigate these risks through improved working conditions and safety measures.
The study found nearly 9 million injuries and over 120,000 deaths worldwide in 2017 due to fire, heat, and hot substances. Heat-related injuries disproportionately kill the very young and very old, with the risk of death greatest in Seychelles and Laos.
The Suomi NPP satellite captured extensive fires burning in New South Wales, Australia, covering approximately 5.3 million acres of land. The resulting smog poses significant health risks to vulnerable populations, emphasizing the importance of monitoring and managing wildfires.
Researchers conducted a literature review to summarize outcomes in patients with MS who smoke cigarettes and are exposed to smoke. The study found associations between cigarette smoking and increased risk of MS relapses, disability, and mortality.
Researchers investigate how smoke plumes develop and travel from prescribed burns, aiming to create more accurate models for fire managers. They partner with experts in fire management and conduct field experiments to refine their understanding of the complex interactions between fire, topography, and vegetation.
A Hebrew University study found pregnant women who smoke are nearly 50% more likely to develop gestational diabetes. Women who cut down on their cigarette intake still face a 22% higher risk compared to non-smokers or those who quit before pregnancy.
Researchers created the first comprehensive North American Wildland Fuel Database to improve wildfire and smoke predictions. The tool incorporates best available measurements of vegetation, allowing fire managers to see where fuel information is missing, ultimately informing more realistic smoke predictions.
Researchers at the University of Toronto have discovered the brain cells responsible for nicotine aversion in mice, paving the way for new treatments to help smokers quit. The study found that dopamine neurons signal reward and GABA neurons signal aversion in the ventral tegmental area.
NASA's Terra satellite captured a massive image of fires and smoke from Australia's bushfires, spanning the southern Pacific Ocean. Over 1.1 million hectares have burned since September, with more than 70 fires still raging in Queensland.
A record number of bushfires are raging on Australia's east coast, spanning across New South Wales and Queensland. The fires, fueled by hot and dry weather, have burned over 365,000 hectares, with temperatures expected to remain high for the next week.
Studies found that urban emergency department patients who face unemployment and food insufficiency are more likely to smoke. Socioeconomic stressors also affect the likelihood of smoking among men and women, with certain groups showing different patterns.
A new study published in PLOS Genetics found that heavy smoking can have a causal effect on facial ageing, influencing appearance and wrinkling. Researchers used Mendelian randomization and gene-by-environment interaction tests to identify the effects of smoking heaviness.
A team of researchers has identified a key regulator of root hair growth in plants, revealing a new mechanism for controlling this process. The discovery, made using 'smoke detectors' from fire-following seeds, shows promise for improving crop yields and drought resistance.
Exposure to secondhand smoke has been associated with differences in choroidal thickness among children, with non-exposed kids showing healthier eyes. The study examined over 1,400 young children in Hong Kong and found significant differences in eye health between those exposed and not exposed to secondhand smoke.
A new study has found that e-cigarette smoke caused lung cancer and bladder issues in mice exposed to nicotine. The study, published in the Proceedings of National Academy of Sciences, found that 22.5% of mice developed lung adenocarcinomas after exposure to e-cig smoke with nicotine for 54 weeks.
A new study by Colorado State University researchers found a strong link between short-term exposure to air pollution and aggressive behavior, including aggravated assaults and other violent crimes across the continental United States. The results showed a 1.4% increase in violent crimes for every 10 microgram-per-cubic-meter increase ...
A Rutgers University co-authored study finds that a nuclear war between India and Pakistan could result in over 100 million immediate deaths and global mass starvation. The conflict could also lead to a significant decline in sunlight reaching the Earth's surface, causing regional cooling and reduced precipitation.
A new association between secondhand smoke exposure and heart rhythm disorder risk has been highlighted by a study. Children of parents who smoke had a significantly increased chance of developing atrial fibrillation later in life.
Suomi NPP's OMPS detects aerosols and smoke from fires in South America and Canada's Yukon Territories. High aerosol concentrations impact breathing, reproduction, climate, and visibility.
Researchers have discovered a feedback loop that reinforces atmospheric inversions, locking smoke in valleys and worsening air quality. Understanding this loop enables scientists to predict when fire inversions are likely to occur, aiding firefighters and residents.
A recent study by Arizona State University researchers found that tarballs, tiny organic particles formed during wildfires, can significantly impact local and global climate. The team's analysis revealed that tarballs form through chemical and physical changes of organic aerosols within the first hours following smoke production.
Researchers will examine biomarkers and chemicals in thirdhand smoke to understand its impact on cardiovascular health. The five-year study aims to design better therapies for thirdhand smoke-induced cardiovascular disease.
A new study suggests that individual cigarette warnings could be an effective way to discourage smoking among young people and non-smokers. The innovative approach would make health messages more visible and prolonged throughout the consumption experience.
A UCI study found that hookah waterpipe use poses health risks due to toxic chemicals, ultrafine particles, and carbon monoxide. The researchers discovered that even nicotine-free herbal mixtures produce high levels of toxic gases in mainstream smoke.
Scientists studied a massive wildfire smoke plume that lasted for nearly nine months, providing an ideal opportunity to test climate models. The findings show that black carbon was key to the plume's rapid rise and persistence, challenging previous nuclear winter studies.
Researchers compared observations with model simulations, revealing gaps in smoke plume rise and duration modeling. The study found that solar heating warmed air within the plume, causing it to self-loft to nearly 23 kilometers, but observed smoke lifetime was 40% shorter than calculated models due to photochemical loss of organic carbon.
Scientists used a state-of-the-art climate model to study the lofting and movement of the colossal Canadian wildfire smoke cloud, which contained only about 0.3 million tons of soot. The modeling validated previous theories on nuclear war impacts and provided new insights into potential global climate effects.
Researchers found that cigarette smoke can change the DNA and characteristics of pathogenic microbes like MRSA, making them more resistant to antibiotics. This stress response sparks an emergency mutation, resulting in hardy variants that are better equipped to resist drugs.
Research found that African biomass burning is a substantial source of phosphorus deposition to the Amazon, Tropical Atlantic Ocean, and Southern Ocean. This discovery has significant implications for understanding Earth's climate and may impact primary productivity and carbon dioxide drawdown in both ecosystems.
Research from Duke Health suggests that new e-cigarette laws could have unintended consequences on existing users, leading them to smoke more traditional tobacco cigarettes. The study found that limiting flavors or customizability of e-cigarettes might cause some users to increase their use of traditional cigarettes.
A new study finds that patients with mental health conditions are less likely to be prescribed the most effective drug, varenicline, for quitting smoking. However, research suggests that varenicline is associated with better mental health outcomes and higher quit rates compared to nicotine replacement therapy.
The NASA-NOAA satellite captured images of four naturally caused fires in Gila National Forest, New Mexico, sparking concern for air quality and fire management. Three fires - Black Fire, South Fire, and Woodrow Fire - generated smoke plumes visible from space.
The Whiting Knoll Fire in east central Arizona has generated enough smoke to be seen from space, with NASA-NOAA satellite images capturing its extent. The fire, which started on June 30, 2019, is burning approximately 1,546 acres and remains only 5% contained.
A study published in Tobacco Control found that only 1 in 6 accredited US colleges and universities were completely smoke or tobacco-free by 2017. This leaves a significant number of students, faculty, and staff exposed to secondhand smoke.
A study led by University of California, Riverside scientists found that thirdhand smoke can damage epithelial cells in the respiratory system by stressing cells and causing them to fight for survival. The researchers identified 382 genes significantly over-expressed and found pathways affected by these genes.
New Zealanders consider cigarette butts toxic to the environment, holding smokers primarily responsible. Researchers recommend increasing awareness of tobacco companies' role in creating tobacco product waste to foster political support for producer responsibility measures.
A new study by Imperial Brands found that Blu vapor did not trigger significant toxicological responses in human lung cells, unlike cigarette smoke. The research used a 3D model of human lung tissue and found no decrease in cilia or ciliated cells after four weeks of exposure.
Researchers at the University of California, Riverside, successfully replicated superfog formation in a laboratory setting, revealing crucial factors such as low water content, small particle size, and high fuel moisture content. While they can now understand how superfog forms, predicting its occurrence remains uncertain due to comple...
Smokers of unfiltered cigarettes face a significantly higher risk of dying from lung cancer and all causes than those who smoke filtered cigarettes. Researchers found that light or ultralight cigarettes do not offer any lung cancer death reduction benefits, but smokers may be less likely to quit.
A Rutgers University study found that over 60% of e-cigarette users want to quit using e-cigarettes. The study also revealed that more than 25% have tried to quit in the past year and 16% plan to quit within a month.
A new University of Stirling study found that banning smoking in prisons significantly reduced secondhand smoke levels across Scotland. The study, which measured air quality before and after the ban's introduction, showed an average 81% decrease in fine particulate matter concentrations.
A large study of 131,739 never-smokers found that passive smoking is associated with a higher risk of high blood pressure. The study suggests that avoiding secondhand smoke completely is necessary to protect against hypertension. Researchers recommend stricter smoking bans and help for smokers to quit.
A novel approach using pleasant odors could help smokers quit by reducing craving urges. Pleasant aromas significantly decreased urge scores in participants, with those smelling pleasant odors showing a greater reduction than tobacco or blank scents.
New research by Imperial Brands shows that vaping blu e-vapor produces a similar effect on human lung tissue as normal air. The study found that exposure to blu vapour had no cytotoxic impact on human airway tissue, unlike conventional cigarette smoke.
A recent study by the University of Kentucky has identified a potential cellular mechanism that connects smoking during pregnancy with an increased risk of offspring obesity later in life. The research found that expectant mothers who smoke cigarettes during pregnancy induce distinct changes in chemerin gene expression in their offspring.
New study from Michigan State University finds that student social norms and peer approval are crucial in determining drinking behavior. Researchers suggest emphasizing social costs of risky behaviors and promoting messages from peers themselves, not authority figures.
The novel vaping product produced greatly reduced mutagenicity and cytotoxicity compared to cigarette smoke. Further studies are required to substantiate its potential as a reduced-risk product.
A multi-country study found that nearly half of Airbnb listings allowing smoking lack smoke detectors, while nearly two-thirds of non-smoking venues have them. The study also reveals a significant gap in carbon monoxide detector prevalence across smoking and non-smoking venues.
Hookah smoking exposes users to high levels of particulate matter and other harmful chemicals, including carbon monoxide, nicotine, and lead. The American Heart Association recommends avoiding tobacco use in any form due to the risks associated with hookah smoking.
A new study has found a strong association between secondhand smoke exposure and the development of chronic kidney disease. Even brief periods of exposure, such as less than 3 days per week, were linked to a higher risk of CKD, with a 66% increased risk compared to those with no exposure.
A San Diego State University study found that a combination of coaching, lights, and sound can reduce smoking in homes with children. The 'Project Fresh Air' intervention resulted in a near-20% reduction in smoking and related activity, as well as a decrease in air particle events triggered by secondhand smoke.