Air Pollution News and Research

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Scientists discover a direct pathway for transport of inhaled fine particles from lungs to the brain

Breathing in polluted air could lead to toxic particles being transported from lungs to brain, via the bloodstream – potentially contributing to brain disorders and neurological damage, a new study reveals.

20 Jun 2022

People living in South Asia could lose about five years of life expectancy to air pollution

People living in South Asia could lose about five years of their lives on average unless air quality improves to WHO-prescribed levels, according to a new assessment.

16 Jun 2022

It’s hot outside — and that’s bad news for children’s health

Heat waves are getting hotter and becoming more frequent because of rising rates of air pollution, putting children's health at risk, a wide-ranging new report finds.

16 Jun 2022

Stanford researcher outlines pollution and climate change threats to children's health

Horror stories of children trapped in hot cars make headlines, but air pollution and impacts from a changing climate are more constant threats.

15 Jun 2022

Air pollution exposure associated with cardiovascular events among US hemodialysis patients

In a study published in the American Journal of Kidney Diseases (AJKD), researchers found that US adults receiving hemodialysis with higher levels of air pollution exposure have more heart attacks and strokes compared to those with low levels of exposure; strongest associations of air pollution exposure with cardiovascular events were noted among patients who were Asian, older, or had chronic lung disease at dialysis initiation.

14 Jun 2022

Long-term exposure to air pollution associated with greater risk of severe COVID-19

Long-term exposure to air pollution is linked to a greater risk of severe COVID-19, new research being presented at Euroanaesthesia, the annual meeting of the European Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care (ESAIC) in Milan, Italy (4-6 June), finds.

6 Jun 2022

Exposure to traffic-related air pollutants linked with pregnancy complications

A new study in mice by UCLA scientists reveals how exposure to traffic-related air pollutants causes cellular changes in the placenta that can lead to pregnancy complications and affect the health of both mother and offspring.

31 May 2022

Study finds long-term exposure to common air pollutants is associated with COVID-19 severity

Researchers evaluate the relationship between long-term exposure to three common air pollutants and key indicators of COVID-19 severity.

30 May 2022

Size of air pollution particles may affect a person's risk of dying from stroke, study finds

Living in areas with higher air pollution is associated with an increased risk of in-hospital death from stroke, and the risk varies depending on the size of the air pollution particles, according to a new study published in the May 25, 2022, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

25 May 2022

Air pollutant exposures can exacerbate the effects of the SARS-CoV-2 infection

Data from a new USC study shows a significant increase in the risk of severe outcomes for COVID-19 patients exposed to fine particles (PM2.5) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2), two common (and correlated) components of ambient air pollution in Southern California.

25 May 2022

Common air pollutants linked to more severe outcomes after SARS-CoV-2 infection

Some common air pollutants, such as ground-level ozone, are associated with more severe outcomes after SARS-CoV-2 infection, including admission to the intensive care unit (ICU), according to new research in CMAJ.

24 May 2022

High air pollution may increase risk for life-threatening arrhythmias

Life-threatening arrhythmias are more common on days with highly polluted air, according to research presented today at Heart Failure 2022, a scientific congress of the European Society of Cardiology.

22 May 2022

Genetics and environmental factors contribute to how socioeconomic status shapes the brain architecture

Your education, your job, your income, the neighborhood you live in: Together these factors are considered to represent socioeconomic status (SES) and contribute to a variety of health and social outcomes, from physical and mental health to educational achievement and cognitive capacities.

18 May 2022

Removing air pollution emissions would prevent more than 50,000 premature deaths

Eliminating air pollution emissions from energy-related activities in the United States would prevent more than 50,000 premature deaths each year and provide more than $600 billion in benefits each year from avoided illness and death, according to a new study by University of Wisconsin–Madison researchers.

16 May 2022

Residential exposure to greenspace may improve overall cognitive function

New evidence links residential exposure to greenspace, such as green vegetation, as a potential population-level approach to improve processing speed and attention, and overall cognitive function.

27 Apr 2022

Unhealthy air increases the chances of catching COVID-19

A Swedish study published in the journal JAMA Network Open investigates the association between short-term exposure to air pollution and SARS-CoV-2 infection.

26 Apr 2022

Einstein Aging Study secures $32 million NIH grant to help address the rising tide of Alzheimer's disease

To help address the rising tide of Alzheimer's disease nationwide, researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in collaboration with faculty at Pennsylvania State University and other institutions, have received a five-year, $32 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to support the ongoing Einstein Aging Study, which focuses on both normal aging and the special challenges of Alzheimer's disease, and other dementias. EAS was established at Einstein in 1980 and has been continuously funded by the NIH.

20 Apr 2022

Newly identified mechanism explains how fine air pollution particles may cause lung cancer

Scientists have identified a mechanism that explains how fine air pollution particles might cause lung cancer, according to a study published today in eLife.

19 Apr 2022

Researchers construct first single-cell atlas of postnatal lung development in humans and mice

How do the lungs develop after taking their first breaths outside the womb? What cellular events and changes early in life give rise to lung malfunction and disease? To help answer these questions, scientists have constructed the first single-cell atlas of postnatal lung development in humans and mice.

12 Apr 2022

Study reveals rapid increases in urban exposure to air pollutants hazardous to health

The international team of scientists aimed to address data gaps in air quality for 46* future megacities in Africa, Asia and the Middle East using space-based observations from instruments onboard NASA and European Space Agency (ESA) satellites for 2005 to 2018.

8 Apr 2022