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What is the association between particulate matter exposure and SARS-CoV-2 infections?

In a new study, researchers assessed the association between particulate matter ≤2.5mm (PM2.5) exposure and SARS-CoV-2 infection and severity outcomes such as hospitalizations and deaths.

21 Nov 2022

Traffic congestion may be linked to lower birthweights, study finds

Copious data underline the adverse health effects of vehicle-related air pollution, but there is limited research on how bottleneck traffic, in particular-;rather than overall traffic volume-;can lead to negative health outcomes.

15 Nov 2022

How air pollution affects the central nervous system over time

An article published in the journal Toxics describes how air pollutants adversely impact the human nervous system.

13 Nov 2022

Dogs are a better proxy for human health risks, UQ researchers say

University of Queensland researchers are looking to dog owners for data on protecting pet – and human health – from environmental hazards.

10 Nov 2022

Air pollution during pregnancy linked to delay in children's gross motor neurodevelopmental milestones

A recent study in Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology has linked exposure to tiny particles of air pollution-; called fine particulate matter-; during pregnancy to delays in children's gross motor, fine motor, and personal–social development.

9 Nov 2022

Annual global death toll from fine particulate outdoor air pollution may be higher than previously thought

The World Health Organization's most recent estimates (2016) are that over 4.2 million people die prematurely each year due to long-term exposure to fine particulate outdoor air pollution (often referred to as PM2.5,).

8 Nov 2022

Children exposed to air pollution in early years more likely to develop food allergies

A new research paper explores associations between food allergies and pre- or post-natal exposure to pollutants in the air, thus paving the way for future studies on the potential sensitization of the gut by exposure of the skin or airway to pollutants, in addition to the alimentary route.

7 Nov 2022

Election canvassers want Latinos to know voting is good for their health

Jonathan Flores spent a sunny Saturday in late October knocking on the doors of registered voters in this predominantly Latino working-class town in southeastern Los Angeles County.

7 Nov 2022

Exposure to higher concentrations of air pollution linked with chronic kidney disease risk

Both genetic and environmental factors contribute to chronic kidney disease (CKD). New research assessed the interaction of air pollution and genetic factors on the development of CKD.

6 Nov 2022

Researchers study the unique adaptability of small intestinal bacteria for the first time

Bacteria in the small intestine adapt dynamically to our nutritional state, with individual species disappearing and reappearing.

1 Nov 2022

Marital stress may impact young adults' recovery after a heart attack

A stressful marriage may negatively impact heart attack recovery. Marital stress among younger adults (ages 18–55 years) was linked to worse recovery after a heart attack.

31 Oct 2022

New report highlights the health impacts of air pollution in Africa

Nearly all the African continent faces some of the most severe health impacts in the world caused by air pollution, with several countries experiencing some of the highest levels of air pollution in the world, according to a new report published by the U.S.-based research organization Health Effects Institute.

27 Oct 2022

Higher exposure to particulate matter may be associated with increased dementia risk

Higher exposure to a certain type of traffic-related air pollution called particulate matter may be linked to an increased risk of dementia, according to a meta-analysis published in the October 26, 2022, online issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

26 Oct 2022

Mother's exposure to air pollution and psychological stress may disrupt fetal growth

Fetal growth -; which is delicate and precisely programmed -; may be disrupted by a mother's exposure to air pollution and psychological stress during early to mid-pregnancy, a new USC study shows.

26 Oct 2022

New technology to track the spread of water contaminants in the blink of an eye

Imagine using your mobile phone to track the spread of water contaminants - such as oil spills or even viruses like COVID-19 - in the blink of an eye.

21 Oct 2022

New sensor could make it easier to ensure a good fit of face masks

Wearing a mask can help prevent the spread of viruses such as SARS-CoV-2, but a mask's effectiveness depends on how well it fits.

20 Oct 2022

Extreme climatic events pose a significant threat to global dermatological health

The skin is a large, complex organ, and it serves as the body's primary interface with the environment, playing key roles in sensory, thermoregulatory, barrier, and immunological functioning.

20 Oct 2022

Study links chemical composition of fine particulate air pollution to worse lung disease outcomes

People with a disease characterized by lung scarring that has no obvious cause are more likely to die if they live in areas with higher levels of air pollution composed of chemicals associated with industrial sources and vehicular traffic, according to new research led by University of Pittsburgh scientists.

17 Oct 2022

Urban environment associated with physical activity in COPD patients

The physical activity and exercise capacity of people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) appear to be related to population density, pedestrian street length, slope of terrain and exposure to nitrogen dioxide (NO2) in the vicinity of their homes, according to a new study led by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health, a center supported by the "la Caixa" Foundation.

14 Oct 2022

Air pollution associated with body size and composition in midlife women

Obesity has been a major global health issue in recent decades as more people eat unhealthy diets and fail to exercise regularly.

13 Oct 2022