Air Pollution News and Research

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Air pollution linked to higher risk of developing Alzheimer's disease

People with greater exposure to air pollution face a higher risk of developing Alzheimer's disease, according to a new study by Yanling Deng of Emory University, U.S.A., and colleagues, published February 17th in the open-access journal PLOS Medicine.

17 Feb 2026

Chronic inflammation shapes cancer progression and immunotherapy response

Chronic inflammation is both a driver and suppressor of cancer depending on context. Key players-NF-κB, IL-6, STAT3, TAMs, MDSCs, and Tregs-orchestrate a tumor-permissive microenvironment.

16 Feb 2026

Vegan biopolymer film protects hair from environmental damage

To find new ways to shield hair from heat, sunlight and air pollution, researchers in Brazil are turning to vegan-friendly ingredients for shampoos and conditioners.

16 Feb 2026

Air pollution increases physical disability progression in older adults

Long-term air pollution exposure is associated with faster progression of disability in older adults, highlighting critical public health implications.

16 Feb 2026

Why lung cancer in never smokers is rising and how targeted detection could reduce deaths

Lung cancer in never smokers is an increasingly recognized global health issue with distinct biological drivers, environmental risk factors, and genetic susceptibilities. Improved risk modelling, targeted screening strategies, and preventive approaches are needed to enable earlier detection and reduce mortality in this growing patient group.

15 Feb 2026

Exposure to intense wildfire smoke during pregnancy may increase risk of autism in children

New research suggests that exposure to intense wildfire smoke during pregnancy may be associated with increased likelihood of autism in children.

12 Feb 2026

Rising lung cancer in never smokers demands urgent research focus

Lung cancer patients who have never smoked make up a significant and growing share of global lung cancer cases, yet remain an understudied group, according to a new review written by UCL (University College London) researchers.

12 Feb 2026

Climate change is accelerating antibiotic resistance across the Western Pacific

Urgent action is needed as climate change fuels antibiotic resistance in the Western Pacific, threatening health and highlighting socioeconomic vulnerabilities.

6 Feb 2026

Health harms from plastics could double by 2040

Global health burdens associated with plastic systems could double by 2040 without immediate and coordinated action.

6 Feb 2026

Global analysis reveals up to four in ten cancer cases could be prevented

Up to four in ten cancer cases worldwide could be prevented, according to a new global analysis from the World Health Organization (WHO) and its International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC).

4 Feb 2026

Air pollution, not diet, shows the strongest link to poorer concentration in schoolgirls

This cross-sectional study of 300 school-aged girls in Tehran found that higher air pollution exposure was consistently associated with poorer concentration, while dietary antioxidant capacity showed weaker, model-dependent links to attention. No significant associations or interactions were observed for short-term memory, highlighting pollution exposure as the dominant factor influencing attentional performance.

28 Jan 2026

Prenatal exposure to pollution impacts infant cognitive development

The prenatal period is a critical window for brain development, yet few studies have examined the impact of air pollution exposure during pregnancy on child cognition.

27 Jan 2026

Wildfire smoke significantly raises stroke risk among older adults

People exposed to wildfire smoke have a higher risk of suffering a stroke, according to research published in the European Heart Journal today (Tuesday).

27 Jan 2026

Wildfire smoke in late pregnancy may raise autism risk

Prenatal exposure to wildfire smoke in late pregnancy may modestly raise autism risk in children, emphasizing the importance of safeguarding pregnant women.

23 Jan 2026

Nearly half of adults now live with heart disease as obesity and diabetes surge

The 2026 American Heart Association Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics report shows that nearly half of adults are living with cardiovascular disease, with cardiometabolic risk factors projected to rise substantially by 2050. Despite progress in smoking reduction and cholesterol control, worsening obesity, diabetes, hypertension, sleep health, and persistent inequities threaten future cardiovascular health.

22 Jan 2026

More urban trees associated with fewer heart disease cases

A multi-institutional study led by the University of California, Davis, finds that living in urban areas with a higher percentage of visible trees is associated with a 4% decrease in cardiovascular disease.

21 Jan 2026

Long-term air pollution exposure raises motor neuron disease risk

Long-term exposure to ambient air pollution was associated with a higher risk of developing motor neuron disease and poorer prognosis after diagnosis in a large nationwide Swedish study. Higher particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide exposure were also linked to faster functional decline and increased likelihood of invasive ventilation.

21 Jan 2026

Prenatal wildfire smoke exposure linked to higher autism risk in children

Exposure to wildfire smoke during the final months of pregnancy may raise the risk that a child is later diagnosed with autism, according to a new study led by Tulane University researchers.

20 Jan 2026

Early pregnancy sulfur dioxide exposure raises odds of congenital limb defects

Maternal exposure to sulfur dioxide during the first trimester was associated with higher odds of congenital limb defects in offspring in a large population-based cohort from Wuhan. Associations were strongest for polydactyly and limb shortening, while other major air pollutants showed no consistent links with overall risk.

20 Jan 2026

Prolonged exposure to air pollution linked to elevated risk for ALS

Prolonged exposure to air pollution can be linked to an elevated risk for serious neurodegenerative diseases like ALS and seems to speed up the pathological process, report researchers from Karolinska Institutet in Sweden.

20 Jan 2026