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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 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

Climate change magnifies health impacts of wildfire smoke in care deserts

Smoke began billowing into the skies of northwestern Nevada in September, clouding the mountains, dimming the sun — and quashing residents' hopes that they would be spared from wildfires and the awful air quality the blazes produce.

12 Oct 2022

£50 million to turbo-charge research into health inequalities affecting local communities

People set to benefit from a £50 million research boost to tackle health inequalities in local areas and improve health outcomes across the country.

11 Oct 2022

Can long-term exposure to air pollution influence COVID-19 severity?

A new study, examined the effects of long-term exposure to air pollutants on coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) morbidity and mortality.

6 Oct 2022

Environmental surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 could predict COVID-19 cases

A new study reported that coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases could be predicted by environmental surveillance.

6 Oct 2022

Particle radioactivity enhances PM2.5 toxicity and increases risk of cardiovascular disease mortality

Particle radioactivity, a characteristic of air pollution that reflects the colorless, odorless gas radon found in fine particulate matter (PM2.5) air pollution, enhances PM2.5 toxicity and increases risk of death from cardiovascular disease, especially from heart attack or stroke, according to new research published today in the Journal of the American Heart Association, an open access, peer-reviewed journal of the American Heart Association.

5 Oct 2022

Encouraging physical fitness may be an easy way to bring down eye allergies in children

Allergies are one of the most common conditions in children, with eye allergies, or allergic conjunctivitis, affecting up to 30 percent of children worldwide.

30 Sep 2022

Study explores the role of air pollution on the trajectory of stroke

Air pollution has been widely associated with an increased risk of stroke. A new study looks at the role of air pollution on the trajectory of stroke, including cardiovascular events after first stroke and death.

28 Sep 2022

How is air pollution linked to brain alterations?

A new study hypothesized that the risk associated with brain outcomes on air pollution exposure is not constant over time and a specific period of susceptibility may exist.

26 Sep 2022

Clearing pollution helps clear the fog of aging — and may cut the risk of dementia

During the past decade, a growing body of research has shown that air pollution harms older adults' brains, contributing to cognitive decline and dementia. What hasn't been clear is whether improving air quality would benefit brain health.

20 Sep 2022

Air pollution may trigger arrhythmias in healthy adolescents

Breathing particulate matter (i.e., tiny particles suspended in the air) air pollution may trigger irregular heart rhythms (arrhythmias) in healthy teenagers, according to new research published today in the Journal of the American Heart Association, an open access, peer-reviewed journal of the American Heart Association.

14 Sep 2022

U-M scientists give tips about how teachers can keep classrooms safe from COVID-19

Since the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention acknowledged SARS-CoV-2 was airborne in spring 2020, University of Michigan aerosol scientists Andrew Ault and Kerri Pratt have advised public school systems on how to mitigate the transmission of COVID-19 in the classroom.