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Researchers are developing advanced measures to fight against COVID-types contagions

A research team from the University of Valencia, led by the professor of the Department of Computer Science Pedro Morillo, is developing a project to improve protection against infections in areas of high availability of health centres.

18 May 2020

Global air quality has significantly improved due to COVID-19 lockdowns

Levels of two major air pollutants have been drastically reduced since lockdowns began in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, but a secondary pollutant - ground-level ozone - has increased in China, according to new research.

11 May 2020

Air pollution associated with greater virulence of COVID-19

A new study published on the preprint server medRxiv* in April 2020 provides convincing evidence that air pollution contributes to greater severity of COVID-19. The researchers say, “This suggests the detrimental impact climate change will have on the trajectory of future respiratory epidemics.”

6 May 2020

Report finds nearly half of the U.S. population breathing polluted air

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Clean Air Act, which is responsible for dramatic improvements in air quality.

21 Apr 2020

Unexpected benefit of COVID-19 lockdowns on the environment and health

The pandemic spreading over the world has affected over 185 countries and territories so far, with over 2 million cases and 134,354 deaths. In response, many countries and regions have enforced lockdowns, in addition to the almost universal recommendations for social distancing. One of the most significant impacts has been the effect on economic activity the world over.

15 Apr 2020

Study: Direct and repetitive irradiation with 222nm UVC does not cause skin cancer

Joint research between Kobe University and Ushio Inc. has provided proof for the first time in the world that direct and repetitive illumination from 222nm ultraviolet radiation C (UVC), which is a powerful sterilizer, does not cause skin cancer.

7 Apr 2020

Air pollution exposure takes a heavy toll on gut bacteria, boosting risk of chronic illnesses

Breathing dirty air takes a heavy toll on gut bacteria, boosting risk of obesity, diabetes, gastrointestinal disorders and other chronic illnesses, new University of Colorado Boulder research suggests.

11 Mar 2020

Smaller carbon footprint improves global health and economy

A viewpoint published in the journal JAMA February 28, 2020, discusses how a low-carbon future could improve global health and provide economic benefit.

2 Mar 2020

New clue behind chronic diseases and food spoilage discovered

Scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) have made a surprising discovery that could help explain our risk for developing chronic diseases or cancers as we get older, and how our food decomposes over time.

26 Feb 2020

Half the air pollution deaths in the U.S. linked to out-of-state emissions

Over half the deaths due to poor air quality occurring in the U.S. are because of emissions from outside the state in which the deaths occur, according to a new study published in February 2020 in the journal Nature.

12 Feb 2020

Antioxidants may mitigate the damaging effects of pollution on human health

Traffic-related air pollution (TRAP) refers to air pollution caused by traffic activity. A diet high in antioxidants such as the Mediterranean diet may help to alleviate some of the health issues called by TRAP.

27 Jan 2020

Local pollution sources have tremendous impact on air quality in Delhi

The University of Surrey has revealed results from a new, comprehensive study that suggests that activities such as construction and vehicle traffic contribute significantly to the Delhi National Capital Region's high concentrations of harmful air pollutants and gases.

10 Jan 2020

Shutdown of coal-fired power plants reduces negative impacts on human health and crop yields

The decommissioning of coal-fired power plants in the continental United States has reduced nearby pollution and its negative impacts on human health and crop yields, according to a new University of California San Diego study.

6 Jan 2020

Exposure to ozone pollution or wood smoke exacerbates lung disease in former and current smokers

Over many years, exposure to the levels of ozone and other forms of pollution found in most U.S. cities and some rural communities can take a toll on a person's health.

23 Dec 2019

Long-term exposure to hydrocarbons may be a risk factor for ischemic stroke

Long-term exposure to hydrocarbons in the air may be a risk factor for ischemic stroke development, according to a study published December 4, 2019 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Han-Wei Zhang of China Medical University, Taiwan, and colleagues.

4 Dec 2019

Lupus flare-ups could be linked to environmental factors

Researchers have found that alteration in the environment and atomospheric factors could be associated with organ specific flare-ups of lupus among patients diagnosed with Systemic Lupus Erethematosus (SLE). The study results were presented at the 2019 ACR/ARP Annual Meeting. The abstract was titled, “Environmental and Atmospheric Factors in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: A Regression Analysis.”

11 Nov 2019

Atmospheric and environmental changes linked to organ-specific lupus flares

New research findings presented at the 2019 ACR/ARP Annual Meeting found a strong association between changes in atmospheric and environmental variables 10 days before a clinic visit and organ-specific lupus flares in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

10 Nov 2019

Trees and plants may be better than technology at mitigating air pollution

Adding plants and trees to the landscapes near factories and other pollution sources could reduce air pollution by an average of 27 percent, new research suggests.

6 Nov 2019

Energy regulation rollbacks slow the fight against harmful ozone

Pollutants from coal-fired power plants help make ground-level ozone, and a warming world exacerbates that.

25 Oct 2019

Unique collaboration launches 'Clean Air for Schools' program in the UK

The Philips Foundation, a charitable organization set up in 2014 by global health technology leader Royal Philips to provide access to care for disadvantaged communities, has today launched the ‘Clean Air for Schools’ program with Global Action Plan, a leading environmental charity and the University of Manchester, a leading research institute of air quality.

23 Oct 2019