Pollution News and Research

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EPA announces rule to reduce mercury emissions from power plants

EPA Acting Administrator Steve Johnson will sign today the Clean Air Mercury Rule, a rule that will significantly reduce mercury emissions from coal-fired power plants across the country. Taken together, the recently issued Clean Air Interstate Rule and the new Clean Air Mercury Rule will reduce electric utility mercury emissions by nearly 70 percent from 1999 levels when fully implemented.

16 Mar 2005

Diesel engines are posing a serious threat to public health

Air particles emitted mainly by diesel engines are posing a serious threat to public health, warn respiratory physiotherapists in a new report published by the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP).

1 Mar 2005

Pollution exposure during pregnancy can cause chromosomal abnormalities in fetal tissues

A new study of newborns in New York City reveals that prenatal exposure to combustion-related urban air pollutants alters the structure of chromosomes (the carriers of genes) of babies in the womb.

23 Feb 2005

Global warming will bring climate-related health crises

As a result, governments and health officials need to begin to think about how to respond to an anticipated increase in the number and scope of climate-related health crises, ranging from killer heat waves and famine, to floods and waves of infectious diseases.

20 Feb 2005

Genetic signature that can identify breast cancer patients at high risk of distant recurrence

Researchers have discovered a genetic signature that can identify breast cancer patients at high risk of distant recurrence, reporting their results in this week’s issue of The Lancet.

20 Feb 2005

Air pollution thickens the blood and boosts inflammation

Air pollution, and especially particulate matter, thickens the blood and boosts inflammation, finds experimental research in Occupational and Environmental Medicine.

20 Feb 2005

Exposure of expectant mothers to urban air pollution may alter the structure of babies' chromosomes while in the womb

A new study of 60 newborns in New York City reveals that exposure of expectant mothers to combustion-related urban air pollution may alter the structure of babies' chromosomes while in the womb.

15 Feb 2005

Bushfire warning - smoke may trigger asthma symptoms

As Australia's summer temperatures rise and the drought persists, Australia once again is facing the threat of bushfires. While bushfires already rage in South Australia and western Victoria, warnings of fire danger and bushfire ratings remain high across the country.

17 Jan 2005

BMA condemns tobacco industry ventilation claims

The BMA today condemned claims made by the tobacco industry today (13 January 2005) that ventilation in bars could protect the public from the harmful effects of passive smoke.

13 Jan 2005

Gene sequencing explains why natural bioremediation 'bug' has big appetite for chlorinated pollutants

"The born-to-dechlorinate bug" is what Cornell University researchers called Dehalococcoides ethenogenes Strain 195 when they found the bacterium obligingly detoxifying the pollutant PCE, or perchloroethylene (a chlorinated solvent used for dry cleaning), in sludge from an Ithaca, N.Y., sewage treatment plant.

6 Jan 2005

Gulf War report confirms link between lung cancer and combustion products

The available evidence is too sparse or of insufficient quality to determine whether the majority of health problems that may be experienced by Gulf War veterans could be associated with exposures to fuels for military vehicles, propellents in Scud missiles, or substances given off by combustion sources such as oil-well fires, exhausts, and tent heaters

21 Dec 2004

Children are more vulnerable than adults to the adverse effects of air pollution

Children are more vulnerable than adults to the adverse effects of air pollution for several reasons. First, children have increased exposure to many air pollutants because they spend more time outside, have higher breathing rates and higher levels of physical activity compared with adults.

7 Dec 2004

Low level exposure to Benzene causes lower blood cell counts

A new study found that white blood cell counts were lowered in workers exposed to less than 1 ppm of the chemical benzene (part benzene per million parts air).

3 Dec 2004

Nearly two-thirds of smokers are not concerned about developing Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Nearly two-thirds (64 percent) of smokers are not concerned about developing Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), America’s fourth ranking cause of death even though more than half of them (55 percent) experience at least one of the symptoms of COPD a minimum of once a week.

18 Nov 2004

Gene protects against environmental pollutants and pulmonary emphysema

Researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and other institutions have identified a “master gene” in mice that controls the action of 50 other genes whose products protect the lungs against environmental pollutants.

17 Nov 2004

Ground-level ozone significantly associated with an increase in deaths in many U.S. cities

Changes in ground-level ozone were significantly associated with an increase in deaths in many U.S. cities, according to a nationwide study conducted by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and the Yale University School of Forestry and Environmental Studies.

17 Nov 2004

Pollution News and Research

EPA announces rule to reduce mercury emissions from power plants

Diesel engines are posing a serious threat to public health

Pollution exposure during pregnancy can cause chromosomal abnormalities in fetal tissues

Global warming will bring climate-related health crises

Genetic signature that can identify breast cancer patients at high risk of distant recurrence

Air pollution thickens the blood and boosts inflammation

Exposure of expectant mothers to urban air pollution may alter the structure of babies' chromosomes while in the womb

Bushfire warning - smoke may trigger asthma symptoms

BMA condemns tobacco industry ventilation claims

Gene sequencing explains why natural bioremediation 'bug' has big appetite for chlorinated pollutants

Gulf War report confirms link between lung cancer and combustion products

Children are more vulnerable than adults to the adverse effects of air pollution

Low level exposure to Benzene causes lower blood cell counts

Nearly two-thirds of smokers are not concerned about developing Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Gene protects against environmental pollutants and pulmonary emphysema

Ground-level ozone significantly associated with an increase in deaths in many U.S. cities

Association between long-term air pollution exposure and the early stages of atherosclerosis

Australia ratifies Tobacco Control Treaty

Gene found to defend against environmental pollutants and pulmonary emphysema

Plea for every human to have access to safe drinking water

Achieving and maintaining ISO/IEC 27001 and BS 10012 certifications

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

Examining how pain could play a direct protective role in the gut

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