Pollution

Environmental exposures, from air and ocean pollution to climate change and urbanization, have profound and far-reaching effects on human health and well-being. This hub brings together authoritative, evidence-based articles that examine the health risks associated with pollution, microplastics, toxicants, and environmental changes, alongside practical strategies for risk reduction and public health protection. Explore how environmental hazards influence conditions such as asthma, neurological health, pregnancy outcomes, and skin health, and discover the vital connections between planetary health and individual well-being. These resources support informed decision-making for clinicians, policymakers, and the public alike.

Bacterial Risks at Beaches and Evidence-Based Safety Strategies

Beaches face escalating risks from microbial contamination due to climate change and human activity, increasing the burden of waterborne illnesses for swimmers. Integrating advanced monitoring technologies, improved public education, and policy reforms is essential for protecting beachgoers’ health.

Ocean Pollution and Human Health

What are the Health Effects of Exhaust Emissions?

Pollution and Mental Health

Urbanization and Human Health

Environmental Health Hazards: An Overview

Health Effects of Artificial Light

How Air Pollution Impacts Brain Health

How has COVID-19 Influenced Pollution?

Autism and Particulate Air Matter

The Role of Toxicology in Wildlife Conservation

Healthcare During The Climate Crisis

See more featured articles »

Pollution and Alzheimer's

How Composting Protects Public Health and Our Planet

Pollution and Mental Health

5 Easy Ways to Reduce Your Microplastic Intake

Air Pollution and Eye Health

What are the Health Effects of Exhaust Emissions?

Anti-Pollution Skincare: Protecting Skin in Urban Environments

Indoor Air Pollution from Scented Products: Mechanisms and Risks

How Does the Health of Our Planet Affect Our Own Health?

The Effect of Climate Change on Asthma

AAM - Air pollution and Alzheimer's

What is Planetary Health?

How PFAS Are Impacting Human Health

How do Microplastics Affect Our Health?

Can Weather or Air Pollution Trigger Migraine?

Environmental Hazards in Pregnancy

Air Pollution and Lung Health

What Impact does Climate Change have on Our Health?

Latest Pollution News and Research

Aligning your body clock may protect your heart and metabolism, says AHA

A new American Heart Association scientific statement highlights how maintaining circadian health through regular sleep, light exposure, meal timing, and exercise may reduce cardiometabolic disease risk. Disrupting these daily rhythms can impair glucose regulation, blood pressure, and cardiovascular function.

29 Oct 2025

Circadian rhythm disruptions may increase the risk of cardiovascular disease

As modern lifestyles increasingly challenge the body's natural circadian rhythm, the American Heart Association is spotlighting the potential health consequences of regular disruptions to our body's internal clock with a new scientific statement published today in its flagship journal Circulation.

28 Oct 2025

Air pollution, even below EPA guidelines, increases breast cancer risk

Women living in parts of the United States with lower air quality, especially neighborhoods with heavy emissions from motor vehicles, are more likely to develop breast cancer, according to a multiyear analysis involving more than 400,000 women and 28,000 breast cancer cases.

28 Oct 2025

Prenatal air pollution exposure tied to higher autism risk in children

A population-based study of over two million births in Ontario found that prenatal exposure to the sulfate and ammonium components of fine particulate matter (PM₂.₅) was associated with a higher risk of autism spectrum disorder. The risk was greatest during mid to late pregnancy and among infants in urban, lower-income neighborhoods.

26 Oct 2025

Decline in vitamin D levels observed during the Covid-19 pandemic

Routine data from laboratories reveal a decline in vitamin D levels during the Covid-19 pandemic, especially in older women and urban dwellers.

21 Oct 2025

Prenatal air pollution exposure may slow newborn brain development

The study shows prenatal air pollution exposure correlates with slower brain myelination in infants, emphasizing the need for improved air quality policies.

20 Oct 2025

Social and environmental inequality linked to risk of Alzheimer’s

The study uncovers links between neighborhood disadvantage and Alzheimer's biomarkers, stressing the importance of addressing social inequalities in healthcare.

20 Oct 2025

Nanoplastics with environmental coatings can sneak past the skin's defenses

Plastic is ubiquitous in the modern world, and it's notorious for taking a long time to completely break down in the environment - if it ever does.

17 Oct 2025

Maternal exposure to PM2.5 during pregnancy linked to lower myelination in newborns' brains

A study published in Environment International concludes that air pollution during pregnancy is associated with slower brain maturation in newborns.

16 Oct 2025

Air pollution and Parkinson’s: What a 292,000-person study reveals about hidden risks

Researchers in Northern Ireland examined whether exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) increases the risk of Parkinson’s disease. While no overall link was found after adjusting for confounders, younger adults under 50 showed a modest association with PM2.5, raising questions about age-related susceptibility and diagnostic misclassification.

15 Oct 2025

Children living near the Salton Sea face declining lung function

Children living near the Salton Sea, in Southern California's desert region of Imperial County, are experiencing poorer lung function than children exposed to less wind-blown dust, according to a new study led by researchers at the University of California, Irvine's Joe C. Wen School of Population & Public Health.

14 Oct 2025

Nurses urged to ditch gloves for IV antibiotics

A scoping review reveals non-sterile glove use during IV antibiotic preparation lacks evidence, potentially harming infection control and increasing costs.

13 Oct 2025

Global health study warns of rising youth deaths amid declining overall mortality

Global mortality rates are falling but not among youths and young adults, according to the latest Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study published in The Lancet today and presented at the World Health Summit in Berlin.

13 Oct 2025

Living near Superfund sites increases risk of aggressive breast cancer

Women living close to federally designated Superfund sites are more likely to develop aggressive breast cancers - including the hard-to-treat triple-negative subtype - according to new studies from Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, part of the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine.

10 Oct 2025

Air pollution plays a significant role in the development of metabolic disorders

Long-term exposure to fine air pollution can impair metabolic health by disrupting the normal function of brown fat in mice. A study co-led by the University of Zurich shows that this occurs through complex changes in gene regulation driven by epigenetic mechanisms.

9 Oct 2025

Toxic e-waste pollution linked to rising childhood hypertension

The study reveals a fourfold increase in hypertension risk for children in e-waste regions, emphasizing the health impacts of toxic environmental pollutants.

8 Oct 2025

Long commutes and small homes linked to insomnia in Tokyo adults

Researchers examine the relationship between commute time and house area with insomnia and daytime sleepiness.

6 Oct 2025

Fruit-vegetable powder makes collagen jelly healthier without losing flavor

A study reveals the ideal fruit-vegetable powder blend for low-sugar collagen jelly, boosting antioxidant levels while maintaining desirable taste and texture.

6 Oct 2025

Long-term exposure to industrial solvent associated with elevated Parkinson's disease risk

Long-term exposure to the industrial solvent trichloroethylene (TCE) outdoors may be linked to an increased risk of Parkinson's disease, according to a large nationwide study published in the October 1, 2025, issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

2 Oct 2025

Early-life dietary habits linked to elevated asthma risk among children

Childhood asthma, a chronic inflammatory condition affecting millions worldwide, may be shaped not only by genetics and environment but also by what children prefer to eat.

30 Sep 2025