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.

How Air Pollution Impacts Brain Health

Healthcare During The Climate Crisis

Autism and Particulate Air Matter

Pollution and Mental Health

What is Planetary Health?

Pollution and Mental Health

How PFAS Are Impacting Human Health

Health Effects of Artificial Light

Can Weather or Air Pollution Trigger Migraine?

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

5 Easy Ways to Reduce Your Microplastic Intake

See more featured articles »

Environmental Hazards in Pregnancy

What Impact does Climate Change have on Our Health?

Air Pollution and Lung Health

What are the Health Effects of Exhaust Emissions?

The Effect of Climate Change on Asthma

What are the Health Effects of Exhaust Emissions?

Anti-Pollution Skincare: Protecting Skin in Urban Environments

Air Pollution and Eye Health

The Role of Toxicology in Wildlife Conservation

How has COVID-19 Influenced Pollution?

How do Microplastics Affect Our Health?

Pollution and Alzheimer's

How Composting Protects Public Health and Our Planet

AAM - Air pollution and Alzheimer's

Ocean Pollution and Human Health

Environmental Health Hazards: An Overview

Urbanization and Human Health

Latest Pollution News and Research

Scientists identify genes linking air pollution to severe asthma

For many people with asthma, air-quality advisories are harbingers of worsening symptoms. But for reasons science has struggled to explain, the extent to which pollution exacerbates asthma varies widely from person to person.

24 Jun 2026

Plant-based Mediterranean-style diet cuts heart disease risk by 26%

A 20-year study links plant-based Mediterranean diets to lower heart disease risk, highlighting the importance of sustainable eating for cardiovascular health.

24 Jun 2026

COPD patients lack critical health information during major wildfire events

Wildfire smoke can trigger breathing problems and flare-ups for people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), yet many people are not receiving the trusted health information they need to stay safe, according to a new study in the May 2026 issue of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases: Journal of the COPD Foundation, a peer-reviewed, open access journal.

23 Jun 2026

Bogotá’s strictest COVID restrictions delivered the clearest air-quality gains

A natural quasi-experiment in Suba, Bogotá, found that more stringent COVID-19 mobility restrictions were associated with larger reductions in PM₁₀ and PM₂.₅ air pollution. The findings suggest targeted traffic and emissions controls could improve urban air quality, although ozone responses were more complex, and the results may not generalize beyond this high-traffic district.

21 Jun 2026

Forward bending at work may raise miscarriage risk during pregnancy

Bending forwards, and to a lesser extent, walking a lot at work in early pregnancy, may raise the risk of miscarriage, finds a large study of more than 470,000 Danish women, published online in the journal Occupational & Environmental Medicine.

18 Jun 2026

Aircraft emissions could double air pollution deaths by 2040

Scenario-based modeling projects that aviation-related air pollution could drive a major rise in premature deaths by 2040, mainly through PM2.5 and ozone exposure. The study estimates that aircraft emissions caused 33,900 PM2.5-related deaths and 24,600 ozone-related deaths in 2019, with baseline 2040 deaths projected to more than double.

18 Jun 2026

Novel analysis identifies unique proliferation gene alterations in diverse cancer patients

New research to be presented today (Monday) at the annual conference of the European Society of Human Genetics shows that a cancer patient's genetic ancestry can have a significant effect both on how their disease progresses and their survival. In the largest study of its kind, researchers examined nearly 1,900 specific genetic changes in tumors in order to measure whether certain mutations were more common in patients with different historic geographic origins.

15 Jun 2026

Study finds indoor cats do not trigger child asthma flares

Asthma is the most common chronic disease and one of the main causes of hospitalization among children. The Global Asthma Network has estimated that its global prevalence is 9.1% for children and 11.0% for adolescents, but this percentage varies greatly between countries, regions, and environments.

10 Jun 2026

Moderate air pollution associated with advanced coronary artery disease

In one of the largest studies to date, researchers examined the relationship between long-term air pollution exposure and coronary atherosclerosis and found that even at moderate levels, long-term exposure to air pollution is associated with more advanced coronary artery disease.

9 Jun 2026

Blood protein signature can predict lung cancer risk before diagnosis

Researchers at the Francis Crick Institute and University College London (UCL), funded by Cancer Research UK and the European Research Council (ERC), have identified a 14-protein signature in the blood that can predict lung cancer risk more than five years before diagnosis.

4 Jun 2026

Air pollution below EPA thresholds still poses heart health risks

Air pollution does not have to exceed federal limits to potentially harm human health, according to a new review published in Environmental Pollution.

3 Jun 2026

Long-term exposure to air pollution associated with lower semantic memory

A new study by researchers at UC Davis Health and Kaiser Permanente found that higher exposure to very small air pollution particles (PM2.5) over a 17-year span was associated with lower semantic memory.

3 Jun 2026

Pediatric experts reveal the 10 research areas set to shape child health

Pediatric research leaders identified 10 high-promise areas likely to shape child health over the next 5 to 10 years, including genomics, mental health, vaccines, artificial intelligence, perinatal medicine, precision therapeutics, health equity, nutrition, environmental health, and cancer treatment. The paper argues that these opportunities will only translate into better outcomes if pediatric research receives sustained funding, public trust, workforce support, advocacy, and equitable implementation.

1 Jun 2026

Why blood pressure rises faster in women after midlife

This review examines how sex-specific blood pressure trajectories are shaped by genetics, hormones, metabolic risk factors, lifestyle exposures, environmental stressors, and medical treatments. It highlights that women generally have lower blood pressure earlier in life but may experience steeper increases with aging, especially around and after menopause, with exogenous stressors appearing to have a greater impact in women than in men.

27 May 2026

How heat-smart cities can protect outdoor recreation in a warming world

This review shows how rising humid heat threatens the health benefits of nature-based recreation in tropical cities. The authors call for heat-smart urban planning, targeted advisories, and inclusive strategies that keep outdoor activity safe, accessible, and beneficial.

26 May 2026

DNA metabarcoding reveals hidden freshwater biodiversity in Ontario streams

Researchers using cutting-edge environmental DNA (eDNA) technology have uncovered far greater biodiversity in eastern Ontario waterways than traditional monitoring methods detected over more than a decade, demonstrating the transformative potential of DNA-based biomonitoring for freshwater conservation and environmental management.

25 May 2026

Changing landscapes in Southeast Asia cause thousands of excess deaths

Changes in land-use across Southeast Asia over the past 15 years are worsening air quality and contributing to thousands of excess deaths each year, according to a study led by researchers from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore).

25 May 2026

What medicine-exposed rats reveal about the next urban zoonotic threat

Researchers found that more than half of urban rats sampled from low-income communities in Salvador, Brazil, carried active pharmaceutical ingredients in their brain tissue. These pollutants were associated with altered zoonotic infection patterns, including lower Leptospira infection probability in rats carrying azithromycin and higher Capillaria infection probability in rats carrying citalopram.

22 May 2026

Researchers find no meaningful health impacts from wind energy turbines

A joint research paper involving work from the University of Pittsburgh has found that, despite some public concern, turbines used to produce wind energy are not responsible for any detectable adverse health outcomes.

21 May 2026

Ozone pollution reduces lung benefits of vigorous childhood exercise

Vigorous physical activity promotes lung growth in children, but these benefits are reduced by ozone pollution, according to new research presented at the ATS 2026 International Conference.

20 May 2026