Pollution News and Research

Latest Pollution News and Research

Understanding climate change effects on end stage kidney disease patients

Climate change is driving more extreme heat and more air pollution from wildfires, each of which put human health at risk.

24 Oct 2024

Study highlights dangers of burning incense for allergy and asthma patients

In many cultures, it is common to burn incense for religious and cultural practices, including meditations, celebrations and spiritual and ancestral worship.

24 Oct 2024

Long-term air pollution exposure linked to increased risk of acute kidney injury and mortality

Prolonged exposure to air pollutants like PM2.5 and nitrogen oxides significantly raises acute kidney injury risk and related mortality, urging policy action.

24 Oct 2024

Climate change drives sharp rise in fire-related mortality worldwide

Climate change has contributed to a sharp rise in fire-related deaths globally, with mortality rates more than doubling from the 1960s to the 2010s due to increased fire-induced PM2.5 emissions.

23 Oct 2024

Abundant greenery in cities may lower heat-related deaths and improve wellbeing

Abundant green space in urban areas is linked to lower rates of heat related illness and death as well as better mental health and wellbeing, finds a systematic review of the available research, published in the open access journal BMJ Open.

22 Oct 2024

Study finds connection between air pollution and childhood peanut allergies

Exposure to higher levels of air pollution as a baby is linked to having a peanut allergy throughout childhood, according to a new study.

22 Oct 2024

Rising asthma rates in sub-Saharan Africa linked to urbanization and lack of care

Rapid urbanization and population growth in sub-Saharan Africa has increased the incidence of asthma in young people, but the lack of diagnosis and care means that many young people are suffering from untreated symptoms of asthma, according to research from Queen Mary University of London.

21 Oct 2024

DNA barcoding reveals hidden species diversity

The Earth is an almost unimaginably diverse planet in terms of species. Researchers have identified between two and three million species, but there are many more that we know nothing about.

18 Oct 2024

Gut bacteria protect against PFAS-induced kidney harm

New research has revealed that the connection between per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, and kidney damage may be tied to dysregulation of the gut microbiome, which is made up of bacteria and other microorganisms that live in the digestive tract.

17 Oct 2024

Study highlights health benefits of air pollution and climate policies in New York City

A new study analyzes the links between the enactment of major air pollution and climate policies in New York City and significant improvement in air quality during the period 1998-2021.

16 Oct 2024

Air pollution increases emergency department visits

Increases in levels of particulate matter in the air, even within World Health Organization guidelines, correspond with an increase in the number of patients going to the hospital emergency department, according to research presented at the European Emergency Medicine Congress today (Wednesday).

15 Oct 2024

Climate change anxiety is pushing Americans toward collective climate action

New research reveals that while climate anxiety drives many Americans to take action on climate change, those with severe distress may struggle to engage, highlighting the need for mental health support in the fight against environmental threats.

15 Oct 2024

New research highlights barriers to helmet use among cyclists

Wearing a helmet can prevent brain injury and deaths in cyclists, yet many do not wear a helmet. New research presented at the European Emergency Medicine Congress today (Tuesday) suggests that this is largely due to issues of convenience and comfort.

14 Oct 2024

Climate change: A growing threat to emergency response

International experts in emergency medicine have warned that climate change is likely to have a severe impact on emergency services around the world. Despite this, few countries have assessed the scale of the impact or have a plan to deal with it.

13 Oct 2024

Placental changes may increase the risk of asthma and allergies in children

Changes in the placenta may increase the risk of children developing asthma and allergies, as shown in new research from örebro University.

8 Oct 2024

A boy’s bicycling death haunts a Black neighborhood. 35 years later, There’s still no sidewalk.

It's been 35 years since John Parker died after a pickup collided with the bike he was riding on Cheek Road in east Durham before school. He was 6.

8 Oct 2024

SCD health disparities tied to community factors

A new study finds that preschool-aged children with sickle cell disease (SCD) who live in food deserts and have limited access to transportation are at greater risk for acute complications and hospitalizations, despite receiving free evidence-based therapy and social support, according to results published today in Blood Advances.

8 Oct 2024

Environmental factors significantly impact gene expression through epigenetic modifications

Epigenetics, the study of changes in gene function that do not involve alterations to the DNA sequence, plays a pivotal role in understanding the complex interplay between genetics and the environment. The review article "Epigenetics and Environmental Health" provides an in-depth analysis of how epigenetic modifications can influence the onset and progression of various diseases, particularly cancer and cardiovascular diseases.

8 Oct 2024

Researchers link air pollution to cerebral atrophy but find no impact on cognitive function

Exposure to mid- to high-range PM2.5 is linked to cerebral atrophy, but there is no significant impact on cognitive function. The findings suggest that urbanization plays a role in modulating the effects of air pollution on brain structure.

6 Oct 2024