Pollution News and Research

Latest Pollution News and Research

Laughter is as good as eye drops in soothing dry eyes, study finds

A study reveals laughter exercise is as effective as artificial tears for dry eye disease, improving symptoms and tear film stability without adverse effects.

16 Sep 2024

Do organic foods really offer better health benefits?

Researchers compare the health impacts of consuming organic foods to conventional alternatives.

16 Sep 2024

Prolonged exposure to wildfire smoke increases mental illness risk in youth

Each additional day of exposure to wildfire smoke and other extreme forms of dirty air boosts risk of mental illness in youth a little more, according to a new University of Colorado Boulder study of 10,000 9 to 11 year olds.

12 Sep 2024

Light pollution may elevate Alzheimer's risk

Outdoor light at night could be a significant risk factor in Alzheimer's disease, according to new research from Rush.

11 Sep 2024

Air pollution raises lung cancer risk for women

Recent air pollution exposure in the form of particles smaller than 2.5 micrometers (PM2.5) exposure may significantly impact lung cancer in women who have never smoked, with notable differences in stage IV diagnoses among EGFR+ patients, according to research presented today at the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) 2024 World Conference on Lung Cancer.

11 Sep 2024

Air pollution spikes drive unnecessary antibiotic use, fueling resistance

Short-term exposure to air pollution significantly increases antimicrobial use for acute respiratory symptoms, highlighting a potential contributor to antibiotic resistance.

10 Sep 2024

Preclinical blood test could predict severe respiratory conditions

A scientific team supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has created a preclinical blood test to identify adults most likely to develop severe respiratory conditions, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

10 Sep 2024

Study finds link between nighttime light exposure and increased Alzheimer's disease risk

Higher nighttime light intensity is correlated with increased Alzheimer's disease prevalence, suggesting light pollution may influence neurodegenerative risks.

10 Sep 2024

Early exposure to air pollution associated with lower economic earnings in adulthood

Higher exposure to fine particulate air pollution (PM2.5) during infancy was associated with lower economic earnings in adulthood in a new study from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, and European University of Rome.

9 Sep 2024

UCSF researchers move closer to predicting sudden infant death syndrome

Researchers at UC San Francisco are getting closer to being able to predict sudden infant death syndrome, or SIDS.

9 Sep 2024

Study links air pollution and limited green spaces to higher respiratory hospitalization risk

Long-term exposure to air pollution and a lack of access to green spaces increases the risk of hospitalization for respiratory conditions, according to a study presented at the European Respiratory Society (ERS) Congress in Vienna, Austria.

9 Sep 2024

Long-term exposure to traffic noise and air pollution linked to increased infertility risk

Researchers explore the associations between long-term exposure to road traffic noise, air pollution, and infertility in men and women.

9 Sep 2024

As record heat sweeps the us, some people must choose between food and energy bills

During the heat dome that blanketed much of the Southeast in June, Stacey Freeman used window units to cool her poorly insulated mobile home in Fayetteville, North Carolina. Over the winter, the 44-year-old mom relied on space heaters.

6 Sep 2024

Study finds correlation between light pollution and Alzheimer's Disease

In some places around the globe, the lights never go off. Streetlights, roadway lighting, and illuminated signs can deter crime, make roads safer, and enhance landscaping. Undisrupted light, however, comes with ecological, behavioral, and health consequences.

6 Sep 2024

The positive impact of ULEZ on children's health and environment

Four in ten children in Central London who traveled to school by car switched to more active modes of transport, such as walking, cycling, or public transport, following the introduction of the Ultra-Low Emission Zone (ULEZ), according to new research. In the comparison area with no ULEZ, Luton, only two in ten children made this switch over the same period.

5 Sep 2024

Long-term exposure to air pollution and noise associated with infertility risks

Long term exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) air pollution is linked to a higher risk of infertility in men, whereas road traffic noise is linked to a higher risk of infertility in women over 35, finds a Danish study published by The BMJ today.

4 Sep 2024

Study links cadmium exposure to cognitive decline in white individuals

The heavy metal cadmium, which is found in the air, water, food and soil, is known to cause health problems.

4 Sep 2024

Does air pollution drive dementia?

Chronic air pollution exposure is a key factor in dementia development, with pollutants like PM2.5 and NO2 linked to cognitive decline and neurodegeneration.

4 Sep 2024

Research reveals impact of heatwaves on perinatal deaths in sub-Saharan Africa

Heatwaves in sub-Saharan Africa are predicted to become more common due to climate change. A new study by researchers at Karolinska Institutet and others, published in Nature Medicine, reveals a worrying correlation between high temperatures in the final week of pregnancy and an increased risk of stillbirth and early neonatal mortality.

3 Sep 2024

Study links higher hair cortisol levels to greater behavioral problems in children

In a study within the INMA project and involving 11-year-olds, Ane Arregi, a member of the Basque Environmental Health Research Group of the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), has concluded that greater behavioral problems are linked to higher hair cortisol levels.

3 Sep 2024