Pollution News and Research

Latest Pollution News and Research

Four new EVP grants awarded for interdisciplinary research to tackle environmental challenges

The Woods Institute for the Environment at Stanford University has awarded four new Environmental Venture Projects grants for interdisciplinary research aimed at finding practical solutions promoting global sustainability.

23 Jun 2010

EPA honors Merck and Codexis with Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Award

Merck and Codexis, Inc. today announced that they have jointly been awarded the annual Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for the development of a novel biocatalytic method for the synthesis of sitagliptin. In addition, a paper co-authored by Merck and Codexis scientists and published online June 17 in the peer-reviewed journal Science, details how an enzyme was systematically customized using Codexis technology to perform the key chemical step in the sitagliptin synthesis process.

22 Jun 2010

Bone samples act as the ultimate biomarker for environmental pollution: Researchers

Exposure to chemical pollutants is of growing concern to regulators, health workers, and environmentalist groups alike. Now, researchers in the US and Russia have demonstrated that samples of human bone can act as a biological marker for dozens of metals and toxic elements across the periodic table. They describe details in a study published in the International Journal of Environment and Health.

18 Jun 2010

IMGM acquires 3,100,000 Class B Preferred Shares of Positron

The Shareholders of Imagin Molecular Corporation ("IMGM") have approved, through a consent of over 51% of shareholder vote, certain transactions wherein IMGM completed the acquisition of 3,100,000 Class B Preferred Shares of Positron Corporation which shares are convertible on a 1 for 100 basis into Positron common shares.

18 Jun 2010

People's propensity to contribute to public good increases if contributions made public: Research

Public disclosure of companies' pollution habits has been an effective method of reducing pollution in many countries. Similarly, research has shown that people's and firms' propensity to contribute to public good increases if their contributions are made public. Findings from the University of Gothenburg reveal that the expected positive effect of disclosure can sometimes be crowded out by other factors at play.

15 Jun 2010

Researchers establish link between air pollution and SDB

Researchers from Brigham and Women's Hospital and the Harvard School of Public Health have established the first link between air pollution and sleep-disordered breathing, a known cause of cardiovascular diseases.

15 Jun 2010

Parkinson’s disease linked to gene variant and pesticide: Study

Researchers from France reported in their new study that bad genes and exposure to certain banned pesticides could be blamed for development of Parkinson’s disease in men. In their study, published in the Archives of Neurology journal they show that men exposed to pesticides such as DDT and who had inherited genes for Parkinson’s disease were three and a half times more likely to develop Parkinson's than those with the normal version of the gene.

14 Jun 2010

Scientists develop application of rare Earth elements to control phosphorus runoff from livestock manure

Nutrient runoff from livestock manure is a common source of agricultural pollution. Looking for an uncommon solution, a team of scientists has developed an application of rare earth elements to control and track runoff phosphorus from soils receiving livestock manure. In addition to reducing the solubility of phosphorus, this method shows particular promise for researchers interested in tracking the fate of manure nutrients in agricultural settings.

14 Jun 2010

First step towards legally binding treaty to control mercury pollution completed at INC meeting

World governments, under the auspices of the United Nations Environment Programme, today completed the first step towards a legally binding treaty to control mercury pollution at the first Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee meeting, in Stockholm, Sweden. These initial discussions will provide a strong basis for developing the text of the treaty, starting at the next INC meeting in Tokyo, Japan, January 2011.

14 Jun 2010

Emerging science of epigenetics offers new insights at crossroads of genes and the environment: Article

An emerging arm of molecular biology is introducing a new interpretation of traditional concepts of human disease, explains an article published today in Nature. According to author Dr. Arturas Petronis at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, the emerging science of epigenetics is offering new insights at the crossroads of genes and the environment, or nature and nurture. Dr. Petronis is head of the Krembil Family Epigenetics Laboratory at CAMH and an international expert in the field.

11 Jun 2010

Waste incinerator spewing chemical waste: Says worried Brisbane Lord Mayor

A council commissioned study into the Ace Waste incinerator at Willawong showed that the residents and businesses around the facility were at potential risk of exposure to chemical emissions. The incinerator at Willawong is used to dispose of medical and chemical pollutants that can cause cancer when people are exposed to high concentrations. Brisbane Lord Mayor Campbell Newman revealed this last night. Premier Anna Bligh however denies that there is such a risk. She has assured that the incinerator is safe and there have been no problems for the past twenty year.

8 Jun 2010

Health Impact Project announces six grants to conduct HIAs at state and local levels

The Health Impact Project, a collaboration of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and The Pew Charitable Trusts, today announced more than $1 million in grants to six projects that will conduct health impact assessments at the state and local levels.

8 Jun 2010

CSTE 2010 Annual Conference to focus on public health challenges

The Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists 2010 Annual Conference will be held June 6-10 at the Oregon Convention Center in Portland, Oregon. An array of experts representing federal, state, and local health departments will discuss issues ranging from last year's flu pandemic, obesity, food safety, health care reform, information technology, and the global response to disasters such as the Haiti earthquake.

5 Jun 2010

Traffic-related air pollution also increases risk of type 2 diabetes in women

Traffic-related air pollution, known to raise the risk for cardiovascular disease, may also increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes in women. Low-grade inflammation may contribute to the higher incidence of type 2 diabetes in women exposed to air pollution, according to German researchers.

27 May 2010

Experts to discuss impacts of air pollution on life expectancy, cardiovascular disease

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is sponsoring a seminar called "Breathe Cleaner, Live Longer: Understanding Air Pollution after 40 Years." The event is co-sponsored by the American Heart Association and the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Science and Technology.

21 May 2010

PurGenesis completes development of novel anti-aging cosmeceutical products

PurGenesis Technologies, Inc. today announced the successful completion of the development of a unique line of anti-aging cosmeceutical products. The product line consists of three unique, anti-aging formulations: Day Cream, Night Cream and Eye Cream.

20 May 2010

Ectoin shows positive effect on nanoparticle-induced lung inflammation: Study

bitop AG, which specializes in the development and marketing of Ectoin-containing medical devices, announces that Ectoin significantly reduces nanoparticle-induced inflammatory reaction in rat lungs, one of the animal models for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. It is the first time that Ectoin has been shown to have such an effect on nanoparticle-induced lung inflammation.

20 May 2010

Air pollution associated with cardiopulmonary mortality, morbidity: Researchers

Breathing polluted air increases stress on the heart's regulation capacity, up to six hours after inhalation of combustion-related small particles called PM2.5, according to Penn State College of Medicine researchers.

20 May 2010

Report released on pharmaceutical mail-back pilot program funded by EPA

Through a grant awarded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the University of Maine’s Center on Aging has completed the first statewide mail-back pilot program for managing pharmaceutical waste from consumers.

18 May 2010

High fat diet linked to exacerbation of asthma

In a new study researchers have found a connection between exacerbation of bronchial asthma and high calorie burgers and fries. Diet and lifestyle have been linked to asthma for some time now but this is the first real evidence. With the advent of unhealthy diets the incidence and prevalence of asthma is on the rise. In 2007, about 34.1 million Americans had asthma, according to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. From 1980 through 1994, the prevalence of asthma increased by 75 percent.

17 May 2010