Pollution News and Research

Latest Pollution News and Research

Simple toilet filter aims to curb antibiotic resistance risks

Antibiotics save lives, but they are also a global health threat. Scientist Noëlie Maurin at SINTEF has an idea that could help solve the problem: Remove antibiotic residues before they are flushed down the drain.

6 Jul 2026

Widely used pandemic pharmaceuticals harm marine aquatic ecosystems

A new study published in New Contaminants suggests that several drugs widely used during the COVID-19 pandemic can be toxic to marine organisms, even at relatively low concentrations.

2 Jul 2026

Extreme heat and cold threaten health of people with dementia

Exposure to extreme heat and cold is associated with an increased risk of emergency department (ED) visits among people living with dementia, according to preliminary research presented today at the European Academy of Neurology (EAN) Congress 2026.

29 Jun 2026

Brighter daytime light is linked to a lower dementia risk

The study finds that greater exposure to daytime light may lower dementia risk, pointing to light's role in enhancing circadian rhythms and cognitive function.

29 Jun 2026

Lack of clean cooking fuel and electricity threatens global health, well-being

At a time when energy security and affordability have risen to the top of the development agenda, 655 million people globally still lack access to electricity, and two billion use polluting fuels and technologies for cooking putting their health and well-being at risk.

25 Jun 2026

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