Pollution News and Research

Latest Pollution News and Research

Air pollution increases physical disability progression in older adults

Long-term air pollution exposure is associated with faster progression of disability in older adults, highlighting critical public health implications.

16 Feb 2026

Why lung cancer in never smokers is rising and how targeted detection could reduce deaths

Lung cancer in never smokers is an increasingly recognized global health issue with distinct biological drivers, environmental risk factors, and genetic susceptibilities. Improved risk modelling, targeted screening strategies, and preventive approaches are needed to enable earlier detection and reduce mortality in this growing patient group.

15 Feb 2026

Exposure to intense wildfire smoke during pregnancy may increase risk of autism in children

New research suggests that exposure to intense wildfire smoke during pregnancy may be associated with increased likelihood of autism in children.

12 Feb 2026

Rising lung cancer in never smokers demands urgent research focus

Lung cancer patients who have never smoked make up a significant and growing share of global lung cancer cases, yet remain an understudied group, according to a new review written by UCL (University College London) researchers.

12 Feb 2026

Louisville found PFAS in drinking water. The Trump administration wouldn’t require any action.

Every day, the Ohio River sends billions of gallons of water flowing past Louisville's pumping station, where the Kentucky city's utility sucks it up to turn it into tap water.

12 Feb 2026

Brief oxidative stress promotes brain repair after injury

Oxidative stress is a direct consequence of an excess in the body of so-called "free radicals" – reactive, unstable molecules that contain oxygen.

10 Feb 2026

Sustainable pharmacy initiatives needed to reduce environmental harm from medicines

The group of the EHU - University of the Basque Country is proposing various initiatives designed to reduce the presence of medicines in the environment and, consequently, their effects on human health.

6 Feb 2026

Climate change is accelerating antibiotic resistance across the Western Pacific

Urgent action is needed as climate change fuels antibiotic resistance in the Western Pacific, threatening health and highlighting socioeconomic vulnerabilities.

6 Feb 2026

Health harms from plastics could double by 2040

Global health burdens associated with plastic systems could double by 2040 without immediate and coordinated action.

6 Feb 2026

Poison at play: Unsafe levels of lead found in half of New Orleans playgrounds

Sarah Hess started taking her toddler, Josie, to Mickey Markey Playground in 2010 because she thought it would offer a refuge from lead.

5 Feb 2026

Global analysis reveals up to four in ten cancer cases could be prevented

Up to four in ten cancer cases worldwide could be prevented, according to a new global analysis from the World Health Organization (WHO) and its International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC).

4 Feb 2026

How conflicting MIC breakpoints distort antimicrobial resistance data

The review emphasizes that differing CLSI and EUCAST breakpoints complicate AMR tracking, calling for standardized criteria to enhance global health security.

3 Feb 2026

Air pollution, not diet, shows the strongest link to poorer concentration in schoolgirls

This cross-sectional study of 300 school-aged girls in Tehran found that higher air pollution exposure was consistently associated with poorer concentration, while dietary antioxidant capacity showed weaker, model-dependent links to attention. No significant associations or interactions were observed for short-term memory, highlighting pollution exposure as the dominant factor influencing attentional performance.

28 Jan 2026

Prenatal exposure to pollution impacts infant cognitive development

The prenatal period is a critical window for brain development, yet few studies have examined the impact of air pollution exposure during pregnancy on child cognition.

27 Jan 2026

Wildfire smoke significantly raises stroke risk among older adults

People exposed to wildfire smoke have a higher risk of suffering a stroke, according to research published in the European Heart Journal today (Tuesday).

27 Jan 2026

Tiny plastic particles may interfere with brain processes implicated in Parkinson’s disease

Micro- and nanoplastics are increasingly detected in human tissues, including the brain, and experimental evidence suggests they can interact with biological pathways central to Parkinson’s disease pathology. This review synthesises mechanistic data indicating that plastic particles may influence protein aggregation, neuroinflammation, mitochondrial dysfunction, and the gut–brain axis, while emphasising the need for prospective human studies.

26 Jan 2026

Wildfire smoke in late pregnancy may raise autism risk

Prenatal exposure to wildfire smoke in late pregnancy may modestly raise autism risk in children, emphasizing the importance of safeguarding pregnant women.

23 Jan 2026

Nearly half of adults now live with heart disease as obesity and diabetes surge

The 2026 American Heart Association Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics report shows that nearly half of adults are living with cardiovascular disease, with cardiometabolic risk factors projected to rise substantially by 2050. Despite progress in smoking reduction and cholesterol control, worsening obesity, diabetes, hypertension, sleep health, and persistent inequities threaten future cardiovascular health.

22 Jan 2026

New photocatalyst rapidly removes hidden carcinogenic byproducts from drinking water sources

A new photocatalyst that combines sunlight and a common water-treatment oxidant can rapidly strip dangerous organic matter from water, offering a promising tool for safer drinking water and cleaner natural waterways.

22 Jan 2026

More urban trees associated with fewer heart disease cases

A multi-institutional study led by the University of California, Davis, finds that living in urban areas with a higher percentage of visible trees is associated with a 4% decrease in cardiovascular disease.

21 Jan 2026