Pollution News and Research

Latest Pollution News and Research

Structural brain differences in adolescents may play a role in early initiation of substance use

A study of nearly 10,000 adolescents funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has identified distinct differences in the brain structures of those who used substances before age 15 compared to those who did not.

30 Dec 2024

Study reveals how societal inequities influence brain aging and dementia

Researchers from Trinity College Dublin have collaborated with international partners to explore if societal inequality affects our brain.

27 Dec 2024

Twelve factors to protect brain health in the New Year

Improving your brain health in the new year can start with a simple step, talking with your neurologist or primary care physician about 12 factors to protect your brain.

23 Dec 2024

Study reveals health impacts of returning to smoke-damaged homes

Six months after the Marshall Fire destroyed more than 1,000 houses in Boulder County, Colo., more than half of residents of surviving homes in the area reported physical symptoms - including headaches, sore throats or a strange taste in their mouth - that they attributed to poor air quality, a new CU Boulder study has found.

23 Dec 2024

Trash incinerators disproportionately harm Black and Hispanic people

When leaders of Florida's most populous county met in September to pick a site for what could become the nation's largest trash incinerator, so many people went to the government center to protest that overflow seating spilled into the building's atrium.

23 Dec 2024

Miniature VR headsets unlock insights into spatial memory and brain disorders

In recent years, mice have entered a new arena – virtual reality – and now Cornell University researchers have built mini VR headsets to more fully immerse them.

19 Dec 2024

Understanding metformin's mechanism in reducing blood sugar

Millions of people take metformin, a Type 2 diabetes medication that lowers blood sugar. The "wonder drug" has also been shown to slow cancer growth, improve COVID outcomes and reduce inflammation. But until now, scientists have been unable to determine how, exactly, the drug works.

18 Dec 2024

Minute plastic air particles may be causing respiratory and other illnesses

A review of 3,000 studies also suggests these minute plastic air particles may be causing male and female infertility.

18 Dec 2024

Cumulative exposure to air pollution increases risk of hospitalization for mental and physical illness

Cumulative exposure to air pollution over several years is linked to a heightened risk of admission to hospital for mental/behavioral and physical illness, finds Scottish research published in the open access journal BMJ Open.

17 Dec 2024

Smoke from Canadian wildfires leads to surge in heart and lung problems in the U.S.

Wildfire smoke has long been known to exacerbate health problems like heart disease, lung conditions, and asthma, but now a new study finds that smoke from these fires can lead to poor health thousands of miles away.

15 Dec 2024

Soil ecosystems fuel antibiotic resistance development

Soil plays a much bigger role in the spread of antibiotic resistance than one might imagine.

13 Dec 2024

Circadian chaos: How transportation noise harms heart health

Transportation noise poses serious risks to cardiovascular health, causing inflammation, oxidative stress, and circadian rhythm disruption, with compounded effects from air pollution.

12 Dec 2024

Long-term air pollution exposure linked to venous thromboembolism risk

A large study found that greater exposure to long-term air pollution was linked with increased risks for blood clots that can occur in deep veins, which, if untreated, can block blood flow and cause serious complications, even death.

12 Dec 2024

Air pollution kills millions in India

A new study from Karolinska Institutet shows that long-term exposure to air pollution contributes to millions of deaths in India.

11 Dec 2024

Mouse study links glyphosate to Alzheimer's-like brain changes and anxiety

Glyphosate exposure in mice exacerbates Alzheimer's-like neuropathologies, increases neuroinflammation, and leaves lasting effects, even after prolonged recovery.

9 Dec 2024

Genomic conservation in Thailand's mangroves

In this interview, Wirulda Pootakham, the Director of Thailand's National Omic Centre, talks to NewsMedical about genomic conservation in Thailand's mangroves.

From MGI 6 Dec 2024

Does air pollution worsen Long COVID? Researchers weigh in

Exposure to air pollutants, particularly particulate matter, may increase Long COVID risk by worsening initial infection severity, but noise, light, and green spaces show no significant impact, a Catalonian study reveals.

5 Dec 2024

COPD patients' perspectives should guide development of new therapies

The perspectives and priorities of people living with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) should be integrated into the development process of new therapies for COPD, according to a new commentary.

4 Dec 2024

US census data reveal socioeconomic drivers of air pollution-related cancer risks

New research builds on scientific understanding of how air pollution and cancer risk are distributed throughout the U.S. Air pollution, often resulting from industrial or vehicle emissions, can travel for hundreds of miles and impact the health of communities through higher rates of asthma, respiratory infections, stroke, and lung cancer.

4 Dec 2024

Greening cities saves lives and transforms urban health

Increasing urban green spaces in Italy could prevent 28,433 deaths annually, highlighting their critical role in reducing mortality and improving public health.

2 Dec 2024