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Health News Results - 212

There's Almost Nowhere in the World Free of Air Pollution

A new study is enough to take your breath way: Nearly no place on Earth is free of air pollution, it found.

The study "provides a deep understanding of the current state of outdoor air pollution and its impacts on human health. With this information, policymakers, public health officials and researchers can better assess the short-term and long-term health effects of air pollution and dev...

Sea Spray Can Waft Polluted Coastal Water Inland

Sewage-polluted Southern California coastal waters become airborne in sea spray aerosol, and can spread to people on land, even beyond the beach, according to a new study.

For this research, scientists sampled coastal aerosols at Imperial Beach in San Diego County and water from the Ti...

In Stockholm Study, As City Air Improved So Did Kids' Lung Capacity

MONDAY, Feb. 27, 2023 (HealthDay News) – Children in Sweden's capital can breathe a little easier.

As Stockholm's air has gotten cleaner, young people's lungs have gotten stronger, new research shows. The findings could have implications for cities worldwide.

While the adverse impact of air pollutants on kids' lung health is well-documented, the impact of changes in air quality on...

Polluted Air May Speed Osteoporosis Bone Loss

Exposure to elevated levels of air pollutants is associated with bone damage in postmenopausal women, according to a new study that said the effects were most evident on the lumbar spine.

High levels of niitrogen oxides in air nearly doubled the effects of normal aging on bone density in the spine, said researchers from Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health in New York C...

10 Ways You Can Cut Your Risk for Dementia

Causes of different kinds of dementia vary, but about 40% are affected by risk factors a person can influence through lifestyle choices.

Two University of Michigan neurologists offer 10 tips for modifying those risks.

  1. Keep blood pressure in check.
  2. Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
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  4. February 25, 2023
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Air Pollution May Create U.S. 'Hot Spots' for Parkinson's Risk

People living in heavily polluted areas of the United States may be more vulnerable to Parkinson’s disease, a new study suggests.

Specifically, the culprit is a type of air pollution called fine particulate matter (PM2.5), which is less than 2.5 microns in diameter and comes from car exhaust, burning of fuels in power plants and other industries, and forest and grass fires, researchers...

Advent of Electric Cars Is Already Improving Health

Electric cars are still in the minority on America's roads, yet researchers are already seeing health benefits from reduced tailpipe pollution.

In a new California study, neighborhoods with the most all-electric cars -- called zero-emission vehicles -- saw a decline in asthma-related emergency room visits. Researchers believe this was a result of lower levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) in...

Stuck in Traffic? Diesel Fumes May Be Harming Your Brain

If you find yourself stuck in a traffic jam and you start to feel fuzzy-headed, the diesel exhaust from the truck in front of you might be to blame.

New research found that just two hours of exposure to diesel exhaust impaired the brain’s functional connectivity, which can lower your ability to think and remember.

"We compared people after diesel exhaust exposure compared to filt...

Mom's Exposure to Dirty Air in Pregnancy Could Harm a Toddler's Development

A mother-to-be's exposure to air pollution during pregnancy may have a lasting impact on her baby's brain development, new research indicates.

Toddlers scored lower on assessments for thinking, motor and language skills when their mothers had more exposure to pollutants during pregnancy, according to researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder.

“Our findings sug...

Kids Living Near Airports Face Lead Poisoning Dangers

While U.S. policymakers have attempted to lower lead exposure among children since the 1970s, new research finds that kids living near airports are still being exposed to dangerous levels of the heavy metal.

“Across an ensemble of tests, we find consistent evidence that the blood lead levels of children residing near the airport are pushed upward by the deposition of leaded aviation ga...

Federal Agency Mulls Ban on Gas Stoves Due to Health Concerns

Gas stoves could face new emissions standards or even be banned because of their link to indoor air pollutants and childhood asthma, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).

The federal agency will open public comment on gas cooking stoves and their hazards sometime this winter, Bloomberg News reported.

“This is a hidden hazard,” agency commissio...

EPA Proposes Tougher Rules on Air Pollution

For the first time in a decade, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has proposed strengthening standards on fine soot in the air, a known contributor to serious health issues.

Under the new proposal, standards for fine particulate pollution, known as PM 2.5, would change from a level of 12 micrograms per cubic meter to a level between nine and 10 micrograms per cubic meter. The stand...

Polluted Air Means More Asthma Attacks for Urban Kids

Air pollution may trigger more asthma attacks in urban children and teens, a new study reports.

Even moderate levels of ozone and fine airborne particulates — two ingredients of smog — appear to increase kids’ risk of asthma attacks, according to findings published online Jan. 4 in

Train Wheels Send Unhealthy, 'Ultrafine' Metals Into Subway Air

Air pollution is plaguing the world's oldest subway system, a new study warns, with high levels of tiny metal particles found in dust samples throughout the London Underground.

Whether these particles actually pose a risk to human health remains an open question, British researchers acknowledge. But experts say it's happening in subway systems elsewhere, including the United States.

<...

Move to Electric Cars Will Save Lives Plus Billions in Health Care Costs

As the United States moves towards a world in which electric vehicles (EVs) have fully replaced fossil fuel-driven engines, can Americans look forward to reliably cleaner air and better health?

Absolutely, a new study predicts.

By 2050, researchers say, th...

Workplace Fumes, Dust Could Raise Odds for Rheumatoid Arthritis

The air where you work could be increasing your risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis, a new study suggests.

Breathing in the fumes from commercial vapors, gases and solvents -- and even common dusts found in the workplace -- appears to increase chances of the chronic autoimmune joint disorder, researchers reported Dec. 6 in the

  • Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
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  • December 9, 2022
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    • Wind Power Is Bringing Americans Real Health Benefits

    With wind power picking up as a viable energy source, new research shows U.S. air quality is getting better, benefiting all Americans' health.

    There was one caveat to the findings, however: Only about a third of the potentially enormous health benefit is being seen in low-income areas and those with a concentration of minority residents.

    "Wind power has gained huge momentum in ...

    Stress + Air Pollution a Bad Combo in Pregnancy: Study

    Protecting pregnant women from air pollution may improve the birth weight of their babies, a new study suggests.

    This is especially important for stressed-out mothers who live in neighborhoods burdened by poor air quality.

    A mother-to-be's exposure to both

    EPA Could Get Tough on Leaded Fuel in Airplanes

    The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has taken a major step to curb the largest remaining source of airborne lead pollution.

    The agency has proposed a so-called endangerment finding that aircraft that use leaded fuel cause or contribute to

  • By Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
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  • October 7, 2022
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    • Move to Zero-Emission Trucks Could Save 66,000 U.S. Lives

    Replacing diesel-powered trucks and the toxic pollutants they spew with electric vehicles would save tens of thousands of U.S. lives, a new American Lung Association report says.

    The benefit would accrue if all medium- and heavy-duty trucks sold have zero emissions by 2050, and if the electricity they use comes from non-combustion renewable energy, not fossil fuels, by 2035, according to ...

    Smoggy Air Could Worsen COVID, Even If You're Vaccinated

    Exposure to air pollution can impede COVID-19 recovery, whether someone is vaccinated or not, according to new research.

    "These findings are important because they show that, while COVID-19 vaccines are successful at reducing the risk of hospitalization, people who are vaccinated and exposed to polluted air are still at increased risk for worse outcomes than vaccinated people not exposed...

    Smoggy Days Could Help Send Kids With Autism to the ER

    Could air pollution land children with autism in the hospital?

    A new study found that short-term exposure to air pollution is linked to a higher risk for hospitalization among kids with the developmental disorder.

    People with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are often admitted due to such ...

    Breathing Dirty Air Can Cause Teens' Hearts to Skip a Beat

    Air pollution may cause irregular heart rhythms in otherwise healthy teens within two hours of exposure, a new study shows.

    Irregular heart rhythms, or arrhythmias, occur when the heart's electrical impulses don't work p...

    Dirty Air Could Raise COVID Risks for Poor Pregnant Women

    While exposure to smog is a known risk factor for preterm birth and low-birth weight, new research suggests it also may heighten risk of COVID-19 infection for pregnant low-income women.

    Scientists at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health analyzed the COVID test results for more than 3,300 pregnant women in New York and also assessed their long-term exposure to

  • By Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
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  • September 8, 2022
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    • Air Pollution May Alter a Baby's Gut Microbiome

    High levels of air pollution during the first six months of life could affect the colonies of bacteria in babies' guts, increasing their risk for allergies, obesity, diabetes and issues with brain development, according to new research.

    Researchers said their new study is the first to show a...

    Air Pollution May Do More Harm to Women Than Men

    Breathing in fumes from diesel exhaust may be more damaging to women than to men, a new, small Canadian study claims.

    “We already know that there are sex differences in lung diseases such as asthma and respiratory infections," said lead researcher Hemshekhar Mahadevappa, from the University of Man...

    High Heat, Heavy Smog a Deadly Combo: Study

    Heat coupled with smog can be a particularly lethal mix, especially for older adults, a new study finds.

    Unfortunately, both hot temperatures and air pollution are going to increase as the planet warms, and so will deaths, researchers report.

    "We are experiencing more and more frequent wildfires, which cause pollution, and

    Gas Used in Homes Has Links to Cancer; Leaks Often Undetected

    The natural gas being piped into your home contains a wide array of toxic chemicals, including nearly two dozen so harmful they're classified as hazardous air pollutants, a new study says.

    Natural gas samples taken from 69 Boston-area cooking stoves were found to contain at least 21 different hazardous air pollutants, including benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene and hexane, according ...

    Supreme Court Curbs EPA's Authority Over Power Plant Emissions

    In a ruling that will curb efforts to fight climate change, the U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday limited the Environmental Protection Agency's ability to regulate carbon emissions from power plants.

    The 6-3 decision comes as scientists are warning about the growing threat posed by global warming.

    It could potentially extend to other actions taken by administrative agencies, the Ne...

    Inhaled Pollutants Go Directly From Lungs to Brain: Study

    Breathing in air pollution can lead to toxic particles entering the brain -- and not just through the nose. New research suggests they have a direct pathway through the bloodstream, potentially contributing to brain disorders and neurological damage.

    "There are gaps in our knowledge around the harmful...

    Pollution Killed 9 Million People Worldwide in 2019

    Pollution from varied sources caused 9 million deaths worldwide in 2019, accounting for 1 in 6 of all deaths, a new study says.

    Of those pollution-related deaths, three-quarters -- close to 7 million -- were caused by outdoor or indoor air pollution. Toxic chemical pollution (including lead) caused 1.8...

    Cutting Pollution From Power Plants, Transport Could Save 50,000 U.S. Lives Each Year

    More than 50,000 premature deaths would be prevented in the United States each year if fine particle air pollution from the burning of fossil fuels were eliminated, researchers say.

    Curbing this source of pollution would also save more than $600 billion a year in health care costs due to related illness and death, their

  • By Robert Preidt HealthDay Reporter
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  • May 17, 2022
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    • Sharp Spike Seen in Air Pollution Levels in Recent Years

    After 23 years of decreases in overall air pollution levels, a new report shows that the United States recorded the highest ever number of "very unhealthy" and "hazardous" air quality days between 2018 and 2020.

    In its State of the Air 2022 report, the American Lung Association said more than 137 million Americans reside in counties with unhealthy air, and the number of people who faced i...

    Western Wildfires Fueling Air Pollution During Summer Months

    Larger and more intense wildfires in the U.S. Pacific Northwest are causing a spike in air pollution across North America that endangers millions of people, a new study warns.

    Wildfire smoke has been linked to significant

  • By Robert Preidt HealthDay Reporter
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  • April 21, 2022
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    • 99% of Planet's Population Breathes Dirty Air: WHO

    Almost no one in the world is breathing good air, according to a new World Health Organization report, which issued a call for reducing the use of fossil fuels.

    Air quality is the worst in WHO's Eastern Mediterranean and Southeast Asia regions, but 99% of the global population breathes air that exceeds ai...

    Breathing Dirty Air Could Raise Your Odds for Rheumatoid Arthritis

    Long-term exposure to air pollution can wreak havoc on your lungs and heart, but new research suggests another vulnerability: It may increase your risk of rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune diseases.

    For the study, the re...

    Could Air Pollution Help Trigger Depression in Teens?

    Even "safe" levels of ozone air pollution may increase adolescents' risk of depression, a new study shows.

    Researchers analyzed four years of mental health data from 213 adolescents, ages 9-13, in the San Francisco Ba...

    Biden Administration Says California Can Set Tough Auto Emission Standards Again

    California will once again be able to set its own car emission standards under a waiver approved Wednesday by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

    The move reverses a Trump administration decision to revoke the state's authority to determine its own limits on auto emissions.

    Under the EPA ...

    Your Houseplants May Help You Breathe Easier

    Want to breathe better air indoors? Go green.

    Houseplants can make your home or office air cleaner, according to British researchers.

    In lab tests, they found that three common houseplants -- peace lily ...

    EPA Proposes Tougher Emission Standards for Big Trucks

    Tighter restrictions on emissions from big trucks were proposed Monday by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

    "Seventy-two million people are estimated to live near truck freight routes in America, and they are more likely to be people of color and those with lower incomes. These overburdened communities are directly exposed to pollution that causes respiratory and cardiovascu...

    EPA to Restore Rule Limiting Mercury Pollution From Power Plants

    Enforcement of a rule limiting power plant emissions of mercury and other hazardous pollutants will be resumed, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced Monday.

    It's the latest move by the Biden administration to reinstate environmental protections lifted by the Trump administration.

    "The science is clear: we must limit mercury and toxic air pollution to protect our kids a...

    Your Gas Stove Might Make You (and the Planet) Sick

    That gas stove in your kitchen fires up quickly and cooks evenly. What's not to love?

    A lot, as it turns out.

    The emissions from gas stoves are considered major contributors to climate change and damaging to human health. Now, new research suggests they're troublesome even when they're turned off.

    The problem is sizable: Over 40 million U.S. households cook with gas, and gas ...

    Shorter Life Spans for Elderly Living Downwind of Fracking Sites: Study

    Older people who live near or downwind of fracking sites have an increased risk of premature death, likely due to airborne contaminants from the sites, according to a new study.

    "There is an urgent need to understand the causal link between living near or downwind of [unconventional oil and gas development] and advers...

    Polluted Air Keeps Butterflies, Bees From Pollinating: Study

    As air pollution worsens, fruits, flowers and the creatures that pollinate them could pay a price.

    That's the takeaway from British researchers who used special equipment to control levels of two common pollutants -- diesel exhaust and ozone -- in a field of black mustard plants, and then monitored pollinating insects over two summers.

    "We knew from our previous lab studies that di...

    You Don't Have to Be a Smoker to Get Lung Cancer

    Think you're safe from lung cancer because you've never smoked? Think again.

    While cigarette smoking is the main cause of lung cancer, it's possible to get the disease without ever lighting up.

    "Anyone with lungs can get lung cancer," said Dr. Missak Haigentz Jr., chief of Thoracic and Head and Neck Medical Oncology at Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey in New Brunswick.

    ...

    Cleaner Air Could Mean Healthier Brains for Older Women

    Everyone knows cleaner air means healthier bodies, but new research suggests it might also help aging minds.

    "Our study is important because it is one of the first to show that reducing air pollution over time may benefit the brain health of older women by decreasing their likelihood of developing dementia," said...

    Wildfires Plus Heat Make Breathing Dangerous in America's West

    Wildfires and rising temperatures are exposing more and more Americans to an air pollution double-whammy of smoke and smog, a new study warns.

    Researchers found that over the past 20 years, a growing number of people in western states have been simultaneously exposed to high levels of two kinds of air pollution: Fine-particle pollution generated by

  • Amy Norton HealthDay Reporter
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  • January 12, 2022
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    • Urban Air Pollution Drives Millions of Cases of Asthma in Kids

    Far fewer kids might develop asthma if there were less traffic pollution, suggests a new study that researched the issue worldwide.

    "Our study found that nitrogen dioxide puts children at risk of developing asthma and the problem is especially acute in urban areas," said study author Susan Anenberg, a professor of environmental and occupational health at George Washington University in Wa...

    Dirty City Air Killed More Than 1.8 Million People Globally in 2019

    Cities worldwide are shrouded with air pollution -- and it's killing people.

    A new modeling study found that 86% of people living in cities throughout the world -- a total of 2.5 billion people -- are exposed to fine particulate matter at levels that exceed the World Health Organization's 2005 guidelines.

    In 2019, this urban air pollution led to 1.8 million excess deaths, accordin...

    Most of Restaurant Menu Must Be Vegetarian Before Meat Eaters Make the Switch

    Meat eaters are far more apt to choose plant-based foods at restaurants if menus are at least 75% vegetarian, according to a new study.

    Along with the health benefits, British researchers said getting more people to eat plant-based foods could help fight climate change.

    "Th...