Pollution News and Research

Latest Pollution News and Research

Dementia rates decline among newer generations of older adults

A person aged 75 to 80 is less likely to have dementia today compared to someone of the same age several decades ago, a University of Queensland study has found.

5 Jun 2025

Plant-based portfolio diet linked to fewer heart-related deaths

The portfolio diet significantly lowers heart disease risk, with long-term benefits for cardiovascular health and all-cause mortality in diverse populations.

3 Jun 2025

Fine particulate matter exposure may alter pregnancy outcomes

A new study by Emory University researchers, published Thursday in Environmental Science & Technology, found that exposure to the tiny particles in air pollution during pregnancy can disrupt maternal metabolisms, altering key biological pathways.

3 Jun 2025

Study uncovers how exposure to PM2.5 air pollutants causes airway dysfunction

Air pollution is the second leading risk factor for death globally, with most of the world population subject to harmful air pollutant levels. However, the mechanisms behind air pollution affecting human health and mortality remain poorly understood, leaving treatment strategies unknown.

3 Jun 2025

Early allergen introduction reduces childhood food allergy risk

Investigating allergy prevention, this research highlights early intervention strategies and the promise of biologic treatments in managing allergic conditions.

29 May 2025

Coastal living adds years to your life while inland waters may cut them short

Proximity to coastal waters is linked to longer life expectancy in the US, while living near large inland water bodies often reduces it, except in rural settings, where the effect is positive. Environmental quality, income, and context drive these differences.

29 May 2025

Global study shows air pollution could triple heart disease cases by 2045

The study highlights air pollution's role in escalating heart disease, showing increased mortality and disability rates, especially among women and older adults.

28 May 2025

Fact: You could be inhaling nearly 70,000 plastic particles annually, here's what it means for your health

Airborne microplastics and nanoplastics are increasingly detected in urban environments, with evidence linking inhalation exposure to inflammation, cardiovascular risks, and other health concerns. Researchers highlight urgent needs for improved detection, targeted mitigation strategies, and coordinated global policies to address this emerging threat.

28 May 2025

Perfumes and lotions interfere with the body’s pollution defense

Fragrances and lotions don't just change the way people smell, they actively alter the indoor air chemistry around the wearer, disrupting a critical natural process the body uses to protect itself from pollution, according to an international research team that includes scientists from Penn State.

27 May 2025

Global warming contributes to higher cancer mortality in women

Scientists have found that global warming in the Middle East and North Africa is making breast, ovarian, uterine, and cervical cancer more common and more deadly.

27 May 2025

Air pollution’s chemical punch alters immune markers in pregnant women, study finds

Personal exposure to nitrogen dioxide and the oxidative potential of fine particulate matter (PM2.5), but not PM2.5 mass, influenced immune biomarker levels in pregnant women. These findings suggest that the chemical reactivity of air pollutants may play a key role in maternal and fetal immune health.

22 May 2025

Global female infertility rates surge, hitting women in their late 30s hardest

Researchers analyzed global data from 1990 to 2021 and found that over 110 million women worldwide were affected by infertility, with a significant rise in age-standardized rates. The study highlights shifting trends, with the greatest burden among women aged 35–39, and projections showing further increases in age-standardized rates by 2050.

22 May 2025

Exercise and diet advice misses the mark in improving heart health around the globe

A leading cardiovascular disease researcher from Simon Fraser University is ringing the alarm on universal recommendations intended to improve heart health around the globe.

22 May 2025

Blood filtration may offer new hope for removing microplastics from the body

Researchers report the first evidence that therapeutic apheresis, a blood-filtration technique, can remove microplastic- and nanoplastic-like particles from humans with ME/CFS. While promising, further studies are needed to quantify removal and assess clinical benefits.

21 May 2025

BMI changes in adolescence mediate the effect of air pollution on metabolic health

Changes in Body Mass Index (BMI) during adolescence play an important role in the association between air pollution exposure and insulin resistance, according to a new study led by investigators from the Keck School of Medicine of USC.

20 May 2025

Air pollution exposure in pregnancy may increase asthma risk for the next generation

A mother's exposure to air pollution during pregnancy can increase asthma risk in her adult offspring, according to a new mouse study published at the ATS 2025 International Conference.

20 May 2025

Air pollution fuels artery damage and accelerates heart disease, review finds

Researchers reviewed how air pollution, especially fine particulate matter (PM2.5), drives the development and worsening of atherosclerosis, a leading cause of heart attacks and strokes. Their findings highlight robust links between air pollution exposure, early artery changes, and underlying biological mechanisms fueling cardiovascular risk.

19 May 2025

WHO honors tobacco control champions across the Americas

Researchers, activists, civil society organizations, and journalism organizations from Canada, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru, the United States, and Uruguay, as well as government agencies from Brazil, have been recognized with World Health Organization (WHO) World No Tobacco Day (WNTD) 2025 Awards at the 78th World Health Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland today.

19 May 2025

Zebrafish study reveals hidden dangers of environmental toxins from tires

Emerging contaminants from rubber tires N-(1,3-Dimethylbutyl)-N'-phenyl-p-phenylenediamine (6PPD) and its oxidation product 6PPD-quinone (6PPDQ)-are raising new red flags for aquatic ecosystems.

19 May 2025

Electromagnetic waves disrupt SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and lower infectivity

Researchers demonstrated that specific electromagnetic wave frequencies can disrupt the SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein structure in virus-like particles, leading to reduced infectivity in cell models. This proof-of-concept study suggests new avenues for non-chemical viral inactivation methods.

18 May 2025