Tag

Air Pollution

All articles tagged with #air pollution

politics8 days ago•39 min saved

Data centers: potential town windfall amid environmental trade-offs

Data centers aren’t inherently good or bad for towns: the costs and benefits depend on local energy sources, grid reliability, and policy choices. Hyperscale campuses can raise air pollution and electricity bills in some places, but can also boost job creation and tax revenue, especially where grids are clean and policy is favorable. Brookings finds modest employment gains and longer‑term IT jobs in counties that host centers, while places like Loudoun County show substantial tax revenue. Water use is relatively small with closed‑loop cooling, and smart siting/regulation can tilt outcomes toward net community gains.

via vox.com|

#air-pollution #data-centers #electricity-prices

wellbeing12 days ago•18 min saved

Fresh scents, clean air: how to scent your home without indoor air pollution

Experts warn that candles, diffusers and other scented products release VOCs and nanoparticles that can impair lung function and worsen respiratory issues; to minimize risk, choose fragrance products that are phthalate-free, ensure good ventilation, and consider safer, non-fragrance alternatives to keep your home feeling fresh without polluting the air.

via The Washington Post|

#air-pollution #air-quality #asthma

environment22 days ago•3 min saved

Tiny Plastics in the Sky May Be Warming the Planet

A Nature Climate Change study finds colored micro- and nanoplastics suspended in the atmosphere have a net warming effect. While the global impact remains small, the warming can exceed that of black carbon in regions with high plastic concentrations, such as the North Pacific Gyre, by up to about fivefold. The researchers used high-resolution spectroscopy and atmospheric transport simulations to refine estimates of direct radiative forcing, but they emphasize the need for more world-wide measurements to accurately map airborne microplastics.

via Gizmodo|

#air-pollution #black-carbon #climate-change

science22 days ago•181 min saved

Airborne microplastics may warm the planet, new study shows

New research shows microplastics and nanoplastics suspended in the atmosphere—originating from sources like the Great Pacific Garbage Patch—absorb sunlight and heat the air, with colored pigments making them far more effective at warming than clear plastics. The warming effect is likely small globally but could be pronounced in regions with higher atmospheric plastic, and scientists caution that uncertainties in measuring airborne plastics mean climate models should be updated as more data become available.

via CNN|

#air-pollution #climate-change #great-pacific-garbage-patch

world22 days ago•24 min saved

Carcinogenic smoke hangs over Tuapse as Ukraine strikes Russia’s oil facilities

Ukraine has intensified drone strikes on Russian oil facilities, hitting a key Black Sea refinery in Tuapse and triggering a days-long, carcinogenic blaze that environmentalists say could be one of Russia’s worst ecological disasters since the Soviet era, prompting appeals for accountability and scrutiny of the government’s response.

via The Washington Post|

#air-pollution #environment #evacuations

health23 days ago•5 min saved

One-Month Home HEPA Use May Sharpen Focus in Adults Over 40

A randomized crossover study in Somerville, MA found that using a home HEPA purifier for one month modestly improved cognitive performance—specifically mental flexibility and executive function—by about 12% in adults aged 40 and older, compared with a sham purifier, suggesting reduced particulate exposure from traffic could benefit brain health; the study notes limitations (short duration, unclear mechanism) and calls for longer research to confirm effects and explore aging-related benefits.

via SciTechDaily|

#aging #air-pollution #cognitive-function

environment25 days ago•6 min saved

Tuapse Inferno Triggers Lingering Environmental Crisis as Oil Spills Hit Sea and Town

A major oil refinery fire in Tuapse re-ignited, sending toxic smoke and hundreds to thousands of tons of petroleum products into the air and Black Sea, coating streets with ‘oil rain,’ killing wildlife, and threatening drinking water. Officials say the threat is under control, but satellite images show vast oil slicks and continued contamination, implying long-term ecological and health risks and a slow cleanup hampered by political and wartime constraints.

via The Moscow Times|

#air-pollution #environment #oil-spill

health27 days ago•3 min saved

Womb pollution slows babies' speech, hits preemies hardest

A London cohort of 498 infants shows that first-trimester exposure to nitrogen dioxide and fine/ultrafine particulates is linked to slower language development at 18 months (language scores 5–7 points lower) and greater motor delays (about 11 points) in very preterm babies, underscoring environmental justice concerns and the need for pollution reduction.

via The Guardian|

#air-pollution #health #infant-development

health27 days ago•5 min saved

Weather Extremes Raise Cardiovascular Risk, New Study Finds

A study of more than 8 million residents in Eastern Poland (2011–2020) links heat waves and cold snaps to higher rates of major cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events. Heat days saw immediate spikes—7.5% more events and 9.5% more deaths—while cold waves produced a delayed 4–5.9% risk increase in subsequent days. Air pollution accounted for about 13% of cardiovascular deaths over the decade. Risks were higher for women and people under 65, suggesting environmental factors should be integrated into cardiovascular risk assessment amid ongoing climate change.

via Fox News|

#air-pollution #extreme-weather #health

science1 month ago•6 min saved

Breathing Clean, Thinking Sharper: Purifiers Boost Cognition in Adults 40+

A randomized crossover study in Somerville, MA found that adults aged 40 and older who used a home HEPA air purifier for one month showed about a 12% faster performance on tests of mental flexibility and executive function versus a sham purifier, suggesting reduced particulate matter may offer modest cognitive benefits. Results are preliminary due to the small sample, age range limitations, and short duration, and the underlying mechanisms remain unclear.

via ScienceAlert|

#air-pollution #brain-health #cognitive-function

environment1 month ago•8 min saved

LA Smog Dominates U.S. Air Quality as California Faces Widespread Unhealthy Air

The 2026 State of the Air report shows Los Angeles-Long Beach as the nation’s worst metro for ozone, with 82% of Californians living in counties with unhealthy air and 44% of Americans in areas failing at least one pollution standard. The findings emphasize transportation and industry as primary sources and warn that federal rollbacks could weaken California’s clean-air authority, potentially causing more than 14,000 deaths and $145 billion in health costs through 2050. While some California areas posted improvements—Sacramento’s lower particle pollution and several cities with zero high-ozone or zero unhealthy PM2.5 days—advocates urge continued funding for zero-emission trucks and other controls to protect public health, especially children.

via Los Angeles Times|

#air-pollution #california #environment

environment1 month ago•4 min saved

US Kids Face Unhealthy Air as Pollution Persists in Major Cities

A American Lung Association State of the Air 2022–2024 report finds 44% of Americans live in areas with unhealthy air, including about 33 million kids; while some progress exists since last year, many regions—especially in the South, Southwest and Texas metros—still suffer from ozone and soot pollution. Bakersfield, CA ranks as the most polluted city, with other top offenders including Brownsville, Fresno, Eugene–Springfield and San Diego–Chula Vista–Carlsbad; Bozeman, MT is among the cleanest. The report also notes data-center emissions and cites policy shifts, such as the Trump administration's deregulation and the EPA's endangerment finding repeal, as factors impacting air quality, urging stronger protections for children's health.

via CBS News|

#air-pollution #childrens-health #environment

health1 month ago•10 min saved

Clean air, sharper minds: HEPA purifiers boost cognition in adults over 40

A randomized crossover study of 119 people aged 30–74 in Somerville, MA found that using a real HEPA purifier for one month improved executive function/mental flexibility by about 12% in participants 40 and older compared with a sham purifier, after accounting for indoor time and stress. The small but consistent cognitive boost is similar to gains from daily exercise and highlights potential brain health benefits of reducing particulate exposure, especially for those near highways. Limitations include the short duration, modest older-subject representation, and unknown long-term effects or mechanisms; further research is planned to explore brain white matter and metabolite changes.

via The Conversation|

#aging #air-pollution #air-purifiers

environment1 month ago•4 min saved

Half of U.S. kids live in areas with dangerous air pollution, report finds

A 27th annual American Lung Association report finds 46% of U.S. children live in areas with at least one unhealthy air-pollution measure, with 10% in communities failing all three; ozone remains the most widespread pollutant, exposing about 129 million people to risky levels. The report links higher pollution to heat, drought, wildfires, climate change, and growing datacenter energy use, while outlining disproportionate exposure and health risks for communities of color. It also criticizes EPA rollbacks under the current administration as weakening protections for public health.

via The Guardian|

#air-pollution #children-health #environment

health1 month ago•16 min saved

Air Pollution May Amplify Migraines, New Study Suggests

A Neurology-published study following migraine patients in Be’er Sheva found that days with higher air pollution—especially nitrogen dioxide and fine particulates—are linked to more emergency migraine visits and more triptan prescriptions, suggesting pollution can trigger migraines and worsen susceptibility, with weather conditions shaping its impact.

via Gizmodo|

#air-pollution #environment #health