Pollution News and Research

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Air pollution may increase chance of hospitalization for COVID-19 patients

Patients who have preexisting respiratory conditions such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and live in areas with high levels of air pollution have a greater chance of hospitalization if they contract COVID-19, says a University of Cincinnati researcher.

15 Apr 2021

High ozone concentrations decrease crop yield in maize

Although stratospheric ozone protects us by filtering out the sun's ultraviolet radiation, tropospheric ozone is a harmful pollutant. A new study has shown that ozone in the lower layers of the atmosphere decreases crop yields in maize and changes the types of chemicals that are found inside the leaves.

7 Apr 2021

Monitoring pollen levels using environmental DNA

In this interview, AZoLifeSciences speaks to Dr. Ben Wheeler about his latest research and how we monitor pollen levels using environmental DNA.

From University of Exeter 25 Mar 2021

Artificial light affects insects' pollination behavior during the daytime

The use of artificial light at night around the world has increased enormously in recent years, causing adverse effects on the survival and reproduction of nocturnal organisms.

18 Mar 2021

Air pollutant reductions must come hand in hand with greenhouse gas cuts to avoid global warming

As countries around the world race to mitigate global warming by limiting carbon dioxide emissions, an unlikely source could be making climate goals harder to achieve without even deeper cuts in greenhouse gas production: reductions in air pollution.

11 Mar 2021

Unique curved barrier can protect people from damaging effects of air pollution

A unique curved barrier has been designed by researchers at Imperial College London, who publish new findings in the peer-reviewed journal Cities & Health on how the structure can protect people from the damaging effects of air pollution.

10 Mar 2021

PrecisionTox aims to protect human health from the toxic effects of chemicals

A major research project to shape regulation and policy on chemical safety without the use of animal testing has been launched with the aid of €19.3M funding from the European Commission.

10 Mar 2021

UN research: 17% of total food available to consumers went into waste bins

An estimated 931 million tonnes of food, or 17% of total food available to consumers in 2019, went into the waste bins of households, retailers, restaurants and other food services, according to new UN research conducted to support global efforts to halve food waste by 2030.

5 Mar 2021

Environmentally friendly fireworks also deteriorate air quality

Fireworks are used in celebrations around the world, including Independence Day in the U.S., the Lantern Festival in China and the Diwali Festival in India.

4 Mar 2021

Researchers discover rice plant variant that resists arsenic

The agricultural cultivation of the staple food of rice harbors the risk of possible contamination with arsenic that can reach the grains following uptake by the roots.

3 Mar 2021

Promising potential for marine biofuel

For several years now, the biofuels that power cars, jet airplanes, ships, and big trucks have come primarily from corn and other mass-produced farm crops.

3 Mar 2021

Oxidation processes play major role in the atmosphere and in combustion

Alkanes, an important component of fuels for combustion engines and an important class of urban trace gases, react via other reaction pathways than previously thought.

24 Feb 2021

Elevated outdoor air pollution events claw their way into indoor spaces

Just when you thought you could head indoors to be safe from the air pollution that plagues the Salt Lake Valley, new research shows that elevated air pollution events, like horror movie villains, claw their way into indoor spaces.

23 Feb 2021

Study identifies 20 "hot spots of opportunity" for nitrogen reduction efforts

A pioneering study of U.S nitrogen use in agriculture has identified 20 places across the country where farmers, government, and citizens should target nitrogen reduction efforts.

18 Feb 2021

Researchers study the contribution of microplastics to environmental pollution

Plastic, with its unabated global production, is a major and persistent contributor to environmental pollution. In fact, the accumulation of plastic debris in our environment is only expected to increase in the future.

12 Feb 2021

Traffic reductions caused by COVID-19 shutdowns improved air quality in some states

Dramatic decreases in traffic caused by COVID-19 shutdowns improved air quality in car-dependent states but didn't offset additional forms of pollution in other parts of the country.

11 Feb 2021

Changing cropping systems in impaired watersheds can produce water quality gains

Growing the right crop in the right place within an impaired watershed can achieve significant water quality improvements, according to Penn State researchers.

10 Feb 2021

Marine animals and ecosystems are negatively impacted by human-made noise

Rain falls lightly on the ocean's surface. Marine mammals chirp and squeal as they swim along. The pounding of surf along a distant shoreline heaves and thumps with metronomic regularity.

8 Feb 2021

Intensive BP lowering effective in reducing cardiovascular risk in patients exposed to air pollution

Evidence suggests particulate matter is the air pollutant which poses the greatest threat to global health. Studies have shown that exposure to particulate matter smaller than 2.5 microns is associated with acute and chronic elevations in blood pressure (BP) as well as hypertension.

2 Feb 2021