Feature Channels: Pollution

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Released: 4-May-2020 2:50 PM EDT
Will our clean air last after COVID-19? UCLA study says it’s possible
UCLA Fielding School of Public Health

Will our clean air last after COVID-19? UCLA study says it’s possible. Achieving net-zero emissions in California by 2050 can prevent thousands of deaths annually — in every community — researchers say

   
Released: 1-May-2020 5:40 PM EDT
Pacific oysters in the Salish Sea may not contain as many microplastics as previously thought
University of Washington

University of Washington researchers have discovered that the abundance of tiny microplastic contaminants in Pacific oysters from the Salish Sea is much lower than previously thought.

Released: 29-Apr-2020 2:20 PM EDT
HARC Research Analyzes Effects of COVID-19 on Air Quality
Houston Advanced Research Center (HARC)

HARC (Houston Advanced Research Center) announces research analysis to study effects of COVID-19, associated stay-at-home orders, and the subsequent effects on air quality. Specifically, the changes in air quality measuring nitrogen oxides (NOx); benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene (BTEX); and ground-level ozone (O3).

24-Apr-2020 10:00 AM EDT
New recycling method could make polyurethane sustainable
American Chemical Society (ACS)

Researchers report in ACS Central Science a way to recycle used polyurethanes into equivalent or even higher-value items.

Released: 23-Apr-2020 12:05 PM EDT
Air quality and wellbeing during Covid-19 lockdown
University of Warwick

COVID-19 has devastated lives and communities and will have a horrendous impact on the economy, but it has also revealed some environmental truths that we as humans may not want to hear. Lockdown is showing us that our lifestyles, in the main our reliance on motorised methods of transportation, have an insidious and detrimental impact on our environment and ultimately our health.

   
Released: 20-Apr-2020 2:55 PM EDT
Rising carbon dioxide levels will change marine habitats and fish communities
University of Plymouth

Rising carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and the consequent changes created through ocean acidification will cause severe ecosystem effects, impacting reef-forming habitats and the associated fish, according to new research.

Released: 20-Apr-2020 2:20 PM EDT
Faster-degrading plastic could promise cleaner seas
Cornell University

To address plastic pollution plaguing the world’s seas and waterways, Cornell University chemists have developed a new polymer that can degrade by ultraviolet radiation, according to research published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society.

Released: 20-Apr-2020 12:40 PM EDT
University of Utah exceeds federal energy reduction commitment
University of Utah

The U.S. Department of Energy confirmed the University of Utah has exceeded its goal to reduce energy use by 20 percent by 2020, as part of the Department of Energy’s Better Buildings Challenge. The U achieved energy savings of 25% across 17 million square feet of building space since 2008, the base year for the commitment.

Released: 20-Apr-2020 11:55 AM EDT
Earth Day 2020: The Human Element
California State University (CSU) Chancellor's Office

​​​​​​​Fifty years ago, San José State University​ alumnus and Wisconsin senator Gaylord Nelson established the first Earth Day, which took place across the country on April 22. But what does Earth Day 2020 look like in the midst of a global pandemic? We asked Steve LaDochy, Ph.D., professor of geosciences and environment at Cal State LA, an expert in air pollution and climate, to reflect on the ways in which our human impact has become even more clear in recent weeks, and how it could inform our future actions.

20-Apr-2020 8:30 AM EDT
What did scientists learn from Deepwater Horizon?
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

In a review paper published in the journal Nature Reviews Earth & Environment, WHOI marine geochemists Elizabeth Kujawinski and Christopher Reddy review what they— and their science colleagues from around the world—have learned from studying the spill over the past decade.

Released: 17-Apr-2020 4:20 PM EDT
EPA’S Attempt to Roll Back Regulations on Mercury and Toxic Air Emissions Ignores Science, Common Sense
American Thoracic Society (ATS)

Against the recommendation of the environmental, public health and even the electric power industry, this week the Environmental Protection Agency issued final rules to roll back regulations on mercury and toxic air emissions from our nation’s coal and oil-fired power plants. To justify taking such action, says the American Thoracic Society, the EPA ignored years of precedent – used by both Republican and Democratic Administrations – determining how the agency conducts cost benefit analysis of environmental regulations.

Released: 16-Apr-2020 11:50 AM EDT
Birds Are Coming Through: Time to Switch Off the Lights
Cornell University

The biggest window of opportunity is opening up now to protect birds returning to the United States and Canada on their spring migrations. Analyses by scientists at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and Colorado State University pinpoint key periods with the heaviest movements of birds in April and May. Turning off or reducing non-essential lighting at homes, businesses, and high-rise buildings will help protect hundreds of millions of birds migrating over brightly lit cities.

Released: 16-Apr-2020 11:45 AM EDT
Join "Lights Out Texas" to Protect Migratory Birds
Cornell University

Lights Out Texas is a new two-year study now underway in Houston, Dallas, and Fort Worth. Along with local partners, researchers from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and Colorado State University plan to test the best times to turn off lights at night in order to prevent harm to the hundreds of millions of birds migrating over these cities.

Released: 14-Apr-2020 6:50 PM EDT
Soot may only be half the problem when it comes to cookstoves
Washington University in St. Louis

Researchers at the McKelvey School of Engineering spent two weeks in India cooking with local residents. They found that soot wasn't the only worrisome byproduct of traditional cookstoves; organic carbons are causing problems, too.

Released: 14-Apr-2020 1:25 PM EDT
Top Oil Spill Expert Available to Discuss 10th Anniversary of Deepwater Horizon
University of New Hampshire

On April 20th, 2010, the Gulf of Mexico experienced the worst environmental disaster in U.S. history when the BP Deepwater Horizon (DWH) well released millions of gallons of oil into the waters along the coast. Nancy Kinner, professor of civil and environmental engineering at the University of New Hampshire, and an internationally recognized oil spill expert, is available to offer insight into cleanup efforts, lessons learned, and new dispersant research and their potential use in future oil spills.

Released: 13-Apr-2020 11:50 AM EDT
Study of Earth Day at 50: Good weather increases commitment to environmental activism, can lower birth defects
University of Notre Dame

In a first-of-its-kind study, University of Notre Dame investigated the long-term effects of that momentous eco-celebration, studying how the event and the weather that day affected people’s attitudes toward conservation and their health years later.

   
6-Apr-2020 5:25 PM EDT
Does Long-Term Exposure to Air Pollution Lead to a Steeper Rate of Cognitive Decline?
American Academy of Neurology (AAN)

People who live in urban areas with higher levels of air pollution may score lower on thinking and memory tests and may also lose cognitive skills faster over time, or it is possible they also may not, according to a study published in the April 8, 2020, online issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. Researchers examined the association of air pollution levels and cognitive impairment and decline in participants in two large epidemiological studies. They found an association between the air pollution and cognitive decline in one study group but not in the other.

Released: 8-Apr-2020 1:50 PM EDT
FSU researcher available to comment on unintended environmental impacts of COVID-19
Florida State University

By: Anna Prentiss | Published: April 8, 2020 | 12:44 pm | SHARE: As people around the world isolate in their homes to prevent the spread of COVID-19, research indicates there may be some positive environmental outcomes.Robert O. Lawton Distinguished Professor Jeff Chanton from the Department of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Science (EOAS) said data show significant decreases in air pollution since January 2020.

Released: 6-Apr-2020 2:40 PM EDT
Link between air pollution and corona mortality in Italy could be possible
Aarhus University

The world has been hit hard by coronavirus, and health services and authorities everywhere are struggling to reduce the spread, combat the disease and protect the population.

   
Released: 31-Mar-2020 5:15 PM EDT
ATS Opposes Trump Administration Roll Back of Vehicle Emissions and Mileage Requirements
American Thoracic Society (ATS)

The Trump Administration’s decision to roll back emission and mileage standards for cars and trucks is bad for respiratory health.

   
Released: 27-Mar-2020 5:25 PM EDT
Relaxing Environmental Rules Shows Poor Judgment in the Midst of COVID-19 Outbreak
American Thoracic Society (ATS)

Following reports of the Environmental Protection Agency’s move to implement broad changes that would relax environmental rules, the American Thoracic Society expressed disappointment with the plan.

     
Released: 27-Mar-2020 1:10 PM EDT
Scientists predict the size of plastics animals can eat
Cardiff University

A team of scientists at Cardiff University has, for the first time, developed a way of predicting the size of plastics different animals are likely to ingest.

Released: 26-Mar-2020 2:40 PM EDT
New framework will help decide which trees are best in the fight against air pollution
University of Surrey

A study from the University of Surrey has provided a comprehensive guide on which tree species are best for combatting air pollution that originates from our roads - along with suggestions for how to plant these green barriers to get the best results.

Released: 16-Mar-2020 1:05 PM EDT
California’s strict air quality regulations help farmers prosper, UCI-led study finds
University of California, Irvine

Irvine, Calif., March 16, 2020 – Farmers in California’s Central Valley are not known for their love of government regulations, but those same growers have seen a boost in the productivity of their high-value crops – and greater earnings – as a result of the Golden State’s strict air pollution controls. For a study published today in Nature Food, researchers at the University of California, Irvine and other institutions conducted a statistical analysis of pollution exposure and yields from 1980 to 2015 on a key sector making up about 38 percent of the state’s total agricultural output: perennial crops such as almonds, grapes, nectarines, peaches, strawberries and walnuts.

Released: 11-Mar-2020 6:15 PM EDT
Can pollution make you gain weight?
University of Colorado Boulder

Pollution alters the human gut microbiome in ways that may boost risk of diabetes, obesity, inflammatory bowel disease and other chronic illnesses, according to a new study. Ozone is particularly harmful, the researchers found.

   
Released: 5-Mar-2020 10:20 AM EST
UK’s Superfund Research Center Connects with Community for a Healthier Kentucky
University of Kentucky

Research conducted within UK’s Superfund Research Center (UK-SRC) suggests that proper nutrition can reduce the toxicity of environmental pollutants. Dawn Brewer leads the UK-SRC’s Community Engagement Core, which is working to connect this science with the community to improve the health of Kentuckians.

   
Released: 5-Mar-2020 5:05 AM EST
The Lungs and Climate Change
Cedars-Sinai

Leading up to Earth Day on April 22, Cedars-Sinai is posting a weekly story and video that investigates the various ways climate change is impacting our bodies. This week's topic: The Lungs and Climate Change.

   
Released: 4-Mar-2020 3:40 PM EST
Waves and tides have bigger impact on marine life than human activity
Swansea University

The biggest impacts on the sea life in Swansea Bay, Wales, come from waves and tides rather than human activity, a wide-ranging new study - encompassing over 170 species of fish and other sea life such as crabs, squid and starfish - has revealed.

Released: 4-Mar-2020 3:30 PM EST
‘Triangle 2’ plastic containers may see environmental makeover
Cornell University

Cornell chemists can demonstrate how to make high-density polyethylene with better control over polymer chain lengths, which allows for improvement over physical properties such as processability and strength, according to research published Dec. 27, 2019, in the Journal of the American Chemical Society.

Released: 4-Mar-2020 12:50 PM EST
Cleaning products could expose children to dangerous contaminants at child care facilities
Indiana University

A new peer-reviewed study, co-authored by two Indiana University researchers, suggests high levels of dangerous contaminants -- known as PFAS -- are finding their way into child care centers through cleaning products.

   
Released: 3-Mar-2020 2:50 PM EST
ESF is First College in New York to Sign Plastic Ban Pledge
SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry

The SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF) is the first college in New York state to sign the #breakfreefromplastic pledge committing to develop a roadmap to a plastic-free campus by 2025. Students drive the college's zero-waste efforts.

21-Feb-2020 9:00 AM EST
Fine Particle Air Pollution Linked with Poor Kidney Health
American Society of Nephrology (ASN)

• Exposure to higher amounts of fine particulate matter air pollution was associated with a higher degree of albuminuria—a marker of kidney dysfunction—as well as a higher risk of developing chronic kidney disease over time.

Released: 26-Feb-2020 4:55 PM EST
UTEP and EPCC Study Focuses on Antibiotic Resistance in Rio Grande
University of Texas at El Paso

Researchers at The University of Texas at El Paso and El Paso Community College discovered that the Rio Grande is a “hotspot” for multidrug-resistant bacteria, antibiotic residues and antimicrobial resistant genes.

   
Released: 26-Feb-2020 3:55 PM EST
TRAX air quality study expands
University of Utah

In a new study published in Urban Science, researchers including Daniel Mendoza and Logan Mitchell report the latest from the TRAX Observation Project, including data validation studies that bolster the data’s value for other researchers and three case studies from recent events showcasing the abilities of the mobile air quality sensors.

Released: 26-Feb-2020 11:00 AM EST
Scientists Discover New Clue Behind Age-Related Diseases and Food Spoilage
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

Berkeley Lab scientists have made a surprising discovery that could help explain our risk for developing chronic diseases or cancers as we get older, and how our food decomposes over time.

   
Released: 25-Feb-2020 12:35 PM EST
'Grand Challenge' review stresses global impact of microplastics
Virginia Institute of Marine Science

Professor Rob Hale of William & Mary's Virginia Institute of Marine Science is lead author of a new "Grand Challenges" paper commissioned to mark the 100th anniversary of the American Geophysical Union, the world's largest association of Earth and space scientists with more than 60,000 members in 137 countries.

Released: 25-Feb-2020 10:25 AM EST
Identifying the sources of salt pollution
Penn State College of Engineering

To Nathaniel Warner, assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering and recipient of a new National Science Foundation CAREER Award, a lack of available water-quality data and an abundance of potential salt polluters, such as road salting and oil and gas wastewater, makes it difficult to mitigate further contamination.

Released: 25-Feb-2020 9:00 AM EST
Military waste has unexpected consequences on civilians, the environment
Binghamton University, State University of New York

The military waste that results from the United States military’s drive to remain permanently war ready has unexpected consequences on civilians and the environment, according to a new book by a faculty member at Binghamton University, State University of New York.

   


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