A recent study has highlighted the insignificant health hazards posed by the emissions from waste-to-energy (WtE) facilities in China’s Bohai Rim. This investigation brings to light the negligible impact of WtE plant emissions on public health, grounded in sophisticated regression analysis techniques.
Tag: ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
EARLY-LIFE AIRBORNE LEAD EXPOSURE ASSOCIATED WITH LOWER IQ AND SELF-CONTROL IN NIH STUDY
Children who lived in areas with higher levels of airborne lead in their first five years of life appeared to have slightly lower IQs and less self-control, with boys showing more sensitivity to lead exposure, according to a new study from the NIH Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) Program.
Pesticides to help protect seeds can adversely affect earthworms’ health
Research published in ACS’ Environmental Science & Technology Letters reveals that worms are affected by small amounts of chemicals from pesticide-treated seeds.
NJIT Researchers Unveil Method to Detect ‘Forever Chemicals’ in Under 3 Minutes
Researchers report one of the fastest and most sensitive approaches yet for detecting toxic per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) accumulating in the environment, which are linked to health risks ranging from cancers to birth defects.
Heat-related cardiovascular deaths in the U.S. may more than double within decades
ardiovascular deaths from extreme heat in the U.S. may more than double by the middle of the century. Without reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, that number could even triple, according to new research published today in the American Heart Association’s flagship journal Circulation.
WVU to help STEM graduates invest in Mountain State’s environmental health
To foster a continuing interest in STEM fields, West Virginia University is collaborating with other state universities to establish One Health West Virginia, a network connecting research mentors with postbaccalaureate mentees who will acquire training and experience to pursue STEM-based careers and address environmental health issues in the state.
Concrete as CO2 trap – right at the plant
After their production, which emits a lot of carbon dioxide, cement-based building materials such as concrete absorb the climate gas again – a process that takes decades and can hardly be controlled.
Commonly Used Herbicide is Harmful to Adolescent Brain Function
UC San Diego Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science researchers report in a new study that exposures to two of the most popular herbicides were associated with worse brain function among adolescents.
Cleaning products emit hundreds of hazardous chemicals, new study finds
A peer-reviewed study by Environmental Working Group scientists has found unsettling details about the potential health risks of common household cleaning products.
Electrifying vehicles in Chicago would save lives, reduce pollution inequities
If the Chicago region replaced 30% of all on-road combustion-engine vehicles — including motorcycles, passenger cars and trucks, buses, refuse trucks and short- and long-haul trucks — with electric versions, it would annually save more than 1,000 lives and over $10 billion, according to a new Northwestern University study.
Noted experts present detailed evidence on the impact of environmental issues on cardiovascular health
There is already robust evidence that people living with cardiovascular disease are disproportionately affected by poor air quality and extreme temperatures, in large part due to climate change, the greatest threat to human health of the 21st century.
A Thermal Processable, Self-Healing, and Fully Bio-based Starch Plastic
Researchers have proposed a novel strategy for the development of sustainable and degradable bioplastics. This starch plastics, which possess integrated advantages including superior flexibility, excellent thermal processability, waterproof capability, solvent resistance, and self-healing ability, demonstrate immense potential as a viable substitute to petroleum-based plastics.
New research establishes enduring connection between racial segregation, childhood blood lead levels
Living in a racially segregated neighborhood puts Black children at a higher risk of having elevated blood lead levels, and this association has persisted over more than two decades, according to new research from the Children’s Environmental Health Initiative, which is led by University of Illinois Chicago Chancellor Marie Lynn Miranda.
Mount Sinai Researchers Find Asian Americans to Have Significantly Higher Exposure to “Toxic Forever” Chemicals
Asian Americans have significantly higher exposure than other ethnic or racial groups to PFAS, a family of thousands of synthetic chemicals also known as “toxic forever” chemicals, Mount Sinai-led researchers report.
Society’s Involvement Is Key in Advancing the Green Energy Transition
Addressing climate change isn’t just a technical issue; it’s a societal one. A recent article in Nature Energy highlights the increasing urgency for engineers and social scientists to combine their expertise.
Tubing and swimming change the chemistry and microbiome of streams
As Labor Day approaches, many people will go tubing and swimming, but do these delightful summertime activities impact streams and rivers? Today, scientists report that recreation can alter the chemical and microbial fingerprint of waterways. They will present their results at ACS Fall 2023.
Rocky Mountain Center for Occupational and Environmental Health Earns $8.6 Million Grant to Protect Workers
The Rocky Mountain Center for Occupational and Environmental Health (RMCOEH), a partnership between the University of Utah and Weber State University and one of the nation’s leading centers focused on the health and safety of workers and their environment, was recently awarded an $8.6 million grant that will allow it to further a mission that touches tens of thousands of people each year in Utah and across the West.
UIC leads field study on home, water safety after Ohio chemical spill
A multi-university study will investigate the aftermath of the train derailment and subsequent chemical spill and fires in East Palestine, Ohio, to gain a better understanding of the impact that this event had on the community.
Ohio train derailment, clean-up resulted in high levels of some gases, study shows
A freight train carrying industrial chemicals derailed near East Palestine, Ohio, in February 2023. Researchers have been assessing the local air quality. Now, in ACS’ Environmental Science & Technology Letters, they report that some gases, including acrolein, reached levels that could be hazardous.
Higher Temperatures, Higher Risk for Algal Blooms, Higher Human Vulnerability
In a study published in the Environmental Health Perspective, a research team made up of scientists from across the country have found that environmentally relevant exposure to toxins found in algal blooms posed a risk to women’s reproductive health by heightening the probability…
Environmental Health Expert Available to Comment on PFAS
On July 5, the U.S. Geological Survey released findings that suggest at least 45% of the nation’s tap water could be contaminated with PFAS, commonly known as “forever chemicals.” Now, as many Americans express their concern, one environmental health expert…
Mount Sinai Institute for Exposomics Research Awarded $8.45 Million Grant to Study Environmental Health
New five-year award will focus on the effects of environmental exposures on health across the lifespan
Walkable Neighborhoods Help Adults Socialize, Increase Community
Adults who live in walkable neighborhoods are more likely to socialize and have a stronger sense of community, report researchers at the UC San Diego Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science.
University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center Achieves Environmental Goals
University Hospitals (UH) Cleveland Medical Center is interested in sustainability with two primary goals: to raise sustainability and climate change awareness among employees through educational events, and to set manageable sustainability and net zero emissions goals that lead to a broader impact on health and the environment.
Higher lithium levels in drinking water may raise autism risk
Pregnant women whose household tap water had higher levels of lithium had a moderately higher risk of their offspring being diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, researchers reported in JAMA Pediatrics.
Shh! Intensive care incubators resonate sounds and risk damage to premature babies’ hearing, scientists say
For vulnerable premature babies, an incubator in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) is a lifesaver, but the consequences can last a lifetime.
Cannabis use in adolescent years may create reproductive complications in women, according to a UC Irvine study
In a new study, University of California, Irvine researchers found that exposure to the compound tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), a component of cannabis, at a young age could lead to depleted ovarian follicles and matured eggs in adulthood by nearly 50 percent.
Increased hospitalizations for heart attacks, heart failure seen in older adults living near fracking sites
Research shows connection between hospitalization rates for cardiovascular disease and proximity to fracking, providing evidence that exposure to airborne pollutants from unconventional natural gas development may impact human health
Residents Could Be Exposed to Cancer-Causing Substances in Wake of Train Explosion
Days after a train carrying vinyl chloride derailed and exploded near the Ohio-Pennsylvania border, a controlled burn of toxic chemicals was ignited to prevent a much more dangerous explosion. In the aftermath of the cleanup, three additional toxic chemicals have been discovered…
UNC Researchers Tackle the E-cigarette or Vaping Product Use–associated Lung Injury (EVALI) Epidemic
Although doctors and researchers sympathize with smokers wanting to quit smoking, scientists are discovering that vaping might not be a healthier alternative to smoking, especially in adolescents. E-cigarette products have recently been linked to a new, serious lung condition known as E-cigarette or Vaping Product Use-associated Lung Injury, or EVALI, which primarily affects youth and young adults. In 2019, the illness was declared an epidemic by the CDC.
EPA grant to Wayne State to evaluate chemical mixture health risks
There are hidden metabolic health impacts in things that most people encounter every day. From surface cleaners to silicone wristbands, from fracking fluids to wastewater — even household dust — these diverse environmental mixtures have a potential to disrupt human health. A grant from the EPA to Wayne State University will evaluate the risks of chemical mixtures on health.
Fire in the Amazon is associated more with agricultural burning and deforestation than with drought
A Brazilian study shows that the number of fires detected in the entire Amazon region between 2003 and 2020 was influenced more by uncontrolled human use of fire than by drought.
Today: ANA2022 Media Roundtable to Spotlight Latest in Neuro Research
As the American Neurological Association’s 147th Annual Meeting wraps up today, October 25, the ANA is holding a Media Roundtable at 11 a.m. U.S. Central for reporters to access the latest developments in neurology and neuroscience.
Physicians call on health care organizations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
In a new commentary published in Annals of Internal Medicine, authors from Lahey Hospital and Medical Center, Beth Israel Lahey Health, Tufts University of School of Medicine and Case Western Reserve University offer strategies for healthcare organizations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and outline potential strategy tradeoffs to consider toward this goal. They say health care has a moral imperative to reduce its emissions and environmental footprint and force transformation across all other sectors it touches.
Hair straightening chemicals associated with higher uterine cancer risk
Women who used chemical hair straightening products were at higher risk for uterine cancer compared to women who did not report using these products, according to a new study from the National Institutes of Health. The researchers found no associations with uterine cancer for other hair products that the women reported using, including hair dyes, bleach, highlights, or perms.
An Environmental Wake-Up Call for Neurology
The Presidential Symposium at the American Neurological Association’s 2022 Annual Meeting (ANA2022) in Chicago will shine a spotlight on the role of environmental exposures — air pollution, pesticides, microplastics, and more — in diseases like dementias and developmental disorders.
Dynamics and transformations of urban soils
Symposium will present information that will inform decision makers to support safe urban food production, treatment of urban pollutants, protection of water resources, improvement of environmental health, and human well-being
$11.3 million NIH Superfund award to address environmental health issues caused by VOCs
Wayne State University has received a five-year, approximately $11.3 million award from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) of the National Institutes of Health to create a new Superfund Research Program, the “Center for Leadership in Environmental Awareness and Research (CLEAR).” The Center will be dedicated to understanding and mitigating adverse birth outcomes and serious developmental health problems that have been associated with urban environmental exposure to volatile organic chemcials (VOCs), a special class of pollutant found in the subsurface of post-industrial cities like Detroit.
Exposure to urban greenness has unequal effects on men’s and women’s mental health
Exposure to urban greenness leads to greater mental health benefits for women, although they are less likely to use these green spaces as frequently for reasons mainly related to safety concerns.
Where you live can affect your ability to conceive, Oregon State study finds
People who live in socioeconomically deprived neighborhoods are about 20% less likely to conceive in any given menstrual cycle compared with people living in neighborhoods with more resources, a recent Oregon State University study found.
Exposure to ‘Forever Chemicals’ Costs U.S. Billions in Health Costs
Daily exposure to a class of chemicals used in the production of many household items may lead to cancer, thyroid disease, and childhood obesity, a new study shows. The resulting economic burden is estimated to cost Americans a minimum of $5.5 billion and as much as $63 billion over the lifetime of the current population.
Kawasaki Disease Rates Dropped During COVID-19 Pandemic
UC San Diego researchers report significant decrease in national cases of Kawasaki disease during COVID-19 pandemic; findings hint at origins of disease.
Children Who Attend Schools with More Traffic Noise Show Slower Cognitive Development
Road traffic noise is a widespread problem in cities whose impact on children’s health remains poorly understood. A new study conducted at 38 schools in Barcelona suggests that traffic noise at schools has a detrimental effect on the development of working memory and attention in primary-school students.
Offspring weakens, when parents are given antibiotics
Antibiotics have once proclaimed the salvation of the world. Today, researchers fear that antibiotics could become a threat to public health and the natural environment.
Systems approach helps assess public health impacts of changing climate, environmental policies
A team co-led by a Washington State University scientist offers an alternative way to understand and minimize health impacts from human-caused changes to the climate and environment in a new study published in the journal One Earth.
Anesthesia for Knee Replacement Surgery Has Considerable Carbon Footprint
Anesthesia for a single total knee replacement surgery has a carbon footprint equivalent to driving a car 42 miles, according to a study published Online First in Anesthesiology, the official peer-reviewed journal of the American Society of Anesthesiologists.
First global study of wildfire pollution reveals increase in mortality rate
The first study into the global impact of wildfire-related pollution and deaths comprehensively links short term exposure to wildfire-related fine particulate matters (PM2.5) in the air and all-cause, respiratory and cardiovascular mortalities across cities and regions around the globe.
World Trade Center Responders with the Greatest Exposure to Toxic Dust Have a Higher Likelihood of Liver Disease
Mount Sinai researchers have found evidence for the first time that World Trade Center responders had a higher likelihood of developing liver disease if they arrived at the site right after the attacks as opposed to working at Ground Zero later in the rescue and recovery efforts. Their study links the increase in liver disease risk to the quantity of toxic dust the workers were exposed to, which was greatest immediately after the September 11, 2001, attacks.
Improving air quality reduces dementia risk, multiple studies suggest
DENVER, JULY 26, 2021 — Improving air quality may improve cognitive function and reduce dementia risk, according to several studies reported today at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference® (AAIC®) 2021 in Denver and virtually. Previous reports have linked long-term air…
Mobility restrictions can have unexpected impacts on air quality
An international collaborative study led by University of Helsinki has conducted a holistic study to investigate the effects of COVID-19 restrictions on several air quality pollutants for the Po Valley region in northern Italy. The area is well known to…