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Articles on Fine particles

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In Paris’s André-Citroën Park, a balloon is used to measure air pollution. Bertrand Guay/AFP

The contest for the worst air pollutant

The number of substances emitted into the atmosphere is immense and growing, but some are particularly harmful to health and are subject to increased monitoring.
A large dust storm, or haboob, sweeps across downtown Phoenix on July 21, 2012. AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin, File

Increased deaths and illnesses from inhaling airborne dust: An understudied impact of climate change

New research projects that climate change could greatly increase airborne dust levels in the southwestern US, causing higher hospital admissions and premature deaths from heart and lung ailments.
Sensors distributed in 2016 as part of the Ambassad’air project to equip residents of Rennes. Damien Meyer/AFP

Fine-particulate pollution: can we trust microsensor readings?

The use of small devices to measure the presence of fine particles in the air is becoming widespread. They’re one more weapon to fight against air pollution, but questions remain on their reliability.
Beijing residents with a variety of approaches to urban air pollution. Bryan Ledgard/Flickr

Can facemasks help reduce the negative health impacts of air pollution?

In recent years the number of motor vehicles – and the pollution they generate – has grown astronomically, leading some citydwellers to wear facemasks in the hopes of protecting themselves. So do they work?
Sao Paulo, Brazil, 2013. Subways abound in fine particles often carried by brakes or trains. Diego Torres Silvestre/Flickr

Commuting by subway? What you need to know about air quality

Subways seem like the perfect solution to improve air quality in cities. But what about air quality underground?
A boy plays cricket among smoke in Karachi. Deaths from air pollution across the globe will increase as climate change accelerates. REUTERS/Akhtar Soomro

Climate change set to increase air pollution deaths by hundreds of thousands by 2100

A new study suggests climate change will cause changes to patterns of ground-level ozone and smog – two deadly pollutants set to increase deaths by about 260,000 worldwide by the end of the century.

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