Intense wildfires in southern California are triggering air quality alerts. Health experts know surprisingly little about how inhaling smoke affects human health, especially over the long term.
Pacific seabirds, such as this Great Blue Heron, can accumulate mercury in their bodies from the fish they eat.
(Flickr)
Mercury levels in seabirds living off the coast of British Columbia have been stable in recent years. New research suggests that this may be due to changes in their diet, not pollution control.
Widnes, England, during the late 19th century.
Hardie/Wikimedia
Researchers have found a way to measure the impact of air pollution during 19th-century England on the public’s health.
Fracking has led to an increase in truck traffic, one of the reasons for worsening trends on air quality in areas with oil and gas drilling.
AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast
Energy Secretary Rick Perry has proposed to reward coal plants for stockpiling fuel onsite – allegedly making the power system more reliable. Two economists give this idea a failing grade.
Mercury pollution, often released from gold mining and coal power stations, is a global problem.
Shutterstock
Nathalie Redon, IMT Nord Europe – Institut Mines-Télécom
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
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
Fulvio Amato, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC) e Teresa Moreno, Instituto de Diagnóstico Ambiental y Estudios del Agua (IDAEA - CSIC)
Subways seem like the perfect solution to improve air quality in cities. But what about air quality underground?
Coal stockpile at a Milwaukee, Wisconsin power plant, 2011.
Michael Pereckas
A recent study shows that large piles of coal produce measurable quantities of fine particulate air pollution within a 25-mile radius. Covering coal trains and storage piles could reduce the problem.
Australia is the 16th-largest emitter of mercury in the world. A huge amount comes from coal power stations – and a new report argues our pollution guidelines are hopelessly lax.
Household air pollution in Nairobi is primarily driven by fuels burnt for cooking and lighting.
EPA/Dai Kurakawa
Kanyiva Muindi, African Population and Health Research Center e Blessing Mberu, African Population and Health Research Center
Research in Kenya’s capital found average levels of hazardous solid and liquid particles in the air within households were three times more than the WHO recommended maximum level.
A boy plays cricket among smoke in Karachi. Deaths from air pollution across the globe will increase as climate change accelerates.
REUTERS/Akhtar Soomro
Guang Zeng, National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research e Jason West, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
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.
Residents of high-density housing might value features such as balconies, but when roads get busy this increases exposure to pollution.
Adam J.W.C./Wikipedia
Many new housing developments are being built along busy roads and rail lines, but lack design features that would reduce occupants’ exposure to harmful traffic pollution.
The evidence that living near exhaust stacks from busy tunnels harms your lungs is far from settled.
from www.shutterstock.com
As the latest controversy about tunnel exhaust stacks and respiratory health plays out in the media, some community members are proposing solutions that just don’t make sense.
New Delhi’s pollution is among the worst in the world. Each autumn, when crops are burnt and wind speeds are low, it risks rising to crisis levels.
Jean-Etienne Minh-Duy Poirrier
In November 2016, smog in New Delhi was 16 times above safe levels. An Indian researcher dug into the data to find out why, and how India can keep its capital breathing safely.
We don’t know what the car of the future will look like – but that’s no excuse to delay transport reform.
www.twin-loc.fr/Flickr
Professor & Chair in Air Quality and Health; Founding Director, Global Centre for Clean Air Research (GCARE), Co-Director, Institute for Sustainability, University of Surrey, University of Surrey