First lockdown's effect on air pollution was overstated, our study reveals
Exaggerating how much lockdown improved air quality could allow us to underestimate the scale of the air pollution problem.
Jan. 13, 2021 • ~7 min
covid-19 pandemic air-pollution transport-emissions lockdown nitrogen-dioxide pm-25 air-quality ozone
Air pollution may contribute to Alzheimer’s and dementia risk – here's what we're learning from brain scans
The tiny air pollutants known as PM2.5, emitted by vehicles, factories and power plants, aren’t just a hazard for lungs. A study finds more brain shrinkage in older women exposed to pollution.
Jan. 5, 2021 • ~7 min
alzheimers-disease medicine brain pollution dementia science aging air-pollution womens-health pm-25 vehicles brain-health
Wildfire smoke changes dramatically as it ages, and that matters for downwind air quality – here's what we learned flying through smoke plumes
Thousands of chemical compounds in wildfire smoke are interacting with each other and sunlight as the smoke travels. For people downwind, it can become more toxic over time.
Dec. 17, 2020 • ~8 min
chemistry health environment science air-pollution particulates atmospheric-science wildfires smoke environmental-health pm-25 flight firefighting smoke-inhalation
On environmental protection, Biden's election will mean a 180-degree turn from Trump policies
The Trump administration has used executive orders, deregulation and delays to reduce environmental regulation. Biden administration officials will use many of the same tools to undo their work.
Nov. 12, 2020 • ~6 min
donald-trump air-pollution water-pollution environmental-justice joe-biden donald-trump-administration regulation us-environmental-protection-agency clean-air-act clean-water-act cost-benefit-analysis us-environmental-policy 2020-us-elections science-advice executive-orders
Studies link COVID-19 deaths to air pollution, raising questions about EPA's 'acceptable risk'
Air pollution can weaken people's respiratory, immune and cardiovascular systems, leaving them more vulnerable when they get COVID-19.
Oct. 30, 2020 • ~7 min
health covid-19 coronavirus pollution pandemic air-pollution particulates
Why lockdown had little to no effect on global temperatures
Some atmospheric pollutants actually help cool the planet, but the sudden shutdown of heavy industry threatened to purge them.
Oct. 22, 2020 • ~7 min
climate-change covid-19 coronavirus air-pollution transport-emissions lockdown global-emissions global-temperature
Drive-throughs are busier than ever during the pandemic – but they're hotspots for air pollution
Staff and customers with underlying health conditions are likely to be most at risk at drive-through windows.
Oct. 16, 2020 • ~5 min
covid-19 coronavirus air-pollution cars particulates respiratory-disease nitrogen-dioxide traffic
California wildfires pass 4 million acres burned, doubling previous record – that's a lot of toxic smoke
To understand the risks of wildfire smoke, it helps to understand the chemicals people are breathing.
Oct. 2, 2020 • ~8 min
health environment pollution wildfire chemicals air-pollution natural-disasters wildfires smoke
Wildfire smoke is laced with toxic chemicals – here's how they got there
To understand the risks of wildfire smoke, it helps to understand the chemicals people are breathing.
Oct. 2, 2020 • ~8 min
health environment pollution wildfire chemicals air-pollution natural-disasters wildfires smoke
Brexit: Ireland's land bridge to the continent boosts air pollution in the UK
Irish trade with the EU contributes an additional 34 tonnes of toxic nitrogen oxides to air in the UK each year.
Sept. 17, 2020 • ~6 min
brexit ireland air-pollution uk roads motorways freight eu-trade no-deal-brexit
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