Feature Channels: Environmental Health

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Released: 3-Mar-2022 2:05 PM EST
Study: Cities Not Fully Engaging Public Health Agencies in Climate Change Planning
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

In analysis of 22 large cities in 14 countries, more than one-quarter did not report involvement of a public health agency.

Newswise: A ‘greener’ way to clean wastewater treatment filters
25-Feb-2022 4:20 PM EST
A ‘greener’ way to clean wastewater treatment filters
American Chemical Society (ACS)

Popular for wastewater treatment, membrane filters are commonly cleaned with strong chemicals that can destroy membranes. Now, researchers reporting in ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces have developed reusable nanoparticle catalysts incorporating glucose to break down filter contaminants without damage.

Newswise: Discarded disposable face masks pose a threat to marine life
Released: 1-Mar-2022 12:15 PM EST
Discarded disposable face masks pose a threat to marine life
American Geophysical Union (AGU)

Disposable face masks could be harmful to wildlife, according to researchers who have observed harmful effects of the masks on keystone marine animals in coastal areas.

Released: 28-Feb-2022 2:45 PM EST
Researcher a lead author on landmark climate change report
University of Miami

Climate impacts and adaptations are just some of the topics Katharine Mach, an associate professor at the University of Miami’s Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, helped address as a lead author on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Sixth Assessment Report.

Released: 28-Feb-2022 11:00 AM EST
Taking climate action now can secure our future
International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA)

People and ecosystems least able to cope are being hardest hit by climate change, according to the latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report, released today.

21-Feb-2022 2:50 PM EST
Study shows need for National Breast Milk Monitoring Programs for PFAS
Universite de Montreal

A Canada-U.S. research team has estimated concentrations of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in breast milk – and raise the need for more research.

   
Newswise: UAlbany Air Quality Researcher Leads Project to Help Reduce Methane Emissions in New York
Released: 22-Feb-2022 10:35 AM EST
UAlbany Air Quality Researcher Leads Project to Help Reduce Methane Emissions in New York
University at Albany, State University of New York

A new collaborative project aims to locate New York’s largest sources of methane emissions using specialized mobile laboratory equipment that is collecting advanced air quality data across the state.

Newswise: How Bad is the Bloom? New Indexes Developed to Gauge Severity of Red Tides
Released: 22-Feb-2022 10:10 AM EST
How Bad is the Bloom? New Indexes Developed to Gauge Severity of Red Tides
Gulf of Mexico Coastal Ocean Observing System-Regional Association (GCOOS-RA)

Authors of a new paper recently published in the peer-review journal PLOS One have developed a new Bloom Severity Index and a new Respiratory Irritation Index for red tide blooms in the Gulf of Mexico — the first standardized and objective way to gauge how severe red tides are.

   
17-Feb-2022 3:35 PM EST
The Latest Research News in Cardiovascular Health
Newswise

The Latest Research News in Cardiovascular Health

Released: 17-Feb-2022 4:05 PM EST
Chemists discover a range of environmental contaminants in fracking wastewater
University of Toledo

As companies that drill for oil and natural gas using hydraulic fracturing consider recycling and reusing wastewater that surfaces from wells during the fracking process, chemists at The University of Toledo discovered that the new and unexplored waste contains many environmental contaminants including organic chemicals and metallic elements.

Released: 17-Feb-2022 2:05 AM EST
Microplastics increase the toxicity of organic pollutants in the environment by a factor of 10
Tel Aviv University

A new study by Tel Aviv University researchers found that in a marine environment, microplastics absorb and concentrate toxic organic substances and thus increase their toxicity by a factor of 10, which may lead to a severe impact on human health.

Newswise: Ventilation, humidity are key to limiting virus spread, study says
Released: 16-Feb-2022 1:25 PM EST
Ventilation, humidity are key to limiting virus spread, study says
University of Oregon

The researchers found that increased viral load in nasal samples was associated with higher viral loads in the air and on surfaces in the room. In addition, increased filtration and ventilation significantly reduced viral loads in the air and on surfaces. And higher relative humidity reduced viral particles in the air by half, while leading to more viral particles on surfaces, where they are less likely to spread disease.

   
Newswise: Improved nuclear accident code helps policymakers assess risks from small reactors
Released: 16-Feb-2022 10:15 AM EST
Improved nuclear accident code helps policymakers assess risks from small reactors
Sandia National Laboratories

Sandia National Laboratories recently updated the Maccs code to better aid the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the global nuclear industry in assessing the consequences of nuclear accidents. The Maccs code can also evaluate the potential health and environmental risks posed by advanced nuclear reactors and small modular nuclear reactors.

Released: 15-Feb-2022 5:55 PM EST
Investigating the ‘skunk’ smell and other emissions caused by cannabis production
University of British Columbia

What exactly causes that ‘skunky’ odour emitted by cannabis production facilities, and what do these emissions mean for air quality, workers, and the general public?

Newswise: Anaerobic processes fuel carbon dioxide production in Tonle Sap Lake
Released: 15-Feb-2022 1:20 PM EST
Anaerobic processes fuel carbon dioxide production in Tonle Sap Lake
University of Washington

A new study led by the University of Washington found that anaerobic processes occurring on floodplains of the Tonle Sap, the largest lake in Southeast Asia, are important contributors of the carbon dioxide that is dissolved in surface waters. The findings were published Feb. 14 in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Released: 14-Feb-2022 5:05 PM EST
High levels of hazardous chemicals found in Canadian nail salons
University of Toronto

A recent University of Toronto study, in collaboration with Parkdale Queen West Community Heath Centre and the Healthy Nail Salons Network, shows that nail technicians in discount salons are exposed to several chemicals widely used as plasticizers and flame retardants.

   
Released: 9-Feb-2022 8:05 PM EST
One out of Three People Exposed to Potentially Harmful Pesticide
George Washington University

One out of three people in a large survey showed signs of exposure to a pesticide called 2,4-D, according to a study published today by researchers at the George Washington University. This novel research found that human exposure to this chemical has been rising as agricultural use of the chemical has increased, a finding that raises worries about possible health implications.

   
Newswise: Research Alert: UCI-led study investigates effects of air pollution exposure on ovarian function
Released: 9-Feb-2022 6:05 PM EST
Research Alert: UCI-led study investigates effects of air pollution exposure on ovarian function
University of California, Irvine

UCI-led study investigates effects of air pollution exposure on ovarian function Results from the study support possible links between air pollution exposure and additional adverse health outcomes in women, from cardiovascular disease and Alzheimer’s to osteoporosis. A recent study led by UCI researchers found that a type of air pollution known as fine particulate matter, or PM2.

   
Released: 9-Feb-2022 7:05 AM EST
Low risk of COVID spread on Underground rail, further supported by mitigations
University of Leeds

People travelling on the London Underground and similar rail systems were at a low risk of being exposed to the virus that causes COVID-19, according to computer simulations.

   
Newswise: Tracking SARS-CoV-2 during Tokyo 2020 via wastewater
Released: 3-Feb-2022 2:05 PM EST
Tracking SARS-CoV-2 during Tokyo 2020 via wastewater
Hokkaido University

Wastewater-based epidemiological tracking of COVID-19 in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic village showed that SARS-CoV-2 was present in areas without diagnosed individuals.

Released: 2-Feb-2022 1:55 PM EST
The air quality in your home may be worse than in your office building
Texas A&M University

A new study from the Texas A&M University School of Public Health suggests the air quality inside homes may not stack up against air quality inside office buildings.

Newswise:Video Embedded fau-scientists-uncover-missing-plastics-deep-in-the-ocean
VIDEO
Released: 2-Feb-2022 8:30 AM EST
FAU Scientists Uncover ‘Missing’ Plastics Deep in the Ocean
Florida Atlantic University

A study is the first to unveil the prevalence of plastics in the entire water column of an offshore plastic accumulation zone in the southern Atlantic Ocean and implicates the ocean interior as a crucial pool of ‘missing’ plastics. Results show that small microplastics are critical, underexplored and integral to the oceanic plastic inventory. In addition, findings show that weak ocean current systems contribute to the formation of small microplastics hotspots at depth, suggesting a higher encounter rate for subsurface particle feeders like zooplankton.

Released: 1-Feb-2022 5:05 PM EST
Marcy Rood named ‘Clean Fuels Champion’ by Chicago Area Clean Cities
Argonne National Laboratory

To promote clean cities, Marcy Rood built a network of organizations and individuals at DOE and at Argonne. She was recognized as a Clean Fuels Champion for her long-term commitment to educate and facilitate change, one fleet and one consumer at a time.

Released: 1-Feb-2022 12:30 PM EST
New framework of indicators for achieving Sustainable Development Goals
International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA)

An article by an international team of scientists proposes a more limited set of more easily measurable targets that can be used in scenario analysis for achieving all of the SDGs by the target date.

Released: 1-Feb-2022 12:05 PM EST
Impossible to prevent children from ingesting microplastics
Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU)

Plastic breaks down into microplastics and even smaller nanoplastics. These plastics can be found almost everywhere around the globe.

Newswise: Looking Out for the Coast
Released: 31-Jan-2022 5:30 PM EST
Looking Out for the Coast
California State University (CSU) Chancellor's Office

With funding from COAST, these CSU faculty members launched new research projects in response to the October 2021 Huntington Beach oil spill.

Released: 31-Jan-2022 5:05 PM EST
EPA Reverses Trump-Era Ruling: A Step Towards Cleaner Air and Less Mercury Pollution
American Thoracic Society (ATS)

Jan. 31, 2022 – Today, the Environmental Protection Agency took an important step towards reducing mercury and other toxic air pollutants in America’s air. The EPA released a proposed ruling stating that it is “necessary and appropriate” for them to require further reductions in mercury and air toxic emissions from industrial point sources of pollution in the U.S.

   
Newswise: ‘Mozzie Monitors’ kicks off monster mosquito season
Released: 30-Jan-2022 9:05 PM EST
‘Mozzie Monitors’ kicks off monster mosquito season
University of South Australia

As La Niña continues to deliver wet, humid weather, UniSA scientists are warning that we should be preparing for a monster mosquito season – unwanted by many, but perfectly timed for Australia’s largest mosquito surveillance program, Mozzie Monitors.

   
Released: 27-Jan-2022 5:00 PM EST
Rural air pollution may be as hazardous as urban, study finds
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

New research shows that chemical reactivity, seasonality and distribution of airborne particulate matter are critical metrics when considering air pollution’s impact on human health.

   
Released: 27-Jan-2022 2:30 PM EST
Tackling PPE waste: Engineers propose sustainable recycling method
Cornell University

Under the intensity of a prolonged pandemic, the world finds an ever-growing and seemingly never-ending waste stream of used surgical masks, plastic face shields, and medical gloves and gowns. Cornell University engineers now offer a solution to sustainably reroute the discarded material.

Released: 27-Jan-2022 11:10 AM EST
COVID-19 Exposure Possible Outside of Home Isolation Rooms
Rutgers University-New Brunswick

A Rutgers study has detected tiny airborne particles containing RNA from the SARS-CoV-2 that causes COVID-19, both inside and outside of the rooms in which infected people were self-isolating at home. This finding suggests that airborne transmission beyond the isolation rooms in homes may pose a risk of infection to other home occupants.

Newswise: Used Face Masks – Infectious Waste that Requires Proper Disposal
Released: 27-Jan-2022 8:55 AM EST
Used Face Masks – Infectious Waste that Requires Proper Disposal
Chulalongkorn University

Chula Engineering professor proposes ways to manage used masks and ATK test kits by choosing reusable masks, separating infectious waste, and preparing it properly before discarding it to be destroyed in a non-polluting disposal system to reduce overflowing waste problem.

Newswise: Is it Possible to Improve Nutritional Health and the Environment in One Bite?
Released: 27-Jan-2022 6:05 AM EST
Is it Possible to Improve Nutritional Health and the Environment in One Bite?
UCLA Fielding School of Public Health

In ‘Recipe for Survival: What You Can do to Live a Healthier and More Environmentally Friendly Life,’ scheduled for publication in January 2022, UCLA Fielding School professor Dr. Dana Ellis Hunnes provides “recipes” for improving personal and planetary health

   
Newswise: Cleaning your car may not protect you from this carcinogen
Released: 26-Jan-2022 2:10 PM EST
Cleaning your car may not protect you from this carcinogen
University of California, Riverside

It is unlikely that a cancer-causing chemical inside your car can be dusted or wiped way, according to new UC Riverside research.

Newswise: Is your seafood climate friendly? Scientists outline the benefits of marine aquaculture
Released: 26-Jan-2022 8:05 AM EST
Is your seafood climate friendly? Scientists outline the benefits of marine aquaculture
American Institute of Biological Sciences (AIBS)

As a major source of greenhouse-gas (GHG) emissions, food production has long occupied an important place in the climate-change discussion.

Released: 25-Jan-2022 1:30 PM EST
Ripple effects: Flint water crisis has lasting health impacts on children
Cornell University

As many as a quarter of children in Flint, Michigan – approximately seven times the national average – may have experienced elevated blood lead levels after the city’s water crisis, and more children should have been screened, new Cornell University research finds.

Released: 24-Jan-2022 4:25 PM EST
Living environment affects child’s weight development from birth to school age
University of Turku (Turun yliopisto)

A new study shows that living in a neighbourhood socioeconomic disadvantage is a risk factor for adverse weight development in children under school age.

Newswise: Creating Sustainable Material from Waste
Released: 20-Jan-2022 11:45 AM EST
Creating Sustainable Material from Waste
University of Delaware

A team of University of Delaware researchers looking for ways to upcycle biomass into new products has demonstrated that it is possible to efficiently turn industrially processed lignin into high-performance plastics, such as bio-based 3D-printing resins, and valuable chemicals. An economic and life-cycle analysis reveals the approach can be competitive with similar petroleum-based products, too.

Newswise: EPA Researchers Evaluate Potential Aerosol Treatment Technologies to Reduce Virus in the Air
Released: 19-Jan-2022 2:15 PM EST
EPA Researchers Evaluate Potential Aerosol Treatment Technologies to Reduce Virus in the Air
Environmental Protection Agency - Center for Environmental Solutions and Emergency Response (CESER)

EPA researchers have been evaluating different types of aerosol treatment technologies that could potentially be used to reduce the amount of virus (or other pathogens) in the air in occupied spaces, for example in an office or school.

Released: 19-Jan-2022 11:55 AM EST
Lockdown drove pollution changes between – even within – cities
Washington University in St. Louis

For the first time, researchers can infer levels of nitrogen dioxide on scales as small as a square kilometer thanks to a new method developed in the lab of Randall Martin.

Newswise: What are blue, green, and grey water?
Released: 17-Jan-2022 8:00 AM EST
What are blue, green, and grey water?
American Society of Agronomy (ASA), Crop Science Society of America (CSSA), Soil Science Society of America (SSSA)

Each classification of water can be used differently, preserving this precious resource

Newswise: Doctors Name Metalworking Occupations Most Predisposed to Respiratory Tract Inflammation
Released: 15-Jan-2022 3:05 PM EST
Doctors Name Metalworking Occupations Most Predisposed to Respiratory Tract Inflammation
Scientific Project Lomonosov

The RUDN University medic with colleagues from Kazakhstan and the USA studied the markers of inflammation in the respiratory tract in a metalworking occupational cohort. It is known that they inhale particles of metals and their oxides, and this can have negative health consequences. According to the composition of the exhaled air, doctors assessed which workers have a more pronounced risk of inflammatory processes in the lungs.

Newswise: Citizen science helps nurture our health through nature
Released: 13-Jan-2022 7:05 PM EST
Citizen science helps nurture our health through nature
University of South Australia

From lifting our moods, to boosting our immune systems, the intrinsic health benefits of being in nature are well known. But as urbanisation continues to encroach on green spaces, finding ways to connect with natural environments is becoming more challenging.

Released: 13-Jan-2022 4:00 PM EST
Public Health Researchers, Mentors, Educators, and Trainees Honored with 2022 SOT Awards
Society of Toxicology

The 2022 SOT Award recipients represent outstanding individuals in academia, industry, and government whose work in chemical exposures and effects, genetic risk factors, radiation effects, new approach methodologies, the microbiome, and more is improving understanding of health risks.

   


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