Feature Channels: Environmental Health

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14-Feb-2020 9:20 AM EST
World failing to provide children with a healthy life and a climate fit for their future: WHO-UNICEF-Lancet
World Health Organization (WHO)

As climate and commercial threats intensify, WHO-UNICEF-Lancet Commission presses for radical rethink on child health

Released: 18-Feb-2020 10:10 AM EST
HARC Awarded $250,000 by Garver Black Hilyard Family Foundation to Address Marine Debris Challenge in the Houston-Galveston Bay Region’s Waterways
Houston Advanced Research Center (HARC)

The Garver Black Hilyard Family Foundation awarded a $250,000 grant to HARC (Houston Advanced Research Center) to optimize marine debris removal efforts in local waterways.

   
Released: 17-Feb-2020 12:45 PM EST
Study identifies states with highest rates of melanoma due to ultraviolet radiation
American Cancer Society (ACS)

A new study finds a wide state-by-state variation in rates of melanoma caused by ultraviolet (UV) exposure with highest rates in several states on the East and West Coast including Hawaii, but also a few landlocked states, including Utah, Vermont, and Minnesota.

Released: 14-Feb-2020 11:05 AM EST
Brain inflammation in veterans with Gulf War illness
Massachusetts General Hospital

In a new discovery, researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) have detected widespread inflammation in the brains of veterans diagnosed with Gulf War Illness (GWI).

Released: 13-Feb-2020 4:20 PM EST
Hydropower dams cool rivers in the Mekong River basin, satellites show
University of Washington

Using 30 years of satellite data, UW researchers discovered that within one year of the opening of a major dam in the Mekong River basin, downstream river temperatures during the dry season dropped by up to 3.6 degrees F (2 degrees C).

Released: 13-Feb-2020 1:05 PM EST
University of Notre Dame-developed home lead screening kits shown to be highly accurate
University of Notre Dame

An inexpensive lead sample collection kit distributed to homes in St. Joseph County is comparable in accuracy and sensitivity to more costly in-home analysis, according to research published this month in the Journal of Environmental Research.

Released: 13-Feb-2020 10:25 AM EST
Reconnecting with nature key for the health of people and the planet
University of Plymouth

Individuals who visit natural spaces weekly, and feel psychologically connected to them, report better physical and mental wellbeing, new research has shown.

   
Released: 13-Feb-2020 10:15 AM EST
New study shows Deepwater Horizon oil spill larger than previously thought
University of Miami, Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric and Earth Science

Toxic and invisible oil spread well beyond the known satellite footprint of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, according to a new study led by scientists at the University of Miami (UM) Rosenstiel school of Marine and Atmospheric Science.

Released: 12-Feb-2020 12:30 PM EST
Toxicological Research on E-cigarettes, PFAS, Cannabinoids, Wildfires, and More to Be Presented during the SOT 59th Annual Meeting and ToxExpo
Society of Toxicology

With 80+ Featured and Scientific Sessions and 2,000+ presentations showcasing advances in fundamental and translational sciences and emerging disciplines and technologies, the 59th Annual Meeting and ToxExpo of the Society of Toxicology is the largest forum for toxicological research in the world.

   
7-Feb-2020 10:00 AM EST
Small altitude changes could cut the climate impact of aircraft
American Chemical Society (ACS)

Contrails — the white, fluffy streaks in the sky that form behind planes — can harm the environment. Now, scientists report in ACS’ Environmental Science & Technology that small flight path adjustments could reduce the climate impact of these emissions.

Released: 11-Feb-2020 8:30 AM EST
The Nose Knows: Study Establishes Airborne Exposure to Harmful Algal Blooms’ Toxins
Florida Atlantic University

There are no limits specific to airborne concentrations of microcystins (blue-green algae) or inhalation guidelines. Little is known about recreational and occupational exposure to these toxins. New research provides evidence of aerosol exposure to microcystins in coastal residents. Researchers detected microcystin in the nasal passages of 95 percent of the participants; some who reported no direct contact with impacted water. Results also showed higher concentrations among occupationally exposed individuals and demonstrated a relationship between nasal and water microcystin concentrations.

Released: 10-Feb-2020 3:10 PM EST
Adding sewage sludge on soils does not promote antibiotic resistance, Swedish study shows
University of Gothenburg

Some of the antibiotics we use end up in sewage sludge, together with a variety of antibiotic resistant bacteria present in feces.

Released: 7-Feb-2020 11:25 AM EST
Kick Off International Year of Sound with U.S. Opening Ceremony at American Center for Physics on Feb. 13
Acoustical Society of America (ASA)

The International Year of Sound (IYS 2020) is a global initiative to highlight the importance of sound-related sciences and technologies, and the U.S. opening ceremony will be held Thursday, Feb. 13, at the American Center for Physics. Sponsored by the Acoustical Society of America and its Washington, DC Regional Chapter, the ceremony will have presentations about sound-related issues as well as a public showing of a film highlighting how scientists are reducing the impact of noise pollution on the natural world.

   
Released: 6-Feb-2020 1:35 PM EST
Majority of U.S. Adults Believe Climate Change Is Most Important Issue Today
American Psychological Association (APA)

As the effects of climate change become more evident, more than half of U.S. adults (56%) say climate change is the most important issue facing society today, yet 4 in 10 have not made any changes in their behavior to reduce their contribution to climate change, according to a new poll by the American Psychological Association.

5-Feb-2020 10:30 AM EST
Antioxidant Reverses BPA-Induced Fertility Damage in Worms
Harvard Medical School

At a glance: Treatment with a naturally occurring antioxidant, CoQ10, restores many aspects of fertility in C. elegans worms following exposure to BPA. Findings offer possible path toward undoing BPA-induced reproductive harms in people. Although CoQ10 is available over the counter, it is not yet clear whether the compound could improve human fertility or do so safely.

Released: 5-Feb-2020 2:05 PM EST
Sun, wind, and hydrogen: New Arctic station will do without diesel fuel
Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (MIPT)

The Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (MIPT) has initiated a project of the Russian Federation called “Arctic Hydrogen Energy Applications and Demonstrations” (AHEAD) in the Arctic Council’s Sustainable Development Working Group (SDWG). The project is supported by the Russian Ministry of Science and Higher Education, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry for the Development of the Russian Far East and Arctic, the governor of Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug, and the EnergyNet infrastructure center of the National Technology Initiative.

31-Jan-2020 10:00 AM EST
Treating wastewater with ozone could convert pharmaceuticals into toxic compounds
American Chemical Society (ACS)

Researchers have found that ozone treatment and subsequent chlorination can convert trace amounts of some pharmaceuticals in wastewater into DBPs called halonitromethanes.

31-Jan-2020 10:00 AM EST
Fecal excretion of PFAS by pets
American Chemical Society (ACS)

Researchers report in Environmental Science & Technology Letters that cats and dogs excrete some PFAS in their feces at levels that suggest exposures above the minimum risk level, which could have implications for pet owners.

Released: 4-Feb-2020 6:40 PM EST
Hollywood's dirtiest secret? Its environmental toll
University of Colorado Boulder

Just in time for Academy Awards, new book sheds light on ecological impact of filmmaking

Released: 4-Feb-2020 11:05 AM EST
Proximity to Green Spaces Impacts Health
University at Albany, State University of New York

A University at Albany team worked with colleagues around the globe on two separate studies to determine the effects that greenery has on our health – finding that the greener our surroundings, the better.

   
Released: 3-Feb-2020 4:10 PM EST
More grocery stores means less food waste — and a big carbon cut
Cornell University

One strategy for reducing food waste’s environmental impact is as counterintuitive as it is straightforward: Open more grocery stores.

3-Feb-2020 8:50 AM EST
Past climate safe havens now most vulnerable
University of Adelaide

The profound threat of future climate change to biodiversity demands that scientists seek ever more effective ways to identify the most vulnerable species, communities, and ecosystems. In a new study, published in Nature Climate Change, an international team of scientists has shown that the most biodiverse regions on Earth are among the most vulnerable to future climate change.

Released: 3-Feb-2020 10:35 AM EST
A material benefit to society, Sandia scientist elected AAAS fellow
Sandia National Laboratories

Sandia National Laboratories senior scientist Tina Nenoff was elected by her peers fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science “for outstanding accomplishments in nanoporous materials and technology through research and group effort leadership, particularly in ion and gas separations for energy and environmental applications."

Released: 3-Feb-2020 9:00 AM EST
Burning to understand
Oregon State University, College of Engineering

Wildfires significantly impact the health of economies in the western United States that are highly dependent on tourism, agriculture, and timber. David Blunck, associate professor of mechanical engineering at Oregon State University, has been selected by the U.S. Department of Defense to spearhead a $2.1 million study examining the burning behavior of live fuels in order to better predict and manage wildfires.

Released: 2-Feb-2020 4:05 PM EST
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Risk Rises During Winter and Travel
Rutgers University-New Brunswick

Recently, 25 people were hospitalized for carbon monoxide poisoning at a vacation rental home in Idaho. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, half of all reported cases of carbon monoxide poisoning occur during the winter, with travelers especially at risk due to varying regulations on carbon monoxide (CO) alarms across states. Diane Calello, executive and medical director of the New Jersey Poison Control Center at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School’s department of emergency medicine discusses how to stay safe from carbon monoxide poisoning at home and when traveling.

Released: 31-Jan-2020 11:15 AM EST
The First Potentially Invasive Species to Reach the Antarctica on Drifting Marine Algae
Universitat de Barcelona

Drifting algae in the Austral Ocean can bring invasive species to the Antarctic coasts, according to a study published in the journal Scientific Reports.

Released: 30-Jan-2020 1:55 PM EST
If it takes a hike, riders won’t go for bike sharing
Cornell University

Even a relatively short walk to find the nearest bicycle is enough to deter many potential users of bike sharing systems, new Cornell research suggests.

Released: 30-Jan-2020 11:10 AM EST
California can become carbon neutral by 2045
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) scientists have identified a robust suite of technologies to help California clear the last hurdle and become carbon neutral – and ultimately carbon negative – by 2045. This groundbreaking study, “Getting to Neutral: Options for Negative Carbon Emissions in California,” was conducted as part of LLNL’s expansive energy programs work and the Laboratory’s Carbon Initiative. The goal of the initiative is to identify solutions to enable global-scale CO2 removal from the atmosphere and hit global temperature targets.

Released: 30-Jan-2020 10:45 AM EST
Expert: Earth Day is turning 50. Here’s what the first one was like in 1970
University at Buffalo

Earth Day in 1970 wasn’t just a demonstration that came and went. It catalyzed the modern U.S. environmental movement, with major legislative victories like the Clean Air Act of 1970, the Clean Water Act of 1972 and the Endangered Species Act of 1973 following.

Released: 30-Jan-2020 10:10 AM EST
Rapid Weather Swings Increase Flu Risk
Florida State University

New research from a team of Florida State University scientists shows that rapid weather variability as a result of climate change could increase the risk of a flu epidemic in some highly populated regions in the late 21st century.

   
Released: 30-Jan-2020 8:55 AM EST
A High-Fiber Diet May Counteract the Harmful Health Effects of Pollutants
University of Kentucky

Research from the University of Kentucky’s Superfund Research Center shows that a diet high in fiber could possibly reverse the adverse effects that environmental toxins have on cardiovascular health.

   
Released: 29-Jan-2020 3:30 PM EST
Monitoring Intermediates in CO2 Conversion to Formate by Metal Catalyst
Brookhaven National Laboratory

The production of formate from CO2 is considered an attractive strategy for the long-term storage of solar renewable energy in chemical form.

Released: 28-Jan-2020 3:00 PM EST
What’s in Your Water?
 Johns Hopkins University

Mixing drinking water with chlorine, the United States’ most common method of disinfecting drinking water, creates previously unidentified toxic byproducts, says  Carsten Prasse from Johns Hopkins University and his collaborators from the University of California, Berkeley and Switzerland.

24-Jan-2020 9:00 AM EST
Instant Hydrogen Production for Powering Fuel Cells
American Institute of Physics (AIP)

Due to its affordability and environmental friendliness, hydrogen is a feasible alternative to fossil fuels for energy applications. However, due to its low density, hydrogen is difficult to transport efficiently, and many on-board hydrogen generation methods are slow and energy intensive.

Released: 27-Jan-2020 3:40 PM EST
Earth's most biodiverse ecosystems face a perfect storm
Lancaster University

A combination of climate change, extreme weather and pressure from local human activity is causing a collapse in global biodiversity and ecosystems across the tropics, new research shows.

23-Jan-2020 1:25 PM EST
High Air Pollution Exposure in One-Year-Olds Linked to Structural Brain Changes at Age 12
Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center

A new study suggests that significant early childhood exposure to traffic-related air pollution (TRAP) is associated with structural changes in the brain at the age of 12. The Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center study found that children with higher levels of TRAP exposure at birth had reductions at age 12 in gray matter volume and cortical thickness as compared to children with lower levels of exposure.

Released: 23-Jan-2020 2:25 PM EST
Here, There and Everywhere: Large and Giant Viruses Abound Globally
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

In Nature, a team led by U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Joint Genome Institute (JGI) researchers uncovered a broad diversity of large and giant viruses that belong to the nucleocytoplasmic large DNA viruses (NCLDV) supergroup, expanding virus diversity in this group 10-fold from just 205 genomes.

   
Released: 23-Jan-2020 10:20 AM EST
Efforts to improve vehicle fuel efficiency may come at a high cost to the climate, public health
University of Georgia

New automotive technology that promises enhanced fuel efficiency may have a serious downside, including significant climate and public health impacts, according to research from the University of Georgia College of Engineering.

Released: 23-Jan-2020 6:05 AM EST
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore Lab Foundation, ClimateWorks to unveil report on California’s road to carbon neutrality
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

LLNL will host a briefing to unveil the new report “Getting to Neutral: Options for Negative Carbon Emissions in California,” which identifies a robust suite of technologies to help California clear the last hurdle and become carbon neutral by 2045.

Released: 22-Jan-2020 2:55 PM EST
FSU Research: Despite less ozone pollution, not all plants benefit
Florida State University

Policies and new technologies have reduced emissions of precursor gases that lead to ozone air pollution, but despite those improvements, the amount of ozone that plants are taking in has not followed the same trend, according to Florida State University researchers.

Released: 22-Jan-2020 12:55 PM EST
Air pollution in New York City linked to wildfires hundreds of miles away
European Geosciences Union (EGU)

A new study shows that air pollutants from the smoke of fires from as far as Canada and the southeastern U.S. traveled hundreds of miles and several days to reach Connecticut and New York City, where it caused significant increases in pollution concentrations.

Released: 22-Jan-2020 11:00 AM EST
Johns Hopkins Researchers: Climate Change Threatens to Unlock New Microbes and Increase Heat-Related Illness and Death
Johns Hopkins Medicine

The Journal of Clinical Investigation (JCI) recently published “Viewpoint” articles by Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine professors who warn that global climate change is likely to unlock dangerous new microbes, as well as threaten humans’ ability to regulate body temperature.

   
17-Jan-2020 10:00 AM EST
Urine Reuse as Fertilizer Is Not Likely to Transfer Antibiotic Resistance
American Chemical Society (ACS)

Going “green” with urine carries some potential risks. Now, research published in ACS’ Environmental Science & Technology (ES&T) shows this risk is likely to be minimal.

Released: 21-Jan-2020 2:25 PM EST
Launch of Think Global Health
Council on Foreign Relations (CFR)

The Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) introduces Think Global Health, a multi-contributor website that examines how changes in health are reshaping economies, societies, and the everyday lives of people around the world.

     
Released: 21-Jan-2020 11:15 AM EST
University of Kentucky Project Seeks to Create More Environmentally Friendly, Stronger Cement
University of Kentucky

The UK Center for Applied Energy Research has received a two-year, $1.3 million grant to develop extremely durable belite-based cement — an alternative to ordinary Portland cement — that is low-energy consuming and low-carbon dioxide releasing.



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