Feature Channels: Environmental Health

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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.

Released: 16-Jan-2020 3:05 PM EST
New Method Detects Toxin Exposure from Harmful Algal Blooms in Human Urine
Florida Atlantic University

A newly developed method can detect even low-dose human exposure to microcystins and nodularin in human urine. During harmful algal blooms (HABs), species of cyanobacteria release toxic peptides, including microcystins and nodularin into waterways, impacting wildlife and humans living in these marine environments. These findings are the first to report microcystin concentrations directly from exposed residents impacted by cyanobacteria in Florida, and is a critical step in developing and interpreting clinical diagnostic tests for HABs exposure worldwide.

   
Released: 16-Jan-2020 10:45 AM EST
A Wearable Gas Sensor for Health and Environmental Monitoring
Penn State Materials Research Institute

A highly sensitive wearable gas sensor for environmental and human health monitoring may soon become commercially available, according to researchers at Penn State and Northeastern University.

Released: 15-Jan-2020 11:55 AM EST
Reconnecting with nature key for sustainability
University of Exeter

People who live in more built up areas and spend less free-time in nature are also less likely to take actions that benefit the environment, such as recycling, buying eco-friendly products, and environmental volunteering.

Released: 15-Jan-2020 9:35 AM EST
Endocrine Society applauds EU Green Deal resolution
Endocrine Society

The Endocrine Society praised the European Parliament resolution in response to the European Union’s “Green Deal”— a plan to invest more than €1 trillion in environmental initiatives, including important provisions to protect people from exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs).

8-Jan-2020 10:35 AM EST
Flame Retardants and Pesticides Overtake Heavy Metals as Biggest Contributors to IQ Loss
NYU Langone Health

Adverse outcomes from childhood exposures to lead and mercury are on the decline in the United States, likely due to decades of restrictions on the use of heavy metals, a new study finds.

9-Jan-2020 1:10 PM EST
Elevated Leukemia Incidence Is Found in World Trade Center Rescue and Recovery Workers
Mount Sinai Health System

Responders who worked at the World Trade Center site after the attacks on September 11, 2001, have an increased overall cancer incidence compared to the general population, particularly in thyroid cancer, prostate cancer, and, for the first time ever reported, leukemia, according to a Mount Sinai study published in JNCI Cancer Spectrum in January.

Released: 13-Jan-2020 12:20 PM EST
Risk of Lead Exposure Linked to Decreased Brain Volume in Adolescents
Children's Hospital Los Angeles

In a study using brain scans from nearly 10 thousand adolescents across the country, investigators at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles show that risk of lead exposure is associated with altered brain anatomy and cognitive deficits in children from low income families.

Released: 10-Jan-2020 6:05 AM EST
New study shows dominance of local air pollution sources in Delhi
University of Surrey

The University of Surrey has revealed results from a new, comprehensive study that suggests that activities such as construction and vehicle traffic contribute significantly to the Delhi National Capital Region's high concentrations of harmful air pollutants and gases.

   
8-Jan-2020 1:10 PM EST
Break Point
Harvard Medical School

At a glance: Experiments in worms reveal the molecular damage caused by DEHP, a chemical commonly used to make plastics flexible DEHP interferes with proper cell division during egg formation, leads to excessive DNA breakage, alters chromosome appearance Abnormalities help explain known link between DEHP and human birth defects, male infertility If replicated in further research, the insights can help inform regulatory changes, consumer choice b

Released: 9-Jan-2020 11:00 AM EST
Mesothelioma Linked to Asbestos in Talcum Powder
Wolters Kluwer Health: Lippincott

Thirty-three cases of the asbestos-related lung cancer mesothelioma draw attention to talcum powder as a non-occupational source of exposure to asbestos, according to a study in the January Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.

Released: 8-Jan-2020 2:00 PM EST
Team of engineering researchers to help improve Pennsylvania's foundries
Penn State College of Engineering

A team of Penn State engineering faculty and students is working with small-to-medium-sized foundries across Pennsylvania to aid in the transition away from using harmful silica sands in the metal casting process and to reduce costs through 3D printing.



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