Results for search "Environment".
Switch to Electric Cars Could Save Thousands of Lives and Billions in Healthcare Costs, Study Finds
Large-scale use of electric cars would improve our air quality and prevent thousands of premature deaths, researchers say.
Long-term Exposure to Wildfires Increases Cancer Risk, Study Finds
People who live near wildfires face higher risk for lung cancer and brain tumors, researchers say.
Are People Making Red Tide Worse on the US Coastline?
Researchers say human activity close to our waterways is intensifying algae blooms that pose health and environmental risks.
If you find yourself stuck in a traffic jam and you start to feel fuzzy-headed, the diesel exhaust from the truck in front of you might be to blame.
New research found that just two hours of exposure to diesel exhaust impaired the brain's functional connectivity, which can lower your ability to think and remember.
"We compared people after diesel exhaust exposure compared to filt...
Environment Neurology Pollution, Air
Silent Killer: Shield Your Family From Carbon Monoxide
Carbon monoxide is a silent, odorless killer, but even during winter heating season, it's possible to stay safe.
This dangerous gas is produced when fuels burn incompletely.
This can happen in furnaces, both gas- and wood-burning fireplaces, space heaters and vehicles that burn fossil fuel. It's also possible in water heaters, gas clothes dryers and stoves, as well as other equipm...
Safety &, Public Health Poisons Environment
A mother-to-be's exposure to air pollution during pregnancy may have a lasting impact on her baby's brain development, new research indicates.
Toddlers scored lower on assessments for thinking, motor and language skills when their mothers had more exposure to pollutants during pregnancy, according to researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder.
"Our findings sug...
Pregnancy: Risks Child Development Environment Pollution, Air
Could UV Light From Nail Polish Dryers Cause Cancer?
Getting a gel manicure may be less safe than many think.
Researchers say the nail polish dryers that use ultraviolet (UV) light to cure the gel polish emit possibly dangerous rays. These rays might lead to cell death and cancer-causing mutations in human cells, they noted.
Maria Zhivagui, a researcher at th...
Skin Care Environment Cancer: Skin
'Climate Trauma': Brain Changes Seen in Survivors of California's Deadliest Wildfire
When the deadly Camp Fire swept through Northern California in 2018, it may have damaged more than the landscape.
University of California, San Diego researchers studying survivors' mental functioning in the wake of the deadliest and most destructive wildfire in the state's history have uncovered evidence of "climate trauma."
The November 2018 fire burned 239 square miles, destr...
Weather Environment Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Penis Birth Defects Are on the Rise – Are Environmental Toxins to Blame?
Doctors are seeing an alarming increase in cases of a specific genital malformation in male babies, and new research suggests environmental factors might be at play.
The malformation is known as hypospadias, where the opening of the urethra is not at the tip of the penis, but on the underside of the organ.
In the study, scientists identified a direct link between hypospadias tissue ...
Environment Birth Defects: Misc. Infant / Child Care
While U.S. policymakers have attempted to lower lead exposure among children since the 1970s, new research finds that kids living near airports are still being exposed to dangerous levels of the heavy metal.
"Across an ensemble of tests, we find consistent evidence that the blood lead levels of children residing near the airport are pushed upward by the deposition of leaded aviation ga...
Poisons Safety: Child Environment Pollution, Air
Federal Agency Mulls Ban on Gas Stoves Due to Health Concerns
Gas stoves could face new emissions standards or even be banned because of their link to indoor air pollutants and childhood asthma, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).
The federal agency will open public comment on gas cooking stoves and their hazards sometime this winter, Bloomberg News reported.
"This is a hidden hazard," agency commissio...
Environment Government Pollution, Air Asthma
EPA Proposes Tougher Rules on Air Pollution
For the first time in a decade, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has proposed strengthening standards on fine soot in the air, a known contributor to serious health issues.
Under the new proposal, standards for fine particulate pollution, known as PM 2.5, would change from a level of 12 micrograms per cubic meter to a level between nine and 10 micrograms per cubic meter. The stand...
Safety &, Public Health Asthma Environment Cancer: Lung Pollution, Air
Does Your Home Have Dangerous Levels of Cancer-Causing Radon?
People should test for the naturally occurring radioactive gas radon in their homes to help prevent ill health, the American Lung Association urges.
In some areas, like the state of Connecticut, radon was found to be present at high levels in a quarter (26%) of all homes.
Radon is emitted from the ground and can enter a house through floor cracks, basement walls and foundations.
Poisons Environment Cancer: Lung
Air pollution may trigger more asthma attacks in urban children and teens, a new study reports.
Even moderate levels of ozone and fine airborne particulates — two ingredients of smog — appear to increase kids' risk of asthma attacks, according to findings published online Jan. 4 in
Asthma Environment Kids' Ailments Pollution, Air
Menus With 'Climate Change Impact' Info Sway Diners' Choices
Adding climate-impact labeling to fast-food menus can have a big effect on whether or not consumers go "green" when eating out, new research suggests.
The finding is based on an online survey that asked consumers to order virtual meals after randomly looking over menus that either had some...
Weather Environment Food &, Nutrition: Misc.
In U.S., Minority Communities More Likely to Have Water Contaminated by Toxic Metals
U.S. communities with higher Hispanic, American Indian or Black populations also have the highest concentrations of metal in public water systems, new research reveals.
Researchers from Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health in New York City found significantly higher arsenic and uranium levels in public drinking water in Hispanic and American Indian/Alaska Native communities...
Safety &, Public Health Safety: Water Environmental Medicine Environment Poisons Race
Living in an area with easy access to parks and rivers appears to slow the progression of devastating neurological diseases, such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.
That's the conclusion of a new study based on more than a decade and a half tracking disease risk among ...
Alzheimer's Environment Parkinson's Dementia Neurology
In Some U.S. Urban Areas, Men Face Higher Gun Death Rate Than in Wartime
In some parts of the United States, young men face a higher risk of dying from gun violence than if they'd gone to war in Afghanistan and Iraq, a new study reports.
Young men living in certain high-violence ZIP codes in Chicago and Philadelphia run a greater risk of firearm death than military personnel who served in recent U.S. wars, according to findings published online Dec. 22 in
Safety &, Public Health Environment Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Train Wheels Send Unhealthy, 'Ultrafine' Metals Into Subway Air
Air pollution is plaguing the world's oldest subway system, a new study warns, with high levels of tiny metal particles found in dust samples throughout the London Underground.
Whether these particles actually pose a risk to human health remains an open question, British researchers acknowledge. But experts say it's happening in subway systems elsewhere, including the United States.
Safety &, Public Health Environment Pollution, Air
As the United States moves towards a world in which electric vehicles (EVs) have fully replaced fossil fuel-driven engines, can Americans look forward to reliably cleaner air and better health?
Absolutely, a new study predicts.
By 2050, researchers say, th...
Research &, Development Economic Status Safety &, Public Health Environment Pollution, Air
Loss of Bees Could Harm Health of Millions of People
Bees, in their role as master pollinators, increase crop yields, leading to more production of healthy fruits, vegetables and nuts.
But new research claims that the challenges these important insects face from changes in land use, harmful pesticides and climate change is affecting food production, leading to less healthy food in global diets and more diseases causing excess deaths.
Economic Status Food &, Nutrition: Misc. Environment Diseases &, Conditions: Misc. Pesticides
Air Purifiers May Help the Hearts of People With COPD
Having COPD can make it hard to breathe as it taxes both the lungs and the heart, but a new study offers a possible solution: Using an air purifier helped patients' hearts work better.
Researchers found that when people with COPD, also known as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, consistently used air purifiers, their hearts were better able to adapt their heart rates in response to da...
Gary Loss HealthDay Reporter
Both extremely hot and very cold days take their toll on people who have heart disease, particularly those with heart failure.
A new multinational analysis of 32 million heart-related deaths over the past 40 years found more occurred on days with severe temperatures, an issue that climate change could make even worse.
Although the greatest number of deaths were due to heart failure,...
Heart Failure Heart / Stroke-Related: Misc. Weather Environment
More Americans Are Moving to Wildfire-Prone Areas
Some Americans appear to be moving from areas with frequent hurricanes and heat waves to places threatened by wildfire and rising heat.
They're trading in the risk of one set of natural disasters for another because the wildfires are only beginning to become a national issue, according to researchers.
"These findings are concerning, because people are moving into harm's way -- into...
Weather Safety: Fire Environment
Winter Brings Rise in Carbon Monoxide Danger: Stay Safe
Winter weather brings with it plenty of hazards, including risks from carbon monoxide poisoning, and fires.
But the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) offers suggestions for staying safe on those cold winter nights.
When storms knock out power...
Safety &, Public Health Weather Safety: Fire Environment Poisons
If you need a body image boost, go outdoors.
Whether you're in green space, a blue space near a river or the ocean or even a snowy environment, it can make a difference.
"A body of evidence now exists showing that nature exposure — living close to, frequenting or engaging with environments such as forests and parks — is associated with a range of physical and psychological w...
Weather Environment Psychology / Mental Health: Misc.
Climate Change May Bring More Fungal Lung Infections
Fungal lung infections are spreading to parts of the United States where they were once never seen — likely a result of climate change, experts say.
To the average person, the term fungal infection may conjure up thoughts of athlete's foot or toenail problems. But some fungus species cause potentially severe respiratory infections, when a person inhales microscopic spores from fung...
Fungal Infections Weather Environment
Research in wild bats is reinforcing a notion crucial to stopping future pandemics: When wildlife populations stay healthy, the odds of "crossover" viruses infecting humans subsides.
In Australia, deforestation has caused a deadly respiratory virus to pass from fruit bats to humans, by forcing the two species into closer contact, a
Safety &, Public Health Environment Viruses Infections: Misc.
Fungi in Soil Can Cause Illness, With Range Expanding in U.S.
Fungi found in the soil are causing lung infections nationwide, even in places that doctors aren't aware are at risk.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has not revised maps for environmental fungi since 1969, according to a
Fungal Infections Environment Infections: Misc.
It's sort of like the Goldilocks principle — a room that's either too dry or too humid can influence transmission of COVID-19 and cause more illness or death, Massachusetts Institute of Technology researchers say.
Maintaining an indoor relative humidity between 40% and 60% is associated with lower rates of COVID-19 infections and deaths, they reported Nov. 16 in the
Weather Environment Viruses Infections: Misc.
Healthy Dining Is Healthy for the Planet, Too
Plant-based diets can be better for the environment, but they're not all created equally, new research shows.
The best type of plant-based diet for health and environmental benefits are those higher in whole grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts, legumes, vegetable oils and tea/coffee.
Meanwhile plant-based diets high in fruit juices, sugar-sweetened beverages, refined grains, ...
Food &, Nutrition: Misc. Weather Environment
Got the 'Winter Blues'? Exercise Can Help
A good workout can boost mood, making it an ideal routine as the days get shorter and darker.
If you're one of the millions affected by seasonal affective disorder (SAD) and you feel tired, unmotivated, down on life and crave carbs and sweets, staying active can help. An expert from Baylor College of Medicine in Houston offers some tips for maintaining an exercise routine.
"With ...
Weather Exercise: Misc. Environment Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) Depression
California Files Suit Over 'Forever Chemicals' in Water
The state of California is suing several companies for their role in manufacturing "forever chemicals."
The lawsuit filed Thursday also claims that the companies, including 3M and DuPont, covered up the harm their products, commonly known as PFAS, were causing to the...
Environment Government Pollution, Water
The Worst and Best Hours of the Day for Hayfever Sufferers
When it comes to pollen allergies, there are not only bad days and bad seasons, experts with the right technology can now break down pollen counts by the hour.
Specifically, pollen counts are lower between 4 a.m. and noon, a new study done in Georgia found. They're higher between 2 p.m. and 9 p...
Allergies: Nasal Allergies: Misc. Environment Asthma
'Healthier' Furniture Without PFAS Toxins Brings Healthier Offices
Equipping offices with "healthier" furnishings could reduce human exposure to risky PFAS chemicals, new research suggests.
To look at indoor PFAS levels, a team led by Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, in Boston, analyzed building dust in classrooms and common campus spaces.
"Our findings provide desperately needed scientific evidence for the success of healthier material...
Environment Environmental Medicine Chemicals Occupational Health
'SAD Season': Depression Risks Rise as Days Get Shorter
As the daylight hours shrink, people's moods can wind up in the tank.
Rest assured, you're not alone. It's the SAD season for those affected by seasonal affective disorder. That's the depression, fatigue and withdrawal that shorter days and longer nights often bring.
"The seasonal mood change can come in different shapes and forms," said
Environment Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) Depression
'Prescribed' Fires' Hidden Bonus: Fewer Ticks
A tool used to restore forest ecosystems could also be key to the battle against tick-borne disease, researchers say.
Forest managers and land owners use prescribed fire to combat invasive species, improve wildlife habitat and restore ecosystem health.
A recent study suggests it could ...
Lyme Disease Safety: Fire Environment
Despite the presence of gorilla trekkers in their habitat, endangered gorillas in the region surrounding East Africa's Virunga Volcanoes do not have human herpesvirus, researchers say.
The Gorilla Doctors team was able to assess the region's mountain gorillas in a noninvasive way, simply watching the animals as they walked through the forest.
As the gorillas chomped on vegetation s...
Environment Viruses Herpes Simplex (Genital) Herpes Zoster (Shingles)
Parks, Gardens Might Boost Life Spans in Poorer Neighborhoods
The key to narrowing the gap in how long a person lives if they're poor vs. if they're wealthy could be as simple as adding green space to certain neighborhoods.
Every 10% increase in natural space and private gardens was linked to a 7% drop in early deaths in people younger than 65, according to a new study published Oct. 17 in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health. <...
Economic Status Environment
Along Eastern Seaboard, Hurricanes Getting Bigger, Wetter
The Atlantic seaboard could be in for faster-forming and wetter hurricanes, new research warns.
Climate change is the overarching cause, experts say.
As parts of the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico recover from powerful hurricanes
Safety &, Public Health: Misc. Weather Environment
Aggressive measures are needed in the world's tropical regions to prevent the inevitable next global pandemic, an international coalition of researchers has concluded.
Epidemics around the world have largely been driven by viruses that spill over from wild animals into humans, mainly in tropical hot ...
School-age children are increasingly dying after being injured with guns, with firearms now the United States' second-leading cause of death in 5- to 18-year-olds.
After 19 children and two teachers were killed and 17 others were wounded in May at a school in Uvalde, Texas, researchers set out to investigate ...
Safety: Child Environment
Most U.S. Voters Want Products Free of Harmful Chemicals: Poll
Do the majority of Americans want government to make sure the products they buy are free of harmful chemicals?
Yes, a new survey shows, and they are even willing to pay more to get that assurance of safety.
"At a time when most issues are politically polarized, the issue of keeping people ...
Safety &, Public Health Environment Environmental Medicine Chemicals Government
Order of Radiation Sickness Drug Unrelated to Recent Events in Ukraine, U.S. Health Officials Say
While the United States has recently ordered a $290 million supply of a drug meant to treat radiation sickness, federal health officials say that's not cause for alarm.
It's coincidental that the order of
By Cara Murez and Robin Foster HealthDay Reporters
Safety &, Public Health Environment Radiation
EPA Could Get Tough on Leaded Fuel in Airplanes
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has taken a major step to curb the largest remaining source of airborne lead pollution.
The agency has proposed a so-called endangerment finding that aircraft that use leaded fuel cause or contribute to
Safety &, Public Health Environment Environmental Medicine Government Pollution, Air
Experts Issue Warning About Carbon Monoxide Dangers Ahead of Hurricane Ian
As Florida and nearby states brace for the potential impact of Hurricane Ian, residents in the storm's path should also think about the hazards they may face in its aftermath.
If high winds take out your electricity, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) offers tips for staying safe.
First, be cautious about using a generator. The carbon monoxide (CO) from a porta...
Safety &, Public Health Weather Environment Poisons
A Hotter World Can Worsen Heart Failure
Climate change could spell trouble for those with heart failure, a new study suggests.
When the temperatures soared in France during the summer of 2019, the heat wave appears to have worsened the conditions of heart failure patients, researchers report.
"The finding is timely, given the heat waves again this year," said study a...
Heart Failure Weather Environment Heat- / Sunstroke Water Consumption Weight Loss
Your children's school clothes may look neat, but are they safe to wear?
Researchers found high levels of dangerous chemicals called per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in school uniforms sold across North America. These chemicals — which can build up in people and the envir...
Adolescents / Teens Safety: Child Environment Environmental Medicine Chemicals
Internet hotheads are often literally that, with hateful tweets rising in number as temperatures soar, a new study reports.
Temperatures higher than 86 degrees Fahrenheit are consistently linked to heavy increases in online hate messages, according to a review of more than 4 billion English-language tweets.
The researchers identified a "feel-good window" between 54 and 70 degree...
Emotional Disorders: Misc. Weather Environment Media Psychology / Mental Health: Misc. Heat- / Sunstroke
America's Rural Roads: Quiet But Deadly, New Report Finds
A new report reveals a hidden secret about the nation's beautiful rural roads: They're too often fatal for motorists.
Nearly half of all U.S. crashes happen on rural roads, despite only 19% of Americans living in those areas. The report, conducted by the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA), details why and what can be done to prevent these fatal crashes.
"Roads are the b...
Safety &, Public Health Environment Travel Safety: Motor Vehicle Injury
Wildlife Crossings Over Highways Save Human Lives, Too
In Washington state, 22 wildlife bridges and underpasses provide animals with a safe way through to search for food or escape predators and wildfires.
It turns out the crossings have been benefiting humans, too.
In a 10-mile radius around wildlife crossings, there are between one and three fewer collisions a year between vehicles and animals, a
Heat Waves That Threaten Lives Will Be Common by 2100
Life-threatening heat waves will become more common by the end of this century, according to a new study.
A "dangerous" heat index — what the temperature feels like when humidity and air temperature are combined — is defined by the National Weather Service (NWS) as 103 degrees Fahrenheit. NWS defines "extremely dangerous" as 124 degrees F -- unsafe to humans for any amount of ...
Weather Environment Heat- / Sunstroke
Too Few U.S. Cities Have Good Hurricane Evacuation Plans
This year's hurricane season has been quiet so far, but if and when it cranks up many American cities won't be prepared to execute mass evacuations, a new study finds.
After Hurricane Katrina slammed into New Orleans in 2005, the country bore witness to the pitfalls of not having an effective evacuation plan. Since then on...
Emergencies / First Aid Weather Environment Government