Health, Microbes, and More
A study of 60 million Americans 65 years old and older (the entire Medicare population) found that long-term exposure to airborne fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and ozone at concentrations below current national standards increases the risk of premature death ("all cause mortality") even when the levels are below current national standards. This effect was most pronounced ...continue reading "Older Adults, Air Pollution, and Premature Death"
The use of nanomaterials has been really increasing in recent years without us really understanding if nanoparticles have negative health effects, and if they travel to the brain or other organs in the human body. Nanoparticles are used in many consumer products, including foods (e.g., nano-sized titanium dioxide) and medicines, but they are also found ...continue reading "Nanoparticles in Air Pollution Travel From Lungs to Bloodstream?"
Another study finding a link between air pollution and negative health effects - this time a higher incidence of decline in cognitive functioning and dementia in older women (65 and older) exposed to fine particles (PM2.5 ). These extremely small particles from vehicle emissions are a major source of urban air pollution throughout the world. ...continue reading "Air Pollution, the Aging Brain, and Dementia"
Study after study finds negative health effects from air pollution, such as heart disease (here, here, and here). Now two more studies found that living in areas with high air pollution is linked to a higher stroke risk. One study (done in Japan) found an increase of ischemic stroke on the same day as exposure ...continue reading "Air Pollution Linked To Strokes"
An new analysis of published studies found that air pollution is linked to high blood pressure. Yes, breathing polluted air has health effects (here, here, and here). From Science Daily: High blood pressure linked to short-, long-term exposure to some air pollutants Both short- and long-term exposure to some air pollutants commonly associated with coal ...continue reading "Air Pollution Linked to High Blood Pressure"
Last fall a study came out that estimated that annually about 3.3 million deaths throughout the world were caused from air pollution. But a study was presented Friday at the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) that gave a much higher estimate of annual air pollution deaths: 5.5 million. A horrifying number. And ...continue reading "Annual Worldwide Deaths From Air Pollution"
A recent post (Air Pollution Can Kill You) discussed recent research that found that air pollution is linked to an overall increase in death rates, especially cardiovascular disease. But how many deaths each year are linked to air pollution? Recent research suggests that outdoor air pollution, mostly by fine particulate matter with a diameter smaller than ...continue reading "Millions of Deaths Annually Due to Air Pollution?"
Another study finding negative health effects from air pollution. This year I've posted several studies that found negative effects on the brain (and even cognition) from air pollution for people of all ages. Now this latest study found that in areas with air pollution, long-term exposure to outdoor fine particulate matter (PM2.5),which are fine particles in ...continue reading "Air Pollution Can Kill You"
Several recent studies have found that constant exposure to high levels of air pollution has negative effects on the brain. The last post described negative effects on the gray matter in brains (resulting in smaller brain volumes) of elderly women from air pollution, but this study found negative effects (lower grade point averages) in young ...continue reading "Air Pollution and School Children"
Several recent studies found that air pollution has a negative effect on the brain. This study of elderly women in North Carolina found that long-term exposure to higher levels of air pollution (specifically fine particulate matter smaller than 2.5 micrometers (called PM2.5) resulted in smaller brain volumes (especially the brain's white matter). They studied elderly women (aged ...continue reading "Air Pollution May Shrink the Aging Brain"