Pollution

Pollution is the introduction of contaminants – substances or forms of energy – into the natural environment that cause harm. While it can occur naturally, pollution typically refers to human-caused sources such as industrial activity, transportation, agriculture, or waste mismanagement. It includes air, water, soil, noise, light, thermal, radioactive, and plastic pollution, among others. Pollution has wide-ranging effects on ecosystems and human health, contributing to biodiversity loss, environmental degradation, and increased mortality, particularly in vulnerable populations.

Image
Rising mercury levels in soil could be linked to climate change, study suggestsClimate

Rising mercury levels in soil could be linked to climate change, study suggests

A new study highlights a concerning connection between climate change and rising mercury levels in soil, suggesting that current global efforts to control mercury emissions…
Adrian AlexandreAdrian AlexandreAugust 14, 2024 Full article
Image of Earth from space
Detecting climate change using aerosolsClimateScience

Detecting climate change using aerosols

Researchers propose a new metric using aerosols to understand changes in transboundary air pollution pathways due to climate changes. By Chiba University Climate change is…
SourceSourceAugust 8, 2024 Full article
Image: people, subway (AI Gen.)
Study quantifies air pollution for NYC subway commutersScience

Study quantifies air pollution for NYC subway commuters

Economically disadvantaged and racial minority groups have the highest exposure to fine particular matter during their home to work commutes. PLOS - New York City…
SourceSourceAugust 8, 2024 Full article
Image: NASA Study: First Direct Proof of Ozone Hole Recovery Due to Chemicals Ban
Scientists find a human ‘fingerprint’ in the upper troposphere’s increasing ozoneClimate

Scientists find a human ‘fingerprint’ in the upper troposphere’s increasing ozone

Knowing where to look for this signal will help researchers identify specific sources of the potent greenhouse gas. Jennifer Chu | Massachusetts Institute of Technology…
SourceSourceAugust 2, 2024 Full article
Image: Seine and Eiffel Tower in Paris
Suspense over Olympics triathlon as Seine fails water tests againNews

Suspense over Olympics triathlon as Seine fails water tests again

Paris, France | AFP | Muser NewsDesk Olympic organisers cancelled a second day of triathlon training in the River Seine on Monday due to water…
SourceSourceJuly 29, 2024 Full article
Image
Study tracks exposure to air pollution through the dayScience

Study tracks exposure to air pollution through the day

Data from the Bronx account for people’s daily mobility patterns, reveal demographic disparities in exposure levels. By Peter Dizikes | MIT News | Massachusetts Institute…
SourceSourceJuly 29, 2024 Full article
Image: Seine and Eiffel Tower in Paris
Olympics organisers cancel first triathlon training over Seine pollutionNews

Olympics organisers cancel first triathlon training over Seine pollution

Paris, France (AFP) - The first training session for triathletes at the Paris Olympics was scrapped Sunday due to pollution in the River Seine, organisers…
SourceSourceJuly 28, 2024 Full article
Image: small bird standing on a patch of grass
UTA biologist wins national fellowship to study historic pollutionScience

UTA biologist wins national fellowship to study historic pollution

By Greg Pederson | University of Texas at Arlington A biology researcher at The University of Texas at Arlington has received a prestigious grant to…
SourceSourceJuly 17, 2024 Full article
Image
Oil and natural gas development in Permian is a key source of ozone pollution in Carlsbad Caverns National ParkClimate

Oil and natural gas development in Permian is a key source of ozone pollution in Carlsbad Caverns National Park

By Colorado State University New research shows that ozone concentrations at Carlsbad Caverns National Park frequently exceed Environmental Protection Agency health standards, likely due to…
SourceSourceJuly 16, 2024 Full article
Image: View of a thermal station in the distance above the clouds, columns of smoke (s. fossil fuel emissions, climate)
Does air pollution affect lupus risk?Science

Does air pollution affect lupus risk?

Arthritis & Rheumatology | Wiley New research published in Arthritis & Rheumatology indicates that chronic exposure to air pollutants may increase the risk of developing…
SourceSourceJuly 10, 2024 Full article
Image: plastic pollution
Norway can lead the fight against plastic pollutionScience

Norway can lead the fight against plastic pollution

Norway's long, rugged coastline – more than 28,953 kilometers long, including the fjords – suffers from plastic pollution even though it is so remote. It's…
SourceSourceJuly 5, 2024 Full article
Image
NARO developed a novel method to analyze ‘forever chemicals’ in the soilScience

NARO developed a novel method to analyze ‘forever chemicals’ in the soil

By National Agriculture and Food Research Organization (NARO), Japan Concern about the effects of PFAS are of increasing globally. Also there is no accurate method…
SourceSourceJuly 3, 2024 Full article
Image
Novel spectroscopy technique sheds light on NOx reductionScience

Novel spectroscopy technique sheds light on NOx reduction

By Lehigh University When power plants burn fossil fuels at high temperatures, nitrogen and oxygen molecules break apart and then recombine to form a class…
SourceSourceJuly 1, 2024 Full article
Image: a doctor examining a child with a stethoscope
Air pollution exposure during childhood linked directly to adult bronchitis symptoms in new researchScience

Air pollution exposure during childhood linked directly to adult bronchitis symptoms in new research

By Wayne Lewis | Keck School of Medicine of USC A new study brings fresh revelations about the connection between early-life exposure to air pollution…
SourceSourceJune 29, 2024 Full article
Satellite image: Lake Erie's Algae (s. climate, science, world lakes)
Half of world’s lakes are less resilient to disturbance than they used to beScience

Half of world’s lakes are less resilient to disturbance than they used to be

Tracking lakes from spaceWhat’s messing up our lakes? Nearly half of the world’s large lakes have lost resilience, or the ability to bounce back after…
SourceSourceJune 26, 2024 Full article
Image
Polluting carmakers in the top 10 recipients of green fundsNews

Polluting carmakers in the top 10 recipients of green funds

By Transport & Environment Organisation (T&E) Study from Voxeurop and European Investigative Collaborations shows that companies engaged in oil extraction, car manufacturing and fashion are…
SourceSourceJune 25, 2024 Full article
Image: Airplane at sunset
Ultrafine particles from planes put 52 million Europeans at risk of serious health conditionsClimate

Ultrafine particles from planes put 52 million Europeans at risk of serious health conditions

By Transport & Environment (T&E) A new study by green group Transport & Environment (T&E) suggests that thousands of cases of high blood pressure, diabetes and dementia…
SourceSourceJune 25, 2024 Full article
Image: Airport terminal
European airport pollution threatens health of 52 mn people: NGONews

European airport pollution threatens health of 52 mn people: NGO

Paris, France | AFP - High concentrations of tiny particles released when aviation jet fuel is burnt pose a health risk to 52 million people…
SourceSourceJune 25, 2024 Full article
2023 Ohio train derailment
New findings: East Palestine train derailment caused chemical pollution falling to the earth surface across the US and beyondScience

New findings: East Palestine train derailment caused chemical pollution falling to the earth surface across the US and beyond

By IOP Publishing A new study published in the academic journal Environmental Research Letters, reveals that the environmental impact of the February 3, 2023, Norfolk…
SourceSourceJune 19, 2024 Full article
Aerial image: Air Pollution in Ha Noi
Air pollution linked to 8.1 million global deaths in 2021, rising as top threat for children under fiveNewsFacts

Air pollution linked to 8.1 million global deaths in 2021, rising as top threat for children under five

Comprehensive new report details health impacts of air pollution, which has moved ahead of tobacco and poor diet as a risk factor for death. Boston/New…
SourceSourceJune 19, 2024 Full article
Image: Dolphins in the ocean
Research Finds Dolphins With Elevated Mercury Levels in Florida and Georgia, USScience

Research Finds Dolphins With Elevated Mercury Levels in Florida and Georgia, US

By NIST In a study with potential implications for the oceans and human health, scientists reported elevated mercury levels in dolphins in the U.S. Southeast,…
SourceSourceJune 14, 2024 Full article
Image
Low-cost sensors: a game changer for global air quality monitoring and people’s healthNews

Low-cost sensors: a game changer for global air quality monitoring and people’s health

In a bid to address the growing concerns over air pollution's impact on health and the environment, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has unveiled a…
Adrian AlexandreAdrian AlexandreJune 13, 2024 Full article
Image: The high-altitude Integrated Carbon Observation System (ICOS) Jungfraujoch station in Switzerland
Research signals major milestone in cutting harmful gases that deplete ozone and worsen global warmingScience

Research signals major milestone in cutting harmful gases that deplete ozone and worsen global warming

By University of Bristol A new study has revealed significant progress in the drive to reduce levels in the atmosphere of chemicals that destroy Earth’s…
SourceSourceJune 11, 2024 Full article
Image: Gray Tower Covered by Smoke
Air pollution linked to 135 million premature deaths: studyNews

Air pollution linked to 135 million premature deaths: study

Singapore, Singapore (AFP) - Pollution from man-made emissions and other sources like wildfires have been linked to around 135 million premature deaths worldwide between 1980…
SourceSourceJune 10, 2024 Full article