Combatting air pollution with nature

Combatting air pollution with nature:

Technologies to mitigate pollution have become widespread in recent years, but scientists are now exploring a new, pared-down approach: using nature to restore ecological balance. They report their findings in ACS’ Environmental Science & Technology.

Newswise — Air pollution is composed of particles and gases that can have negative impacts on both the environment and human health. Technologies to mitigate pollution have become widespread in recent years, but scientists are now exploring a new, pared-down approach: using nature to restore ecological balance. They report their findings in ACS’ Environmental Science & Technology.
In the decades since the Clean Air Act of 1970, air quality across the U.S. has improved dramatically. However, according to the American Lung Association, four in 10 people in the U.S. still live in areas with poor air quality, which can result in serious health effects such as asthma, lung cancer and cardiovascular disease. Technology to control and remove pollutants can be costly and often requires a great deal of energy. As an alternative, researchers are looking to nature-based solutions (NBS), a form of sustainable infrastructure that uses natural, rather than manufactured, elements. NBS are adaptable, cost-effective and can support native wildlife, making it a truly “green” solution in combatting pollution and climate change. To better understand the feasibility of NBS to reduce pollution, Bhavik Bakshi and colleagues wanted to perform a data-driven analysis.

The researchers used publicly available data and calculated factors, such as current vegetation cover, county-level emissions from air pollutants and land area available for restoration, to determine the potential benefits of NBS across the U.S. Next, they calculated the financial aspect of implementing NBS to mitigate various air pollutants. The team found that in 75% of counties analyzed, it was more economical to use nature-based solutions for mitigating emissions than to implement technological interventions. Counties that were not strong candidates for NBS either did not have enough available land, or the cost of technological methods was less than that of restoration. Overall, the researchers found that both urban and rural populations could benefit from NBS, though many environmental factors should be considered before putting the approach into practice.

Interactive versions of the maps can be accessed here: https://sustainable.engineering.osu.edu/software.

The researchers acknowledge funding from the National Science Foundation.

This paper’s abstract will be available on November 6 at 8 a.m. Eastern time here: http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/acs.est.9b01445

The American Chemical Society, the world’s largest scientific society, is a not-for-profit organization chartered by the U.S. Congress. ACS is a global leader in providing access to chemistry-related information and research through its multiple databases, peer-reviewed journals and scientific conferences. ACS does not conduct research, but publishes and publicizes peer-reviewed scientific studies. Its main offices are in Washington, D.C., and Columbus, Ohio.
To automatically receive news releases from the American Chemical Society, contact newsroom@acs.org.

Air Pollution Now Strongly Linked to Mental Illness

The Dangers Of Air Pollution


 A!n in-depth study at the harm air pollution can cause

Story at-a-glance

• A set of three studies by researchers at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital highlighted the risks of air pollution to children’s mental health
• Short-term exposure to air pollution was linked to increased utilization of the Cincinnati Children's emergency department for psychiatric issues, particularly for adjustment disorder and suicidality
• Exposure to traffic-related air pollution was associated with generalized anxiety symptoms and increased myo-inositol, a marker of inflammation in the brain, in 12-year-olds
• Exposure to traffic-related air pollution in early life and childhood was significantly associated with depression and anxiety symptoms in 12-year-olds

Worldwide, 93% of children live in areas with air pollution at levels above World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines.¹ Further, more than 1 in 4 deaths among children under 5 years is related to environmental risks, including air pollution.
When most people think about health risks linked to polluted air, respiratory issues come to mind and, indeed, in 2016 ambient (outside) and household air pollution contributed to respiratory tract infections that led to 543,000 deaths in children under 5.² However, air pollution takes a toll on the whole body, contributing not only to physical risks but also mental health problems.
A set of studies by researchers at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, in collaboration with researchers at the University of Cincinnati, has highlighted the risks to children, in particular, who may see their mental health suffer as a result of polluted air.

Three Studies Link Air Pollution to Mental Health Risks

In the first study, published in Environmental Health Perspectives, researchers looked at the association between emergency room visits and exposure to fine particulate matter (PM 2.5), which refers to dust, dirt, soot and smoke particles smaller than 2.5 micrometers in diameter.³
The WHO report revealed that in low- and middle-income countries, 98% of children under 5 years are exposed to fine particulate matter at levels higher than the WHO air quality guidelines.
The Environmental Health Perspectives study revealed that short-term exposure to air pollution was linked to increased utilization of the Cincinnati Children's emergency department for psychiatric issues, particularly for adjustment disorder and suicidality.
Further, mental health of children living in high-poverty neighborhoods was most affected by air pollution. Lead study author Cole Brokamp, Ph.D., with Cincinnati Children's Hospital, said in a news release:⁴

"This study is the first to show an association between daily outdoor air pollution levels and increased symptoms of psychiatric disorders, like anxiety and suicidality, in children. More research is needed to confirm these findings, but it could lead to new prevention strategies for children experiencing symptoms related to a psychiatric disorder.”

Air Pollution May Cause Brain Inflammation, Anxiety Symptoms

The second study, published in the August 2019 issue of Environmental Research, looked into exposure to traffic-related air pollution (TRAP) on brain metabolism and symptoms of generalized anxiety in 12-year-olds.⁵ Recent exposure to TRAP was associated with generalized anxiety symptoms and increased myo-inositol, a marker of inflammation in the brain.
“This is the first study of children to utilize neuroimaging to link TRAP exposure, metabolite dysregulation in the brain, and generalized anxiety symptoms among otherwise healthy children,” the researchers concluded. “TRAP may elicit atypical excitatory neurotransmission and glial inflammatory responses leading to increased metabolite levels and subsequent anxiety symptoms.”⁶
The third study, also published in Environmental Research, found that early-life exposure to TRAP, as well as exposure during childhood, was significantly associated with depression and anxiety symptoms in 12-year-olds.⁷ A similar association between air pollution and mental health was previously reported among adults, but this study suggests the effects may also occur in children exposed to air pollution.
“Collectively, these studies contribute to the growing body of evidence that exposure to air pollution during early life and childhood may contribute to depression, anxiety, and other mental health problems in adolescence,” Patrick Ryan, Ph.D., a lead author of the Environmental Health Perspectives study, said in a news release. “More research is needed to replicate these findings and uncover underlying mechanisms for these associations.”⁸
Past research has also found that living in an area with higher levels of air pollution is associated with decreased cognitive function and sleep disturbances.⁹
“Evidence that exposure to air pollution affects brain structure was found by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of participants in the Framingham Offspring Study, indicating that higher exposure to PM2.5 is associated with a reduction in total brain volume,” according to a Royal College of Physicians report.¹⁰

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Why Children Are Especially Vulnerable to Air Pollution

When children are exposed to pollutants, they’re even more vulnerable than adults, in part because their bodies (including their lungs and brains) are still developing, putting them at risk from inflammation and other health damage. They also have a longer life expectancy, giving more time for diseases to emerge.
According to WHO, a combination of “behavioral, environmental and physiological factors” makes children particularly susceptible to air pollution, adding:¹¹

“[Children] breathe faster than adults, taking in more air and, with it, more pollutants. Children live closer to the ground, where some pollutants reach peak concentrations. They may spend much time outside, playing and engaging in physical activity in potentially polluted air.

Newborn and infant children, meanwhile, spend most of their time indoors, where they are more susceptible to household air pollution, as they are near their mothers while the latter cook with polluting fuels and devices … In the womb, they are vulnerable to their mothers’ exposure to pollutants. Exposure before conception can also impose latent risks on the fetus.”

Exposure to air pollution has also been linked to problems with fetal brain growth.¹² The WHO report analyzed studies published within the past 10 years, and used input from dozens of experts, to reveal some of the top health risks air pollution poses to children. Among them:¹³

Adverse birth outcomes, including low birth weight, premature birth, stillbirth and infants born small for gestational age.

Infant mortality; as pollution levels increase, so does risk of infant mortality.

Neurodevelopment — Exposure to air pollution may lead to lower cognitive test outcomes, negatively affect children’s mental and motor development and may influence the development of autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

Childhood obesity

Lung function — Prenatal exposure to air pollution is associated with impaired lung development and lung function in childhood.

Acute lower respiratory infection, including pneumonia

Asthma — Exposure to ambient air pollution increases the risk of asthma and exacerbates symptoms of childhood asthma.

Ear infection

Childhood cancers, including retinoblastomas and leukemia

Health problems in adulthood — Evidence suggests that prenatal exposure to air pollution may increase the risk of chronic lung disease and cardiovascular disease later in life.

Air Pollution Interferes With Sleep

Research presented at the American Thoracic Society (ATS) 2017 International Conference suggested poor air quality may also disrupt your sleep.¹⁴
People in the top quarter of NO2 exposure (nitrogen dioxide, which is traffic-related air pollution) were 60% more likely to have low sleep efficiency over a five-year period compared to those in the lowest quarter. Among those exposed to the highest levels of fine particle pollution, there was a 50% increased likelihood of low sleep efficiency.
The researchers suggested the effect could be related to air pollution’s effects on the “central nervous system and brain areas associated with breathing control and sleep.”¹⁵
Sleep, in turn, is intricately linked to mental health, so one way air pollution may contribute to mental health symptoms could be by disturbing sleep. Meanwhile, previous research suggests that children with mood disorders or negative emotional symptoms may be more vulnerable to the harms of air pollution exposure.¹⁶
In other words, among people with poorer mental health, air pollution may lead to greater physical risks, including higher heart rate and blood pressure, and lower lung function, compared to those with better mental health.¹⁷ Mental illness could therefore potentially determine a population at increased risk of adverse health effects from air pollution.

Agriculture Is a Major Source of Air Pollution

The majority of global airborne particulate pollution — 85% — comes from fuel combustion, with coal being the “world’s most polluting fossil fuel.”¹⁸ Even in the U.S., an estimated 200,000 premature deaths are caused by combustion emissions, including that from vehicles and power generation.¹⁹
However, research published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters demonstrated that in certain densely populated areas, emissions from farming far outweigh other sources of particulate matter air pollution.²⁰ The study found that in Europe, the eastern U.S. and China, agriculture is a significant source of PM2.5.²¹ Further:²²

“In the past 70 years, global ammonia emissions have more than doubled, from 23 Tg/yr to 60 Tg/yr. This increase is entirely attributed to NH3 [ammonia] emissions from agriculture, with N fertilizer use contributing 33% and livestock production 66%. The emissions from livestock production come from animal houses and storage systems, animal manure, and grazing.”

Ammonia is one of the byproducts of fertilizer and animal waste. When the ammonia in the atmosphere reaches industrial areas, it combines with pollution from diesel and petroleum combustion, creating microparticles. Concentrated animal feeding operation (CAFO) workers and neighboring residents alike report higher incidence of asthma, headaches, eye irritation and nausea.
Research published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine also revealed that markers of lung function were related to how far they lived from CAFOs.²³

Protecting Yourself From Polluted Air

Air pollution poses a silent yet insidious threat to human health, one that can be difficult to get away from depending on where you live and work. WHO, in fact, reported that only 8% of people worldwide are breathing air that meets their standards.²⁴
One important step is to fortify your body with anti-inflammatory vegetables and fats, which may help to protect you from some of the damage air pollution causes. Notable standouts include:²⁵

• Omega-3 fats — They’re anti-inflammatory, and in a study of 29 middle-aged people, taking an animal-based omega-3 fat supplement reduced some of the adverse effects to heart health and lipid levels, including triglycerides, that occurred with exposure to air pollution (olive oil did not have the same effect).²⁶
• Broccoli sprouts — Broccoli-sprout extract was shown to prevent the allergic nasal response that occurs upon exposure to particles in diesel exhaust, such that the researchers suggested broccoli or broccoli sprouts could have a protective effect on air pollution’s role in allergic disease and asthma.²⁷ A broccoli-sprout beverage even enhanced the detoxification of some airborne pollutants among residents of a highly-polluted region of China.²⁸
• Vitamins C and E — Among children with asthma, antioxidant supplementation including vitamins C and E helped to buffer the impact of ozone exposure on their small airways.²⁹
• B vitamins — A small-scale human trial found high doses of vitamins B6, B9 and B12 in combination completely offset damage caused by very fine particulate matter in air pollution. Four weeks of high-dose supplementation reduced genetic damage in 10 gene locations by 28% to 76%, protected mitochondrial DNA from the harmful effects of pollution, and even helped repair some of the genetic damage.³⁰

Tending to the quality of your home’s indoor air is also important, since most people spend the majority of their time inside. In fact, not only do Americans spend about 90% of their time indoors, but some pollutants may be two to five times more concentrated indoors than out.³¹ One commonsense measure is to simply open your windows to let fresh air in.
Installing an attic fan can also help bring fresh air into your home while installing kitchen and bathroom fans that vent to the outside can help remove contaminants from these rooms. The following steps will further help to improve your indoor air quality:

Consider a heat recovery ventilator (HRV) — Since most newer homes are airtight and therefore more energy efficient, air exchange with outdoor air is challenging. Some builders are now installing HRV systems to help prevent condensation and mold growth and improve indoor air quality.32 If you can't afford an HRV, open your windows and run the bathroom and kitchen exhaust fans to vent your indoor air to the outside. You don't have to do this for more than 15 to 20 minutes each day and should do it summer and winter at times when the temperature outside is closest to your indoor temperature.

Service fuel-burning appliances — Poorly maintained natural gas heaters and stoves, furnaces, hot water heaters, space heaters, water softeners and other fuel-burning appliances may leak carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide.33

Keep indoor humidity below 50% — Mold grows in damp and humid environments. Use a dehumidifier and air conditioner to keep your humidity under 50%. Keep the units cleaned so they aren't a source of pollution.

Don't smoke indoors — Ask smokers to go outside. Secondhand smoke from cigarettes, pipes and cigars contains over 200 known carcinogenic chemicals, endangering your health.

Don't use scented candles, room fresheners or hazardous cleaning supplies — Candles and air fresheners release dangerous volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into your home. Instead, remove all garbage from your home as often as necessary and keep soiled laundry away from the living areas. Clean with less hazardous supplies, such as white vinegar and baking soda, and add essential oils for a clean scent.34

Test for radon — Radon is a colorless, odorless gas linked to lung cancer. It can be trapped under your home during construction and may leak into your air system over time. Radon testing kits are a quick and cheap way to determine if you are at risk.

Clean air ducts and change filters — The air ducts from your forced air heating and air conditioning units may be a source of pollution in your home. If there is mold growth, a buildup of dust and debris or if the ducts have become home to vermin, it's time to call a professional and have them cleaned. Change your furnace filters every three months or earlier if they appear to be dirty.

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Study sheds new light on the harms of air pollution

Study sheds new light on the harms of air pollution |

 A new University at Buffalo study based on levels before, during and after the Beijing Olympics reveals how air pollution affects the human body at the level of metabolites. Researchers found that 69 metabolites changed significantly when air pollution changed.


 

Credit: University at Buffalo

Lina Mu, PhD, associate professor of epidemiology and environmental health, University at Buffalo School of Public Health and Health Professions

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CITATIONS

Environmental Health Perspectives, May-2019

SECTION

MEDICINE

TYPE OF ARTICLE

Research Results

CHANNELS

All Journal News, Environmental Health, Pollution, Respiratory Diseases and Disorders

KEYWORDS

Air Pollution, air pollution and human health, Metabolites, Beijing

Researchers found that 69 metabolites changed significantly when air pollution changed. Their results were published today (May 29) in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives.

The study identified two major metabolic signatures, one consisting of lipids and a second that included dipeptides, polyunsaturated fatty acids, taurine, and xanthine. Many of those metabolites are involved in oxidative stress, inflammation, cardiovascular and nervous systems, researchers note.

The findings are based on the Beijing Olympics Air Pollution study, conducted during the 2008 Olympic Games in China, when temporary air pollution controls were implemented. The study was led by UB epidemiologist Lina Mu.
The study enrolled 201 adults prior to Beijing’s air quality improvement initiative, when air pollution was high. Researchers followed them during the Games, when air pollution was low, and afterward, when levels returned to their usual high in the city of 21 million people. A subset of 26 non-smokers aged 30 to 65 was selected for the metabolomics analysis.

Metabolites are small molecules that are the end products of environmental exposures, such as air pollution, and body metabolism. “Think of our body as a society. These metabolites fulfill different positions, such as teacher, farmer, worker, soldier. We need each one functioning properly in order to maintain a healthy system,” said Mu, PhD, associate professor of epidemiology and environmental health in UB’s School of Public Health and Health Professions.

“Our study found that the human body had systemic changes at the metabolite level before, during and after the 2008 Beijing Olympics, when ambient air pollution changed drastically,” said Zhongzheng Niu, a PhD candidate and a paper co-author.

The molecules mostly belonged to the lipid and dipeptide families.

The study provides researchers with a broader view of the molecular mechanism underlying the impact of air pollution on the human body. Most previous studies only looked at a small number of molecules. However, the human body is complex and molecules affect one another.
Mu and her colleagues used the “omics” method, a new platform that can measure a whole collection of all detectable metabolites — 886 in their study — simultaneously. Instead of examining these molecules one by one, Mu and her team used network analysis to analyze them all together.
“We found that these metabolites together depicted a relatively comprehensive picture of human body responses to air pollution,” said paper co-author Rachael Hageman Blair, associate professor of biostatistics at UB. She and her team developed the novel analysis method used in the study.
The responses include cellular stability, oxidative stress, anti-oxidation and inflammation.
Researchers measured metabolomics repeatedly when air pollution was high, low and high. Such a design mimicked a “natural experiment” while controlling for variations unrelated to air pollution changes. This provided stronger evidence than previous studies

Air pollution is an environmental exposure that can’t be avoided by people who live in places like Beijing. The World Health Organization reports that 91 percent of the world’s population lives in places where air quality exceeds WHO guidelines.

Once inhaled, air pollutants stimulate the body’s respiratory system, including the nose and lungs. Some cells in the body may be directly insulted by these air pollutants, their membrane may be broken, their secretion may be disordered, and they may send out signaling molecules to other organs for subsequent responses, Mu explains. Metabolites are all these broken membranes, secreted products and signals.

“Capturing these molecules tells us what is going on when people are exposed to air pollution,” Mu said.

Air pollution also induces cellular oxidative stress, which breaks cell membranes.
Researchers found that some molecules that serve as building blocks of cell membranes were elevated when air pollution levels rose. Broken cell membranes release different kinds of lipid molecules. Some of these lipid molecules, with the help of enzymes, turn to inflammatory molecules, which could be harmful to the body.

“The good thing is that we also found some protective molecules, namely antioxidants, also increased when air pollution is high, indicating our body has a defense system to reduce harm,” Mu said.
Studies such as this one may help identify individuals most vulnerable to air pollution, as well as finding potential biological pathways to guide treatment that reduces harm to the body, Mu said.
Mu’s UB co-authors include Richard Browne, associate professor of biotechnical and clinical laboratory sciences, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences; Matthew Bonner, associate professor of epidemiology and environmental health; and Mya Swanson, data manager/statistician, Department of Epidemiology and Environmental Health.
Furong Deng of Peking University is also a co-author.

SEE ORIGINAL STUDY

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Air Pollution Triggers Millions of Cases of Diabetes Each Year

Air Pllution - A great Danger

Story at-a-glance

• Air pollution has been named the “largest environmental cause of disease and premature death in the world today” as it is generated around the world and travels without respect for borders
• Diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death in the U.S.; links between outdoor air pollution and the emergence of Type 2 diabetes have been established, but this study was the first attempt to quantify the connection
• In the largest study of its kind, researchers determined 14 percent of cases of diabetes could be attributed to air pollution and an estimated 8.2 million years of healthy life were lost globally in 2016 due to air pollution-induced diabetes
• Indoor air pollution develops from outgassing from furniture and building material and is associated with negative health conditions; by keeping your indoor air clean, you may create a safe haven from outdoor air pollution
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  By Dr. Mercola
  Air pollution has been named the "largest environmental cause of disease and premature death in the world today" by a collaboration of more than 40 researchers looking at data from 130 countries.¹ The problem is insidious and travels without respect for borders. Air pollution created in Asia affects people living on the California coast.
  Fine particulate matter (PM 2.5) is the most studied type of air pollution and refers to dust, dirt, soot, smoke or other particles smaller than 2.5 micrometers in diameter. These particles of air pollution are so fine they may enter your system through your lung tissue and trigger chronic inflammation, which in turn increases your risk of health conditions.²
  According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 92 percent of the world's population is breathing polluted air³ and nearly 7 million deaths are attributed to air pollution each year.⁴ Overall, a toxic environment is responsible for at least 25 percent of all deaths reported worldwide, and air pollution is the greatest contributor.
  The idea that air pollution is a source of toxic exposure often leading to ill-health should come as no surprise. In a previous study,⁵ American researchers found exposure to as little as one or two months of air pollution may be enough to increase your risk of diabetes, especially if you are already obese. In a recent global study,⁶ a new link has been made between air pollution and Type 2 diabetes.
  
  

  Air Pollution May Be Responsible for Damage Leading to Type 2 Diabetes

  According to the American Diabetes Association,⁷ 30.3 million Americans, or 9.4 percent of the population, had diabetes in 2015. Type 2 diabetes is the more common form of the condition, accounting for nearly 99 percent of cases⁸ and is the seventh leading cause of death in the U.S. In 2015, 4.1 million Americans over 18 were diagnosed with prediabetes, a condition in which blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not high enough for a diagnosis of diabetes.
  Individuals with prediabetes have an increased risk for developing Type 2 diabetes, heart disease and stroke.⁹ Previous studies^10,11,12,13 have looked at links between outdoor air pollution and the emergence of Type 2 diabetes, but the featured study is a first attempt to quantify the connection.
  Researchers tracked 1.7 million U.S. Veterans¹⁴ for almost a decade in order to assess risk, using data from other global studies evaluating diabetes risk, along with air quality data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and NASA.
  The researchers then created an equation to analyze the connection between exposure to air pollution and the risk of diabetes globally. The study, published by The Lancet Planetary Health, concluded that air pollution was responsible for 3.2 million newly diagnosed cases around the world in 2016 alone. Assistant professor of medicine at Washington University and author of the study, Dr. Ziyad Al-Aly, commented on the overall effects of breathing air pollutants, saying:¹⁵
  

  "We tell people all the time, if you eat bad stuff, it affects your health. You are what you eat, you are what you drink and, really, you are what you breathe. What you breathe really, really affects your health."

  This was one of the largest and most unique studies of its kind. In all, 14 percent of newly diagnosed cases of Type 2 diabetes could be attributed to air pollution in 2016.¹⁶ The study also estimated 8.2 million years of healthy life were lost globally in 2016 due to air pollution-induced diabetes.
  The pollutants tracked and examined in the study were PM 2.5, 30 times smaller than a human hair. The study makes a strong case that the current EPA limits on air pollution are set too high. The threshold on particulate matter deemed safe by the EPA is 12 ug/m3 (micrograms per cubic meter of air) and the study found the risk of diabetes started at 2.4 ug/m3.
  During the study, 21 percent exposed to between 5 ug/m3 and 10 ug/m3 of particulate matter, developed diabetes. At the current "safe" level established by the EPA, 24 percent develop diabetes.
  

  Rule Creates Loophole to Evade Improvements in Water and Air Quality

  While this and other studies have demonstrated a significant detrimental effect on the health of U.S. citizens from air pollution, a rule proposed by the Trump Administration¹⁷ suggests all studies used by the EPA to determine water and air regulations must make their underlying data publicly available. Unfortunately, studies like the featured study and others are based on confidentially held health data. This greatly undermines the potential for regulations to improve air quality.
  In the face of this and other data, the Trump administration¹⁸ is seeking to boost the nation's manufacturing sector by creating industry-friendly air quality regulations, which environmentalists warn will damage the health of U.S. citizens.
  In one directive, he proposed the EPA work with states whose metro areas are failing to obtain clean air standards, by helping them submit plans to show how the city will confront the problem — a review process that can take years. This represents a clear effort on the part of the administration to assist manufacturers, which the president made clear in his accompanying statement:¹⁹
  

  "These actions are intended to ensure that EPA carries out its core missions of protecting the environment and improving air quality in accord with statutory requirements, while reducing unnecessary impediments to new manufacturing and business expansion essential for a growing economy."

  Pollution Contributes to Obesity

  The journey started nearly 60 years ago when an environmental disaster in southwestern Pennsylvania forever changed the way America thought about industrial pollution.²⁰ In 1948 the people of Donora, Pennsylvania, awoke to a thick blanket of smog that darkened the valley for five days before lifting when a storm swept through. By this time, one-third of the population had become ill, 20 people were dead and another 50 died in the following months.²¹
  It was later learned cold air had trapped a mixture of carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide and metal dust over the valley, recorded as the worst air pollution disaster in U.S. history. It was this disaster that prompted the federal government to begin regulating industrial pollution.
  Previous studies have looked at respiratory conditions and cardiovascular disease associated with inhaling air pollutants but more recent studies have found compelling evidence suggesting air quality can also contribute to weight gain and obesity. In one study²² examining over 3,000 children in California, researchers found an association between traffic density and higher levels of body mass index (BMI) by the age of 18.
  Another study²³ analyzed BMI in children exposed to traffic-related air pollution over a five-year period, during which those exposed to the most pollution, compared to those exposed to the least, had a 14 percent larger increase in their BMI. Another from Harvard Medical School looked at whether adults living in areas with constant exposure to traffic were more likely to be overweight, and found more fat tissue in those who lived 60 meters (197 feet) from a busy road than those who lived 440 meters (1,443 feet) away.²⁴
  The relationship has also been found in animal studies. Chinese researchers²⁵ compared two groups of pregnant rats, one raised in a filtered air-scrubbed room and the other breathing outdoor air from Beijing. The animals were fed the same diet, but those living in Beijing air were heavier at the end of their pregnancy as were their offspring. Autopsy findings found the rats exposed to pollutants had higher levels of inflammation, which may have contributed to weight gain and metabolic disruption.
  An EPA study found mice exposed to ozone pollution developed glucose intolerance, a precursor to diabetes.^26,27 In a study evaluating the physiological response in 314 overweight or obese children in Los Angeles, children who lived in neighborhoods with the highest concentration of nitrogen dioxide and particulates were found to have the greatest decline in insulin sensitivity.²⁸
  

  Multiple Molecules Make Up Air Pollution

  Multiple types of molecules make up the fine particulate matter your body is able to absorb through lung tissue. Top pollutants include:
  

  Ammonia	Carbon monoxide
  Fine particulates	Lead
  Nitrogen oxides	Sulfur dioxide
  Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)	Ozone

  While car emissions contribute one source of air pollutions, another significant source is released into the atmosphere from synthetic nitrogen-based fertilizers at rates higher than previously believed.²⁹ California has some of the strictest car emission standards in the U.S., but is continued to be plagued by nitrogen oxide pollution.
  Scientists have known soil microbes convert nitrogen-based fertilizers to nitrogen oxides and then release them into the air. However, it was assumed the amount of gas would increase linearly, or at 1 percent of the amount of fertilizer used. These predictions turned out to be conservative,³⁰ as emissions were measured at up to 5 percent of the fertilizer used, explaining some of the increased rates of nitrogen oxides emitted in large agricultural areas.
  Unfortunately, when nitrogen oxides and VOCs combine on a sunny day, it increases the amount of ozone at ground level. VOCs are emitted by cars, power plants, refineries and chemical plants. Ozone in the upper atmosphere, called stratospheric ozone, provides a protective shield against the ultraviolet rays of the sun.³¹ This beneficial ozone has been partially destroyed by man-made chemicals.
  However, ground level ozone, tropospheric ozone, is not admitted directly into the air but created through a chemical reaction and is a harmful pollutant. This bad ozone is the main ingredient in smog and has a higher likelihood of reaching unhealthy levels on hot sunny days, as sunlight triggers the chemical reaction between nitrogen oxides and VOCs.³² "Nitrogen oxides" is a catch-all term used to designate nitrogen oxide and nitrogen dioxide, both of which react with oxygen and sunlight to produce ozone in the lower atmosphere.
  

  Nanoparticles Responsible for Vascular Damage

  In a study published in Environmental Pollution,³³ researchers found silica nanoparticles have the ability to trigger mitochondrial dysfunction in endothelial cells by entering the mitochondria, causing swelling and increasing the intracellular level of reactive oxygen species. This eventually results in the collapse of the mitochondrial membrane and impairment in ATP synthesis.³⁴
  Silica nanoparticles were found to trigger endothelial toxicity using mitochondria as the target, which may in part explain some of the cardiovascular dysfunction triggered by PM 2.5 air pollution. Silica nanoparticles are used³⁵ as an additive in rubber and plastics, to strengthen concrete and as a platform for biomedical applications, such as drug delivery. In other words, drugs bound to silica nanoparticles may create endothelial damage as you take prescribed medications.
  However, nano-particulate damage is not new information.³⁶ A study published by the American Chemical Society found evidence of how particles inhaled may affect your blood vessels and heart muscle.³⁷ Air pollution has shortened the lives of nearly 40,000 people in the U.K.,³⁸ which is often attributed to the part it plays in worsening or triggering heart and lung disease. Using humans and several mouse models, the researchers studied the effect of inhaled gold nanoparticles.
  Within 24 hours after inhalation, particles were detected in the blood and urine of the participants and appeared to have an affinity for accumulating in damaged or inflamed areas of the vascular system,³⁹ suggesting nanoparticles have the ability to access the bloodstream from your lungs and reach susceptible areas of your cardiovascular system.
  In some participants, the nanoparticles were still detectable in the urine three months after testing, leading researchers to theorize air pollutant nanoparticles may have the potential to make a similar journey in your body.
  Researchers then asked participants scheduled for removal of damaged blood vessels to inhale gold nanoparticles.⁴⁰ Following surgery the researchers analyzed the plaques and found an accumulation of nanoparticles from the prior 24 hours. Although some criticized the design of the study, it is clear air pollution damages heart and lung tissue. Coauthor of the study, Dr. Nicholas Mills, commented on the results saying:⁴¹
  

  "We have always suspected that nanoparticles in the air that we breathe in could escape from the lungs and enter the body, but until now there was no proof. These findings are of wide importance for human health, and we must now focus our attention on reducing emissions and exposure to airborne nanoparticles."

  Mind Your Indoor Air Quality as Well

  Your risk of breathing polluted air does not end when you go indoors. Indoor air pollution is also associated with a remarkable number of conditions, including worsening asthma, poor sleep, high blood pressure and reduced cognitive function. Primary sources are the materials used to construct your home and everything in it, including your furniture, as well as chemical products you bring into the home for cleaning or DIY projects.
  Modern buildings are also airtight for energy efficiency purposes, and need to be properly ventilated to prevent the buildup of indoor pollution. One way to reduce your exposure to damaging outdoor air pollution is to keep your indoor air as clean as possible and stay indoors when pollution levels are high. For a list of strategies you may consider to improve your indoor air quality and protect your health see my previous article, "Reduce Indoor Air Pollution."

10 Dangerous Brain-Damaging Habits to Stop Immediately

Brain Damaging Habits

 Worth trying to see how much healthier your life can be:

by DailyHealthPostMay 7, 2018

On average, a human adult brain weighs about 3 pounds (1,300-1,400 g), which is roughly 2% of your total body weight (not counting excess body fat).

Your brain is responsible for almost every function in your body. This includes anything that has to do with regulating hormones, breathing, circadian rhythm, muscle control, heart beating, coordination, critical thinking, emotions and much more.

It goes without saying that the brain is one of the most energy demanding organ in your body. It’s estimated that the brain by itself eats up almost 20% of your body’s total calorie intake. And that number can vary based on age, gender, size and how much brain power you actually use throughout the day.

Since the brain is responsible for so many things, you’ll want to have it work at its optimum performance until The Big Sleep.

The following are ten common practices you may be doing that go against that goal.

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B Vitamin May Help Against Air Pollution

Dr Mercola is giving us great advice again regarding Vitamin B complex which protects agains Air Pollution which we are now practically submerged in on a daily basis.

• A small-scale human trial found high doses of vitamins B6, B9 and B12 in combination completely offset damage caused by very fine particulate matter in air pollution
• Four weeks of high-dose supplementation reduced genetic damage in 10 gene locations by 28 to 76 percent, protected mitochondrial DNA from the harmful effects of pollution, and even helped repair some of the genetic damage
• Several vitamin B deficiencies have the ability to produce symptoms of neuropsychiatric disorders and can be a valuable adjunct in the treatment of attention deficit disorder, anxiety, schizophrenia, dementia and more

The Dangers Of Air Pollution

Air Pollution

When I read the article about air pollution , it brought back memories of one summer in London.  It was hot and humid.  As I was crossing Oxford Street, I felt physically sick simply by breathing the polluted air.  It was extreme as I have not experienced anything on the same level anywhere.  This highlights the severity of air pollution and what we breathe in on a daily basis in a built up area where traffic is flowing incessantly.  That is why the importance of green spaces cannot be stressed enough.

• Air pollution is known to exacerbate heart and lung conditions, but recent research has identified how it is triggering cell death and atherosclerosis
• Particulate air pollution is a worldwide problem, causing more deaths in Africa than unsafe water, malnutrition, and unsanitary conditions
• Research has demonstrated that poor air quality also affects decision making and productivity, linking poor air quality days with decreasing returns in the New York Stock Exchange

Air Pollution - The Silent Killer

Air Pollution - The Silent Killler


I was aware how detrimental air pollution is to our health but had no idea it was this serious.  It looks like with all our gadgets of the modern world, we have created literal death traps through in air pollution.  How very and ever more important preserving green spaces and getting out into the countryside really is for our health, not to mention cutting down on using the car, recycling and generally being aware about what could contribute to air pollution and changing habits.

• According to the World Health Organization, 1 in 4 deaths are related to living and working in a toxic environment. Air pollution is the greatest contributor to this risk
• Air pollution is a major contributor to lung and respiratory infections, heart disease, and cancer. Of the top environmentally related deaths in 2012, stroke was No. 1, followed by heart disease
• Proactive measures pay off. In one Brazilian city, improvements in waste recycling, public transport, and pedestrian walkways has led to lower air pollution, and life expectance is 2 years longer than the national average

Air Pollution Controls Linked to Lower Death Rates in North Carolina

Positive news about Air Pollution Control that is helping to reduce the death rates in North Carolina.  How wonderful, and what positive news.  This should inspire other Governements to implement these controls.  Air pollution can be detrimental, especially for people with respiratory issues.

Air Pollution Controls Linked to Lower Death Rates in North Carolina