air pollution Archives - Amazing Health Advances

DIY Poo Spray

The AHA! Team — Mon, 23 Jun 2025 05:40:53 +0000

Candice Bruhn via Dr. Axe – Our bodies were made with a perfect system to bring energy in through eating and allow the waste to exit through, well, you know. As perfect as this system is, our poo does not always smell very neutral. In fact, depending on our diet, digestive health and overall health, odors can vary from mild to extreme. For many years, people have been sold on spray fragrances and fragrant candles to mask odors; however, these scents are often made of very toxic ingredients that pollute indoor air with volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Synthetic fragrances – host of health issues In addition to concentrating pollution inside of our homes, synthetic fragrances can cause a host of health issues, ranging from male reproductive problems, allergies, hormone disruption, cancer and much more. Before ever reaching for your synthetically scented poop spray again or purchasing the pricey Poo Pouri, try this all-natural bathroom spray — call it a DIY poo pourri — that serves as an affordable and effective alternative. How to Make A DIY Poop Spray It’s surprisingly easy and only requires three ingredients. In a small glass spray bottle, add 1 teaspoon of isopropyl alcohol (or rubbing alcohol). Next, add 40 drops of essential oils to rubbing alcohol, and gently swish to combine. I choose 15 drops lavender, 15 drops lime and 10 drops lemongrass. You can swap out whatever essential oils you have on hand, or go with a seasonal aproach, such as flower-like scents for the spring, citrus for summer, woodsy for fall and spices for the winter! Lastly, carefully pour in 3 ounces of distilled (or purified) water. Boiled water completely cooled (!) is a good alternative. Give it a good shake and you’re good to go. 🙂 How to use your DIY poo pray? Simply spray 3–4 pumps into toilet bowl, misting the water with this essential oil spray prior to using the bathroom. BONUS: This also works as an effective air freshener for after bathroom use as well. How does poo spray work? Essential oil–based bathroom sprays leave a film on top of the water that is said to trap odors from bodily waste and keep them below the surface. As waste hits the film and enters the water, a pleasant bloom of essential oil fragrance is released into the air, not only masking unpleasant odors, but also leaving a pleasant smell behind. The next time you feel the urge, give this natural bathroom spray a try and toss out the synthetic products. DIY Poo Spray Author: Candice Bruhn | Total Time: 5 minutes | Yield: 40 uses Before ever buying a synthetically scented poop spray or purchasing the expensive Poo Pourri brand, try this all-natural bathroom spray that serves as an affordable and effective alternative. Ingredients 1 teaspoon isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol 40 drops of essential oil (I used 15 drops lavender, 15 drops lime, 10 drops lemongrass) 3 ounces distilled water (boiled water completely cooled is a good alternative) Instructions In a small glass spray bottle, add 1 teaspoon of isopropyl alcohol. Add 40 drops of essential oils to rubbing alcohol, and gently swish to combine. Carefully pour in 3 ounces of distilled (or purified) water. Shake and use when ready! Notes Spray 3–4 pumps into toilet bowl, misting the water with this essential oil spray prior to using the bathroom. BONUS: This also works as an effective air freshener for after bathroom use as well. Prep Time: 5 min | Method: Mixing To read the original article click here.

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Scented Wax Melts May Not Be as Safe for Indoor Air as Initially Thought

The AHA! Team — Mon, 19 May 2025 05:14:36 +0000

American Chemical Society via EurekAlert! – Researchers monitored the nanoparticles produced from scented wax melts using lab equipment set up inside a model home. Traditional candles vs. Scented wax melts As traditional candles burn, they can contribute to indoor air pollution by emitting volatile compounds and smoke, which may pose inhalation risks. Scented wax melts are often marketed as safer alternatives to candles because they’re flame- and smoke-free. But in a study in ACS’ Environmental Science & Technology Letters, researchers describe how aroma compounds released from the melted wax can react with ozone in indoor air to form potentially toxic particles. Previous research has shown that scented wax melts emit more airborne scent compounds than traditional candles. The direct heating of the wax maximizes its surface area, thereby releasing more fragrance – such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs) made of hydrocarbons – into the air. Researchers know that these chemicals can react with other compounds in the air to form nanometer-wide particles, which have been linked to negative health effects when inhaled. However, the potential for nanoparticle formation during wax-melt use was unknown. So, Nusrat Jung, Brandon Boor and colleagues set out to investigate this process using wax melts in a full-scale house model that mimicked a typical residential house. Experiments on 15 commercially available wax melts The researchers conducted experiments on 15 commercially available wax melts, both unscented and scented (e.g., lemon, papaya, tangerine and peppermint), in the model house. They first established a baseline of indoor air pollutants and then switched on the wax warmer for about 2 hours. During and after this period, the researchers continuously sampled the air a few yards (meters) away from the wax melts and found airborne nanoparticles, between 1 and 100 nanometers wide, at levels that were comparable to previously reported levels for traditional, combustion-based candles. These particles could pose an inhalation risk because they are small enough to pass through respiratory tissues and enter the bloodstream, say the researchers. Literature data Additionally, using literature data, the team calculated that a person could inhale similar amounts of nanoparticles from wax melts as from traditional candles and gas stoves. Previous studies have found exposure to high levels of nanoparticles in indoor air can be linked to health risks like decreased cognitive function and increased prevalence of childhood asthma. The experiments In the experiments, the main VOCs emitted from the wax melts were terpenes, such as monoterpenes and monoterpenoids. The researchers identified that the airborne terpenes reacted with ozone and formed sticky compounds, which aggregated into nanoscale particles. However, after warming an unscented wax melt, the team observed no terpene emissions or nanoparticle formation, which suggests that these aroma compounds contribute to nanoparticle formation. The researchers say this study challenges the perception that scented wax melts are a safer alternative to combustion-based candles; however, they emphasize that more toxicology research is needed on the risks of breathing in nanoparticles formed from wax melts. A deeper analysis by the researchers of how airborne nanoparticles form indoors from volatile scent compounds was published in 2024 in ACS ES&T Air. The authors acknowledge funding from the National Science Foundation; Purdue University; and the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air Conditioning Engineers. Journal Environmental Science & Technology Letters DOI 10.1021/acs.estlett.4c00986 To read the original article click here.

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Swap Out Hazardous Household Cleaning Products for These 8 Nontoxic Alternatives

AHA Publisher — Mon, 03 Oct 2022 07:00:16 +0000

Stephanie Woods via NaturalHealth365 – Every day we use products to clean our homes, sanitize surfaces, and freshen the air, all in the name of creating a healthy living environment. And why not? Ads we see on the TV, internet, and in magazines, placed by companies that claim to have not only our best interest at heart but our families as well, promise a clean, healthy, safe home. Why wouldn’t we believe them? Unfortunately, too many people are taught to trust those in power, the ones with the money, larger than life because “they know what’s best for us.” And those same people follow without question, allowing these entities to introduce toxic substances into our food, water, and the products used to supposedly clean our homes and create a healthy, safe environment. But researchers are uncovering startling information that tells a different story. The majority of common, popular household cleaning products are devastatingly harmful to humans and pets. Common Household Cleaning Products May Be More Harmful Than Previously Thought It is well documented that the only way to get past a tainted food supply is to buy local, organic, and fresh – and even that is questionable. Unsafe water is another concern that is finally coming onto the public’s radar. Toxic household cleaners are not necessarily a new conversation, but it is gaining more traction as research reveals just how hazardous they are. An alarming body of research recently published by the University of Bergen in Norway found that long-term use of cleaning products (once a week for twenty years) could have the same effect on the human body as smoking 20 cigarettes a day over a ten to twenty-year period. Researchers believe that this damage could occur due to the irritation of the mucous membranes that line the lungs caused by exposure to the chemicals in the cleaning products. Inhaling these chemicals frequently (at least once a week) over a long period of time (around twenty years) can result in airway changes that are destructive and extremely harmful. After all, the particles that are contained in the cleaning products are intended to clean surfaces, not enter the human body or be inhaled into the lungs. The containers have strong warnings about ingesting the products, but the truth is, the mucous membranes aren’t the only vulnerability; the eyes and skin are also significant conduits by which toxins can enter the body. This includes exposure to toxins during application or use and any airborne contamination lingering after the product has been used. This endangers others who may not have had direct contact with the products due to use but are present in the living environment and touch the surfaces or breathe in the fumes – even long after the product was used. The research concluded that household cleaning products create as much air pollution as cars. Exposure to Household Cleaning Products Can Lead to Severe Adverse Health Effects Chronic or long-term exposure to household disinfectants, sanitizers, and cleaners has been linked to several serious health conditions, including: Increased asthma symptoms and complications Increased risk of conditions associated with asthma such as COPD, scarred lung tissue, and lung infections Low sperm count Increased risk of developing COPD Miscarriage Damage to the nervous system Headaches or migraines Menstruation irregularities in women Symptoms of airway irritation or inflammation, including wheezing, chest pain, and shortness of breath Increased risk of pneumonia caused by exposure via inhalation Products that top the list as most hazardous include those that contain corrosive chemicals, such as drain cleaners, oven cleaners, and toilet bowl cleaners. Ammonia and chlorine are also harmful chemicals that many cleaning products proudly advertise right there on their labels. Laundry detergents, dryer sheets, and fragrance products are also laden with harmful chemicals. Many fragrances that are added to cleaning solutions can also cause serious health problems. Ditch Harmful Products and Try THESE Nontoxic Alternatives Cleaning your home should be to rid your living environment of harmful toxins, not introduce more of them. Harsh chemicals may remove dirt and germs from surfaces, but the damage they do to the human body is a steep price to pay. Even products that carry an “organic,” “green,” or “natural” label or certification can still emit air pollutants that can be harmful. Using nontoxic, truly natural cleaners will significantly reduce your risk of exposure to harmful chemicals while keeping your home healthy, clean, and sanitized. The good news is all you need are eight staples that are probably in your pantry right now: Baking soda Gentle, non-scratch scrub Oven cleaner Drain cleaner Carpet deodorizer Litter box deodorizer Castile soap Laundry soap Bath soap All-purpose cleaner for home Shower cleaner Coconut oil Antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal cleaning solutions Clean wood furniture Sanitize wood cutting boards Use instead of WD-40 to lubricate squeaky hinges, etc. Moisturize leather goods (instead of leather conditioner) Essential oils (citrus is a good choice but eucalyptus, frankincense, peppermint, and tea tree oil are nice too) General cleaner (added to water) Insect repellant or “bug spray” (add a few drops of citrus, eucalyptus, frankincense, peppermint, or tea tree oil to water and put in a spray bottle) Room freshener Put in a diffuser during illness (frankincense cleans the air, eucalyptus helps relieve stuffy heads) Use in homemade laundry soap Hydrogen peroxide General cleaning solution Antibacterial cleaner Clean food prep areas Lemons (peel and juice) Clean and freshen refrigerator Clean and freshen garbage disposal Room freshener Clean cutting boards Clean coffee maker Furniture polish Rubbing alcohol (vodka also works) Countertop cleaners Sanitize surfaces White vinegar Disinfectant (follow with hydrogen peroxide for deeper disinfecting) Window cleaner Clean tile floors and bathtub (mix with baking soda) All-purpose cleaner for countertops (except stone, marble, or granite countertops) Bathroom grout Using truly natural, nontoxic cleaning substances will help keep a healthier, cleaner home. Sources for this article include: ChildrensHealthDefense.org Thoracic.org OEM.BMJ.com To read the original article click here.

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Air Pollution Linked to Dementia in YOUNG Brains, Under 30 years of Age

AHA Publisher — Mon, 26 Oct 2020 07:00:59 +0000

Damon Hines via NaturalHealth365 – Giovanni Papini famously said, “Breathing is the greatest pleasure in life.” But that’s clearly not the case when there’s an abundance of air pollution, and when each subsequent breath can increase the potential risk of lung disease, fertility problems and, even dementia. Today, air pollution is widely considered a public health emergency. For example, according to the World Health Organization, more than 90% of the global population lives with toxic and unsafe air, with air pollution accounting for 8.8 million early deaths a year. If that statistic isn’t bad enough, a report from Greenpeace Southeast Asia and the Center for Research on Energy and Clean Air found that burning gas, coal, and oil causes three times the number of deaths as traffic accidents. Comprehensive analysis now suggests that air pollution may damage “every organ in the body.” Plus, believe it or not, a recent study published in the Journal of Environmental Research links air pollution particles in young brain’s to dementia and Parkinson’s disease. Be Careful: Chronic Exposure to Air Pollution Shown to INCREASE the Risk of Neurodegenerative Diseases According to the study, which was led by Lilian Calderon-Garciduena at the University of Montana, children and young adults living in Mexico City – a sprawling, urban center with a major air pollution issue – already show growths, plaques, and tangles associated with Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. Researchers found an alarming amount of nanoparticles in the brainstems of 186 young people, ages 11 month to 27 years – which are believed to have reached the brain after being inhaled into the lungs (first) and deposited into the bloodstream. More research is needed to determine whether or not these growths, plagues, and tangles cause the neurological diseases later in life. However, the nanoparticle pollutants were found in the substantia nigra, which is the area of the brain that is crucial to the progression of Parkinson’s disease. Furthermore, the aberrant proteins were not present in the brains of age-matched people from less polluted areas. A previous study, published in The Lancet, found that roughly one in 10 cases of Alzheimer’s in urban areas could be associated with living amid heavy traffic, and while that study stopped short of showing that exposure to exhaust and air pollution causes neurodegeneration, the groundbreaking research in Mexico City illustrates the physical mechanism by which the damage is done. How to Protect Yourself From Dirty Air Critical action is needed to improve air quality, and politicians and policymakers need to begin to address how to reduce exposure to air pollution. Improving emission standards for cars, trucks, heavy trucks, and power plants could help. But is it enough? No, not by a long shot, especially in crowded megacities such as Jakarta, New Deli, Beijing, Los Angeles and Mexico City, where air pollution levels are at a rate the most people find difficult to tolerate. Still, there are several significant ways to reduce your exposure to dirty air. Consider taking the following steps: Purchase a good quality, air purifier for your home (and workplace) Eliminate the use of toxic household or personal care products Reduce indoor fireplace usage (especially if the chimney is in poor condition) Minimize your travel on heavily trafficked roads Watch out for “third hand smoke” Have lots of cleansing plants in your home like, bamboo palms and peace lilies And, be sure to open your windows, as often as possible Sources for this article include: Theguardian.com To read the original article click here. For more articles from NaturalHealth365 click here.

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Can Toxic Chemicals Inside the Home Increase Complications of COVID-19?

AHA Publisher — Wed, 19 Aug 2020 07:00:53 +0000

Damon Hines via NaturalHealth365 – Is it possible that our immune systems are being hacked by the toxic chemicals in our homes? And do these toxic chemicals increase complications of COVID-19? Yes, it’s quite possible! Scientists agree that long-term exposure to air pollution increases the risk of diabetes, hypertension, asthma and coronary artery disease – four of the biggest underlying health risks associated with COVID-19. But there are hazardous chemicals right inside our own home – the “safe” place that we’ve been told to shelter since the start of the global pandemic –that might be affecting our immune system’s defense against COVID-19. The Unseen Dangers of Synthetic Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals Inside Our Home Toxic endocrine disrupting chemicals lurk everywhere. They’re found in food, food packaging, non-stick pans, cosmetics (nail polish, hairspray), fragrances, cleaning products, plastic packages, and children’s toys. And that’s just the beginning. Common endocrine disrupting chemicals Common endocrine disrupting chemicals include bisphenol A (BPA), which is used in the production of certain plastics; Phthalates, which is a plasticizer chemical found in toys, plastic wrap, and fragrance; and PFAS (otherwise known as “forever chemicals”), a family of fluorinated compounds that include more than 4,700 chemicals, and which are said to contaminate the drinking water of over 100 million Americans nationwide. These hazardous chemicals affect our endocrine system by interfering with our hormones’ normal functions. The endocrine system plays an important role in development, metabolism and reproduction, and when these chemicals increase the production of certain hormones and decrease production of others, the body’s normal functioning is scrambled, resulting in a panoply of adverse effects and health conditions. Endocrine disrupting chemical studies Studies have linked endocrine disrupting chemicals to cancer, thyroid disease, birth defects, developmental disorders, raised infertility rates, and lowered IQs, among other heath conditions. Moreover, bisphenol A (BPA) has been found in the laboratory to increase the body’s release of a molecule called interleukin-6, which is believed to play a role in ravaging the lungs of COVID-19 patients. It’s unclear how much endocrine disrupting chemicals are increasing the threat of COVID-19, but what’s crystal-clear is how dangerous these toxic chemicals are to our immune systems, contributing to an increase of disease and disability. How to Prevent Contaminants from Attacking the Immune System As the EPA and FDA continually bow to the economic pressure of big corporations, failing to protect the American people from known toxic ingredients and materials, we need to be our own healthcare advocates and orchestrate long-term lifestyle changes. By limiting the exposure to everyday hormone disrupting chemicals we can boost our immune system and better fight off the negative effects of viruses and infections. How can we limit the exposure to these types of toxic chemicals? Start by: Frequently washing your hands Dusting and vacuuming often Purifying the tap water, if you use it for cooking, showering or drinking Avoiding the use of plastics, cans, and fragrances Steering clear of plastic food containers Cutting back on the consumption of “fast” (junk) foods Avoiding the use of non-stick pans Reading all ingredient labels (if you don’t understand it, don’t buy it) While it might be nearly impossible to avoid all the dangerous synthetic chemicals that lurk throughout our daily lives, we can make our homes a safer place. Just start by taking one lifestyle action step at a time. And, enjoy the process! Sources for this article include: TheGuardian.com To read the original article click here. For more articles from NaturalHealth365 click here.

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Combating Air Pollution Effects with Food

AHA Publisher — Mon, 10 Aug 2020 07:00:52 +0000

Michael Greger M.D. FACLM via Nutrition Facts – There is a food that offers the best of both worlds—significantly improving our ability to detox carcinogens like diesel fumes and decreasing inflammation in our airways—all while improving our respiratory defenses against infections. Outdoor air pollution may be the ninth leading cause of death and disability in the world, responsible for millions of deaths from lung cancer, emphysema, heart disease, stroke, and respiratory infection. In the United States, living in a polluted city was associated with 16, 27, and 28 percent increases in total, cardiovascular, and lung cancer deaths, compared to living in a city with cleaner air. As well, living in a city with polluted air may lead to up to a 75 percent increase in the risk of a heart attack. “Additionally, the possibility of dying in a traffic jam is two and a half times greater in a polluted city.” No one wants to be living in a traffic jam, but it’s better than dying in one. In addition to causing deaths, air pollution is also the cause of a number of health problems. It may not only exacerbateasthma but also increase the risk of developing asthma in the first place. These pollutants may trigger liver disease and even increase the risk of diabetes. Indeed, “even when atmospheric pollutants are within legally established limits, they can be harmful to health.” So, what can we do about it? Paper after paper have described all the terrible things air pollution can do to us, but “most…failed to mention public policy. Therefore, while science is making great strides in demonstrating the harmful effects of atmospheric pollution on human health, public authorities are not using these data” to reduce emissions, as such measures might inconvenience the population “and, therefore, might not be politically acceptable.” We need better vehicle inspections, efficient public transport, bus lanes, bicycle lanes, and even urban tolls to help clean up the air, but, while we’re waiting for all of that, is there anything we can do to protect ourselves? As I discuss in my video Best Food to Counter the Effects of Air Pollution, our body naturally has detoxifying enzymes, not only in our liver, but also lining our airways. Studies show that people born with less effective detox enzymes have an exaggerated allergic response to diesel exhaust, suggesting that these enzymes actively combat the inflammation caused by pollutants in the air. A significant part of the population has these substandard forms of the enzyme, but, either way, what can we do to boost the activity of whichever detoxification enzymes we do have? One of my previous videos Prolonged Liver Function Enhancement from Broccoli investigated how broccoli can dramatically boost the activity of the detox enzymes in our liver, but what about our lungs? Researchers fed some smokers a large stalk of broccoli every day for ten days to see if it would affect the level of inflammation within their bodies. Why smokers? Smoking is so inflammatory that you can have elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) levels for up to 30 years after quitting, and that inflammation can start almost immediately after you start smoking, so it’s critical to never start in the first place. If you do, though, you can cut your level of that inflammation biomarker CRP nearly in half after just ten days eating a lot of broccoli. Broccoli appears to cut inflammation in nonsmokers as well, which may explain in part why eating more than two cups of broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, kale, or other cruciferous veggies a day is associated with a 20 percent reduced risk of dying, compared to eating a third of a cup a day or less, as you can see at 3:41 in my video. What about air pollution? We know that the cruciferous compound “is the most potent known inducer” of our detox enzymes, so most of the research has been on its ability to fight cancer. But, for the first time, researchers tried to see if it could combat the pro-inflammatory impact of pollutants, such as diesel exhaust. They put some human lung lining cells in a petri dish, and, as you can see at 4:11 in my video, the number of detox enzymes produced after dripping on some broccoli goodness skyrocketed. Yes, but we don’t inhale broccoli or snort it. We eat it. Can it still get into our lungs and help? Yes. After two days of broccoli sprout consumption, researchers took some cells out of the subjects’ noses and found up to 100 times more detox enzyme expression compared to eating a non-cruciferous vegetable, alfalfa sprouts. If only we could squirt some diesel exhaust up people’s noses. That’s just what some UCLA researchers did, at an amount equal to daily rush hour exposure on a Los Angeles freeway. Within six hours, the number of inflammatory cells in their nose shot up and continued to rise. But, in the group who had been getting a broccoli sprout extract, the inflammation went down and stayed down, as you can see at 4:58 in my video. Since the dose in those studies is equivalent to the consumption of one or two cups of broccoli, their study “demonstrates the potential preventive and therapeutic potential of broccoli or broccoli sprouts,” but if broccoli is so powerful at suppressing this inflammatory immune response, might it interfere with normal immune function? After all, the battle with viruses like influenza can happen in the nose. So what happens when some flu viruses are dripped into the nostrils of broccoli-sprout eaters compared with people consuming non-cruciferous alfalfa sprouts? After eating broccoli sprouts, we get the best of both worlds—less inflammation and an improved immune response. As you can see at 5:55 in my video, after eating alfalfa sprouts, there is a viral spike in their nose. After eating a package of broccoli sprouts every day, however, our body is able to keep the virus in check, potentially offering “a safe, low-cost strategy for reducing influenza risk among smokers and other at risk populations.” So, better immune function, yet less inflammation, potentially reducing the impact of pollution on allergic disease and asthma, at least for an “enthusiastic broccoli consumer.” But what about cancer and detoxifying air pollutants throughout the rest of our body? We didn’t know, until now. Off to China, where “levels of outdoor air pollution…are among the highest in the world.” By day one, those getting broccoli sprouts were able to get rid of 60 percent more benzene from their bodies. “The key finding…was the observed rapid and highly durable elevation of the detoxification of… a known human carcinogen.” Now, this was using broccoli sprouts, which are highly concentrated, equivalent to about five cups of broccoli a day, so we don’t know how well more modest doses would work. But if they do, eating broccoli could “provide a frugal means to attenuate…the long-term health risks” of air pollution. More on air pollution here. I’ve been reading about the terrible effects of air pollution for a long time and I am thrilled there’s something we can do other than uprooting our families and moving out to the countryside. To read the original article click here. For more articles from Dr. Greger click here.

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Nearly Half of US Breathing Unhealthy Air; Record-Breaking Air Pollution in Nine Cities

AHA Publisher — Fri, 24 Apr 2020 07:00:48 +0000

American Lung Association via EurekAlert – American Lung Association’s ‘State of the Air’ report finds climate change is driving increases in unhealthy air, 150 million people at risk. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Clean Air Act, which is responsible for dramatic improvements in air quality. Despite this, a new report from the American Lung Association finds nearly half of the nation’s population – 150 million people – lived with and breathed polluted air, placing their health and lives at risk. The 21st annual “State of the Air” report finds that climate change continues to make air pollution worse, with many western communities again experiencing record-breaking spikes in particle pollution due to wildfires. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the impact of air pollution on lung health is of heightened concern. The 2020 “State of the Air” report analyzed data from 2016, 2017 and 2018, the three years with the most recent quality-assured air pollution data. Notably, those three years were among the five hottest recorded in global history. When it comes to air quality, changing climate patterns fuel wildfires and their dangerous smoke, and lead to worsened particle and ozone pollution. This degraded air quality threatens everyone, especially children, older adults and people living with a lung disease. “The report finds the air quality in some communities has improved, but the ‘State of the Air’ finds that far too many people are still breathing unhealthy air,” said American Lung Association President and CEO Harold Wimmer. “This year’s report shows that climate change continues to degrade air quality and increase the risk of air pollution harming health. To protect the advances in air quality we fought for 50 years ago through the Clean Air Act, we must again act today, implementing effective policies to protect our air quality and lung health against the threat of climate change.” “Air pollution is linked to greater risk of lung infection,” Wimmer added. “Protecting everyone from COVID-19 and other lung infections is an urgent reminder of the importance of clean air.” Each year, “State of the Air” reports on the two most widespread outdoor air pollutants, ozone pollution and particle pollution. Each is dangerous to public health and can be lethal. The 2020 “State of the Air” report found that more than 20.8 million people lived in counties that had unhealthy levels of air pollution in all categories from 2016 to 2018. Below are the report findings for each category graded. To read the original article click here.

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Fine Particle Air Pollution Linked with Poor Kidney Health

AHA Publisher — Tue, 03 Mar 2020 08:00:05 +0000

American Society of Nephrology (ASN) via Newswise – It’s known that breathing in air pollution can have detrimental health effects beyond the lungs, but few studies have shown how it impacts the kidneys, which act as filters for the blood. Newswise — Washington, DC (February 27, 2020) — People living in areas with higher levels of air pollution faced higher risks of developing kidney disease in a recent study. The findings appear in an upcoming issue of CJASN. It’s known that breathing in air pollution can have detrimental health effects beyond the lungs, but few studies have shown how it impacts the kidneys, which act as filters for the blood. To investigate, Matthew F. Blum, MD (Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine) and his colleagues examined information on 10,997 adults across 4 sites in the United States who were followed from 1996-1998 through 2016. The researchers estimated the monthly average levels of tiny particles of air pollution—called fine particulate matter—based on participants’ home addresses. Fine particulate matter comes from a variety of sources including fossil fuel combustion, industrial processes, and natural sources. The team found that exposure to higher amounts of fine particulate matter was associated with a higher degree of albuminuria—a marker of kidney dysfunction—at the start of the study as well as a higher risk of developing chronic kidney disease over time. “As rates of chronic kidney disease rise worldwide, it is important to understand whether and how exposure to air pollution plays a role,” said Dr. Blum. The authors noted that their findings may be especially important for parts of the world with higher air pollution, such as China and India, where fine particulate matter levels are 5 to 10 times higher than in the United States. Future studies should examine whether efforts to improve air quality yield health benefits, including reducing rates of chronic kidney disease. This article has been modified. To read the original article click here.

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Dramatic Health Benefits Following Air Pollution Reduction

AHA Publisher — Wed, 18 Dec 2019 08:00:45 +0000

American Thoracic Society via Science Daily – Reductions in air pollution yielded fast and dramatic impacts on health-outcomes, as well as decreases in all-cause morbidity, according to new findings. To read the original article and learn more about these health benefits, click here.

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