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Study finds significant proportion of childhood asthma cases may be attributable to air pollution

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Findings of a study led by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal) and published in the European Respiratory Journal suggest that a significant proportion of childhood asthma cases may be attributable to outdoor air pollution, and that these cases could be prevented. Meeting the minimum air pollution levels for NO 2 (1.5?µg·m

Pollution 278
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Study shows two-stroke scooters dominant source of air pollution in many cities; asymmetric polluters

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A study by European researchers has found that two-stroke (2S) scooters, although constituting a small fraction of the fleet, can dominate urban vehicular pollution through organic aerosol and aromatic emission factors up to thousands of times higher than from other vehicle classes. —Platt et al. Platt et al.

Pollution 362
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OECD: rising air pollution-related deaths taking heavy toll on society; more should be done to reduce transport emissions

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Deaths from outdoor air pollution by region in 2005 and 2010. Outdoor air pollution kills some 3.5 This pollution is costing advanced economies plus China and India an estimated US$3.5 The effects of air pollution on people’s health are much higher than previously thought. Click to enlarge. Earlier post.)

Pollution 218
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PSI team provides first direct proof of ongoing chemical reactions in particulates

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These findings will help to improve the understanding of global processes involved in cloud formation and air pollution and to refine the corresponding models. This common compound is found not only in ants and stinging nettles, but also in the atmosphere, where it is an important indicator of air pollution.

Pollution 429
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Melting Glaciers May Release Trapped Legacy Pollutants

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Historical trends of (A) ΣPCDD/F, (B) ΣPCB, and (C) ΣDDT in sediment from Lake Oberaar and from low-altitude lakes in Switzerland, normalized relative to their maximum historical peaks. The “second peak” for Lake Oberaar supports the hypothesis of pollutant release from melting. Credit: ACS, Bogdal et al.

Pollution 186
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Nations agree on global, legally binding treaty on mercury emissions: Minamata Convention on Mercury

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At the conclusion of the International Negotiating Committee on Mercury ( INC5 ) meeting in Geneva ( earlier post ), nations agreed on a global, legally-binding treaty to prevent mercury emissions and releases. The international negotiators selected the Global Environment Facility (GEF) to fund implementation of the new Mercury Convention.

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European Researchers Launch Mega Campaign to Assess Urban Air Pollution

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Twenty research teams from across Europe are launching one of its largest pollution monitoring campaigns and are setting up sites in Île-de-France (a region containing the Paris metropolitan area) to investigate sources of particulate pollution in the urban environment. Paul Scherer Institut, Villingen, Switzerland.

Pollution 150