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China-based study concludes using political incentives to fight pollution is costly and inefficient

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The study looked at water quality regulations and found that local officials more heavily enforced regulations on polluting firms that were monitored and tracked by the central government, while not enforcing regulations on firms not tracked. A 10% reduction in pollution led to a 3% drop in productivity for China’s polluting industries.

Pollution 220
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Study associates long-term exposure to air pollution with increasing emphysema

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Long-term exposure to ambient air pollutants, especially O 3 (ozone), is significantly associated with increasing emphysema, according to a new study led by the University of Washington, Columbia University and the University at Buffalo. This work in the MESA Air study was led at the University of Washington.

Pollution 223
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10-year study shows how air pollution fosters heart disease; accelerated plaque build-up in arteries

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Long-term exposure to particulate air pollution has been linked to an increased risk of heart disease, but the biological process has not been understood. Repeated scans were done for nearly all participants between 2002 and 2005; for a subset of participants between 2005 and 2007; and for half of all participants between 2010 and 2012.

Pollution 199
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UMD-led study finds China’s SO2 emissions down 75% since 2007, India’s up 50%; India may now be the top SO2 emitter

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Although China and India remain the world’s largest consumers of coal, a new University of Maryland-led study found that China’s sulfur dioxide emissions fell by 75% since 2007, while India’s emissions increased by 50%. Sulfur dioxide is an air pollutant that causes acid rain, haze and many health-related problems.

India 170
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Study finds power law scaling relationship between urban population and NO2 pollution

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The approximate linear relationship for each region is notable, suggesting that the dependence of urban NO 2 pollution upon population follows a power law scaling with population. Even though larger cities are typically more energy efficient with lower per-capita emissions, more people still translates to more pollution.) ppb (India).

Pollution 261
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Satellite study suggests California clean air regulations working to reduce PM2.5 emissions in state

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Scientists from Emory University, NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory and the California Air Resources Board teamed to analyze satellite data to determine the 15-year trend of PM 2.5 pollution in the state. is especially burdensome in California and accounts for the greatest percentage of health impacts attributable to air pollution.

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Study links air pollution and cyclone intensity in Arabian Sea; suggested solutions include diesel filters and two-stroke engines running on LPG fuel

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Pollution is making Arabian Sea cyclones more intense, according to a study in the journal Nature. The Nature paper suggests that weakening winds have enabled the formation of stronger cyclones in recent years—including storms in 2007 and 2010 that were the first recorded storms to enter the Gulf of Oman.

Pollution 252