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Study finds coal trains add significant amount of PM2.5 pollution in urban areas

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Coal trains and terminal operations add a significant amount of fine particulate matter (PM 2.5 ) pollution to urban areas—more so than other freight or passenger trains— according to a study conducted in Richmond, California, by the University of California, Davis. The results indicate coal trains add on average 8.32

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Study finds half of the world’s population exposed to increasing air pollution

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A team of researchers, led by Professor Gavin Shaddick at the University of Exeter, has shown that, despite global efforts to improve air quality, half of the world’s population is exposed to increasing air pollution. In some regions, sand and desert dust, waste burning and deforestation are additional sources of air pollution.

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Harvard/Nanjing study: China’s war on PM2.5 pollution is causing more severe ozone pollution

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In early 2013, the Chinese government declared a war on air pollution and began instituting stringent policies to regulate the emissions of PM 2.5. Cities restricted the number of cars on the road, coal-fired power plants reduced emissions or were shuttered and replaced with natural gas. Over the course of five years, PM 2.5

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AQLI: new data reveals little progress globally in reducing air pollution over the last two decades

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Particulate air pollution continues to cut global life expectancy by nearly two years as progress in some countries counterbalances worsening air quality in others, according to the Air Quality Life Index (AQLI). High pollution across the entirety of Bangladesh makes it the most polluted country in the world.

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Poor air quality to remain a problem in India despite pollution control policies

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in 2030 even if India were to comply with its existing pollution control policies and regulations. Less than 1% enjoyed air quality that met the World Health Organization (WHO) benchmark limit of 10 ?g/m³. The program focuses on 102 polluted Indian cities and aims to reduce PM 2.5 levels by 20-30% over the next five years.

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Study finds household and outdoor air pollution contributes to more than 5.5 million premature deaths worldwide per year

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New research shows that household (indoor) and outdoor air pollution contribute to more than 5.5 In the context of the Global Burden of Disease 2013 study ( earlier post ), researchers from Canada, the United States, China and India quantified air pollution levels and attributable health impacts for 188 countries for the period 1990-2013.

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China study connects ozone pollution to cardiovascular health

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Ozone is formed through a chemical reaction that occurs when sunlight interacts with nitrogen oxides and other organic compounds that are generated by coal-burning, vehicle exhaust and some natural sources. They monitored indoor and outdoor ozone levels, along with other pollutants.

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