Pollution

Environmental exposures, from air and ocean pollution to climate change and urbanization, have profound and far-reaching effects on human health and well-being. This hub brings together authoritative, evidence-based articles that examine the health risks associated with pollution, microplastics, toxicants, and environmental changes, alongside practical strategies for risk reduction and public health protection. Explore how environmental hazards influence conditions such as asthma, neurological health, pregnancy outcomes, and skin health, and discover the vital connections between planetary health and individual well-being. These resources support informed decision-making for clinicians, policymakers, and the public alike.

Bacterial Risks at Beaches and Evidence-Based Safety Strategies

Beaches face escalating risks from microbial contamination due to climate change and human activity, increasing the burden of waterborne illnesses for swimmers. Integrating advanced monitoring technologies, improved public education, and policy reforms is essential for protecting beachgoers’ health.

Healthcare During The Climate Crisis

AAM - Air pollution and Alzheimer's

Ocean Pollution and Human Health

Can Weather or Air Pollution Trigger Migraine?

The Role of Toxicology in Wildlife Conservation

Environmental Health Hazards: An Overview

How do Microplastics Affect Our Health?

Pollution and Alzheimer's

How Does the Health of Our Planet Affect Our Own Health?

Air Pollution and Lung Health

Environmental Hazards in Pregnancy

See more featured articles »

How Air Pollution Impacts Brain Health

What Impact does Climate Change have on Our Health?

Air Pollution and Eye Health

How has COVID-19 Influenced Pollution?

Indoor Air Pollution from Scented Products: Mechanisms and Risks

Autism and Particulate Air Matter

Health Effects of Artificial Light

Pollution and Mental Health

What are the Health Effects of Exhaust Emissions?

How PFAS Are Impacting Human Health

The Effect of Climate Change on Asthma

What is Planetary Health?

Anti-Pollution Skincare: Protecting Skin in Urban Environments

How Composting Protects Public Health and Our Planet

Urbanization and Human Health

5 Easy Ways to Reduce Your Microplastic Intake

What are the Health Effects of Exhaust Emissions?

Pollution and Mental Health

Latest Pollution News and Research

Long-term exposure to industrial solvent associated with elevated Parkinson's disease risk

Long-term exposure to the industrial solvent trichloroethylene (TCE) outdoors may be linked to an increased risk of Parkinson's disease, according to a large nationwide study published in the October 1, 2025, issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

2 Oct 2025

Early-life dietary habits linked to elevated asthma risk among children

Childhood asthma, a chronic inflammatory condition affecting millions worldwide, may be shaped not only by genetics and environment but also by what children prefer to eat.

30 Sep 2025

Why women’s periods once synced with the moon — and what changed

Study reveals women's menstrual cycles follow lunar gravity, with synchronization detected during strong seasonal alignments despite artificial light effects.

30 Sep 2025

Fresh fruit intake may offsett the harmful effects of air pollution on lung function.

Eating fruit may reduce the effects of air pollution on lung function, according to research presented at the European Respiratory Society Congress in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

29 Sep 2025

How air pollution harms kids’ eyesight, and why clean air makes a difference

Improving air quality may safeguard children's vision, with findings revealing a strong connection between pollution and myopia in school environments.

29 Sep 2025

Plant-based dog food cuts environmental impact by over 90% vs. red meat

Comparative research highlights the environmental benefits of plant-based dog food, showing reduced land use and emissions versus traditional meat-based diets.

29 Sep 2025

Sleep apnea patients in high-pollution areas suffer higher disease severity, study shows

People who have obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) may suffer worse symptoms if they live in areas with higher levels of air pollution, according to a multi-national study presented at the European Respiratory Society (ERS) Congress in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

29 Sep 2025

Babies living with dogs show better lung function and reduced asthma rates

Babies exposed to dog allergens in the home have a lower risk of developing asthma by the age of five years, according to research that will be presented at the European Respiratory Society (ERS) Congress in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

25 Sep 2025

Study shows dementia patients exposed to pollution had longer telomeres

Researchers studying a Swedish aging cohort found no overall link between air pollution and telomere shortening, a key marker of biological aging. Intriguingly, dementia patients exposed to higher pollution showed longer telomeres, though results were statistically non-significant.

24 Sep 2025

Global cancer cases and deaths expected to soar by 2050 despite advances in treatment

There has been a rapid increase in the global number of cancer cases and deaths between 1990 and 2023, despite advances in cancer treatment and efforts to tackle cancer risk factors over that same time period.

24 Sep 2025

Blood and brain biomarkers transform how doctors confirm Alzheimer’s disease

A new Lancet review proposes a three-wave diagnostic pathway that combines clinical expertise with blood, CSF, and PET biomarkers. This approach aims to deliver earlier, more accurate, and more equitable Alzheimer’s disease diagnosis worldwide.

24 Sep 2025

Cleaner air can improve vision in younger children

Air pollution may be harming children's eyesight with cleaner air helping to protect and even improve their vision - especially in younger children, a new study reveals.

23 Sep 2025

‘Sick to my stomach’: Trump distorts facts on autism, tylenol, and vaccines, scientists say

Ann Bauer, a researcher who studies Tylenol and autism, felt queasy with anxiety in the weeks leading up to the White House's much-anticipated autism announcement.

22 Sep 2025

Childhood exposure to plastic chemicals linked to long-term health risks

Childhood exposure to chemicals used to make plastic household items presents growing health risks that can extend long into adulthood, experts from NYU Langone Health report.

21 Sep 2025

Rising ozone from wildfire smoke poses growing health risks for Western communities

As wildfires grow larger and more frequent across the West, researchers from Colorado, Utah, and California are digging into how smoke affects the air-and our health.

19 Sep 2025

Climate change is already driving heat mortality and massive economic losses

Researchers systematically identified just 20 studies directly linking human-driven climate change to specific health impacts and deaths worldwide. They estimate tens of billions in annual economic losses and warn of inequities in research leadership and data coverage.

18 Sep 2025

Cholesterol control improves but cardiovascular disease still increases in Mexico

Despite improved statin use and cholesterol control, cardiovascular disease risk rose in Mexico between 2016 and 2023, according to a study being presented at ACC Latin America 2025 that used region-specific tools to more accurately predict the local disease burden.

18 Sep 2025

Rising wildfire smoke could drive thousands of additional deaths in the United States by 2050

Wildfires burning across Canada and the Western United States are spewing smoke over millions of Americans – the latest examples of ashy haze becoming a regular experience, with health impacts far greater than scientists previously estimated.

18 Sep 2025

Fire-driven air pollution is rising worldwide and reversing decades of clean air gains

Global exposure to fire-related fine particulate matter (PM2.5) has increased sharply from 1990 to 2018, despite a decline in overall PM2.5 pollution. This surge has driven tens of thousands of additional deaths annually, especially in Eastern Europe and sub-Saharan Africa.

17 Sep 2025

Study reveals how ozone exerts multi-organ effects by disturbing the lung-liver connection

Ozone pollution is rising worldwide, frequently exceeding safety thresholds in urban centers and industrial regions. Its health risks are well-documented: breathing ozone can worsen asthma, damage airways, and increase the risk of cardiovascular and neurological disorders.

17 Sep 2025