Exposure to air pollution in childhood is linked to a decline in thinking skills in later life, Edinburgh University researchers have said. A greater exposure to air pollution at the very start of life was associated with a detrimental effect on people’s cognitive skills up to 60 years later, the research found. The team tested … Read more
An investigation by OpenAQ has found that the average level of air pollution in the world’s largest cities is nearly four times higher than the maximum levels recommended by the WHO. According to estimates, 90 per cent of the world experiences harmful levels of air pollution; the problem is particularly acute in cities in the … Read more
Microplastics have been found to be so light they can be carried on the wind and transported to far-flung parts of the ocean, including those that appear to be clear of the pollutant. Microplastics – which are defined as particles smaller than 5mm in diameter – can stay airborne for hours or days. This … Read more
Researchers from London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine have led a study using AI and remote-sensing satellite technologies to produce the most detailed nationwide map of air pollution. The novel method offers an impressive level of detail, with daily measurements provided in a 1x1km grid across Britain. This could transform understanding of the health … Read more
The first half of 2020 has seen the largest-ever drop in carbon emissions in a single year, with bigger falls than the financial crisis of 2008, the 1979 oil crisis and even World War II. An international team of researchers estimated that the world saw 8.8 per cent less carbon dioxide emitted in 2020 than … Read more
A system that collects tyre dust – particles of tyre that are emitted when a vehicle is in operation – as they are emitted, has won its creators the James Dyson Award. Tyre wear is the second-largest microplastic pollutant in our ocean after single-use plastic and accounts for up to 50 per cent of PM2.5 … Read more
The level of toxic fine particles in Scotland’s air failed to go down during the Covid-19 lockdown, despite a significant drop in the number of vehicles on the roads, according to researchers at the University of Stirling. Analysis of fine particulate air pollution (PM2.5) in the first month of restrictions found little change, despite a … Read more
3D printers could present a risk to human health due to tiny particles that are released during the printing process, a study has found. With 3D printers gaining in popularity due to rapidly falling prices, a group of risk researchers have found that particles released during the printing process are small enough to infiltrate deep … Read more