For over a decade, the U. S. had been making steady progress in reducing ground-level ozone—a harmful pollutant that damages lungs and triggers breathing problems. Between 2003 and 2015, average ozone levels dropped by about 0. 65 parts per billion each year. But around 2015, something changed. Wild
The study took place in a crowded area of Bhopal, India, where people live close together and often cook with gas but also use firewood or coal. Researchers wanted to see how well residents understood the danger of indoor air pollution (IAP) and whether simple messages could help them change habits.
Industrial growth in Iranian cities is a double‑edged sword. On one side it boosts jobs and factories, but on the other it releases fine dust that clogs the air. This tiny pollution, called PM2. 5, can sneak into lungs and cause long‑term sickness. Researchers have begun to notice that when the air
City living used to mean better hospitals and faster ambulances. Now it often means breathing air that quietly damages lungs over years. Poor air quality isn’t just annoying—it rearranges how infections spread inside our chests. Warm air holds more water, which helps viruses and bacteria travel far
Back in 2009, scientists warned that car and truck fumes were filling the air with dangerous gases. These gases trap heat, make smog worse, and harm people's lungs. The government agreed and set rules to cut down on these emissions. But recently, the EPA decided to ignore those warnings by scrapping
California's Salton Sea used to be a vacation hotspot in the mid-1900s with its sandy beaches and celebrity visitors. But decades of water mismanagement have turned this 340-square-mile lake into a drying disaster zone. As water disappears, it leaves behind a toxic mix of old pesticides, heavy metal
Cities everywhere have a hidden problem—tiny bits of pollution so small they slip past most filters. These specks, called ultrafine particles, are smaller than a speck of dust and can travel deep into your body. Unlike bigger pollution particles that get studied a lot, these are often ignored becaus
Air quality today is a different beast than it was decades ago. While the government has cut back on lead and sulfur dioxide, new dangers have taken center stage: tiny particles from factories, cars and power plants; ozone that forms under the sun; and smoke that travels far beyond its source. The
Big cities often promise excitement, but they also bring dirty air. Now a large study in the UK is asking if breathing that air for years might harm the nerves in our bodies. Scientists tracked thousands of adults over time to see whether heavy exposure to tiny floating particles and gases from traf
A recent series of air attacks on oil storage sites in Iran triggered a strange weather event that left the capital drenched in dark, sooty rain. Normally, rainfall clears air pollutants, but this time the drops carried a heavy mix of soot and carbon particles that settled on buildings and streets.
