Environmental/Occupational News

Pregnant women who lived near forests and parks had reduced odds for low birth weight, which may also decrease the risk for poor infant lung health, according to a presentation at the European Respiratory Society International Congress.

Dust fungi in homes shortly after a child’s birth did not heighten the risk for childhood asthma development, according to results published in Annals of the American Thoracic Society.

On Aug. 21, the EPA publicized that it will be conducting a new review of the National Ambient Air Quality Standard for ozone, meaning the current outdated national limit on this pollution may be in place until as late as December 2025.

Individuals exposed to some ambient air pollutants faced heightened risks for both diagnosis and death of pulmonary hypertension, according to results published in Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety.

With temperatures rising and heatwaves occurring across the U.S., this summer season has the potential to seriously harm patients with asthma, COPD and other lung conditions.

WASHINGTON — Fine particulate matter pollution exposure over 5 years is behind heightened mortality risk in Black patients with COPD, according to an abstract presented at the American Thoracic Society International Conference.

Preschoolers’ sleep quality was negatively impacted by exposure to fine particulate matter at an early age, according to study results published in American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.

Risk for all-cause, nonaccidental and neoplasm mortality was heightened with exposure to elevated levels of wildfire-related fine particulate matter, according to study results published in the Journal of Hazardous Materials.

Exposure to elevated levels of air pollutants before COVID-19 hospitalization increased length of hospital stay and risk for ICU admission, according to study results published in European Respiratory Journal.

With more public health benefits and fewer deaths as a result of switching to zero-emission passenger vehicles, the American Lung Association is calling on the EPA to set stronger emission rules, according to a press release.