Environmental/Occupational News

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.

People residing in the East Coast are currently experiencing poor air quality due to smoke and haze from hundreds of wildfires in Canada.

WASHINGTON — In elementary school children with asthma, greater relative humidity in classrooms heightened the risk for upper respiratory infections, according to research presented at the American Thoracic Society International Conference.

WASHINGTON — Exposure to air pollutants at high levels contributed to interstitial lung disease incidence, acute exacerbations and death, according to an abstract presented at the American Thoracic Society International Conference.

The American Thoracic Society International Conference will be held May 19 to 24 in Washington, D.C., with a broad focus on advocacy and global health in many different forms.