Environmental Exposure

The historical climate events of the past summer may have been eye-opening for all, but the health of patients with respiratory diseases and conditions has been particularly threatened due to these exposures.

Compared with fine particulate matter from any source, pollution from coal electricity-generating units heightened the risk for death by twofold among Medicare users, according to results published in Science.

Residents in urban areas experienced reductions in lung function when exposed to increased levels of propylene oxide, according to study results published in CHEST.

HONOLULU — Follow-up high-resolution CT scans for veterans with incidental pulmonary nodules, initially assessed for unexplained dyspnea, revealed that nodule stability is common, according to research presented at the CHEST Annual Meeting.

Respiratory infections occurred more frequently among babies and toddlers living in urban vs. rural areas, according to a presentation at the European Respiratory Society International Congress.

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.

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.

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.

More careful patient selection for prostate biopsy would reduce health care pollution associated with the procedure, according to study results published in European Urology.