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Environmental Pollution
California scientists link tiny particles in car exhaust to heart disease
A new study by California scientists has linked chronic exposure to microscopic air pollutants in vehicle exhaust to deaths from heart disease. The finding bolsters evidence that ultrafine particles, which are not regulated by state or federal environmental agencies, are a key contributor to health problems among people living near traffic. Scientists analyzed health data from 2001 to 2007 on a cohort of more than 100,000 middle-aged women across California who had worked as school teachers or administrators. They used a computer model to estimate the levels of ultrafine particles the women breathed. The authors said their study, recently published in...
Related "Environmental Pollution" Articles
California scientists link tiny particles in car exhaust to heart disease
A new study by California scientists has linked chronic exposure to microscopic air pollutants in vehicle exhaust to deaths from heart disease. The finding bolsters evidence that ultrafine particles, which are not regulated by state or federal...
Too much pressure in equipment triggered Torrance refinery explosion
Too much pressure in a piece of equipment at Torrance's Exxon Mobil refinery resulted in Wednesday's large explosion that sent irritating ash, filled with fiberglass and glass wool, into surrounding neighborhoods.
The blast jolted nearby residents...
How did the port shutdown affect L.A. air quality?
Dozens of ships backed up off the Los Angeles and Long Beach ports in recent days, unable to unload cargo because of a protracted labor dispute. Work resumed at the ports Tuesday, but the slowdown in shipping traffic raised concerns that emissions from...
Man-made climate change may need man-made remedies, science panel says
Alarmed by the rapid pace of climate change, a key federal science panel is urging a major research effort into high-tech schemes that could cool the planet if prevention fails, potentially including giant machines to suck greenhouse gases from the air,...
Southern California expected to miss 2015 deadline to curb soot
Southern California is likely to miss a 2015 deadline to clean soot from the air, according to the region’s chief smog-fighting agency, which approved a plan Friday blaming the drought for reversing a long-term decline in fine-particle pollution.
The...
Just how much is Asia's ozone to blame for bad air in the U.S.?
High above the Big Sur coast, Ian Faloona is finding pollution on the edge of the continent, a place that should have some of the country's cleanest air.
From an astronomical observatory on Chews Ridge in the Santa Lucia Mountains, the UC Davis...
On the Big Island, volcanic activity could worsen respiratory problems
Visitors to the Big Island who suffer chronic respiratory problems are being urged to take common-sense precautions because of air pollution caused by volcanic activity.
Conditions are right for increasing particulate levels over southern and eastern...
Beijing seeks to contain its population, and with it, problems
As closing time approaches, the 20-story wholesale clothing emporium called Shiji Tianhe Market is madness. All day, local bargain hunters and retailers from outside Beijing have been sifting through apparel varying from faux fur coats to the latest...
The carbon that's killing India, and how California can help
This week, President Obama is the chief guest of Prime Minister Narendra Modi at India's Republic Day celebrations. At the close of the historic visit, the two leaders are expected to announce cooperation on a suite of climate and clean energy measures,...
Newport may bring back controversial beach bonfire rings
The debate over wood-burning fire pits on the seashore is being rekindled in Newport Beach, where city leaders are considering again allowing the popular oceanfront bonfires at some beaches.
If the Newport Beach City Council approves plans Tuesday...
Effectiveness of state's 'parking cash-out' program is unclear
To reduce air pollution and traffic congestion, California legislators passed an innovative law in 1992 to encourage solo commuters to get out of their cars and bike, carpool or take public transit to work.
The measure, by then-Assemblyman Richard Katz...
Utah oil town turns against midwife who asked about infant deaths
Veteran midwife Donna Young prides herself on delivering healthy babies. In 20 years, she has coached hundreds of pregnant women in this energy boomtown.
She calls them her girls.
When one mother delivered a stillborn infant in May 2013 — Young's...
Let California's plastic bag ban stand
Some people just don't know when to stop fighting. Immediately after Gov. Jerry Brown signed the nation's first statewide ban on disposable plastic bags, the plastics industry vowed to overturn it. Since then, out-of-state bag makers have contributed $2.5...
Smoke in downtown L.A. awful? No advisory, but some are uncomfortable
No air quality advisories have been issued in downtown Los Angeles after Monday morning's massive fire, but some area employers were handing out masks to make breathing more comfortable for workers.
The fire destroyed an apartment tower under...
Polish waste-processing firm rejects toxic shipment from El Salvador
A waste incineration plant in southern Poland has rejected a shipment of pesticide-tainted soil and runoff from El Salvador after residents staged protests over the impending delivery of waste linked to kidney disease.
The deal was to have earned SARP...
A Pacific Coast model for addressing climate change
The United Nations Climate Change Conference in Lima, Peru, is wrapping up Friday after 12 days of negotiations on global carbon emissions.Yet, even as we work through the complexities of an international agreement, it would be a mistake to miss the...
U.S. satellite spies holiday lights from space
Americans are serious about their Christmas lights -- so much so that a NASA satellite can see them from space.
The Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership satellite, which NASA operates with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, can’t...
L.A.'s freeway-adjacent residents need more protection from pollution
A growing body of research shows that living next to a freeway can significantly increase the risk of asthma, heart disease, pre-term births, reduced lung function in children and premature death. Yet Los Angeles continues to approve residential...
In China, app aims to shame polluters by showing who is fouling air
Sitting at a desk in his small office here, Ma Jun, one of China's best-known environmental advocates, shows off his latest tool in the fight against the nation's crippling air pollution: a computer app.
Displayed on a tablet, the app shows a map of...
More commuters look to Metro van pools as alternative to solo driving
Driving solo to work continues to define L.A.'s entrenched car culture. But commuters across the county are increasingly turning to alternatives such as the van pool, a venerable ride-sharing option that can reduce air pollution, travel times and...
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