While cooking can be considered a safe practice in most of the Western world, it is a potential lethal activity in other regions.

“Cooking a meal is the biggest environmental health risk in the world,” said Radha Muthiah, executive director at Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves.

Her organization estimates that three billion people around the world rely for cooking on solid fuels like wood, coal, charcoal, and animal dung.

“Three billion people risk death, sickness, and injury from a number of issues associated with the seemingly simple act of cooking. Four million people die annually—meaning that after high blood pressure, alcohol, and tobacco, household air pollution from cooking smoke is the biggest killer in the world,” Muthiah said.

Coal is the most commonly sold fuel when it comes to household energy and solid fuels are mostly burned in open fires and other primitive stoves with inadequate ventilation, which expose the families to toxic indoor smoke, according to an article in the ACS journal Environmental Science & Technology.

The primitive stoves also affect global warming, as millions of tons of soot are spreading into the atmosphere.

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Long term exposure to air pollution may cause heart attacks and strokes by speeding up atherosclerosis, or “hardening of the arteries”, according to a study by U.S. researchers.

The researchers, led by Sara Adar, John Searle Assistant Professor of Epidemiology, University of Michigan School of Public Health, and Joel Kaufman, Professor of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences and Medicine, University of Washington, found that higher concentrations of fine particulate air pollution (PM2.5) were linked to a faster thickening of the inner two layers of the common carotid artery, an important blood vessel that provides blood to the head, neck, and brain. They also found that reductions of fine particulate air pollution over time were linked to slower progression of the blood vessel thickness. The thickness of this blood vessel is an indicator of how much atherosclerosis is present in the arteries throughout the body, even among people with no obvious symptoms of heart disease.

“Our findings help us to understand how it is that exposures to air pollution may cause the increases in heart attacks and strokes observed by other studies,” Adar said.
The researchers reached these conclusions by following 5362 people aged between 45 to 84 years old from six U.S. metropolitan areas as part of the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis and Air Pollution (MESA Air). The researchers were able to link air pollution levels estimated at each person’s house with two ultrasound measurements of the blood vessels, separated by about three years. All participants in their study were without known heart disease.

After adjusting for other factors such as smoking, they found that on average, the thickness of the carotid vessel increased by 14 m each year. The vessels of people exposed to higher levels of residential fine particulate air pollution, however, thickened faster than others living in the same metropolitan area.
“Linking these findings with other results from the same population suggests that persons living in a more polluted part of town may have a 2 percent higher risk of stroke as compared to people in a less polluted part of the same metropolitan area,” Adar said.

If confirmed by future analyses of the full 10 years of follow-up in this cohort, these findings will help to explain associations between long-term PM2.5 concentrations and clinical cardiovascular events, the researchers said.

The researchers, led by Sara Adar, John Searle Assistant Professor of Epidemiology, University of Michigan School of Public Health, and Joel Kaufman, Professor of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences and Medicine, University of Washington, found that higher concentrations of fine particulate air pollution (PM2.5) were linked to a faster thickening of the inner two layers of the common carotid artery, an important blood vessel that provides blood to the head, neck, and brain. They also found that reductions of fine particulate air pollution over time were linked to slower progression of the blood vessel thickness. The thickness of this blood vessel is an indicator of how much atherosclerosis is present in the arteries throughout the body, even among people with no obvious symptoms of heart disease.

“Our findings help us to understand how it is that exposures to air pollution may cause the increases in heart attacks and strokes observed by other studies,” Adar said.

The authors reached these conclusions by following 5362 people aged between 45 to 84 years old from six U.S. metropolitan areas as part of the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis and Air Pollution (MESA Air). The researchers were able to link air pollution levels estimated at each person’s house with two ultrasound measurements of the blood vessels, separated by about three years. All participants in their study were without known heart disease.

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Some of these gases can seriously and adversely affect the health of the population and should be given due attention by the concerned authority. The gases mentioned below are mainly outdoor air pollutants but some of them can and do occur indoor depending on the source and the circumstances.

Tobacco smoke. Tobacco smoke generates a wide range of harmful chemicals and is a major cause of ill health, as it is known to cause cancer, not only to the smoker but affecting passive smokers too. It is well-known that smoking affects the passive smoker (the person who is in the vicinity of a smoker and is not himself/herself a smoker) ranging from burning sensation in the eyes or nose, and throat irritation, to cancer, bronchitis, severe asthma, and a decrease in lung function.
Biological pollutants. These are mostly allergens that can cause asthma, hay fever, and other allergic diseases.
Volatile organic compounds. Volatile compounds can cause irritation of the eye, nose and throat. In severe cases there may be headaches, nausea, and loss of coordination. In the longer run, some of them are suspected to cause damage to the liver and other parts of the body.
Formaldehyde. Exposure causes irritation to the eyes, nose and may cause allergies in some people.
Lead. Prolonged exposure can cause damage to the nervous system, digestive problems, and in some cases cause cancer. It is especially hazardous to small children.
Radon. A radioactive gas that can accumulate inside the house, it originates from the rocks and soil under the house and its level is dominated by the outdoor air and also to some extent the other gases being emitted indoors. Exposure to this gas increases the risk of lung cancer. 

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The rising pollution in the City has led to drastic increase in asthma among children during summer, according to a study conducted by Centre for Infrastructure, Sustainable Transportation and Urban Planning (CiSTUP) of Indian Institute of Science (IISc).

According to the study report, the incidence of asthma has gone up by 10 times in the last 16 years – from 2.8 per cent in 1994 to 28.8 per cent in 2010. Construction works, road widening, tree felling and increasing vehicular population have contributed in making Bangalore the asthma capital, said Mahesh Kashyap, a research fellow with CiSTUP. He was delivering a lecture at a workshop on fuel efficiency on Tuesday.

Underscoring the gravity of the situation in view of the unprecedented rise in respiratory ailments, Kashyap said 10 per cent of the City’s population – which is about nine lakh – suffer from health problems caused by air pollution.

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A new study in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal) suggests that air pollution may trigger appendicitis in adults.

The study, conducted by researchers at the University of Calgary, University of Toronto and Health Canada, looked at 5191 adults admitted to hospital in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Fifty-two per cent of admissions occurred between April and September, the warmest months of the year in Canada during which people are more likely to be outside.
The dominant theory of the cause of appendicitis has been obstruction of the appendix opening, but this theory does not explain the trends of appendicitis in developed and developing countries. Appendicitis cases increased dramatically in industrialized countries in the 19th and early 20th centuries, then decreased in the middle and late 20th century, coinciding with legislation to improve air quality. The incidence of appendicitis has been growing in developing countries as they become more industrialized.
Using Environment Canada’s air pollution data for Calgary, the researchers determined the levels of ozone, nitrogen dioxide and other air-borne pollutants along with temperature. They found correlations between high levels of ozone and nitrogen dioxide and the incidence of appendicitis between age groups and genders. More men than women were found to have the condition.
“For unexplained reasons, men are more likely than women to have appendicitis,” write Dr. Gilaad Kaplan of the University of Calgary and coauthors. “Men may be more susceptible to the effects of outdoor air pollution because they are more likely to be employed in outdoor occupations,” although they note that misclassifications of data could explain some of the difference.
While it is not known how air pollution may increase the risk of appendicitis, the authors suggest pollutants may trigger inflammatory responses. They recommend further studies to determine the link.

London: Researchers have for the first time shown a clear link between the speed at which corals grow, and pollution caused by human activity.

They have found that pollution from fine particles in the air – mainly the result of burning coal or volcanic eruptions – can shade corals from sunlight and cool the surrounding water resulting in reduced growth rates. Although coral reefs grow under the sea it seems that they have been responding to changes in the concentration of particulate pollution in the atmosphere, according to a paper published this week in the journal Nature Geoscience by a team of climate scientists and coral ecologists from the UK, Australia and Panama. Corals are colonies of simple animal cells but most rely on photosynthetic algae for their energy and nutrients.

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Exposure to traffic-related air pollution, nitrogen dioxide, and particulate matter during pregnancy and during a child’s first year of life may be linked to a higher risk of autism.

“Exposures to traffic-related air pollution, PM [particulate matter] and nitrogen dioxide were associated with an increased risk of autism. These effects were observed using measures of air pollution with variation on both local and regional levels, suggesting the need for further study to understand both individual pollutant contributions and the effects of pollutant mixtures on disease.”

Autism is a complex developmental disability and it has both genetic and environmental elements that play a part in its origins. Autism spectrum disorders are often distinguished by problems with:

• social interaction
• communication
• repetitive behaviors

The latest figures for ambient air pollution in Darukhana show that while SO2 and NOx levels were within limits, Respirable Suspended Particulate Matter (RSPM) stood at a high 153 ug/m3 (micrograms/cubic metre ), way above the permissible limit of 100 ug/m3.

“Environmental toxins are known to cause chronic diseases . Exposure to lead particulates , for instance, could cause high blood-pressure , heart disease and affect mental intellect, besides being carcinogenic ,” said metal toxicologist and physician at Jaslok Hospital, Altaf Patel.

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In what can be termed as alarming, Gwalior and Raipur are the top five critically polluted cities in India in terms of particulate matter. These cities have well over three times the acceptable standards. The study has been released recently by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE).

According to the findings of the study released during the end of February, about 78% of the 180 cities surveyed exceed the (particulate matter) PM10 standard. 90 cities have critical levels of PM10. 26 have the most critical levels, exceeding the standard by over three times. Gwalior, Raipur, West Singhbhum, Ghaziabad and Delhi are the top five critically polluted cities.

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China’s degraded environment was taking a heavy toll on the living and the unborn alike. Yet the short piece ended with a question, not a scientific conclusion: Do we know if prolonged exposure to polluted air, water, or food causes birth defects?

Every woman giving birth in a polluted environment, or every child born, will experience lasting health problems, but the trend lines across a population are clear. Depending on the level of pollution and the frequency of exposure, observed impacts range from a rise in severe congenital birth defects to a greater frequency of preterm births and low birth weights, correlated with increased risk for infant mortality and for diabetes and cardiovascular disease later in life.

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No one likes breathing polluted air. Exhaust fumes and particulate matter hanging in the air can make you cough and give you a headache. As NaturalNews has reported previously, it can harm your health in ways that aren’t so obvious, as well.

the negative impact of air pollution on the brain, according to Laura Fonken, lead author of the study and a doctoral student in neuroscience at Ohio State University. ”The results suggest prolonged exposure to polluted air can have visible, negative effects on the brain, which can lead to a variety of health problems.”

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New research conducted in 10 European cities has estimated that 14% of chronic childhood asthma is due to exposure to traffic pollution near busy roads.

The results are comparable to the burden associated with passive smoking: the World Health Organization estimates that between 4% and 18% of asthma cases in children are linked to passive smoking.

The researchers used a method known as population-attributable fractions to assess the impact of near-road traffic pollution. This calculates the proportional reduction in disease or death that would occur if exposure to a risk factor were reduced to a lower level.

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The device called general pocket radio service ( GPRS) is capable of transmitting data of air pollutants in emission from chimneys and in the ambient air to the central server at the board office. The board had earlier given November 30, 2012 deadline to the industries to install the devices. When the industries failed to comply with the deadline, the board issued the February 28 deadline.

The board had asked 29 industries to install the device. While six industries installed the device before the November 30 deadline, another four set up it before February 28. “As of now 10 industries have set up the device. They were being transported for the rest 19 industries. We are planning to give one more month’s time to the industries within which the devices will be released.

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