Health impacts

Mental health harmed more in New York’s historically redlined communities by air pollution

University at Buffalo researchers looked at 17 cities across New York State where longstanding federal housing policies once denied neighborhoods with people of color from receiving mortgages. Although this practice was outlawed in 1968, the researchers found that elevated levels of air pollutants in these neighborhoods of the state are disproportionately linked to increased emergency room (ER) visits for mental disorders.

“There was a significant association between air pollutant exposure and ER visits throughout these cities’ various neighborhoods, but it was most pronounced in their redlined communities, negatively impacting the vulnerable population that still lives there,” says Eun-Hye Enki Yoo, PhD, associate professor of geography in the UB College of Arts and Sciences.

Yoo is the lead author of the study, which will be featured in the Oct. 20 issue of Science of the Total Environment.

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Analysis looks at air pollution from LNG export terminals and potential health and environmental impacts

Washington, DC — A new analysis, Permit to Kill, released today [Aug. 14, 2024] by the Sierra Club and Greenpeace USA shows that permitted emissions from both currently operating and planned LNG terminals are estimated to have a major price tag for communities’ public health. The briefing, which adds to the mounting body of evidence showing that … Read more

Forklifts to become cleaner, greener in California

RIVERSIDE – The California Air Resources Board (CARB) today [Jun. 27, 2024] passed a new regulation that will phase out the operation of large spark-ignited (LSI) forklifts in California and spur the use of zero-emissions alternatives. LSI forklifts are a source of criteria pollutants and greenhouse gases, particularly in parts of the state that continue … Read more

Formosa Plastics required to follow new federal air pollution regs. designed to protect public health

ST. JAMES PARISH, LA — Formosa Plastics wants to build a massive petrochemical complex with 14 facilities that make single-use plastic products. Even though the facility is not yet built, the company must renew its operating permits under Title V of the Clean Air Act. Since Formosa Plastics last applied for these permits in 2020, … Read more

Marking Asthma Awareness Month, national asthma-disparities-fight-leader honored

WASHINGTON – Every year in May, EPA marks Asthma Awareness Month to raise national awareness of asthma and to highlight leading programs across the nation that serve as models for delivering outstanding improvements in asthma care and quality of life for people with asthma. “Growing up with respiratory challenges in North Carolina, I know all … Read more

2024 ‘State of the Air’ report and findings are out

The American Lung Association’s new “State of the Air” report reveals that spikes in deadly particle pollution are the most severe they’ve been in the history of the report. According to the new report, people in the U.S. experienced the most days with “very unhealthy” and “hazardous” air quality due to particle pollution in 25 … Read more

Air pollution increases risk of Alzheimer’s disease developing, new Emory study shows

A new Emory University study has found that adults exposed to high levels of air pollution were at an increased risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. In a study of 1,113 participants between the ages of 45-75 from the Emory Healthy Brain Study, all of whom were from the Atlanta metropolitan area, the researchers found positive biomarkers … Read more

New heavy-duty vehicle standards will make for cleaner truck transport, improve air quality, fight climate change, keep U.S. economy humming

WASHINGTON – Today, March 29, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced final national greenhouse gas pollution standards for heavy-duty vehicles, such as freight trucks and buses, for model years 2027 through 2032. The standards will avoid 1 billion tons of greenhouse gas emissions and provide $13 billion in annualized net benefits to society related to … Read more

New automobile standards to make for cleaner car travel, improve air quality, protect public health, fight climate change

WASHINGTON – Today, March 20, [2024], the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced final national pollution standards for passenger cars, light-duty trucks, and medium-duty vehicles for model years 2027 through 2032 and beyond. These standards will avoid more than 7 billion tons of carbon emissions and provide nearly $100 billion of annual net benefits to society, … Read more

Across the nation, communities of color shouldering growing disease burden tied to air pollution

Despite progress toward cleaner air in the US, a new study suggests that communities of color across the nation are shouldering a growing burden of diseases linked to air pollution. A paper published today by researchers at the George Washington University suggests that racial and ethnic disparities in cases of pollutant-linked diseases like asthma increased … Read more