TagHealth(97)
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2024-08-05Ultrafine particles linked to over 1,000 deaths per year in Canada’s two largest cities
A first-of-its kind study conducted in Canada’s two largest cities by McGill-led researchers has linked about 1,100 premature deaths per year to an unregulated air pollutant. Ultrafine particles (UFPs) primarily come from vehicle emissions and industrial activities. Canada’s federal and provincial governments have not set concentration limits for UFPs, as they have for larger fine -
2024-07-16
‘We’re Living in a Nightmare:’ Inside the Health Crisis of a Texas Bitcoin Town
By Andrew R Chow/Granbury, Texas | Photographs by Jake Dockins for TIME An aerial view of Marathon Digital Holdings’ bitcoin mine in Granbury, Texas, on May 21, 2024. Drone operation by Izaac Costiniano On an evening in December 2023, 43-year-old small business owner Sarah Rosenkranz collapsed in her home in Granbury, Texas and was rushed -
2024-06-26Airborne nanoparticle concentrations are associated with increased mortality risk in Canada’s two largest cities
A Canadian research study found that exposure to airborne nanoparticles is linked to higher mortality risk in Toronto and Montreal. The study, published in 2024 and funded by the Health Effects Institute, analyzed particle concentration data across Canada's two largest cities to assess long-term health impacts. While focused on urban air quality in Canada, the findings contribute to broader scientific understanding of how fine airborne particles from traffic and other sources affect public health. -
2024-06-12The Brink: Airplane Noise May Be Bad for Your Health
Researchers find that exposure to aircraft noise is tied to a higher body mass index, which can increase risk of heart attack and stroke June 4, 2024 2 Jillian McKoy As you jet off on vacation this summer, spare a thought for those living under your flight path. The noise of your plane whisking you -
2024-05-24
Aircraft noise exposure and body mass index among female participants in two Nurses’ Health Study prospective cohorts living around 90 airports in the United States
Individuals who are frequently exposed to airplane noise are more at risk of developing a cluster of cardiometabolic conditions such as heart attack, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and hypertension. A new study has discovered that people who are regularly exposed to airplanes and helicopters flying overhead are more likely to have a high BMI – a risk factor for multiple -
2024-05-11Understanding airport air quality and public health studies related to airports: Chapter 4 – Air quality health impacts and risks
This chapter explains the health risks associated with air pollutants commonly found near airports, including both criteria pollutants like carbon monoxide, lead, and particulate matter, and hazardous air pollutants like volatile organic compounds and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. It describes how these pollutants can cause a range of health effects, from mild irritation to serious conditions such as respiratory disease, cardiovascular illness, and cancer. Smaller particulate matter is highlighted as a particular concern near airports, as it can penetrate deeper into the lungs and occurs at higher concentrations near aircraft operations. -
2024-04-15Aircraft noise exposure and body mass index among female participants in two Nurses’ Health Study prospective cohorts living around 90 airports in the United States
A large study of nearly 75,000 female nurses living near 90 U.S. airports found that those exposed to higher levels of aircraft noise were more likely to have higher body mass index (BMI) and greater weight gain since age 18. Women exposed to the loudest aircraft noise (55 decibels or more) had an 11% higher chance of being obese and a 15% higher chance of falling into the highest category of weight gain compared to those in quieter areas. The findings suggest that chronic aircraft noise exposure — such as that experienced by residents near Sea-Tac Airport — may contribute to obesity risk, potentially through stress-related pathways including disrupted sleep and hormonal changes. -
2023-09-04Associations between aircraft noise exposure and self-reported sleep duration and quality in the United States-based prospective Nurses’ Health Study cohort: supplemental material
This supplemental material accompanies a research study examining whether aircraft noise exposure is linked to poorer sleep among women in the Nurses' Health Study, a large U.S. health cohort. The study measured nighttime and day-night aircraft sound levels near 90 U.S. airports and analyzed their association with self-reported short sleep duration and poor sleep quality. Researchers used detailed statistical methods, including directed acyclic graphs and multivariable models, to account for confounding factors and assess exposure-response relationships. -
Government eyes more coal regulations as black lung cases sharply rise among miners
We often use the black humor that “our electeds treat Sea-Tac Airport like electeds in West Virginia treat coal miners.” And this article shows exactly what we mean. The best we can seem to do for coal miners is to do something called ‘mitigation’, ie. treating their symptoms. Miners routinely kill themselves to feed their -
Airplane noise linked to next day heart health hospitalizations
The sound of airplanes flying overhead late at night is linked to a slight increase in hospital admissions for heart-related problems the following day, a study from Imperial College London suggests. Researchers from Imperial and the University of Leicester combined hospital admissions and mortality data with environmental modeling to assess short-term associations between aircraft noise