Closure of Pittsburgh coal-processing plant tied to local health gains

Closure of Pittsburgh coal-processing plant tied to local health gains

The closure in January 2016 of one of Pittsburgh’s biggest coal-processing plants led to immediate and lasting declines in emissions of fossil fuel-related air pollutants. These in turn were linked to near-instant decreases in local heart-related emergency department visits and hospitalizations for cardiovascular diseases, a new study shows. The impact of the closure persisted through … Read more

Phoenix ends record 31-day streak of highs at or above 110 degrees as rains ease a Southwest heat wave

Phoenix ends record 31-day streak of highs at or above 110 degrees as rains ease a Southwest heat wave

A record string of daily highs over 110 degrees Fahrenheit (43.3 degrees Celsius) in Phoenix ended Monday as the dangerous heat wave that suffocated the Southwest throughout July receded slightly with cooling monsoon rains. The historic heat began blasting the region in June, stretching from Texas across New Mexico and Arizona and into California’s desert. Phoenix and … Read more

A natural experiment provides evidence of link between air pollution and childhood obesity — ScienceDaily

A natural experiment provides evidence of link between air pollution and childhood obesity — ScienceDaily

A large natural experiment in Catalonia shows that moving to areas with higher levels of air pollution is associated with weight gain in young children. The study, led by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), an institution supported by “la Caixa Foundation,” in collaboration with the IDIAP Jordi Gol, provides further evidence to support … Read more