air pollution

A photo taken last month by Nairobi resident Osman Siddiqi shows One Africa Place, a bullet-shaped glass high-rise in Nairobi, framed by the jagged, snowcapped peaks of Mount Kenya, which many residents said they have never seen from the capital city.

From Nairobi, A Rare, Clear Glimpse Of Mount Kenya Drives Disbelief On Social Media

5:50pm April 14, 2020

by Eyder Peralta

A photo on social media showing Africa's second-highest mountain from Nairobi made many Kenyans cry foul. But the photo — shot on a day free of pollution, because of COVID-19 restrictions — is real.

A crow flies near Rashtrapati Bhavan, the presidential palace in New Delhi, on April 2. Air quality has markedly improved in India's capital since the country's coronavirus lockdown began last month.

With Coronavirus Lockdown, India's Cities See Clear Blue Skies As Air Pollution Drops

12:06pm April 10, 2020

by Sushmita Pathak

India has ordered 1.3 billion people to stay home to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The lockdown seems to have inadvertently solved, at least temporarily, another public health crisis: air pollution.

February satellite readings in the troposphere (the lower atmosphere) of nitrogen dioxide (NO2), a pollutant primarily from burning fossil fuels, show a dramatic decline compared to early January when power plants were operating at normal levels.

Why China's Air Has Been Cleaner During The Coronavirus Outbreak

6:42pm March 04, 2020

by Lauren Sommer

Air pollution levels have dropped dramatically as power plants and factories have slowed down — potentially saving lives. But the public health benefits aren't so simple to calculate.

A flooded road leading to the Arkema chemical plant near Houston, Texas in August 2017. Multiple employees including the plant manager are facing criminal charges for allegedly failing to adequately prepare for flooding that caused massive chemical fires

Texas Criminal Trial Highlights Climate Liability For Factories In Floodplains

4:58pm March 02, 2020

by Rebecca Hersher

A criminal case in Houston alleges that employees at a chemical company should have prepared for the record flooding caused by Hurricane Harvey.

Lahore, Pakistan's second-largest city, is one of the world's most polluted cities, according to crowd-sourced data.

'Scary Moms' Are Part Of The Citizen War Against Pollution In Pakistan

2:16pm January 06, 2020

Environmental advocates in smog-choked Lahore say the Pakistani government has long downplayed the problem of air pollution. That might be changing.

People cover their faces with masks to avoid thick smog in New Delhi on Nov. 5. People living there have complained about respiratory problems.

As Delhi Chokes On Smog, India's Health Minister Advises: Eat More Carrots

11:22am November 08, 2019

by Kamala Thiagarajan

Residents of one of the world's most polluted cities are getting fed up with government inaction — and a few questionable tweets aren't helping.

Outside of risks from the fire's heat — and any health risks related to a long-term power outage — the main health concern in wildfire conditions is smoke, which produces particulate matter that can penetrate deep into the lungs, increasing the risk o

Health & Safety

Smoke And Power Outages Near California Wildfires Hit Farmworkers Hard

8:29pm October 29, 2019

by Anna Maria Barry-Jester

October marks not only fire season in California, but also the peak of the grape harvest. In areas not imminently threatened, some workers labor through heat and smoke to save harvests and paychecks.

Signs in London designate the Ultra Low Emission and Congestion Charging zones for cars driven into the city's center.

London Says Air Pollution Fell By Roughly A Third After New Emissions Rules

5:23pm October 22, 2019

by Paolo Zialcita

If vehicles in central London don't meet emissions standards, their drivers must pay a daily fine. Six months into the new program, the city says the regulation is decreasing toxic air pollution.

Environmental Protection Agency administrator Andrew Wheeler speaks during a television interview in front of the West Wing of the White House, on Sept. 19, 2019. Wheeler has threatened to withdraw billions of dollars in federal highway money unless Calif

Trump Administration Escalates Battle Over Environmental Regulations With California

3:35pm September 24, 2019

by Jeff Brady

The Trump administration threatens to cut federal highway dollars for California over air pollution.

Smog is common not only in Los Angeles but also in cities across the country. New research finds that long-term exposure to high levels of air pollution may be as harmful to the lungs as smoking.

Health & Safety

Air Pollution May Be As Harmful To Your Lungs As Smoking Cigarettes, Study Finds

11:31pm August 13, 2019

by Allison Aubrey

Smog can spike during hot days. A new study finds that the effects of breathing air pollution may be cumulative. Long-term exposure may lead to lung disease, even among people who've never smoked.

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