Majority of the world's population breathes dirty air, report says
BENGALURU, India (AP) — Most of the world has dirty air, with just 17% of cities globally meeting air pollution guidelines, a report Tuesday found.
Switzerland-based air quality monitoring database IQAir analyzed data from 40,000 air quality monitoring stations in 138 countries and found that Chad, Congo, Bangladesh, Pakistan and India had the dirtiest air. India had six of the nine most polluted cities with the industrial town of Byrnihat in northeastern India the worst.
Experts said the real amount of air pollution might be far greater as many parts of the world lack the monitoring needed for more accurate data. In Africa, for example, there is only one monitoring station for every 3.7 million people.
More air quality monitors are being set up to counter the issue, the report said. This year, report authors were able to incorporate data from 8,954 new locations and around a thousand new monitors as a result of efforts to better monitor air pollution.
But last week, data monitoring for air pollution was dealt a blow when the U.S. State Department announced it would no longer make public its data from its embassies and consulates around the world.
Breathing in polluted air over a long period of time can cause respiratory illness, Alzheimer's disease and cancer, said Fatimah Ahamad, chief scientist and air pollution expert at Malaysia-based Sunway Centre for Planetary Health. The World Health Organization estimates that air pollution kills around 7 million people each year.
Ahamad said much more needs to be done to cut air pollution levels. The WHO had earlier found that 99% of the world's population lives in places that do not meet recommended air quality levels.
'If you have bad water, no water, you can tell people to wait for half an hour a day, the water will come. But if you have bad air, you cannot tell people to pause breathing,' she said.
Several cities like Beijing, Seoul, South Korea, and Rybnik in Poland have successfully improved their air quality through stricter regulations on pollution from vehicles, power plants and industry. They've also promoted cleaner energy and invested in public transportation.
Another notable effort to curb severe air pollution was the Association of Southeast Asian Nations agreement on transboundary haze pollution. Even though its had limited success so far, ten countries in the region pledged to work together to monitor and curb pollution from large forest fires, a common occurrence in the region during dry seasons.
Shweta Narayan, a campaign lead at the Global Climate and Health Alliance, said many of the regions witnessing the worst air pollution are also places where planet-heating gases are released extensively through the burning of coal, oil and gas. Slashing planet-warming emissions to slow the heating up of the planet can also improve air quality, she said.
___
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
4 Nutrients You Should Be Eating to Help Lower Dementia Risk, According to a New Study
Reviewed by Dietitian Annie Nguyen, M.A., RDA new study suggests that several nutrients are linked with a lower risk of dementia. These nutrients include vitamins and minerals that act as antioxidants, plus fiber. High sugar intake was related to an increased risk of we age, it's natural to become more forgetful. But when the occasional 'Where did I leave my keys?' becomes forgetting loved ones' names and your own address, it may be a sign of something more serious. Dementia is a general term for loss of memory, language, problem-solving and other thinking abilities, severe enough to interfere with everyday life. Alzheimer's disease is the most common type of dementia. Unfortunately, dementia cases are expected to double by the year 2060. And the economic burden of unpaid dementia caregiving in the U.S. is expected to skyrocket from an average of $172 billion in 2020 to over $1.5 trillion by 2060. And this doesn't take into account the emotional toll on families, friends and caregivers. Since there is currently no cure for dementia, taking preventative measures can be a wise move. Columbia University researchers wanted to know which nutrients were related to a reduced risk of dementia—and which ones might increase the risk. They recently published their findings in Nutrients. Let's break down what they found. Related: 6 Things You Should Do After 5 P.M. to Support Healthy Aging, According to Experts Researchers drew data from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS), an ongoing U.S. study conducted biennially since 1992 that includes adults 50 years and older. In 2013, food consumption and nutrition intake was collected from a subset of the HRS called the Healthcare and Nutrition Study (HCNS). To evaluate diet, participants completed a food frequency questionnaire that asked how frequently they consumed 163 different foods and beverages over the past 12 months. From this, the research team calculated nutrient intake based on participants' responses for 101 nutrients. Individual nutrients were assessed regarding their relationship to dementia. In addition, researchers calculated composite scores for some groups of nutrients. Participants' cognitive abilities were assessed using two different methods. One method was via a telephone interview with participants and the other was via a proxy respondent. For the proxy method, someone close to the participant answered questions about the participant's memory levels, limitations in instrumental activities of daily living and status of cognitive impairment. Researchers would use this information to look for associations between nutrient intake and dementia risk. This current study included 6,280 HCNS participants who met the researchers' criteria, which included full diet information and cognitive assessments. Researchers also adjusted for demographic information like age, race, sex, BMI, education level, smoking status, alcohol intake and physical activity. After running statistical analyses, the results suggest that several nutrients were connected with a reduced risk of dementia. The five with the strongest association were: Isorhamnetin, a type of flavonol Manganese, a mineral Dietary fiber Beta-tocopherol and beta-tocotrienol, both forms of vitamin E This study also adds to the mounting evidence that high sugar intake is linked with a higher risk of dementia. With that said, it also showed some controversial associations between some other nutrients and higher dementia risk. We say controversial because they conflict with previous research or add to mixed results. For example, this study suggests a link between certain components in milk and an increased risk of dementia, including glycerophosphocholine and vitamin D, both of which have been shown to support brain health in other studies. Researchers note that more research needs to be done, and that it could be due to other components in the food, not necessarily these nutrients. This study has several limitations. First, asking people to estimate how much they ate of certain foods over the last year leaves lots of room for bias, forgetfulness and guessing. Also, cognitive abilities and dementia were not clinically evaluated, which also leaves room for bias. Lastly, researchers did not adjust for factors like genetics and environmental factors that play a role in dementia. Related: The #1 Nutrient for Brain Health as You Age, According to a Dietitian Isorhamnetin is a flavonol found in fruits and vegetables, including onions, almonds, berries, cherries, pears, apples and green grapes. It's also found in ginkgo biloba, an herb touted for its brain health benefits. You'll find manganese in nuts, legumes, whole grains and leafy greens. Maple syrup and maple water are also rich sources of this trace mineral. Manganese plays a role in many bodily processes, including metabolism and immunity. While it's a mineral, manganese plays a dual role and acts like an antioxidant, protecting cells from damage from free radicals. Like manganese, vitamin E also has antioxidant properties, protecting cells from damage. Nuts, seeds, wheat germ, and sunflower and safflower oils are good sources of vitamin E. You'll also get some in spinach and broccoli. A whopping nine out of 10 Americans don't have enough fiber in their diets. Fiber-rich foods include fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, whole grains and legumes. If you're concerned that you're not including enough of these nutrients in your day-to-day routine, consider shaking things up. An easy (and painless) way to do it is to swap out your typical snacks for nutrient-rich ones. For example, if you typically reach for chips, soda or a candy bar mid-afternoon, consider a handful of nuts and berries. Or how about some hummus and veggie sticks? If you're ready to go all in and want some guidance, check out our MIND diet meal plans. The MIND diet is a fusion of the Mediterranean and DASH diets, and is loaded with brain-healthy foods that are also good for your heart. There is recent evidence that following this healthy eating pattern may reduce your risk of dementia by up to 25%. In addition to food, physical activity, managing your stressors and getting plenty of quality sleep also influence brain health. And make sure you're also spending time with loved ones, as loneliness has also been shown to increase dementia risk. Related: 6 Habits That May Be Aging Your Brain, According to Experts This study suggests that certain nutrients, like vitamin E, manganese and isorhamnetin, all of which act like antioxidants, plus fiber, are linked with a lower risk of dementia. It also adds to existing evidence that high sugar intake may raise dementia risk. If possible, get these brain-protecting nutrients from food. If you have difficulty doing so, seek the advice of a registered dietitian or a healthcare professional who can help you integrate foods rich in these nutrients and determine if supplementation is a viable option for you. Read the original article on EATINGWELL
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Jewish Family Services receives $400K for opioid use support program
Niagara County and New York State have awarded Jewish Family Services $400,000 to provide services to those impacted by opioid use. The county awarded a $350,000 two-year grant to JFS for a comprehensive career support and care management recovery program at its Niagara Falls office. The state Office of Faith and Nonprofit Development Services awarded $50,000 to develop a community resource room for families served by care coordination and health home programs and for new American families. Both plan to start later this year. 'From addressing behavioral health and wellness needs to help prevent relapse and post-lasting recovery, to providing a safe space for families to work toward securing self-sustainability, JFS staff is committed to empowering individuals with the resources needed for long-term success,' said Jewish Family Services CEO Molly Carr in a statement. Around 12% of clients enrolled in JFS's Niagara County-based health home program have suffered from opioid use disorder, substance abuse, and other mental health conditions. It helped between 250 and 300 clients in the county in 2023. 'While those in recovery are faced with many challenges, one of the biggest can be getting back into the workforce,' said County Legislator Jesse Gooch, chair of the Community Services Committee. 'The JFS program has a focus on employment services, something that is sorely needed, which is why we were happy to award them grant funding through the opioid settlement fund.' The community resource room will have laptops, internet access, printers, scanners, and noise-cancelling headphones on hand. Case managers will be available by appointment for job application help and technology and interpretation services. JFS opened its Niagara Falls office on Third Street last August, with case workers there working on career services and refugee resettlement programming. It has operated in Buffalo since 1862, starting Niagara County services in 2021. It was one of many area nonprofits that had to cut positions earlier this year after the Trump administration froze funds meant for agencies that help new refugee arrivals. It partnered with four other Buffalo agencies to raise $1.5 million in February and March to cover funding shortfalls.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
MRO acquires clinical data management platform Q-Centrix from TPG Growth
US-based clinical data exchange company MRO has acquired Q-Centrix, an enterprise clinical data management platform previously owned by TPG Growth. Q-Centrix is a comprehensive data management platform designed to reduce complexity, expedite decisions and advance clinical outcomes. MRO said the acquisition would enable hospitals and health systems to convert fragmented clinical data into actionable insights, expediting the exchange of clinical data across the sector. The deal is expected to create scalable value for healthcare providers, payers and life sciences, supporting more precise decision-making and broader clinical applications. MRO CEO Jason Brown said: 'At MRO, we believe there is tremendous untapped value in unlocking and leveraging clinical data that resides in fragmented, siloed systems today. 'Combining MRO's leading clinical data exchange solutions and Q-Centrix's clinical data management capabilities creates a category-defining, fit-for-purpose platform, enabling high fidelity, low latency acquisition, abstraction, curation and exchange of clinical data to power better patient care and reduce costs across the healthcare ecosystem.' The combined entity will provide services to more than 2,000 health systems and hospitals, as well as over 7,000 clinics and almost 250 payers. By enriching and curating clinical data, MRO and Q-Centrix aim to deliver scalable value, facilitating precise decision-making and wider clinical applications. Q-Centrix CEO Milton Silva-Craig said: 'MRO and Q-Centrix share a commitment to advancing the industry in service of our customers. 'That focus is fuelling the creation of a first-of-its-kind platform—seamlessly integrating systems and delivering structured, highly valuable data sets to support clinical care, operational performance, breakthrough research, and regulatory compliance. 'Purpose-built around our customers' most pressing needs, this is innovation where it matters most.' The acquisition is supported by healthcare technology investors such as private equity company Parthenon Capital, which has reaffirmed its support for MRO with a new investment. The parties have not disclosed the value of the deal. "MRO acquires clinical data management platform Q-Centrix from TPG Growth" was originally created and published by Hospital Management, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Sign in to access your portfolio
