Latest news with #PM1
Sustainability Times
21-06-2025
- Health
- Sustainability Times
'25 Years of Toxic Dust': Scientists Map Submicron Pollution Across U.S. in Massive Air Quality Tracking Breakthrough
IN A NUTSHELL 🌍 Air pollution in the U.S. poses a significant health risk, causing over 50,000 premature deaths annually. in the U.S. poses a significant health risk, causing over 50,000 premature deaths annually. 🔬 Recent research from Washington University maps 25 years of PM1 pollution , highlighting the danger of submicron particles. , highlighting the danger of submicron particles. 📉 Environmental policies like the Clean Air Act have reduced PM1 levels , but progress has slowed due to increased wildfire activity. , but progress has slowed due to increased wildfire activity. 🔗 Collaboration with epidemiologists is crucial to understanding health impacts and crafting effective regulations. Air pollution is an invisible threat that poses a significant risk to public health in the United States. Responsible for over 50,000 premature deaths annually, tiny particles known as PM2.5 can infiltrate the lungs and bloodstream, causing severe heart and lung conditions. However, little is known about PM1 particles, which are even smaller and potentially more harmful. Recent research from Washington University in St. Louis offers groundbreaking insights into these submicron pollutants by mapping 25 years of PM1 pollution across the U.S. This pivotal study sets the stage for more targeted environmental regulations and health interventions. Understanding the Danger of Submicron Particles PM1 particles are less than one micron, making them significantly smaller than the more commonly studied PM2.5 particles. These submicron particles can evade the body's natural defenses and penetrate deeply into the respiratory system. Chi Li, a research assistant professor and lead author of the study, emphasizes that understanding these particles is critical. They often originate from direct emissions such as diesel engines and wildfires, or they form indirectly from pollutants like sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides. Air particles are complex mixtures of substances, including sulfate, nitrate, and mineral dust. The research team at Washington University estimated PM1 levels by analyzing the composition of PM2.5, allowing them to calculate PM1 concentrations nationwide. This study is a crucial first step in identifying areas with high concentrations of PM1 pollution and understanding the health and environmental impacts of these dangerous particles. 'California's Electric Train Revolution Slashes Toxic Pollution': 89% Drop in Carcinogens Marks Historic Win for Public Health and Climate Mapping 25 Years of PM1 Pollution The study's findings are based on two and a half decades of data, offering a comprehensive view of PM1 pollution across the U.S. Published in The Lancet Planetary Health, the research highlights the expertise of Washington University in satellite sensing and atmospheric modeling. Jay Turner, co-author and professor at the university, notes that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) faced a critical decision in 1997: whether to regulate PM1 or PM2.5 particles. Due to limited data on PM1, the focus was placed on PM2.5. Despite this, the new data reveals that regulatory measures have successfully decreased PM1 levels from 1998 to 2022, primarily due to policies like the Clean Air Act. However, the progress has stagnated since 2010, exacerbated by increased wildfire activity. This comprehensive dataset positions the U.S. to enhance its air quality standards and tackle the ongoing challenge of PM1 pollution. 'This Plastic Melts in the Ocean': Japanese Scientists Reveal a Radical Material That Could Finally End the Global Pollution Crisis The Role of Environmental Policies Environmental policies have played a crucial role in reducing PM1 pollution levels. The Clean Air Act, among other regulations, has contributed to a significant decline in these harmful particles. Nevertheless, the battle against air pollution is far from over. The resurgence of wildfires and the changing climate continue to pose challenges to maintaining and improving air quality standards. Countries like China have made strides in tracking PM1 pollution, showcasing the potential for robust regulatory frameworks. The recent study provides a roadmap for the U.S. to follow, highlighting the need for collaboration with epidemiologists to better understand the health impacts of PM1 exposure. By doing so, the U.S. can develop more effective strategies to safeguard public health and the environment. Wildfire Smoke Disaster: This Groundbreaking Study Links U.S. Blazes to 15,000 Deaths and an Economic Hit of $160 Billion Future Directions and Challenges While the study marks significant progress in understanding PM1 pollution, it also underscores the need for further research. Epidemiologists will play a vital role in assessing the health outcomes associated with PM1 exposure. The collaboration between scientists, policymakers, and health experts will be essential in crafting regulations that effectively address the risks posed by submicron particles. As we move forward, the question remains: How can we continue to enhance our understanding of air pollution while implementing policies that protect public health and the environment? Our author used artificial intelligence to enhance this article. Did you like it? 4.5/5 (21)
Daily Mail
20-06-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Map reveals states polluted with toxin that may cause autism... do you live in one?
California and Oregon are America's hotspots for dangerous air toxins that may lead to autism, a study suggests. Researchers at Washington University of St Louis collected 25 years' worth of data on submicron (PM1) air pollution, particles less than one millionth of a meter wide and one-sixth the size of human blood cells. While scientists have long tracked the health effects of its cousin fine particulate matter (PM2.5), emitted in the air via fossil fuels, PM1 has largely flown under the scientific radar. Though little-known, PM1 has been shown to increase the risk of heart attacks, lung cancer and dementia. Health agencies are reportedly conducting a series of studies to find out if environmental pollution can lead to autism, which has surged in the US over the last two decades. In the new study, a map reveals concentrations of PM1 were highest in the Los Angeles, Phoenix and Portland areas, along with parts of Idaho, New Mexico and Texas. Less densely populated states without crowded cities, such as Colorado, Montana, Utah and Wyoming had the smallest concentrations. The researchers did not provide exact numbers, but the data suggests larger cities in the western US along the west coast and south are the most at risk of harmful pollutants like PM1. They also said the new report could be one of the first to look specifically at PM1. Jay Turner, study co-author, said: 'When EPA first promulgated a fine PM air quality standard in 1997, there was considerable discussion about regulating PM 1 or PM 2.5. 'For numerous reasons, including but not limited to the lack of health impact studies for PM1 compared to studies for PM2.5, the latter was chosen. 'This study provides a comprehensive, nationwide dataset to examine PM1 impacts on health.' California, which had higher concentrations of PM1, also has one of the highest rates of autism in the country, according to the CDC's latest data. An April report from the agency found one in 19 children in California have been diagnosed with autism, 48 percent higher than one in 31 nationwide. However, the report only looked at children ages four through eight, so it's unclear how many older children and teens were diagnosed. Nationwide, autism rates have surged from about one in 150 in the early 2000s. Health secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr announced earlier this year a series of studies that will look into 'environmental toxins' he believes could be causes, including pesticides and food additives, and promised 'there will be an answer for the American people' by September. Particulate matter has been shown in recent studies to raise the risk of autism by triggering inflammation in nerve tissue and possibly passing from mom to placenta to fetus in utero. In the new study, published Monday in The Lancet Planetary Health, researchers calculated PM1 levels based on measuring seven components found in PM2.5: sulphate, ammonium, nitrate, organic matter, black carbon, dust and sea salt. These pollutants can come from natural disasters like volcanic eruptions, wildfires and dust storms, as well as human-generated sources like construction sites, burning fossil fuels and vehicle emissions. Chi Li, first study author and research assistant professor, said: 'Putting the seven species together, we can calculate the total PM1 concentration over the country.' PM1 levels were calculated based on biweekly estimates from 1998 through 2022. In addition to areas like California and Oregon, parts of the Midwest and eastern US like Illinois, Ohio and Pennsylvania also appeared to have higher concentrations of PM1, according to the map. The researchers said natural disasters like wildfires may have contributed to elevated levels. A 2020 study found the area burned by wildfires in California has doubled in the last 20 years compared to the two decades before that. More urban areas like Los Angeles and Portland also produce more PM1 due to higher traffic, construction and a greater concentration of densely packed buildings. Randall Martin, a professor of energy environmental and chemical engineering at WashU, said: 'These data offer new information to advance understanding of how to improve air quality and health.'
Yahoo
15-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Scientists track 25 years of submicron air pollution particles across US skies
Air pollution is a serious and often underestimated health threat in the U.S. It is linked to over 50,000 premature deaths each year. Tiny particles in the air, like PM2.5, can get embedded into a person's lungs and bloodstream, leading to chronic heart and lung problems. PM2.5 refers to particulate matter that is smaller than 2.5 micron. While scientists have studied these particles for decades, far less is known about PM1— even smaller at under 1 micron—whose effect on human health could be equally lethal, if not more. A new study from Washington University in St. Louis, published in The Lancet Planetary Health, has mapped 25 years of PM1 air pollution across the United States. The findings offer a starting point for identifying which pollutants regulators should target to improve public health. The research also builds on the university's expertise in satellite sensing and atmospheric modeling. According to Chi Li, research assistant professor at the university's Atmospheric Composition Analysis Group and lead author of the study, the new estimates will help researchers better understand the impact of submicron particles. These tiny particles often come from direct emissions, like black carbon from diesel engines or smoke from wildfires. They can also form indirectly when pollutants such as sulfur dioxide or nitrogen oxides are released from fuel combustion and coal burning. Rather than being made of a single substance, air particles are usually mixtures of various materials layered together. Li noted that larger particles are often dominated by components like mineral dust, which are more difficult to regulate or reduce. The researchers estimated PM1 levels by analyzing the known composition of PM2.5 particles, which include seven main components such as sulfate, nitrate, and mineral dust. By combining these elements, the team was able to calculate PM1 concentrations across the US. The study lays the groundwork for deeper analysis of where these tiny particles tend to concentrate, how they form, and what impacts they have on both human health and the environment. PM1 pollution particles may be more harmful because they can penetrate deeper into the body, slipping past natural defenses. These submicron particles are at least six times smaller than a blood cell. According to Jay Turner, the James McKelvey Professor of Engineering Education and co-author of the study, when the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) first set air quality standards for fine particulate matter in 1997, there was significant debate over whether to regulate PM1 or PM2.5. Due to limited health impact research on PM1 compared to PM2.5, the EPA chose to focus on PM2.5. However, the new dataset revealed encouraging insights: pollution regulation has significantly reduced PM1 levels across the contiguous U.S. from 1998 to 2022, largely due to environmental policies like the Clean Air Act. But this progress has slowed since 2010, mainly because of increasing wildfire activity. Although countries like China have gotten a head start in tracking PM1, U.S. can catch up with the help of this comprehensive nationwide dataset. The next step will entail collaboration with epidemiologists to assess how exposure to these tiny particles relates to various health outcomes.
