Latest news with #PhilipDemokritou
India Today
23-04-2025
- Health
- India Today
New York City cooled down by 3°C from Canadian wildfire smoke. It's bad news
In June 2023, smoke from massive Canadian wildfires turned New York City's skies an apocalyptic orange and unexpectedly cooled the region by about 3 degrees Celsius, a phenomenon known as 'global dimming.'While this temperature drop might seem beneficial amid concerns about global warming, Rutgers Health researchers warn it had dangerous consequences by trapping toxic air pollutants near the ground, according to a study published in Nature Communications Earth & Rutgers team, led by Philip Demokritou and Georgios Kelesidis, analyzed the wildfire smoke particles that traveled nearly 1,000 kilometers to New York and New Jersey. This toxic air 'lid' increased exposure to wildfire smoke and urban pollutants. (Photo: Reuters) These particles, primarily brown carbon organic compounds, scattered sunlight away from the Earth's surface, blocking solar radiation and causing the cooling this 'smoky umbrella' also limited natural air circulation, preventing pollution from dispersing and trapping harmful particles close to the the event, New York City experienced unprecedented levels of fine particulate matter (PM2.5), exceeding Environmental Protection Agency guidelines by three times and World Health Organization recommendations by eight toxic air 'lid' increased exposure to wildfire smoke and urban pollutants, exacerbating respiratory health problems. A companion Rutgers study published in Environmental Science & Technology revealed that about 9.2 milligrams of smoke particles were deposited in the lungs of exposed individuals, impairing lung immune cells' ability to fight infections by up to 50%.Epidemiological data confirmed a sharp rise in asthma-related emergency visits—between 44% and 82%—during the wildfire smoke peak.'This was the first event of this scale in the region, but it probably won't be the last,' Demokritou said, highlighting how climate change is driving more frequent and intense wildfires even in the Northeast research shows the link between wildfire emissions, urban micro climates, and public health, questioning climate change mitigation strategies Watch
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Researchers make alarming discovery after examining lettuce plant cells: 'It will definitely be a challenge'
Two Rutgers-led studies have found that microplastics increase the absorption of other pollutants such as arsenic into plants and human cells, raising food safety concerns. The first study, summarized by AZO Cleantech, found that exposing lettuce plants to nanoplastics increased their absorption of arsenic. The smaller particles had the greatest impact, increasing arsenic content in edible tissues nearly threefold compared to lettuce that had been exposed to arsenic alone. The news site explained that a second study found that nanoplastic particles increased arsenic absorption by nearly 600% compared to arsenic exposure alone in a human small intestine cellular model and lab-based gastrointestinal system. They found a similar effect with a widely used pesticide called boscalid. Do you think we use too much plastic in America? Definitely Only some people Not really I'm not sure Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. These new papers offer more insight into the impact of microplastics, which can be found everywhere — from the bottom of the sea to our brains, where they have been shown to reduce blood flow and impair bodily movements. Research suggests these tiny plastic particles could be linked to a growing number of health issues, including cardiovascular disease and decreased fertility. Microplastics are formed as larger plastics degrade over time. As such, the research team advocates for reducing the amount of plastics we use as a society. For essential plastics, such as weed control covers used in agriculture, they advocate for biodegradable options. To that end, a number of plastic alternatives are gaining traction. Scientists are also finding new ways to break down plastics before they become a problem. For instance, researchers are looking at how they can employ the assistance of hungry wax worms, whose saliva contains two enzymes that can break down polyethylene — the most commonly used plastic in the world — in just a few hours. Meanwhile, one group of researchers has found a way to remove microplastics from farm soil using a type of processed farm waste. "It is not that technically we cannot address some of these issues," the study's senior author Philip Demokritou said, per AZO Cleantech. "But it will definitely be a challenge to retain all the benefits from this very useful material while reducing the harm that it does. There are social and economic obstacles related to plastic production and use to overcome." Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the latest innovations improving our lives and shaping our future, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
