Tag Archives: Fine dust

Fine particulate matter pollution increases the risk of Alzheimer's disease.

By | February 17, 2026
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Long-term exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is associated with an increased risk of Alzheimer's disease – and this link largely acts directly on the brain, not primarily through comorbidities such as high blood pressure or depression. Those who have already suffered a stroke are particularly affected. This was the finding of a large cohort study of more than 27,8 million US Medicare enrolled individuals aged 65 and older… Read more »

What is air pollution?

By | August 15, 2025
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Credits: Kristen Morith, unsplash

Air pollution is a mixture of hazardous substances from both human-caused and natural sources. Vehicle exhaust, heating oil and natural gas used for home heating, byproducts of manufacturing and power generation, especially from coal-fired power plants, and fumes from chemical production are the main sources of human-caused air pollution. Nature releases hazardous substances into the air, for example, smoke from forest fires, which often… Read more »

Environmental pollution significantly increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases

By | August 13, 2025
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Credits: Olga Kononenko, unsplash

Environmental factors such as particulate matter, noise, heat, and environmental toxins significantly increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of death worldwide. A review by an international research team shows that these stressors are particularly harmful when they occur in combination. The scientists emphasize that the entirety of environmental factors and their interactions—the so-called multimodal exposome—must be given greater consideration in the development of preventive measures… Read more »

Outdoor air pollution increases the risk of dementia

By | July 25, 2025
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An analysis of studies using data from nearly 30 million people has highlighted the role of air pollution—including that caused by car exhaust—in increasing the risk of dementia. An estimated 57,4 million people worldwide are affected by dementia-related diseases such as Alzheimer's. By 2050, this number is expected to triple to 152,8 million cases. The impact on those affected, their… Read more »

Health hazard from exhaust gases: EURO 6d particle filter does not prevent secondary particulate matter

By | May 30
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Credits: Alex P., pexels

Researchers from an international consortium, led by Professor Ralf Zimmermann's research group at the Helmholtz Center Munich and the University of Rostock, have demonstrated for the first time in a recent study that while modern EURO 6d particulate filters significantly reduce direct fine particulate emissions from vehicles, they cannot prevent the formation of secondary particulate matter in the atmosphere – a factor that poses considerable health risks… Read more »

Particulate matter: Previous measurements significantly underestimate the amount of harmful components

By | March 31, 2025
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Credits: dre2uomaha0, pixabay

Those who breathe polluted air for years have a higher risk of developing a variety of illnesses. Highly reactive components in particulate matter, which alter bodily processes, are suspected. However, researchers at the University of Basel have now shown that these components dissipate within hours, meaning that previous measurements completely underestimated their quantity. Chronic respiratory problems, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and more… Read more »

Study on fine dust allows better prediction of spread

By | March 24, 2025
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Credits: Ron Lach, pexels

An international research team led by the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI) has conducted particularly precise measurements of atmospheric chemistry at CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research in Geneva. This allowed the researchers to demonstrate how harmful particles are generated by traffic emissions and the combustion of biomass. Their findings help to refine existing models of particulate matter dispersion. Anthropogenic organic aerosols are… Read more »