This study sought to evaluate the association between exposure to air pollutants and varicella (chickenpox). Using data from Qingdao, China from 2014 to 2019, researchers found that exposure to PM_2.5 and NO₂ were significantly associated with the risk of varicella among adults.

This report from the U.S. Energy Information Administration uses data and macroeconomic models to predict changes in U.S. GDP growth, the global liquid fuels market, natural gas production, electricity generation, and the prices of crude oil, gasoline, diesel, and natural gas.

The plastics industry’s quest to solve the problem of plastic waste through so-called “advanced” recycling—using chemical additives and sometimes extremely high heat to turn waste back into new plastics—is costly and comes with significant environmental impacts, according to new research from the federal government’s National Renewable Energy Lab in Colorado.

This report highlights the implications of 1.5°C scenarios for the phase-out of fossil fuels and the scale-up to renewables, barriers to transitions and solutions to such challenges, and tools for governments and financial institutions to navigate the current energy crisis while maintaining climate ambition. It also looks at the implications of the war in Ukraine for energy systems and explores whether Europe can meet its gas demand without the Russian supply.

A report on greenwashing, whereby companies make themselves appear more environmentally friendly than they really are.

This report highlights the implications of 1.5°C scenarios for the phase-out of fossil fuels and the scale-up to renewables, barriers to transitions and solutions to such challenges, and tools for governments and financial institutions to navigate the current energy crisis while maintaining climate ambition. It also looks at the implications of the war in Ukraine for energy systems and explores whether Europe can meet its gas demand without the Russian supply.

—Half of the 50 largest sources of emissions are oil and gas production fields and their associated facilities. 

—The top 500 sources represent less than 1% of the total Climate TRACE inventory but account for 14% of global emissions for 2021 – more than the annual emissions of the United States.

—Globally, emissions from oil and gas production are significantly underreported, with Climate TRACE data showing that of the countries required to report regularly to the UNFCCC, emissions are as much as three times higher.

Offers a comprehensive research synthesis of externalities for energy and mobility.

Synthesizes data from 139 studies to examine the hidden costs of energy.

Electricity systems could generate $11.644 trillion in annual externalities.

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) constitute a major public health problem affecting one in 68 children. There is little understanding of the causes of ASD despite its serious social impact. Air pollution contains many toxicants known to have adverse effects on the fetus. We conducted a population based case–control study in southwestern Pennsylvania to estimate the association between ASD and 2005 US EPA modeled NATA (National Air Toxics Assessment) levels for 30 neurotoxicants.

Methods

A total of 217 ASD cases born between 2005 and 2009 were recruited from local ASD diagnostic and treatment centers. There were two different control groups: 1) interviewed controls (N = 224) frequency matched by child’s year of birth, sex and race with complete residential histories from prior to pregnancy through the child’s second birthday, and 2) 5,007 controls generated from a random sample of birth certificates (BC controls) using residence at birth. We used logistic regression analysis comparing higher to first quartile of exposure to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95 % confidence intervals (CI), adjusting for mother’s age, education, race, smoking status, child’s year of birth and sex.

Preliminary results from a groundbreaking study from the University of Pittsburgh show a significant correlation between exposure to toxic air pollutants during pregnancy and a child’s early years of life and the development of autism spectrum disorders. Researchers from the University of Pittsburgh presented an abstract of the study today at the annual conference of the American Association for Aerosol Research.

A coalition of nonprofits in the greater Pittsburgh region, including Clean Air Council, Clean Water Action, PennFuture, Sustainable Pittsburgh, and Women for a Healthy Environment, issued the following statements in response to the new research:

“Autism currently affects one in every 68 children in the U.S., and the prevalence of autism spectrum disorders among children in Pennsylvania is increasing,” explained Michelle Naccarati-Chapkis, executive director of Women for a Healthy Environment. “It is increasingly clear that autism constitutes a significant public health problem, both nationally and here in Pennsylvania.”

“Southwestern Pennsylvania has struggled with air pollution for decades, and progress cleaning up our air has been far too slow,” said Court Gould, executive director of Sustainable Pittsburgh. “This new abstract adds to a growing body of evidence linking exposure to toxic air pollutants with increased risks of childhood autism spectrum disorders. We owe it to our children to clean up our air once and for all.”