Globally co-ordinated climate change policy to limit warming to 2°C could provide additional health, ecological and economic benefits. Using established methods, researchers estimated that the implementation of climate policy would also reduce global expenditures on air pollution control in 2050 by €250 billion.

High levels of ammonia were observed at a Natura 2000 site nearly three kilometres upwind from an intensive poultry farm in a recent study. While downwind effects of ammonia emissions are to be expected, this study suggests that ammonia emissions could be a significant source of nitrogen pollution even upwind from the source.

Industrial emissions of black carbon were responsible for the retreat of the glaciers in the European Alps that marked the end of the so-called ‘Little Ice Age’, according to a new study. The researchers explain how black carbon deposits could have caused glaciers to melt more rapidly from the mid-19th century and suggest that human activities were already having a visible influence on the climate before the effects of carbon dioxide were evident.

Long-term exposure to air pollution may increase the risk of developing type-2 diabetes, a Swiss study has found. The results also suggest that the association between type-2 diabetes and air pollution occurs at concentrations below World Health Organization (WHO) air quality guidelines.

Back in 1999, a group of scientists predicted how changing air pollution levels would affect the acidity of lakes and rivers in Europe in 2010 using a computer model. A follow up study has now gathered actual measurements of these waters to see if the predictions came true. The observations show that most of the rivers and lakes did recover from acidification, as forecast by the model, and demonstrate the model’s value in predicting future water chemistry, the authors say.

Long-term exposure to traffic-related air particle pollution is linked with type 2 diabetes, a new study in Germany has found. Furthermore, the study found that people living close to busy roads were at greater risk of developing the disease than those living further away.

Hydrocarbons are precursors to hazardous air pollutants including ozone and particulate matter. Hydrocarbons from diesel make up over 50% of all hydrocarbons in the air in London, a new study has found. The authors also estimate that they contribute up to half of total ozone production potential in London, and say future air quality control strategies must focus more on these pollutants.

In September 2015, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) alleged that Volkswagen (VW) violated the US Clean Air Act by fitting ‘defeat devices’ in their light-duty diesel vehicles to falsify the results of emissions tests. According to a study assessing the potential impact of this decision, an extra 59 early deaths in the US are likely to be caused by exposure to PM2.5 and ozone.

Research using the Environmental Quality Index (EQI) linked increased risk of preterm birth with poor air quality, but not with overall low environmental quality. The study is one of the first to explore the relationship between preterm birth and environmental quality across a range of different environmental domains (including water, air, land, built environment and sociodemographic aspects).

Pollutants emitted by human activities have caused declines in air quality and drastic changes to climate. Despite being inextricably linked, these two major environmental issues tend to be viewed separately by policy. However, in certain instances, considering these issues together could lead to strategies that benefit both, according to a newly published review.

It is important to understand the extent to which atmospheric (air) pollution damages plants (i.e. its phytotoxicity) as well as the wider ecosystem (i.e. its ecotoxicity). For this reason, researchers have adapted the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Vegetative Vigour Test1 for the assessment of the ecotoxicity of samples of aerosol (suspensions of fine solid particles or liquid droplets in air). Typically, the test involves spraying the trial liquid on above-ground portions of the plant, such as the leaves. The adapted protocol involves extracting water-soluble aerosol compounds from aerosol samples to spray on the plant. The new protocol is sensitive enough to determine phytotoxicity and establish a clear cause–effect relationship, and as such has the potential to serve as a useful tool for the assessment of the effects of air pollution on environmental and human health.

Fuel spillages and leaks from petroleum storage facilities can lead to serious pollution of soils and underground water. In a recent study, two strains of Rhodococcus bacteria were found to be effective at degrading a number of petroleum hydrocarbons and thus helping clean up contaminated sites.

Transforming public spaces with plants that decontaminate soils can add functional, ecological, economic and social value to derelict areas. A new study calls for consideration of social and environmental factors, as well as remediation needs, to produce effective and innovative landscape design.

Microbes and biocatalytic enzymes could offer useful tools for cleaning soils polluted with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), suggests a new review of remediation approaches. However, risk assessments and further work are needed before their use can be extended beyond the lab to realworld situations. This comprehensive overview of available and novel methods indicates their constraints and potential for future development and research.

Researchers have analysed the ability of two organic nanomaterials to remove the heavy metal chromium from water. In the laboratory, the nanomaterials successfully took up around 95% of the chromium. Further work is needed to confirm the feasibility of using these nanomaterials to purify water in real-world conditions.

The real-time economy requires instant processes in an increasing number of business functions.

Myke makes judgments about Grey's musical choices, Grey explains how he is working with his personal assistant to manage email, and they both lament the current state of email apps.

Grey wants to do less, Myke has a new toy, and they both read _The E-Myth Revisited_.

Australian Federal Police National Headquarters in Canberra will be bathed in blue from this evening (Thursday, 30 April) to honour the four Victorian and one South Australian police officer who tragically lost their lives last week.

Three men have been arrested as a result of coordinated operations conducted across NSW in two days, targeting purchasers of child-like sex dolls.

When James Antonas and partner Kirilie Blythman bought their 1940s clinker-brick cottage in Coburg North in 2009, it was with their heads rather than their hearts.

Everyone in the community feels isolated at the moment, but that's the way AFL coaches feel most of the time.

Above: Powhatan in the water at VT Halter Marine following a successful launch on August 11, 2018 PASCAGOULA, MISSISSIPPI – The Virginia...

MELFA – The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) invites the public to attend a hearing on Tuesday, August 28, to learn about and comment...

An Olivier Award-nominated comedian is going back on tour this year.

CULPEPER — The bridge on Route 250 (Ivy Road) over Little Ivy Creek near Ivy west of Charlottesville is open to traffic, one day ahead of its scheduled reopening. Crews are now working to remove signs and other detour indicators along Route 250 and Interstate 64.

CULPEPER — The Virginia Department of Transportation invites the public to attend one of three upcoming location and design public hearings about a...

CULPEPER — The Virginia Department of Transportation invites the public to attend a citizen information meeting to learn about the upcoming project...

FREDERICKSBURG, Va. ⸺ Route 3 in Lancaster County has reopened to through traffic between Route 201 and Route 600 in the Lively area. The road...

  FREDERICKSBURG, Va. – (7 a.m.) An early morning crash has closed all lanes on Route 1 southbound and one lane on Route 1 northbound at Austin...

Harry Potter star Miriam Margolyes left British viewers shocked as she unleashed a vile rant saying she “wanted Boris Johnson to die” from the coronavirus.

A St Albans-based artist has seen her work shortlisted for Waterstones Book of the Year 2019.

An author from Harpenden has been longlisted for a prestigious award.

An author from St Albans has been shortlisted for the Romantic Novelists’ Association’s prestigious 2020 Romantic Novel Awards.

Shoppers at Aldi have been warned of voucher scam circulating on social media.

Hackers have been reported to be ‘Zoombombing’ private online video meetings with abusive messages and offensive video footage.

The post 3D-printed body parts set for surgical training ramp up appeared first on The Lead SA.

DEPARTMENT store Debenhams is on the brink of administration for the second time in a year, the company confirmed today.

COLONIAL HEIGHTS —The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) will hold a public hearing for a proposed rehabilitation of the Route 46...

Proposed T-shaped intersection at Huguenot Trail, Huguenot Springs Rd. and Woolridge Rd. NORTH CHESTERFIELD —The Virginia Department of...

The Gholson Bridge on Iron Bridge Road (Route 715) runs over the Meherrin River NORTH CHESTERFIELD —The Virginia Department of Transportation...

Watford's sensational win over Liverpool has been voted as the Premier League moment of the season so far.

SPRINGFIELD, Va. – Drivers along the Franconia-Springfield Parkway (Route 289) bridge over Accotink Creek now have better protection from oncoming...

LYNCHBURG – Remnants of the Hurricane Michael left portions of Virginia, including the ten-county VDOT Lynchburg District covered in water and debris. Numerous road closures are reported due to flooding or downed trees/power lines and repairs may be lengthy at some locations.

Watford fans should be able to enjoy Christmas a little more after the Hornets gave their survival prospects a sizeable boost with a memorable 2-0 victory over Manchester United to finally pick up their first Premier League win of the season at Vicarage Road.

Ben Foster produced one of the saves of the season as Watford's recent revival continued with a draw against Sheffield United.

Watford were unable to capitalise on defeats for some of their fellow Premier League strugglers as they fell to a 3-0 loss at Manchester United.

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