American Lung Association Welcomes Proposed Sulfur Dioxide Health Standard

Statement of Charles D. Connor, American Lung Association President and CEO
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed new limits on the toxic air pollutant sulfur dioxide in the outdoor air. This health standard has not been revised since 1971. The American Lung Association welcomes this long overdue action and urges EPA to set a standard [...]

Targeting Grease To Curtail Sewer Overflows

Sewer overflows are a nasty business, posing dangers to human health and the environment. North Carolina State University is launching a new project with funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that targets the fat and grease that contribute to millions of overflows every year, and will give urban planners new tools to further [...]

Arsenic Biomethylation Required For Oxidative DNA Damage

Biomethylation of arsenic compounds appears to cause oxidative DNA damage and to increase their carcinogenicity, according to a new study published online November 23 in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

Tufts Questionnaire Study Reveals Half Of Barn Workers Surveyed Experience Cough Or Other Ailments

The estimated 4.6 million Americans involved in the equine industry may be at risk of developing respiratory symptoms due to poor air quality in horse barns, according to a questionnaire study undertaken earlier this year by investigators at Tufts University’s Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine. The study – which polled more than 80 New England [...]

From Toxic Dust And Algae To Ill Winds From Africa

Toxic dust: Toxins in coal-tar-based sealcoats in parking lots may be the culprit in contaminated house dust, according to a USGS study. PAHs – or polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons – are large molecules found in oil, coal and tar deposits, and can have toxic effects. It’s long been known that PAHs are often found in house [...]