Air Pollution
Does Air Pollution Undermine Solar Energy?
A new study shows that poor air quality has reduced the amount of sunlight reaching China's solar installations, undermining the country's renewable energy efforts.
How to Use Zoning Laws to Reduce Pollution in Low-Income Communities
A new study looks at how zoning policies, which have long been used to reinforce inequality, are being repurposed to promote environmental justice.
An Air Pollution Emergency in Mexico City (in Photos)
Authorities in Mexico City declared an environmental emergency on Tuesday after pollution reached potentially hazardous levels.
Air Pollution May Negatively Affect 'Every Organ' in the Human Body
A new report finds that inhaling air pollution doesn't just impact the heart and lungs: It can damage all parts of the body, and cause or worsen diseases.
Viewfinder: Mexico City Declares an Environmental Alert as Smog Reaches Dangerous Levels
Two women wear face masks on May 16th, 2019, in Mexico City, Mexico.
Unhealthy Air and Hazy Skies: How Pollution Is Affecting National Parks
The National Parks Conservation Association's new report recommends mitigating pollution and transitioning to clean energy, with an emphasis on fair solutions.
How Humanity Can Solve Our Crisis of Air Pollution
A new book chronicles the rise of extreme air pollution—and the fixes that are helping to clean up the atmosphere
A New Study Reveals Diesel Filters' Unintended Effects
The study shows that the chemical reaction used in diesel filters can increase the presence of nitrogen dioxide—and worsen common allergic reactions.
Air Pollution Is Killing More People Than Smoking—and Fossil Fuels Are Largely to Blame
A new study finds that air pollution caused by fossil fuel emissions is killing millions and disrupting the water cycle.
Viewfinder: London's Ultra Low Emissions Zone Comes Into Effect
A green sign demarcates London's Ultra Low Emissions Zone as the charge comes into effect on April 8th, 2019, in London, England.
Stories You Might Have Missed This Week
Prisons in Washington State may be blocking book donations, air pollution is shortening lives, and a four-legged whale skeleton provides evolutionary clues.
Air Pollution Kills More People Than Smoking
And as usual, it's the communities that are least responsible for it that suffer the most.
Stories You Might Have Missed This Week
Air quality is harming children, sea otters get some good news, and a utility company provides a partial mea culpa for a major fire.
Stories You Might Have Missed This Week
The EPA sidelines science, the Harvard University bias case goes to trial, and the West Coast might get its first offshore wind auction.
Silent Killer: In London, Air Pollution Has Become a Matter of Life and Death
According to researchers, air pollution kills thousands in the city every year.
Air Pollution Linked to Delinquent Behavior
Underprivileged kids growing up in congested cities must overcome many handicaps; this study suggests one of them is the very air they breathe.
The Lede, Issue #12: Inside an Embattled EPA, the Effects of Air Pollution, the Art of Loneliness, and More
An exclusive newsletter that gives premium members greater access to Pacific Standard stories, staff, and contributors in their inbox every Sunday morning
The EPA Has Weakened Air Pollution Standards
Public-health advocates say the changes are dangerous to human health.
Does Bad Air Create Bad Behavior?
New research links air pollution to higher levels of crime and other unethical acts.
California's Farms Are an Even Larger Source of Air Pollution Than We Thought
A new study uncovers an underappreciated source of air pollution in the Golden State: fertilized soil.
Two Attorneys General Sue the EPA Over Smog Blowing in From Other States
The suit claims that sources of air pollution located within Illinois, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia are contributing to smog in New York and Connecticut.
Running a Half-Marathon in One of the World's Most Polluted Cities
In New Delhi, a group of runners used an assortment of gear to run a race through an air quality crisis that blanketed the city in smog.
Letter From Kathmandu, Nepal: The Omnipresence of Dust
Each time the electricity powers off in Kathmandu, thousands of diesel generators rumble to life, spewing noxious particulate matter, or PM2.5.
The Weird Ways People React to Driving Bans
As cities try to control their air pollution with driving bans, research finds citizens react by buying more cars, watching more television, and, sometimes, by driving less and contributing to lower pollution in their towns.