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Four-year-olds should not have any concept of the Air Quality Index. What world are we bequeathing them?
Our city had the worst air quality in the world at the time of recording, with an Air Quality Index of 446 (that's like smoking over 60 cigarettes a day). We explore what led to these hazardous conditions, how wildfires are affecting our communities and even reaching Europe, and why Canada's air quality reporting system needs a 21st-century overhaul. Join The Clean Energy Show's CLEAN CLUB on Patreon for exciting perks! Our monthly bonus podcast is coming up this week! The Clean Energy Show received two sustainability awards from the Regional Centre of Expertise (RCE), a United Nations University network promoting Education for Sustainable Development. The fast fashion industry gets a sustainability report card. H&M tops the chart with a B+ thanks to its real investment in decarbonization. But most brands are still failing. Read more from Bloomberg: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-06-03/h-m-outperforms-zara-and-shein-on-green-report-card-for-fashion Swiss authorities averted disaster by evacuating the town of Blatten before a monitored glacier collapsed. But such preventative infrastructure is rare globally. More from Bloomberg: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-06-03/swiss-glacier-collapse-is-a-lesson-on-climate-disaster-management Jason Cook-Studer of the Lac La Ronge Indian Band is building microgrids and district heating with salvaged wood while fighting fires threatening his traplines. We share his inspiring work in a featured clip. Andrew Johnson from One School, One Farm—building bridges between classrooms and climate resilience: We play a clip from his RCE presentation! ⚡ In the Lightning Round: Used solar panels get second life through Search4solar http://dlvr.it/TL6xmA Port of L.A. cuts ship emissions 24% with OpenTable-style scheduling https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-06-03/how-to-cut-shipping-pollution-quickly-and-cheaply
Lisa Patel is a pediatrician and an expert in environmental health who says that pollution is taking an increasing toll on children's health. Pollution from wildfires, fossil fuels, and plastics can cause asthma, pneumonia, and risks dementia in the long-term. But, she says, all hope is not lost. Solutions range from DIY air filters to choosing induction stoves over gas, cutting down on meat consumption and plastics use, and pursuing clean energy, among other strategies. If we all take local action, we can solve this problem globally, Patel tells host Russ Altman on this episode of Stanford Engineering's The Future of Everything podcast.Have a question for Russ? Send it our way in writing or via voice memo, and it might be featured on an upcoming episode. Please introduce yourself, let us know where you're listening from, and share your question. You can send questions to thefutureofeverything@stanford.edu.Episode Reference Links:Stanford Profile: Lisa PatelConnect With Us:Episode Transcripts >>> The Future of Everything WebsiteConnect with Russ >>> Threads / Bluesky / MastodonConnect with School of Engineering >>> Twitter/X / Instagram / LinkedIn / FacebookChapters:(00:00:00) IntroductionRuss Altman introduces guest Lisa Patel, a professor of pediatrics at Stanford University.(00:03:39) Climate Advocacy JourneyThe personal events that drove Lisa's focus to environmental health.(00:04:53) Fossil Fuels and Clean Air ActHow fossil fuels and weakened regulations harm public health.(00:07:20 Long-Term Health ImpactsLinks between pollution to asthma, cancer, and early Alzheimer's.(00:10:12) Air Quality Guidance for FamiliesAdvising parents on air quality monitoring and precautions.(00:13:04) Indoor Cooking and Gas PollutionHow pollution from gas stoves impacts indoor air quality.(00:14:37) Lead in Water and Health RisksCurrent issues with lead exposure in water for children.(00:16:24) Microplastics and Early Health DamageEvidence showing widespread microplastics are harmful to health.(00:19:12) Clean Energy Progress and SetbacksBenefits of renewable energy and dangers of policy rollback.(00:21:22) Active Transport and Better AirThe environmental impact of increasing public transit.(00:22:44) Benefits of Electric VehiclesHow electric vehicles are linked to cleaner air and healthier kids.(00:23:51) Plant-Forward Diets for HealthWhether plant-forward diets aid personal and planetary health.(00:25:33) Kids Leading Dietary ChangesChildren's reactions and adaptations to plant-forward diets.(00:28:12) Taking Local ActionThe local actions that can offer real solutions for change.(00:31:01) Conclusion Connect With Us:Episode Transcripts >>> The Future of Everything WebsiteConnect with Russ >>> Threads / Bluesky / MastodonConnect with School of Engineering >>>Twitter/X / Instagram / LinkedIn / Facebook
Ever stopped to wonder what's in the air you breathe? From invisible pollutants to visible smog, air quality affects us all—whether we realize it or not. Host Ally Richardson from Pikes Peak Permaculture sits down with activist and Peak Environment cohost Konrad Schlarbaum, alongside Pikes Peak Area Council of Government's Air Quality Outreach Specialist Kenzie Courtney, to discuss air quality in the Pikes Peak region. In this episode, we're diving into the challenges we face, the risks we can't ignore, and the steps we can take to create cleaner skies for generations to come.Mentioned in this episode:Pikes Peak Area Council of Governments https://ppacg.org/Find the Air Quality Index here https://www.airnow.gov/CDPHE Air Quality Division - Colorado Air Quality Summary https://www.colorado.gov/airquality/colorado_summary.aspxCDPHE's Air Quality Division daily reports https://www.colorado.gov/airquality/The latest ways to get around in the Pikes Peak region https://ppacg.org/transportation/Free Energy Audits for Businesses https://www.csu.org/business-efficiency/request-an-auditFood To Power https://foodtopowerco.org/PPAG will provide info through https://Pikespeakair.comBike Routes and Safety Information https://coloradosprings.gov/bikemapAdditionally, mark your calendars for Bike To Work Day on Wednesday, June 25th, where free breakfast will be provided at several bike stations throughout the city. Find more details here: https://coloradosprings.gov/biketoworkThanks to these Peak Environment sponsors:Pikes Peak Permaculture. Visit pikespeakpermaculture.org for opportunities to learn more about sustainable organic living through permaculture – workshops, classes, field trips, and networking.The following environment/sustainability organizations in the Pikes Peak region collaborate to produce the Peak Environment podcast about environmental stewardship, sustainable living and enlightened public policy in the Pikes Peak Region.Peak Alliance for a Sustainable Future https://peakallianceco.org/Pikes Peak Permaculture https://www.pikespeakpermaculture.org/https://350colorado.org/GrowthBusters
The Melbourne International Comedy Festival has started, bringing together comedians from around the world. In this podcast, visiting Indian comedians Sumukhi Suresh and Rahul Subramanian share their experiences and reveal three things they want to take back to India.
Air pollution results in over 7 million deaths each year. In this episode of Possibly, we look at the most common way to measure air quality, the Air Quality Index, and what it means for you.
Evidence shows that pregnant women and babies exposed to high levels of air pollutants face an increased risk of adverse health outcomes. Adding to this concern is the rising frequency of wildfires, further threatening air quality. According to the World Health Organization, 99% of the global population breathes air that exceeds WHO air quality limits. While avoiding exposure to air pollution and wildfire smoke is the best way to limit your risk, this is not always possible. The good news is that you can reduce exposure and minimize the harmful effects with practical steps, from monitoring the Air Quality Index to using air filtration systems and supplementing with antioxidants to strengthen your body's defenses. By focusing on the factors within your control, you can take proactive measures to protect yourself and your family from the dangers of poor air quality. Thank you to our sponsor Zahler goes above and beyond to use high-quality bioavailable ingredients like the active form of folate, bioavailable iron, and omega 3s. The Zahler Prenatal +DHA is my #1 recommendation for a high-quality prenatal vitamin. In January 2025, you can save 40% off the Zahler Prenatal +DHA on Amazon with the code PREPOD40. You can always see the current promo code for the Zahler prenatal vitamin by clicking here. Read the full article and resources that accompany this episode. Join Pregnancy Podcast Premium to access the entire back catalog, listen to all episodes ad-free, get a copy of the Your Birth Plan Book, and more. Check out the 40 Weeks podcast to learn how your baby grows each week and what is happening in your body. Plus, get a heads up on what to expect at your prenatal appointments and a tip for dads and partners. For more evidence-based information, visit the Pregnancy Podcast website.
The Air Quality Index says the air in much of Los Angeles is safe, but that's not the whole story. Tips for parents on how to keep kids safe as multiple wildfires burn across SoCal. GoFundMe donations could affect disaster aid eligibility. Plus, more. Support The L.A. Report by donating at LAist.com/join and by visiting https://laist.comSupport the show: https://laist.com
Air pollution is an invisible killer that affects millions of lives every day. In this video, we uncover the shocking realities of air quality in major cities and how it impacts your health, from respiratory issues to long-term diseases. Discover the most polluted and cleanest cities in the world, along with simple steps you can take to protect yourself and your loved ones from harmful toxins in the air. Don't wait until it's too late—watch now to learn how to breathe smarter and live healthier! #air #pollution #wellness ==== Thank You To Our Sponsor! Puori Click here https://puori.com/drg and use code DRG for 20% off the already discounted subscription prices. ==== 00:00:00 - Importance of Exhaust Fans and Ventilation 00:00:42 - Air Quality, Health, and Breathing Healthy Air 00:01:30 - Steps to Optimize Air Quality and Pollution Stats 00:02:20 - Global and Personal Impact of Poor Air Quality 00:03:57 - Introduction to Air Quality Index and Key Pollutants 00:05:52 - Long-Term Effects: Respiratory Health and Ozone Exposure 00:07:30 - Vulnerable Populations and Heart Health Risks 00:09:55 - Mental Health and Fertility Effects of Pollution 00:11:52 - Pollution's Link to Cancer and Major Carcinogens 00:13:13 - Causes of Poor Air Quality: Natural and Human Factors 00:15:35 - Major Contributors: Industrial, Vehicle, and Agricultural Emissions 00:18:09 - Health Disparities and Regulatory Challenges 00:20:25 - Monitoring Air Quality and Timing Outdoor Activities 00:21:53 - Improving Indoor Air Quality: Ventilation and Purifiers 00:23:55 - Benefits of Houseplants and Humidity Control 00:24:11 - Cities with the Worst Air Quality 00:27:31 - Cities with the Cleanest Air 00:29:42 - Personal Experience with Clean Air and Final Thoughts 00:30:51 - Encouragement to Share, Stay Informed, and Closing Remarks
First, The Indian Express' Parthasarathi Biswas shares details on the two crops that are socio-politically and economically the most important crops of Maharashtra and can impact the upcoming Assembly elections.Next, we talk to The Indian Express' Divya Goyal about the PM-SHRI scheme and its implementation in Punjab. She shares why the scheme took so long to get implemented in the state, what was the impact of the delay and the current update regarding the same. (12:47)Finally, we talk about Delhi entering the severe category of the Air Quality Index causing massive smog and flight diversions. (22:50)Produced and hosted by Niharika Nanda. Edited and mixed by Suresh Pawar
Wildfires burning out west recently brought smoke and haze to the First State.It's the latest instance in what's becoming a growing regional trend with prolonged poor air quality stemming from wildfires in the western part of the U.S. or wildfires in Canada.This week, Delaware Public Media Kyle McKinnon talks with Angela Marconi – the Director of the Division of Air Quality for DNREC – about how to make sense of the Air Quality Index and ways to protect yourself from lingering wildfire smoke.
Numerous wildfires are impacting air quality across the United States and Canada. In the latest High Pressure Podcast, Sonoma Technology meteorologists break down where the smoke is and what regions may have smoke impacts this weekend.To watch the video version of this podcast, visit https://youtu.be/p4hdcrump-I.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has made adjustments to the Air Quality Index, or AQI. So Dylan and Jennifer Horton discuss how to use the tool during wildfire smoke season in Oregon. And DEQ air monitoring expert Matt Shrensel goes deeper into what the changes to the AQI mean and why they were made.
For the second consecutive year, early season wildfires in Canada have sent smoke into the United States. Will this smoky trend continue for summer 2024? Sonoma Technology meteorologists preview the weather and air quality outlook.To watch the video version of this episode, visit https://youtu.be/m7juZjHhXgA.
Chris Egert from Channel 5 is in for Jason. He talked about the debate they had in the newsroom this morning about sending a reporter out to cover the wildfire smoke causing an Air Quality Index alert. Do news consumers want reporters to be in hazardous conditions?
Welcome back for an episode with a recurring guest! Over the past few years, the air quality in urban India has gone from a seasonal problem in certain cities to a growing concern among the entire urban population in India. This can be seen in the AQI or Air Quality Index in most Indian cities, with more days of the year in the "severe" and harmful categories.Air pollution has many health effects, both direct and indirect, along with other factors like particulate matter. So what steps can be taken to mitigate the impact of poor air quality, both outdoors and in the spaces at which we spend the most time, our homes and workplaces?To answer this, we thought it would be the perfect time to reconnect with one of out first ever gusts on this podcast, and get an update on the issue of air quality in India! To talk to us about this, we have a returning guest in Mr. Abhinav Gupta, CEO of Active Buildings.With a background in engineering, Mr. Gupta started Active Buildings in 2016, to work on smart solutions that increase both the productivity and wellness of building occupants. In this episode Mr. Gupta revisits the current state of air quality in urban India, and talks about some interventions they have deployed in commercial, residential and even public spaces.So get ready for some Concrete Conversations!Follow the hosts on Instagram:Yash's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jumpform/Akshay's: https://www.instagram.com/kapz_99/Background score by Flowerbrain: https://linktr.ee/flowerbrain#TheIndianRealEstatePodcast #RealEstate #PodcastHave questions about Real Estate? Or topic you would love to hear more about on the Podcast? Connect with Concrete Conversations - The Indian Real Estate Podcast through the links below!Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theindianrealestatepodcast/LinkedIn :https://www.linkedin.com/company/concrete-conversationsYouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXn-Aw24pqfmULyym7hCi6Q
Today, AirNow is a one stop source for air quality data.
Episode Highlights 0:16 Intro 1:44 How to approach stage IV lung cancer, with Dr. David Tom Cooke 4:13 The ALA Lung Health Cohort Research Study, with Dr. Ravi Kalhan 8:42 What is the atopic march, with Dr. Payel Gupta 10:53 Weight loss for asthma care, with Dr. Anne Dixon 15:11 Air Quality Index 101, with Dr. Al Rizzo 18:47 Lung Cancer Age Equity, with Dr. Carolyn Presley 21:45 The emerging treatments for long Covid, with Dr. Julia Moore Vogel 24:28 The future of pulmonary embolism care, with Dr. Parth Rali 28:08 The modern fight against RSV, with Dr. Barbara Taylor 33:26 Detecting unhealthy air exposure, with Dr. Mark Hernandez 36:12 Living while fighting lung cancer, with Christy Fischer 38:51 Outro Though some subjects are clear favorites, it is nearly impossible to select a single answer to the question, “What was the biggest story in pulmonology this year?” Since the American Lung Association (ALA) and HCPLive launched Lungcast in the summer of 2020, the field of respiratory health has evolved in unprecedented fashion. One doesn't have to look further than the show's episode library to appreciate the great shifts in the field—brought on by a global pandemic, numerous public health phenomena, and practice-changing innovations in screening, diagnostics, prevention and therapy. From vaccination to late-stage lung cancer care, the world of respiratory health is irrevocably changed from just a short span of 4 years. To reflect on this year's spectacular headlines in the field, HCPLive presents the annual recap episode in conjunction with This Year In Medicine, where the Lungcast team reflects on their favorite interview segments of 2023. Subscribe to Lungcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Lungcast Want more content? Visit us at https://www.hcplive.com/podcasts/lungcast and https://www.lung.org/professional-education/lungcast.
How do we find out how air pollution is affecting us at our own county and state level? Dr. Laura Gladson has been a researcher with the Health, Environment, and Policy Program at the NYU Marron Institute of Urban Management since 2014. On this podcast, we discuss the Health of the Air report, which shows how many people are affected in each state and county by air pollution in excess of recommended ATS standards. We also discuss separating out the toll of wildfire smoke exposure and how it affects communities, and what can be done to decrease the toll. To Do- 1- Go to the Health of the Air report to see how impacted your state or county is by air pollution. There is a list by each state at the end of the report. Contact your representatives at every level to see what can be done. Listen to last month's episode “Clean Air and Climate Advocacy for Busy People” to learn how to get started. 2- Check the report to see how impacted your state or county is is by wildland fire smoke, and make a plan for protection. Listen to the “Our Health in Wildfire Season” episode to learn more about how to do that. You can also learn more about controlled burns and protecting your home from wildfire in the “Fighting Fire with Fire episode.” 3- You can learn more about ozone from Dr. Nassikas in the “True Cost of Ozone” episode from last season and more about PM2.5 from a host of episodes, including the “What's in a Standard” episode with Dan Costa from Season 2 and “What's burning” episode with Dr. Goobie from Season three. 4- To learn more about personal tools with regards to air pollution, learn more about the Air Quality Index in the “What's in an Index” episode. 5- Consider a donation to the American Thoracic Society, which funds excellent research like that behind the Health of the Air Report and also advocates for clean air and healthier air quality standards. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Visit blog post for more information, or go to airhealthourhealth.org. Follow and comment on Facebook page and Instagram. Record a question or comment on the podcast site or send an e-mail via the website. Photo by Photoholgic on Unsplash --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/airhealthourhealth/message
AirNow lets you get air quality data where you live.
As of today, there are 19 days left until Diwali, and we are already gasping. The Air Quality Index is plummeting in Mumbai and Delhi as smog engulfs the cities. Meanwhile, in South Korea, a Bible chatbot modelled after ChatGPT is making waves. Will it replace Metatron as the Voice of God? Tune in to today's episode to find out. The Signal Daily is produced in association with IVM.The episode was researched and written by Dhruv Sharma and Anup SemwalEdited by Venkat AnanthProduced by ManaswiniMastered and mixed by Manas and Nirvaan See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Kicking off Season Four with a great episode! As the parent of three kids and a lung doctor, I always wonder how best to balance exercise benefits when air quality is marginal. Fortunately, there are experts hard at work on understanding how we should approach this topic. Dr. Stephanie Lovinsky-Desir is chief of the pediatric pulmonary division at Columbia University and cares for patients and conducts research in the Department of Pediatrics and the Dept Environmental Health Sciences at Columbia's Mailman School of Public Health. Her multidisciplinary, award-winning, and collaborative research is focused on understanding how environmental factors impact children with asthma, particularly in urban and minority communities. She recently served on the Environmental Protection Agency's Clean Air Act Scientific Advisory Committee as a member of the particulate matter panel in 2021. On the podcast today, we discuss her research that put pollution monitors on children, and followed them. It turns out they are significantly exposed to pollution during school hours, so it is very important for schools to build clean indoor air infrastructure and to be aware of available resources, such as the EPA Air Quality flag program. To Do: 1- Download the Airnow.gov app if you haven't yet- familiarize yourself with the Air Quality Index and who is at risk. 2- Find out whether your school follows a flag program- if not, consider discussing with your school starting a flag program. You can obtain resources and information at airnow.gov/air-quality-flag-program. 3- The EPA offers significant educational materials geared for kids as well, you can find out more about those resources at Airnow.gov, including videos in Spanish and English about air quality. 4- Our climate is changing and leading to increased wildfire smoke events. Do what you can in your community to address climate change and help mitigation plans, such as plans for clean indoor air. 5- Learn more about the AQI from Dr. Rosser in the episode “What's in an Index?” and about PM2.5 from “What's in a Standard” episode with Dr. Costa. These are both available in Season Two of the podcast. Learn more about ozone, the other component of the AQI from the “Money & Lives” episode from last season. 6- Consider a donation to the American Lung Association, who in addition to supporting those with lung disease, is constantly fighting for clean air for all. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Visit blog post for more information, or go to airhealthourhealth.org. Follow and comment on Facebook page and Instagram. Record a question or comment on the podcast site or send an e-mail via the website. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/airhealthourhealth/message
What does the body of evidence say on air quality and how to protect ourselves from airborne pollution? Plus: a birth control pill becomes easier to access in the Republic of Gilead, and Chris returns to the hot seat to help a lawyer with blood-streaked loose stool! Block 1: (2:11) Air Quality: forest fires and their causes; major air pollutants; what causes air pollution; improvements in air quality Block 2: (8:56) Air Quality: what the air quality index is; why there are different indices in different countries; whether poor air quality leads to poor health outcomes; biomass air pollution; how we can protect ourselves Block 3: (24:03) An over-the-counter birth control pill in the USA Block 4: (33:15) Chris becomes House, MD. His patient: a lawyer with blood-streaked loose stool Jingle by Jillian Correia of Roctavio Canada * Theme music: “Fall of the Ocean Queen“ by Joseph Hackl To contribute to The Body of Evidence, go to our Patreon page at: http://www.patreon.com/thebodyofevidence/. To make a one-time donation to our show, you can now use PayPal! https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=9QZET78JZWCZE Patrons get a bonus show on Patreon called “Digressions”! Check it out! References: 1) Basics of air quality: https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/air-pollution/research-science/about/air-quality-overview.html 2) Sources of air pollution: https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/environmental-indicators/air-pollutant-emissions.html 3) Quantifying the risk of air pollution: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/1104975 4) The WHO's estimates of premature deaths worldwide in 2019 due to poor air quality: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/ambient-(outdoor)-air-quality-and-health 5) The Air Quality Index: https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/air-quality-health-index/about.html & https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/air-quality-health-index/understanding-messages.html & https://www.epa.gov/outdoor-air-quality-data/how-aqi-calculated 6) Report on the health effects of air quality: https://www.rcplondon.ac.uk/news/reducing-air-pollution-uk-progress-report-2018 7) The Harvard Six Cities study: https://doi.org/10.1164/rccm.200503-443OC 8) Cochrane review on individual-level interventions to reduce exposure to air pollution: https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD013441.pub2 9) The case of the 36-year-old lawyer with blood-streaked loose stool: https://reference.medscape.com/viewarticle/993938_1 It's Not Twitter, But It'll Do: 1) Jonathan's article on transcranial direct current stimulation: https://www.mcgill.ca/oss/article/medical-critical-thinking-technology/brain-zapping-may-probably-appear-be-doing-something 2) Jonathan on the Conspirituality podcast to discuss Andrew Huberman: https://www.conspirituality.net/episodes/163-the-huberman-paradox-jonathan-jarry 3) Jonathan is now on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/jonathanjarry.bsky.social 4) Chris wrote a book called Does Coffee Cause Cancer? Pre-order it now! https://ecwpress.com/products/does-coffee-cause-cancer?_pos=1&_sid=e672b52c1&_ss=r
Breathing in polluted air isn't just bad for your lungs. It also increases your risk of a heart attack and stroke. That's why it is important to pay attention to the Air Quality Index. Get the facts on this useful tool from pulmonologist Neha Solanki.
When the Air Quality Index is high due to smoke particulates, is it safe to set out birdbaths?
Steve Scott has the afternoon's top local stories from the WCBS newsroom.
Breathing. You're doing it right now. You're gonna do it about 22,000 times today. We sometimes take it for granted. Certainly when our breathing is labored, it's all we can think about. The health effects of air pollution remain a public health concern worldwide. Exposure to air pollution has many substantial adverse effects on human health. Globally, according to the WHO, 7 million deaths annually are attributable to the joint effects of household and ambient air pollution.How do we know if the air we are breathing will harm us? With the recent wildfires in Canada, and the dramatic, even shocking images of the NYC skyline looking blood red from smog and wildfire smoke, our respiratory health has been even more present in the media. How do our lungs defend themselves? How can we help them? Can we practice preventive habits to give our lungs the best chance possible? Thankfully, meaningful research exists to provide helpful data on how to protect our lungs from environmental insults, whether they're inside our homes or floating on the breeze. Our expert today is Brady Scott, PhD, RT!Dr. Scott is the program director for the respiratory care program and associate professor in the Department of Cardiopulmonary Sciences in the College of Health Sciences at Rush University. He has been a respiratory therapist for more than 20 years, with clinical practice experience in adult emergency/critical respiratory care.Key highlights in this episode include:A concise explanation of how our lungs work, and how exposure to chronic irritants/pollutants effects those vital functions.What are different kinds of indoor and outdoor air pollutants?How can we measure those pollutant levels?Do air purifiers help?Is vaping as bad as smoking?How can we protect our lungs from indoor and outdoor inhaled pollutants and irritants?Who is at highest risk?Dr. Scott recommends the following resources to learn about respiratory health:Airnow.gov gives you a quick Air Quality Index in your area!The American Lung Association website, lung.org.Harvard's Indoor Air Quaility Study. The EPA's site on Air Quality Data. For more episodes, limited edition merch, or to become a Friend of Your Doctor Friends (and more), follow this link!Also, CHECK OUT AMAZING HEALTH PODCASTS on The Health Podcast Network(For real, this network is AMAZING and has fantastic, evidence-based, honest health information, and we are so happy to partner with them!) Find us at:Website: yourdoctorfriendspodcast.com Email: yourdoctorfriendspodcast@gmail.com Call the DOCLINE on 312-380-5005 and leave us a message. We will listen and maybe even respond/play it on the show! (Disclaimer: we will not answer specific medical questions or offer medical advice. Consult your healthcare professional with any and all personal health questions.) Connect with us:@your_doctor_friends (
The New York Times reports that more than 400 wildfires have burned across Canada, leaving more than 13 million acres charred. The Weather Guys return to talk about how wildfires could create weather. Plus, we learn more about the Air Quality Index.
Here in Wisconsin, we had one of the worst air quality index levels ever this past week. Smoke from Canada's wildfires hung in the air, creating a thick haze. The smoke didn't bother me, but I assumed that some people would be extra sensitive to it. As the day progressed, I started thinking of ways people might protect themselves from the effects of wildfire air pollution, including the use of supplements or essential oils and other simple choices. I also wondered, of course, how much of the hysteria about the air quality index was created by simply having an "Air Quality Index" to look at. It would be like having an app that notifies you of each crime as it happens in Minneapolis. Nobody would want to go there. We don't watch any mainstream media or local news, but I can imagine it was one of the top stories in the news cycle, creating unnecessary fear. While Canada's wildfires might be at record levels, it isn't the first time in history that people have breathed in polluted air. But we've been conditioned to fear a lot more about everyday life in recent years. It's possible our adoption of a "safety culture" has made us more likely to freak out from a day of smoky air, whereas in the past we'd carry on with life without giving it much thought. Whichever the case, there are some things you can do to keep your lungs healthy in the midst of higher levels of smoke. Use this as a guide when facing a similar circumstance as we were this past week, and remember that I'm referring to occasional exposure to poor air quality from wildfire smoke far away. I'm not referring to how to approach things if you're right next to the fire. Wildfire Air Pollution and PM2.5 A raging wildfire, fueled by dry conditions and strong winds, sends billowing plumes of smoke into the atmosphere. This smoke isn't just a nuisance; it's a complex mixture of gases and fine particles that can have a significant impact on air quality, both locally and hundreds, even thousands, of miles away.Liu JC, Pereira G, Uhl SA, Bravo MA, Bell ML. A systematic review of the physical health impacts from non-occupational exposure to wildfire smoke. Environ Res. 2015;136:120-132. The primary concern regarding wildfire smoke is something known as PM2.5. This term refers to particulate matter that measures less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter. For context, that's approximately 3% the diameter of a human hair."Particulate Matter (PM2.5) Trends". U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 2023. Their minuscule size allows these particles to stay aloft for long periods, infiltrating urban and rural areas alike. You might wonder, "These particles are tiny. How much harm can they really do?" Don't let their size fool you. PM2.5 particles are so small they can bypass the body's natural defenses, infiltrating the deepest parts of your lungs and even entering your bloodstream.Pope CA 3rd, Bhatnagar A, McCracken JP, Abplanalp W, Conklin DJ, O'Toole T. Exposure to Fine Particulate Air Pollution Is Associated With Endothelial Injury and Systemic Inflammation. Circ Res. 2016;119(11):1204-1214. This can trigger a cascade of health issues, particularly affecting the respiratory and cardiovascular systems.Reid CE, Brauer M, Johnston FH, Jerrett M, Balmes JR, Elliott CT. Critical Review of Health Impacts of Wildfire Smoke Exposure. Environ Health Perspect. 2016;124(9):1334-1343. How PM2.5 Impacts Your Lungs Wildfire smoke, rich in these PM2.5 particles, is particularly problematic for people with pre-existing respiratory conditions such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). But even healthy people aren't immune to its effects. Exposure can lead to symptoms such as coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, and chest pain."Wildfire Smoke and Your Patients' Health". U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 2023. For people with asthma, exposure to PM2.5 particles from wildfire smoke can trigger asthma attacks,
Many Minnesotans woke up this morning to air quality alerts this morning, and while air quality is expected to improve throughout the day and into Friday, as of noon the air in Southwest Minnesota is still classified as unhealthy for people with lung or heart disease, older people, and the very young. Yesterday smoke from Canadian wildfires settled over the middle of the state, casting what looked like low-level smog over us, causing record poor air quality for the metro. If you were outside at all, you felt it, you could almost taste it, and it wasn't good. Experts say this will probably not be the last time the air will be smoky this summer. Host Cathy Wurzer spoke with Mayo Clinic Dr. Greg Vanichkachorn about the short- and long-term health impacts of breathing wildfire smoke. MPR meteorologist Sven Sundgaard puts the Air Quality Index in context and gives us the weather forecast.
We recorded this episode as fires raged in Canada that pushed smoke down into the United States and having major impacts on the air quality in both countries. These events brought up an issue we do not often think about and that is how air quality can impact our horses. In this week's podcast we talk about air quality and how it impacts a horse's respiratory system. We also highlight the Air Quality Index, which is used worldwide to measure how polluted the air is. It also can be used as a guide for you to evaluate your horse's training or riding schedules. We also briefly discuss how to manage your horses and how you may help them when the air quality is poor. You can learn more about these topics by visiting our expertise page HERE If you have any questions or concerns about your own horse, please contact us HERE This podcast was brought to you by Tribute Superior Equine Nutrition
In early June, cities in the Northeast and mid-Atlantic regions of the US were blanketed by smoke from wildfires in Canada, some hundreds of which are still burning. Air Quality Index levels reached nearly 500 in New York City at one point, well into the “hazardous” range. In fact, New York City was briefly the world's most polluted city during that time. New York does not normally fall in the worst 3,000 global cities for air quality. Incidents like the wildfire smoke bring attention to the problem of global climate change, but the proposals put forward by the private sector and major industrialized governments don't solve the issue - and in fact they put the burden on the rest of the world. So what's happening, and what are some real solutions?We're joined by Brandon Wu, Director of Policy and Campaigns at ActionAid USA.Support the show
VP Biden had the DA of Ukraine fired for trying to investigate his son Hunter. Today's Air Quality Index has dropped to poor. Bill Barr is a disgruntled ex-employee who is bitter and bashing Trump
You can support this show by becoming a patron for as little as $5/month at https://www.patreon.com/rcpress. Donald Trump has officially been indicted (again) in Federal court on seven criminal counts. Let the circus begin (again). Smoke from wildfires across Canada blanketed much of the East Coast. The Air Quality Index showed hazardous amounts of particulate matter in the air and the skies turned orange and yellow like a scene out of Bladerunner 2049. In a surprise decision, the US Supreme Court upheld the a provision of the Voting Rights Act in a case involving racial gerrymandering in Alabama. 160,000 SAG-AFTRA members voted to authorize strike ahead of negotiations. 97.9% of members voting approved the authorization. This comes in the midst of the ongoing Writers Guild of America strike which began on May 2. The WGA strike is the largest job action in the television and film industry since COVID. A new scientific study finds that the summers in the Arctic ocean may be ice-free by 2030. That's about a decade sooner than previously thought. And a new report in ProPublica finds that more than 600,000 people are already living outside of a crucial “climate niche,” and climate change is ontrack to displace more than one-third of humanity. The full-scale dumpster fire that is the Pennridge School Board was on full display on Wednesday. After switching the meeting time several times for this week's scheduled committee meetings, a last-minute Zoom meeting showed once again how utterly dysfunctional and disastrous the Republican controlled board truly is. The scheduled appearance of Vermillion Education's Jordan Adams has been postponed to a date only Megan Banis-Clemens and her minions know. We'll play you some sound from the meeting. Meanwhile, Jordan Adams tries to do the twitter two-step with a little deflection. Workers at the Museum of the American Revolution are demanding that the museum's leadership cancel a planned Moms for Liberty event at the museum ahead of the extremist group's convention in Philly from June 29 - July 2. Speaking of Moms for Liberty, this week the Southern Poverty Law Center has added the group to its list of hate groups and anti-government extremists. The Valley Forge Classical Academy (VFCA) - a new charter school in Chester County build on the kind of Christian Nationalist curriculum we've seen come out of Hillsdale College - is using a fictitious social media account to cause division, promote hate, and promote the VFCA. Great time at the Pennridge Democrats Trivia night last night at Free Will Brewery. Congrats to the Rainbow Unicorns for taking home the trophy! Don't Let Paul Martino, Moms for Liberty & Their Oligarch Friends Buy Our Schools and push extremist politics in our community. Raging Chicken has teamed up with LevelField to launch a truly community rooted PAC to invest in organizing, supporting local and state-wide progressive candidates, and unmasking the toxic organizations injecting our communities with right-wing extremism. We're putting small-dollar donations to work to beat back the power of Big Money. You can get more information and drop your donation at https://ragingchicken.levelfield.net/.
The doctor and the guys talked about the Air Quality Index, he said do not exercise. Caplan also talked about the PGA-LIV merger.
The doctor and the guys talked about the Air Quality Index, he said do not exercise outdoors. He is also concerned about the Yankee- White Sox game scheduled for tonight. Caplan also talked about the PGA-LIV merger. He is not happy with the PGA Commissioner.
Former President Trump may have de-classified the top-secret documents before he left office. Mark interviews Economist Steve Moore: Steve and Mark talked about the Air Quality Index. Mark believes the climate change folks could have caused the fire with their crazy ideas.
Trump may have de-classified the documents before he left office. The Air Quality Index is the worst it's been in over 60 years Mark actually wore a mask yesterday
Steve and Mark talked about the Air Quality Index. Mark believes the climate change folks could have caused the fire with their crazy ideas. Steve told Mark the climate change people are trying to pressure investors to support green products
Amid mass poor air quality exposure due to ongoing Canadian wildfires, Lungcast host and ALA Chief Medical Officer Albert Rizzo, MD, explains air quality index (AQI), signs and symptoms of acute and long-term poor air exposure, high-risk patient populations, and the concerning future of particle pollution exposure. Want more Lungcast? Visit us at HCPLive.com or Lung.org. Episode Highlights 0:15 Intro 1:23 What is the Air Quality Index? 3:14 Risk factors of poor air quality 4:30 Acute signs and symptoms 6:42 Recommendations for patients with pre-existing conditions 8:09 How long will this last? 10:28 When to resume livelihood 11:12 The long-term impact of air pollution exposure 14:02 Outro
Len and Michael sent Alice out to talk with listeners about the Air Quality Index. More people are wearing masks. Local political officials are starting to give away masks throughout the city.
Forest fires have been raging across western Canada this week, and wildfire smoke is impacting portions of the United States. Sonoma Tech meteorologists break down where the smoke is heading this weekend and how weather conditions have played a role in the above-average wildfire activity in Canada.To view the video version of this podcast, visit https://youtu.be/JJ4cwS5JhWU.
Ozone is a highly reactive gas and forms a significant portion of the air pollution that affects all of us. For this episode, I was joined by Dr. Nicholas Nassikas of Harvard University to discuss the links between ozone and health, as well as to review the staggering amount of money we are spending in terms of the health toll of air pollution. We are spending more on the health toll of air pollution now than the cost of transitioning off of fossil fuels to help decrease the pollution we all breathe. Listen and learn! What can you do? 1- Download the Airnow app or go to the airnow.gov website to become familiar with the Air Quality index, which incorporates ozone and PM2.5. 2- To learn more about PM2.5 standards and history, listen to the “What's in a Standard” episode with Dan Costa from Season Two. 3- For more on how to use the Air Quality Index, listen to the “What's in an Index” episode with Dr. Franziska Rosser from last season. 4- Vote for elected officials committed to addressing climate change. Write to them regularly about your concern regarding topics like ozone, which causes disease and can increase in the setting of rising temperatures. 5- Advocate for policies in your communities that can reduce ozone by decreasing use of combustion for transportation, such as more bike lanes, public transit, increased walkability and more. 6- Consider a donation to the American Lung Association, who advocates tirelessly for clean air. 7- Consider buying an Air Health Our Health T-shirt, mug, hat or tote that emphasizes the health benefits of clean air. This can help spark a conversation with those in your community. Proceeds go to the American Lung Association as well. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Visit blog post for more information, or go to airhealthourhealth.org. Follow and comment on Facebook page and Instagram. Record a question or comment on the Anchor podcast site or send an e-mail via the website. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/airhealthourhealth/message
I was fortunate to speak with Dr. Gillian Goobie of the Center for Heart Lung Innovation at St Paul's Hospital in Vancouver as well as the Division of Respiratory Medicine at the University of British Columbia. She is the lead author on a groundbreaking paper exploring the risk of death from exposure to air pollution as well as the source of the pollution, and how it changes the risk to those breathing it. We talk about everything from the different pollution sources in more industrially exposed areas to pollution sources in areas affected by wildfire, what to do with the knowledge of this risk, how it can affect those who are most vulnerable with lung scarring or pulmonary fibrosis, and more! She also shares her gratitude for the people who participate in this trial and so many others. They help us understand more about the world around https://airhealthourhealth.org/whats-burning-pollution-sources-and-lung-scarring-with-dr-gillian-goobie/us! So what can you do? 1- Download the AirNow.gov app and become familiar with it. 2- To learn more about PM2.5 standards and history, listen to the “What's in a Standard” episode with Dan Costa from Season Two. 3- For more on how to use the Air Quality Index, listen to the “What's in an Index” episode with Dr. Franziska Rosser from last season. 4- For those in the West, particularly affected by PM2.5 and wildfire smoke, listen to the “Our Health in Wildfire Season” episode from Season Two and the “Air Inside when the smoke is outside” episode with Prof Elliot Gall from Season One. 5- Finally, consider a donation to the American Thoracic Society, whose scientific membership includes clinician-scientists like Dr. Goobie who do such important research and work hard to highlight the importance of clean air. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Visit blog post for more information, or go to airhealthourhealth.org. Follow and comment on Facebook page and Instagram. Record a question or comment on the Anchor podcast site or send an e-mail via the website. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/airhealthourhealth/message