Traffic pollution contributes to childhood obesity, a recent study concludes. In the US investigation of over 4 500 children, the researchers estimated that air pollution increased the body mass index (BMI) of 10-year olds in the most polluted areas of study by 0.4 units, compared to those in the least polluted areas. It is thought that pollution may have slowed the children’s metabolism.

Road traffic noise and air pollution both increase the risk of having a stroke, recent research from Denmark suggests. The results suggest that traffic noise is more strongly associated with ischaemic stroke, whereas only air pollution appears to be linked with more serious, fatal strokes.

Exposure to gaseous and particulate matter pollution have been found to increase the immediate risk of stroke, a review of medical studies has shown. The increased risk is most pronounced the same day as the exposure, and for fine particles the increased risk persists over several days. The authors hope information from this study will help policymakers to develop suitable controls to limit the risks posed by these harmful air pollutants.

Exposure of primary schoolchildren to outdoor green spaces is linked to an improvement in their cognitive development, finds a new study, which is the first of its kind. The association may be partly explained by reductions in traffic-related air pollution (TRAP) near green areas.

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.

Dangerously high air pollution in the vicinity of shipbreaking yards has been detected by a recent study, where the concentrations of toxic chemicals in the air were found to be above carcinogenic risk limits (as set by the World Health Organisation). The research, carried out in Chittagong, Bangladesh, noted that shipbreaking activities and the subsequent processing and treatment of materials – particularly the burning of waste — result in emissions of persistent organic pollutants (POPs).

Subjective perception of air pollution can have important implications in terms of health-protective behaviours and citizen and stakeholder engagement in cleaner-air policies. A recent study, conducted under the EU-funded PASTA¹ project, has analysed the link between level of concern over health effects of air pollution and personal and environmental factors in seven European cities. Overall, 58% of participants were worried over health effects of air pollution, with large differences between cities. On a city scale, average levels of concern over health effects of air pollution had a good correlation with average NO₂ levels and a lower correlation with average PM_2.5 levels. Individual level of concern was found to be linked to gender, having children in the household, levels of physical activity, and NO₂ levels at the home address. These findings can be used to inform future policymaking.

Preserving biodiversity seems to reduce the emergence and spread of human diseases in many cases, according to an investigation into the links between biodiversity and human health. It concludes that there is mounting evidence indicating that preserving ecosystems in their natural state generally decreases the occurrence of infectious diseases.

The chemical 1,4-dioxane, a solvent suspected of causing cancer, is very difficult to clean up once it enters the environment. However, hope is offered by recent scientific developments that use plants, bacteria and fungi to decontaminate water resources. Scientists provided a round-up of these 1,4-dioxane bioremediation techniques in a recent analysis.

Grey turns to pen and paper, Myke switches to Todoist, and they both share what they wanted to be when they grew up.

Bloomberg

THE small pool of houses for sale in Greater Hobart is getting smaller.

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Watford town centre's fantastic range of restaurants, pubs, and bars have teamed up for the third consecutive year to celebrate Watford Food & Drink Week. From Monday, June 17, to Sunday, June 23, you can enjoy special drinks offers, free samples and discounted set menus throughout the town centre.

A festival celebrating gin and tonic is coming to Watford next month.

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Watford legend John Barnes has urged restraint for the return of the Premier League and said footballers should only return to work when the rest of society does.

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

Prof Stephan Schuster, research director at NTU’s Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Sciences Engineering, is working with Asst Prof Sanjay Chotirmall, from NTU’s Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, to understand the role of the air microbiome (which includes organisms such as bacteria and fungi) in relation to the lung....

Qatar will acquire 30 percent of Total's participating interest in select blocks in the Campeche basin.

Social media has made it possible to do a wine tasting with a group, when you're all by yourself.

A fun, not-so-serious, but still-helpful chart that helps you select a vino based on what you're doing, not what you're eating.

California group gets riled when officials bury a dead sea lion near their volleyball court.

Following the repudiation of a proposed English Channel bridge, a less costly 'Celtic Connection' between Scotland and Northern Ireland gains traction.

Should kids drink coffee? The answer depends heavily on the other sources of caffeine that are already in their diet.

'What Were You Thinking?' is a podcast series that showcases real-life stories of adolescents who made life-altering choices.

New products like the KnoNap may help keep women and men safe while they are drinking and socializing.

Study finds that only 17 percent of children create deep imaginary worlds but they also exhibit higher levels of creativity.

ncreasing fathers' support during pregnancy may lower rates of premature babies and babies born too small.

Video shows a motorcyclist in Belgium stopping to rescue a kitten from the road.

Kermit pops into ‘Saturday Night Live’ to discuss the school lunch standards.

The fast-food company denies that pressure from chef Jamie Oliver had anything to do with its decision.

Food news and items of interest from around the Web for your weekend reading.

The USDA is expected to announce that schools will be able to request beef patties with or without the controversial filler.

More than twice as many states put in orders with the USDA this year for ground beef that may contain the controversial lean finely textured beef.

This unknown American hero led the development of one of the most significant technological innovations of the 20th century.

Pregnant women, infants and children who drink raw milk are at particularly high risk of developing serious, life-threatening illnesses.

This week: Historic homes with gruesome backstories, a woman wages war against rodents and Martha Stewart pays her respects to American crafters.

Many common sleep problems can be remedied by small, but specific, changes to nutrition.

Polar bears have shifted to a diet of more land-based food in response to climate change and melting sea ice.

What did Jesus' drink at his last meal? Experts speculate what the modern-day counterpart would be, and you can try this at home, too.

If you have stinky feet, here are some tried-and-true natural remedies to keep foul foot odor at bay.

Automakers who wanted 2010 bragging rights had to field their cars this week or risk getting the news swallowed up by the Christmas rush. So a whole lot of peop

Multi-university project asks how organic farmers can control these pests and protect their crops.

Portland authorities faced a tough decision this week: Drain a reservoir or provide residents with tap water that a teen peed into?

If there ever was a reason to invest in a decent pair of shower sandals ...

Could this be a Christmas miracle in London ... or the ultimate cold weather pipe dream?

Whole Foods is donating a portion of the proceeds from wines to Whole Planet Foundation to fund poverty alleviation in areas where they source products.

When the documentary 'Gasland' revealed an instance of flaming tap water, the gas industry tried to debunk it. A peer-reviewed study now confirms the finding.