Best printers for Home

Best Mixer Grinder

Best wired Earphones

Best 43 Inch TV in India

Best Wi Fi Routers

Best Home Theatre in India

Smart Watch under 5000

Best Laptops for Education

Best Laptop for Students

Imagine taking a deep breath, expecting fresh, clean air, but instead, inhaling particles so tiny they’re invisible but powerful enough to change your life. For millions worldwide, that’s the reality — and it’s taking a toll on their lungs. A new global study shows that nearly 30% of <keyword id="22476122" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="asthma-cases" source="keywords">asthma cases</keyword> can be traced back to long-term exposure to <keyword id="20147117" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="fine-particulate-matter" source="keywords">fine particulate matter</keyword>, or <keyword id="20573061" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="PM2-5" source="keywords">PM2.5</keyword>, the kind of pollution that often comes from cars, factories, and even cooking fires. <h2>How PM2.5 impacts asthma</h2>Asthma is a chronic respiratory condition characterised by recurring symptoms like wheezing, coughing, and difficulty breathing. While the exact causes of asthma remain complex and varied, this new study underlines that PM2.5 pollution is a significant risk factor. The study brings together insights from 68 epidemiological studies conducted across 22 countries, spanning regions from North America to South Asia. This comprehensive meta-analysis demonstrates the consistent impact of PM2.5 on asthma development. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="114504550" title="Most people miss THIS warning on their mosquito repellent vaporizer’s label" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>Lead author Dr Ruijing Ni explained, “We estimate that globally in 2019, almost a third of asthma cases are attributable to long-term PM2.5 exposure, corresponding to 63.5 million existing cases and 11.4 million new cases.” <h2>The Indian asthma problem</h2>India, one of the world’s most polluted countries, faces a particularly severe burden from <keyword id="19900550" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="air-pollution" source="keywords">air pollution</keyword>. Studies have shown that PM2.5 levels in many Indian cities far exceed the <keyword id="19896311" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="World-Health-Organization" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="World Health Organization" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="World Health Organization">World Health Organization</keyword>'s safe limit of 5 µg/m³. This exposure is especially dangerous for children, whose lungs and immune systems are still developing. The numbers are worrying: around 15-20 million Indians suffer from asthma, making up a significant portion of the estimated 339 million cases worldwide. Children are disproportionately affected; a 2019 report indicated that approximately 6% of children aged 1 to 5 in India show asthma symptoms. This exposure often results in airway inflammation and oxidative stress, which increases vulnerability to <keyword id="19923193" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="respiratory-diseases" source="keywords">respiratory diseases</keyword>. <h2>What the data says</h2>The research team employed exposure-response curves to better understand the link between PM2.5 levels and asthma cases. By considering data from both high-income and low- and middle-income countries, the researchers could provide a more accurate global assessment of PM2.5’s <keyword id="21037424" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="health-impact" source="keywords">health impact</keyword>. The study found that in Germany, for instance, PM2.5 may be responsible for about 11% of new asthma cases — roughly 28,000 people. However, the burden is even higher in low- and middle-income countries like India, where higher levels of pollution are coupled with limited healthcare access. This disparity highlights the need for global action to reduce PM2.5 emissions, especially in regions where pollution levels and health impacts are most severe. <h2>Policy implications and recommendations</h2>The findings have clear implications for policymakers. Strengthening <keyword id="19918941" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="air-quality" source="keywords">air quality</keyword> regulations, especially in high-exposure regions, could prevent millions of new asthma cases and reduce healthcare costs. “Our findings highlight the urgent need for policymakers to enforce stringent legislation to continuously combat air pollution,” emphasised another study author Prof. Yafang Cheng. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="114695519" title="Are your green firecrackers really ‘green? Here’s all you need to know before doing your Diwali shopping" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>In addition to governmental measures, personal protective actions like wearing masks and installing air purifiers in homes can also help individuals reduce their exposure to PM2.5, particularly during high-pollution periods. This study adds to the growing evidence that reducing air pollution is critical for public health. While global challenges like PM2.5 pollution may seem daunting, each step toward cleaner air can bring significant health benefits. For countries like India, where asthma rates and pollution levels are both alarmingly high, these findings underscore an urgent need for both policy and community action to protect the most vulnerable — particularly children.

Air Quality Alert: Nearly 30% of asthma cases tied to fine particulate matter exposure from bad air

A recent study by <keyword id="19898366" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="harvard" source="keywords">Harvard</keyword> and the <keyword id="23109326" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="european-university-of-rome" source="keywords">European University of Rome</keyword> has uncovered a striking connection between early-life exposure to <keyword id="55910" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="air-pollution" source="Orion">air pollution</keyword> and economic outcomes in adulthood. Published in the Proceedings of the <keyword id="21125238" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="national-academy-of-sciences" source="keywords">National Academy of Sciences</keyword>, the <a href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2401882121" data-type="tilCustomLink">research</a> highlights how infants exposed to higher levels of fine particulate air pollution (PM2.5) are likely to earn less as adults, with the most significant impacts observed in the Midwest and South of the United States. “This study takes a big step toward filling the knowledge gap on the crucial link between environmental factors and long-term economic outcomes,” said Francesca Dominici, lead author and professor at Harvard. The findings underscore how environmental pollution, particularly air quality, plays a significant role in shaping not just public health but economic mobility and well-being later in life. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="112921592" title="Indoor air pollution poses greater health risk than outdoor: Experts" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div> <h2>Key findings </h2>The study focused on US individuals born between 1978 and 1983, analysing their PM2.5 exposure from 1980 to 2010, and compared it to their earnings in 2014-2015 when they were between 31 and 37 years old. The results were telling: a one-unit increase in PM2.5 exposure was associated with a 1.146% decrease in <keyword id="23109325" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="economic-earnings" source="Orion">economic earnings</keyword>, measured using a statistic called <keyword id="23109327" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Absolute-Upward-Mobility" source="Orion">Absolute Upward Mobility</keyword> (AUM). The data revealed that this impact was not uniform across the country. Midwestern and Southern regions saw the highest negative effects, suggesting regional disparities in both air quality and its long-term economic impacts. <h2>Call for action </h2>The authors argue that these findings should encourage the creation of stringent national air quality standards, as well as targeted interventions to address pollution in highly affected regions. Luca Merlo, co-lead author, emphasised the importance of addressing both environmental and economic inequalities through integrated policies. This research builds on growing evidence of the far-reaching consequences of air pollution, further solidifying the argument that improving air quality is not only vital for public health but also for fostering economic growth and opportunity. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="112853990" title="India saw 19.3% drop in particulate pollution in 2022, adding 51 days to life expectancy: Report" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>

Harvard study links exposure to air pollution in infancy to reduced earnings in adulthood

<ul><li>Air <keyword id="13001" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="pollution">pollution</keyword> causes one in every nine deaths. </li><li><keyword id="6357478" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="kanpur">Kanpur</keyword> reported the highest PM10 concentration in India. </li><li><keyword id="6358070" type="DEFINITION" weightage="20" keywordseo="mumbai">Mumbai</keyword> joined the list of the most polluted cities ranking at number four. </li></ul>The <keyword id="43588" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="World-Health-Organization">World Health Organization</keyword> (WHO) <a href="http://www.who.int/">reports</a> that air pollution causes one in every nine deaths and 37% of all lung cancer-related deaths (1.7 million every year) worldwide. And with India being the second largest populated country in the world, this statistic is bound to have quite a harsh impact on the nation. Additionally, according to the report, most Indian cities are polluted to levels that are unsafe for human survival. The pollution is measured in units of <keyword id="935992" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="particulate-matter">particulate matter</keyword> (PM10 and PM2.5) in the air and the annual safe limit for PM2.5 is 40 μg/m3 and that of PM10 is 60 μg/m3. The city-wise report is as follows: Kanpur: Kanpur was reported highest on PM2.5 count scoring 173 μg/m3 and PM10 was 319 μg/m3. This rose from 108 μg/m3 and 199 μg/m3 respectively in 2015. <keyword id="66" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Delhi">Delhi</keyword>: With an established population of 19 million, Delhi has a PM10 concentration of 292 μg/m3 and PM2.5 at 143 μg/m3 which is almost double the annual safe limit mentioned above. The concentration rose from 215 μg/m3 (PM10) and 116 μg/m3 (PM2.5) in 2014. Mumbai: Mumbai joined the list of the most polluted cities ranking at number four, according to data compiled by WHO for megacities. The PM10 concentration was reported 104 μg/m3 and PM2.5 was 64 μg/m3. The concentration rose from 105 μg/m3 (PM10) and 66 μg/m3 (PM2.5) in 2015. Chennai: PM10 and PM2.5 were reported 80 μg/m3 and 52 μg/m3 respectively. Chennai reduced its PM2.5 concentration from 54 μg/m3 but the PM10 concentration rose from 70 μg/m3 in 2015. <keyword id="6354925" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="kolkata">Kolkata</keyword>: Pollution soared in Kolkata in just one year. This report stated that the PM10 and PM2.5 were 136 μg/m3 and 74 μg/m3 which alarmingly increased by 41 μg/m3 and 22 μg/m3 since 2015. <keyword id="6356295" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="agra">Agra</keyword>: The government’s attempts to reduce pollution in Agra have been futile. According to the latest numbers, Agra’s PM10 and PM2.5 were 195 μg/m3 and 131 μg/m3 respectively. This has increased by 7 μg/m3 and 29 μg/m3 respectively. This can be correlated to the worrying reports that <a href="http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/taj-mahal-turning-brown-and-green-says-worried-supreme-court/article23739204.ece">Taj Mahal is turning brownish green</a>. Faridabad, Varanasi, Gaya, Patna, Lucknow, Muzaffarpur, Srinagar, Gurgaon, Jaipur, Patiala, Jodhpur are also among the top polluted cities, bringing India’s tally to 14 out of the 20 most polluted cities in the world. The PM10 and PM2.5 levels in all of these cities are double of the annual safe limit. The complete report by WHO can be viewed <a href="http://www.who.int/airpollution/en/">here</a>.

14 of the top 20 most polluted cities in the world are Indian

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Denise Bradley, a Black TikToker dubbed "Aunt Karen," said she uses her platform to call out racism and hold people accountable.</li><li>Starting on the app in 2020, she was able to gain 1.5 million followers.</li></ul>The first time Denise Bradley said she experienced racism was while walking with her grandmother on her way to preschool when a white man rolled down his window and called them the N-word. "I remember the truck, I remember the guy's face, and it's just something that has always been engraved in me to remember that I was different," Bradley, who was 5-years-old at the time and growing up in Michigan, told Insider. "I didn't know what it meant, but I could just tell by my grandmother's reaction and the way that she squeezed my hand and ushered me away that it wasn't a good thing."Now, a 32-year-old single mother, Bradley works as a full-time TikTok creator who makes content centered around calling out racism. Her primary mission, she says, is "accountability" and "to amplify the voices of people who aren't normally heard and easily pushed to the side.""It's really a full-time job, as I'm responding to requests. People send me videos and I try to dig up as much information that I can and use my knowledge of human resources to make sure I'm doing this right," Bradley said. "I've spent hours at night researching events that may have happened or somebody sent me a video where they said somebody did something <keyword id="12189454" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="racist" source="Orion">racist</keyword> to them."Every day after she drops her two-year-old daughter off at daycare, she opens her laptop and starts her investigations. Her journey on the social media app began during the COVID-19 pandemic after she was laid off from her job in human resources. But it wasn't until the beginning of this year that she started to gain traction, currently having amassed 1.5 million followers."There's been a lot of Karens that have come up and we need to identify those Karens. And I'm very good at utilizing my skill set to find these people, identify who they are. If I don't know, put it out to the <keyword id="11939474" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="tik-tok" source="Orion">Tik Tok</keyword> verse, if you will, or Instagram, Twitter, and there's always a name that will eventually come up," Bradley, who is dubbed "Aunt Karen" said. The "Karen" meme has been used on social media to describe a white woman who acts entitled or <a href="https://www.insider.com/karen-meme-origin-the-history-of-calling-women-karen-white-2020-5">commits acts that are perceived as racist in public.</a> In Bradley's case, she said she was dubbed "Aunt Karen" following the 2020 presidential election when she made a video of her stopping a teen from <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@auntkaren0/video/6891860808167410950?referer_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dailydot.com%2Firl%2Ftiktok-karen-kid-biden-harris-sign%2F&amp;referer_video_id=6891860808167410950&amp;refer=embed">tearing down a Biden sign</a> on private property. Bradley posted the encounter on TikTok in five parts and it went viral."People were calling me Karen, other people called me the good kind of Karen," she said. "Since people had dubbed me as Karen, I decided to become that and embrace that, but to hold people accountable and to use my platform to do so."<h2>Bradley says she has infiltrated multiple white supremacist groups on Facebook</h2>Popular videos on her profile show her selected <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@auntkaren0/video/7025383692730207534?referer_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dailydot.com%2F&amp;referer_video_id=7017569114432621829&amp;refer=embed&amp;is_copy_url=1&amp;is_from_webapp=v1">"Racist of the Day"</a> and asking her followers <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@auntkaren0/video/7027894382011419950?referer_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dailydot.com%2F&amp;referer_video_id=7017569114432621829&amp;refer=embed&amp;is_copy_url=1&amp;is_from_webapp=v1">"Can you find this Karen?"</a> Bradley also successfully disbanded white supremacist groups on Facebook in October, she said. Bradley told Insider that when she found the group after a quick search, she was curious about the process of how to join. To gain access she had to answer questions like "Do you believe all lives matter or Black lives?" and "Do you support Trump?" she said. "When I joined the group, I just watched. It's exactly what I thought it was ... hate. There were memes and racial cartoons. People were talking about George Floyd [calling him] a thug," she said. Last month, Bradley informed her followers that she went undercover into "White Lives Matter" Facebook groups, which were public at the time. One group in particulate she said significantly decreased in members after she began posting about it on TikTok."Okay, so, I have this 'White Lives Matter' group that I've secretly infiltrated. Now they know I'm in there, but what they don't know is that I have like four profiles in there," she said in a <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@auntkaren0/video/7017569114432621829?referer_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dailydot.com%2F&amp;referer_video_id=7017569114432621829&amp;refer=embed&amp;is_copy_url=1&amp;is_from_webapp=v1">video</a> on October 10. "They kicked out one of my profiles, but there's like a ton more. And all of you guys that are helping infiltrate this group, I love you.""We have to take this group down," she added. After her video went viral — garnering nearly 250,000 views — the admins scrambled to find her secret profile, locked the group, and started deleting posts, Bradley said. In fear of losing their job and having their identity exposed, many members started to leave the group, which dwindled from 500 to about 100 people, she added.Facebook told <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/tiktok-facebook-white-lives-matter-b1947415.html">the Independent</a> that the groups that Bradley outed were now deleted from the platform. Since then, the admin created another group and added her secret page, however, she said it is not as active as the previous one. Bradley said she's faced threats for her work. Recently, she had to move out of her home after people found out her address and started taunting her. "I had people who came to my house, parked into my driveway, and flashed on their lights at one or two in the morning. It got to the point that I had to call the police," Bradley said. "I've had several people who came up to my door and knocked on it several times."She claimed they would say: "You stupid bitch!" and "You're going to get yours."Bradley said that while she was not able to be on the frontlines during the mass Black Lives Matter protests of 2020, she used her platform as a way to be involved. "I'd always wanted to join a movement and be a part of something," she said. "When COVID happened, I wasn't really sure what I was looking for, but this gave me a passion where I felt useful," Bradley added.

'Aunt Karen,' a Black TikToker who made a full-time job of calling out racism, says she's successfully infiltrated and disbanded 'White Lives Matter' groups on social media

In a shocking development, <keyword id="20321520" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="lahore" source="keywords">Lahore</keyword> in <keyword id="19899252" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="pakistan" source="keywords">Pakistan</keyword> is enduring an air pollution crisis that has driven its <keyword id="19918941" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="air-quality" source="keywords">Air Quality</keyword> Index (<keyword id="19916482" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="aqi" source="keywords">AQI</keyword>) well above the hazardous mark, crossing 1,000 in recent days. This level is over three times worse than the pollution typically recorded in New <keyword id="19900881" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="delhi" source="keywords">Delhi</keyword>, India, during <keyword id="188" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="diwali" source="Orion">Diwali</keyword> — a festival known for its own intense pollution spikes. The situation has led local officials to temporarily shut down primary schools and encourage remote work for half of the city’s workforce in a bid to limit exposure to the toxic air. Lahore’s pollution crisis has multiple contributors. Seasonal crop burning in nearby agricultural areas releases smoke and particulate matter into the air, while exhaust from vehicles and low-grade diesel generators further exacerbate the smog. During winter, cold air traps pollutants close to the ground, a phenomenon known as temperature inversion, which prevents pollutants from dispersing and intensifies smog. Lahore, a city of 14 million people, is experiencing the worst of these combined effects, which have led to severe visibility issues and alarming health risks for residents. Punjab’s Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb characterised the spike in Lahore’s pollution as "unexpected," pointing to cross-border pollution carried by winds from India as a key factor. She emphasised that the issue could only be managed through cooperation, adding that Pakistan’s foreign ministry would lead efforts to initiate discussions with Indian authorities. <h2>Understanding AQI and its health impacts</h2>The AQI is a standardised measurement of air pollution levels, ranging from 0 (good) to 500+ (hazardous). Different categories within this scale represent varying health risks. For example, AQI values between 0-50 signify “good” air quality, while levels above 300 are deemed “hazardous” for all populations. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="114649550" title="Lahore and Delhi amongst world&amp;#39;s most polluted cities; health warnings issued" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>Lahore's recent AQI of over 1,000 — going as high as 1,900 by some accounts — has been described as a severe public health crisis. It’s composed primarily of particulate matter known as PM2.5 — tiny particles that are especially dangerous because they can be inhaled deeply into the lungs, leading to long-term respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.<h2>Delhi during Diwali</h2>Delhi is no stranger to pollution spikes, especially during the Diwali season, when fireworks, stubble burning in surrounding states, and vehicle emissions combine to create hazardous air conditions. During Diwali this year, Delhi’s AQI surpassed 400 once again, categorising it as “very poor” to “severe” — even two days after the festival. To combat the issue, authorities implemented a series of emergency measures through the <keyword id="19920169" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="graded-response-action-plan" source="keywords">Graded Response Action Plan</keyword> (GRAP), including bans on diesel generators and regular sprinkling of roadways. While these measures offered some relief, Delhi’s air quality remained severely compromised for days. <h2>Long-term health implications</h2>The pollution crisis in cities like Lahore and Delhi poses a substantial long-term health risk. In Lahore, residents could lose an average of 7.5 years of life expectancy if these pollution levels persist, according to the University of Chicago’s Energy Policy Institute. Air pollution is linked to respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and premature death, highlighting the need for stricter emissions regulations, clean energy initiatives, and cross-border cooperation to tackle the issue. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="114836869" title="Delhi’s ‘lit’ skyline on Diwali goes viral; netizens bring attention to the smog-covered skies" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>Air pollution is especially dangerous for children, whose lungs are still developing. Children breathe more rapidly than adults, which means they inhale more pollutants relative to their body weight. The <keyword id="19896311" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="world-health-organization" source="keywords">World Health Organization</keyword> (WHO) reports that prolonged exposure to polluted air can result in severe health complications for children, including asthma, lung infections, and, in extreme cases, irreversible lung damage. South Asia as a whole is deeply affected by this issue, with nearly 600 million children regularly exposed to high levels of air pollution. UNICEF highlights that air pollution is a leading cause of child mortality in the region, with half of all childhood pneumonia cases linked to poor air quality. As cities like Lahore and Delhi grapple with worsening air quality, local governments, international bodies, and communities must prioritise pollution control to protect future generations from the devastating effects of polluted air.

Pakistan shuts down schools as AQI becomes 3x worse than Delhi on Diwali

The national capital, Delhi, is once again grappling with a severe <keyword id="19900550" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Air-Pollution" source="keywords">air pollution</keyword> crisis. With an AQI of 339, the city’s air quality has plummeted into the “very poor” category, casting a thick layer of smog over its residents. This deteriorating air quality poses a significant threat to <keyword id="19913584" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Public-Health" source="keywords">public health</keyword> and has prompted widespread concern. The Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology's (IITM) forecast paints a grim picture, predicting that the situation will likely persist for the next few days, with a further dip into the “very poor” category expected by Sunday. This annual decline in air quality is a result of a confluence of factors, including vehicle emissions, <keyword id="23593130" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Construction-Dust" source="keywords">construction dust</keyword>, and most notably, <keyword id="19990732" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Stubble-Burning" source="keywords">stubble burning</keyword> in neighbouring states. Despite strict regulations, the practice of stubble burning continues to be a major contributor to the air <keyword id="23291827" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Pollution-Crisis" source="keywords">pollution crisis</keyword> in Delhi. Particulate matter emitted from this practice exacerbates the pollution levels, leading to a significant deterioration in air quality. The Supreme Court has recently criticised Punjab and Haryana for their failure to comply with anti-pollution laws related to stubble burning, increasing pressure on these states to take action. In response to the deteriorating air quality, the <keyword id="19925995" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Delhi-Government" source="keywords">Delhi government</keyword> has implemented several measures. The <keyword id="22644303" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Winter-Action-Plan" source="keywords">Winter Action Plan</keyword>, launched in late September, outlines 21 strategies aimed at curbing pollution. These include initiatives such as bio-decomposer spraying to reduce the effects of crop stubble burning and an anti-dust campaign targeting construction sites. Additionally, the Delhi Environment Minister, <keyword id="19931852" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="gopal-rai" source="keywords">Gopal Rai</keyword>, has introduced further measures to monitor the city’s pollution hotspots. While these efforts are commendable, the challenges posed by the deteriorating air quality remain significant. The combination of low temperatures and calm winds hinders the dispersal of pollutants, making it difficult to improve the air quality. Rainfall, when it occurs, can provide some relief, but the recurring nature of Delhi’s pollution problem highlights the urgent need for long-term solutions. As Delhi continues to grapple with this environmental crisis, it is imperative that both the government and citizens work together to address the root causes of air pollution. Sustainable practices, stricter regulations, and collective action are key to ensuring a healthier and more livable city for all. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="114186705" title="Delhi breathing clean air despite Dussehra celebrations, AQI better than before: Gopal Rai" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>

Delhi's AQI turns "very poor" today; Supreme Court criticises Punjab-Haryana for stubble-burning practices

As <keyword id="19900550" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="air-pollution" source="keywords">air pollution</keyword> rises in the national capital, experts have advocated the use of <keyword id="23378997" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="activated-charcoal" source="keywords">activated charcoal</keyword> as a <keyword id="20677308" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="natural-remedy" source="keywords">natural remedy</keyword> for preventing clogging of skin pores and keep out toxins. The experts said activated charcoal masks are effective in reducing sebum (oily substance) from the face skin, thus helping treat acne as they have good absorbing properties. Dr R P Parasher, the national president of the Integrated Medical Association (Ayush), said that activated charcoal, dubbed as '<keyword id="23640477" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="black-diamond" source="keywords">Black Diamond</keyword>', has good sebum absorbing properties. As pollution levels escalate, it causes concern for the skin as particulate matter ranging from PM2.5 to PM10 may lead to the blockage of the skin pores and lead to breakouts, Dr Parasher said. Further, chemicals like lead and nitrogen which increase in the atmosphere during the pollution surge, may damage the skin and may even enter the blood stream through the skin pores which may further damage organs in the body in the long term, he said. "Activated charcoal is not absorbed in the skin but absorbs the toxic elements as well as microbes present in the acne and in this way it saves the skin from getting damaged," he said. Activated charcoal can help balance and control <keyword id="22273531" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="sebum-production" source="keywords">sebum production</keyword> which can otherwise lead to breakout and acne. A study "Review of Green Synthesis: Activated Charcoal to Reduce Sebum Levels in Oily Facial Skin" by researchers from Indonesia stated that the porous texture of activated charcoal positively captures and attracts negatively charged molecules. Since activated charcoal is not absorbed by the body, it carries its surface-bound toxins out of the body. Director of Ayouthveda, a skincare brand, Dr Sanchit Sharma, said that the process of creating activated charcoal involves carbonising harvested bamboo at very high temperatures, enhancing its surface area to weight ratio of about 1200:1. This method not only maximises its effectiveness in absorbing toxins but also makes it a powerful ally in the fight against acne, he said. As awareness grows, several varieties of charcoal products are gaining popularity in Asian and European markets, promising a natural solution to many skin issues exacerbated by pollution, Sharma said. Talking about his facewash product, he said, "Ayouthveda <keyword id="23640475" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="charcoal-face-wash" source="keywords">charcoal face wash</keyword> prepared from activated bamboo charcoal effectively cleanses the skin by removing dirt and impurities. "It protects the skin from pollution and absorbs excess oil, making it easy to remove makeup. It also eliminates sweat and toxins accumulated, for instance, during workouts or after a long day." Though charcoal face wash are generally safe, overuse can cause some skin dryness, Dr Parasher pointed out.

Experts advocate using activated charcoal for skin benefits amid rising pollution in Delhi!

Incidence of stroke and related deaths are rising substantially around the world, with <keyword id="19900550" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="air-pollution" source="keywords">air pollution</keyword>, <keyword id="21334318" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="high-temperatures" source="keywords">high temperatures</keyword> and metabolic risk factors such as high blood pressure and physical inactivity, driving these increases, according to estimates published in The Lancet Neurology journal. Researchers found that the contribution of high temperatures to poor health and early death due to stroke has increased 72% since 1990 and is likely to continue increasing in the future, thereby highlighting how environmental factors can impact growing stroke burden. Further, for the first time, particulate matter or PM air pollution was found to have the same contribution as smoking towards causing a fatal form of brain bleed, according to the researchers forming the <keyword id="20691740" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Global-Burden-of-Disease" source="keywords">Global Burden of Disease</keyword>, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) group. The GBD study, the "largest and most comprehensive effort to quantify health loss across places and over time", is coordinated by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), University of Washington, US. Globally, the number of people experiencing a stroke for the first time rose to 119 lakh in 2021 -- up by 70% since 1990 -- while deaths related to stroke rose to 73 lakh, which was up by 44% since 1990, making the neurological condition the third leading cause of death after ischaemic heart disease (short supply of blood to heart) and COVID-19. They added that over three-fourth of those affected by strokes live in low- and middle-income countries. According to lead author Valery L. Feigin from Auckland University of Technology, New Zealand, the rapid growth in the number of people affected by stroke strongly suggested that <keyword id="23228151" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="stroke-prevention" source="keywords">stroke prevention</keyword> strategies currently used are not sufficiently effective. "New, proven effective population-wide and motivational individual prevention strategies that could be applied to all people at risk of having a stroke, regardless of the level of risk, as recommended in the recent Lancet Neurology Commission on Stroke should be implemented across the globe urgently," said Feigin. The researchers also estimated that stroke-related liabilities attributable to 23 modifiable risk factors, including air pollution, excess body weight, high blood pressure, smoking and physical inactivity, increased from 100 million years of healthy life lost in 1990 to 135 million in 2021. These risk factors are present in huge numbers in Eastern Europe, Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, they said. The authors also acknowledged substantial progress made in reducing the global stroke burden from risk factors linked to poor diet, air pollution and smoking. Poor health resulting from diets high in processed meat and low in vegetables declined by 40 % and 30%, respectively, while that due to PM air pollution and smoking fell by 20 % and 13%, respectively, they found. The results suggested that strategies for reducing exposure to these risk factors over the past three decades such as clean air zones and public smoking bans have been successful, the authors said. They called for implementing and monitoring the evidence-based recommendations set out in the 2023 World Stroke Organization-Lancet Neurology Commission on stroke for drastically reducing the global burden of stroke in the years to come and improving brain health and overall well-being of millions of people around the world. The recommendations include stroke surveillance programmes that monitor indicators of stroke such as incidence, recurrence, death rates and risk factors in a country, and care and rehabilitation services for people affected by stroke.

Stroke cases increasing globally, air pollution, high temperatures driving numbers, notes Lancet Study

<keyword id="19905255" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="SpaceX" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="SpaceX" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="SpaceX">SpaceX</keyword> will launch its first uncrewed <keyword id="23083681" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Starships" source="keywords">Starships</keyword> to <keyword id="19901192" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Mars" source="keywords">Mars</keyword> in two years when the next Earth-Mars transfer window opens, Chief Executive Officer <keyword id="19903807" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Elon-Musk" source="keywords">Elon Musk</keyword> announced on Saturday. Elon Musk stated that these will be uncrewed to test the reliability of landing intact on Mars. He added that if those landings go well, then the first crewed flights to Mars will be in four years. Taking to X, Elon Musk stated, "The first Starships to Mars will launch in 2 years when the next Earth-Mars transfer window opens. These will be uncrewed to test the reliability of landing intact on Mars. "If those landings go well, then the first crewed flights to Mars will be in 4 years. Flight rate will grow exponentially from there, with the goal of building a self-sustaining city in about 20 years. Being multiplanetary will vastly increase the probable lifespan of consciousness, as we will no longer have all our eggs, literally and metabolically, on one planet," he added. In another post on X, Musk stated that SpaceX created the first fully reusable rocket stage and made the reuse economically viable. "SpaceX created the first fully reusable rocket stage and, much more importantly, made the reuse economically viable. Making life multiplanetary is fundamentally a cost per ton to Mars problem," Musk posted on X. "It currently costs about a billion dollars per ton of useful payload to the surface of Mars. That needs to be improved to USD 100k/ton to build a self-sustaining city there, so the technology needs to be 10,000 times better. Extremely difficult, but not impossible," he added. In June this year, SpaceX's Starship, the most powerful launch vehicle ever made, launched and achieved key objectives planned for its fourth test flight that showcased the vehicle's reusability, CNN reported. It was launched from a private Starbase facility in Boca Chica, Texas, on June 6 at 8:50 am ET, and the company streamed live coverage on X. The Starship launch system has the upper Starship spacecraft and a rocket booster known as the Super Heavy. According to SpaceX broadcast, of the rocket's 33 engines, 32 lit during the launch of the Starship, according to CNN report. The vehicle achieved multiple milestones during the test flight, including the survival of the Starship capsule upon reentry during peak heating in Earth's atmosphere and splashdown of both the capsule and booster. After separating from the spacecraft, the Super Heavy booster for the first time executed a landing burn and had a soft splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico after eight minutes of the launch. Meanwhile, the Starship capsule achieved orbital insertion. Around 50 minutes following the launch, the spacecraft started its controlled reentry journey, and a colourful buildup of plasma could be witnessed around the vehicle as its heat shield faced the extreme temperatures of Earth's atmosphere, CNN reported. The Starlink satellites of the company helped in the livestream that was continuously available during reentry. A flap near the camera view on Starship seemed to scorch during reentry, and particulate matter blocked some of the view of the camera, the report said. In the end, Starship was able to achieve its expected landing burn into the <keyword id="19899989" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="indian-ocean" source="keywords">Indian Ocean</keyword>.

You Searched For "particulate matter" and got 10 results

Air Quality Alert: Nearly 30% of asthma cases tied to fine particulate matter exposure from bad air

BI India Bureau

Harvard study links exposure to air pollution in infancy to reduced earnings in adulthood

BI India Bureau

14 of the top 20 most polluted cities in the world are Indian

BI India Bureau

'Aunt Karen,' a Black TikToker who made a full-time job of calling out racism, says she's successfully infiltrated and disbanded 'White Lives Matter' groups on social media

Taylor Ardrey

Pakistan shuts down schools as AQI becomes 3x worse than Delhi on Diwali

Ankush Banerjee

Delhi's AQI turns "very poor" today; Supreme Court criticises Punjab-Haryana for stubble-burning practices

BI India Bureau

Experts advocate using activated charcoal for skin benefits amid rising pollution in Delhi!

PTI

Stroke cases increasing globally, air pollution, high temperatures driving numbers, notes Lancet Study

PTI

Elon Musk: SpaceX to launch first Starships to Mars in two years

ANI

Best budget vacuum cleaners under ₹5,000 in India

BI India Bureau

Popular Keywords

Buying Guides