During the first weeks of 2013, Tehran was often blanketed in a stagnant, brown layer of smog so thick and obtrusive that it was difficult to make out the conspicuous mountain ranges that encircle the city. After trying to regulate the number of cars on the streets, a measure that failed to reduce the noxious [...]

The Obama administration has withdrawn regulations that would have prevented at least 1,500 deaths per year from unhealthy levels of smog in the air. Citing “regulatory uncertainty and regulatory burden” (read: jobs), the President stated on September 2 that he will not update a 2008 standard until 2013 (read: after the next presidential election, if [...]

Inhaling cigarette smoke or smoggy air is clearly not great for your health. And exposure to various kinds of smoke has been associated with cardiovascular disease, rheumatoid arthritis and cataracts. Researchers have now pinpointed a compound common in disparate forms of smoke that might explain some of the frequent ills associated with it. The findings [...]

SAN FRANCISCO—City lights may do more than hide a starry sky: they could indirectly worsen daytime smog. Measurements of light pollution over Los Angeles have revealed a brighter glow than chemists expected—bright enough to destroy chemicals that would otherwise help cleanse the air during a dark night. “Light pollution can slow down nighttime cleansing,” said [...]

Today on Symbiartic, we’re happy to present a Guest Post by Lisa Gardiner. – - In an effort to turn the proverbial lemons into lemonade, Los Angeles-based artist Kim Abeles is turning air pollution into art. For her current exhibit in Boulder, Colorado, Kim worked with middle school students to capture and create art from [...]