Sam Nickerson
EcoWatch
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Past articles by Sam:
Using Uber and Lyft Might Not Be as Green as You Think
Ride-hailing services such as Lyft and Uber are creating more climate pollution and road congestion per trip than the transportation options they displace, according to a new report from the Union of Concerned Scientists. Around 42 percent of all ride-hailing driving time on average is spent waiting for and driving to pick up passengers. → Read More
Western Diet Impairs Brain Function and Appetite Control, Study Finds
Yet another reason to avoid the typical western diet: eating high-fat, highly processed junk food filled with added sugars can impair brain function and lead to overeating in just one week. The western diet has already been connected to a number of health issues, such as obesity, cardiovascular disease and even lower sperm counts in men. → Read More
Half of U.S. Air Pollution Deaths Linked to Out-of-State Emissions, New Yorkers at Greatest Risk
On average, around half of all early deaths from poor air quality in the U.S. are associated with pollution produced out-of-state, a new study has found. The findings are especially concerning for New Yorkers: ozone and fine particulate matter from emitters in other states accounted for 60 percent of air pollution-related premature deaths. → Read More
10 U.S. Oil Refineries Released Carcinogenic Benzene Above EPA Limits in 2019
Emissions of the cancer-causing chemical benzene exceeded federal limits at 10 oil refineries across the U.S. last year, a new report from the Environmental Integrity Project has found. → Read More
'Exciting' Study Shows How Quitting Smoking Can 'Magically' Heal Damaged Lungs
Quitting smoking now may do more than just prevent further damage to your lungs — it could jumpstart the release of healthy cells that actually repair the linings of your airways. → Read More
Wildfires in Western Canada Created Air Pollution Spikes as Far Away as New York City
Researchers traced recent air pollution spikes in New York to two surprising sources — fires hundreds of miles away in Canada and the southeastern U.S. The pollutants they detected included black carbon and particulate matter with a diameter under 2.5 micrometers, called PM2.5, which are common components of smoke from biomass burning. → Read More
Death of 1 Million Seabirds Tied to Massive ‘Blob’ of Hot Water in the Pacific
An expanse of uncommonly warm seawater in the Pacific Ocean created by a marine heatwave led to a mass die-off of one million seabirds. → Read More
Record-Setting Drop in the U.S. Cancer Death Rate Tied to Progress on Lung Cancer
A report from The American Cancer Society has identified the largest single-year decline in the U.S. cancer death rate to date, likely spurred by new treatments and reductions in smoking. The cancer death rate for Americans fell by 2.2 percent from 2016 to 2017, marking 26 consecutive years of a decreasing cancer death rate since it peaked in 1991. → Read More
Half of All American Adults Could Be Obese in 10 Years, Study Finds
One of America's already widespread health issues is projected to worsen over the next decade. → Read More
Some Hair Dyes and Straighteners Linked to Higher Breast Cancer Risk, Especially in Black Women
Permanent hair dyes and chemical hair straighteners could be increasing women's risk of breast cancer. A new study in the International Journal of Cancer found that women who had used permanent hair dye before participating were 9 percent more likely to get breast cancer than those who did not. For black women, the risk was six times higher. → Read More
Under 45? Lowering Your Cholesterol Now Could Prevent Heart Disease Later, Study Suggests
Many people don't begin worrying about their cholesterol levels until later in life, but that may be increasing their odds of heart problems in the long term. → Read More
These Diets Could Help Stave off Hearing Loss as You Age
Weight loss aside, there is no shortage of benefits to eating healthier: a lower risk of heart disease and cancer, reduced gut inflammation and preventing memory loss later in life, to name a few. A healthy diet may also reduce hearing loss later in life, according to a new study out of Brigham and Women's Hospital. → Read More
First Brain Cancer Link to Air Pollution Found in New Study
... Epidemiology, increased exposure to ultra-fine particles (UFPs) produced by diesel engines and burning coal raises the risk of developing malignant brain tumors by 10% ... pollution exposure of 10,000 nanoparticles per cubic centimeter — that's about the difference you can expect after moving from a quiet street to a busier city street. → Read More
Study Shows First Link Between Air Pollution and Increased Brain Cancer Risk
Air pollution particles from motor vehicle exhaust has been linked to brain cancer for the first time, researchers at McGill University in Montreal say. → Read More
Too Much Screen Time May Be Slowing Childhood Brain Development
Young children who spend too much time looking at smartphones, tablets or television screens may have reduced brain development in areas important for language and literacy, a new study has found. → Read More
Banning Sugary Drink Sales at Work Could Shrink Your Waistline
Sodas and other sugar-sweetened drinks may taste great, but research has increasingly linked them with obesity and potentially fatal health issues. Now, for the first time, a new study has shown the surprising health benefits of banning the sale of these sugary drinks in the workplace. → Read More
Eating Lots of Dairy May Increase Prostate Cancer Risk, But Plant-Based Diets Reduce It, Study Finds
Ditching cheese, milk and other dairy products for more plant-based foods could reduce your risk of developing prostate cancer. And though the association between eating other animal products and prostate cancer wasn't as clear, Mayo Clinic researchers found that plant-based diets appeared to decrease that risk. → Read More
Heavy Snowfall in 2018 Kept Arctic Wildlife From Breeding
Zackenberg, Northeast Greenland received such heavy snow in 2018 that much of the ground remained covered well into late summer, which appears to have prevented plants and animals there from breeding. → Read More
Air Pollution Exposure Is Linked to Increased Violent Crime, Domestic Violence
Scientists have connected air pollution with a host of health issues. → Read More
Vaping Lung Damage Compared to Chemical Weapon Burns in New Study
People who develop respiratory illnesses after using e-cigarettes to vape nicotine and marijuana are showing symptoms akin to chemical burns in their lungs, according to new research by Mayo Clinic doctors. → Read More