- ALLERGY, RESPIRATORY
- Folic Acid Might Offer Allergy Relief
- Traffic, Dust Linked to Asthma in Kids
- Molecule in Skin May Link Eczema and Asthma
- ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE
- Pain-Relieving Powers of Acupuncture Unclear
- Soybean Chemicals May Reduce Effects of Menopause
- Regular Yoga May Improve Eating Habits
- ANIMAL CARE
- 'Comfort Dogs' Come to Emotional Rescue
- Separation Anxiety, Canine-Style
- Safe Toys for Dogs
- BONES & JOINTS
- Alcohol Abuse Can Damage Bones
- B Cells Can Act Alone in Autoimmune Diseases
- Human Ancestors Put Best Foot Forward 1.5M Years Ago
- CANCER
- Green Tea May Help Prevent Oral Cancer
- Well Water Might Raise Bladder Cancer Risk
- Steady Weight Gain Boosts Late-Life Breast Cancer Risk
- CAREGIVING
- Coordination Has Led to Quicker Heart Treatment
- Birthmark or Blood Vessel Problem?
- Organ Donation Policies Vary Among Children's Hospitals
- CIRCULATORY SYSTEM
- Review Confirms Links Between Diet, Heart Health
- Support Network May Play Role in Benefits of Drinking
- Obesity Linked to Heart Failure Risk
- COSMETIC
- New Genetic Links to Baldness Discovered
- Study Evaluates Laser Therapies for Hair Removal
- Contact Lenses Boost Kids' Self-Image
- DENTAL, ORAL
- Biological Product Shows Promise Against Gum Disease
- Amino Acid May Be Key to Strong Teeth
- Mom's Vitamin D Levels Affect Baby's Dental Health
- DIABETES
- Exercise Protects Black Women From Type 2 Diabetes
- Saliva Test Could Monitor Type 2 Diabetes
- Findings Challenge Tight Glucose Control for Critically Ill Patients
- DIET, NUTRITION
- Even in 'Last Supper,' Portion Sizes Have Grown
- Pesticides on Produce Tied to ADHD in Children
- DASH Diet Has Extra Benefits for Women's Health
- DISABILITIES
- Review Finds Marijuana May Help MS Patients
- Could Your Cell Phone Help Shield You From Alzheimer's?
- ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
- Sunken, Unexploded Bombs Pose Cancer Risk
- Database Helps Assess Your Breast Cancer Risk
- Household Chemicals May Affect Cholesterol Levels
- EYE CARE, VISION
- Magnetic Pulses to Brain Improve Lazy Eye in Adults
- Eye Care Checkups Tied to Insurance Status
- Antioxidant-Rich Diet May Protect Against Eye Disease
- GASTROINTESTINAL PROBLEMS
- New Guidelines Issued for Management of IBS
- New Yogurt May Ease Stomach Ulcers
- HRT Use Raises Risk of Stomach Trouble
- GENERAL HEALTH
- 'Soda Tax' Wins Health Experts' Support
- Study Supports Swine Flu's Pandemic Potential
- Sun, Smoke, Extra Weight Add Years to Skin
- HEAD & NECK
- Zen May Thicken Brain, Thwart Pain
- Ski Helmets Encouraged for All
- Many Children Will Outgrow Headaches
- HEALTH & TECHNOLOGY
- Airport Full Body Scanners Pose No Health Threat: Experts
- The Internet Is Becoming One-Stop Shopping for Health Help
- Subway Defibrillators Save Lives
- HEART & CARDIOVASCULAR
- Risk Factor for Stroke More Common Among Whites
- Vitamin B3 May Help Repair Brain After a Stroke
- Research Shows Genetic Activity of Antioxidants
- INFECTIOUS DISEASE
- Older Adults May Have Some Immunity to Swine Flu
- Swine Flu Now Reported in All 50 States
- Chinese 'Devil Dung' Plant Could Be a Swine Flu Fighter
- KID'S HEALTH
- Babies Who Eat Fish Lower Eczema Risk
- Even Young Kids Can Learn CPR
- Dangerous Toys Still on Store Shelves, Report Finds
- MEN'S HEALTH
- Sunlight May Help Protect Men From Kidney Cancer
- Could Chinese Herb Be a Natural Viagra?
- Noise Hurts Men's Hearing More, Study Shows
- MENTAL HEALTH
- The Acne Drug Accutane More Than Doubles Depression Risk
- Vitamin C Protects Some Elderly Men From Bone Loss
- Reminiscing Helps Build Emotional Strength
- PREGNANCY
- Breast-Feeding May Protect a Woman's Heart
- Sleeping Could Help Women Lose The Baby Fat
- Music of Mozart Soothes the Preemie Baby
- SENIORS
- Common Antioxidant Might Slow Parkinson's
- High-Impact Activity May Be Good for Old Bones
- For a Healthier Retirement, Work a Little
Clear Skies Have Become Less So Over Time, Data Show
By eHolistic.com Published: 03/12/2009
THURSDAY, March 12 (HealthDay News) -- More than three decades of data showing how clear, or unclear, the sky over land has been should reveal how changes in air pollution have affected climate change, according to a University of Maryland-led team of researchers.
The data show that what the researchers call clear sky visibility over land has decreased worldwide since the early 1970s because of an increase in aerosols, which are solid particles or liquid droplets suspended in air. Aerosols, which include soot, dust and sulfur dioxide particles, are created by the burning of fossil fuels, industrial processes and burning of tropical rain forests. Aerosols pose a threat to human health and the environment, the researchers said.
"Creation of this database is a big step forward for researching long-term changes in air pollution and correlating these with climate change," Kaicun Wang, an assistant research scientist in the geography department at Maryland and the research team leader, said in a university news release. "And it is the first time we have gotten global long-term aerosol information over land to go with information already available on aerosol measurements over the world's oceans."
Carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases are transparent and have no effect on visibility. Though the impact of greenhouse gases on climate change is well-established, scientists don't fully understand the effects of aerosols. The database is expected to provide answers.
The data include sky visibility measurements taken between 1973 and 2007 at 3,250 meteorological sites worldwide. Visibility refers to the distance an observer can clearly see from a measurement source. The more aerosols in the air, the shorter the visibility distance.
A preliminary analysis of the database revealed a steady increase in aerosols between 1973 and 2007. Increased aerosols in the atmosphere block solar radiation from the Earth's surface, causing an overall "global dimming," the researchers said.
The findings were published in the March 13 issue of Science.
More information
The World Health Organization has more on climate change and human health.
-- Robert Preidt
SOURCE: University of Maryland, news release, March 13, 2009
Last Updated: March 12, 2009
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