Air Pollution

As smoke from wildfires on the West Coast makes its way across the US, it’s becoming clear that our future will involve coexistence with fire.

As wildfire smoke fills the sky up and down the west coast, experts advise people to stay inside to avoid the

When Jake asked me to go on a sunset hike, I knew what was coming. We were in our favorite place: the Methow Valley of Eastern Washington. When we crested the top of the mountain, a few sunrays peeked through the clouds, lighting up the fertile valley below.

Still, when he got down on one knee, I was surprised, and overcome with happiness. Life seemed full of promise.

Could living next to a busy freeway make you more likely to develop dementia?

Air pollution, which contributes to respiratory and heart disease, may also trigger cognitive decline and dementia as people age. But many questions remain about this association, including exactly how air pollutants damage the brain, and whether noise and other environmental factors also contribute to these harmful effects.

Lianne Sheppard fought recent efforts by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to suppress the role of academic scientists advising the agency on environmental policy.

The University of Washington professor also battled back against attacks on her research into the link between cancer and glyphosate, a widely used herbicide.

As wildfires spread across the Pacific Northwest last summer, the Seattle area briefly earned the dubious honor of being one of the most polluted cities on earth.

Frederick Law Olmsted, who designed New York’s Central Park, once called trees the lungs of the city.

Trees and shrubs filter a variety of air pollutants, including nitrogen dioxide, ozone and particulate matter.

But could they also benefit communities near airports by absorbing harmful ultrafine particles from aircraft exhaust?