Why Does Air Pollution Affect More Women than Men?

A year ago, I went to California to participate in a scientific conference. After a couple of days, my mentor and I started to have trouble breathing. As two healthy adults, we wondered why this was happening. I did not know the answer at that time, but I did notice a pattern: Other female colleagues, … Continue reading Why Does Air Pollution Affect More Women than Men?

In Santiago, What’s Smog Got to Do with It?

Upon arriving in Santiago, Chile, my travel companions from the University of Dayton and I were struck by the beautiful sights of the Andes mountains and the not-so-beautiful sight of a cloud of smog hanging over the city. Like many major metropolitan areas, such as Los Angeles or Mexico City, the city of Santiago (population … Continue reading In Santiago, What’s Smog Got to Do with It?

Reduce Your Risk of a ‘Lung Sunburn’: Stay Inside on Poor Air Quality Days

June 21 officially marked the first day of summer, bringing in long hot days of fun in the sun. Summer is also the time when air quality alerts start popping up, warning us to avoid breathing in bad air and limit activities outside. These alerts can put a damper on our outdoor plans, but why … Continue reading Reduce Your Risk of a ‘Lung Sunburn’: Stay Inside on Poor Air Quality Days