Knowledge Center

Asthma

A report by the American Health Effects Institute on traffic related air pollution has recently asserted a causal link between exposure to traffic related air pollution and worsening of asthma symptoms, especially among children.

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the respiratory system and can occur anywhere along it, from the nose to the lungs. The inflammation narrows the airways, thus creating a wide range of breathing difficulties such as coughing, wheezing, che...read more >

Breast Cancer

Only 5%-10% of all breast cancer cases are related to the gene mutations BRCA1 and BRCA2, which scientists have identified as having a significant role in the development of the disease. The relationship between breast cancer and exposure to chemicals is currently one of the leading areas of research.

Breast cancer is a malignant tumor that develops in the breast tissue, usually in the glands that produce milk or the ducts that carry it. The tumor either invades other nearby tissue or spreads to other parts of the body. To date, breast c...read more >

Cardiovascular Disease

According to the American Heart Association (AHA) statement, issued in May 2010, air pollution should be treated as a modifiable risk factor, much like other traditional risk factors such as smoking, cholesterol, blood pressure and others.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are diseases of the heart and/or blood vessels. The most common are atherosclerosis, coronary artery disease, arrhythmia, thrombosis and high blood pressure. In May 2010 the American Heart Association (A...read more >

Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals (EDCs)

As their name suggests, endocrine disrupting chemicals disrupt the regular and proper activity of the hormonal system in our body. EDCs are abundant in our environment, including in food and water, in personal care products, detergents and pesticides.

The endocrine system is a delicate and finely balanced system of hormones and glands. The endocrine system adjusts and regulates many bodily functions, including growth and development, sexual behavior, reproduction, stress control, metabolism, and p...read more >

Mercury

In recent years, public awareness has been raised regarding the dangers of mercury exposure. Human exposure to mercury is primarily via the food chain, especially through consumption of fish and seafood . It is important to bear in mind that most of the mercury found today in the environment is man-made.

Mercury is an odorless, shiny, silver-white liquid, highly toxic to humans and animals. It is neuro-toxic, hence poisonous to the nervous system. In our everyday life mercury can be found in food and water and also in thermometers, barometers, fluore...read more >

Ozone

Although high in the sky the ozone layer protects us from UV radiation, ground level ozone is poisonous. Because ozone is created as a result of the interaction between sunlight and air pollutants, the air we breathe in dense traffic urban centers and industrial plants may risk our health.

Ozone is a highly toxic and colorless gas, characterized by a strong odor. Ozone can be found in two layers of the atmosphere: approximately 25km above the surface of the earth (stratosphere) and at the lowest atmospheric layer (troposphere), in whic...read more >

Parkinson's Disease

The cause for Parkinson's disease is still unknown. In the past, genetics was the primary suspect, but today, a leading hypothesis suggests that genetic predisposition coupled with environmental factors is responsible in most cases for the onset of the disease.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a chronic neurodegenerative disease caused by the death of clusters of cells in the midbrain that leads to the reduction of dopamine – a neurotransmitter responsible for coordinating muscle movement. The lack of dopa...read more >

Particulate Matter

We are exposed to particulate material on a daily basis in the form of soot, dust and sand blowing in the wind. Contrary to common belief, the source for most particulate matter pollution exposure is not industrial fuel burning but traffic related pollution.

Particulate matter (PM) is a complex and diverse mixture of organic and inorganic particles, such as dust, pollen, soot, smoke, and liquid droplets. During industrial and traffic-related combustion processes (like coal, wood, diesel, and gasoline), g...read more >

Pesticides

Pesticides are designed to harm living creatures. As such, they might also adversely affect any ecological system that includes humans and animals. Due to their undeveloped nervous system, children and fetuses are especially sensitive to pesticide exposure.

A pesticide is any substance used to kill, repel, or control certain forms of plant or animal life that are considered to be pests. Pesticides include herbicides for destroying weeds and other unwanted vegetation, insecticides for controlling a wide...read more >

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