Polar bears that hunt mainly in the sea have higher pollutant levels in their bodies than those staying on land during the sea ice free periods — but why? A new study in ACS’ Environmental Science & Technology reports the likely reasons.
Most of us know nitrous oxide as “laughing gas”, used for its anaesthetic effects. But nitrous oxide is also one of the main stratospheric ozone depleting substances – and we are releasing more of it into the atmosphere than previously thought.
On a scaffold high above the heads of the pedestrians at Pilestredet 47c and 48 in Oslo, sophisticated measuring instruments spent a few weeks characterising air currents and measuring various types of air pollution. The instruments were part of a project run by NILU – Norwegian Institute for Air Research, to obtain data on air flow patterns and how air pollution is distributed vertically.
RENO, Nev. (June 28, 2019) – How did events like the Black Death plague impact the economy of Medieval Europe? Particles of lead trapped deep in Arctic ice can tell us.
Scientists propose new framework to reduce harmful chemicals like PFAS added to consumer goods, and to phase out non-essentials
The most important greenhouse gases monitored by NILU – The Norwegian Institute for Air Research continued to rise in 2017. Levels have now reached new records both at Svalbard and in Aust-Agder in Norway. Both CO2, methane and nitrous oxide continue to increase in both Southern Norway and Svalbard, and there is no sign of reduction or flattening in this trend.
The feature documentary ICE ON FIRE focuses on the research behind today’s climate science. Scientists from NILU and CAGE appear in the film, which is produced and narrated by Oscar®-winner Leonardo DiCaprio.
Over a period of 4 months, NILU has measured the concentrations of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the air in the Chilean municipalities of Quintero-Puchuncaví and Concón in the Valparaíso region. The measurements were carried out on behalf of the Chilean Ministry of the Environment. So far, the measurement results show no sign that VOC emissions from the industrial area affect the air quality in neighbouring residential areas.
NILU ha realizado mediciones de compuestos orgánicos volátiles (COVs) durante un periodo de cuatro meses en los municipios de Quintero-Puchuncaví y Concón, ambos en la región de Valparaíso. Estas mediciones fueron comisionadas por el Ministerio de Medio Ambiente de Chile. Los resultados obtenidos hasta el momento no indican que las emisiones de COVs de la zona industrial afecten la calidad del aire en las áreas residenciales cercanas.
Engineered nanomaterials (ENM) provide great opportunities for industry, but can have unpredictable consequences for health and the environment. This week, a project workshop in Oslo hosted by NILU will discuss risk governance related to ENM.
In a new paper published in Scientific Reports today, scientists from NILU and other leading international partners show that global climate models are able to reliably calculate historical sulfur trends in accordance with observations.
Monday January 14 NILU arranged a seminar at Kjeller on Meteorological Education and Research. The seminar indicates the beginning of an academic cooperation with Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology (NUIST).
NILU – Norwegian Institute for Air Research would like to invite all interested parties to the seminar “Environmental pollutants in the ambient air with a focus on poly and perfluorinated compounds”.
The prevalence of childhood asthma has increased over the past decades. It is now the most common chronic illness in children and the leading cause of pediatric hospitalization worldwide.
NILU – Norwegian institute for Air Research is sorry to inform our partners and contacts that our subsidiary NILU Polska in Krakow, Poland will be closed permanently February 2019.
The European air quality is slowly improving, but as the Air Quality in Europe 2018 Report shows, air pollution continues to exceed European Union and World Health Organization limits and guidelines. Thus, air pollution is still posing a danger to human health and the environment.
August 31st, 2018: More than thirty scientists from all over the world, in conjunction with regulators from agencies across the globe, have jointly outlined a set of needs, goals, and actions to help assess and manage the diverse and widely used group of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in the future.
From the NILU Annual Report 2017: “Laughing gas” sounds harmless enough. Known also as nitrous oxide, it is in fact the third most important greenhouse gas in the atmosphere, and no laughing matter.
Air quality in Europe is getting better. However, a significant proportion of Europe’s population still lives in cities and areas where at times, noise and air pollution may lead to health problems. Norwegian scientists are now tasked with leading the work of compiling the knowledge base the decision-makers in Europe need to give us better air and quality of life.
From the NILU Annual Report 2017: During the last decade, the need for information and data has exploded, and this “data revolution” has not stopped short of science. In environmental research, data have become more and more important – to the point that scientists now even know what your fireplace looks like.
New PhD at NILU: Volcanic ash in the atmosphere poses a risk for air traffic. In addition, it causes health risks to both humans and the climate.
From the NILU annual report 2017: Oil spills, tanker accidents, chemical disasters – suddenly materials are released into the environment, potentially harming both humans and nature. Is it possible for scientists to trace the environmental offenders?
From the NILU Annual Report 2017: From the Zeppelin Observatory at 79 degrees north to Trollhaugen at 72 degrees south – NILU measures air quality at some of the world’s most inaccessible places. Why so far away?
Ice-core study finds evidence of plagues, wars and imperial expansion