Millions of households across the U.S. use wood stoves, fireplaces, and other wood-burning devices as a primary or secondary source of heat. Residential wood burning produces a multitude of air pollutants – most prominently particulate matter, which is linked to cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease, cancer, and other systemic health effects. Wood burning also releases carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and toxic pollutants such as benzene, formaldehyde, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.
Read More >Nature-based strategies are actions that use the conservation or restoration of nature, such as ecosystems like wetlands, or green infrastructure projects, to address the risks from natural hazards. Nature-based mitigation strategies can help reduce the likelihood of future hazards occurring and minimize negative impacts when they do occur.
Read More >Actions such as illegal wildlife trade, deforestation, mining and pollution are often responsible for huge and diverse harms to the environment—including particular impacts on threatened species. Faced with growing concern about the biodiversity crisis, including reports that at least one million species are at risk of extinction, there are growing demands for social and environmental justice. This includes redoubling efforts to hold responsible parties accountable, and to deter future harmful actions.
Read More >Cooking in a home kitchen produces air pollutants. While some of these pollutants are perceptible in the form of smoke or odors, others – including combustion gases and ultrafine particles – are not as obvious. Cooking-related pollutants such as particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide are linked to human health impacts including respiratory problems and cardiovascular disease.
Read More >Sharks play an essential role in the marine ecosystem. As predators, they help to maintain balance in the food chain, eliminate sick and weak animals, and ensure species diversity; and may play a role in protecting coral reefs.
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