In a study published today in the New England Journal of Medicine, scientists find long-term exposure to fine particle pollution to be associated with the incidence of cardiovascular disease and death.  This particular study compared exposures of nearly 2,000 older women in 36 urban areas to find also that intra-city differences in risk exceeded inter-city differences.  In a separate editorial, the NEJM editors advocate tighter regulation and controls: 

A City of Houston sponsored study released January 18th shows a 56% increased risk of leukemia among children within two miles of the Houston Ship Channel compared with children living further away.

In addition, the study estimated exposures to two carcinogens known to be at high levels here, butadiene and benzene.  Children living in areas with the highest levels of butadiene, estimated from monitoring data collected by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, had significantly higher rates of  any type of leukemia (40%, p-value=0.02), acute lymphocytic leukemia (38%, p-value=0.05), and acute myeloid leukemia (153%, p-value=0.03) compared with children living in areas with the lowest estimated butadiene levels. 

According to a new report by leading air quality scientists, Houston area residents face a dangerously high risk of cancer and other chronic disease as a result of breathing toxic air pollution.

In the report's executive summary, a stunning series of tables and graphs shows that yearly levels of certain air toxics are 20 times higher than levels found in other major U.S. cities.

The report, entitled "The Control of Air Toxics: Toxicology Motivation and Houston Implications," was funded by Houston Endowment. It focuses on four air toxics: benzene, 1,3 butadiene, formaldehyde and diesel particles. It recommends that the state of Texas implement enforceable ambient standards for these pollutants.