EPA awards air quality research funding to university

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded funds to the Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University for research into air quality.

Overall, the EPA has granted the organisations $499,512 (£347,000) to help boost their research into the effect that mobile source emissions have on air quality in the Atlanta area.

Pollution emitted by mobile sources, such as vehicles, boats and lawnmowers, were linked to cardiovascular diseases during the last study into the subject.

The two universities will work together to explore this connection further and make predictions as to the volume of pollution emitted by these sources.

It is anticipated that the study will provide more solid evidence to link these machines and vehicles with health developments and emission trends.

Another action that has been linked with pollution of late is the burning of mercury. The Zero Mercury Working Group last week said burning the toxic element releases 200 tonnes into the atmosphere annually.