Researchers Find Air Pollution Linked To Progression Of Atherosclerosis (Newswise) Researchers at the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California (USC), in collaboration with international partners in Spain and Switzerland and colleagues in California, have found that exposure to air pollution accelerates the thickening of artery walls that leads to cardiovascular disease. [News Source]

Carpool for a clean breath (Hindustan Times) In 2008, Ambrish Bajaj, 30, a renewable energy consultant with an MNC, started working in DLF Cyber City, Gurgaon. The congestion on the roads and air pollution caused by the ever-increasing number of cars left him shocked. [News Source]

UTA promotes clean air with Free Ride Day (FOX 13 Utah) Utah Transit Authority is offering a free ride. UTA says most transit will be free on Friday. Passengers can take UTA buses, TRAX trains and the FrontRunner commuter line free of charge. UTA ski buses will not be part of the promotion and will still require a fare. UTA says it wants people to try public transit instead of driving their own cars in order to reduce air pollution. [News Source]

City council takes aim at air pollution (The Newburyport Current) A proposed amendment to a health and sanitation ordinance would impose fines on air polluters - a measure designed to combat fumes residents say are coming from the Crow Lane landfill. [News Source]

Air pollution alert issued for Rochester, Twin Cities (Post-Bulletin) The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency reported early this morning that it has issued an air pollution health alert for Rochester and the Twin Cities today (Friday, February 12, 2010) through Saturday (February 13, 2010). [News Source]

Ozone levels raise respiratory death rate: Study. People who live in areas with the most ozone pollution are 25 percent to 30 percent more likely to die from lung disease than those living in areas with the cleanest air, researchers reported on Wednesday. [News Source]

Asbestos levels declining at Libby schools. The EPA announced during a public meeting that asbestos levels in and around Libby schools are much lower than in years past and do not pose a risk to children. But some of the methods used to reach that conclusion left some attendees uncertain. [News Source]

China’s fears of rich nation ‘climate conspiracy’ at Copenhagen revealed. A document from a Chinese government thinktank, which was written in the immediate aftermath of Copenhagen but has only now come to light, provides the most candid insight yet into Chinese thinking on the fraught summit. [News Source]

Critics: State can’t handle greenhouse gas mandates. Seizing on job fears, critics of California’s landmark law to curb greenhouse gas emissions plan to launch an initiative campaign that would force regulators to retreat until the economy rebounds significantly. [News Source]

Smoke, dust put residents under health risk. The asphalt plant set up on the land meant for a park at Boyra Housing Estate in Khalishpur of Khulna city remains a nuisance for locals as black smoke and dust poses health risks for them. [News Source]

Years later, 9/11 dust, fumes cause headaches. Exposure to dust and fumes caused by the collapse of the World Trade Center during the September 11, 2001 attacks can cause headaches years later, according to a study released Wednesday. [News Source]