As per the World Health Organization, all but 1% of the world's population is exposed to unhealthy air and also exceeds the WHO limits for pollutants. However, there are some parts of the world where aur quality has improved through policies that limits pollution, while in other parts, it has not reached the desired results.

For US, more than 25% of the population is exposed to "unhealthy" air as per the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), this is according to the report by the climate non-profit First Street Foundation. By 2050, the number of people exposed to "unhealthy" air will increase by more than half. The worst days of air pollution, reports BBC, "hazardous" or maroon under the EPA's system will rise by 27%.

Why are we talking about this today? It is because of the recent wildfire in California, which started on January 7. This is also one of the factors that is spiking the PM2.5 levels. It has increased by up to five micrograms per cubic metre in the western US in the past decade.

What is PM2.5?

It is a type of air pollution which is made of particulate matter and measures 2.5 micrometres across or less. It is roughly 30 times smaller than the width of a human hair. These particles are made with a mixture of solid and liquid substances, which varies in their chemical composition, including carbon, metals, and organic compounds.

These specks of airborne soot, dust and other substances can also trigger inflammation, which could also damage your brain.

As per a 2021 study titled The Changing risk and burden of wildfire in the United States, a quarter of US's PM2.5 pollution was caused by wildfire smoke. In 2023, US also witnessed a significant dip in air quality and visibility as smoke from wildfires north of the Canadian border entered across the continent. In May 2024, Canada also saw a start to its wildfire season, and one town was evacuated in British Colombia.

Wildfire smoke and its effects

Wildfires do not only affect those who live near forests, peatlands, and grasslands, but also to the cities and environment in general. It can send plumes up to 14 miles or 23km into the stratosphere, and from there, it can spread all over the globe. For instance, in 2023, the Siberian wildfires released smoke that travelled across the Pacific Oceans to reach Alaska and Seattle.

Other than PM2.5, wildfire smoke is also harmful to immune cells in lungs, and the toxicity could be four times greater than particulates from other types of pollution.

Another 2019 study titled Effects of Atmosphere Processing on the Oxidative Potential of Biomass Burning Organic Aerosols found the toxicity of smoke doubled in the hours after it was first emitted and reached four times greater toxicity at its peak.

Health Impact

There have been research that shows how pollution affects your brain. It can lead to impaired judgment, poorer performance in school and even higher levels of crime, as per the 2018 study by the London School of Economics.

Other health concerns include weight gain. There have been researches that links airborne pollution such as PM2.5 to obesity. The studies have found that children who live in most polluted areas are twice as more likely to have obesity. Some studies also find the link of air pollution harming our sense of smell. As per an Italian study from 2022, titled Association between environmental air pollution and olfactory functioning among Italian adolescents and young adults in Northern Italy, noses of teenagers and young adults became less sensitive to odors after being exposed to nitrogen dioxide, which is a component in traffic fumes.

Atorvastatin Recall 2025: Statins have long been the first-line treatment for high cholesterol, but the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has confirmed a nationwide recall of over 140,000 bottles of a cholesterol-lowering medication. Officials flagged that some pills may not dissolve properly after ingestion, potentially reducing effectiveness for patients who rely on them daily.

The recall affects Atorvastatin Calcium, the generic version of Lipitor, which is taken by roughly 39 million Americans, most of them adults over 40, according to Dr. Tamanna Singh of the Cleveland Clinic. Federal records show that the recalled batches were manufactured by Alkem Laboratories and distributed by Ascend Laboratories in New Jersey. The FDA’s September 19 enforcement report found that several batches failed quality tests designed to ensure proper dissolution of the pills.

If the pills dissolve inconsistently or more slowly than intended, the medication may not deliver the expected cholesterol-lowering effect. The FDA classified the recall as a Class II action, indicating moderate concern. While temporary or reversible side effects could occur, the likelihood of serious harm is low.

Atorvastatin Recall: Which Atorvastatin Tablets Are Affected

The recall covers multiple strengths and bottle sizes of Atorvastatin Calcium Tablets, which are among the most commonly prescribed statins globally. Affected formulations include:

• 10 mg – 90, 500, and 1,000 tablets per bottle
• 20 mg – 90, 500, and 1,000 tablets per bottle
• 40 mg – 90, 500, and 1,000 tablets per bottle
• 80 mg – 90 and 500 tablets per bottle

Cholesterol Medication Recalled: Safe Alternatives to Atorvastatin

If you are affected by the recall, there are several alternatives to help manage cholesterol levels effectively:

1. Ezetimibe (Zetia)

Ezetimibe is often recommended when a statin alone doesn’t sufficiently lower cholesterol. It may be used if you are on the maximum statin dose but your cholesterol remains high, or alongside statins such as atorvastatin or simvastatin for conditions like homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia.

Ezetimibe works by blocking cholesterol absorption in the small intestine, causing the body to use up more cholesterol from the blood. It is one of the few non-statin medications that can further reduce LDL cholesterol, either alone or combined with statins or other alternatives.

2. Fibrates (e.g., gemfibrozil, fenofibrate)

Fibrates mainly target high triglyceride levels, a type of fat in the blood linked to heart disease and pancreatitis, and can also mildly lower LDL cholesterol. They can be taken alone, with ezetimibe, or with a statin. However, combining gemfibrozil with a statin may increase side effects, so caution is advised.

3. Bile Acid Sequestrants (e.g., cholestyramine, colestipol, colesevelam)

Bile acid sequestrants lower cholesterol by binding bile acids in the intestine, preventing their reabsorption. The liver then uses more cholesterol from the blood to produce new bile acids, reducing LDL cholesterol.

Potential drawbacks include:

• Multiple pills per day may be needed
• Possible interactions with other medications or vitamins, which can reduce effectiveness
• May increase triglyceride levels
• Can cause constipation or stomach upset

Imagine sitting down to a juicy, perfectly cooked steak on a warm evening, and hours later you’re hit with terrible stomach cramps, itchy hives, and swelling so bad you might need to rush to the ER. The weird part? It’s not food poisoning, and the steak wasn’t bad. What’s actually happening is your own immune system is reacting, because of a tiny tick bite you got weeks or even months ago, one you probably don’t even remember.

What Is Alpha Gal Syndrome?

Alpha-gal syndrome is a food allergy that can develop after a tick bite, leading to allergic reactions to red meat and products made from it. While several types of ticks can trigger it, the lone star tick is the most common culprit. Not everyone who gets bitten will develop the allergy, but repeated bites can increase the risk or worsen symptoms, as per Cleveland Clinic.

What Can Trigger an Alpha-gal Reaction?

You may have an allergic reaction to:

• Meat from mammals, such as beef, pork, or lamb
• Foods or products made with animal fat
• Certain medications
• Cow’s milk and dairy products

Alpha-gal is a sugar molecule found in most mammals (except humans) and in tick saliva. Not everyone who is bitten by a tick develops alpha-gal syndrome, and you might not react to every food or product that contains it.

Symptoms of Alpha-gal Syndrome

Alpha-gal syndrome can cause reactions ranging from mild to life-threatening. Common symptoms include:

• Skin changes, like itching, hives, or flushing
• Swelling of lips, eyelids, throat, tongue, or face (angioedema)
• Respiratory issues, such as cough, shortness of breath, or wheezing
• Digestive problems, including stomach pain, diarrhea, heartburn, nausea, or vomiting
• Dizziness or fainting
• Joint pain

Timing of Symptoms

Unlike most food allergies, reactions to alpha-gal can occur two to six hours after eating meat or dairy. Medications containing alpha-gal may trigger a faster reaction.

Causes of Alpha-gal Syndrome

Alpha-gal syndrome develops after a tick bite, most commonly from the lone star tick, though bites from black-legged (deer) ticks and other species can also cause it. Ticks carry alpha-gal molecules in their saliva, and exposure during a bite can make your immune system recognize alpha-gal as a threat, triggering an allergy.

Experts aren’t certain why some people develop the allergy while others do not. Repeated tick bites can worsen symptoms or make reactions more frequent.

What Is Lone Star Tick?

The lone star tick is a tiny bug, sometimes as small as a poppy seed. Adult female lone star ticks are easy to identify by the white dot on their backs, the “lone star.” They are commonly found in and around wooded areas across the Midwestern and Eastern United States.

Having alpha-gal syndrome is not just about giving up burgers or steaks. Like other food allergies, it can affect a range of products you may need to avoid. While caution is important, most people with AGS won’t react to every item that contains alpha-gal, and for some, symptoms may improve within a few years. Your healthcare provider can guide you on which foods to steer clear of and what to expect in your individual case.

Sniffles and other symptoms often mistaken for a winter virus such as Covid or flu could actually be caused by something else, according to a pharmacist. George Sandhu, deputy superintendent at Well Pharmacy, explained that pollen allergies are now extending into autumn as seasons stretch longer.

He said: “Warmer temperatures are lengthening growing seasons, so pollen counts are higher than in past decades. Rising carbon dioxide levels don’t just warm the planet, they also act like a fertiliser for plants, increasing pollen production.”

What Is a Pollen Allergy?

A pollen allergy happens when your immune system reacts to pollen, which is a fine powder released by trees, grasses, and weeds during reproduction. In people with this allergy, the immune system mistakes pollen for a harmful substance and releases chemicals such as histamine.

This can trigger symptoms like sneezing, runny or blocked nose, itchy or watery eyes, and throat irritation. This condition is commonly called hay fever and tends to appear during certain times of the year when specific plants are blooming, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

Sandhu added that milder winters are allowing some plants to start producing pollen earlier in spring and continue later into autumn. He noted: “Late summer also sees a shift from weed pollen to increased indoor mould, leaf mould, and dust mites, which all peak during autumn. Combined with damp autumn conditions, people with allergies now face a much longer ‘high-risk window’ every year.”

Types of Pollen Allergens

The pharmacist explained the three main types of allergens:

• Weed pollen: including ragweed, mugwort, plantain, nettle, dock, goosefoot, and sorrel.
• Mould spores: thrive in damp autumn conditions and can be found in rotting leaves, compost heaps, soil, as well as bathrooms, kitchens, and other damp areas.
• House dust mites: found in bedding, carpets, soft toys, and fabrics.

Best Treatment for a Pollen Allergy

The best way to manage pollen allergies depends on how severe they are and what suits your body. What helps one person may not work for another. A healthcare provider can recommend the most effective treatment. According to Sandhu, “Antihistamines can relieve sneezing, runny nose, and itching, for example, cetirizine or loratadine. Nasal corticosteroid sprays, such as fluticasone or mometasone, reduce inflammation and congestion. Decongestants may give short-term relief for a blocked nose, but they shouldn’t be used long-term. Saline sprays or rinses can help clear allergens from the nose, and eye drops can soothe itchy, watery eyes.”

Can Allergy Shots Work Against Pollen Allergy?

Allergy shots gradually retrain your immune system to tolerate pollen. They involve a series of injections containing pollen, with the dose slowly increased over time. This helps your body build tolerance. Allergy shots are administered by a healthcare provider.

While it is impossible to avoid pollen completely, you can change some daily habits to reduce exposure. For instance, try not to be outside on warm, windy spring days when pollen levels are high. Pollen counts are usually highest in the early morning and early afternoon.