Yonsei University study finds air pollution sharply raises workplace accident risk

Study finds doubling PM2.5 linked to 2.6-fold higher accident risk and billions in economic losses

Yonsei University

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Doubling fine particulate matter (PM2.5) levels is linked to a 2.6-fold increase in workplace accident risk, 37% more fatalities, and 51% more total casualties. Findings from Yonsei University reveal how polluted air can endanger workers and drive up economic costs.

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Credit: Yonsei University

Air pollution is widely recognized as a public health hazard, but its role in workplace safety is often underestimated. A new study reveals that polluted air can make industrial accidents both more likely and more severe, adding a hidden layer to their human and economic costs.

The research—led by Dr. Ning Zhang of Yonsei University in South Korea, in collaboration with Dr. Zaikun Hou of Shandong University and Dr. Huan Chen of the University of Cambridge—was published in Energy Economics on September 18, 2025.

Using two decades of accident records from 2000 to 2020, the team matched each incident with local air pollution and weather data. By exploiting thermal inversions—meteorological events that trap pollutants—as an instrumental variable, they established a causal link between fine particulate pollution (PM2.5) and safety liability accidents.

Their results show that doubling PM2.5 concentrations is associated with a 2.6-fold increase in accident risk, 37% more fatalities, and 51% more total casualties, with the strongest effects seen in coal mining and construction. These pollution-related accidents were estimated to cost society between USD 4.9 billion and 10.1 billion.

“Our study shows that air pollution can significantly increase the occurrence and severity of safety liability accidents across industries,” said Dr. Zhang. “This finding extends the social cost estimation of air pollution beyond traditional health and productivity losses, revealing a new dimension of its economic burden.”

He added that the results echo a broader trend in research, noting that, “the growing importance of this topic is reflected in recent work—for example, a 2025 Journal of Public Economics article by Victor Lavy and colleagues also finds that air pollution raises workplace accident risks. Together, these studies show that the safety impacts of air pollution are gaining increasing policy attention.”

The study also points to practical steps that companies and governments can take during pollution spikes, such as providing masks and air purifiers, improving ventilation, issuing early safety warnings, rescheduling high-risk work, or temporarily adjusting shifts. The researchers emphasize that greater defensive measures should be implemented during periods of severe air pollution or haze to minimize workplace risks and protect employee health.

Looking ahead, the researchers believe their findings could guide integrated environmental and occupational safety policies. “Over the next five to ten years, our findings could inform policies linking environmental regulation with workplace safety standards—encouraging industries to include air-quality indicators in their risk management and insurance systems,” Dr. Zhang noted. “For ordinary people, such changes would mean safer workplaces, cleaner air, and more resilient communities.”

While acknowledging potential limitations—such as underreported accidents and the focus on short-term exposure—the authors emphasize that their causal evidence, drawn from two decades of data, underscores an urgent need to address air pollution as a workplace safety issue, not just a health problem.

 

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Reference
DOI: 10.1016/j.eneco.2025.108894

 

About the institute
Yonsei University, located in Seoul, South Korea, is one of the nation’s oldest and most prestigious private research institutions. Founded in 1885, the university is renowned for academic excellence and its strong commitment to international collaborations and partnerships. Yonsei offers diverse programs across the humanities, sciences, engineering, business, and more, serving approximately 30,000 students with a distinguished faculty. Yonsei remains dedicated to fostering creativity and cultural exchange in a rapidly evolving world.
https://www.yonsei.ac.kr/en_sc/

 

About the author
Dr. Ning Zhang is an Associate Professor at the School of Economics, Yonsei University. Before joining Yonsei, he worked at the Department of Land Economy, University of Cambridge. His research focuses on environmental economics and the economics of climate change. In addition to publishing in leading economics journals such as the Journal of Development Economics (JDE), he has also contributed to top interdisciplinary journals including Science, Nature, and Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).

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Journal

Energy Economics

DOI

10.1016/j.eneco.2025.108894 

Method of Research

Experimental study

Subject of Research

Not applicable

Article Title

Devil particles: Air pollution and safety liability accidents

 

Researchers develop a power-free acoustic testing system using bubble wrap bursts

A novel method harnesses bubble wrap bursting sounds as an impulse source for safe, affordable, and non-destructive testing

Shibaura Institute of Technology

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A close-up of burstable bubble wrap, the material used to generate impulse sound waves for non-destructive testing.

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Credit: Hey Paul from Flickr Source Link: https://openverse.org/image/63c31bcf-1003-4d8f-936f-99e84570a10e?q=bubble+wrap&p=3

Non-destructive testing allows engineers to evaluate the integrity of structures such as pipelines, tanks, bridges, and machinery without dismantling them. Conventional approaches rely on loudspeakers, lasers, or electric sparks. While effective, these systems can be difficult or dangerous to use in flammable or confined areas and require considerable power to function effectively.

Now, a new study from Japan, available online in Measurement on October 8, 2025, shows how a common packaging material can replace power-hungry devices in non-destructive testing. The team, led by Professor Naoki Hosoya, along with Shuichi Yahagi from Tokyo City University, Toshiki Shimizu and Seiya Inadera from the Shibaura Institute of Technology, and Itsuro Kajiwara of Hokkaido University, found a simple way to test pipes for hidden flaws by using bubble wrap. The researchers discovered that the sharp crack of a bubble burst can be a viable substitute for the expensive, energy-dependent tools usually employed in non-destructive testing. The researchers claim the method can detect objects inside a pipe within a 2% error margin, without requiring electricity or heavy equipment.

“The team and I sought a simpler solution: a sound source that is small, inexpensive, and safe to operate in almost any setting,” Professor Hosoya said. “Bubble wrap is a small, inexpensive, and mass-produced product that does not require a power supply, so it is useful in the field, such as under construction.”

The researchers tested several types of bubble wrap and measured their acoustic characteristics, including peak sound pressure, pulse width, and frequency range. To their surprise, the bursts produced frequencies of up to 40 kilohertz, sufficient for precise acoustic testing. The team then built a system using bubble wrap as the sound source, a microphone for signal collection, and a computer running wavelet-based sound analysis to track how sound waves reflected inside a pipe.

Compared with traditional impulse sources such as loudspeakers, firecrackers, or laser-induced plasma, the bubble-wrap system eliminates complex wiring and potential hazards. It can also be safely used in flammable environments where electrical devices might pose a risk. By analyzing how the echoes changed when a foreign object was present, the researchers were able to identify the object’s position with a high degree of accuracy.

Bubble wrap, long considered a disposable packaging material, gained a new scientific role in this study. By adjusting bubble size and film thickness, the team could alter the strength and direction of the generated sound, turning a common material into a controllable tool for acoustic testing. The system proved both accurate and portable. With only a sheet of bubble wrap and a microphone, the team could identify small variations in reflected sound that revealed the position of internal obstructions. The accuracy of these measurements was comparable to results obtained using far more complex devices.

The technique’s flexibility also allows it to be adapted to different situations. Changing bubble size or internal pressure shifts the sound frequency, enabling the method to be applied to various pipe diameters and materials. The simplicity of the setup means that one operator can perform inspections with minimal training. “This system may be used in NDT to detect foreign objects in pipework on-site, such as in the construction of buildings, because these sound sources have sufficient acoustic performance, such as an almost impulsive, omnidirectional radiation pattern, repeatability, cost-efficiency, portability, and no power supply in practical use, compared to conventional acoustic excitation devices,” explained Prof Hosoya. 

What began as a moment of curiosity, an observation made while casually popping bubble wrap, became a practical acoustic measurement tool. The study demonstrates how familiar materials can yield precise scientific applications when examined systematically. Instead of relying on large or specialized instruments, the researchers used a burst of compressed air from the plastic to perform the same function. The group plans to further test the system under varying temperature and pressure conditions and to explore ways to develop a compact, handheld version suitable for field inspections. Continued refinement may improve sensitivity, allowing the detection of deeper or more complex structures.

This research illustrates that meaningful innovation does not always depend on complex materials or large budgets. Sometimes, it emerges from ordinary experiences. In this case, a sheet of bubble wrap, simple, inexpensive, and widely available, has become a new tool for examining structures without causing damage.

 

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Reference
DOI: 10.1016/j.measurement.2025.119192

 

About Shibaura Institute of Technology (SIT), Japan
Shibaura Institute of Technology (SIT) is a private university with campuses in Tokyo and Saitama. Since the establishment of its predecessor, Tokyo Higher School of Industry and Commerce, in 1927, it has maintained “learning through practice” as its philosophy in the education of engineers. SIT was the only private science and engineering university selected for the Top Global University Project sponsored by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology and had received support from the ministry for 10 years starting from the 2014 academic year. Its motto, “Nurturing engineers who learn from society and contribute to society,” reflects its mission of fostering scientists and engineers who can contribute to the sustainable growth of the world by exposing their over 9,500 students to culturally diverse environments, where they learn to cope, collaborate, and relate with fellow students from around the world. Website: https://www.shibaura-it.ac.jp/en/

 

About Professor Naoki Hosoya from SIT, Japan
Professor Naoki Hosoya is a faculty member at the Department of Engineering Science and Mechanics, College of Engineering, Shibaura Institute of Technology, Tokyo. He heads the Mechanical Dynamics Laboratory, where his research focuses on acoustic testing, vibration measurement, and non-destructive evaluation of structures. With over 80 academic publications, he is an active member of the Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers and the Acoustical Society of Japan, and is known for developing innovative and sustainable testing methods that enhance structural safety and diagnostic efficiency.

 

Funding Information
The study was financially supported by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science under the Fostering Joint International Research (B) (Grant No. JP22KK0053) and the Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B) (Grant No. JP24K00838).

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Journal

Measurement

DOI

10.1016/j.measurement.2025.119192 

Method of Research

Experimental study

Subject of Research

Not applicable

Article Title

Electric-power free impulse point sound source generation system with bubble wrap bursting phenomena for simplified non-destructive testing

Article Publication Date

28-Oct-2025

 

Global construction carbon footprint set to double by 2050

International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis

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Overview of carbon footprints of the construction industry

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Credit: Li et al. (2025)

As the world marks UN World Cities Day on 31 October – a call to make cities more sustainable – a new international study warns that the global construction sector’s carbon footprint is on track to double by 2050, threatening to derail efforts to meet the Paris Agreement climate targets.

In 2022, over 55% of the construction industry’s carbon emissions stemmed from cementitious materials, bricks, and metals, while glass, plastics, chemicals, and bio-based materials contributed 6%, and the remaining 37% arose from transport, services, machinery, and on-site activities.

Lead author Chaohui Li from Peking University summarizes: “The study shows that the construction sector now drives one-third of global CO₂ emissions, up from around 20% in 1995. If current trends continue, the sector can exceed the 2°C per annum carbon budget earliest by 2040.”

Projections are alarming
Based on past data, different future emission scenarios were projected. Under the business-as-usual scenario, the construction carbon footprint alone will exceed the per-annum carbon budget for the 1.5°C and 2°C goals in the next two decades, not considering other industries.      

“Between 2023 and 2050, cumulative construction-related emissions are expected to reach 440 gigatons of CO₂. This is enough to consume the entire remaining global carbon budget for 1.5°C,” explains coauthor Prajal Pradhan, a professor at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands.

The study shows a significant shift in emissions from developed to developing regions. In 1995, high-income countries produced half of construction emissions. By 2022, emissions in these economies had largely stabilized, while growth in developing regions was increasingly driven by reliance on carbon-intensive materials such as steel and cement. At the same time, the use of bio-based materials such as timber has declined, underscoring a missed opportunity for low-carbon alternatives. 

Call for a material revolution
The authors call for a global “material revolution” – a fundamental shift away from carbon-intensive building materials toward low-carbon, circular, and bio-based alternatives such as engineered timber, bamboo, and recycled composites. Their analysis shows that cementitious materials, bricks, and metals alone now account for more than half of the sector’s emissions, emphasizing the urgent need to reinvent how the world builds.

“The challenges and solutions for decarbonizing construction are not globally uniform. Tipping full supply-chain-scale changes ultimately requires structural shifts material-wise, reducing reliance on traditional materials like cement, steel, and bricks, while exploring new alternatives,” explains coauthor Jürgen Kropp from the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK).

The authors further argue that high-income regions should lead through innovation, circular design, and stricter regulation, while developing regions – where most new construction will occur – need targeted financial and technological support to leapfrog directly to sustainable building practices.

Without such a material transformation, the study warns, the construction sector alone could consume the entire remaining carbon budget for the 1.5°C goal in the next two decades. A coordinated global effort to scale up low-carbon materials and redesign construction systems is therefore essential to keep climate commitments within reach.

Global challenge
As the world continues to urbanize rapidly, reducing the construction sector’s environmental impact will be key to achieving sustainable and climate-resilient cities. The study provides the most comprehensive global analysis of construction emissions to date, tracking 49 countries and regions and 163 sectors between 1995 and 2022.

“Humanity has literally built itself into a corner with steel and cement,” says IIASA Director General Hans Joachim (John) Schellnhuber. “To meet the Paris goals, we must reinvent the very materials that shape our cities. A global material revolution rooted in circularity, innovation, and cooperation can turn the construction sector from a climate problem into a cornerstone of a sustainable and resilient future.”

Reference
Li, C., Pradhan, P., Chen, G., Kropp, J., & Schellnhuber, H.J. (2025). Carbon footprint of the construction sector is projected to double by 2050 globally. Communications Earth and Environment DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-025-02840-x 

 

About IIASA:
The International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) is an international scientific institute that conducts research into the critical issues of global environmental, economic, technological, and social change that we face in the twenty-first century. Our findings provide valuable options to policymakers to shape the future of our changing world. IIASA is independent and funded by prestigious research funding agencies in Africa, the Americas, Asia, and Europe. www.iiasa.ac.at

   

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Journal

Communications Earth & Environment

DOI

10.1038/s43247-025-02840-x 

Article Title

Carbon footprint of the construction sector is projected to double by 2050 globally

Article Publication Date

27-Oct-2025