Category Archives: Asia

Grim report on air pollution and how it affects children’s lungs

A new report shows alarming effects of air pollution on children’s lungs. We noted some preliminary findings of the report some weeks ago, but the report produced by Dr Hung Wing-tat’s team at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University’s Department of … Continue reading

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Chronic respiratory illness cases rise with air pollution

You don’t have to be a smoker to get chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which causes severe breathing problems. Vehicular pollution, which is increasing rapidly in our cities, is equally harmful. In Chennai, where the number of vehicles is growing … Continue reading

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Hong Kong’s air quality blighted by fumes from road and sea

When Beijing residents visit Hong Kong, they sometimes quip that the territory is like a breath of fresh air, especially in winter when the Chinese capital can be bathed in extremely hazardous smog for days on end.While most Hong Kongers … Continue reading

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Guangzhou announces emergency measures to tackle heavy pollution

Guangzhou’s government has rolled out emergency measures for days when air pollution is high. They include taking nearly a third of government and half of private vehicles off the road and forcing factories to reduce emissions of pollutants. Yang Liu, … Continue reading

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Smoggy Beijing sees lung cancer cases soar

The number of lung cancer cases in the Chinese capital Beijing has soared over the last decade. According to figures published by the state-run Xinhua news agency, they have increased by more than 50%. Beijing health officials say smoking is … Continue reading

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Shanghai smog: Air pollution covers city

Shanghai residents awoke this morning to find the city covered in a dense smog, as air quality in the city hit ‘severe pollution’ levels. Residents were advised to stay indoors where possible when the Shanghai Environment Agency measured pollution at … Continue reading

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China’s air pollution blamed for eight-year-old’s lung cancer

An eight-year-old girl has reportedly been diagnosed as China’s youngest victim of lung cancer, reigniting debate over the devastating human toll of the country’s pollution crisis. The girl, who was not named, lived near a busy road in the eastern … Continue reading

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Diwali celebrations: Delhi’s air quality worse than last year’s

Many Delhiites felt that decibels levels on Diwali night were a shade lower than previous years, but the dense haze of near-choking pollution told a different story. Now the verdict is out. The PM 10 (coarse particles) levels this year … Continue reading

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