Category Archives: USA & Canada

Volkswagen under investigation over illegal software that masks emissions 

California and EPA accuse VW of installing ‘defeat device’ software that reduces nitrogen oxide emissions while a car is undergoing official tests The US government has ordered Volkswagen to recall almost 500,000 cars after discovering that the company deployed sophisticated … Continue reading

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World Pollutionwatch: Fire can kill – far from the flames 

Vancouver is normally one of the world’s cleanest cities but this July its air resembled that in Beijing due to smoke and ash from forest fires over 200 kilometres away. Further fires along the western side of the US and … Continue reading

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Heavy Smog in New York Prompts Air Quality Health Advisory

On Tuesday, for the second day in a row, an “air quality health advisory” was issued for the New York City metro area by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and the State Department of Health (DOH). … Continue reading

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Caring for the Air – Forest Fires, Air Quality Advisories, and Why Fraser Valley Smog is Worse in the Summer

Forest fires outside our region are having an impact on air quality in the Lower Fraser Valley this summer. Elevated concentrations of fine particulate matter from those fires resulted in an air quality advisory being issued for the eastern parts of the Fraser … Continue reading

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Air quality warning issued in Tehama County

Smoke from forest fires burning throughout the North State continue to reach unhealthy – and even hazardous – levels, stinging the eyes and making it  difficult to breathe, Air quality in Shasta, Tehama, Trinity and other counties is at the … Continue reading

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Air pollution from China undermining gains in California, Western states

This Dec. 10, 2009 file photo shows smog shrouding a building under construction in Beijing. A new study in the journal Nature finds that while U.S. controls on air pollution have been driving down a major ingredient of smog, ozone … Continue reading

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Summer Wildfires: Chemicals, and Effects on Air Pollution

Wildfires – such as those in California – can have substantial effects on both air pollution and human health. What are the most common pollutants resulting from the California wildfires, and other fire events – and how dangerous are these … Continue reading

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Breathe deep: Valley air quality has best July in two decades

July hasn’t been so nice since 1995 in the San Joaquin Valley. We’re talking about dirty air, and the lack of it last month. For 21 days last month, the air did not exceed the eight-hour federal health standard for … Continue reading

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