Beijing turns nose up at perfumes in war on smog

Posted on October 16, 2018 by Respro® UK Ltd

Hair gel and perfumes have become the latest targets in China’s war on smog.

Scientists and researchers claim that “daily life emissions” from household items containing volatile organic compounds, including air fresheners and kitchen cleaners, are to blame for 12 per cent of the air pollutants in the city, as much as industrial emissions.

Car emissions, especially those from diesel-powered vehicles, are the single largest source of pollution, China said, contributing nearly half of the air pollutants in the city.

Beijing has vowed to clean up the city’s foul air and it has taken some drastic measures, including ordering a fifth of the city’s 5.6 million cars off the roads every weekday and shutting down heavy-polluting factories in the region. Villagers in Beijing’s suburbs have had to huddle for warmth when authorities banned coal burning for winter heating.

The capital cut its pollution levels by about 35 per cent between 2013 and 2017. Last week its environmental protection bureau said that the average concentration of PM2.5, the tiny, harmful particulate matter, fell almost 17 per cent in the first nine months of this year, compared with the previous period, but it is far from what is deemed safe. There was thick smog yesterday with PM2.5 reaching more than 150 micrograms per cubic metre. World Health Organisation guidelines state that the 24-hour average of PM2.5 should be kept below 25 micrograms per cubic metre to be deemed safe.

The city was shrouded in thick smog yesterday, with the density of PM2.5 reaching more than 150 micrograms per metre cubed. The WHO guidelines state that the 24-hour average of PM2.5 should be below 25 micrograms per metre cubed to be deemed safe.

Tang Xiaoyan, a professor at Peking University, warned that emissions from household items may appear insignificant but should not be ignored. When the city’s air turned foul days before the 2008 Olympics, authorities ordered city-wide closures of laundry services, which helped turn the air quality around on the eve of the Games, Mr Tang told the Science and Technology Daily.

Wang Gengchen, a research fellow at the Chinese Academy of Sciences’ Atmospheric Physics Institute, told the state-run Global Times that Beijing should tackle indirect pollution sources while measures against vehicles and coal burning are already strict enough.

He said that the volatile organic compounds, common in many household products, generate tiny pollutants through a series of physical and chemical reactions. Chinese scientists have relied on sales data of perfume, hair spray, detergents and cleaners in estimating the amounts of volatile organic compounds released through daily use and their share in causing the foul air.

via Beijing turns nose up at perfumes in war on smog | World | The Times

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Delhi’s air quality set to worsen as stubble burning intensifies

Posted on October 16, 2018 by Respro® UK Ltd

Based on data from monitoring stations, Air Quality Index for Delhi was recorded at 246 (poor) on Monday

Air quality in the national capital region is likely to deteriorate as burning of paddy stubble by farmers in Punjab and Haryana intensifies over the next fortnight.

According to the environment ministry, fire-related incidents are 75% and 40% lower in Punjab and Haryana, respectively, so far but that may not be a reason to cheer. The paddy grown in summer in Punjab was sown late this year by a week, while both Punjab and Haryana witnessed unseasonal rains in end-September, which has delayed harvesting by about 10 days because of a rise in crop moisture levels. Air quality is likely to worsen as more farmers begin harvesting.

The situation is however likely to be better than last year when a dust storm, stubble burning and Diwali celebrations took place around 19 October. This year, Diwali falls on 7 November.

The Air Quality Index (AQI) for Delhi was recorded at 246 (poor) on Monday at 4 pm, on the basis of data collected from 31 monitoring stations. An AQI between 0-50 is considered ‘good’, 51-100 ‘satisfactory’, 101-200 ‘moderate’, 201-300 ‘poor’, 301-400 ‘very poor’, and 401-500 ‘severe’. According to the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR), air quality is set to worsen, as levels of two main pollutants, PM 2.5 and PM 10, is likely to increase in the next three days.

“We can plan better if we have advance information on air quality. Last year, we were caught surprised when a dust storm from Gulf countries led to spike in pollution levels. This year, at least we would be able to forewarn people and take proactive measures,” environment minister Harsh Vardhan said on Monday at the launch of an early warning system that can issue air quality forecast three days in advance.

“It is difficult to predict how bad it is going to be,” said Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director at the Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment. “Right now, from the satellite images we can see some (stubble) burning but end October will be the real test of government measures,” she said.

Farmers in Punjab and Haryana usually burn the paddy straw after combine harvesters leave a 7-8 inch stubble on the field following harvest, and farmers have to prepare the field for planting of wheat crop in two to three weeks. As the straw cannot be fed to cattle, the way out is on-field management of stubble by using machines such as straw management system, mulchers, rotavators and happy seeders.

The central and state governments have announced 50-80% subsidy on purchase of these machineries but have seen limited success. “The machinery is very expensive despite the subsidy and manufacturers raised prices after these subsidies were announced,” said Jagmohan Singh, a farmer leader.

“The number of machines that has been purchased on subsidy will not even cover 10% of Punjab’s paddy area… besides it costs farmers over ₹5,000 per acre for straw management by rented machines,” Singh said.

Farmer in these states are demanding a direct financial assistance of ₹200 per quintal of paddy harvested to account for straw management expenses. According to the agriculture ministry, 23 mt of paddy straw is burnt in Punjab, Haryana and UP every year, shooting up carbon dioxide levels in the air by 70%, triggering respiratory problems.

via Delhi’s air quality set to worsen as stubble burning intensifies – Livemint

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People burning wet wood on inefficient stoves ‘poisoning themselves’

Posted on October 11, 2018 by Respro® UK Ltd

Study highlights ‘shocking contribution’ of domestic wood and coal fires to air pollution, which causes 40,000 early deaths a year in the UK

People burning wet wood on inefficient stoves are poisoning themselves and their neighbours, according to a new report from a leading thinktank.

The IPPR study highlights the “shocking contribution” domestic wood and coal fires make to the UK’s air pollution crisis, which causes 40,000 early deaths a year and devastating health problems for hundreds of thousands of others.

“For almost 2 million homes in the UK, solid fuels, particularly wood, are a part of everyday life,” said Josh Emden, research fellow at the IPPR and co-author of the report. “For many this is the enjoyment of a warm log fire, for others it is the only way to heat their homes – but the reality is that, without stringently tested, hyperefficient stoves and properly dried wood, people are unknowingly poisoning themselves, their children and their neighbours.”

Although many of the health problems caused by air pollution come from traffic fumes, the study points out that burning wood, coal or other solid fuels in the home is the largest single contributor to production of the most dangerous pollutant, known as particulate matter: tiny particles that penetrate deep into the body.

According to government figures, wood, coal and solid fuel fires in the home generate 40% of total PM2.5 – the smallest and most dangerous particulate. This is more than double the PM2.5 emissions from industrial combustion (16%) and more than three times as much as from road transport (12%).

The IPPR report calls on the government to ban the sale of wet wood and smoky coal in England no later than 2020 and commit to reduce all domestic PM2.5 emissions to as close to zero as possible by 2050.

Emden added that the government had to adopt tougher air pollution standards post-Brexit if it was to live up to its pledge to leave the environment in a better state than [it] found it.

“Communication of the problem in the government’s Clean Air Strategy is a start,” he said, “but this must be backed up by urgent policy action including stove standards that are stricter than EU regulations.”

Last year the Guardian revealed that that every person in London is breathing air that exceeds global guidelines for PM2.5.

The scale of the UK’s air pollution crisis has been underlined by a flurry of scientific studies over recent months showing the long-term damage air pollution is doing to people’s health, including connecting it with asthma, dementia, damage to unborn babies, and an increased risk of heart disease.

Last month the world’s biggest children’s charity, Unicef, told the Guardian it had refocused its UK operation to tackle air pollution because of the scale of the “health crisis” facing young people in the country.

The UK government has been widely criticised by clean air campaigners and environmental groups over what they say has been its failure to tackle the crisis. It has been defeated three times in court over its plans and is now one of six countries taken to European Court of Justice over them.

via People burning wet wood on inefficient stoves ‘poisoning themselves’ | Environment | The Guardian

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Air pollution may be linked to heightened mouth cancer risk: High levels of fine particulate matter and to lesser extent, ozone, may be key

Posted on October 10, 2018 by Respro® UK Ltd

High levels of air pollutants, especially fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and to a lesser extent, ozone, may be linked to a heightened risk of developing mouth cancer, suggests the first study of its kind, published online in the Journal of Investigative Medicine.

The number of new cases, and deaths from, mouth cancer is increasing in many parts of the world. Known risk factors include smoking, drinking, human papilloma virus, and in parts of South East Asia, the chewing of betel quid (‘paan’), a mix of ingredients wrapped in betel leaf.

Exposure to heavy metals and emissions from petrochemical plants are also thought to be implicated in the development of the disease, while air pollution, especially PM2.5, is known to be harmful to respiratory and cardiovascular health.

To find out if air pollutants might have a role in the development of mouth cancer, the researchers mined national cancer, health, insurance, and air quality databases.

They drew on average levels of air pollutants (sulphur dioxide, carbon monoxide, ozone, nitrogen monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, and varying sizes of fine particulate matter), measured in 2009 at 66 air quality monitoring stations across Taiwan.

In 2012-13, they checked the health records of 482,659 men aged 40 and older who had attended preventive health services, and had provided information on smoking/betel quid chewing.

Diagnoses of mouth cancer were then linked to local area readings for air pollutants taken in 2009.

In 2012-13, 1617 cases of mouth cancer were diagnosed among the men. Unsurprisingly, smoking and frequent betel quid chewing were significantly associated with heightened risk of a diagnosis.

But so too were high levels of PM2.5. After taking account of potentially influential factors, increasing levels of PM2.5 were associated with an increasing risk of mouth cancer.

When compared with levels below 26.74 ug/m3, those above 40.37 ug/ m3 were associated with a 43 per cent heightened risk of a mouth cancer diagnosis.

A significant association was also observed for ozone levels below 28.69-30.97 parts per billion.

This is an observational study, and as such, can’t establish cause. And there are certain caveats to consider, say the researchers. These include the lack of data on how much PM2.5 enters the mouth, or on long term exposure to this pollutant.

Nor is it clear how air pollutants might contribute to mouth cancer, they acknowledge, and further research would be needed to delve further into this.

But some of the components of PM2.5 include heavy metals, as well as compounds such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons-known cancer causing agents-they say.

And the smaller diameter, but larger surface area, of PM2.5 means that it can be relatively easily absorbed while at the same time potentially wreaking greater havoc on the body, they suggest.

“This study, with a large sample size, is the first to associate oral cancer with PM2.5…These findings add to the growing evidence on the adverse effects of PM2.5 on human health,” they conclude.

via Air pollution may be linked to heightened mouth cancer risk: High levels of fine particulate matter and to lesser extent, ozone, may be key — ScienceDaily

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High levels of air pollution linked to mouth cancer cases

Posted on October 9, 2018 by Respro® UK Ltd

High levels of air pollutants may be linked to a heightened risk of developing mouth cancer, suggests the first study of its kind.

The number of new cases, and deaths from mouth cancer is increasing in many parts of the world. Known risk factors include smoking, drinking, and the human papilloma virus (HPV).

But to find out if air pollutants might have a role in the development of mouth cancer, researchers mined national cancer, health, insurance, and air quality databases. They drew on average levels of air pollutants (sulphur dioxide, carbon monoxide, ozone, nitrogen monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, and varying sizes of fine particulate matter), at 66 Taiwan monitoring stations.

The observational study, published online in the ‘Journal of Investigative Medicine’, found a potential link with high levels of pollution.

via High levels of air pollution linked to mouth cancer cases – Independent.ie

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Contaminated cities: New figures deal fresh blow to Spain’s fight against air pollution

Posted on October 5, 2018 by Respro® UK Ltd

2017 data released by the government show slight spike in nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter

Spain’s Ministry for Ecological Transition on Thursday released air quality data for 2017 that show a slight spike in nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and particulate matter (PM10), two of the most hazardous air pollutants for human health.

The ministry notes that this minor increase could be due to meteorological fluctuations, not necessarily to a rise in industrial or automobile emissions.

But the report also underscores that Spain is failing to make progress in the fight against pollution, a fact that has already drawn a warning from the European Union. In January, the European Commission demanded to see Spain’s plans to revert the situation, and said that nine member states could face legal action over their failure to properly tackle air pollution.

Shortly after coming to power in early June, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez informed Brussels about his plans to change the country’s policy on renewable energy and climate change. Several sources within the Spanish Socialist Party (PSOE) and the European Union confirmed that Spanish authorities have been in touch with the European Council, which sets the EU’s policy agenda, to discuss Spain’s new approach to environmental issues.

In Spain, the biggest problems are in the cities of Madrid and Barcelona, where traffic causes high NO2 levels. The newest figures show seven urban agglomerations where NO2 is above the annual threshold, up from six in 2016. These include the Barcelona metropolitan area, Madrid, the Corredor del Henares industrial and residential axis, the southern Madrid area, the Bajo Nervión in the Basque Country, and the city of Granada and its outlying area in Andalusia.

As for particulate matter, the number of affected areas has gone from three to five: the Granada metropolitan area, Málaga on the Costa del Sol, Villanueva del Arzobispo in Jaén province, Plana de Vic in Barcelona, and Avilés in Asturias.

Tropospheric ozone (O3) is also on the rise, the data shows. “Levels are high in suburban and rural areas,” says the report.

via Contaminated cities: New figures deal fresh blow to Spain’s fight against air pollution | In English | EL PAÍS

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Brussels imposes €350 fine on dirtiest diesels

Posted on October 1, 2018 by Respro® UK Ltd

Drivers of the most polluting diesel vehicles can now be fined in Brussels after a grace period expired on Sunday (30 September), just as air pollution in the Belgian capital looks ready to heavily influence local elections.

Anyone driving diesel Euro 0 and Euro 1 cars, vans, buses and minibuses in the Brussels Region can now be hit with a €350 fine, thanks to legislation that fully comes into force on 1 September.

Legislation on the EU capital’s low-emission zone (LEZ) actually became law at the very beginning of the year but a nine-month-long transition period was granted, so that motorists could adapt in time.

But now there are no excuses and offenders can be fined every time they are caught in the LEZ in an illegal vehicle. The local government has, however, decided to grant a new grace period of three months after every infraction.

A statement on a dedicated website for the new scheme explained that it will “allow people to make arrangements to change their vehicle or change their driving habits”. A maximum of four fines can be levied within one year though.

Motorists will be monitored by a network of over 180 licence-plate-scanning cameras that are being set up in the region. Ninety are already operational and the government expects the system to be fully set up by the end of the year.

Rules for petrol cars are expected to come into force at the beginning of next year.

via Brussels imposes €350 fine on dirtiest diesels – EURACTIV.com

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Pollutionwatch: wood and peat burning brings return of air pollution to Dublin

Posted on September 28, 2018 by Respro® UK Ltd

A rise in the number of homes burning ‘green’ fuel in Dublin has had a big effect on air pollution

London’s air pollution history – the Victorian pea-souper fogs, the deaths of 12,000 people in the 1952 smog and the Clean Air Acts that followed – are well known. Dublin, just 285 miles (460km) away, has a different history. Here it was smog in the 1980s that prompted a ban on the sale of bituminous, or “smoky” coal in 1990. Smoke pollution dropped by 70% and there were 17% fewer deaths from breathing problems. The ban was rolled out to other Irish towns and many of these also recorded a reduction in winter deaths.

A new study has revealed that an old menace has returned to Dublin. Although the coal ban worked in the 1990s, it did not address smokeless coals and solid fuels. Wood and peat are marketed as slow-renewable, green or carbon-neutral biofuels, but their air pollution impacts can be significant. During three weeks in November and December 2016, Dublin breached World Health Organization guidelines for particle pollution on eight days. Chemical analysis of the pollution at these times showed the dominance of peat and wood smoke in the evenings. Overall, the home burning of solid fuel by just 13% of homes was responsible for 70% of the city’s particle pollution.

via Pollutionwatch: wood and peat burning brings return of air pollution to Dublin | Environment | The Guardian

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