Smog In Korea 2015: Air Pollution From China Arrives Early In Seoul, Causing Dust Warnings

Posted on October 23, 2015 by Respro® UK Ltd

The annual autumn haze in South Korea has settled over Seoul earlier than usual this year.

For the fourth day in a row Thursday, officials issued a fine dust advisory and urged residents to stay indoors to avoid severe air pollution thought to be blown over from China, YTN reported. Conditions improved slightly as the week wore on, but the smog levels were still considered the worst yet this season.

The weather was nothing new: It happens every year when temperatures drop and the Chinese begin using fossil fuels to heat their homes, Chosun Media reported. Discharge from South Korea’s coal power plants contributes to the pollution. The fine dust particles from both sources get trapped in the air over Korea if there’s not strong winds to blow them out, but usually this doesn’t occur until November. The conditions coincided early, especially with no rain in the region.

Weather warnings began Monday, when the average concentration of particles was 93 micrograms per cubic meter in Seoul and 111 in Incheon, according to Chosun. AirNow’s Air Quality Index classifies anything under 50 as “good,” 51-100 as “moderate” and anything over 101 as “unhealthy.” Too much exposure can irritate people’s eyes, lungs and throats. By Thursday, Heungdeok-gu had reached levels up to 216 micrograms per cubic meter, causing the government to suggest young and elderly residents wear masks, Yonhap reported.

 

The haze was set to dissipate over the weekend, but it could kick up again later in the year. Overall, the air pollution could kill up to 2,800 people a year by 2021 if the problem is not tackled, according to previous International Business Times reporting.

“My bronchial tubes are in a weak condition, and my throat feels very bad when I am outside,” Kim Bo-yeon told Voice of America last year. “I’m worried about my health, so I bought masks and came out.”

Korea wasn’t the only area in Asia battling poor air conditions this month. Malaysia and Singapore have recently been forced to warn residents and close schools due to forest fires in Indonesia.

Source: Smog In Korea 2015: Air Pollution From China Arrives Early In Seoul, Causing Dust Warnings

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Putting a price on NOx health impacts

Posted on October 16, 2015 by Respro® UK Ltd

At the heart of the VW revelations are tests for exhaust emissions of nitrogen oxides. These are a family of pollutants that become dominated by nitrogen dioxide as they mix in the air, causing most UK cities and towns to exceed World Health Organisation guidelines.

Defra estimates that the UK death rate is 4% higher due to nitrogen dioxide pollution – around 23,500 extra deaths per year. This has a massive cost to society – around £13bn per year or 0.7% of our gross domestic product.

This is a lot of money, but what does it mean for the average driver? Assuming official exhaust test limits, a 10-year-old diesel car driven in a big city for the UK annual average mileage of 10,700 miles has a health impact of £196 per year. For the latest technology diesel, this should be £63.

However, the pollution from cars in the real world is very different to the official tests. In road tests a typical 10-year-old diesel car produces nearly four times more nitrogen oxides than expected – an annual health cost of around £790 for an extra car in a big city.

Latest technology diesel cars emit, on average, seven times their test emissions when used on the road – an annual health cost of around £440 for an extra car. For a modern petrol car it would be less than £35.

Location is important too: nitrogen dioxide exhaust in typical big cities causes five times as much harm as it does in the countryside.

Annual road tax is the same for diesel and petrol cars; zero to £255 depending on carbon dioxide emissions and not on health-harmful air pollution.

Source: Putting a price on NOx health impacts | Environment | The Guardian

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Heavy air pollution in 80% of Chinese cities: Greenpeace 

Posted on October 15, 2015 by Respro® UK Ltd

Pollution in nearly 80 percent of Chinese cities surveyed by Greenpeace “greatly exceeded” national standards over the first nine months of this year, the advocacy group said on Thursday.

The average level of PM2.5 particulates — small enough to deeply penetrate the lungs — in the 367 cities tested was also more than four times the maximum recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO), Greenpeace said.

Nearly 80 percent of the cities exceeded the national standard on PM2.5, which is significantly less strict than the WHO benchmark, despite an overall improvement from the same period last year.

Widespread use of coal for power generation and emissions from heavy industry regularly swathe Chinese cities in smog, linked to hundreds of thousands of premature deaths each year.

It is a major source of discontent with the ruling Communist party, who have announced measures such as moving power plants, but few expect rapid improvements.

Greenpeace said that average pollution levels were about 10 percent lower than the same period last year.

“Although we’re seeing gradual improvement, air pollution levels are still unhealthy and unsafe,” said Greenpeace East Asia Climate and Energy Campaigner Dong Liansai.

The most polluted cities were Kashgar and Hotan in China‘s northwestern Xinjiang region, and the northern industrial hub of Baoding.

Average PM2.5 readings across the surveyed cities was 47.2 micrograms per cubic metre. The WHO maximum for annual average exposure is 10 while China’s annual standard is 35.

Beijing’s average over the nine months was 72.1 while Shanghai’s was 50.4.

China’s capital ranked as one of the most polluted cities, despite factory closures to ensure blue skies for a massive military parade last month.

Locals dubbed the reprieve “parade blue” but Greenpeace said such short-term interventions had a “negligible effect on overall long term air quality”.

“Rather than temporary measures, we need a long term strategy and systemic change to China’s energy structure,” Dong added.

Greenpeace called for a cap on coal use to be included in China’s new five-year economic plan, currently being drafted by the ruling Communist party.

“A cap on coal consumption is critical for reducing air pollution and bringing back healthy, breathable air to our cities,” Dong said.

Last week a player at the China Open tennis tournament held in Beijing in thick haze said pollution had made him vomit, while fans wore face masks.

Source: Heavy air pollution in 80% of Chinese cities: Greenpeace – Yahoo News UK

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Glasgow’s Hope Street ranked second most polluted street in Scotland 

Posted on October 14, 2015 by Respro® UK Ltd

A street in the Edinburgh has been named Scotland’s most polluted, according to new figures.

The news comes as protesters who live around St John’s Road in Corstorphine move to oppose a new supermarket planed for the suburb.

Friends of the Earth Scotland said new government figures from Air Quality Scotland show that air pollution levels on the thoroughfare have worsened.

St John’s Road’s air pollution monitoring station recorded a Nitrogen Dioxide average level of 72 microgrammes per cubic metre in the first half of 2015, set against a 2011 figure of 65 a legal limit of 40.

The second most polluted street for the first six months of this year was Hope Street in Glasgow, which recorded average Nitrogen Dioxide levels of 60 microgrammes per cubic metre.

Edinburgh councillors are expected to determine a planning application for the new supermarket with car park on the corner of St John’s Road and Manse Road, in the heart of a problem zone.

The Corstorphine monitor recorded 35 pollution “spike” incidents between January and June, where pollution levels soared over 200 microgrammes per cubic metre in one hour.

More than 400 people objected to the proposal due to concerns over increased congestion, air pollution, and safety hazards to schoolchildren walking past the site on their way to Corstorphine Primary School.

Promoted storiesRecommended byEmilia Hanna, FoeS air pollution campaigner, said: “These results show that levels of air pollution, which were already at illegal levels, are reaching appalling new heights.

John’s Road is now Scotland’s most polluted road, and traffic congestion is the reason why.

“These worrying figures further the case for refusing planning permission for the supermarket.

“The developer’s plans would see 3000 new vehicle visits to heart of the Pollution Zone each day, worsening traffic congestion and further adding to the soaring levels of pollution.”

Becky Lloyd, a mother-of-two who heads up the Corstorphine Residents Action and Information Group, “These new pollution figures only go to show how critical the committee meeting decision will be.

“We trust the council will come to the same conclusion as residents and rule this development entirely inappropriate for the site.

“Corstorphine is saturated with supermarkets and there is no demand or need for another one.”

Lesley Hinds, Edinburgh transport and environment said: “As a city we recognise improving air quality as a challenge, and continue to work with partners to reduce emissions.

“We are aware that there are improvements which can be made to limit emissions across Edinburgh including at St John’s Road and Clermiston Road junction.”

She added: “Through implementation of the Local Transport Strategy and meetings of the city’s Air Quality Working Group we regularly review Air Quality Management Areas to assess pollution, in order to create a cleaner, greener city for everyone.”

A spokesman for Realis Estates said: “We have submitted a planning application for a new supermarket in Corstophine along with the necessary supporting documentation – including the findings of our own air quality specialist.

“It is anticipated that our application will be considered by the council when it meets next Wednesday and until the application has been determined it would be premature for us to say anything further at this stage.”

Source: Glasgow’s Hope Street ranked second most polluted street in Scotland (From Evening Times)

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Mapped: Europe’s Pollution Problem 

Posted on October 13, 2015 by Respro® UK Ltd

The Volkswagen emissions-testing scandal has put renewed focus on traffic pollution in European cities. Check nitrogen dioxide levels across Europe.

Air pollution in many European cities has fallen thanks to stricter environmental rules over the past decade. But cities still contend with unhealthy levels of nitrogen oxides, or NOx, a cocktail of pollutants produced in large quantities by diesel-powered vehicles. Nitrogen dioxide, or NO2, the most harmful form of NOx, is linked to respiratory irritation, asthma and premature death. In the U.S., where far fewer diesel cars are on the road and testing procedures of NOx emissions are stricter than in the EU, NO2 levels in the biggest cities tend to be half the levels in European cities. For example, in New York the highest annual average reading at a monitoring station was 42 micrograms per cubic meter, while in London, the highest was 85.

Over 4,000 stations across Europe measure levels of NO2 and other pollutants in the air. Enter a location below or pan around the map to view the average, annual NO2concentration for 2013 recorded at each of these stations.

Screen Shot 2015-10-13 at 14.42.55

Source: Mapped: Europe’s Pollution Problem – WSJ.com

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Air pollution major cause of eye infection: Doctors

Posted on October 13, 2015 by Respro® UK Ltd

Air pollution in cities is emerging as the major reason behind the rise in eye allergies and conjunctivitis in people of all ages, doctors say.

They say that the problem was serious, because if conjunctivitis and allergies are not treated in time they can lead to cornea problems affecting vision.

“Almost all age groups are being affected by air pollution. Majority of patients are young children, middle aged and senior citizens. Air pollution affects them badly and results in eye irritation and sometimes in redness, and watery eyes,” said Kamal B. Kapur, an opthalmologist at city-based Sharp Sight Centre.

Kapur said the major reasons behind allergic conjunctivitis were substances like pollen or mold spores or chemical substances in the air.

According to doctors, the high levels of pollutants like nitric oxide, nitrogen dioxide and sulphur dioxide in the air make the tear film of the eyes more acidic.

Tears are a mixture of water, fatty oil, proteins, and bacteria fighting substances that maintain the lubrication of eyes.

Talking about the ways to prevent eye allergies, eye care expert Samir Sud said: “One should not rub eyes directly even if fine particulates enter, rather wash eyes with water. After that they should apply a cool compress to help reduce inflammation.”

“Whenever there is direct contact with the allergen, an allergic reaction happens in the eye. Mostly this happens when there is dryness in the air. Once the infection is detected, chances are that the person will get it again and again,” said Sud.

According to a recent study, over 30,000 people in Delhi were detected with cornea infection last year caused by the deteriorating air quality and increasing particulates.

“In more troublesome cases, you will need to see an eye doctor who might recommend oral antihistamines or anti-inflammatory eye drops or in severe cases, steroid eye drops may be prescribed to get relief,” Sud added.

Source: Air pollution major cause of eye infection:Doctors | ET HealthWorld

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Haze Chokes Singapore Again as El Nino Helps Rainforest Burn

Posted on October 13, 2015 by Respro® UK Ltd

The choking haze blowing across Southeast Asia from burning rainforests in Indonesia is worsening again and may last several more weeks as an unusually strong El Nino keeps away seasonal rain that would quench the fires.

Singapore’s air quality deteriorated Tuesday to an “unhealthy” level, authorities said. An intensifying El Nino will probably delay the start of the eastern monsoon until late October or early November, said Robert Field, an associate research scientist at the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies at New York’s Columbia University. Heavy rain will be the biggest help in clearing the atmosphere and extinguishing illegally-lit fires on the islands of Sumatra, Borneo and New Guinea.

“Barring a major turnaround in fire-fighting and prevention, burning will continue until the start of the wet season in southern Sumatra and southern Kalimantan” on Borneo, Field said in an e-mail.

Indonesia has enlisted help from its neighbors to fight the fires, with Malaysia and Singapore sending aircraft to carry out water bombing in Sumatra, the country’s disaster agency said on Saturday.

Singapore’s 3-hourly pollution index rose to 155 at 11 a.m. local time, the National Environment Agency said, the highest since it entered the “unhealthy” range, exceeding 100, on Monday afternoon.

During the last big El Nino in 1997, at least 40,000 fires in Indonesia destroyed an area the size of Costa Rica and released an estimated 1 gigaton of carbon into the atmosphere — the equivalent of more than 10 percent of the world’s annual fossil fuel emissions at the time.

1997 Crisis

As the El Nino brewed, and the region descended into a financial crisis, the lung-clogging smoke remained over Indonesia and neighboring countries like Singapore and Malaysia for three months, hurting the health, property and livelihoods of 75 million people, and causing more than 16,400 infant and fetal deaths.

This year, about 125,000 people have suffered haze-linked ailments, Indonesia’s disaster relief agency said this month. A pollution index reached 1,990 in Palangkaraya in central Kalimantan at the end of September, more than five times the level considered hazardous, according to the country’s Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency.

“The main challenge, El Nino, is quite severe, exceeding 1997-1998,” said Luhut Panjaitan, Indonesia’s coordinating minister for law and security. “The dry season is worse and that makes it difficult to extinguish the fires.”

While the smoke largely dispersed over Singapore and parts of Malaysia last week, the respite may be brief. Malaysia’s Department of Environment counted 10 districts out of 52 on Monday afternoon where air quality was “good,” down from 12 on Friday afternoon. Singapore’s 24-hour air quality index rose into the “unhealthy” range yesterday for the first time in five days.

Burning Peat

“If the burning continues through October and November, emissions from biomass burning — mostly drained peatlands — could rank among the highest on record for Indonesia,” said Allan Spessa, a research fellow in the department of environment, earth and ecosystems at the Open University in Milton Keynes, England.

The fires in Indonesia, which are mostly lit to clear land, are extremely difficult to extinguish because of peat below the soil surface, which burns like coal and can smolder for months. Borneo’s peat reserves store the equivalent of about nine years’ worth of global fossil fuel emissions.

Twelve companies and 209 individuals are suspected of causing the blazes, with a Singaporean company also under investigation, Badrodin Haiti, Indonesia’s chief of police, told reporters in Jakarta on Monday. Haiti didn’t name the companies.

Out-emitting Germany

Fires on Sumatra blackened 1,400 square kilometers in a single week in June, an area the size of Long Island in New York. Across the archipelago, they have released more greenhouse gases than the amount of carbon dioxide Germany emits in a year, according to Guido van der Werf, a scientist tracking forest fires and carbon emissions at VU University in Amsterdam.

“And we are only halfway through the fire season,” he said in a report last month.

Scientists predict this El Nino, a global weather phenomenon characterized by a warming of the ocean surface in the equatorial Pacific, will rank among the most severe since at least the mid-20th century, and set a record in 2015 for the hottest global temperature.

Source: Haze Chokes Singapore Again as El Nino Helps Rainforest Burn – Bloomberg Business

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Air Pollution Can Aggravate Rheumatoid Arthritis But Exercise, Lifestyle Changes Can Relieve Symptoms 

Posted on October 13, 2015 by Respro® UK Ltd

Researchers from All India Institutes of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) looked into 500 patients with rheumatoid arthritis who lived in New Delhi, India, in the past 10 years. They found that the symptoms worsened in the months of November and December. This two-month period is characterized by high levels of suspended particulate matter (SPM) 2.5 in the atmosphere.

Particulate matter, also called particle pollution, is a term coined for mixed solid particles and liquid droplets suspended in the air. These particles include soot, smoke, dust and dirt that are dark enough to be seen by the naked eye.

“We collected data on air quality from the Indian Meteorological Department in New Delhi for the past few years and then tracked patients undergoing treatment for rheumatoid arthritis here at AIIMS,” said AIIMS’ Head of Department and Professor of Rheumatology Medicine Professor Uma Kumar. They found that patients showed increased symptoms when air pollutants increased.

In 2014, the World Health Organization conducted a study of 1,600 cities in 91 countries to see who had the highest yearly average of particulate matter 2.5 in the world. WHO found New Delhi has a PM 2.5 average of 153.

Health experts agree that rheumatological disorders are the most deforming of diseases and residents in India have limited knowledge about the disease. Around 18 million people in India suffer from some kind of rheumatic disease. Organ damage and joint deformity are two of worst case scenarios for patients whose illness are not treated in time.

Rheumatoid arthritis has no known cure. However, symptom management techniques such as therapy and medication can lower inflammation and prevent joint damage. Exercise has been known to relieve arthritis symptoms. Keeping active lifestyle releases the happy hormones called endorphins, also known as ‘natural pain relievers’. Regular exercise has been known to ward off depression and keep the joints from stiffening. A healthy diet composed of foods that do not trigger inflammation can also help.

Urban living and lifestyle greatly contribute to the rise of arthritis patients annually. The lack of awareness and delayed treatment increase chances of worst case scenarios for patients with arthritis, some cases even result in early death. Symptoms of this autoimmune disorder include joint stiffness and pain, unexplained weight loss, fever and a significant decrease in appetite. Early detection plays a key role in symptom management.

 

Source: Air Pollution Can Aggravate Rheumatoid Arthritis But Exercise, Lifestyle Changes Can Relieve Symptoms : LIFE : Tech Times

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