What can Europe learn from Asia about tackling air pollution?

Posted on July 21, 2015 by Respro® UK Ltd

European policymakers like to lecture the rest of the world on air pollution. Asia, and China in particular, is a favorite target for criticism. Indeed, it sometimes seems as if no major environmental conference is complete without a presentation by European policymakers on their continent’s supposed “best practices,” which the rest of the world should emulate. When it comes to air pollution, however, Europe might consider doing less talking and more listening.

Air pollution is a growing concern across Europe. The World Health Organization has called it the continent’s “single largest environmental health risk,” estimating that 90% of Europe’s citizens are exposed to outdoor pollution that exceeds WHO air-quality guidelines. In 2010, some 600,000 European citizens died prematurely because of outdoor and indoor air pollution, and the economic costs have been put at $1.6 trillion, roughly 9% of the European Union’s GDP.

London and Paris suffer from particularly severe air-quality problems. Nitrogen dioxide levels in some parts of London regularly reach 2-3 times the recommended limit. In the United Kingdom, air pollution kills some 29,000 people a year, putting it second only to smoking as a cause of premature death. Paris may be even worse off; in March, after air-pollution levels surpassed Shanghai’s, the city imposed a partial driving ban and introduced free public transportation.

Sadly, Europe’s policymakers do not seem up to the challenge. George Osborne, the UK’s chancellor of the exchequer, has argued against British leadership in the fight against climate change. “We are not going to save the planet by shutting down our steel mills, aluminum smelters, and paper manufacturers,” he declared in 2011.

Osborne is not alone. With European politicians arguing that introducing environmental safeguards will hurt the EU’s already-weakened economy, it comes as little surprise that measures to limit air pollution fall far short of the mark. The EU’s proposed standards regulating toxic emissions from coal plants are even less strict than China’s, Greenpeace reports. Yet various European politicians have called for watering them down even further, with Hungary suggesting that they be scrapped altogether.

To be sure, air pollution levels in Asia are truly worrisome. The continent is home to nine of the world’s ten most polluted countries, according to Yale University’s 2014 Air Quality Ranking. New Delhi is ranked as the most polluted city on earth, with air pollution exceeding safe levels by a factor of 60. Owing to Beijing’s unhealthy air, foreign companies pay a “hardship bonus” of up to 30% to employees working there.

But at least policymakers in Asia have recognized the problem and are taking steps to address it. China, for example, has declared a “war on pollution.” By 2017, Beijing – once dubbed “Greyjing” by the international media – will spend some CN¥760 billion ($121 billion) to combat air pollution.

At the heart of China’s measures are improved public transportation, green trade, and a revision of the energy mix. The government has decided to install bus stops every 500 meters in city centers, reduce tariffs to 5% or less for a list of 54 environmental goods, and decommission many outdated and inefficient coal plants. The share of non-fossil fuels in primary energy consumption is expected to increase to 20% by 2030. These targets are likely to be rigorously implemented, given strong political support from the very top.

Meanwhile, in India, the state governments in Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Tamil Nadu are about to launch the world’s first cap-and-trade schemes for particulates. India’s Supreme Court even suggested an extra charge on privately owned diesel vehicles in New Delhi.

Other parts of Asia are also taking steps to improve air quality. Vietnam aims to construct eight urban rail lines in the coming years. Bangkok, which has been tackling air pollution since the 1990s, has planted 400,000 trees. And Japan is offering subsidies for hydrogen cars and creating new pedestrian-only areas.

Europe, as one of the world’s wealthiest regions, ought to be at the forefront of the effort to promote environmental sustainability. When it comes to air pollution, however, Europe’s policymakers should stop preaching to others and focus on fixing their own problems.

via What can Europe learn from Asia about tackling air pollution? – Agenda – The World Economic Forum.

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Flat batteries on ‘Boris bus’ add fuel to criticism of London mayor

Posted on July 21, 2015 by Respro® UK Ltd

Boris Johnson is facing criticism over another of his pet projects after batteries in dozens of the London mayor’s new Routemaster-style hybrid buses malfunctioned.

Many of the “Boris buses”, which cost £350,000 each and were intended to halve CO2 emissions, are running almost entirely on diesel, drivers have complained. The engines were supposed to only run when they needed to charge the battery.

Transport for London (TfL) confirmed the electric power supplies on up to 80 of the buses have had to be mended or replaced by the manufacturer.

“This bus has been a scandal from start to finish,” said Christian Wolmar, who is bidding to become Labour’s candidate for London mayor and uncovered driver concerns about the problem. “Now we find that the supposed environmental benefits are a con.”

The problems come after last week’s humiliation for Johnson when home secretary Theresa May ruled the Met Police could not use three secondhand water cannon the mayor ordered from Germany for £218,205. He has also been criticised for offering to invest £30m of taxpayers’ money in the proposed garden bridge across the Thames, designed by Thomas Heatherwick, who also designed the Boris bus, and his judgment has been questioned over his backing of a £60m cable car across the Thames after it emerged it is being used by no more than a couple of dozen regular commuters.

Sean O’Shea, chief operating officer of bus operator Metroline, confirmed most of its 55 new Routemaster buses have suffered from the battery problems and many are running on diesel mode more than they were intended to.

Mike Weston, TfL’s director of buses, said: “If the batteries stop working properly the engine runs for longer to generate the electrical power needed. The battery packs are being upgraded as soon as possible and within the warranty period, at no cost to TfL or the taxpayer.”

Drivers have complained to Wolmar that the battery problems mean they are driving buses with inconsistent and sometimes inadequate power, which they claims increases the risk of collisions.

According to Wolmar, drivers say a lack of power means they have problems pulling away from bus stops safely. Wolmar said one driver told him that all 10 of the Boris buses he drove one week had no battery charge.

Metroline and TfL denied there was any risk to passenger safety. A spokesman for TfL said: “New Routemaster buses are completely safe whether they operate in diesel mode or electric mode.”

O’Shea said: “An initial batch of these vehicles have a battery issue and our vehicles are in that batch. We would not allow any vehicle to go out in an unsafe condition. We will follow up on any issues brought to our attention.”

via Flat batteries on ‘Boris bus’ add fuel to criticism of London mayor | Politics | The Guardian.

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Air pollution: Bengaluru’s RSPM levels exceed the allowed limit by 12-283%

Posted on July 21, 2015 by Respro® UK Ltd

The levels are highest in Whitefield Industrial Zone and Mysore Road

Bengalurueans hold your breath. The presence of Respirable Suspended Particulate Matter (RSPM), a serious form of air pollutants, has exceeded the national permissible limit in most parts of Bengaluru.

Of the 15 air monitoring stations in Bengaluru, the data recorded in 2014-15 has showed that the RSPM levels have exceeded the national permissible level by a range of 12 to 283 per cent in 13 stations. This was disclosed in the Legislative Assembly on Monday by Environment and Forest Minister Ramanath Rai while replying to the BJP member R. Ashok during the Question Hour.

As per the statistics provided by the minister, the Whitefield Industrial Zone accounts for the highest level of RSPM in the City. The RSPM levels here have exceeded the national permissible level by 283 per cent. As against the national permissible level of 60 ug/M3, the Whitefield Industrial Zone has 230 ug/M3.

The area near Amco Batteries on Mysore Road accounts for the second highest level of RSPM which overshoot the national permissible level by 248 per cent, the data notes.

This is followed by Central Silk Board area on Hosur Road whose RSPM levels are higher than the permissible level by 215 per cent and DTDC House area on Victoria Road which has overshot the permissible limit by 170 per cent.

The minister blamed the increasing traffic, condition of roads, huge construction activities and the process of setting up huge infrastructure facilities like Bengaluru Metro Train as responsible for the increase in RSPM levels.

Remedial measures

In a bid to prevent the increase in RSPM levels, the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) had issued a 13-point direction to the Transport Department, Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) and Police Department which included banning of autos in the Central Business District, Mr. Rai said.

The other remedial directions issued by the KSPCB include creation of dedicated bus-lanes, increasing City’s green cover by planting more saplings, banning of two-stroke two-wheelers in the City, keeping the roads in good shape by filling up pot-holes, eviction of encroachments on pavements and mechanised clearing of dust and silt on roads on a daily basis, he said.

In addition to this, the departments concerned had been told to prepare short and long-term action plans to reduce air pollution in the City, the minister said.

He also told the House that action would be initiated against erring industries which account for pollution through effluents.

via Air pollution: Bengaluru’s RSPM levels exceed the allowed limit by 12-283% – The Hindu.

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Particulate matter from modern gasoline engines damages our lungs

Posted on July 20, 2015 by Respro® UK Ltd

Particulate matter from gasoline engines is harmful to our airways, regardless of whether the engines are a bit older or comply with environmental standards. Fine dust particles allow pathogens to enter the lungs easier. Researchers have shown this conducting a realistic laboratory experiment.

Particulate matter from gasoline engines is harmful to our airways, regardless of whether the engines are a bit older or comply with recent EU standards. Fine dust particles allow pathogens to enter the lungs easier. Researchers at the University of Bern and the Paul Scherrer Institute PSI have shown this conducting a realistic laboratory experiment.

According to the latest report from the World Health Organization (WHO), 7 million worldwide died early of the consequences of air pollution in 2012. Studies have shown for more than a decade that particulate matter (PM) in the air adversly affects health.

Besides primary particles, i.e. those emitted directly by the source, secondary particles, which are photochemically produced altered by sunlight, are of crucial importance: They are ubiquitous and can make up to 90 percent of the total particulate matter.

One important source of particulate matter are emissions from gasoline engines and it has only recently been discovered that these produce significant amounts of secondary particulate matter. However, their toxicity has largely not been investigated to date.

Now an international team of researchers led by the lung researcher Marianne Geiser from the Institute of Anatomy at the University of Bern and the aerosol researcher Josef Dommen from the Paul Scherrer Institute PSI has shown that secondary particles from gasoline combustion in Euro 5 engines directly damage lung tissue as well as weaken its defense functions. The researchers also show with this study that further technical developments do not necessarily make gasoline engines less harmful to health. The study supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) was published in the “Nature Scientific Reports” specialist magazine.

Dangerous secondary particulate matter

Secondary particles are smaller than one thousandth of a millimeter (so-called PM 1) and are largely deposited in the airways when inhaled. The usually well developed defense system in healthy people ensures that deposited particles are rendered ineffective as quickly as possible and removed from the lungs. However, if inhaled particles are able to overcome this defense system as a result of their physical and chemical properties there is the risk that irreparable damage is done to the lung tissue. Asthmatics and people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or cystic fibrosis (CF) are particularly at risk.

No identifiable threshold

In innovative, combined experiments the researchers investigated the toxicity of particles that are formed from the emissions of a Euro 5 gasoline engine in the atmosphere. For example, the atmospheric changes of emitted particles were simulated in the smog chamber at PSI and their concentration was varied using a newly developed device.

A newly developed aerosol deposition chamber also allowed for the particles to be realistically deposited on cell cultures from healthy and diseased airways. “As a result we were able to clarify the risk for particularly sensitive groups of people, who never would have been able to take part in a study for ethical reasons,” says Josef Dommen.

The deposited particle mass from 10 to 350 nanograms (a billionth of a gram) per square centimeter of cell surface corresponds to an airway daily dose of slightly polluted, rural air with 20 micrograms (a millionth of a gram) PM per cubic meter of air through to very high air pollution in a megacity (1000 micrograms PM per cubic meter of air).

The results showed: cell death increased in relation to the particle dose with all cell cultures. In addition, less inflammatory mediators, which are extremely important for our body’s immune system, were released by the cells, also in relation to the dose. “Both reactions reduce the airway cells’ ability to react appropriately to a subsequent viral or bacterial attack,” explains Marianne Geiser. This cell damage was also observed for the smallest particle dose used, which indicates that there is no threshold.

The state-of-the-art measuring methods used in this study and the results obtained are, according to the researchers, another important step in the research of air pollutants and their impact on health.

via Particulate matter from modern gasoline engines damages our lungs — ScienceDaily.

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Yangon air pollution measured just above WHO guidelines

Posted on July 20, 2015 by Respro® UK Ltd

Air-pollution levels in downtown Yangon exceed international standards, city authorities have revealed. Monitoring equipment has recorded 102 parts per million (ppm) of airborne particles, 2ppm above the World Health Organisation’s guideline of 100ppm.

In an interview with The Myanmar Times, U Aung Myint Maw, assistant chief engineer for pollution control with Yangon City Development Committee, dismissed the 2 percent excess as “not serious”. But environmentalists say the city should take action now to prevent further deterioration and to prepare for additional growth in population, vehicle use and industry.

The Greater Yangon Project, drawn up by the YCDC and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) as a planning blueprint, estimates that Yangon’s population will swell to 10 million by 2040.

Last January the YCDC installed three air pollution monitors: one outside City Hall, one by Hledan flyover, and the third outside the Mingalardon township administration office. A fourth is a mobile unit deployed at various locations in the city, including industrial zones. They measure carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen peroxide, sulphur dioxide, methane and three kinds of airborne particles.

For pollution monitoring purposes engineers have divided the city into 40 zones, and the mobile unit has to cover the remaining 37 zones before a citywide picture of pollution is complete. Engineers have already surveyed 20 zones, and expect to conclude their survey by November.

At that point the city will draw up pollution mitigation plans, said U Aung Myint Maw. “Perhaps more trees will be planted, traffic will be reduced and some factories will have to build taller chimneys,” he said.

But some are calling for faster action. Environmentalist U Win Myo Thu, director of the local NGO Ecosystem Development (EcoDev), told The Myanmar Times on July 17, “Yangon’s air contains more dust and particles than it should contain. The authorities don’t have systems to control air pollution. But prevention is better than cure.”

He said Yangon had fewer green zones than Tokyo, and he criticised the government for considering the construction of coal-fired power plants.

“The government said 97pc of the coal plants’ output would be scrubbed, but the remaining 3pc will still emit about 700 to 3500 tonnes of sulphur dioxide. It will threaten the city’s future,” he said.

This latest information will deepen concerns raised after a 2012 study conducted by the Ministry of Health and the WHO, which found many places in Yangon where the air contained more than 100ppm of dust, especially in the cold and dry seasons.

Coarse particulate matter – particles with an aerodynamic diameter smaller than 10 micrometres (PM10) – was measured at 80 micrograms per cubic metre, above the WHO’s guideline level of 50 micrograms averaged over a 24-hour period. Typically, larger particles are emitted locally from building sites, factories and vehicle exhausts, and smaller particles drift in from the upper atmosphere.

Dawbon township resident Ko Myo Kyaw, a seafarer, said his niece and nephew, aged 10 and 6, often suffer breathing difficulties.

“I don’t like walking downtown because of the smell of exhaust gas,” he said. “Onboard ships I can work for hours, but if I walk for half an hour downtown I get tired.”

U Kyi Lwin Oo, director of the Occupational and Environmental Health Division of the health ministry’s Department of Public Health, said the amount of particles in the air was increasing and was likely to affect people already suffering from respiratory complaints, including asthma.

He said the authorities should consider reducing vehicle use and encouraging greater use of bicycles, and pedestrians should wear face masks while walking, especially in summer.

“One thing they’re not measuring is benzene, which is a carcinogen emitted by cars fuelled with octane,” he said.

U Kyi Lwin Oo said diseases related to air pollution could be measured by monitoring sickness rates in children, since sickness in adults could be related to their working environment.

A landmark study released by the WHO last year reported that in 2012 around 7 million people died worldwide as a result of air pollution exposure. The finding more than doubled previous estimates and confirmed that air pollution was the world’s largest single environmental health risk. Reducing air pollution could save millions of lives, the WHO said.

via Yangon air pollution measured just above WHO guidelines.

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Pollutionwatch: Ozone, the flipside to sunny days

Posted on July 20, 2015 by Respro® UK Ltd

The record temperature this month also brought problems with summertime smog. Ground-level ozone reached between 7 and 9 on the UK’s 10-point air-quality index. Millions of people across the eastern half of England were exposed to pollution levels that were about twice World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines. This was the worst summertime smog across southern England since 2012.

Ozone is synonymous with Los Angeles in the 1960s and 1970s, when concentrations could be assessed by measuring how fast the smog rotted rubber.

At ground level, ozone forms from chemical reactions between natural, traffic and industrial pollution in strong sunlight, meaning that concentrations are usually greatest in the afternoon. Some people doing sport notice breathing problems at these times even if they are not asthmatic.

In the evening, concentrations normally drop quickly as ozone reacts with surfaces and fresh city pollution. Avoiding strenuous exercise and endurance sports in the afternoon is a practical way for vulnerable people to reduce their exposure.

Health guidelines for ozone are set assuming eight-hour exposure, based originally on studies of schoolchildren in summer camps. However, overnight on 30 June and 1 July, ozone-free air did not form close to the ground across southern England. (This might have been because of a combination of overnight breezes and changes to air pollution in our towns and cities.) Many people were exposed to ozone above WHO guidelines for up to 36 rather than eight hours.

Maybe it’s time to rethink the health guidelines for this pollutant?

via Pollutionwatch: Ozone, the flipside to sunny days | Environment | The Guardian.

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Top 10 worst cities for air pollution

Posted on July 20, 2015 by Respro® UK Ltd

With thousands of people dying every year due to poor air quality in these cities, something must be done to alleviate the problem.

This week it was reported that almost 9,500 people lose their lives each year in London due to air pollution-related health problems – almost twice as much as previously thought.

According to research by Kings College London, deaths are caused by two main factors: PM2.5s or Particulate Matter up to 2.5 micrometers in size and the highly toxic nitrogen dioxide (NO2).

Although this news is worrying for residents of the capital, there are cities in the world that are dealing with the problem on a much larger scale:

10. Kabul, Afghanistan.

Because of the war in Afghanistan, the nation’s capital has been bombarded with refugees from surrounding areas and although the city’s infrastructure is designed for around 5,000 residents, it is now forced to support over 5 million. The overcrowding has caused more gas-powered generators and wood-burning stoves to be used and this is only contributing to the increasing problem of air pollution in the city.
9. Hong Kong, China.
The Air Pollution Index, which rates how likely you are to fall ill from dirty air, rated Hong Kong at level 500 for many areas of the city – the highest level possible. This prompted the government to warn people against participating in outdoor activities to prevent citizens developing respiratory problems which may eventually lead to death.
8. Guangzhou, China.

With a population of nearly 12 million, it is no surprise that Guangzhou has one of the worst levels of pollution in China and with its growing industrial sector, more and more people are suffering from asthma, nausea and dizziness.

7. Chongqing, China.

Proving yet again that China has a problem with air pollution, Chongqing has extremely high levels of particles in the air due to the number of power plants cropping up all over the city and recent studies have shown that a worrying 4.63% of children under 14 suffer from asthma.

6. Cairo, Egypt.

According to a survey by WHO, living in the city is equal to smoking a pack of cigarettes a day. Cairo is also exposed to a poisonous “black cloud” occasionally as farmers partake in the seasonal burning of rice.

5. Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.

The high levels of air pollution in the city have caused a higher than normal number of cases of chronic bronchitis and cardiovascular diseases. The visibility is also so poor during the day that commuters are forced to use their headlights in order to drive safely.

4. Mexico City, Mexico.

According to research conducted by the University of Salzburg, Mexico City has deadly levels of nearly every airborne pollutant including the toxic carbon monoxide. The city also holds the title of having the highest level of ground-level ozone in the world, according to WHO.

3. Santiago, Chile.

In Santiago, a warning is alerted when the city’s airborne particulate matter exceeds 200 micrograms per cubic meter. However, in 2008, the level hit 444 micrograms. Santiago also has the second highest level of ground-level ozone in the world.

2. New Delhi, India.

The levels of pollution in the city are six times higher than what WHO deems “safe”. The Harvard International Review also reported that two in every five of the city’s 13.8 million residents suffer from some sort of respiratory illness. The main source of pollution is dust being kicked up from overcrowded roads and this puts taxi drivers and construction workers at risk from suffering an early death.

1. Beijing, China.

Beijing’s air pollution has gotten so bad to the point where only rainfall can clear the air (see above). Because of this, officials have asked small children, the elderly and people with respiratory ailments to refrain from being outdoors for a long period of time. The problem temporarily improved during the 2008 Summer Olympics due to the ban on cars but worsened again when the games concluded.

via Top 10 worst cities for air pollution | Environment | The News Hub.

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Respro® Masks FAQ: Are children’s masks availiable?

Posted on July 17, 2015 by Respro® UK Ltd
Respro® Allergy™ Mask; Image: Respro® UK

Our concern in providing masks for children is that the size variation in children is so wide, that a ‘childs’ mask will not fit the range of sizes that children come in.

A 3-year-old will not require the same mask sizes as a 7 -to 10-year-old. We do not recommend the use of face masks for children younger than 11 years, but to seek alternative ‘common sense’ precautions ie hood on push chairs, keep away from large congested or dense traffic environments; if you cannot, then place something in front of their faces more like a guard to prevent air/wind/ polluted air from direct contact.  Children’s breathing rates are considerably lower that that of a walking adult so they should not be in too much danger. Generally common sense practice where at all possible should be considered. If a child has a particular respiratory issue then medical advice should be considered first and foremost.

The small Respro® Allergy™ mask is the smallest size available and useable by very small adults and older children above the age of 10 years.

Respro® mask size guide.

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