Unhealthy air quality forecast Thursday and Friday

Posted on June 12, 2015 by Respro® UK Ltd

Air pollution is forecast Thursday to reach unhealthy levels for sensitive groups, including children, the elderly, and people with asthma, heart disease or lung disease.

The Maryland Department of the Environment has issued a “Code Orange” alert across the Baltimore and Washington, D.C., regions. Ozone, a pollutant created by reactions between chemicals emitted by cars and industrial facilities, is the chief concern.

Meanwhile, smoke from wildfires in Canada has been drifting across the region, adding to the pollution.

The heat and sunshine coupled with calm winds tend to make air pollution worse. Partly cloudy skies and highs in the lower 90s are forecast Thursday. Some afternoon storms are possible, and could improve air quality.

More poor air quality is possible Friday, according to MDE. Clean Air Partners, a nonprofit air quality advocacy group, is forecasting another “Code Orange” day Friday.

Ozone is a natural compound present in upper levels of the atmosphere and consisting of three oxygen atoms. But when it is created near the ground, by chemicals interacting in the presence of sunlight, it can contribute to smog and reduce lung function and irritate lung tissue, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

via Unhealthy air quality forecast Thursday and Friday – Baltimore Sun.

Posted in Air Quality, USA & Canada | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Chile’s Copa América: Pollution worries hang in the air

Posted on June 11, 2015 by Respro® UK Ltd

As South America’s football heroes jet into Chile for the Copa América, a dark cloud is hanging over two host cities where air pollution alerts are worrying organizers and fans.

With just days to go to the continental championship which kicks off Thursday, an “environmental emergency” was declared in host city Temuco and a “pre-emergency” in the capital Santiago, where the hosts will face Ecuador in the opening match. (See the full schedule here.)

Both cities have some of the worst air pollution in Latin America.

Santiago, a city of six million people, sits in an enclosed valley with limited wind and little rain to wash away the contamination generated by its vehicles and its bustling industrial sector.

Temuco, a city of 250,000 people some 700 kilometers (400 miles) to the south, relies heavily on wood-burning stoves for heat during the Southern Hemisphere winter, often leaving a smoky layer of particles hanging in the air.

Both are alarming Copa organizers, who have scheduled eight matches in Santiago, including the July 4 final, and three in Temuco.

Last week authorities in Santiago ordered a day of extraordinary anti-smog measures for Friday, keeping more than 300,000 vehicles off the roads and nearly 800 factories closed.

Under the so-called “pre-emergency,” city officials also suspended physical education classes at schools and recommended citizens refrain from outdoor athletic activities because of concerns over the effects of breathing the contaminated air while exercising.

Temuco declared an emergency two weeks ago because of air pollution — its second this year. Santiago has declared 10 environmental alerts since the beginning of the year.

But Santiago governor Claudio Orrego vowed the Copa América schedule will not be disrupted.

“We’ve spoken with the authorities and if there’s one thing we can’t do it’s suspend a match,” he told AFP.

Performance concerns 

Chile introduced tighter restrictions on air pollution levels this year, meaning even more alerts and emergencies will likely be declared.

The aim is to reduce the health impact on adults and especially children. A government study in 2014 found that 4,000 people a year die prematurely of cardiopulmonary diseases linked to air pollution.

Other studies have shown significant increases in respiratory diseases such as chronic bronchitis, pneumonia and asthma linked to air pollution in Santiago.

For football fans, the more immediate concern is that stars like Lionel Messi of Argentina and James Rodríguez of Colombia will not be in top form if they play under a blanket of smog, especially coming off a long and tiring club season.

For footballers competing at the highest level, exposure to high levels of air pollution can affect performance, researchers say.

“Smog and contamination don’t just affect health, they affect athletic performance,” said sports medicine specialist Luis Maya.

Maya, who trains popular Chilean club Colo-Colo, said practice sessions are an even bigger concern than matches because they generally take place during the day and last longer, exposing players to more pollution.

“There’s no doubt that there is a small decrease in physical performance caused by contamination,” he said. “It could have an effect. Not a big one, but in the details.”

via Chile’s Copa América: Pollution worries hang in the air -The Tico Times.

Posted in Air Quality, Chile, Latin America | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Czech air pollution among worst in EU

Posted on June 11, 2015 by Respro® UK Ltd

The quality of air in the Czech Republic lags behind the average of the EU mainly due to the emissions of greenhouse gases which are the fifth worst in the EU, daily Lidove noviny (LN) writes yesterday.

“An improvement in international comparison is a long-distance race,” Environment Minister Richard Brabec (ANO) has said in a discussion staged in the Czech Senate, LN writes.

Hans Bruyninckx, Executive Director of the European Environment Agency, unveiled the results of the latest report on the environment in the Senate, it adds.

Eurostat data reveal that the Czech Republic is the fifth worst source of greenhouse gases pollution in the EU, LN writes.

The overall average total greenhouse gases emissions are about nine tonnes of carbon dioxide per inhabitant, but the figure stands at almost 13 tonnes in the Czech Republic.

With regard to water quality, the situation is almost the same as the content of nitrates in Czech waters is one of the highest in the EU, LN writes.

Czechs should also improve their position in the proportion of energy generated from sustainable sources and the recycling rate, it adds.

Although progress has been achieved in both spheres in recent years, the Czech Republic is still lagging behind some Western countries of the EU, LN writes.

Roughly one-third of municipal refuse is recycled, while the proportion is all but double in Germany, Austria and Belgium, it adds.

On the other hand, the Czech Republic has the fifth lowest production of waste, LN writes.

“After the 1989 overthrow of the Communist regime, the state of the environment was disastrous. Since then, we have seen a remarkable improvement,” Brabec said.

However, low air quality is a surviving problem plaguing most the Czech Republic, LN writes.

“There has been a long-standing fall in the emissions, but the quality of air is not improving,” Brabec said.

The Moravia-Silesia Region and large towns are most hit by air pollution, LN writes.

In 2013, emission limit values were exceeded in more than one-third of the Czech Republic’s area, it adds.

This was largely due to transport, industry and emissions from local fireplaces, LN writes.

Exposure to dust particles in particular strongly affects the health, it adds.

According to the estimates by the National Institute of Public Health, it may have caused up to 5,500 premature deaths in 2012 alone, LN writes.

However, a Eurobarometer poll conducted in 2012 has revealed that environmental protection is no priority for most Czechs, it adds.

A mere 17 percent of Czechs consider it important, as against the European average of 21 percent, LN writes.

via Poll: Czech air pollution among worst in EU | Prague Monitor.

Posted in Air Quality, Europe | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Far away forest fires make skies hazy over Winnipeg

Posted on June 9, 2015 by Respro® UK Ltd

The hazy sky over Winnipeg Monday is courtesy dozens of forest fires burning hundreds of kilometers away.

There are at least two “hot spots” in Northern Manitoba, with another 20-plus forest fires burning in Saskatchewan.

The Air Quality Health Index put the air quality at 5 Monday afternoon, which means the health risk is moderate. Those with pre-existing health conditions such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are advised to cancel strenuous activities.

Manitoba Conservation collects air samples at several locations in Winnipeg and Brandon and then analyze them for pollutants like ground-level ozone, particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide. Forest fires and wind can increase the levels of particulate matter.

Brian Asher, an air quality analyst with Manitoba Conservation, particulate matter, is often present in smoke from forest fires.

“It gets really deep in your lungs, and when it gets deep in your lungs, it can have more of an impact on your health,” said Asher, who takes the data collected and passes it on to Environment Canada.

The weather agency put out an air quality statement about the haze shortly after noon Monday.

“Air quality may decrease at times, especially in areas closer to the Saskatchewan border, which may see locally poor visibility and air quality readings today into this evening,” the statement said.

The smoke is expected to disperse overnight but may redevelop Tuesday afternoon and into the evening as northwest winds redevelop, Environment Canada said.

Communities affected by the statement as of noon are:

  • Winnipeg
  • Portage la Prairie, Headingley, Brunkild, Carman
  • Steinbach, St. Adolphe, Dominion City, Vita, Richer
  • Morden, Winkler, Altona, Emerson, Morris
  • Selkirk, Gimli, Stonewall, Woodlands, Eriksdale
  • Dugald, Beausejour, Grand Beach
  • Bissett, Nopiming Provincial Park, Pine Falls
  • Whiteshell, Lac du Bonnet, Pinawa
  • Sprague, Northwest Angle Provincial Forest
  • Grand Rapids
  • Arborg, Hecla, Fisher River, Gypsumville, Ashern
  • Dauphin, Roblin, Winnipegosis
  • Minnedosa, Neepawa, Russell, Riding Mountain National Park
  • Ste. Rose, McCreary, Alonsa, Gladstone
  • The Pas, Wanless, Westray, Clearwater Lake Provincial Park
  • Swan River, Duck Mountain, Porcupine Provincial Forest
  • Flin Flon, Cranberry Portage, Snow Lake
  • Berens River, Little Grand Rapids, Bloodvein, Atikaki
  • Norway House, Cross Lake, Wabowden
  • Poplar River

via Far away forest fires make skies hazy over Winnipeg – Winnipeg | Globalnews.ca.

Posted in Air Quality, USA & Canada | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Pollutionwatch: How to make our cities safer

Posted on June 9, 2015 by Respro® UK Ltd

April’s Supreme Court ruling, impending EU fines and increasing evidence of health harm are ratcheting up the pressure on the UK government to meet legal limits and World Health Organisation guidelines for nitrogen dioxide

Reducing traffic by rationalising deliveries, support for public transport and improving space for cycling and walking would decrease pollution and create healthier cities to live and work but our cities would still need movement of goods, services and people.

The UK has only a handful of Europe’s over 200 low emission zones where older vehicles are banned. However, to be successful these schemes rely on newer vehicles producing less pollution than old ones. So far this has not been the case for nitrogen oxides from diesel vehicles. The newest Euro VI standard lorries and buses appear to produce less pollution but new diesel cars still emit four to seven times the test limits when driven in our cities.

Petrol cars emit far less pollution than diesel so reserving city centres for the newest lorries and buses along with petrol cars could help, but what about current owners of diesel cars and older heavy vehicles? The government and the London Mayor have funded pollution control upgrades for around 2,000 buses. Another solution could be California-style scrappage schemes, which pay owners to scrap highly polluting vehicles especially if the old vehicle and its low pollution replacement are used in pollution hotspots.

Improving city centre heating systems, better insulation, low pollution gas boilers or, as the Close the Door campaign suggests, simply shutting shop doors in winter would help too.

via Pollutionwatch: How to make our cities safer | Environment | The Guardian.

Posted in Air Quality, Europe, London, UK | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Timaru experiences high air pollution again

Posted on June 9, 2015 by Respro® UK Ltd

Timaru is failing at keeping its high air pollution days down to a minimum with the tally for the year to date being 10.

Environment Canterbury (ECan) reports Timaru had a PM10 concentration of 53 on Monday. By this time last year, Timaru had experienced 12 days where the reading was more than the health guideline of 50.

In a bid to keep high pollution days to a minimum ECan has put in place a policy of smokefree woodburners with no visible smoke.

The aim is to reduce the number of pollution days to one by next year.

The three main sources of PM10 are home heating, industry and vehicles, from the combustion of fuels such as wood, coal, petrol and diesel.

On a typical winter day in Timaru, an estimated 88 per cent of emissions come from home heating and in Washdyke 7 per cent.

via Timaru experiences high air pollution again | Stuff.co.nz.

Posted in Air Quality, Australia & Oceania | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

British Medical Journal article warns of UK air pollution

Posted on June 9, 2015 by Respro® UK Ltd

An article has recently appeared in the British Medical Journal warning of the dangers to public health in the UK caused by air pollutants.

In 2011 a report from the House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee suggested that the costs to society from poor air quality were on a par with those from smoking and obesity.  Air pollution has fallen sharply over the last 25 years, in particular nitrogen oxide levels have dropped by two thirds and particulates have halved.  However, whilst the pollution levels have fallen, the medical profession is now better able to quantify the damage caused.

Studies in the United States were able to calculate the increased risk to the population at various levels of concentration of pollutants.  Translated for the UK population this was seen as having an effect on mortality equivalent to 29,000 deaths at typical ages of death in the UK.

The UK has met all European targets on particulates but has not been able to sufficiently reduce levels of nitrogen dioxide and the European Commission has launched an action against the UK.  Meanwhile, the UK Supreme Court has ruled that the UK should draw up a plan by 31 December to cut nitrogen dioxide levels.

The main reason for UK non-compliance is diesel. Diesel engines emit more particulates and nitrogen oxides (NOx) than petrol engines, despite a succession of EU standards designed to clean them up. Particulates are reduced by filters that are fitted to newer vehicles approved under the Euro 5 regulations, but official tests used to measure NOx seriously underestimated the amount the newer vehicles would produce.

Real world NOx emissions from Euro 5 compliant cars approved since 2009 now exceed those on cars approved under Euro 1 regulations in 1992 and “are in the region of five times the limit value” the European Commission has admitted.  “This has a major impact on concentrations of NO2, ozone, and secondary particles across Europe.”

The UK has encouraged the use of diesel cars through a favourable tax regime based on carbon dioxide emissions, with the result that in 2011 diesels outsold petrol cars in the UK for the first time. The rapid growth of diesel cars with high NOx emissions was thus the result both of mistaken environmental incentives and the failure of the EU testing regime.

The article in the BMJ suggests that the long term answer is cleaner vehicles, such as electric, hybrid, or hydrogen powered. The Euro 6 regulations that came into force last September are tougher but tests to ensure vehicles meet them won’t be introduced until 2017.

The introduction of low emission zones is seen as having worthwhile short term effects such as in London since 2008 where heavy vehicles that do not meet emission standards either have to clean up or pay £100 or £200 a day, depending on size, to enter the zone.  Cars are not currently included but will be when the ultra-low emission zone is introduced in 2020. However, the new zone will cover a much smaller area (the congestion charge area), risking displacing polluting vehicles on to neighbouring streets.

Transport for London claims that when all parts of the plan are implemented, NOx emissions in the zone should fall by up to 51 per cent.  Other cities have been reluctant to follow, and there is no national framework. Germany has 50-60 low emission zones, the UK only one, plus three more limited efforts in Oxford, Norwich, and Brighton.

via British Medical Journal article warns of UK air pollution : Tyrepress.

Posted in Air Quality, Europe, Health Effects of Air Pollution, London, UK | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Air pollution below EPA standards linked with higher death rates

Posted on June 8, 2015 by Respro® UK Ltd

A new study by researchers at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health found that death rates among people over 65 are higher in zip codes with more fine particulate air pollution (PM2.5) than in those with lower levels of PM2.5. It is the first study to examine the effect of soot particles in the air in the entire population of a region, including rural areas. The harmful effects from the particles were observed even in areas where concentrations were less than a third of the current standard set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

“Most of the country is either meeting the EPA standards now, or is expected to meet them in a few years as new power plant controls kick in,” said senior author Joel Schwartz, professor of environmental epidemiology. “This study shows that it is not enough. We need to go after coal plants that still aren’t using scrubbers to clean their emissions, as well as other sources of particles like traffic and wood smoke.”

The study appears online June 3, 2015 in Environmental Health Perspectives.

Previous studies have linked both short- and long-term exposure to PM2.5 with increased mortality, through mechanisms such as heart disorders, increased blood pressure, and reduced lung function.

The researchers used satellite data to determine particle levels and temperatures in every zip code in New England. This allowed them to examine the effects of PM2.5 on locations far from monitoring stations, and to look at the effects of short-term exposures and annual average exposures simultaneously. They analyzed health data from everyone covered by Medicare in New England – 2.4 million people – between 2003 and 2008 and followed them each year until they died.

They found that both short- and long-term PM2.5 exposure was significantly associated with higher death rates, even when restricted to zip codes and times with annual exposures below EPA standards. Short-term (two-day) exposure led to a 2.14% increase in mortality per 10 μg/m3 increase in PM2.5 concentration, and long-term (one-year) exposure led to a 7.52% increase in mortality for each 10 µg/m3 increase.

“Particulate air pollution is like lead pollution, there is no evidence of a safe threshold even at levels far below current standards, including in the rural areas we investigated,” said Schwartz. “We need to focus on strategies that lower exposure everywhere and all the time, and not just in locations or on days with high particulate levels.”

via Air pollution below EPA standards linked with higher death rates | News | Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

Posted in Air Quality, Health Effects of Air Pollution, USA & Canada | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment