France Addresses Air Pollution By Banning 50% Of Vehicles In Paris

Posted on March 23, 2015 by Respro® UK Ltd

France has put in place an odd-even scheme based on the last number of the car’s plate number to address the country’s air pollution problem. It would halve the number of vehicles in Paris.

On Monday, when the scheme starts, vehicles whose plate numbers end in 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9 are allowed in Paris. The next day, it would be the turn of car owners to use their vehicles which has plate numbers ending in 0, 2, 4, 6 and 8.

Offenders will be fined 22 euro. More than 1,000 cops have been deployed to ensure that drivers follow the rules, reports the Independent. The scheme has been tried in some countries such as the Philippines not so much to curb pollution, but because of the gridlock due to the very large number of vehicles vis-à-vis road networks.

The law was approved in late 2014. It permits the French government to cut vehicles in Paris by 50 percent every time micro-particles in the atmosphere breaches 50 microgrammes per cubic metre.

The use of the law even triggered a throwback of the romance between President Francois Hollande and ex-flame Segolene Royal, the country’s environment minister.

Anne Hidalgo, Paris mayor, wanted it imposed on Friday, but Royal opposed, saying banning even-numbered vehicles without advance warning is punitive. But Hollande sided with Hidalgo, not with his former partner.

The odd-even scheme, however, is not really the root of the problem for two of the best-known female Socialist politicians in France. The Independent says that the two had been at odds with each other for a long time now.

Exempt from the scheme are vehicles with three or more riders, reports Quartz. Hidalgo pushed for the scheme because of a haze that covered the capital city the past week as levels air pollution reached PM10 particulates, which is a level higher than what the World Health Organisation considers acceptable air quality.

via France Addresses Air Pollution By Banning 50% Of Vehicles In Paris.

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All-out efforts to fight smog

Posted on March 21, 2015 by Respro® UK Ltd

Singaporean air force joins mission as situation in northern provinces to worsen today; Army mobilising resources

THAILAND mobilised all its resources yesterday to combat the haze crisis in the North, which threatens to be the worst in recent history, with air pollution in some parts of Chiang Ri province already three times beyond safety limits.

The situation has worsened to the point that several military aircraft, including two Chinooks from Singapore, are actively spraying the area with water in a bid to reduce the smog.

The Thai-Myanmar Joint Border Committee will convene a meeting in Chiang Rai’s Mae Sai district to discuss the smog problem today. The air pollution in this district stood at 280 micrograms of particulate matter per cubic metre of air yesterday. The particulate matter is less than less than 10 microns in diameter (PM10).

The amount of PM10 per cubic metre of air was also alarmingly high at 383mcg in Chiang Rai’s Muang district between 7am and 9am yesterday.

The amount of PM10 should never exceed 120mcg per cubic metre of air.

“We are now seriously advising people to wear face masks when going outside,” Chiang Rai’s disaster-prevention-and-mitigation chief

Sawang Momdee said.

Thick smog reduced visibility on the road to just 500 metres, though it did not affect flight services to and from the province yesterday. Chiang Rai Airport has installed extra lighting on its runway to improve visibility.

The Pollution Control Department said the situation will worsen today due to overall weather conditions, adding that the amount of PM10 will most likely rise in all eight smog-hit provinces in the North by between 2 and 8 per cent.

Singaporean assistance

Apart from Chiang Rai, the provinces of Mae Hong Son, Chiang Mai, Phayao, Nan, Lampang, Phrae and Uttaradit are also struggling with air pollution.

Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) spokesman ACM Monthon Satchukorn said yesterday that Singapore Air Force, which is taking part in Cope Tiger 2015 joint military exercises, will deploy its two Chinook helicopters to help Thailand deal with the smog and forest-fire problem. These helicopters will join the several that Thailand’s armed forces have deployed for the mission.

In a Facebook post, Singapore Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen said, “It [the Chinooks] will be equipped with a 5,000-litre water bucket from the Singapore Civil Defence Force. Let’s support our SAF men and women who are tasked for this mission – that they will do their job well and keep safe.”

According to the Royal Thai Army (RTA) deputy spokesperson Colonel Sirichan Ngathong, relevant authorities are now mobilising resources to tackle the smog problem.

Haze was visible to the naked eye in Chiang Mai province yesterday, with many tourists complaining.

“I came up here to enjoy the views, but I can’t see anything,” Pares Inta, who was at the Phra That Doi Kham viewpoint in Chiang Mai, said.

Another tourist, Suprapa Chaykarn, said tourists usually headed to Chiang Mai in the hope of getting fresh air. “But the province is now covered with smog and pollution. That’s why people are reluctant to visit Chiang Mai at the moment.”

PM10 readings in Chiang Mai province hit 235mcg yesterday.

However, Lai-ad Bungsrithong, president of Thai Hotel Association Northern Chapter, said the heavy smog did not affect tourism in Chiang Mai much because many hotels are 70 to 75 per cent full – similar to the same period last year. She also said tourists had not cancelled bookings, though there has been a slight drop in new bookings.

via All-out efforts to fight smog – The Nation.

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Singapore’s air pollution rises to unhealthy level

Posted on March 20, 2015 by Respro® UK Ltd

Singapore’s air pollution hit levels classified “unhealthy” on Friday, the government’s National Environment Agency said on its website. (www.haze.gov.sg)

The 3-hour Pollution Standards Index (PSI) in the city-state rose to 102 at 4 p.m. local time (0800 GMT). A PSI reading above 100 indicates air pollution has reached an “unhealthy” level.

The PSI level in the island-nation hit a record-high of 401 in June 2013, when smoke from forest burning in Indonesia engulfed the city.

via Singapore’s air pollution rises to unhealthy level | Reuters.

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Air pollution prompts UK health warning

Posted on March 20, 2015 by Respro® UK Ltd

Smog over parts of England, Wales and Northern Ireland has prompted a warning from Public Health England.

The Department for Environment said there was moderate to high levels of the pollution, which is caused by traffic fumes and other sources.

Air pollution has also blown in from Europe and Public Health England said the conditions could affect people with lung or heart problems or asthma.

Defra said levels were due to fall to moderate or low levels by Friday.

Smog is formed when pollutants, dust, pollen and other particles that would normally be dispersed by winds are prevented from escaping from the layer of cool air that is trapped at the Earth’s surface.

Sotiris Vardoulakis, head of Public Health England’s air pollution and climate change group, said: “While most people will not be affected by short term peaks in air pollution – some individuals, particularly vulnerable groups such as those with existing heart or lung conditions, may experience increased symptoms.”

According to Defra, south Wales and South West England saw the highest levels of pollution in the UK on Thursday, reaching eight out of 10 on its pollution index.

The West Midlands, Yorkshire and Humberside, North East England and Northern Ireland also recorded high levels – graded as seven out of ten on the index.

North-west England, the East Midlands and parts of London had seen moderate levels – six out of 10 – while Scotland had seen low levels of pollution, Defra said.

Deborah Waddell from Asthma UK warned that people with breathing problems needed to be careful.

“We could expect that people today would have more asthma symptoms and every person that has an asthma attack today could have a potentially have a fatal asthma attack so we need them to be vigilant,” she said.

Steve Cleaton from the BBC Weather Centre said: “The good news is that air quality is forecast to gradually improve through the course of the remainder of Thursday and throughout Friday.

“Weak weather fronts will cross the country from the northwest introducing clearer Atlantic air.”

High levels of air pollution were reported in Paris, France, on Wednesday.

via BBC News – Air pollution prompts UK health warning.

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CO2 cuts claim sees ministers challenged by experts

Posted on March 19, 2015 by Respro® UK Ltd

The UK government’s claim to lead the world in cuts of carbon emissions has been challenged by researchers.

UK emissions are rising overall because current calculations omit pollution from goods imported from countries like China, Leeds University experts say.

But the government says it follows internationally agreed rules on CO2 accounting.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) is to publish the analysis on its website later.

But the Leeds report’s authors say the UK’s long-term CO2 targets would have to be tightened if Britain took responsibility for the extra emissions stimulated by the demand from British consumers for overseas goods.

The analysis shows that CO2 emissions produced within the UK fell 194 million tonnes in 2012 compared with 1990.

But the cuts were outweighed by a rise of 280m tonnes created abroad during the manufacture of goods imported to Britain.

At present, the UK is committed by law to reducing CO2 emissions 80% by 2050 based on 1990 levels.

‘Outside our control’

The report calculates that if the UK took responsibility for its global emissions, it would need to achieve the 80% cut 10 years earlier – by 2040.

And it shows that net traded emissions have doubled in the past 20 years, while emissions within the UK have reduced by 26%.

Its lead author Prof John Barrett said: “The government is fully aware that other nations are polluting on our behalf but won’t take full responsibility for the emissions we outsource.”

Lord Gummer, chairman of the independent advisory Climate Change Committee, which counsels the government and parliament on the issue, said current accounting methods were appropriate.

“We have considered using total emission figures more widely, but that would mean emissions being double counted – once in China’s total and once in ours.

“More importantly, we have direct control over home-produced emissions . Manufacturing methods, carbon intensity, and energy distribution in China are outside our direct control.”

Prof Barrett said he did not want to scrap domestic CO2 accounting, but to publish domestic and consumption CO2 accounts side by side.

He said this would create a more accurate picture for the Paris climate summit in December of where responsibility for climate change lies.

It would also change attitudes in the UK towards goods and materials – ensuring they were not thrown away while they still had a useful life, he claimed.

‘Illusions’

Prof Barrett said there would be a huge shift in attitudes to motoring. “For most people, a car sits on the tarmac 95% of the time.

“Think of all the CO2 embodied in the manufacturing of a car. It’s far more efficient in CO2 terms to join a car club where the car gets used consistently.”

The report says the cheapest way to achieve CO2 savings is for the government to establish an Energy Demand Reduction Target.

Simon Bullock from Friends of the Earth said: “The UK’s three leaders pledged to protect developing countries from climate change. We can’t keep using accounting tricks to avoid our responsibility.”

But Ruth Davis from Greenpeace said: “I don’t think it’s about illusions of carbon cuts or not.

“Emissions from manufacturing will need to fall wherever they are happening – in China, the US, India or anywhere else.”

via BBC News – CO2 cuts claim sees ministers challenged by experts.

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Asthma suffers warned over heavy air pollution hitting Scotland

Posted on March 19, 2015 by Respro® UK Ltd

ASTHMA suffers have been warned they may be vulnerable to attacks in the coming days as it emerges several parts of Scotland are experiencing a high pollution episode.

A weather pattern coming in from Western Europe has sparked an escalation in levels of Particulate Matter (PM10), with Aberdeen experiencing particularly high readings.

The pollution spread to Dundee, Perth, parts of West Lothian, Falkirk and Rutherglen, with expectations of high levels across the Central Belt.

The stable, calm weather over the past few days has prevented the pollution from dispersing.

The warnings were based on the Scottish Government’s air quality monitor and issued by Friends of the Earth.

The group said official advice when air pollution is high is to “reduce physical exertion, particularly outdoors, especially if you experience symptoms such as cough or sore throat”.

Adults and children with lung problems, adults with heart problems, and older people are advised to avoid strenuous physical activity, while those with asthma may find they need to use their reliever inhaler more often.

Air pollution campaigner for Friends of the Earth Scotland Emilia Hanna said: “Pollution from road traffic is the key cause of this current air pollution episode. During an episode like this, asthmatics are more prone to an attack and we may see an increase in hospital admissions for respiratory conditions and heart attacks. This type of pollution kills more than 2,000 people every year in Scotland.

“Some of this air pollution has blown in from Western Europe, but it has added to our existing air pollution from road traffic. This current episode is a strong reminder that the Government needs to do much more to tackle Scotland’s ongoing air pollution problem.”

Asthma suffer Mic Starbuck, 65, said: “Although Glasgow is not currently the worst affected area in Scotland, I am already noticing increased tightness in my chest and I am having to use my inhaler much more.”

A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: “Although there has been excellent progress, we recognise that there is more to be done to deliver further benefits for human and environmental health where areas of poorer air quality remain.

“We recognise that air pollution disproportionately affects the health of the most vulnerable members of society – the very young, the elderly and those with existing cardiovascular and respiratory conditions and can have a very real impact on quality of life for these individuals.

“Our Low Emission Strategy, currently out for consultation, proposes further action to reduce air pollution; enhancing the quality of life for communities across Scotland, with a focus on progress in Scottish towns and cities over the coming years.”

via Asthma suffers warned over heavy air pollution hitting Scotland | Herald Scotland.

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Eiffel Tower shrouded in smog as Paris pollution spikes

Posted on March 19, 2015 by Respro® UK Ltd

The Eiffel Tower disappeared behind a brown smog on Wednesday as Paris and much of northern France suffered a spike in pollution.

“The pollution levels are consistent. If we don’t go over the alert level, we won’t be far away,” said Airparif, the body responsible for monitoring air quality in the greater Paris region.

In Paris, authorities measure the concentration of particulates with a diameter of less than 10 microns – so-called PM10 – in the air to determine pollution levels.

These particulates are created by vehicles, heating and heavy industry, and include the most dangerous particles that measure less than 2.5 microns in diameter, which can penetrate deep into the lungs and the blood system and can cause cancer.

The safe limit for PM10 is set at 80 microgrammes per cubic metre (mcg/m3).

Since Wednesday morning, authorities have put in place certain emergency measures, such as limiting cars to 20kph (12mph) on motorways in the Paris area.

Authorities have the power to put into place emergency measures such as allowing only one in two cars to enter the French capital and making public transport free.

This was last implemented on 17 March last year during a particularly bad spike in the pollution levels.

According to a 2011 World Health Organisation report, the planet’s most polluted city was Ahvaz in Iran with an average of 372 mcg/m3.

Beijing had an average of 121 mcg/m3, while Paris was measured at 38 mcg/m3.

via Eiffel Tower shrouded in smog as Paris pollution spikes | World news | The Guardian.

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Health warning over air pollution

Posted on March 19, 2015 by Respro® UK Ltd

Britain has been placed on a health alert because a potentially dangerous cloud of air pollution is blowing over the country.

Experts said the smog could cause fatal asthma attacks and have warned the elderly and those with health problems to be cautious.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), said air pollution was blowing in from Europe and mixing with home-grown smog to create the problem.

Officials warned this could trigger health difficulties for those with respiratory illnesses and the elderly, although it does not pose a health threat for the general population.

Large parts of England will see air pollution climb to moderate levels today while parts of the north will see it hit nine out of 10.

A Defra spokeswoman said: “Winds bringing in pollution from the continent, combined with locally generated pollution and still weather conditions has led to some high pollution measurements across the UK.

“Levels are expected to return to low by Friday.”

Kay Boycott, chief executive of Asthma UK, said: “Two thirds of people with asthma find that air pollution makes their asthma worse, putting them at an increased risk of a potentially fatal asthma attack.

“When air pollution is high it’s vital people with respiratory conditions including asthma check air pollution forecasts, carry their reliever inhaler with them at all times, and ensure that they are taking their preventer inhaler every day because this will help build resilience to asthma triggers like air pollution.

“People with asthma have told us that on days when air pollution levels are high they feel that they can’t even leave the house for fear that it will trigger an attack.”

A Met Office spokeswoman said high pressure and very few winds is causing the pollution patch to hang around.

via Health warning over air pollution | Daily Mail Online.

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