Hong Kong’s air quality to worsen as pollutant PM2.5 hits ‘unhealthy’ levels

Posted on October 15, 2014 by Respro® UK Ltd

The air quality in Hong Kong is expected to worsen later today after pollution readings hit “very high” and “high” in various areas, the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) warned on Wednesday.

The air quality health index (AQHI) – which measures the risk of hospital admissions due to air pollutants – hit “very high” levels in Central, Yuen Long in the New Territories and Tap Mun Island off northeastern Sai Kung.

The remaining 12 monitoring stations across the city recorded “high” readings.

The highest warning on the index is “serious” – and the last time Hong Kong hit that reading was on June 8 and again on September 19, two of the smoggiest days of the year.

The EPD said abundant sunshine heightens photochemical smog formation, a chemical process in which nitrogen oxides (emitted from combustion sources such as car exhaust) combine with volatile organic compounds to form ground-level ozone.

Hong Kong was forecast to have sunny weather with light winds.

The department advised people, including the elderly, children and persons with heart and respiratory diseases to reduce outdoor activities.

AQICN.org, which monitors air quality around the world, gave an air quality index reading of 158 for Hong Kong, deemed as “unhealthy”.

The Central and Western districts, Mong Kok, Causeway Bay, Kwun Tong and Sham Shui Po all recorded unhealthy readings of PM2.5, a hazardous air pollutant that can enter the lungs.

via Hong Kong’s air quality to worsen as pollutant PM2.5 hits ‘unhealthy’ levels | South China Morning Post.

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Heart risk for the women who live near busy roads: Air pollution increases chance of dying by up to 38%

Posted on October 15, 2014 by Respro® UK Ltd

Living near a busy road is as likely to cause a fatal heart attack as being obese or a smoker, warns a new study.

Researchers suspect damaging air particles from traffic pollution could be behind the phenomenon.

A study of 107,130 women with an average age of 60 showed those whose homes were within 50 metres (164 feet) of a major road increased the risk by 38 percent compared to being at least 500 metres (0.3 miles) away.

Each 100 metres (328 feet) closer to roadways was associated with a six per cent rise in danger.

During the course of the study the risk of dying from coronary heart disease also rose by 24 per cent for those living near a busy road.

The Environmental Protection Agency estimated 35 million people in the US lived within 300 metres (984 feet) of a major road in 2009 – and a growing number lived in close proximity to major roads worldwide.

The public’s exposure to major roadways is comparable to major sudden cardiac death risk factors, said researchers.

Previous research has found a modest increase in the risk of developing coronary heart disease among people who live near major roadways.

But the new study, published in the journal Circulation is believed to be the first to examine the impact of roadway proximity to the risk of a sudden heart attack.

Dr Jaime Hart, of Brigham and Women’s Hospital in the United States, said: ‘It’s important for healthcare providers to recognise environmental exposures may be under-appreciated risk factors for diseases such as sudden cardiac death and fatal coronary heart disease.

‘On a population level living near a major roadway was as important a risk factor as smoking, diet or obesity.’

The participants were part of the Nurses’ Health Study from 1986 to 2012 and the researchers calculated the distance of their residences to roadways. They also took into account other factors including age, race, cigarette smoking, physical activity and diet.

During the study there were 523 cases of sudden cardiac death and 1,159 cases of fatal coronary heart disease. Researchers weren’t able to measure all possible risk factors associated with living near a major road.

They also said more research is needed among men and among women of different ages, races and income levels because nearly all participants were middle-age to elderly, white and of middle- to upper-socioeconomic class.

Dr Hart said: ‘Regardless of where you live adopting heart-healthy habits such as maintaining a healthy weight, being physically active, eating nutritious foods, quitting smoking and managing stress can help decrease your risk of heart and blood vessel disease.

‘Our next step is to try to determine what specific exposures – such as air pollution – are driving the association between heart disease and major roadway proximity.’

via Heart risk for the women who live near busy roads: Air pollution increases chance of dying by up to 38%  | Daily Mail Online.

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Texas steps up monitoring for fracking air pollution

Posted on October 13, 2014 by Respro® UK Ltd

The state is responding to concerns about air pollution from fracking in South Texas.  The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, or TCEQ, is installing the first air monitoring station in the heart of the Eagle Ford Shale.

It will be located in Karnes County, where thousands of fracking wells have been drilled in the past few years.  Up until now the only monitoring station was at the outer edge of the Eagle Ford, in Floresville.  Over the summer researchers tried to measure how much of that air pollution is blowing up into San Antonio.  News 4 Trouble Shooter Jaie Avila was the only reporter to go along on that project, and now the results have been released.

A team of researchers from UT Austin spent 12 days driving around the Eagle Ford Shale taking air samples in a special air monitoring SUV.

“This is a Chevy Suburban that we have outfitted with equipment that measures air pollution,” said Dave Sullivan, who headed up the research team.

We went along as they took samples upwind and downwind from the heaviest oil and gas drilling areas.  They’re trying to determine if gases released during the fracking process, and emissions from the equipment, are drifting into San Antonio and increasing our ozone levels.

Ozone causes breathing problems for people with respiratory conditions.

“Knowing there are certain triggers that are going to trigger my asthma, that’s a big concern to me, a very big concern,” says Trish Perez, who takes breathing treatments for her asthma.

Now, about two-and-a-half months after Sullivan and his crew took their measurements, the TCEQ has released the results.

The researchers did find a big increase of hydrocarbons flowing into Bexar County from the Eagle Ford.  Hydrocarbons can come from storage tanks and pipelines.

However, they did not see an increase in the other ingredient needed to create ozone: nitrogen oxides.

That sounds like good news, but the researchers admit, just because they didn’t detect high levels of nitrogen oxides, doesn’t mean those emissions aren’t making it up to San Antonio and contributing to our air quality problems.

Nitrogen oxides, which come from vehicle and equipment exhaust, are hot and rise high into the air.  Sullivan says it’s possible they rose up and blew over the mobile monitor and into San Antonio.

That’s one reason environmental groups are skeptical of the research.“They can be up in the air, and then when they get into the city they can be reacting, with the hydrocarbons to form ozone.  Then you can see it at an ozone monitoring station, so that study has serious limitations to it,” said Neil Carman of the Sierra Club.

Opponents of fracking say much more thorough monitoring is needed to get a true picture of what the drilling boom is doing to our air.

The energy companies meanwhile say they’re trying to reduce emissions by switching to cleaner engines and equipment.  The TCEQ paid the UT researchers $100,000 to conduct the research.

via Texas steps up monitoring for fracking air pollution – WOAI News 4 San Antonio – Top Stories.

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AIIMS study links air pollution, arthritis

Posted on October 13, 2014 by Respro® UK Ltd

Are autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, where the body’s immune system reacts against itself, linked to air pollution?

A preliminary analysis of an ongoing study at AIIMS since April 2013 on 300 rheumatoid arthritis patients has found their symptoms worsen when suspended particulate matter (SPM) 2.5 increases in the atmosphere.

Particulate matter are essentially pollutants in the air, microscopic solid or liquid particles suspended in the atmosphere. Depending on their size, the pollutants are classified into many subtypes, one of them being SPM 2.5. It includes particulate matter less than 2.5 micrometres in diameter.

“These are preliminary findings, where we have found a definite co-relation between increase in one category of pollutants, that is PM 2.5, and the symptoms in diagnosed rheumatoid arthritis patients. Patients showed worsening of symptoms like joint pain and swelling when the air pollutants increased,” Dr Uma Kumar, head of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology department and principal investigator of the study, said.

The study, funded by the Department of Science and Technology as part of a project on climate change, is being jointly conducted by the Rheumatology department at AIIMS and the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD). The study is expected to take two more years.

Studies in the US and Sweden have found a minor link between rheumatoid arthritis and vehicular pollutants like nitrogen dioxide and home-heating pollutants like sulphur dioxide, but no association between the disease and suspended particulate matter in the atmosphere.

Researchers from McGill University Health Centre in Canada have found that “short-term variations in air pollution may influence disease activity” in patients of Lupus disease, another autoimmune disorder.

Dr Kumar too said there could be a “potential link” between air pollutants and other autoimmune disorders, which warranted studying.

Dr Kumar said, “Till now, we have analysed the condition of the patients through last year with data taken retrospectively on air pollutant levels from IMD. Now, a prospective study will be done on the same patients, collecting current data and comparing their symptoms.”

“We will start by collecting current data from IMD from Diwali when air pollutant levels shoot up and analyse the condition of patients. We will analyse pollutant levels in four categories and see the corresponding symptoms till 2016 in our identified patients,” Dr Kumar said.

This, she said, would provide a more accurate and detailed analysis on the connection.

Researchers are in the process of analysing co-relations between the symptoms and other category of pollutants, including SPM 10, sulphur dioxide

via AIIMS study links air pollution, arthritis – Financial Express.

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New ICCT study shows real-world exhaust emissions from modern diesel cars seven times higher than EU, US regulatory limits

Posted on October 12, 2014 by Respro® UK Ltd

On-road nitrogen oxides emission levels of modern diesel cars are on average about seven times higher than the limit set by the Euro 6 emission standard, which went into effect in September 2014. This is the key finding from a new report published today in Berlin by the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT), an independent research organization.

The study, which is the most comprehensive report on the real-world behavior of the latest generation of diesel cars published to date, found remarkable differences among individual vehicle models, indicating that technologies for real-world clean diesels already exist but are not being employed consistently by different vehicle manufacturers. The findings come at a time when the European Commission is preparing to propose an improved car emissions testing procedure, including on-road measurement, that could take effect in 2017.

The study is based on on-road tests of 15 vehicles using Portable Emissions Measurement Systems (PEMS). It covers more than 140 hours and 6,400 kilometers of driving, and provides the largest collection of public data on Euro 6 equivalent diesel cars currently available. Diesel vehicles make up about 50 per cent of all new cars in the EU. From September 2014 on, the Euro 6 standard applies to all new passenger car types.

“On average, we found that real-world nitrogen oxides emissions for modern diesel cars were about seven times higher than required by the Euro 6 standard”, says Dr. Peter Mock, Managing Director of ICCT Europe. The ICCT researchers demonstrate that the majority of exceedances found could not be attributed to extreme or untypical driving. Instead, they were due to driving situations that are part of the normal operation of diesel cars, such as mild uphill driving and regeneration events of the diesel exhaust aftertreatment system.

The ICCT experts also found significant differences among the performance of all the vehicles tested, with a few vehicles performing substantially better than the others. “This supports the notion that the technologies for real-world clean diesels already exist”, says Dr. Vicente Franco, researcher at the ICCT and lead author of the study. “Policies are needed to ensure that manufacturers will use these technologies and calibrate them to effectively control emissions over the large majority of in-use operating conditions, not just those covered by the current test cycle”.

The European Commission is currently preparing to require on-road testing as part of the passenger car type-approval process in the EU. According to these plans, vehicle manufacturers from 2017 would have to test new vehicles not only under laboratory conditions but also on the road, using PEMS equipment. Technical experts from the EU Member States will meet in Brussels on October 15 to discuss further steps and whether the new regulation can be approved at the end of 2014, as originally planned.

Nitrogen oxides emissions can have serious adverse health effects, causing major respiratory problems and leading to premature death. Diesel vehicles are the single largest contributor to total nitrogen oxide emissions in the EU. Especial in urban areas of Europe, measured nitrogen oxide emission levels are often higher than the legal limits, and some EU Member States are already facing legal actions for persistent air pollution problems.

via [Press release] New ICCT study shows real-world exhaust emissions from modern diesel cars seven times higher than EU, US regulatory limits | International Council on Clean Transportation.

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Hudhud cyclone to hit Delhi’s air quality

Posted on October 10, 2014 by Respro® UK Ltd

The Hudhud cyclone that’s likely to hit the Coromandel coast on Sunday will have a serious effect on Delhi’s air quality. The models prepared by System of Air Quality Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR) at Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology show levels of carbon monoxide, ozone and particulate matter rising steeply Friday evening onwards. Meteorologists at SAFAR say Delhites should brace up for very poor air quality, especially if there is no rainfall in Delhi.

Scientists at Delhi Pollution Control Committee air quality lab also confirmed that levels of certain pollutants are set to rise. According to SAFAR’s model, CO levels will rise from the current 1.2 parts per million to about 3 PPM over the weekend. The threshold for CO is 1.7 PPM, according to SAFAR. Ground level ozone is associated with serious health problems such as breathing difficulty and reduced lung function. Ozone levels are likely to increase from the present level of 40 parts per billion (PPB) to 63 PPB. The threshold for ground-level ozone is 50 PPB.

The particulate matter (PM 2.5 and PM 10) concentration is likely to increase by 60% to 70%. PM2.5 (fine respirable particles) levels may reach about 180-200 micrograms per cubic metre when the standard is only 60 micrograms per cubic metre. PM10 (coarse particles) levels are likely to be about 260 to 270 micrograms per cubic metre.

“The air from the coastal region will sweep out the air rich in pollutants and dump it on the Indo-Gangetic plains which will affect Delhi, too. The effect from this will also dissipate quickly. But for two days air quality will be very poor. If it rains then PM levels may get better but CO and ozone levels will be high,” said Gufran Beig, chief project scientist, SAFAR. The Indian Meteorological Department forecasts a clear sky on Saturday but for Sunday there are chances of thunderstorm and gusty winds.

The worst air quality is likely to be faced by other parts of Indo-Gangetic plains like Uttar Pradesh and Punjab. DPCC is also gearing up for an awareness drive up to keep air pollution in check during Diwali.

via Hudhud cyclone to hit Delhi’s air quality – The Times of India.

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Days of heavy air pollution blight northern China

Posted on October 10, 2014 by Respro® UK Ltd

Days of heavy smog shrouding swathes of northern China pushed pollution to more than 20 times safe levels on Friday (Oct 10), despite government promises to tackle environmental blight.

Visibility dropped dramatically as measures of small pollutant particles known as PM2.5, which can embed themselves deep in the lungs, reached more than 500 micrograms per cubic metre in parts of Hebei, a province bordering Beijing. The World Health Organization’s guideline for maximum healthy exposure is 25.

In the capital buildings were obscured by a thick haze, with PM2.5 levels in the city staying above 300 micrograms per cubic metre since Wednesday afternoon and authorities issuing an “orange” alert. “It’s very worrying, the main worry is my health,” said a 28-year-old marketing worker surnamed Hu, carrying an anti-smog mask decorated with a pink pig’s nose as she walked in central Beijing.

China has for years been hit by heavy air pollution, caused by enormous use of coal to generate electricity to power a booming economy, and more vehicles on the roads. But public discontent about the environment has grown, leading the government to declare a “war on pollution” and vow to cut coal use in some areas.

Nonetheless poor air quality has persisted with officials continuing to focus on economic growth, and lax enforcement of environmental regulations remains rife. In a sign of growing environmental activism, Greenpeace East Asia projected the message “Blue Sky Now!” onto a facade of the Drum Tower, a historic building north of the Forbidden City.

The pollution – which also hit areas hundreds of kilometres from Beijing – comes as the city hosts a high-profile cycling tournament, the Tour of Beijing, and a Brazil-Argentina football friendly.

Global heads of state from the US, Russia and Asia are set to gather in the capital for a key summit next month. City authorities said Thursday that they would place tighter restrictions on vehicle use during the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting in November, while requesting neighbouring areas to shut down polluting facilities.

But most locals were not wearing protection on Friday, and several people said they believed Beijing was being hit by natural haze, rather than pollution. Even so, sitting in a Beijing park 82-year-old Liu Shuying said: “There are too many cars. I don’t wear a mask because I’m not afraid of death.”

Days of heavy air pollution blight northern China – Channel NewsAsia.

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Beijing Raises Smog Alert as Pollution Envelops North China

Posted on October 9, 2014 by Respro® UK Ltd

Beijing raised its air pollution alert to orange, the second-highest level, triggering limits on some industrial production as smog enveloped northern China for a second day.

The concentration of PM2.5, fine particulates that pose the greatest risk to human health, was 359 micrograms per cubic meter at 11 a.m. nearTiananmen Square in Beijing, the Beijing Municipal Environmental Monitoring Center saidon its website. The WHO recommends 24-hour exposure to PM2.5 at concentrations no higher than 25.

Under the orange alert, people are advised to cut down on outdoor activity, while the elderly and people with heart and lung ailments should stay inside. It was an upgrade from yesterday’s yellowalert, which called for measures such as increased road cleaning and spraying of water at construction sites, according to the Beijing Meteorological Bureau.

Reduced visibility led traffic authorities to close several highways out of Beijing, the official Xinhua News Agency said. The smog is partly the result of farmers burning stalks on their land after the autumn harvest, Xinhua said, citing the environmental protection bureau of Henan province.

Beijing is planning to impose pollution-control measures next month, similar to those enacted ahead of the 2008 Olympics, when leaders of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum gather in the city for an annual summit. In August, the city ordered vehicles off the road to ensure clear skies for an APEC preparation meeting.

The city last month said it has fined hundreds of companies more than $2 million in the first six months of its stepped-up anti-air–pollution campaign.

Beijing’s monitoring center forecasts the pollution will remain heavy until Saturday. Seven cities out of 11 monitored by Hebei province, which surrounds the capital, saw severe pollution today, data from the provincial monitoring center showed.

via Beijing Raises Smog Alert as Pollution Envelops North China – Bloomberg.

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