2014 New Year air pollution in Metro Manila is triple last year’s

Posted on January 3, 2014 by Respro® UK Ltd

Air pollution in Metro Manila after New Year celebrations this year was 3 times worse than the air pollution recorded on the same occasion last year, said the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

The agency found that the average reading for particulate matter 10 microns and below in diameter (also known as PM10) in Metro Manila in the hours after New Year’s Eve celebrations was 1,550 ug/Ncm (micrograms per normal cubic meter of air). This is almost 3 times more than the amount recorded on the same day last year which was 537 ug/Ncm.

PM10 is an important measurement of air pollution. It measures the amount of particulates or tiny solid or liquid matter floating in the air.

Being 10 microns or smaller, these particulates can penetrate the lungs when inhaled. Thus, the PM10 measurement is an important gauge of health risks posed by air pollution.

According to the World Health Organization, the safe PM10 measurement for air quality is 150 ug/Ncm. This means the amount of harmful particles floating in Metro Manila air during the first hours of 2014 was 10 times more than safe levels.

Dire measurements were recorded in different parts of the mega city. Here are the maximum hourly PM10 levels in certain areas measured in the early hours of January 1:

  • San Juan City – 2,000 ug/Ncm
  • Ateneo de Manila University area, Katipunan Avenue – 1,990 ug/Ncm
  • EDSA-Timog Avenue area – 1,450 ug/Ncm
  • Valenzuela City – 1,160 ug/Ncm
  • Taguig City – 1,150 ug/Ncm

Holiday air pollution

Air pollution typically skyrockets during the holiday months of December and January due to more vehicles on the road, more economic activity and the all-night (and sometimes, multi-day) igniting of fireworks, said the DENR.

According to data from the DENR’s Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Station, the average PM10 in Metro Manila at the end of 2012 was 74 ug/Ncm. By March 2013, the figure was only 44.86 ug/Ncm.

Toxic celebrations

Aside from fatalities and blown-off body parts, fireworks can cause damage to the lungs and respiratory system.

A staple at most New Year celebrations in the Philippines, fireworks contain a large amount of tiny toxic particles and heavy metal compounds that are released into the air when they are set off. These toxic particles easily enter the lungs and affect people with asthma and other similar ailments.

Gunpowder fuels the flight of fireworks while metallic compounds give them their flamboyant colors. Though a pretty sight, they can have ugly effects on the environment.

Many of the chemicals released by fireworks stubbornly stay in the environment instead of breaking down into less harmful particles.

Thus, these toxics find their way into bodies of water, making them acidic. They end up in the soil, depleting its nutrients and possibly poisoning animals, plants and other organisms.

In an effort to lessen air pollution caused by fireworks, Environment Secretary Ramon Paje said he strongly supports the proposal of Health Secretary Enrique Ona to ban the individual use of firecrackers. Instead, only accredited groups should be allowed to ignite fireworks from safe areas designated by local governments.

“While the DOH proposal is to reduce the impact of firecrackers on people, this will also benefit the environment in terms of reducing air pollution as the DENR could help in finding the right places for the activity,” he said.

via http://www.rappler.com/

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Shanghai Warns on ‘Moderate’ Air Pollution With PM2.5 Above 100

Posted on January 2, 2014 by Respro® UK Ltd

Shanghai warned children and the elderly to avoid prolonged or heavy outdoor activities as PM2.5 readings exceeded four times the World Health Organization’s recommended level of daily exposure.

The air quality index was 185 as of 9 a.m., signaling “moderate pollution,” the third worst in a six-tier warning system, according to the website of the city’s environmental monitoring center.

The reading for particles smaller than 2.5 microns in diameter that are most dangerous to health was 109.6 micrograms per cubic meter. That compares with the WHO guidelines of no more than 25 for 24-hour exposure.

Shanghai saw record levels of smog last month, forcing flight cancellations and prompting the government to issue warnings to keep children indoors and order vehicles off the road. PM2.5 levels reached 602.2 on Dec. 6.

via Shanghai Warns on ‘Moderate’ Air Pollution With PM2.5 Above 100 – Bloomberg.

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Coal crackdown urged as air pollution breaches rise by 50% in Hunter Valley

Posted on January 2, 2014 by Respro® UK Ltd

The New South Wales government has been urged to ensure all coal wagons and stockpiles are covered, and to reject plans for a new coal terminal in Newcastle, after figures showed a rise in air pollution in parts of the state.

The Hunter Community Environment Centre said its analysis of the Environment Protection Authority’s 2013 data showed a 50% increase in air pollution breaches throughout the year in the Hunter Valley and Newcastle, compared with 2012.

The group, which has campaigned against the mining industry on health grounds, said the national standard for a particle called PM10 was breached 171 times last year.

Significant quantities of PM10 can cause respiratory illnesses, such as asthma, and cardiovascular disease.

The breaches showed the NSW government should block a fourth terminal at Newcastle that would export an additional 70m tonnes a year, the environment group said.

The group is also campaigning for the mining industry to cover coal wagons on trains, which it blames for spreading harmful coal dust. A Senate inquiry last year called for better monitoring of potentially harmful effects, although submissions from the mining industry said covering wagons would be too expensive.

“I was surprised by the number of breaches but also by the EPA, which has steadfastly refused to implement any measures to control pollution,” James Whelan, from the community environment centre, told Guardian Australia.

He said there was no week during the year when the pollution did not exceed national standards.

“And yet on Christmas day the EPA was targeting lawnmowers as a pollution source, which is breathtaking when you consider coal is 4,500 times more polluting. It isn’t acting as a responsible regulator.”

The EPA spokeswoman said air quality in NSW had improved in recent years, despite an increase in population and vehicle use.

“It is important to note that natural events, such as bushfires, dust storms and periods of low rainfall can cause significant year-to-year variation in air quality; however, the EPA recognises the health impacts of air pollution and is working on identifying particulate sources in the Hunter region and reducing emissions through a number of programs,” she said.

“The EPA has undertaken significant work to address community concerns regarding dust emissions from the rail network. We will impose additional requirements on industry if evidence shows that these will be effective in achieving the NEPM [National Environment Protection Measures] standards.”

The NSW department of environment, which monitors air quality, said the breaches were mostly down to bushfires and high winds in October, after a very dry winter.

Stephen Galilee, chief executive of the NSW Minerals council, said the mining industry took air pollution “very seriously”.

“We know mining makes a contribution to air quality, but there are other factors, such as wood smoke from bushfires and home heating, diesel emissions and all sorts of other things,” he said.

“The figures used by James Whelan are terribly misleading. They are using hourly readings where the national standards are taken from a 24-hour average. They are alarming the public as part of an agenda to damage the Hunter mining industry using air quality as a weapon.

“The air in the Hunter is comparable to Sydney, if not better. We are working to reduce dust emissions by 80% and create a predictive weather forecasting system for dry and dusty weather conditions.”

Galilee said there was “no reliable study” showing that covering wagons would reduce coal dust, adding that the industry was “doing it tough” and would be hurt by the cost of adding covers in the face of falling thermal coal prices.

Whelan said this claim was “desperate” and that covering wagons would protect health and save money for the coal industry, by preventing unintentional loss of minerals during transit.

via Coal crackdown urged as air pollution breaches rise by 50% in Hunter Valley | World news | theguardian.com.

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Cities go live with air quality updates

Posted on January 1, 2014 by Respro® UK Ltd

Eighty-seven Chinese cities will begin releasing hourly updates on air quality from New Year’s Day, taking the total number doing so to 161, the Ministry of Environmental Protection announced.

Data will be collected from 449 monitoring stations across the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei area, the Yangtze River Delta and the Pearl River Delta.

The stations have been upgraded to provide real-time updates on levels of sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide and PM2.5 — particles smaller than 2.5 microns in diameter that can damage the lungs — in accordance with China’s improved air quality standards.

The move is a welcome response to complaints by experts and citizens about pollution, ministry spokesman Tao Detian said.

He said the authority has promised to release hourly air quality data in 338 cities from 1,436 monitoring stations by the end of 2015.

The public can access the data via the China National Environmental Monitoring Center’s website — cnemc.cn — or on television and radio.

China has invested 440 million yuan ($72.6 million) to set up monitoring stations, according to the Ministry of Environmental Protection.

Luo Yi, director of the ministry’s monitoring department, said the government is paying close attention to the accuracy and objectivity of the data, and he assured that workers found altering data will be held responsible.

Zhu Jianping, the department’s deputy director, said monitoring air quality will help China to come up with targeted policies to combat pollution, a top concern among Chinese and expatriates.

The effective detection and analysis of data means a more direct approach, he said, adding that 25 cities have already carried out pollution-source studies.

“However, a monitoring study needs to be conducted at a suitable place, not at a roadside with intensive vehicle exhaust emissions nor in a forest park,” Zhu said. “Monitoring should also last for at least a year, covering all four seasons.”

According to a report released on Monday by the Chinese Academy of Sciences, secondary inorganic aerosols — a fine, solid particle comprising sulfate and nitrate that is a result of a photochemical reaction — is responsible for 26 percent of Beijing’s PM2.5. Industrial pollution accounts for 25 percent, burning coal 18 percent, and dust 15 percent.

Vehicle emissions account for about 4 percent, the report said.

The report suggests the city should improve its energy structure and engage in regional cooperation to further reduce pollution.

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Researchers identify primary sources of city air pollution

Posted on December 31, 2013 by Respro® UK Ltd

Research fellows have found the main source of particles with a diameter of less than 2.5 microns in the Beijing air is fossil fuel combustion emissions, Xinhua reported Monday.

A research team at the Institute of Atmospheric Physics in the Chinese Academy of Sciences found six sources: soil dust (15 percent), coal burning (18 percent), biomass burning (12 percent), vehicle gas emissions and garbage burning (4 percent), industrial pollution (25 percent) and secondary inorganic aerosols (26 percent).

Coal burning, industrial pollution and secondary inorganic aerosols combine to form fossil fuel combustion emissions, a total 69 percent of pollutants.

Researchers analyzed samples mainly in downtown Beijing through 2009 and 2010.

In winter, researchers found coal burning was the main culprit. Biomass burning stepped up in spring and fall.

The rapid development of industry around Beijing contributed to the trans-regional pollution transmission.

To combat air pollution, researchers suggest Beijing improve its energy structure as well as cooperate with other regions.

via Researchers identify primary sources of city air pollution – CHINA – Globaltimes.cn.

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Tell us what we don’t know: Hongkongers sceptical of new AQHI

Posted on December 31, 2013 by Respro® UK Ltd

The government’s new Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) launched yesterday to scepticism from the public – and immediately drew attention to terrible air quality for most of the city.

A free smartphone app which issues alerts on real-time air pollution levels and health risks was also launched by the Environmental Protection Department.

Some members of the public felt a new system or software application would not make much of an impact on air quality.

“The air quality in town is always bad,” said Jack But, 28, who works in Causeway Bay. “I don’t think the new index or app would be very helpful to me or in improving the air.”

Student Joey Lam said she would consider downloading the app but questioned whether alerts would change anything.

“So people get alerts every morning, and then what? They’ll probably just look at it and then forget about it,” said Lam. “And what about elderly people who do not have smartphones?”

“Even if the air is visibly bad, the government always finds a way to say it’s fine,” schoolteacher Joe Butler said. “I live in Tung Chung so I can taste and see the bad air. I don’t need an app to tell me how bad it is there.”

A screengrab of the new air quality index app. Photo: SCMP Pictures

The AQHI got up and running without a glitch yesterday morning – and it was bad news as usual in terms of overall air quality.

Pollution levels at all three roadside monitoring stations hit 10 by 6pm yesterday, meaning the risk to health was “very high”.

The department officially replaced its 18-year-old Air Pollution Index (API) in hopes the new AQHI would “better communicate air pollution information to the public to alert them to take precautions as necessary”.

The new index now analyses three-hour average concentrations of four major pollutants, namely ozone, nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide and tiny particles (PM2.5 and PM10) using a scale from 1 to 10, and 10+.

The scale is divided into five health-risk categories – low, moderate, high, very high and serious. Daily forecasts are also issued.

At Causeway Bay yesterday, pollution reached a “very high” level of 10 at 6pm. Levels of PM10 – suspended particles that are harmful to health – hit 134 micrograms per cubic metre, more than double the highest level that the World Health Organisation considers safe.

Central and Mong Kok also hit 10 and a health alert was issued urging children, elderly people and those with heart or respiratory illnesses to “reduce to the minimum” physical exertion and activities outdoors, especially in areas of heavy traffic.

Most of the city’s 12 general stations, including a new one at Tuen Mun, hovered at “moderate” health risk levels of 5 to 7 in the afternoon before deteriorating in the smoggy evening. Central/Western, Sham Shui Po, Kwai Chung, Yuen Long and Tuen Mun reached 9 by 6pm.

Professor Alexis Lau Kai-hon of the University of Science and Technology said the AQHI was an improvement, but needed to offer more detail on short-term health effects of air pollution.

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Air Pollution, Industrial Emissions Choking State

Posted on December 31, 2013 by Respro® UK Ltd

Ever rising number of motor vehicles and widespread construction activities continue to remain major source of pollution in the capital city. The rapid rate of urbanisation with increased economic activity has not only encouraged migration but also led to a rise in transit vehicles, industrial output, and thus contributing to various sources of pollution.

Air pollution is, by far, the biggest of the concerns in Hyderabad, followed by industrial emissions. Statistics from over a period of time show that the Respirable Suspended Particulate Matter (RSPM) level in the city has been rising steadily and crossing acceptable limits most of the times.

Among the many sources of pollution, the transport sector is contributing a significant amount, about 49 per cent to be precise, with a direct correlation to increasing RSPM levels. Bad roads too have contributed immensely to air pollution. Dust as a contributor to air pollution is acknowledged by the Pollution Control Board with 33 per cent. And, to add to these, secondary pollutants, bio mass burning, coal combustion and cement are adjudged as rest of the major contributors to air pollution in the city.

The AP Pollution Control Board has recorded dust pollution levels to be 87 micrograms per cubic metre, exceeding the permissible level of 60 micrograms per cubic metre set by the National Air Monitoring Programme. The annual average of RSPM in the city in the year 2000 was about 120 micrograms per cubic metre and in the year 2010, it was recorded as 84 micrograms per cubic metre.

LITTLE ACTION: The APPCB is monitoring ambient air quality at 21 locations manually and by one Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Station in Hyderabad city. In 2003, the Central government had asked various States including AP to develop an action plan to tackle various kinds of pollution. Subsequently, the Government of Andhra Pradesh prepared an Action Plan in consultation with all the stake holder departments like Transport, APPCB, Civil Supplies, State Oil Co-ordinator, etc. for lowering air pollution in the HUDA area.

Implementation of Bharat state emission standards-III and IV norms, phasing out vehicles (3 and 4 wheelers) of age more than 15 years, replacement of 2 stroke engines, PUC computerised I&M; Construction of fly overs, road widening, outer ring road, BRT, MMTS, MRTS, Parking facilities, synchronisation of the signals, removing of intercepts, providing timers, foot over bridges for pedestrians, etc were the suggested measures. Also, use of low sulphur fuels, LPG, CNG, low benzene petrol, Bio-diesel and checking fuel adulteration, etc were adopted.

A senior environmental scientist at the PCB said, “RSPM levels are the most dangerous component of airborne particulate contamination that leads to diseases like asthma, migraine, cancer and even heart attacks. Various measures as part of the action plan are under different stages of implementation.” Further, he said, health problems due to air pollution are usually high in winter season as the particulate matter does not dispense.

The official added that the Pollution Control Board with support from the World Bank has undertaken remediation of the most polluted and crucial Noor Mohammed Kunta lake in the city. The project would be executed by next year. He admitted not much has been achieved in terms of noise pollution. However, to protect and restore the 450 year old Hussain Sagar Lake in the heart of the city, chemical effluents from electroplating industries are being lifted to common effluent treatment plant in Jeedimetla.

On the other hand, Thakur Rajkumar Singh, a city-based environmentalist says that the lackadaisical attitude of the PCB has hindered any good for the city. “Air and water pollution have been steadily high. Apart from all the measures, government needs to educate public for efficient and effective utilisation of resources and implement programmes on a war footing basis,” he said.

via Air Pollution, Industrial Emissions Choking State – The New Indian Express.

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Beware, there’s something in the Sydney air

Posted on December 30, 2013 by Respro® UK Ltd

SydneyOn a summer’s day in Sydney, the air in the inner city can be cleaner than taking a breath in suburban Richmond, Campbelltown or parts of the lower Blue Mountains. In warmer months we also breathe in more salt, as sea spray travels around the Sydney basin on onshore winds.

But in winter, salt drops, while smoke from household wood-burning fires increases.

For the past 15 years, Sydney’s Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation has measured the city’s air quality and surrounds with a particular focus on the tiny aerosols that circulate but cannot be seen.

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The concentration of these particles varies during the seasons, but, as a whole, fine-particle pollution has serious health implications.

A study published in the Environmental Research Letters journal earlier this year found that 2.1 million people died prematurely each year because of fine-particle pollution, particles less than 2.5 micrometres in diameter. Most deaths were from cardiopulmonary disease and a smaller percentage from lung cancer.

David Cohen, the head of ANSTO’s aerosol-sampling program, said the main components of Sydney’s fine-particle pollution were smoke, sea-salt spray, soil and secondary sulphate.

”Sulphate and sea spray go up in the summer, but the wood burning and the biomass burning goes up in the winter,” Professor Cohen said.

The main sources of these pollutants were diesel vehicle exhausts, wood-fire smoke and coal-fired power station emissions, as well as natural sources such as sea spray and topsoil. Most of the soil was carried from the Riverina agricultural belt by the wind.

Professor Cohen said the city’s pollution could be halved if emissions from coal-fired power stations, wood fires and diesel vehicles were stopped. ”Between 50 and 60 per cent of the sulphate in the Sydney basin is generated by the 25 million tonnes of coal burnt in the eight major power stations in NSW,” Professor Cohen said.

In winter, wood-fire burning was responsible for up to 80 per cent of the pollution in areas such as Richmond and Liverpool, he said. While Sydney’s air was cleaner than it was 20 years ago, partly because leaded petrol vehicles had been phased out, there was still room for improvement, Professor Cohen said.

State and federal governments do not have compulsory limits on fine-particle pollution, only advisory levels. “Even for relatively low-pollution countries such as Australia, atmospheric fine-particle pollution can impact on human health, which is why we measure and track sources.”

Respiratory physician Philip Thompson said fine particles were dangerous because they could penetrate deep into the airways, some even reaching the alveolus, with direct access to the bloodstream.

”The toxic effect appears to be on blood vessels,” said Professor Thompson, the director of the Lung Institute of Western Australia.

The health impacts depended on the fine-particle concentration in the air and how long a person was exposed, he said.

Next year the Council of Australian Governments will consider introducing compliance standards for fine particles.

Barry Buffier, the chief executive of the NSW Environment Protection Authority, said the EPA advocated for compliance standards for fine-particle pollution reporting and would support the introduction of tighter emissions standards for wood heaters, non-road diesel engines and small spark ignition engines.

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