Greenpeace: Bulgaria 1st in Europe by Air Pollution

Posted on November 12, 2013 by Respro® UK Ltd

The highest in Europe air pollution with sulfur dioxide and fine dust particles per produced kWh of electricity has been registered in Bulgaria, according to the Bulgarian office of the international eco-organization Greenpeace.

Greenpeace cited Monday their own research report.

According to the report, over 2000 people in Bulgaria die prematurely due to air pollution from Thermal Power Plants, TPPs. The number of victims of TPP coal burning exceed four times the number of traffic fatalities in the country. Over 3000 adults and 2600 children suffer from respiratory diseases, and another 3700 experience reduced job performance. 2000 are on sick leave every day over the problem.

“Prolonged exposure to air pollution from coal heating significantly increases the risk of chronic diseases of the cardiovascular system, the respiratory tract, as well as malignant diseases,” said Filka Sekulova, PhD of Economic Ecology from the University of Barcelona and member of the environmental organization, cited by Nova TV.

Greenpeace warned about an increase in the number of people with cancer in the region of Stara Zagora in recent years, which is designated in the report as the most problematic spot.

via Greenpeace: Bulgaria 1st in Europe by Air Pollution – Novinite.com – Sofia News Agency.

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Air pollution surprises Iranians living in Tehran

Posted on November 12, 2013 by Respro® UK Ltd

Air pollution hits Tehran early this year.

Although Iranians have to deal with increase amounts of air pollution during winter in the capital, this air pollution has started in the autumn season. Since Saturday the government has closed elementary schools and has advised offices to close almost 2 hrs early due to the increase in air pollution. The senior weather analyst at the Islamic Republic of Iran Meteorological Center believes the pollution comes from vehicles on the congested roads of Tehran which populates more than 13.5 million people.

Air pollution is measured in particle matter of 2.5 microns in diameter or PM 2.5, were clean air is between 0-50, safe air is 50-100, 100-150 is considered not safe, 150-200 is warning while over 200 is emergency level. Sunday Tehran reached over 150 PM 2.5 microns.

Tehran’s Provincial Governor, Hossein Hashemi explained what other measures the government to insure the safety of Iranian citizens especially children during when sharp increases in air pollution occur.

To reduce air pollution last year the government implemented a project which included producing over 40 million liters of gasoline and diesel based on Euro 4 and 5 standards until March of this year.

via PressTV – Air pollution surprises Iranians living in Tehran.

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Petrol or diesel?

Posted on November 11, 2013 by Respro® UK Ltd

The lack of recent progress in cleaning urban air can be blamed on the steady increase in diesel vehicles our roads; over half of new cars are now diesel, compared to just 14% in 2000.

It is harder to control pollution from diesels than from petrol, and for this reason, European standards for diesel exhaust have not been as strict as those from petrol cars. Access to low emission zones in Germany reflect the difference in pollution emissions with open access being permitted for petrol cars made after 1993 but only for the most modern diesels. It is also becoming clear that the technologies to control some types of pollution from diesels are not effective during real-world driving.

The air pollution penalty from diesel cars is often justified in terms of the saving in CO2 emissions compared with petrol. However, new analysis is calling this orthodox view into question. If climate warming emissions of black soot are considered along with the difficulties of producing sufficient diesel to meet demand, then the climate change benefits from diesel largely disappear.

Japan has taken a different course. Through innovation in petrol engine technologies it has been able to reduce average car CO2 emissions faster and more effectively than Europe without the urban air pollution problems from diesel cars. Additionally, with the recent classification of diesel exhaust as carcinogenic, it might be time to reconsider the recent boom in diesel fuel use across the UK and Europe.

via Pollutionwatch: Petrol or diesel? | Environment | The Guardian.

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Tehran schools ordered shut over air pollution

Posted on November 11, 2013 by Respro® UK Ltd

Air pollution has forced Iranian authorities to close elementary schools and kindergartens in Tehran province for three days from Sunday, the state broadcaster said.

Schools had already been closed due to pollution on Sunday, while government agencies were to shorten working hours on Monday and Tuesday as pollution has reached alarming levels.

Sunday’s decision to extend the school closure for more two days was made by a crisis committee on air pollution, the broadcaster said.

In addition, alternate-day driving restrictions had been imposed for private vehicles based on plate numbers, it said.

A constant woe for the eight million residents of the Iranian capital, pollution is blamed on bumper-to-bumper traffic and factories in the vicinity of the city wedged between two mountains, thus trapping fumes.

The poor air quality is also exacerbated by reliance on domestic production of petrol of a lower quality, and therefore more polluting, a byproduct of Western sanctions on Iran’s fuel imports.

Efforts by officials to boost public transport, including extending the metro and establishing lanes for buses only, have barely dented the problem because of the growing number of cars, many of which are old and inefficient.

With four of its cities among the world’s 10 most polluted, other parts of the country also struggle with pollution.

In 2012, air pollution contributed to nearly 4,500 premature deaths in Tehran alone and nearly 80,000 across the country, according to figures by the health ministry.

Dozens of people were hospitalised last week in the southwestern city of Ahvaz, and thousands rushed to get medical assistance as pollution levels reached dangerous levels.

One of the most polluted cities in the world, Ahvaz is located in oil-rich southwestern province of Khuzestan.

via Tehran schools ordered shut over air pollution – FRANCE 24.

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Smoggy Beijing sees lung cancer cases soar

Posted on November 9, 2013 by Respro® UK Ltd

The number of lung cancer cases in the Chinese capital Beijing has soared over the last decade.

According to figures published by the state-run Xinhua news agency, they have increased by more than 50%.

Beijing health officials say smoking is still the number one cause of lung cancer, but they admit air pollution is also a factor.

The World Health Organization (WHO) recently estimated that polluted air kills millions of people every year.

Pollution kills millions

Xinhua said the latest figures – which are for only one city and one disease – were issued by Beijing municipal health bureau.

They show the number of lung cancer patients per 100,000 people was 39.56 in 2002, but had jumped to 63.09 by 2011.

The article gave no reason for the increase in patients.

Beijing health officials said lung cancer was linked to lifestyle choices, with smoking still the top cause. But they said passive smoking and air pollution could also be a factor.

Last month the WHO issued a scientific report detailing the link between air pollution and a number of different diseases and illness.

It estimated that breathing in fine particles contributed to 3.2 million premature deaths a year across the world and killed more than 200,000 from lung cancer.

\”More than half of the lung cancer deaths attributable to ambient fine particles were projected to have been in China and other East Asian countries,\” said the WHO.

Chinese people are becoming increasingly worried about the health problems caused by the thick air pollution that often blankets much of their country, a result of rapid economic expansion coupled with poorly enforced laws designed to protect the environment.

Earlier this week it was reported that a eight-year-old girl in Jiangsu province had become the country\’s youngest lung cancer patient. Air pollution was blamed.

The hospital that was supposed to be treating her denied the reports, but the outcry caused by the story shows just how concerned people have become.

via BBC News – Smoggy Beijing sees lung cancer cases soar.

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Shanghai smog: Air pollution covers city

Posted on November 8, 2013 by Respro® UK Ltd

Shanghai residents awoke this morning to find the city covered in a dense smog, as air quality in the city hit ‘severe pollution’ levels.

Residents were advised to stay indoors where possible when the Shanghai Environment Agency measured pollution at level five out of a possible six, according to the South China Morning Post.

Air pollution is a major problem in China due to the country’s rapid pace of industrialisation, reliance on coal power, explosive growth in vehicle ownership and disregard for environmental laws.

The Shanghai air quality index registered the air pollution Quality Index at 271, which it categorised as ‘very unhealthy’

Many shared photos on social media of buildings barely visible and shrouded by the blanket of smog which has been covering Beijing for weeks.

Education authorities issued alerts to schools suggesting that children do not participate in outdoor activities.

via Shanghai smog: Air pollution covers city – Asia – World – The Independent.

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Review: Respro® Techno™ Mask and Allergy™ Mask tested by VOLT

Posted on November 7, 2013 by Respro® UK Ltd

VoltThe consumer programme VOLT by Belgian TV channel één have tested the Respro® Techno™ Mask and the Respro® Allergy™ Mask.

“Goed nieuws voor wie veel in de stad fietst of sport. Er is een masker op de markt dat je beschermt tegen de kwalijke gevolgen van fijn stof. Met het Respro-masker aan, adem je niets dan propere lucht in, ook als je door de Wetstraat jogt of door het centrum van Antwerpen fietst. Kobe neemt de proef op de som in een nieuwe Volt-reclametest.”

Good news for the many who bike or exercise in the city. There is a mask on the market that protects you against the harmful effects of particulate matter. With the Respro mask on, all you breathe is clean air, even when you jog or cycle through Wetstraat in the centre of Antwerp. Kobe is giving it a try in a new Volt product test.

Watch on YouTube

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Air pollution death rate up in half of London boroughs

Posted on November 7, 2013 by Respro® UK Ltd

The death rate as a result of air pollution has got worse in almost half of London boroughs, Department of Health figures have shown.

The West London borough of Hillingdon topped the national ‘league of shame’ for the biggest increase in deaths, up to 6.86 per cent.

The City of London remained the worst local authority area in the country with 8.94 per cent of total deaths attributable to dangerous airborne gases, although it actually registered a small improvement.

It was followed by the central London boroughs of Westminster and Kensington & Chelsea.

According to the figures, which are for 2011, death rates worsened in 15 of 33 boroughs across the capital, making air quality in London the worst in the UK and among the worst in Europe.

More than 4,000 Londoners are thought to die prematurely each year because of long-term exposure to airborne pollution.

Those living in inner-city areas breathe in the most polluted air, with high levels of fine particulate matter of a concentration level known as PM2.5.

Overall the UK showed a very slight improvement, meaning that pressure will grow on Mayor Boris Johnson to do more to tackle air pollution in London.

Green peer Baroness Jenny Jones said: “It is extremely disappointing that so many Londoners are being exposed to even higher levels of pollution from vehicles.

“The Mayor tells us he is acting to reduce pollution, but whatever he is doing, it’s clearly not enough. He must act now to bring effective measures to protect Londoners from excessive, dangerous and illegal levels of vehicular pollution”.

But a spokesman for Mr Johnson said: “Since the Mayor took office emissions of oxides of nitrogen are down by an estimated 20 per cent.

“That is because of an ambitious package of measures including building Europe’s largest fleet of low emission hybrid buses, retiring the oldest taxis and introducing tighter emission standards for lorries and vans. Clearly there is still more to do.”

Airborne pollution in the form of fine particulate matter emanates mostly from combustion sources, including transport, domestic and industrial sources, and aggravates respiratory and cardiovascular conditions.

Research shows these particles are likely to be inhaled deep into the respiratory tract and have a disproportionate impact on children due to their smaller lung capacity.

via Air pollution death rate up in half of London boroughs – London – News – London Evening Standard.

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