Technology, food additives and air pollution is causing people to develop dementia earlier than ever, says leading scientist

Posted on May 14, 2013 by Respro® UK Ltd

Modern life is causing dementia to develop earlier than ever, according to new research.

Experts have found that more people are developing the symptoms of mental decline of dementia and scientists have blamed PCs, mobile phones, chemicals and electronic devices for the shift.

The study, carried out by Bournemouth University, found that deaths as a result of neurological illness rose in all 16 countries covered by the research.

Researchers found a sharp rise in the deaths from dementia and other neurological disease in under-74s, and believe that the figures cannot be explained away by the fact we live longer.

Professor Colin Pritchard, who led the study, said: ‘[This rise] cannot be genetic because the period is too short.

‘Whilst there will be some influence of more elderly people, it does not account for the earlier onset; the differences between countries nor the fact that more women have been affected, as their lives have changed more than men’s over the period.’

continue reading Technology, food additives and air pollution is causing people to develop dementia earlier than ever, says leading scientist | Mail Online.

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Air pollution clouds Chile’s cities, new law protects Costa Rica’s wildlife, and solar power brings energy to Mexico’s mountains

Posted on May 14, 2013 by Respro® UK Ltd

The Chilean government has approved new legislation to regulate emissions from the country’s mining smelters. The new law aims to reduce emissions of sulfur dioxide and arsenic by 53% and 37%, respectively. The regulated companies will have up to five years to implement new emissions abatement technologies in their plants, adjustments that are expected to require approximately US$1.5 billion in new investment. (Fundación Terram 5/4/2013)

continue reading Latin America Green News: air pollution clouds Chile’s cities, new law protects Costa Rica’s wildlife, and solar power brings energy to Mexico’s mountains | Denée Reaves’s Blog | Switchboard, from NRDC.

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Ground-level ozone causes spring smog

Posted on May 13, 2013 by Respro® UK Ltd

During the 1950s when London was enveloped in pea-souper smogs, Los Angeles was struggling with a quite different air pollution problem. The London smogs were caused by coal smoke becoming trapped in the city in cold still conditions, whereas Los Angeles smogs were caused by traffic pollutants reacting in strong sunshine to produce ozone at ground-level. Ozone is very reactive and these smogs were first characterised because of their damage to rubber and crops before human health effects were fully recognised. With increasing road traffic in the 1970s summertime smog started to be problem in the UK too, especially around London during the 1976 heat-wave.

Early researchers would have been puzzled to see ground-level ozone breaching World Health Organisation guidelines across the UK during late March and early April this year. At this time some places still had laying snow and daytime temperatures were only just above freezing. This ozone was not caused by pollution from a single city. It was due to the build up of pollutants over the whole northern hemisphere during the winter, with contributions from Europe, North America and Asia forming a reservoir of pollutants ready to react in the spring sunshine. Three-way catalysts on petrol cars have gone a long way to control summertime smog in Europe and North America. However, despite many millions of people being exposed to springtime ozone above human health thresholds there is no explicit international mechanism to tackle the methane and carbon monoxide emissions that are causing ozone to increase globally.

via Pollutionwatch: Ground-level ozone causes spring smog | Environment | The Guardian.

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Air pollution could raise diabetes risk

Posted on May 10, 2013 by Respro® UK Ltd

Researchers found that children living in areas with higher levels of air pollution, for example from exhaust fumes, are more likely to develop insulin resistance, a precursor to type 2 diabetes, by the age of 10.

Previous studies have shown that women in heavily polluted areas tend to have smaller babies, and low birth weight is known to raise the risk of type 2 diabetes, providing a possible explanation for the figures.

Air pollutants could also react with fats and proteins to cause cell damage or lead to higher levels of inflammation in the body, both of which could lead to insulin resistance, researchers said.

Scientists from Helmholtz Zentrum in Munich studied blood samples from 397 10-year-olds and estimated each child’s average daily exposure to pollution from exhaust fumes.

Results showed that children living in areas with higher levels of pollutants such as nitrogen dioxide in the air were significantly more likely to develop insulin resistance.

For every additional 500m in proximity between a child’s home and the nearest main road, the chance of their developing insulin resistance increased by seven per cent, according to findings published in the Diabetologia journal.

The researchers plan to follow up with the same children in 15 years to examine whether those who moved to cleaner areas saw any change in their condition.

continue reading Air pollution could raise diabetes risk – Telegraph.

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Air pollution increasing acidity of Arctic Ocean

Posted on May 9, 2013 by Respro® UK Ltd

On top of record ice melts the Arctic Ocean is reportedly experiencing a greater rate of carbon dioxide absorption than previously thought. The increase in the amount of carbon dioxide being absorbed is making the waters more acidic, risking the lives of fish and wildlife in the area.

The cold water of the Arctic absorbs carbon dioxide more than the warmer water of other oceans. A report published by the Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme said that the world’s surface waters are now on average 30 per cent more acidic than they were at the beginning of the industrial revolution.

The increased acidity of the water can cause massive problems for marine life. Excess carbon dioxide in the water means that crabs and shellfish can develop problems with growing their shells and fish reproduction could also be affected. Not only does water acidity affect the wildlife, but as a result it can negatively influence the livelihoods of indigenous people.

International fishing industries – already under pressure as the global supply of fish for consumption starts diminishing – could be hugely affected as the chemical formulation of seawater affects herring and cod numbers.

Richard Bellerby, lead author of the report, said to the Independent: “Sea urchins, in particular, are very sensitive to acidification and are a major food source for marine mammals like walruses, as are some of the plankton, which are important food for fish. This could have significant implications for large economically important regions like the Canadian archipelago, the waters north of Alaska and the Barents Sea.”

The Arctic is also being made more vulnerable by the higher levels of freshwater flowing into it. This water comes from melting land-ice and rivers and is not as beneficial in terms of neutralising the effects of carbon dioxide in the water. This is combined with the higher levels of Arctic sea ice melting, creating a larger surface area that can absorb the carbon dioxide from the air.

Although the higher absorption rate of carbon dioxide reduces the impact of global warming, it is – overall – incredibly damaging to marine life.

via Air pollution increasing acidity of Arctic Ocean – May 08 2013 12:03 PM – Breaking News – Pollution Solutions Online.

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New alliance to push for air quality improvement

Posted on May 8, 2013 by Respro® UK Ltd

A major new alliance to push for better air quality was launched in Dublin this afternoon – amid a spirited row between environmentalist Duncan Stewart and Minister for Environment Phil Hogan.

Chief executive of the Asthma Society of Ireland Sharon Cosgrove took the chair to launch the new alliance, to be known as Inhale, which she said was being formed to achieve better outcomes for more than half million people who suffered from asthma – a feature which she said was costing the State some €533million per year.

Other backers of the new alliance introduced by Ms Cosgrove included respiratory consultants, professors Stephen Lane and Luke Clancy ; Professor and researcher Pat Goodman of DIT; An Taisce’s policy director James Nix and broadcaster and environmentalist Duncan Stewart.

Speaking as he arrived from a Cabinet meeting Mr Hogan paid tribute to former minister Mary Harney for the ban on smokey coal – which he said was being extended to towns with a population above 15,000. He said he had reached agreement with the Northern authorities to consider over the next three years, an all-Ireland ban on smokey coal.

Mr Hogan also said he had chosen air quality as a priority for Ireland’s EU presidency and substantial progress was being made in discussions with the EU Commission on this policy.

continue reading New alliance to push for air quality improvement – Environmental News | The Irish Times – Tue, May 07, 2013.

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Respro®’s response to mask sizes for women

Posted on May 7, 2013 by Respro® UK Ltd

PINK SPORTSTAFurther to the article “New Travel Accessory for Beijing: Gas Masks” we feel that the overriding message regrettably places Respro® products as unsuitable for women. This simply is not the case. When it comes to masks there is no need to differentiate between men and women other than to offer guidance to purchase the correct size.

Our products are available in 4 sizes. Small, Medium, Large and Extra Large.
Small being the mask for small adults and children above the age of 10 or less than around five foot tall or light build. The Medium mask we offer is suitable for the standard size females or small males.  The large is for average size men and above average females.

The article places women in a position of uncertainty instead of sound advice as to how best to resolve the situation and find a solution to poor air quality whilst men on the other hand should have no problem.

We have a policy of  keeping people informed and up to date with relevant information on pollution and how to resolve any possible threat to health. Our Bulletin Board is consistently monitoring for articles on global pollution with the express purpose of keeping people objectively informed; hence us coming across this article and responding to it.

We have been providing our goods and services for over 20 years and believe that our products are appropriate and intrinsically valuable for general populations ensuring their wellbeing in environments where poor air quality exists. It would be a real shame if women reading this article felt that they were being excluded from this endeavour.

For more information on Respro® mask sizing, please use our size guide.

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FAQ: These bendy nose things, how far should I bend them?

Posted on May 7, 2013 by Respro® UK Ltd

These bendy nose things, how far should I bend them?

The malleable nose clip deforms easily so that a good fit can be formed around the bridge of the nose. Continuous or exaggerated deformation will eventually cause failure in the metal – it will snap. Once a good fit has been found, it is best to maintain the shape, rather than folding it flat when storing it or when not in use.

For more FAQ,  go to Respro® Mask FAQ

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