Respro® Bulletin Board

Obama tightens air pollution limits

Posted on December 17, 2012 by Respro® UK Ltd

The Obama administration has set new limits on a deadly form of air pollution – and risked a backlash from industry early in a second term – by tightening restrictions on soot from smoke stacks and diesel engines.

The new rules from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will reduce the amount of soot released from power plants, diesel engines, refineries, and other industries.

The microscopic particles are linked to early death and higher rates of heart attacks, strokes and lung diseases, such as asthma.

The EPA administration in announcing the new standards on Friday promised sweeping public health benefits. “Families from around the country will benefit from the simple fact of being able to breathe cleaner air,” said Jackson, adding that her two sons suffered from asthma.

The rules, finalised in response to a court-ordered deadline, were strenuously opposed by industry groups and by some members of Congress, setting up the stage for heightened confrontation during Obama’s second term.

The administration is expected to roll out other pollution controls, which were put on hold in an election year.

via Obama tightens air pollution limits | Environment | guardian.co.uk.

Posted in Air Quality, USA & Canada | Tagged Air Pollution, American Lung Association, Asthma, California, diesel exhaust fumes, heart disease, particle pollution, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), USA | Leave a comment

Air pollution at Waverley seven times higher than safety limits

Posted on December 16, 2012 by Respro® UK Ltd

Exhaust fumes from trains and taxis, coupled with toxic dust kicked up by construction works, are endangering the health of commuters, tourists and workers – particularly those with asthma, lung or heart conditions, experts say.

Politicians have reacted with shock and horror to the revelations, and are demanding urgent action to protect the 25 million people who use the station annually. Network Rail, the company that runs Waverley, says it is doing what it can to cut the pollution.

Waverley, situated in a low, glass-roofed hollow in the centre of the capital, is one of the busiest stations in the UK outside London. It seems it may also be one of the most polluted.

It is the only British mainline railway station that still allows vehicles, including taxis, private cars and delivery trucks, to drive right inside it. It is also three-quarters of the way through a four-year, £100 million revamp, which means almost constant cutting, drilling and pounding, confining passengers under scaffolding and awnings.

To help assess the risks of air pollution, Network Rail commissioned consultants to monitor the station continually for three weeks in October and November. Their report was released to the Sunday Herald last week, after repeated requests.

Scientists measured levels of nitrogen dioxide, a gas emitted by vehicle exhausts that damages the lungs, blood and immune system, at four locations around the concourse. They found average levels varying from 205 to 304 micrograms per cubic metre, compared with the annual average “air quality standard” of 40 required by European law.

via Air pollution at Waverley seven times higher than safety limits | Herald Scotland.

Posted in Air Quality, UK | Tagged Air Pollution, diesel exhaust fumes, Health Effects of Air Pollution, Nitrogen Dioxide NO2, Scotland, Waverley | Leave a comment

65% air pollution deaths in Asia: Study

Posted on December 15, 2012 by Respro® UK Ltd

Outdoor air pollution has been listed as one of the top ten killers in the world, with 65 percent of the air pollution deaths occurring in Asia and close to quarter of this in India, according to a study released Friday.

Global Burden of Disease (GBD) count, a global initiative involving the WHO, tracks deaths and illnesses from all causes across the world.

According to the study, in south Asia, outdoor air pollution is ranked as the sixth-most dangerous killer. It is now three places behind indoor air pollution, which is the second-highest killer in this region.

Air pollution causes 3.2 million deaths worldwide.

via 65% air pollution deaths in Asia: Study.

Posted in Air Quality, Asia | Tagged Air Pollution, Health Effects of Air Pollution, India, World Heath Organization (WHO) | Leave a comment

New air pollution standards restrict soot particles

Posted on December 15, 2012 by Respro® UK Ltd

The Obama administration announced a new air pollution standard Friday that would bring about a 20% reduction in microscopic particles of soot emitted by coal-fired power plants and diesel vehicles that contribute to haze and respiratory ailments.

The new limit, fought by industry and welcomed by environmentalists, marks the first time the Environmental Protection Agency tightened the soot standard since it was established 15 years ago.

“These standards are fulfilling the promise of the Clean Air Act,” said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson. “We will save lives and reduce the burden of illness in our communities, and families across the country will benefit from the simple fact of being able to breathe cleaner air.”

Fine particles from burning fossil fuels can penetrate deep into the lungs and lead to heart attacks, acute asthma and premature death, according to the EPA. The new limit that the EPA set for an annual average of airborne fine particles in a given jurisdiction is 12 micrograms per cubic meter, down from 15 micrograms, a standard established in 1997.

The new standard will have a particular impact on California, due to problems from the burning of diesel fuel. According to the EPA’s regional office of the Pacific Southwest, seven California counties may not meet the new standard by 2020: Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino, Imperial, Kern, Merced and Tulare. Still, over the last decade, soot levels have been cut by almost 50% in the Los Angeles area and almost 30% in the San Joaquin Valley, the office said.

via New air pollution standards restrict soot particles – latimes.com.

Posted in Air Quality, USA & Canada | Tagged Air Pollution, California, fine particles, Health Effects of Air Pollution, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), USA | Leave a comment

The Strangest Thing You’ll See Today: Air Pollution Represented By Nostril-Hair Length

Posted on December 14, 2012 by Respro® UK Ltd

The colored balloons on this map of Asia represent current levels of air pollution, namely particulate pollution, which are at harmful levels for nearly 70% of developing Asian cities, according to Clean Air Asia. But the brightly colored dots on the map probably weren’t what caught your eye — maybe it was the giant pigtails sprouting from the lone nose on the right?

The nostril hair visualization is part of a strange campaign to raise awareness about the severity of air pollution in Asian cities. It is aptly titled the Hairy Nose campaign (Clean Air Asia probably figured that mildly offensive nostril hair was more compelling than a list of polluted cities?).

clean air asia

Turns out that nose hairs aren’t completely random–in fact they’re pretty important in straining out the harmful things we breathe in. Last year Popular Science reported that “nose hairs trap dirt, viruses, bacteria and toxins until we blow them out, sneeze, or swallow,” so maybe it’s not that strange after all to think about air pollution in terms of how much nostril hair we might eventually need to breathe safely.

via The Strangest Thing You’ll See Today: Air Pollution Represented By Nostril-Hair Length | Popular Science.

Posted in Air Quality, Asia | Tagged Air Pollution, Clean Air Asia, PM - Particulate Matter | Leave a comment

Iran shuts down 40 plants over air pollution

Posted on December 13, 2012 by Respro® UK Ltd

Tehran authorities forced to temporarily close dozens of factories over pollution violations; MP projects daily loss of 800 billion rials

Tehran authorities were recently forced to temporarily shut down 40 industrial facilities, including cement and tar production plants due to alarming level of air pollution.

Deputy Head of Iran’s Environment Protection Organization (IEPO) Ali-Mohammad Shaeri told the Mehr News Agency that as part of the measures taken to control the situation, Tehran’s main cement factory was allowed to use just 40% of its capacity until further notice.

One MP projected that the daily loss to the Iranian economy stood at 800 billion rials (roughly $65 million).

The extreme pollution levels also prompted the temporary closure of schools, universities and government offices in the Iranian capital last week.

via Report: Iran shuts down 40 plants over air pollution – Israel Environment, Ynetnews.

Posted in Air Quality, Iran, Middle East | Tagged Air Pollution, Iran, Iran's Environment Protection Organization (IEPO), Tehran | Leave a comment

Give your opinion on how to improve EU air quality policy

Posted on December 12, 2012 by Respro® UK Ltd

The European Commission is holding a public consultation on the best way to improve air quality in Europe. For the next twelve weeks, interested parties are invited to share their views on ways to ensure full implementation of the existing framework, to improve it, and to complement it with supporting actions. The results of the consultation will feed into a comprehensive review of Europe’s air policies due in 2013. The consultation is open until 4 March 2013.

Air pollution and the associated threats to the environment and human health continue to be a concern for many EU citizens. Despite progress in the past decades resulting from legislation to reduce harmful pollutants such as sulphur dioxide, lead, nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide and benzene, some pollutants are still causing problems. Summer smog, potentially harmful ground-level ozone and fine particles that pose significant health risks regularly exceed safe limits. Consequently, exposure to air pollution still causes over 350,000 premature deaths in the EU every year.

The consultation is divided into two parts – a short questionnaire for the general public, and a more extensive set of questions for experts and practitioners from national administrations, regional and local authorities, researchers, businesses, stakeholders, health, environmental and other groups with experience in implementing EU air quality legislation.

via Environment: Give your opinion on how to improve EU air quality policy – The Information Daily.com.