Welsh Government accused of ‘misleading’ public over air pollution

Posted on October 19, 2012 by Respro® UK Ltd

The Welsh Government has been accused of “misleading” the Welsh public on the extent of air pollution in Wales after figures appeared to contradict its claim the situation was improving.

Environmental campaigners said that while the Welsh Government claimed air quality in Wales was “continuing to improve”, the actual levels of several potentially harmful pollutants were rising.

Friends of the Earth Cymru said that evidence showed that five out of seven emission substances showed increases between 2009 and 2010 – the latest available data – including cancer-causing pollutants.

The indicator revealed that, in the same period, there was a 22% increase in levels of lead in the atmosphere – from 11 tonnes to 13 tonnes.

Lead is known to accumulate in the body and can cause organ damage, and exposure to high levels can cause serious brain damage. Children are known to be particularly susceptible to health problems from lead exposure.

via Welsh Government accused of ‘misleading’ public over air pollution – Wales News – News – WalesOnline.

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INDIA: Air pollution to be monitored during festivities

Posted on October 18, 2012 by Respro® UK Ltd

Talking of pollution in the festive season may sound awkward but the fact is that the air and sound pollution during this season increases manifold and is a cause of concern, except for the puja organizers and authorities concerned.

“Sensitive areas of the city are monitored and any breach in guidelines is reported to district authorities concerned. However, we try to create more awareness regarding pollution control to minimize its adverse impact on environment,” chairman, Bihar State Pollution Control Board (BSPCB), Subhash Chandra Singh said on Wednesday.

Singh said the ‘ambient’ air pollution would also be monitored this Dussehra. He also advised the organizers to “use non-toxic materials in making of idols” as the toxic materials used in idols pollute the water bodies after their immersion in rivers.

In 2011, there was no monitoring of pollution level during Dussehra. However, this year, the ‘ambient’ air pollution will be monitored for four days at Gandhi Maidan and Beltron Bhawan, Shastri Nagar, the BSPCB officials said. The level of suspended particles such as sulphur dioxide and oxides of nitrogen would also be monitored.

via Air pollution to be monitored during festivities – The Times of India.

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Official air pollution data in Beijing still failing the public

Posted on October 17, 2012 by Respro® UK Ltd

Trial release of real-time air pollution data in Beijing ignites concerns over reliability of official reports, says China-based analyst who first broke data manipulation story in 2008.

Real-time reporting of fine particulate pollution levels recently began at nearly all 35 monitoring stations around Beijing. Even monitoring stations near roadways – shut down before the Olympics to manufacture improvements in reported air quality – have been reopened, and with better equipment.

But, with air pollution levels again reaching hazardous levels, China Daily voiced the continuing frustrations with the government reporting in a news story headlined: ”Air monitoring system comes under fire”. While the article highlighted complaints about the government keeping the data secret and not allowing access to archived data, the real issue is what the new monitoring has already revealed.

The US embassy twitter reports of hazardous air pollution on October 8, 2012, in Beijing – viewed by tens of thousands of Chinese on their smartphones – were not surprising. What was shocking was that the trial reporting by the Beijing Environmental Monitoring Center was also listing air quality as “severely polluted”. At the same time, however, the still official reporting by the Beijing Environmental Protection Bureau based on coarse particulate was only “slight” air pollution.

via Official air pollution data in Beijing still failing the public.

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Perm Smells Bad

Posted on October 17, 2012 by Respro® UK Ltd

Perm residents complain of a strong smell of gas, which is felt in several parts of the city. Urban services are at a loss where he could cause unpleasant odor. According to official data, there are no leaks in the Permian plants were not. Nevertheless, the number of complaints is increasing. Two years ago, a similar story has ended the criminal case.

Читать полностью: http://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?depth=1&hl=en&rurl=translate.google.ru&sl=ru&tl=en&u=http://www.gazeta.ru/social/2012/10/15/4812625.shtml&usg=ALkJrhi8BeqNghRuMgUlbloF2y4EYsLiOw

http://www.gazeta.ru/social/2012/10/15/4812625.shtml

 

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State to monitor air pollution during Puja

Posted on October 17, 2012 by Respro® UK Ltd

KOLKATA: Environment minister Sudarshan Ghosh Dastidar flagged off two manual mobile air quality monitoring stations on Tuesday. These will measure air pollution during Durga Puja.

The West Bengal Pollution Control Board (WBPCB) will set up environment awareness stalls in several parts of the city and 105 puja committees are vying for the Green Puja Awards.

The monitoring stations will measure three basic parameters – respirable particulate matters, sulphur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide – at different locations across the city. These three are regularly measured at 18 stations across the state, including new stations in Jalpaiguri, Siliguri, Malda, Kalyani and Uluberia.

The Green Puja Awards were introduced last year to motivate organisers to make the celebration environment-friendly. Last year, only 29 organisers contested; 105 have joined the contest this year. The WBPCB will operate 12 environmental awareness stalls in 11 pandals. Banners bearing environmental messages will be displayed in puja pandals, municipalities and police stations.

via State to monitor air pollution during Puja – The Times of India.

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FAQ: How do the Sportsta™ and City™ mask differ?

Posted on October 16, 2012 by Respro® UK Ltd

How do the Sportsta™ and City™ mask differ?

Aside from the differences in filtration (explained below), the Sportsta™ mask offers the wearer increased comfort over the City™ mask for the following two reasons:

1. The Powa valves incorporated in the Sportsta™ have a larger bore size than the Standard valves allowing heat, water vapour and Carbon dioxide to be exhaled more efficiently through the valve system and not through the filter material. The larger bore size also allows a sports person to compete at peak physical exertion without experiencing breathing resistance when exhaling.

2. The sides of the Sportsta™ mask have mesh side panels to assist ventilation of the face, keeping the user cool.

For more FAQ,  see Respro® Mask FAQ

Posted in Air Quality | 2 Comments

Pollution blackspot never fully tested

Posted on October 16, 2012 by Respro® UK Ltd

THE true extent of pollution at the Air Balloon roundabout is unknown because it is not considered a major road, the Standard can reveal.

A 2011 report found harmful Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) levels exceeded national air quality standards. But other pollutants have never been measured at the A417.

Cotswold District Council’s head of public protection Kate Bishop said national guidance only required levels to be taken on “major roads”, which do not include single carriageways, despite the road’s 30,000 daily vehicle movements.

But she said air pollution would be reduced when the Government fulfilled its promise to improve tthe road.

Local residents say the pollution has caused respiratory illness because they are inhaling the same “black smut” that their homes are covered in.

via Pollution blackspot never fully tested (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard).

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Air pollution closely linked to heart health

Posted on October 15, 2012 by Respro® UK Ltd

A SUDDEN REDUCTION OF air pollution might improve adverse cardiovascular effects in healthy adults, according to a study that tracked pollutants and compared levels to blood markers before, during and after Beijing’s 2008 Olympic games.

This is the first major study to examine the biological link between short-term air pollution reductions and cardiovascular diseases in young adults who have no health problems. The study suggests that even healthy people can benefit from a temporary decline in air pollution.

Beijing is a megacity well known for its extreme levels of air pollution. To improve air quality for the 2008 Olympic games, vehicle use was restricted and numerous industrial factories in the city and nearby provinces were closed.

The changes led to a 60 per cent drop in air pollution emissions. At the same time, the levels of two heart markers linked with cardiovascular disease improved in young, healthy adults, the study shows.

When factory work and traffic returned to normal after the games, air pollution emissions rose rapidly and the levels of the heart health markers returned to previous levels.

A few human studies have examined the impacts of reduced air pollution on cardiovascular diseases. This study went further by trying to identify underlying mechanisms. In addition, the researchers looked at young, healthy adults while most of the previous studies focused on either the elderly or children.

Air pollution is a mix of small particles – called particulate matter – and gases – such as ozone and nitrogen dioxide. Vehicles, power plants, industrial factories and natural sources release the pollutants into the air.

via Air pollution closely linked to heart health – News – ABC Environment (Australian Broadcasting Corporation).

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