Air pollution ‘is a forgotten public health crisis’

Poor air quality has been found to cause 29,000 premature deaths in the UK each year. Meanwhile the Government is failing to recognise the impact of its policies on air quality and is still failing to meet European targets for safe air pollution limits across many parts of the country.

The Healthy Air Campaign is a coalition of NGOs tackling the public health crisis caused by air pollution. The aim is to encourage behaviour that helps cut air pollution and exposure to it and persuade the government to take action so the UK complies fully with international air quality law.

The impacts of air pollution on public health have long been known, yet the Government has failed to introduce measures to meet European targets for air quality. Instead multi-million pound infraction fines from the EU for failing these targets could be passed on to Local Authorities under new powers introduced by the Localism Act.

Next year responsibility for public health will transfer to local authorities, with each setting up its own Health and Wellbeing Board. Local authorities would potentially have infraction fines to pay at the same time as suffering from budget cuts.

via Air pollution ‘is a forgotten public health crisis’ – Farming UK news.

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Air quality worsens again in Wenatchee, Cashmere

Wildfire smoke has poured back into the Wenatchee and Cashmere areas, plunging air quality there back into the “hazardous” category, according to the Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology).

Both communities have been hammered by smoke carried by winds from area wildfires. Some afternoon clearing occurs when the inversion breaks and upvalley winds kick in. On Wednesday (Sept. 26), Entiat and Pateros showed air quality as “unhealthy for sensitive groups,” while air was “unhealthy” in Leavenworth. Twisp, Winthrop and Cle Elum (all “moderate”) showed the opposite trend, with increasing fine particle pollution levels recorded when winds during the day pushed smoke toward air quality monitors.

Monitors showed air quality was “unhealthy” in Trout Lake and Ellensburg, “unhealthy for sensitive groups” in Yakima and Toppenish, and “moderate” in White Swan and Goldendale. All of those communities saw an increase in fine particle pollution when the inversion broke. But they experienced some partial clearing later on Wednesday.

via Air quality worsens again in Wenatchee, Cashmere | September 2012 News | Washington State Department of Ecology.

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No clean city: Glasgow worst in UK for deadly traffic emissions

GLASGOW is the most polluted city in the UK – and the fifth worst in Europe – for key traffic-related emissions, according to a new report.

It was the only city in Britain, except Leicester, shown to be failing European standards on nitrogen dioxide, which is caused by exhaust fumes and industrial pollution.

The report from the European Environment Agency (EEA) ranked Glasgow at No5 for the toxic gas out of nearly 400 cities assessed.

It is one of only ten places that breached the NO2 limit in 2010, the year it was supposed to be met.

The deadly dioxide exacerbates lung disease and related respiratory problems, and also reacts in the atmosphere to produce ground-level ozone, a major component of smog.

The EEA warned that poor air-quality levels were wiping two years off people’s lives in the most polluted cities.

It also emerged that the breach in Glasgow could result in a multi-million-pound fine for the UK, because government officials did not apply to the European Commission for an extension to meet the 2010 target.

via No clean city: Glasgow worst in UK for deadly traffic emissions – Environment – Scotsman.com.

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Daily air pollution levels mapped across Germany

Daily air pollution levels mapped across Germany – interactive

German newspaper Suddeutsche has created an interactive graphic mapping daily particulate matter concentrations throughout the country. Colours correspond to concentrations – in micrograms per cubic metre – with red indicating the highest levels. The worst affected area stretches West from Nuremburg, through Frankfurt and then North to Essen, while Hanover also scores badly. The second panel highlights occasions when the daily limit of 50µg per m³ (as set out by the EU) was exceeded. Red markers indicate areas where the limit was exceeded for more than 35 days – thus going against the European Directive on Air Quality. Click the buttons on either panel for definitions and additional information.

via Daily air pollution levels mapped across Germany – interactive | News | guardian.co.uk.

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FAQ: Can the mask be washed?

Can the mask be washed?

It is recommended that you wash the neoprene shell of the mask every month under normal use. To do this it is necessary to remove the filter and the valve first. Although spare valves and filters are available from your retailer, please be careful not to misplace any of the components during maintenance.

For more FAQ,  see Respro® Mask FAQ

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Air pollution still at dangerous levels in Europe, report finds

Microscopic particles, among the most harmful forms of air pollution, are still found at dangerous levels in Europe, although law has cut some toxins from exhaust fumes and chimneys, a European Environmental Agency (EEA) report said on Monday.

On average, air pollution is cutting human lives by roughly eight months and by about two years in the worst affected regions, such as industrial parts of eastern Europe, because it causes diseases such as lung cancer and cardiovascular problems.

“European Union policy has reduced emissions of many pollutants over the last decade, but we can go further,” EEA executive director Jacqueline McGlade said in a statement, highlighting the risks before an upcoming review of relevant EU legislation.

“In many countries, air pollutant concentrations are still above the legal and recommended limits that are set to protect the health of European citizens.”

The EU environment commissioner, Janez Potočnik, said he would focus on strengthening EU air quality laws.

Particulate matter is the most serious air pollution risk in Europe.

via Air pollution still at dangerous levels in Europe, report finds | Environment | guardian.co.uk.

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Nearly 1 in 10 children get asthma ‘because they live near a busy road’

Nearly one in 10 children with asthma get the life-threatening illness because they live near a busy road, according to a new study.

Researchers found young sufferers living near traffic laden streets are also more likely to develop severe asthma and be hospitalised because of their condition.

Doctors working on the study said the alarming results showed the potentially fatal impact of air pollution has been underestimated.

via Nearly 1 in 10 children get asthma ‘because they live near a busy road’ | Mail Online.

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Air-quality changes bring mixed reviews

The Valley’s summertime air is dangerous at times — 91 ozone violations and counting this year. And you’re paying a $29 million annual fine for failing to clean it up faster.

So are you any better off now than you were 10 years ago?

Yes, say government watchdog agencies. Not really, say environmentalists, health advocates and community activist groups.

More than 40% of a key ozone-making gas — NOx — is gone now. Also gone are terrible years like 2002 when smog sieges created a lung-searing 158 violations.

In 2002, environmental lawsuits were making headlines and building a fever for change. That year, The Fresno Bee published a 24-page section, “Last Gasp,” focused on air quality.

Now as this ozone season winds down, the air here still is not healthy.

via Air-quality changes bring mixed reviews – Local – fresnobee.com.

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