Respro® Bulletin Board

John Vidal from the Guardian reports that Olympic runners, cyclists, swimmers and even sailors arriving in London on Monday could be taken ill or see their performances impaired by air pollution. Read more on the Guardian Website here

So the question is will Olympic hopeful Galen Rupp be wearing a respiratory mask while competing here this summer? For reasons why he might want a Respro® Mask, as opposed to any other brand, read our blog ‘Why wear a mask’

Posted in Air Quality, London, UK | Tagged 2012 London Olympics | Leave a comment

Coming Soon: The new Respro® CiNQRO™ Mask

Posted on July 16, 2012 by Respro® UK Ltd

For more info, click here.

Posted in Respro® Masks, Respro® Products, Sports, World News | Tagged Respro® Products | Leave a comment

Court to force clean up of UK’s air pollution

Posted on July 15, 2012 by Respro® UK Ltd

The Government faces a Supreme Court action this week demanding that it slash air pollution levels by 2015. Lawyers acting for the environmental charity ClientEarth are making a legal challenge to force the coalition to cut levels of lethal nitrogen dioxide (NO2) to within European Commission limits.

Poor air quality causes the premature deaths of 30,000 people in Britain each year – more than die from alcohol abuse, obesity or in car crashes. London has the dirtiest air of any European capital, with NO2 levels often double the European limit.

Currently 28 zones in Britain will fail to meet legally binding EU limits for “major air pollutants” such as NO2 levels by a 2015 deadline. Instead of trying to bring emissions within the limits, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) is hoping to negotiate a later deadline.

via Court to force clean up of UK’s air pollution – Green Living – Environment – The Independent.

Posted in Air Quality, UK | Tagged Air Quality, Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), European Commission, Nitrogen Dioxide NO2, UK | Leave a comment

DES Declares Air Quality Action Day Friday to Saturday

Posted on July 14, 2012 by Respro® UK Ltd

The New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services DES is expecting air pollution concentrations to reach unhealthy levels for sensitive individuals in Hillsborough and Rockingham Counties on Friday July 13 through Saturday July 14. DES officials are calling for an Air Quality Action Day and advise sensitive individuals in these areas to take precautions to protect their health by limiting prolonged or heavy exertion.

Sensitive individuals include children and older adults, anyone with heart or lung disease such as asthma, emphysema, and bronchitis, and people who are active outdoors. Even healthy individuals may experience mild health effects and should consider limiting strenuous or prolonged activities.

via DES Declares Air Quality Action Day Friday to Saturday – Londonderry News.

Posted in Air Quality, USA & Canada | Tagged Air Quality Action Day, Asthma, Health Effects of Air Pollution, Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (DES), Rockingham County, USA | Leave a comment

Researchers develop technique to help pollution forecasters see past clouds

Posted on July 12, 2012 by Respro® UK Ltd

Until now, scientists who study air pollution using satellite imagery have been limited by weather. Clouds in particular, provide much less information than a sunny day.

University of Iowa scientists have created a technique to help satellites “see” through the clouds and better estimate the concentration of pollutants, such as soot. The finding is important, because, like GPS systems, clouds block remote-sensing satellites’ ability to detect, and thus calculate, the concentration of pollution nearer to the ground. This includes particles (commonly known as soot) that reduce air quality and affect weather and climate.

via Researchers develop technique to help pollution forecasters see past clouds.

Posted in Air Quality | Tagged Air Quality, NASA, Research, University of Iowa | Leave a comment

Richmond: officially polluted

Posted on July 12, 2012 by Respro® UK Ltd

Richmond’s air pollution has improved since this photo was taken from Valhalla Drive in 2001, but the towns air quality is still a long way off meeting Government standards.

Richmond is among 22 New Zealand towns with the worst air quality in the country.

via Richmond: officially polluted | Stuff.co.nz.

Posted in Air Quality, Australia & Oceania | Tagged Air Pollution, Air Quality, New Zealand, Richmond | Leave a comment

‘Perfect STORM’ of Concerns About Air Pollution Hits London in 2012

Posted on July 11, 2012 by Respro® UK Ltd

“There is a ‘perfect storm’ of concerns about London’s air pollution in the run up to the Olympics” says Simon Birkett, Founder and Director, of Clean Air in London (CAL).

Annual mean levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO2), a toxic gas, are more than twice the legal limit and World Health Organisation (WHO) guideline near London busiest roads. NO2 levels in London were the highest of any capital city in Europe in 2010 and comparable with those in Beijing before it took action for the 2008 Olympics.

Air pollution matters. The Mayor has estimated 4,267 deaths were attributable to long-term exposure to ‘invisible’ airborne particles in London in 2008 which is similar to the 4,075 from short-term exposure to air pollution during the Great Smog of 1952 (when we knew nothing of long-term impacts). Only smoking causes more early deaths.

via PR Newswire UK: ‘Perfect STORM’ of Concerns About Air Pollution Hits London in 2012 — LONDON, July 11, 2012 /PRNewswire/ —.

Posted in Air Quality, London, UK | Tagged 2012 London Olympics, London, Nitrogen Dioxide NO2, World Heath Organization (WHO) | Leave a comment

Bay Area faces another Spare the Air day

Posted on July 11, 2012 by Respro® UK Ltd

A warming trend this week should peak Wednesday with highs breaking 100 degrees in the East Bay, prompting the third Spare the Air alert this summer.

High temperatures stir up pollutants and smog, turning the air particularly unhealthy, said Lisa Fasano, a spokeswoman for the Bay Area Air Quality Management District, which issues the alerts. Tuesday was also a Spare the Air day.

When cooler temperatures move into the region Thursday and Friday, the air quality should improve.

via Bay Area faces another Spare the Air day – SFGate.