Italy’s polluted Po Valley gasps for fresh air

Posted on February 28, 2019 by Respro® UK Ltd

It is only the end of February, but air pollution in Milan has already exceeded the legal limit for 2019, and the Po Valley swims in a soupy smog.

“I can really feel when there’s smog, I suffer all winter long,” 45-year old Milan local Fabio Cigognini told AFP, describing the asthma-like symptoms which plague him during the cold months.

“We breathe in poison, but no-one tells us anything,” he said.

Set against the mountains, far from the ocean and cleansing sea breezes, Italy’s major northern city and the Po Valley have always been at a disadvantage, climate wise.

But with air pollution at “alarming” rates – among the highest in Europe – local authorities have turned to a combination of tactics to help the city and the valley breath again.

“The Po Valley is very unhappily situated for atmospheric pollution in terms of climate and geography,” says Damiano Disimine, head scientist in the Lombardy for Italy’s environmentalist lobby Legambiente.

“Wind is rare and there are frequent and prolonged episodes of climatic inversion. This means that the air is colder in the plains than in the mountains, and is still,” he said.

“On a European scale, the air pollution level is comparable only to southern Poland, where there is a coal industry and frightening sources of pollution”.

– Action plan –

In Lombardy, coal-fired power stations are closed and the use of heavy fuel oil for heating has been banned for 20 years.

In the vast plain, which runs from the Apennines to the Alps, “a quarter of the pollution is caused by road traffic, 45 percent by domestic heating and the rest by industrial and agricultural emissions,” says Lombardy environment councillor Raffaele Cattaneo.

The region produces vast amounts of animal waste, a big contributor to pollution. It delivers more than 40 percent of Italy’s milk production, for example, while over half of the Italian pig production is located in the Po Valley.

Lombardy’s action plan — drawn up in coordination with three other regions in the valley — is based on those three factors.

The circulation of dirty vehicles is limited in certain areas, especially when the level of coarse dust particles (PM10) exceeds the threshold for four consecutive days.

The same goes for heating in homes and offices. And those who buy greener heating systems or upgrade their home insulation can get financial assistance.

There are also measures for agriculture — as a chemical reaction between the ammonia in fertiliser and the nitrous oxide from diesel vehicles accounts for up to three quarters of particles, Cattaneo said.

Air pollution has decreased significantly in recent years as a result.

From 2005 to 2018, the average PM10 concentration in Lombardy dropped from 46 to 29 mg/m3, and the number of days in which the 50 mg/m3 limit was breached in the region dropped from 119 to 40.

– Situation ‘alarming’ –

Still, pollution levels exceed a 35-day limit however, breaking EU law. And the dry, sunny winter on the plain does not bode well for 2019’s air quality.

The climatic and geographic “handicap” should be an incentive to “do better, and more than others”, Disimine said.

Things are improving — particularly in grey-skied Milan, which charges vehicles to enter the city centre and has just imposed a ban on the worst offenders during the day on weekdays.

But Disimine says the situation still “alarming”, especially as regards the nitrogen oxide level, for which traffic is to blame.

There are some 65 cars per 100 inhabitants in Italy — and 51.8 in Milan — compared to 36 for example in Paris, London and Berlin.

The answers lie in “public transport, car sharing, cycling” and improving bus and train networks beyond the regional capital.

“In the last ten years, the number of citizens using the train has doubled in Lombardy,” says Cattaneo, who favours a carrot rather than stick approach, preferring to offer financial incentives than enforce bans.

The region has set itself the goal of coming in at, or under, the European Union 35-day limit by 2025.

via Italy’s polluted Po Valley gasps for fresh air

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Air pollution: Leeds street worst outside London, says campaign

Posted on February 28, 2019 by Respro® UK Ltd

A street in Leeds city centre is the most polluted outside London, an environmental group has claimed.

Parts of Neville Street, near the train station, had a nitrogen dioxide (NO2) level of 99 ug/m3, Friends of the Earth said.

The group said council figures showed the level was more than twice the suggested limit of 40ug/m3.

Leeds City Council said it monitored air quality at the city’s worst polluted sites.

Campaigners assessed local authority air quality reports submitted to the government, including those contained in Leeds council’s latest air quality report.

Councillor James Lewis said the council was “committed to improving air quality” and recognised “air pollution exceeds legal limits in some parts of Leeds”.

However, the council measured air quality at busy junctions and tunnels even though it was not required to by official guidelines, he said.

Mr Lewis added: “Individuals can do their bit by using the car less often, sharing their journeys more often, and by turning off their engines when idling.”

The owners of heavy polluting lorries, coaches, taxis and private hire vehicles are to be charged for entering parts of Leeds from January 2020.

Friends of the Earth welcomed the initiative but wants cars to be included and the charging zone to be extended.

Simon Bowens, from the organisation, said: “Air pollution is often an issue thought of as affecting only the biggest cities.

“The reality is that unacceptably toxic air can be found across much of the UK, even in smaller towns.

“It is harming the health of people across the country and is especially bad for young children whose lungs are still developing.”

via Air pollution: Leeds street worst outside London, says campaign – BBC News

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Air pollution knocks almost one year off the average European’s life: WHO

Posted on February 20, 2019 by Respro® UK Ltd

Nine out of ten people worldwide breathe polluted air daily, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).

That means 91% of the world’s population are living in places where air quality exceeds guideline limits.

Air pollution is thought to directly cause the deaths of around 7 million people per year, mostly in Asia and Africa.

25% of heart disease, 24% of strokes, and 43% of lung disease and lung cancer deaths could be “attributed to air pollution”, according to WHO.

Cities in India and China accounted for many of the worst culprits, but Europeans are also affected by the phenomenon.

According to the European Environmental Agency (EEA), air pollution currently causes almost 500,000 premature deaths across Europe every year.

Exposure to particulate matter (PM) has decreased the life expectancy of every person on the continent by an average of almost 1 year, mostly due to increased risk of cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, and lung cancer, according to WHO.

The organisation also said that if air pollution in European cities was reduced below the air quality guideline levels, people would live longer — in some cases by almost 2 years.

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Geography also played a factor — air pollution in Bucharest, Romania added 22 months to a residents life, while in London, UK, this figure was 2.5 months.

Around 40 million people in the 115 largest cities in the European Union (EU) have been exposed to air exceeding WHO air quality guideline values for at least one pollutant.

Children were said to some of the most at risk — living near roads with heavy traffic doubled respiratory problems.

Additionally, exposure to air pollution during pregnancy was associated with low birth weight and premature birth.

Jonathan Grigg, professor of paediatric respiratory and environmental medicine at the Queen Mary University of London, told Euronews that air pollution was likely to worsen the condition of already vulnerable individuals.

“Air pollution is likely to speed up the reduced lung-function in people who already have respiratory issues, especially in children,” said Grigg. “We estimate in the UK, air pollution leads to 20,000-40,000 premature deaths a year.”

The European Lung Foundation (ELF) said air pollution can be as dangerous as smoking and living along a busy road carries about the same risk as passively smoking 10 cigarettes per day.

For those thinking that staying inside will mitigate the risk of air pollution, think again.

While 4.2 million deaths per year worldwide were a result of exposure to outdoor air pollution, nearly 3.8 million deaths per year were caused by household exposure to smoke from dirty cookers and fuel. WHO said over 3 billion people worldwide breath polluted air in their homes on a daily basis.

Nonetheless, the European Lung Foundation encouraged Europeans to pursue outdoor activities and said the benefits of exercise outweigh the risks of air pollution. The EFL also said people can reduce their air pollution exposure by choosing back roads, exercising in green spaces, and avoiding exercise during rush hour.

Which parts of Europe are the most polluted?

The WHO statistics showed that Eastern Europe — particularly Balkan countries — is considered the continent’s most polluted region.

The area’s industries, such as brown coal mining, contribute to its struggle with air pollution. Inefficient, older, pollutant vehicles on the roads intensify the environmental problem for Eastern Europe.

The Republic of North Macedonia was considered one of the most polluted European nations with the PM10 levels in some cities exceeding the recommended concentration.

The most polluted urban area in all of Europe was the city of Tetovo in the Balkan country.

Skopje, the capital city, has been listed by the World Health Organization as the second most polluted city in Europe with the highest concentration of harmful fine particulate matter (2.5) in the air.

PM2.5 is considered an invisible killer because it is so tiny that it can pass through body armour.

Bosnia and Herzegovina also houses cities that topped Europe’s most polluted, most notably the city of Tuzla.

Meanwhile, Bulgaria, Romania, and Albania all had multiple cities ranked in Europe’s top 30 most polluted urban areas.

In Poland, air pollution caused the premature death of around 50,000 people every year.

According to WHO, the country was home to nearly half of the top 30 most polluted cities in Europe, starting with the cities of Zywiec and Pszczyna. One of the leading causes of Poland’s battle with air pollution is the countries longstanding ties to coal.

The life expectancy in Eastern Europe is much lower than its western neighbours.

According to Statista, life expectancy among males in Eastern Europe is 69-years-old, nearly 10 years less than the Western average age for males of 79.

Females in the eastern block live, on average, to 78, still below the Western European average of 84-years-old.

Professor Grigg told Euronews this difference in life expectancy could be related to Eastern Europe’s higher prevalence of smokers.

Grigg, who is also the head of the European Respiratory Society Assemblies, said that cigarette smoke is the worst chemical that can enter the lungs and could speed up the effects of air pollution by a factor of 10.

Italy is considered statistically the most polluted country in Western Europe, with Naples, Turin, Rome and Milan all in the top 30 most polluted cities.

What is air pollution made of and how can we reduce it?

One of the main proponents of air pollution is particulate matter.

PM is the combination of solid and liquid particles suspended in air — many of which are hazardous.

This mixture includes both organic and inorganic particles, such as dust, pollen, smoke, and liquid droplets.

It can either be directly emitted, for instance when fuel is burnt, or indirectly formed, like when gaseous pollutants previously emitted to air turn into particulate matter.

To combat this, WHO encouraged countries to regulate dirty emissions and ban polluting vehicles. For everyday life, WHO said people can fight back to reduce air pollution by not burning waste, recycling, and making cycling part of their daily routine.

via Air pollution knocks almost one year off the average European’s life: WHO | Euronews

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Bogotá’s air quality improves, but vehicular restrictions still in effect

Posted on February 19, 2019 by Respro® UK Ltd

If you felt like you could walk that extra mile along the Ciclovía on Sunday, and breathing at 2,860 meters above sea level was that much easier, the reason according to the mayoralty, is that the city’s air quality did improve with the weekend license plate restriction Pico y Placas Ambiental, as well as the help of Mother Nature with the occasional rain shower.

According to the district, air quality improved 50% compared to Friday when a “yellow alert” was issued after the index that measures Particulate Matter surpassed a density of 2.5. Three localities in the south of Bogotá – Bosa, Kennedy and Tunjuelito – have the worst pollution density, and as on Monday, continue with an orange alert.

The sudden decision to extend Pico y Placa to weekends until further notice, as well as expansion of the restriction during weekdays to last the working day (6:00 am to 7:30 pm), raised the ire of many Bogotanos, who on social media, criticized the measure as one that targets vehicle owners, but doesn’t enforce emissions testing on the articulated buses of the city’s mass transportation fleet, TransMilenio. Public transportation in Bogotá, including SITP buses and taxis, contribute to 56% of all pollution that stays in the sky.

But despite some very vocal Bogotanos, venting anger at TransMilenio and a fleet that is largely powered by diesel, the weekend Pico y Placa Ambiental was respected by the city’s 1.6 million car owners (and 500,000 motorcycle owners) with some 400 fines imposed by the police and 21 vehicles sent to the pound.

For the Secretary-General of the Mayoralty Raúl Buitrago, Bogotanos by cooperating showed their “love for Bogotá and, above all, helped protect the health of the most vulnerable: children, pregnant mothers, seniors and people with chronic illnesses,” he said.

According to district’s Secretariat of Environment, 44% of all the contamination in the city comes from industry, and in a summary released by the Secretariat of Environment Francisco Cruz, 15 factories we shut down in Puente Aranda over the weekend, contributing to the 50% reduction in the air quality index.

A large fire that broke out Saturday morning inside a plastics warehouse in Chapinero didn’t help with the city’s clean air offensive, but the fire department did manage to get the blaze under control with few other fire-relates incidents in the capital during the weekend.

While Bogotanos did their part to reduce emissions, so too, the weather with rainfall reported across most of the capital this weekend. However, the winds from the West that push the smog cover away from the Savannah de Bogotá has not picked up with the El Niño climate pattern, and which according to meteorologists, could last until the end of March.

via Bogotá’s air quality improves, but vehicular restrictions still in effect | The City Paper Bogotá

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Patna most polluted city in India; Varanasi, Kanpur not far behind

Posted on February 15, 2019 by Respro® UK Ltd

Pollution in India has become a serious concern as not only Delhi but even the other cities continue to choke on bad air quality. In fact, Delhiites might feel slightly relieved after what you’re about to read. In a recent study by IIT-Kanpur and Shakti Foundation, three cities have surpassed Delhi in being the most polluted and guess who’s taking the lead, well it is Patna, the capital city of Bihar.

The other two cities which are not far too behind are from Uttar Pradesh, Varanasi and Kanpur. This also comes as a red flag with the news that last year in October and November, India’s pollution levels were at least 50 percent higher than China.

All the three cities of Patna, Kanpur and Varanasi which are running ahead in the race saw 31 days of poor or severe air quality in the months of October and November, wherein the PM 2.5 levels were at least 170 micrograms per cubic metre and went far above.

As per the Bihar Environment Minister Sushil Modi, they have been trying to take adequate steps to curb pollution levels right from banning brick kilns that are not following norms to getting the roads cleaned on a regular basis.

The minister has further blamed the winter season and Ganga for sky scraping pollution levels citing that cities along rivers get more polluted. Moreover, a big mound near Patna brings a lot of dust when winds blow, which particularly occurs in winters.

On the other hand, China has been doing enough to curb pollution levels. India needs to chalk out a plan which turns it into a zero carbon emitter in the coming years.

– See more at: https://www.skymetweather.com/content/weather-news-and-analysis/patna-most-polluted-city-in-india-varanasi-kanpur-not-far-behind/#sthash.v3lii6D3.dpuf

via Patna most polluted city in India; Varanasi, Kanpur not far behind | Skymet Weather Services

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Air pollution rising again throughout greater Bangkok

Posted on February 14, 2019 by Respro® UK Ltd

Fine dust reached unhealthy levels in most areas of greater Bangkok over the past 24 hours and is likely to worsen on Friday, with the worst pollution in Bang Phlad and Din Daeng districts of the capital.

The Pollution Control Department reported on Thursday morning that levels of particulate matter 2.5 micrometres and less in diameter (PM2.5) ranged from 42 to 67 microgrammes per cubic metre of air in the past 24 hours. The safe threshold is set at 50mcg.

The best air quality was reported in Khlongchan sub-district of Bang Kapi district and the worst along Din Daeng Road in Din Daeng district and Charan Sanitwong Road in Bang Phlad district of Bangkok.

Of the 43 measurement areas in greater Bangkok, unhealthy levels were reported in 35. For nearby provinces, unhealthy levels were in Phra Pradaeng, Muang and Bang Sao Thong districts of Samut Prakan and Krathum Baen district of Samut Sakhon provinces.

The department attributed the increase in pollution to stagnant air and a high pressure system. It expected fine dust levels to rise in some areas of greater Bangkok on Friday.

via Air pollution rising again throughout greater Bangkok | Bangkok Post: news

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GP Practices Across England Exceed Air Pollution Limits – These Are The Worst Affected

Posted on February 12, 2019 by Respro® UK Ltd

We visit our GPs to improve our health, but travelling to some doctor’s surgeries could actually worsen conditions like asthma due to the high levels of air pollution that surround them, new research suggests.

Around 17.9 million NHS patients in England are registered at a GP practice that exceeds the World Health Organisation annual limit for PM2.5 air pollution, the data suggests – equivalent to nearly one in three of us.

PM2.5 is a measure of tiny particle pollution or “particulate matter” that’s the size of 2.5 microns or less. The majority this pollution comes from road transport and PM2.5 has been linked to causing and worsening diseases including asthma, coronary heart disease, stroke and lung cancer.

Outdoor air pollution in both cities and rural areas was estimated to cause 4.2 million premature deaths in 2016, largely due to PM2.5, according to the WHO.

Polly Billington, director of UK100, which conducted the analysis, said the latest figures show air pollution is a national problem that must be addressed.

“Some of the most vulnerable groups of people including young children and older people will walk to their GP, often to get help with respiratory conditions like asthma and bronchitis,” she said. “This shows the real danger to their health of the air pollution in their communities.”

Perhaps surprisingly, some of the worst affected areas are outside London, several in coastal areas. The top 10 most polluted GP practices are located in Barrow in Furness, Lowestoft, Penzance, Ipswich and Portsmouth.

Birmingham has the most numbers of patients at toxic GP surgeries, with nearly half a million patients registered in areas that exceed WHO air pollution limits. This is followed by a number of London boroughs including Lambeth, Newham and Wandsworth.

The 10 GP Surgeries with worst levels of PM2.5 air pollution in England, according to the data, are: 

1. Atkinson Health Centre, Barrow-in-Furness, LA14 2LR

2. Norwood Medical Centre, Barrow-in-Furness, LA14 5ES

3. Alexandra & Crestview Surgeries, Waveney, NR32 1PL

4. Duke Street Surgery, Barrow-in-Furness, LA14 1LF

5. The Family Practice, Barrow-in-Furness, LA14 5SL

6. Morrab Surgery, Penzance, TR18 4EL

7. Dr Solway & Dr Whale Practice, Ipswich, IP4 2PZ

8. Orchard Medical Practice, Ipswich, IP4 2PZ

9. The Hanway Group Practice, Portsmouth, PO1 4ND

10. Kirklands Surgery, Portsmouth, PO3 5AF

Meanwhile the 10 local authorities with most numbers of GP patients registered at surgeries that exceed PM2.5 air pollution WHO limits in England, are:

1. Birmingham

2. Lambeth

3. Newham

4. Wandsworth

5. Brent

6. Ealing

7. Tower Hamlets

8. Southwark

9. Sandwell

10. Haringey

Simon Stevens, chief executive of NHS England said the NHS is trying to proactively tackle the problem of air pollution.

“The NHS Long Term Plan sets out how better use of technology can help make up to 30 million outpatient appointments – and the millions of patient journeys to hospital they involve – unnecessary.” he said.

“The NHS has already cut its carbon footprint by 11% between 2007 and 2015 and now we are working to cut emissions from the NHS fleet by 20% by 2024, with at least 90% of vehicles using ultra-low emission engines. Bold action like this has been estimated to help avoid over 50,000 cases of coronary heart disease and almost 10,000 cases of asthma by 2035.”

via GP Practices Across England Exceed Air Pollution Limits – These Are The Worst Affected | HuffPost UK

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Delhi Air Quality Falls To Very Poor; Rain Can Bring Relief: Officials

Posted on February 12, 2019 by Respro® UK Ltd

As predicted, the overall air quality of Delhi and adjoining areas deteriorated to “very poor” on Monday, after days of improved “moderate” air caused by last Thursday’s rain and hailstorm, which washed away the pollutants across the city.

“This return of very poor air quality in the national capital can be attributed to reduced wind speed since Sunday night. It has caused the pollutants to be concentrated in one place. The decrease in wind speed also led to shallow fog in the morning,” Mahesh Palawat, Director of private weather agency Skymet told IANS.

He added that the air quality in Delhi will oscillate between poor and very poor for the rest of February and only rain would be able to improve the situation to moderate or satisfactory.

The overall air quality index (AQI) of Delhi at 4 p.m. on Monday was recorded at 309 (“very poor”), against Saturday’s “moderate”. It began to deteriorate from Sunday evening as wind speed dropped and settled Sunday’s AQI at 276 – considered “poor” on a scale of 0 to 500.

“Strong surface inversion – a phenomenon responsible for producing smog, trapping the pollutants produced by vehicles, fires and industrial activities – is another factor for the rise in pollution,” System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR) said.

The agency added that in these circumstances, the air quality in Delhi-NCR over the next two days would further deteriorate, but may improve with the likelihood of a fresh western disturbance on Thursday.

This year, the Skymet Director said, Delhi is experiencing an extended winter due to frequent western disturbances. “The air quality will improve and remain constant once the temperatures begin rising in March,” Mr Palawat said.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), this year has already witnessed nine western disturbances – seven in January and two in February. A third western disturbance in February is forecasted on Thursday and is expected to bring rain, accompanied by strong winds, thunderstorm and hailstorm to the city. “A fourth western disturbance might happen around February 19,” Mr Palawat informed.

This western disturbance is again expected to wash away the pollutants in Delhi. It may also increase the minimum temperature in northwest India by 3 to 4 degrees Celsius between Wednesday and Friday.

COMMENT
According to the IMD bulletin, the minimum temperature is expected to reach 13 degrees Celsius – 4 notches above the season’s normal – during the period, while the maximum temperature is expected to hover around 21 degrees Celsius.

via Delhi Air Quality Falls To Very Poor; Rain Can Bring Relief: Officials

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