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Posted

As our measurement devices become more sensitive we discover more environmental problems

This "fine particle pollution" was first mentioned her in the Thread "We need a Trillion more indoor plants"

Yet I am not sure that plants will help

This form of pollution is much more deadly than we have encountered before

 

Health Risks Of Coarse Particle Pollution Examined By National Study

 

CA Air Board says particulate pollution more deadly than previously thought West Hayward CA: Eastshore Energy Power Plant

 

Big-particle pollutants threat to heart health

Posted

Particle Pollution In California Linked To Premature Deaths

AHN - USA

The report by the California Air Resources Board says Californians exposed to particle pollution had their lives cut short by an average of 10 years. ...

Particle Pollution In California Linked To Premature Deaths | AHN | June 2, 2008

 

Blackhawk Foundry faces tougher scrutiny

Quad City Times - Davenport,IA,USA

Now, with federal EPA-allowed emissions to be reduced by half for fine particle pollution, Blackhawk will have to undergo another round of examinations of ...

See all stories on this topic

 

Tippecanoe under gun of EPA quality standard

Journal and Courier - Lafayette,IN,USA

The issue is the amount of fine particle pollution in the air during a 24-hour period. The federal limit on fine particulate matter during a 24-hour period ...

 

 

Smoke stacks set for suburbs

Courier Mail - Australia

One of the big things is the fine-particle pollution that causes respiratory problems. "Currently the science is not great and we just look at what's ...

Smoke stacks set for suburbs | The Courier-Mail

 

 

County in EPA sights

Henderson Gleaner - Henderson,KY,USA

The standard is used by local air quality officials to alert the public when pollution is forecast to reach unhealthy daily levels. Fine particle pollution ...

 

 

Breathing Dust and Soot Raises Risk of Stroke

Environment News Service - USA

This study confirms earlier research showing that exposure to fine particle matter air pollution increases a person's risk for hospital admission for ...

Short-term exposure to low levels of particulate air pollution may increase the risk of stroke or mini-stroke, according to new research conducted in Texas that suggests current exposure standards are not sufficient to protect the public. Stroke is the third leading cause of death in the United States.

Breathing Dust and Soot Raises Risk of Stroke

 

Blogs

 

Brazil canada

By finalkiss

Earlier this month, the California Air Resources Board was presented with research showing long-term exposures to fine particle pollution pose a greater health threat than previously estimated. At the request of the board in 2006, ...

Final Kiss - Final Kiss

 

The Hyperion project: Can it really be green?

By jessie

Frank said the FCC, which burns off the carbon collected during a continuous catalyst process, produces higher emissions than a hydrocracker, including fine particle dust. Hyperion would have about 7 percent to 10 percent less gasoline ...

Tar Sands Watch - - Tar Sands Watch

 

 

County in EPA sights

The Environmental Protection Agency is poised to place Vanderburgh County in violation of an air quality standard for short-term exposure to fine particle pollution. The...

Evansville, IN News RSS Feed... - Evansville News

 

 

EPA Provides Further Direction on Implementing Fine Particle Pollution Air Quality Standard. Release date: 05/08/2008. Contact Information: Cathy Milbourn, ...

  • 1 year later...
Posted

Tunnels concentrate air pollution by up to 1000 times

 

A toxic cocktail of ultrafine particles is lurking inside road tunnels in concentration levels so high they have the potential to harm drivers and passengers, a new study has found.

 

The study, which has been published in Atmospheric Environment, measured ultrafine particle concentration levels outside a vehicle travelling through the M5 East tunnel in Sydney.

 

Study co-author and director of Queensland University of Technology's International Laboratory for Air Quality and Health, Professor Lidia Morawska, said road tunnels were locations where maximum exposure to dangerous ultrafine particles in addition to other pollutants occurred.

 

"The human health effects of exposure to ultrafine particles produced by fuel combustion are generally regarded as detrimental," Professor Morawska said.

 

"Effects can range from minor respiratory problems in healthy people, to acute myocardial infarction (heart attack) in people with existing heart complaints.

 

Professor Morawska said the study involved more than 300 trips through the four kilometres of the M5 East tunnel, with journeys lasting up to 26 minutes, depending on traffic congestion.

 

"What this study aimed to do was identify the concentration levels found in the tunnel. It generated a huge body of data on the concentrations and the results show that, at times, the levels are up to 1000 times higher than in urban ambient conditions," she said.

She said drivers and occupants of new vehicles which had their windows closed were safer than people travelling in older vehicles.

 

"People who are driving older vehicles which are inferior in terms of tightness and also those riding motorcycles or driving convertibles, these people are exposed to incredibly high concentrations," she said.

"When compared with similar studies reported previously, the measurements here were among the highest recorded concentrations," she said.

 

Professor Morawska said tunnels were becoming an increasingly necessary infrastructure component in many cities across the world.

 

"When governments are building tunnels for urban design reasons, they should also consider the impact these tunnels are having on the environment and to people's health," she said.

 

"The study highlights why governments need to consider how they are going to deal with the air pollution levels inside the tunnel and removal of ultrafine particles in the outside environment."

 

The study was conducted jointly by Professor Richard de Dear and his doctoral candidate, Mr Luke Knibbs from Macquarie University, in collaboration with Professor Morawska and Dr Kerrie Mengersen from QUT.

 

Media contact - Rachael Wilson, QUT media officer

QUT | News

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