EPA Proposes Revisions to Air Quality Index for Particle Pollution

EPA is proposing to update its Air Quality Index (AQI) to reflect the latest standards for fine particle pollution. The proposal also would set a “significant harm” level, which states use in developing emergency episode plans. Fine particle pollution is also known as fine particulate matter, or PM 2.5.

Under the proposed changes, the AQI would reach “code orange” – unhealthy for sensitive groups – when particle pollution levels reach 35.5 micrograms per cubic meter of air (ug/m3). The changes also would mean air quality reaches the “unhealthy” category at a lower particle pollution level.

These proposed changes likely would not have a noticeable impact on daily air quality forecasts. States have been voluntarily forecasting code orange when particle pollution reaches 35 ug/m3, the same level as the revised daily health standard. EPA revised this standard in September 2006.

The proposed rule also would set a significant harm level equal to an AQI value of 500. States use these levels in air quality emergency episode plans, which set procedures for delivering information to potentially affected citizens and for reducing emissions from sources in the area that are potentially contributing to harmful PM 2.5 levels. EPA is seeking comment on its proposal for setting the 500 AQI level.

The AQI is EPA’s color-coded tool for communicating air quality to the public. An AQI value of 50, for example, represents good air quality with little potential to affect public health, while an AQI value over 300 represents hazardous air quality. AQI reporting is required in cities of 350,000 and larger; however, more than 300 cities voluntarily issue air quality forecasts as a public health service.

EPA will take comment for 60 days after the proposal is published in the Federal Register and will hold a public hearing on March 5, 2009, at the Intercontinental Dallas, 15201 Dallas Parkway, Addison, Texas.

In addition, EPA will host a blog to provide the public additional avenues for discussing this proposal. Comments to the blog will not be considered official comments for the record; however, the blog will provide readers with easy links for submitting official comments. The blog will open the week of March 2, 2009, the same week as the public hearing. EPA will notify the public about how to participate in the blog and how to be notified when the blog is open.

For more information about the AQI proposal: http://www.epa.gov/pm/actions.html

EPA Soot List

100 million people living in 46 metropolitan areas are breathing air containing unsafe levels of soot and are in violation of EPA’s fine-particle pollution limits.

On December 22nd, the EPA notified 25 governors and 23 tribal leaders that 211 counties in 25 states did not meet federal pollution standards. 15 new cities and 54 additional counties have been added to the updated “Soot List”.

The EPA reviewed recommendations from states and tribes along with public comments before making its decision to designate counties and parts of counties as not meeting EPA’s PM 2.5 standards. These areas, known as nonattainment areas, include counties with monitors violating the standards and nearby areas that contribute to that violation. Affected states and tribes will be required to take steps to reduce the pollution that forms fine particles. The vast majority of U.S. counties and tribal lands currently meet standards, but will need to continue working to maintain clean air.

New cities include on this year’s list are:
Fairbanks and Juneau, Alaska
Nogales, Arizona
Pinehurst, Idaho
Davenport and Muscatine, Iowa
Klamath and Oakridge, Oregon
Provo and Salt Lake City, Utah
Seattle, Washington
Green Bay, Madison and Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Logan, Utah

Many states west of the Rockies have nonattainment regions that exceed federal air pollution levels. They include counties in Utah, Montana, Arizona, Idaho, Oregon, Washington, California and Alaska.

In California, all or part of 30 counties have been put on notice to clean up their air. The Bay Area has exceeded acceptable levels of particulate matter five times in the past 2 months and received 32 warning letters.

In Southwestern Pennsylvania, 10 areas are not compliant, including the city of Pittsburgh.

Chicago along with 6 Illinois counties are included on the Soot List.

In 2006, EPA strengthened the 24-hour fine particle standards from 65 micrograms per cubic meter to 35 micrograms per cubic meter of air to protect public health. Nationwide, monitored levels of fine particle pollution fell 11 percent from 2000 to 2007. Fine particles can either be emitted directly, or they can form in the atmosphere from reactions of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides. Exposure to fine particle pollution can cause a number of serious health problems including aggravated asthma, increased hospital admissions and emergency room visits for respiratory and cardiovascular disease, heart attacks and premature death.

According to the EPA, nonattainment areas must develop a plan to clean the air by 2012 and have that plan in place by 2014.

See the Source:

EPA Soot List – Area Designations for 2006 24-Hour Fine Particle (PM2.5) Standards
State Designations by Region

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CARB - Staff Report on Fine PM-Related Premature Deaths

On October 24, 2008 the ARB released the staff report titled "Methodology for Estimating Premature Deaths Associated with Long-term Exposure to Fine Airborne Particulate Matter in California." This staff report presents an updated relative risk factor describing the association between PM2.5 and premature death. It also provides an updated threshold level for this relationship. This staff report includes revisions made in response to public comments received by July 11, 2008 on the draft staff report, which was released on May 22, 2008. A supplement to the final report contains all written public comments received.

The revisions to the methodology were developed following staff’s review of all relevant scientific literature and two public workshops. The new methodology underwent peer review in January, 2008, by a panel appointed by the University of California, Berkeley. This panel was composed of experts in the fields of epidemiology, air quality measurement, risk management, health effects of air pollution, and biostatistics.

Based on the new factor of 10% increase in the risk of premature death per 10 micrograms per cubic meter increase in PM2.5 exposure and an updated threshold value of 5 micrograms per cubic meter, staff estimates that exposure to PM2.5 contributes to about 18,000 premature deaths statewide annually (95% confidence interval: 5,600 to 32,000). For pdf copies of the staff report and the supplement, as well as additional information on the public workshops, comments received, and other activities related to updating the health impacts analysis methodology, please see the Web page at:
http://www.arb.ca.gov/research/health/pm-mort/pm-mort.htm.

American Lung Association Issues State of the Air Report

First City Outside California (Pittsburth) Tops One of the Most-Polluted Lists

National Trends Show that Declines in Ozone and Particle Pollution Have Stalled

The American Lung Association issued its annual report card on air pollution today, ranking cities most affected by three types of pollution: short-term particle pollution, year-round particle pollution and ozone pollution. For the first time ever, a city outside California, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, tops one of the most polluted lists in the ninth consecutive American Lung Association State of the Air report.

Pittsburgh moved to the top of the list of cities most polluted by short-term levels of particle pollution, a deadly cocktail of ash, soot, diesel exhaust, chemicals, metals and aerosols that can spike dangerously for hours to weeks on end. The body’s natural defenses, coughing and sneezing, fail to keep these microscopic particles from burrowing deep within the lungs, triggering serious problems such as breathing, asthma and heart attacks, strokes, lung cancer and even early death. Pittsburgh also ranks second on the list of cities with the most year-round particle pollution while Los Angeles again claims the first spot this year.

Los Angeles, despite being ranked atop two of the three most-polluted lists, saw continued improvements in air quality, dropping its year-round particle pollution levels by nearly one-third during the last decade, and saw solid improvement in levels of ozone or “smog,” a gas formed most often when sunlight reacts with vapors emitted when motor vehicles, factories, power plants and other sources burn fuel. Ozone irritates the respiratory tract and causes health problems like asthma attacks, coughing, wheezing, chest pain and even premature death.

“The air quality in several cities has improved, but in others, declines in pollution have stalled. The trends tell us loud and clear that we need to do more to protect Americans from breathing air that’s simply hazardous to their health,” said Bernadette Toomey, President and Chief Executive Officer, American Lung Association. “We applaud the aggressive efforts of Los Angeles to control particle pollution. It’s proof that making a commitment to clean up pays off.”

Several cities across the country lost footing and slipped closer to the top of the list of most ozone-polluted cities, including San Diego, Atlanta, Charlotte and the Baltimore-Washington, D.C. metro area. Birmingham, Alabama, joined the list for the very first time, ranking at number 22 of most ozone-polluted cities, while the five worst cities on this list actually saw modest improvements. Fresno, California, for example, experienced a remarkable decline in the number of high ozone days since its peak in 2001-2003.

Due to the lead time for the State of the Air report, the American Lung Association used the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) 1997 standard for ozone levels rather than the new tighter standard announced on March 12, 2008.

“If we were to measure the number of unhealthy days against the new ozone standard, it would show that ozone pollution is worse than the report indicates,” said Ms. Toomey. “Even with these stricter ozone standards, Americans are being denied the health protection they deserve under the Clean Air Act.”

National trends: declines in ozone and particle pollution have stalled.

New this year, the State of the Air report provides online charts showing the trends in ozone and year-round particle pollution in each of the 25 most polluted cities. The ozone charts cover data from 1996 to 2006, while the year-round particle pollution charts show trends from 2000-2006. In addition, the report incorporates the EPA analyses of ozone trend data from 1990 to 2006 and particle pollution trend data for 2000-2006. The State of the Air trend charts and the EPA analyses confirm that air pollution levels dropped in the early years of this century, but have leveled off in the last three years, particularly when controlled for weather.

Other Key Findings of State of the Air 2008:

- One in 10 people in the U.S. live in areas with unhealthful levels of all three types of pollution: ozone, short-term and year-round particle pollution.
- Two of five people in the U.S live in counties that have un­healthful levels of either ozone or particle pollution.
- Nearly one-third of the U.S. population lives in areas with unhealthful levels of ozone.
- Over one quarter of the people in the U.S. live in an area with unhealthful short-term levels of particle pollution.
- One in six people in the U.S. live in an area with unhealthful year-round levels of particle pollution.

The cities identified in the lists below most often include the respective metropolitan areas.

Top Ten U.S. Cities Most Polluted by Short-Term Particle Pollution: 1) Pittsburgh, Pa.; 2) Los Angeles/Long Beach/Riverside, Calif.; 3) Fresno/Madera, Calif.; 4) Bakersfield, Calif.; 5) Birmingham, Ala.; 6) Logan, Utah 7) Salt Lake City, Utah ; 8) Sacramento, Calif.; 9) Detroit, Mich.; 10) Baltimore, Md./Washington, D.C./Northern Virginia.

Top Ten U.S. Cities Most Polluted by Year-Round Particle Pollution: 1) Los Angeles/Long Beach/Riverside, Calif.; 2) Pittsburgh, Pa.; 3) Bakersfield, Calif.; 4) Birmingham, Ala.; 5) Visalia/Porterville, Calif.; 6) Atlanta, Ga.; 7) Cincinnati, Ohio; 8) Fresno/Madera, Calif. 9) Hanford/Corcoran, Calif.; 10) Detroit, Mich.

Top Ten U.S. Cities Most Polluted by Ozone: 1) Los Angeles/Long Beach/Riverside, Calif.; 2) Bakersfield, Calif.; 3) Visalia/Porterville, Calif.; 4) Houston, Texas; 5) Fresno/Madera, Calif. 6) Sacramento, Calif. 7) Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas; 8) New York, N.Y./Newark, N.J.; 9) Baltimore, Md./Washington, D.C./Northern Virginia; 10) Baton Rouge, La.

To see what grade (A to F) your community’s air quality earned, visit the American Lung Association website at http://www.lungusa.org/. Tips are also available on how to protect yourself and your family from air pollution.

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Ultrafine Particles in Air Pollution May Cause Heart Disease

Patients prone to heart disease may one day be told by physicians to avoid not only fatty foods and smoking but air pollution too.

A new academic study led by UCLA researchers has revealed that the smallest particles from vehicle emissions may be the most damaging components of air pollution in triggering plaque buildup in the arteries, which can lead to heart attack and stroke. The findings appear in the Jan. 17 online edition of the journal Circulation Research.

The scientists identified a way in which pollutant particles may promote hardening of the arteries -- by inactivating the protective qualities of high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, known as "good" cholesterol.

A multicampus team from UCLA, the University of Southern California, the University of California, Irvine, and Michigan State University contributed to the research, which was led by Dr. Andre Nel, UCLA's chief of nanomedicine. The study was primarily funded by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

"It appears that the smallest air pollutant particles, which are the most abundant in an urban environment, are the most toxic," said first author Dr. Jesus Araujo, assistant professor of medicine and director of environmental cardiology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. "This is the first study that demonstrates the ability of nano-sized air pollutants to promote atherosclerosis in an animal model."

Nanoparticles are the size of a virus or molecule -- roughly 0.18 micrometers, or about one-thousandth the size of a human hair. The EPA currently regulates fine particles, which are the next size up, at 2.5 micrometers, but doesn't monitor particles in the nano or ultrafine range. These particles are too small to capture in a filter, so new technology must be developed to track their contribution to adverse health effects.

"We hope our findings offer insight into the impact of nano-sized air pollutant particles and help explore ways for stricter air quality regulatory guidelines," said Nel, principal investigator and a researcher at UCLA's California NanoSystems Institute.

Nel added that the consequences of air pollution on cardiovascular health may be similar to the hazards of secondhand smoke.

Pollution particles emitted by vehicles and other combustion sources contain a high concentration of organic chemicals that could be released deep into the lungs or even spill over into the systemic circulation.

The UCLA research team previously reported that diesel exhaust particles interact with artery-clogging fats in low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol to activate genes that cause the blood-vessel inflammation that can lead to heart disease.

In the current study, researchers exposed mice with high cholesterol to one of two sizes of air pollutant particles from downtown Los Angeles freeway emissions and compared them with mice that received filtered air that contained very few particles.

The study, conducted over a five-week period, required a complex exposure design that was developed by teams led by Dr. Michael Kleinman, professor of community and environmental medicine at UC Irvine, and Dr. Constantinos Sioutas, professor of civil and environmental engineering at USC.

Researchers found that mice exposed to ultrafine particles exhibited 55 percent greater atherosclerotic-plaque development than animals breathing filtered air and 25 percent greater plaque development than mice exposed to fine-sized particles.

"This suggests that ultrafine particles are the more toxic air pollutants in promoting events leading to cardiovascular disease," Araujo said.

Pollutant particles are coated in chemicals sensitive to free radicals, which cause the cell and tissue damage known as oxidation. Oxidation leads to the inflammation that causes clogged arteries. Samples from polluted air revealed that ultrafine particles have a larger concentration of these chemicals and a larger surface area where these chemicals thrive, compared with larger particles, Sioutas noted.

"Ultrafine particles may deliver a much higher effective dose of injurious components, compared with larger pollutant particles," Nel said.

Scientists also identified a key mechanism behind how these air pollutants are able to affect the atherosclerotic process. Using a test developed by Dr. Mohamad Navab, study co-author and a UCLA professor of medicine, researchers found that exposure to air pollutant particles reduced the anti-inflammatory protective properties of HDL cholesterol.

"HDL normally helps reduce the vascular inflammation that is part of the atherosclerotic process," said Dr. Jake Lusis, study co-author and a UCLA professor of cardiology, human genetics and microbiology, immunology and molecular genetics. "Surprisingly, we found that exposure to air pollutant particles, and especially the ultrafine size, significantly decreased the positive effects of HDL."

To explore if air particle exposure caused oxidative stress throughout the body - which is an early process triggering the inflammation that causes clogged arteries -- researchers checked for an increase in genes that would have been activated to combat this inflammatory progression.

"We found greater levels of gene activation in mice exposed to ultrafine particles, compared to the other groups," Lusis said. "Our next step will be to develop a biomarker that could enable physicians to assess the degree of cardiovascular damage caused by air pollutants or measure the level of risk encountered by an exposed person."

Researchers added that previous studies assessing the cardiovascular impact of air pollution have taken place over longer periods of exposure time, such as five to six months. The current study demonstrated that ill effects can occur more quickly, in just five weeks.

"Further study will pinpoint critical chemical and toxic properties of ultrafine particles that may affect humans," Nel said.

See the Source:
University of California

Find out:
How to decrease diesel particulate pollution using diesel particulate filters.

Air Pollution May Cause Heart Disease

Patients prone to heart disease may one day be told by physicians to avoid not only fatty foods and smoking but air pollution too.

A new academic study led by UCLA researchers has revealed that the smallest particles from vehicle emissions may be the most damaging components of air pollution in triggering plaque buildup in the arteries, which can lead to heart attack and stroke. The findings appear in the Jan. 17 online edition of the journal Circulation Research.

The scientists identified a way in which pollutant particles may promote hardening of the arteries — by inactivating the protective qualities of high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, known as "good" cholesterol.

A multicampus team from UCLA, the University of Southern California, the University of California, Irvine, and Michigan State University contributed to the research, which was led by Dr. Andre Nel, UCLA's chief of nanomedicine. The study was primarily funded by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

"It appears that the smallest air pollutant particles, which are the most abundant in an urban environment, are the most toxic," said first author Dr. Jesus Araujo, assistant professor of medicine and director of environmental cardiology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. "This is the first study that demonstrates the ability of nano-sized air pollutants to promote atherosclerosis in an animal model."

Nanoparticles are the size of a virus or molecule — less than 0.18 micrometers, or about one-thousandth the size of a human hair. The EPA currently regulates fine particles, which are the next size up, at 2.5 micrometers, but doesn't monitor particles in the nano or ultrafine range.
These particles are too small to capture in a filter, so new technology must be developed to track their contribution to adverse health effects.

"We hope our findings offer insight into the impact of nano-sized air pollutant particles and help explore ways for stricter air quality regulatory guidelines," said Nel, principal investigator and a researcher at UCLA's California NanoSystems Institute.

Nel added that the consequences of air pollution on cardiovascular health may be similar to the hazards of secondhand smoke.

Pollution particles emitted by vehicles and other combustion sources contain a high concentration of organic chemicals that could be released deep into the lungs or even spill over into the systemic circulation.

The UCLA research team previously reported that diesel exhaust particles interact with artery-clogging fats in low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol to activate genes that cause the blood-vessel inflammation that can lead to heart disease.

In the current study, researchers exposed mice with high cholesterol to one of two sizes of air pollutant particles from downtown Los Angeles freeway emissions and compared them with mice that received filtered air that contained very few particles.

The study, conducted over a five-week period, required a complex exposure design that was developed by teams led by Dr. Michael Kleinman, professor of community and environmental medicine at UC Irvine, and Dr. Constantinos Sioutas, professor of civil and environmental engineering at USC.

Researchers found that mice exposed to ultrafine particles exhibited 55 percent greater atherosclerotic-plaque development than animals breathing filtered air and 25 percent greater plaque development than mice exposed to fine-sized particles.

"This suggests that ultrafine particles are the more toxic air pollutants in promoting events leading to cardiovascular disease," Araujo said.

Pollutant particles are coated in chemicals sensitive to free radicals, which cause the cell and tissue damage known as oxidation. Oxidation leads to the inflammation that causes clogged arteries. Samples from polluted air revealed that ultrafine particles have a larger concentration of these chemicals and a larger surface area where these chemicals thrive, compared with larger particles, Sioutas noted.

"Ultrafine particles may deliver a much higher effective dose of injurious components, compared with larger pollutant particles," Nel said.

Scientists also identified a key mechanism behind how these air pollutants are able to affect the atherosclerotic process. Using a test developed by Dr. Mohamad Navab, study co-author and a UCLA professor of medicine, researchers found that exposure to air pollutant particles reduced the anti-inflammatory protective properties of HDL cholesterol.

"HDL normally helps reduce the vascular inflammation that is part of the atherosclerotic process," said Dr. Jake Lusis, study co-author and a UCLA professor of cardiology, human genetics and microbiology, immunology and molecular genetics. "Surprisingly, we found that exposure to air pollutant particles, and especially the ultrafine size, significantly decreased the positive effects of HDL."

To explore if air particle exposure caused oxidative stress throughout the body — which is an early process triggering the inflammation that causes clogged arteries — researchers checked for an increase in genes that would have been activated to combat this inflammatory progression.

"We found greater levels of gene activation in mice exposed to ultrafine particles, compared to the other groups," Lusis said. "Our next step will be to develop a biomarker that could enable physicians to assess the degree of cardiovascular damage caused by air pollutants or measure the level of risk encountered by an exposed person."

Researchers added that previous studies assessing the cardiovascular impact of air pollution have taken place over longer periods of exposure time, such as five to six months. The current study demonstrated that ill effects can occur more quickly, in just five weeks.

"Further study will pinpoint critical chemical and toxic properties of ultrafine particles that may affect humans," Nel said.

See the Source:
UCLA

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About diesel particulate filters to reduce particle pollution

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diesel pollution

Asian Dust Particles Over Western U.S.

It has been a decade since University of Washington scientists first pinpointed specific instances of air pollution, including Gobi Desert dust, traversing the Pacific Ocean and adding to the mix of atmospheric pollution already present along the West Coast of North America.

Now a UW researcher is finding that dust from the Gobi and Taklimakan deserts in China and Mongolia is routinely present in the air over the western United States during spring months.

"We are interested in Asian dust that comes across the Pacific because particles can have an impact on health, as well as on visibility," said Emily Fischer, a UW doctoral student in atmospheric sciences.

"Most previous work has been very event specific, but this research looks at how the average background aerosol concentrations vary on a year-to-year basis."

Aerosols are tiny particles – such as dust, grains of sea salt, soot from fossil fuel combustion and smoke from forest fires – suspended in the air. Many of the aerosols are comparatively large, as much as 10 microns, which still is less than the width of a human hair.

Fischer found that in years with large Asian dust storms there was an increase in particles of 2.5 microns or less in the air over the western United States. Particles that small can be inhaled more deeply into the lungs and so are a greater health concern.

"Local pollution makes the biggest contribution to poor air quality in cities, but my study is looking at aerosols in remote regions like national parks," she said. "In these places dust can be a larger contributor to the total aerosol concentrations because there is little local pollution. While some of the dust pulses from Asia are small, some of them can be very large."

Fischer used two sets of data, gathered during March, April and May from 1998 through 2006, to correlate the dust kicked up in storms over Asian deserts and the appearance of dust in air over the western United States. She looked at dust levels in the air columns directly over the deserts, recorded by NASA satellites, and then paired that information with air quality data from ground stations in rural areas of the western United States for the same period.

The research is being presented at this year's annual meeting of the American Geophysical Union in San Francisco.

For the dust detected at ground stations in the United States, Fischer also looked for – and found – evidence of calcium, which is a tracer for desert dust.

"The calcium lends more confidence to our conclusion," she said.

While the results of the research are not unexpected, they provide supporting evidence that particles of 2.5 microns or smaller appear in higher concentrations in the western United States in years when there are high dust concentrations over Asian deserts.

"The transport of dust across the Pacific is not a new phenomenon," Fischer said. "But we are just beginning to understand it and quantify it on a year-to-year basis instead of on a case-by-case basis.

"We know that just having dust over Asia doesn't mean that it's going to come here. There is the transportation part of the puzzle, which I'm working on now. But we already know that some years are more favorable than others for dust to be transported across the Pacific."

See the Source:

Newswise

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How to eliminate particulate matter from diesel emissions with diesel particulate filters.

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particulate matter

Local Advocacy Group to Stage Diesel Showdown

Diesel Pollution Solution Coalition, a Massachusetts advocacy group, staged a landmark diesel retrofit demonstration on Monday, October 22nd. The demonstration is the first in a series of rallies being held around Boston in support of An Act to Protect Public Health and Air Quality from Harmful Diesel Emissions (H-732 and S-502), currently before the State Senate Ways and Means Committee.

Passage of An Act to Protect Public Health and Air Quality from Harmful Diesel Emissions would require all heavy-duty diesel fleets owned, operated or contracted by the State be retrofitted with diesel particulate filters by 2010, reducing the level of diesel pollution produced in and around Massachusetts' urban communities by vehicles such as garbage trucks, construction equipment, delivery vehicles and trains. As part of the demonstration, pollution output will be measured on a retrofitted clean-diesel truck, against a traditional diesel-powered vehicle of comparable weight and size to underscore the effectiveness of advanced emissions control technology in reducing harmful emissions.

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About diesel particulate filters and how they reduce emissions of particulate matter, hydrocarbons, and carbon monoxide.

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diesel emissions

Particulate Pollution May Trigger Heart Attacks/Strokes by Spurring Blood Clots

It was a murder mystery playing out in major cities across the country and perplexing scientists. Thousands of people were dying from strokes and heart attacks within 24 hours of a spike in microscopic pollution -- tiny particles that spew from the exhaust of diesel trucks, buses and coal-burning factories.

But scientists didn't have a smoking gun. They couldn't figure out why the pollution was triggering the deaths. All they had to go on was a vague lead: the particles -- too small to be filtered by the nose or mouth -- caused inflammation of the lungs. But what was the link between particles trapped in the lungs to the strokes and heart attacks?

New research from the gumshoes at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine has solved a key piece of the mystery. The study identifies how these tiny pieces of soot -- called particulate matter air pollution -- kill people at risk and tells how they can protect themselves from these pollution-related strokes and heart attacks.

Northwestern researchers have discovered that this microscopic air pollution - smaller than 10 microns or less than one-tenth of the diameter of a human hair -- spurs hyperclotting of the blood. The study found that lungs inflamed by the pollution secrete a substance, interleukin-6, which causes an increased tendency for blood to coagulate or clot. This raises the risk of a fatal heart attack or stroke in people with cardiovascular disease such as coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure or a history of stroke.

Previous epidemiological research has linked the pollution to cardiovascular death and disease, but this is the first study to show how it actually happens in an animal model.

"This is a critical missing piece of the puzzle that has eluded scientists for decades," said Gokhan Mutlu, M.D., lead author of the study and assistant professor of pulmonary and critical care medicine at the Feinberg School, and a physician at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. "Now we know how the inflammation in the lungs caused by air pollutants leads to death from cardiovascular disease."

People at risk can probably help protect themselves by taking low-dose aspirin to keep their blood thin, Mutlu said.

Mutlu collaborated on the study with co-authors Scott Budinger, M.D. associate professor of pulmonary and critical care medicine, and David Green, M.D., professor of hematology and oncology, both at the Feinberg School and physicians at Northwestern Memorial Hospital.

The paper will appear on-line Sept. 20 in the Journal of Clinical Investigation and will be published in the print issue Oct. 1.

In the study, researchers used particles of pollution collected by the United States Environmental Protection Agency, mixed them into a saline solution and injected the pollution cocktail into the lungs of mice. The blood of the mice exposed to the pollution clotted faster than mice not exposed. Researchers observed a 15-fold increase in interleukin-6 24 hours after the mice were exposed to the pollution.

In people, interleukin-6 also raises the levels of a substance called CRP, which is correlated with death from cardiovascular disease.

Particulate matter pollution is highest near expressways or truck routes. It's hard for commuters to escape. People are exposed to the pollution inside a car (even with the windows rolled up), a train or walking outdoors, Mutlu said. The only safe location with lower levels is indoors.

People with previous blockages in the coronary or carotid arteries are at the highest risk. "It's important to get screened to see if you have one of these conditions. If so, when there are high levels of particulate matter, you should try to stay indoors and limit your exposure to the outside air," Budinger said.

Exercising hikes the risk because it floods the lungs with more polluted air. "If you're sitting down, the amount of air you get into your lungs is about five to six liters per minute, but if you're running the amount is 20 to 25 liters," Mutlu noted. "If you're close to an expressway, you're actually breathing more particulate matter into your lungs."

The doctors also warned that heart attacks and strokes occur at relatively low levels of particulate matter pollution. "We haven't found a safe level yet," Mutlu said. He hopes the study helps encourages the EPA and local regulators to reduce the limits on particulate matter levels.

The American Lung Association State of the Air: 2007 report said the most "ominous trend" in air pollution is the increase in particle pollution, particularly in the eastern United States. Among the metropolitan areas, Los Angeles has the most year-round particle pollution. Chicago ranks 11; New York, 17 and Washington D.C., 20. All received an "F" or failing grade for their pollution , which was in excess of the EPA annual average limit of 15 micrograms per cubic meter.

The risk of dying from a heart attack or ischemic stroke jumps a whopping 30 percent with each additional 10 micrograms of pollution.

While the current Northwestern study looked at the acute effects of this microscopic pollution, Mutlu also has begun to research its long-term exposure on cardiovascular health. He is piping air on the street from Huron and Lake Shore Drive in downtown Chicago into a chamber with mice. Over the next several years, he will examine the effect of breathing this air on the mice's cardiovascular health.

The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences supported the study.

See the Source:
Northwestern University

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How to reduce particulate matter by more than 85% using diesel particulate filters from CleanAIR Systems.

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EPA Proposes Measures to Address Direct Emissions of Fine Particulates

EPA is proposing options for calculating key program elements for implementing the Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) program for fine particle pollution in areas that meet clean air standards. Fine particle pollution can aggravate heart and lung diseases and has been associated with premature death and a variety of serious health problems including heart attacks, chronic bronchitis and asthma attacks.

When an industrial facility applies for a permit to emit a regulated pollutant in an area that meets clean air standards, the state and EPA must determine if emissions of that pollutant will harm air quality. The PSD program uses three key measures to make this determination: increments, significant impact level (SIL), and significant monitoring concentration (SMC). The proposal presents options for how to calculate each of these measures for PM2.5. EPA will accept comment on the proposal for 60 days after publication in the Federal Register.

See the Source:
EPA proposal

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How to reduce fine particulate matter using diesel particulate filters on off-road vehicles. Watch video.

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Blue Skies Over Beijing?

Beijing has completed its fourth day of experimental air pollution testing by taking 1.3 million cars temporarily off the road. The state-run news agency, Xinhua, proclaims the test a success with four "blue-sky days". But the lingering smog tells a different story.

As does some of the world's best endurance athletes competing in a test cycling event in Beijing over the weekend. Oenone Wood, an Australian cyclist in town for the event, said she had a difficult time seeing the surrounding scenery as she past by due to the lingering smog. Many athletes have expressed concerns that the heavy air pollution will affect their health during the games.

By temporarily side-lining about one third of Beijing's cars, Chinese officials have stated that there was an improvement in air quality such as lower NOx levels. However, the Chinese pollution rating system does not take into account the measurement of fine particulate matter and ozone levels. Both of these toxic pollutants can negatively impact health and seriously effect athletes performance during the upcoming 2008 Olympics.

See the Source:
Reuters
China View
The Canberra Times

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How to decrease industry air pollution using diesel retrofit filters from CleanAIR Systems.

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Is Your Daily Commute Giving You a Heart Attack?

Recently, German researchers from the University of Duisberg-Essen found that regularly commuting in heavy traffic or living in high-traffic areas can contribute to atherosclerosis, high blood pressure and an increase risk of a heart attack. Using ongoing data from three industrialized cities in Germany, the researchers found that breathing air pollution at this level created the same damage as inhaling second hand smoke.

They surmised the artery damage was most likely caused by a high concentration of particulate matter from vehicle emissions. This is the first study to establish a direct link to air pollution created by traffic and arterial damage.

“The only immediate protective action that can be taken by people living close to heavy traffic is increased attention to known cardiac risk factors, such as obesity and high blood pressure,” said Dr. Hoffmann, head researcher for the project. “Over the longer run, community action is needed.”

Using data already on record, Forbes magazine compiled three factors to come up with the unhealthiest commutes in the U.S. They looked at levels of particulate pollution; the estimated time spent in rush hour traffic; and the per-capita fatal car accidents registered for a region. From the collected data, the unhealthiest workday drives are: Riverside, CA; Atlanta, GA; and Los Angles, CA. Apparently LA drivers spend the most time in traffic.

The average American takes 25 minutes to drive to work, during that time the California Air Resources Board (CARB) estimates this time equals 50% of a person’s daily exposure to fine particulate matter – one of the worst pollutants to inhale and a known contributor to heart disease.

See the Source:
Heartzine.com
Forbes

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The health and environmental impact of diesel particulate matter.

air pollution
particle pollution

Common Sense: Turn Off the Bus!

A news blurb is from the DieselNet June 2007 newsletter:

"Characterization of Fine Particle and Gaseous Emissions during School Bus Idling", a study by J.S. Kinsley of the US EPA and co-authors concludes that shutting down and restarting school bus engines, as opposed to continuous idling, can reduce emissions. Indeed, it is reassuring when scientific research, armed with sophisticated test equipment and methodology, produces the same conclusions as our logic and common sense.

See the Source:
Characterization of Fine Particle and Gaseous Emissions during School Bus Idling

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How to reduce fine particle pollution using emissions control technology from CleanAIR Systems.

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particle pollution

What’s Up Doc – Don’t Breathe the Air!

Should you’re doctor be advising you to check the “AQI” each day? That’s the air quality index. If you’re sensitive to pollutants or at risk due to lung or cardiovascular disease, maybe your doctor should be explaining avoidance strategies for heavy pollution days at your next checkup.

A new report in the April issue of American Journal of the Medical Sciences, suggests that health care professionals should be looking at three specific categories of air pollutants, along with how they impact health, when advising their patients.

• Particulate matter, linked to increased rates of illness and death from heart and lung (cardiopulmonary) disease—probably by promoting inflammation within the airways. Particulates may also increase lung cancer risk, but more study is needed.
• Ozone, a respiratory irritant that decreases lung function in healthy people as well as patients with asthma. Short-term increases in ozone level may also lead to increases in illness and death from cardiopulmonary disease.
• Nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and carbon monoxide, which are highly toxic at high concentrations. Although they contribute to poor air quality, it remains unclear whether these pollutants cause health problems at the "ambient" levels associated with air pollution.

"Increased recognition of the hazards of air pollution, coupled with simple common sense recommendations from clinicians, may provide the basis for reducing exposure to outdoor air pollution," concludes Scott Shofer, MD, PhD, of Duke University School of Medicine.

Patients should be advised to watch for symptoms possibly related to air pollution exposure, such as chest pain or tightness, cough, wheezing, and shortness of breath. Those with respiratory diseases such as asthma should be sure to carry their "rescue" inhalers.

"We believe these simple actions may help reduce the risk of adverse events due to air pollution in sensitive patient populations," Dr. Shofer conclude. The report also calls for revised air quality standards to lower ambient levels of air pollutants—especially small particles and ozone.

See the Source:
Newswise

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How to reduce particle matter, carbon monoxide and NOx with CleanAIR emissions control technology

air pollution
NOx emissions
particle pollution

The Buzz on Breathing

Find out how dirty the air is in your area. Try out a map developed by the American Lung Association. Does your city, county and state get a passing grade? What variables are involved with air quality in your region? Click on this US map to find out.

This week there has been a big buzz in the environmental field about the recent American Lung Association “State of the Air: 2007” annual report. Although there was good news in that ozone pollution was down through out the country, there was still bad news for California, in particular Southern California. The 71-member Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) are pressing Governor Schwarzenegger and President Bush to take a tougher stance in passing stricter state and federal rules to fight unhealthy fine particle pollution.

To get across their point, Southern California city and county officials have declared their air quality a health crisis.

"You simply have to have the state and federal government do things differently or we are not going to meet the federal standards," said Riverside Mayor Ron Loveridge, a SCAG board member.

SCAG states that fine particle pollution in Southern California results annually in:

• 5,400 premature deaths
• 2,400 hospitalizations
• 1,000,000 lost work days

Although much is being done to fight air pollution in the state, various state and federal agencies disagree on strategies.

See the Source:
The Press-Enterprise
State of the Air: 2007

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About diesel particulate filters from CleanAIR Systems to fight fine particle pollution.

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particle pollution

Cut Air Pollution … Or Else!

The EPA has finalized rules instructing 39 areas in 20 states to drastically reduce air pollution levels of fine particulate matter by 2010. The source of most particulate pollution is power plants, cars, trucks and heavy equipment. The EPA requirements include the use of ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel, the introduction of clean diesel trucks and buses, the Clean Air Nonroad Diesel Rule to reduce emissions produced by off-road diesel vehicles, and the Clean Air Interstate Rule to reduce particulate matter (PM) from power plant emissions.

Under the Clean Air Act, states must have a plan in place by April of 2008, and designated areas must reduce fine particles to 1997 air quality levels by 2010. Approximately 88 million people in urban areas live with high levels air pollution containing fine particles, which have been linked to heart and lung disease, as well as premature death.

But Clean air advocate, Frank O’Donnell of Clean Air Watch believes that the finalized rules are a “flagrant gift to the electric power industry” because power plants can comply to regulations by purchasing credits through the “cap-and-trade” program and not physically reduce their emissions.

It is estimated that power plants already need to invest $50 billion to install new technology to bring emissions into compliance with the air quality standards for reduction of sulfur dioxide (SOx) and nitrogen oxides (NOx).

Another contingency is that counties with the highest levels of fine particulate matter could receive a five year extension, delaying their attainment until 2015.

See the Source:
EPA

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How diesel particulate matter impacts health and the environment

Clean Air Advocates Demand that EPA Withdraw Bogus Clean Air Finding in San Joaquin Valley

Determination based on illegally ignored data

San Francisco – March 22, 2007 -- Clean air advocates in the San Joaquin Valley of California are taking action to reverse a finding that the region cleared the air of dangerous particulate matter pollution. Advocates say the Environmental Protection Agency reached its finding by sweeping key data under the rug.

On October 30, 2006, EPA declared that the San Joaquin Valley had attained the national air quality standards for particulate matter pollution (PM-10), i.e., tiny particles of dust, soot, and chemicals that can obscure visibility and be inhaled deep in the lungs. PM-10 is a known killer that can cause lung and heart ailments. In a region where this type of pollution kills more that 1800 residents a year (http://www.arb.ca.gov/research/aaqs/std-rs/std-rs.htm) clean air advocates question EPA's decision to end requirements that the local air district keep working to eliminate this threat.

The groups have now presented EPA with data that contradicts the regional air district's and EPA's claims of victory over particulate pollution.

"It's astounding the lengths to which our public health agencies are going to protect this bad decision," says Kevin Hamilton of Medical Advocates for Healthy Air. "EPA said they'd withdraw it if there were more violations -- we're just asking them to keep their word. They need to stand up and protect the public health in our Valley."

To be declared in attainment with the public health standards, the Valley is required to go three years without violating the pollution limit more than once a year. Last fall, southern portions of the Valley violated the limit more than two dozen times -- more than twice as many as in any other year for the past 14 years.

Clean air advocates assert that EPA ignored dirty data from numerous days at numerous air monitors last fall when it made its attainment finding in October. EPA is trying to blame the area's bad air quality on winds in the Sacramento Valley but has provided no reliable evidence to support that claim. In fact, former National Weather Service forecaster and expert forensic meteorologist Jan Null says that the days in question were "complete non-events" and "were not windy by any stretch of the imagination."

Advocates believe the premature clean air declaration was intended to avoid a court-ordered deadline in which EPA was required to impose a federal clean air plan on the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District by October 18, 2006. By determining that the air was clean, EPA avoided this work burden. Advocates say EPA's finding sends the wrong message to regulated industries and Valley citizens whose health remains imperiled by unacceptable levels of PM-10.

"EPA is contorting its own policies to avoid doing its job," said Sarah Jackson, air specialist with Earthjustice. "There are no more 'get out of jail free' cards for an agency with more than three decades of missed deadlines and botched plans. The residents of the San Joaquin Valley deserve real progress, not agency politics."

In a formal "petition for withdrawal" submitted today, air advocates claimed:
In spite of EPA's regulatory acrobatics, the fact is that the Valley was not in attainment as of the date of the Finding, and it is not in attainment today. Since EPA published its proposed Attainment Finding, Valley monitoring sites using methodology subject to all quality assurance and quality control requirements, have recorded 26 PM-10 exceedance days.

Earthjustice represents Latino Issues Forum, Medical Advocates for Health Air, and three valley Sierra Club chapters in this action. In addition to a full withdrawal of the attainment finding, they are asking EPA to reinstate the contingency measures and other Clean Air Act requirements it suspended when it made that erroneous finding.

See the Source:
Earthjustice – Petition for Withdrawal

Find out:
The health impact of exposure to diesel particulate matter

Transported Black Carbon a Significant Player in Pacific Ocean Climate

March 14, 2007 -- Soot and other particulate pollution from Asian sources make up more than 75 percent of black carbon transported at high altitudes, according to a Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UC San Diego-led study.

More than three-quarters of the particulate pollution known as black carbon transported at high altitudes over the West Coast during spring is from Asian sources, according to a research team led by Professor V. Ramanathan at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UC San Diego.

Though the transported black carbon, most of which is soot, is an extremely small component of air pollution at land surface levels, the phenomenon has a significant heating effect on the atmosphere at altitudes above two kilometers (6,562 feet).

As the soot heats the atmosphere, however, it also dims the surface of the ocean by absorbing solar radiation, said Ramanathan, a climate scientist at Scripps, and Odelle Hadley, a graduate student at the Center for Atmospheric Sciences at Scripps. The two are lead authors of a research paper appearing in the March 14 issue of the Journal of Geophysical Research.

The dual effect carries consequences for the Pacific Ocean region that drives much of Earth’s climate.

"That’s the primary concern we have with these aerosols," said Hadley. "They can really affect global climate."

"The soot heating of the atmosphere exceeds the surface dimming and as a result the long range transported soot amplifies the global warming due to increase in carbon dioxide," said Ramanathan. "We have to find out if this amplification is just restricted to spring time or is happening throughout the year."

The researchers found that transported black carbon from Asian sources is equal to 77 percent of North American black carbon emissions in the troposphere during the spring. In a follow-on study funded by the California Energy Commission (CEC), Hadley, Ramanathan and fellow Scripps climate scientist Craig Corrigan are now studying how much carbon might be incorporated into precipitation and what the effects on melt rates of Sierra Nevada snow pack could be.

The measure of high black carbon concentration from Asian sources "is a startling finding by itself, but its potential importance is magnified by the fact that black carbon is believed to have a disproportional impact on regional climate," said Guido Franco, technical lead for climate change research at the CEC’s Public Interest Energy Research (PIER) program. "Fortunately, we have already started to address this issue with Scripps and more studies are being planned."

The researchers compared rarely available in-flight data collected during the spring 2004 Cloud Indirect Effects Experiment (CIFEX), a component of which was a series of atmospheric meteorological measurements made during flights originating in Eureka, Calif. The team combined that information with data from 30 West Coast meteorological stations and compared it with computer predictions made by the Chemical Weather Forecast System (CFORS).

Transport of Asian black carbon, particulate pollution generated by automobile exhaust, agricultural burning and other sources, is heaviest in spring when cold Arctic fronts dip to lower latitudes and loft warmer air to higher levels in the atmosphere. It is part of a worldwide transport of aerosols that sees them remain aloft at high altitudes for up to two weeks.

Black carbon concentrations diminish as they move farther away from their sources in cities and farmlands in countries such as China and India. However, over the Pacific Ocean, the particles are in sufficient concentration to have a heating effect on the upper atmosphere, a prediction based on output from other computer models besides CFORS. At the same time, the radiation-absorbing particles dim skies at the surface.

On a regional level, that amount of heating, or positive radiative forcing, the black carbon causes in the skies over the Pacific is about 40 percent of the forcing that has been attributed to the carbon dioxide increase of the last century, said Ramanathan. It likely has measurable effects on a variety of other physical and biological conditions in the areas of the Pacific over which the particulate pollution passes.

"It was a major surprise," said Ramanathan, Hadley’s adviser at Scripps. "When we came up with the preliminary results, we had to check it and recheck it."

Results from Hadley’s study of black carbon’s snow pack effects are expected by the end of this year.

Authors of the Journal of Geophysical Research article besides Hadley and Ramanathan include Corrigan, Greg Roberts and Guillaume Mauger at Scripps Oceanography and Gregory Carmichael and Youhua Tang of the University of Iowa.

The National Science Foundation, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the California Energy Commission funded the study.

See the Source:
Scripps Institution of Oceanography

Possible Health Risk In Canadian Hockey Arenas Due to Particulate

According to CBC News, a recent investigation of Canadian hockey arenas shows a high level of ultra-fine particulate pollution which could contribute to asthma and some cardiovascular illnesses. Several recent studies show that exposure to ultra-fine particles can easily be lodged in the lunges leading to lung cancer and heart disease.

The CBC tested 42 arenas throughout Canada. 24% were at levels that could decrease lung capacity. 14% tested at high levels similar to standing next to the busiest highway in the Canada.

The high levels of particle pollution are being attributed to emissions from ice resurfacing machines routinely used to smooth the ice surface.

Kenneth Rundell who runs the human performance lab at Marywood University in Scranton, PA says, “We found ice-rink athletes, all the skating athletes, the figure skaters, the short track speed skaters and the hockey players had a higher prevalence of exercise induced asthma…and their lung function was chronically low.”

Proposed solutions for decreasing the level of ultra-fine particulate in arena air include better ventilation and changing ice resurfacing machines to electric rather than running on fossil-fuels.

See the Source:
CBC News – March 11, 2007
CBC News – March 13, 2007

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How fine particulate pollution can be decreased by using filters and catalysts

Pollution Shown as Cutting Rainfall in Hilly Areas

Jerusalem, March 7, 2007 -- Manmade climate change due to pollution seriously inhibits precipitation over hills in semi-arid regions, a phenomenon with dire consequences for water resources in the Middle east and many other parts of the world, a study by a Chinese-Israeli research team, led by Prof. Daniel Rosenfeld of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, has shown.

The Chinese and Israeli researchers showed that the average precipitation on Mount Hua near Xian in central China has decreased by 20 percent along with increasing levels of manmade air pollution during the last 50 years. The precipitation loss was doubled on days that had the poorest visibility due to pollution particles in the air. This explains the widely observed trends of decrease in mountain precipitation relative to the rainfall in nearby densely populated lowlands, which until now had not been directly ascribed to air pollution.

The research study, published in the current issue of the journal Science, is titled “Inverse Relations between Amounts of Air Pollution and Orographic Precipitation” and was written by Prof. Rosenfeld of the Hebrew University’s Ring Department of Atmospheric Sciences, Jin Dai and others from the Meteorological Institute of Shaanxi Province, China, and Zhanyu Yao of the Chinese Academy of Meteorological Science.

These findings highlight the threat to vital water resources in polluted regions of the world where hilly-area precipitation makes a significant contribution to the regional water supply, as in the southwestern U.S. central and northern China, and the Middle East. The importance of that is underlined by the realization that it is not high temperatures due to global warming but rather the lack of water that makes a region into an unlivable desert.

The authors studied observations of precipitation and visibility starting in 1954 at the top of Mount Hua. They linked the decreasing visibility at its over two-kilometer-high summit with increasing air pollution particles that reach to the clouds. They were able to show that the trend of higher concentrations of these fine, airborne, pollutants (aerosols) is responsible for the observed decreasing trend of mountain precipitation. This is the first time that this link has been demonstrated so conclusively.

The precipitation inhibition process occurs as water vapor condenses on the pollution particles and creates a cloud with a large number of drops that are so small that they float with the air and are slow to coalesce into raindrops or to freeze into sleet and snowflakes. This slowing translates into a net loss of precipitation when the cloud “lifetime” is shorter than the time necessary to release its water. This is the case for clouds that form when they ascend across a ridge and then descend and evaporate on the downwind side.

By making use of precipitation and visibility records that show a direct causal link between the airborne particle pollution and the mountain precipitation losses, the unique China study can serve as a template to bear out hypotheses about the effects of pollution on rainfall that were undertaken previously by Prof. Rosenfeld in hilly regions with similar pollutive conditions. These include California and much of the western United States. Similar trends were already published also for Israel, and observed in South Africa, Portugal, France, Switzerland, Morocco, Canada, Greece and Spain.

Atmospheric aerosols have been described in earlier studies as playing a role in cooling the atmosphere by reflecting some of the incoming solar radiation back into space -- thus serving as a counterbalance to global warming resulting from the release of greenhouse gases. The latest study by Prof. Rosenfeld and his Chinese associates shows, however, that this “beneficial” effect is offset by the proven direct link between air pollution and decreased mountain precipitation, and that climate change means much more than “just” global warming.

See the Source:
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem

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How to decrease particulate pollution by using diesel particulate filters from CleanAIR Systems

Pollution from China and India Affecting World’s Weather

Severe pollution from the Far East is almost certainly affecting the weather near you, says a Texas A&M University researcher who has studied the problem and has published a landmark paper on the topic in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Renyi Zhang, professor of atmospheric sciences at Texas A&M and lead author of the paper, says the study is the first of its kind that provides indisputable evidence that man-made pollution is adversely affecting the storm track over the Pacific Ocean, a major weather event in the northern hemisphere during winter. The project was funded by the National Science Foundation and NASA.

Zhang says the culprit is easy to detect: pollution from industrial and power plants in China and India. Both countries have seen huge increases in their economies, which mean more large factories and power plants to sustain such growth. All of these emit immense quantities of pollution – much of it soot and sulfate aerosols – into the atmosphere, which is carried by the prevailing winds over the Pacific Ocean and eventually worldwide.

Using satellite imagery and computer models, Zhang says that in roughly the last 20 years or so, the amount of deep convective clouds in this area increased from 20 to 50 percent, suggesting an intensified storm track in the Pacific.

This pollution directly affects our weather,” he explains.

During the past few decades, there has been a dramatic increase in atmospheric aerosols – mostly sulfate and soot from coal burning – especially in China and India,” he explains.

“We compared these deep convective clouds from the 10-year period of 1984-1994 to the period from 1994-2005 and discovered these storms have risen anywhere from 20 to as high as 50 percent.”

“It is a direct link from large-scale storm systems to anthropogenic (human-made) pollution.”

Zhang says the problem is especially worse during the winter months.

Because of various climate conditions, the northern Pacific Ocean is more susceptible to the aerosol effect in winter. Aerosols can affect the droplets in clouds and can actually change the dynamics of the clouds themselves, Zhang adds.

The Pacific storm track carries these polluted particles to the west coasts of Canada and the United States, across America and eventually, most of the world, Zhang notes.

“The Pacific storm track can impact weather all over the globe,” he says.

“The general air flow is from west to east, but there is also some serious concern that the Polar Regions could be affected by this pollution. That could have potentially catastrophic results.”

Soot, in the form of black carbon, can collect on ice packs and attract more heat from the sun, meaning a potential acceleration of melting of the polar ice caps, he believes.

“It possibly means the polar ice caps could melt quicker than we had believed, which of course, results in rising sea level rates,” he adds.

The pollution from the storm tracks could also signify wild weather changes, he believes.

“You might have more storms, and these storms might be more severe than usual,” he says.

“Or it could lead to the opposite – severe droughts in other areas. The Pacific storm track plays a crucial role in our weather, and there is no doubt at all that human activity is changing the world’s weather.”

See the Source:
Texas A&M University

Environmental Defense Supports EPA Proposal to Cut Dangerous Diesel Exhaust from Trains and Ships

Group Urges EPA to Finalize Protective Standards by the End of 2007

New York -- March 2, 2007 -- Today, Environmental Defense President Fred Krupp will join EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson at EPA’s announcement of proposed new emission standards for diesel trains and ships. The emission standards would apply to the nation’s fleet of diesel locomotive engines, tugs, barges, ferries and recreational marine engines. Diesel exhaust contains toxic chemicals that together with diesel particulate matter pose a cancer risk greater than that of any other air pollutant. The proposed standards, when adopted and fully phased in, would reduce particulate pollution and smog-forming oxides of nitrogen from each engine by 90 percent. Today’s announcement is scheduled for 11am ET at Port Elizabeth, New Jersey (Berth 23, Elizabeth Marine Terminal).

“EPA is clearly on the right track in proposing to address the dangerous diesel exhaust from trains and ships,” said Fred Krupp, Environmental Defense President. “We look forward to working with EPA and the states to carry this important work across the finish line by securing final clean air standards for high-polluting trains and ships.”

The proposed rule provides for clean air standards comparable to those that EPA has adopted for large diesel trucks and buses, and for construction, mining and agricultural equipment. The proposed standards will be achieved through the combination of low sulfur diesel fuel and advanced engine systems.

The use of trains for freight transport has doubled in the last 35 years. Last year, locomotives released over 900,000 tons of smog-forming oxides of nitrogen and 32,000 tons of particulate pollution. Nationally, commercial shipping is responsible for about 1 million tons of smog-forming oxides of nitrogen each year. And each year commercial marine vessels release some 40,000 tons of particulate pollution and 160,000 tons of sulfur dioxide across the United States. When finalized, EPA’s proposal to clean up the nation’s fleet of commercial ships and locomotives could help clear the way for extensive human health and environmental benefits by substantially lowering particulate pollution and smog-forming contaminants.

Another important feature of EPA’s proposal would apply clean up standards to rebuilt or remanufactured locomotive engines. Environmental Defense recommends EPA apply the same sensible policy approach to ensure rebuilt marine engines also meet updated emission standards.

Environmental Defense has documented the extensive air pollution from both ships and locomotives. Learn how commercial marine shipping is polluting our air here and learn more about locomotive pollution here.

Environmental Defense, a leading national nonprofit organization, represents more than 500,000 members. Since 1967, Environmental Defense has linked science, economics, law and innovative private-sector partnerships to create breakthrough solutions to the most serious environmental problems.

See the Source:
Environmental Defense

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More about diesel particulate filters and how they substantially reduce diesel particulate matter

Carnegie Mellon Researchers Urge Regulators to Rethink Strategies for Soot Emission

Pittsburgh -- March 1, 2007 -- Carnegie Mellon University researchers say government officials need to adopt new ways of measuring and regulating the fine particles of smoke and soot so endemic to serious health problems and the global warming crisis.

In a March 2 article published in the journal Science, professors Allen L. Robinson and Neil M. Donahue report a new conceptual model for how microscopic particles behave in the atmosphere that raises new questions about current regulations.

The research found new chemical processes that occur after soot and gaseous pollutants are emitted from cars and trucks, changing the chemical and physical properties of the soot particles and creating new particulate matter. These new particles are potentially more toxic and may have a stronger influence on cloud formation that can alter the global climate.

"One of our key findings is that this chemical processing leads to more particulate matter in the air, meaning that regulators are likely underestimating how sources such as cars and trucks contribute to pollution," said Robinson, an associate professor of mechanical engineering and engineering and public policy. "We need to take a holistic approach to regulating these sources that account for all emissions." Accounting for these new processes improves the predictions of the models federal and state governments use to develop regulations.

"A second important finding is that the properties of this new particulate matter are different than we previously thought and potentially more toxic," added Donahue, an associate professor of chemical engineering and chemistry.

Particulate matter poses a serious health problem. Fifty thousand Americans are thought to die prematurely each year due to particle exposure, and almost 70 million Americans live in areas that violate the federal standard. That standard was strengthened in September after scientists, armed with years of studies showing that these particles can damage lungs and the heart, advised the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that the previous standard of 65 micrograms per cubic meter of air was too loose.

A third key implication has to do with how the chemical process leads to a spreading of pollution over a larger geographic region. "We’re seeing that urban pollution doesn’t stay contained in the cities, but impacts rural and other downwind areas, creating even more complicated issues for regulators," Robinson said.

Fine particles such as smoke or dust form droplets in clouds and affect how much sun is able to pass through the cloud to earth, as well as the amount of moisture that is returned to earth. Both clouds and sunlight play key roles in climate change. The effects of particulate matter were identified as key to uncertainty in a recent report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPPC) summarizing the state scientific knowledge on the impacts of human activities on global climate.

"For the longest time, particulate matter has been the least understood component of the climate system. The more we understand particulate matter, the more we realize that complexity has been masking our ability to calculate how big a role greenhouse gases have played in inducing global warming," said Donahue. "Moreover, the new mechanism we found changes the chemical properties of particles, making them more likely to participate in cloud formation. Therefore, particulate matter may be having a stronger influence on global climate than previously thought."

About Carnegie Mellon:
Carnegie Mellon is a private research university with a distinctive mix of programs in engineering, computer science, robotics, business, public policy, fine arts and the humanities. More than 10,000 undergraduate and graduate students receive an education characterized by its focus on creating and implementing solutions for real problems, interdisciplinary collaboration, and innovation. A small student-to-faculty ratio provides an opportunity for close interaction between students and professors. While technology is pervasive on its 144-acre campus, Carnegie Mellon is also distinctive among leading research universities for the world-renowned programs in its College of Fine Arts.

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Carnegie Mellon

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More about diesel particulate filters from CleanAIR Systems

EPA Actions Will Assure Air Permitting Programs Run Consistently and Smoothly

EPA is revising parts of its permitting process for certain new or modified industrial facilities in areas that do not meet EPA's health-based national air quality standards for ground-level ozone and fine particle pollution. The agency is taking two actions to ensure nationwide consistency as states implement the New Source Review (NSR) air permitting program.

In the first action, EPA is updating a section of its NSR regulations known as "Appendix S". Appendix S contains requirements states must rely upon to implement NSR in areas where the agency has not yet approved a state plan to implement the program. Appendix S will remain in place until EPA approves a state's implementation plan. This action will ensure national consistency with 2002 NSR reform rules for permitting new or modified industrial facilities in areas working to attain and maintain national air quality standards.

In the second action, EPA is seeking comment on two options for improving recordkeeping and reporting requirements for sources which make modifications that do not trigger NSR. EPA seeks input on whether a source should use its projected actual emissions increases or potential emissions increases as the basis for determining whether recordkeeping and reporting are required. EPA will accept comment on this rule for 60 days after publication in the Federal Register.

See the Source:
EPA – New Source Review

Find out:
How power plants can reduce NOx emissions using selective catalytic reduction

Diesel Fumes Pose Major Health Risk to Commuters

Washington, D.C. -- February 28, 2007 -- Diesel fumes pose a major health risk to commuters, according to a new report by the non-profit Clean Air Task Force.

The Boston-based environmental research group reported today that even though we spend only a tiny portion of our day commuting, it’s during the commute that we receive more than half our overall exposure to deadly fine particle pollution.

“Exposure to diesel exhaust during commutes poses a serious public health risk that needs to be addressed,” said George Thurston, Professor of Environmental Medicine at New York University’s School of Medicine, who wrote the foreword to the report.

Fine particle pollution, including diesel exhaust, can cause lung cancer, stroke, heart attack and infant death. It also triggers asthma attacks and makes people more likely to become allergic.

Some health researchers have estimated that such fine particles are responsible for shortening the lives of at least 70,000 Americans each year.

The Task Force specifically investigated diesel exhaust levels during commutes in New York NY, Boston MA, Austin TX and Columbus OH. The Task Force documented diesel particle levels four to eight times higher inside commuter cars, buses, and trains than in the ambient outdoor air in those cities. These are examples of likely results during a commute anywhere in the country where there is significant diesel traffic.

“Our investigation demonstrated that you may be exposed to high levels of diesel particles – four to eight times the levels in the outdoor air -- whether you commute by car, bus, ferry, train, or on foot,” said Bruce Hill, Senior Scientist with CATF.

By contrast, Hill noted, pollution levels were negligible for commuters in and near vehicles equipped with modern pollution controls or those that run on lower-polluting fuels such as natural gas.

“The problem is that there are 13 million diesel engines in service today, and virtually all are exempt from modern pollution controls,” said Conrad Schneider, Advocacy Director for the Task Force. “However, our study showed that simply replacing the muffler of trucks or buses with a diesel particle filter can reduce commuter exposure substantially,” he said. By EPA regulation, the Ultra-Low Sulfur Diesel (ULSD) fuel that is necessary to keep these diesel particle filters operating optimally became available nationwide late last year.

The Task Force called on federal and state agencies to increase funding to clean up highly polluting buses and other existing diesel engines. It urged the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to require that long-haul trucks clean up when their engines are rebuilt. It also urged the EPA to move ahead with plans to set new pollution standards for diesel trains and diesel-powered boats, including commuter ferries.

The new report can be found online at www.catf.us/goto/noescape
For information about diesel risk in specific communities, go to: www.catf.us/projects/diesel/dieselhealth

Founded in 1996, the Clean Air Task Force (CATF) (www.catf.us) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to restoring clean air and healthy environments through scientific research, public education, and legal advocacy. CATF’s staff includes scientists, engineers, economists, MBAs and lawyers. The organization works closely with more than 40 state, local, regional and national groups to educate the public, media, industry and public decision makers on the science and economics of clean air policies through fact-based and locally appropriate advocacy.

See the Source:
Clean Air Task Force

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About diesel particulate filters from CleanAIR Systems and how they can virtually eliminate particulate matter from exhaust when retrofitted on diesel engines.

NERAM Launches Plan to Fight Air Pollution

WATERLOO, Ont. -- February 7, 2007 -- A University of Waterloo-based research network says scientific evidence of the effects of air pollution on human health and the environment is clear enough to support global efforts to continue reducing outdoor levels.

The Network for Risk Assessment and Management (NERAM) has developed with international experts a 12-point plan -- parts of which have been adopted in Europe -- to fight air pollution and improve public health. The plan, a policy guidance document on air quality management for local, regional and national policy-makers, is the result of a five-year NERAM colloquium series.

"It is now universally recognized that poor air quality has adverse impacts on human health and research confirms that residents in Southern Ontario and other parts of Canada are exposed to levels of air pollutants associated with morbidity and mortality," says UW professor emeritus John Shortreed, executive director of both NERAM and UW's Institute for Risk Research.

"The University of Waterloo has done five years of work in translating research from around the world for use in policies to improve health. We are ready to battle the No. 1 environmental killer -- air pollution."

The plan reflects the latest thinking of policy-makers and health researchers from around the world. The fifth and final colloquium was held in October in Vancouver.

Research shows that both short-term and long-term exposures to particulate matter and other air pollutants are statistically associated with serious human health effects, including premature death, heart-and breathing-related hospital admissions and emergency room visits, together with a worsening of asthma conditions.

"Scientific evidence of the effects of air pollutant exposure on human health and on the environment is strong enough to justify global efforts to continue to reduce outdoor concentrations, even in locations that meet air pollutant standards," Shortreed says.

He adds that Europe and Britain are already implementing the interim policies proposed by the NERAM colloquium series held in Rome in 2003 and in Mexico in 2005 to deal with hot spots, such as high traffic areas in cities like Toronto.

"They are using an innovative approach to regulations that actually allow some locations to exceed air quality standards, while imposing area-wide reductions that have many more health benefits -- the result is more health outcomes for existing regulatory resources."

Shortreed says that air pollution typically causes a white, yellow or brown haze that reduces visual range, affecting people's ability to enjoy their surroundings. In places like Hong Kong, for instance, the impaired visibility caused by haze or smog is used as a means to show the public the link between high air pollution concentrations and increased health costs.

Topics covered in the NERAM document include air quality and human health, emission inventories, air quality management approaches and evidence of effectiveness, as well as challenges and opportunities in air quality management.

The plan includes the following strategic policy directions for air quality management:
1. Communication of health effects is key to increasing public awareness and demand for air quality management policies.
2. Increase awareness of linkages between air quality and climate change.
3. Cross-sectoral policies in energy, environment, climate, transport, agriculture and health.
4. Exposure reduction and continuous improvement policies are important extensions to ambient air quality standards.
5. Reducing exposure to combustion-generated particles should be a priority, such fossil fuels and biomass.
6. Evidence is sufficient to justify policies to reduce traffic exposures.
7. Prioritize pollutants and sources based on the potential for exposure.
8. Policies focused on improving visibility may gain greater support than those focused solely on health.
9. International harmonization of measurements and metrics, emission inventories, modelling tools, assessment of health effects literature and health-related guidelines.
10. More research on toxicity-determining characteristics of particulate matter and more evaluation of local, regional and global policies.

Shortreed says there are many epidemiological (human population) studies carried out in North America and Europe that have demonstrated statistically significant ties between ambient levels of particulate matter and other air pollutants and a variety of human health problems, including death and hospital admissions for cardiovascular and respiratory diseases.

NERAM has already started a regional initiative in the Greater Toronto Area along with Pollution Probe to apply some of the research results in order to tackle the thousands of premature deaths every year in Ontario.

The main goal of NERAM is to integrate the scientific knowledge and expertise that exists across many diverse disciplines in Canada, thereby providing a comprehensive approach to environmental risk assessment and risk management. As a result, there will be more effective and efficient environmental protection practices.

See the Source:
Network for Environmental Risk Assessment and Management

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How to reduce toxic particulate matter from diesel emissions by retrofitting engines with the CleanAIR PERMIT Filter

CleanAIR Particulate Filters Protect Miners’ Exposure to Diesel Emissions

Santa Fe, NM -- February 22 -- Miners have one of the most dangerous jobs in the world. While many federal regulations protect miners from on-the-job hazards, it has not always been easy to protect the air they breathe. Now new standards decided on February 9th by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit will help miners breathe easier by limiting exposure to diesel emissions, specifically fine carbon particles (particulate matter) which have been linked to lung cancer and respiratory illnesses. Produced by heavy equipment operating within the mines, particulate matter can essentially be eliminated by retrofitting vehicles with diesel particulate filters, such as the products manufactured by CleanAIR Systems, Inc.

A leading supplier to the mining industry of emissions control technology, CleanAIR diesel particulate filters are currently installed in twenty-six mines located throughout eight states. The CleanAIR PERMIT FBC™ Filter reduces particulate matter by over 85%, as well as reducing deadly carbon monoxide (CO) by up to 90% and hydrocarbons (HC) by as much as 90%. At the same time, the CleanAIR PERMIT FBC™ does not increase emissions of nitrogen dioxide (NO2), which also poses a serious air quality problem within mines. The PERMIT FBC™ can reduce emissions while operating using any diesel fuel from high-sulfur diesel to ultra-low sulfur diesel, as well as biodiesel.

The CleanAIR PERMIT FBC™ Filter was tested in 2003 by the U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) and found acceptable for use in mines.

“We have been working with the mining industry for a long time in the United States and Canada to solve emissions problems,” explains Michael Roach, President of CleanAIR Systems. “The PERMIT FBC™ Filter is a proven solution for reducing particulate matter, CO and HC, while not increasing emissions of NO2. Our goal in developing this product was to create a filter for the specialized environment of underground mining and, at the same time, protect miners from dangerous emissions.”

The February court decision affects 16,000 miners across the country, working mostly in metal (such as gold) and non-metal mines (such as limestone). Coal mines are subject to different regulations, with many already installing filters to control emissions.

Established in 1993, CleanAIR Systems, Inc. located in Santa Fe, NM, is a technology-based corporation manufacturing emissions control systems with worldwide distribution. Their products are designed to control air pollution for on- and off-road vehicles, as well as stationary machinery and power generation. CleanAIR – Committed to a Cleaner Environment.

For more information, visit www.cleanairsys.com.

Find out:

How diesel particulate matter can be reduced in mines using the PERMIT FBC filter.

GE Energy’s Filtration Technology Receives ecomagination Certification

NEW DELHI, India--(BUSINESS WIRE)--GE Energy’s PulsePleat® filtration technology has received ecomagination certification after completing the company’s rigorous environmental and operational evaluation. It was cited as one of a number of successful GE projects during the formal launch of GE’s ecomagination program in New Delhi, India.

Ecomagination is GE’s commitment to address challenges such as the need for cleaner, more efficient sources of energy, reduced emissions and abundant sources of clean water. GE Energy’s environmental services team provided metrics to demonstrate that PulsePleat offered significant and measurable performance advantages.

Fabric filtration is used to capture particulate matter (fine dust) created by different manufacturing processes to help prevent air-polluting emissions. The technology is used by more than 50 industries globally, by utilities and in the cement, metals, food, pharmaceutical and chemical industries.

“PulsePleat elements can help to reduce particulate matter emissions by as much as 40 percent in the 3,000,000 units installed worldwide,” said Daniel Heintzelman, president of GE Energy’s services business. “This technology helps the industry to meet increasingly stringent emissions control regulations and to benefit from improved production levels and lower operating costs.”

Conventional filter bags are the most commonly accepted method used to capture fine particulate matter for air pollution control. Standard fabric filter bags are arranged in a dust collection system (or baghouse) where exhaust air is filtered before venting out of the stack to the atmosphere.

PulsePleat Pleated Filter Elements are a replacement upgrade to conventional filters, requiring minimal or no retrofitting to existing baghouses. Customers using PulsePleat Pleated Filter Elements have seen significant improvement in performance, cost and ecological impact when compared to traditional filter bags. The filters are manufactured in GE’s facilities in Switzerland, China and Salisbury, Mo., U.S.A.

By reducing particulate matter emissions by 21,000 lbs/year (for a typical metals manufacturing plant) down to a mean particle size of 0.5 micron, customers using GE’s PulsePleat Filter Elements are able to recycle particulate matter back into the manufacturing process. The 21,000 lbs/year of particulate saved is equivalent to the average amount of aluminum needed to build 87 passenger vehicles, and enough recycled material to make 355,950 aluminum beverage cans.

In a standard manufacturing plant, PulsePleat filters last four times longer than standard filters. Over a three-year period, this results in a filter material savings equivalent to 99,531 lbs. of polyester material, 4,977 barrels of oil (used as an ingredient in 99,351 lbs. of polyester) and waste that would be generated by 22,672 people daily in the United States.

About GE Energy
GE Energy (www.ge.com/energy) is one of the world’s leading suppliers of power generation and energy delivery technologies, with 2006 revenue of $19 billion. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, GE Energy works in all areas of the energy industry including coal, oil, natural gas and nuclear energy; renewable resources such as water, wind, solar and biogas; and other alternative fuels.

Numerous GE Energy products are certified under ecomagination, GE’s corporate-wide initiative to aggressively bring to market new technologies that will help customers meet pressing environmental challenges.

See the Source:
GE Energy

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How the PERMIT Filter from CleanAIR Systems reduces particulate matter by over 85% from emergency and prime power generators.

Exploring the Effects of Diesel Exposure on School Children

Millions of children rely on school buses for transportation. According to Clarkson University researcher Peter Jaques, "Those who commute in non-retrofitted, diesel-operated buses can be exposed to potentially harmful agents emitted from the exhaust, including carbonaceous ultrafine particles and diesel particulate matter (DPM), which have been linked to increases in upper-respiratory illnesses."

Jaques, assistant professor of biology; Alan Rossner, assistant professor and director of Clarkson's Environmental Health Science Program; Andrea Ferro, assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering; and Stephanie Schuckers, associate professor of electrical and computer engineering, are working to characterize diesel exposure in school buses and develop methods for measuring lung function and cardiopulmonary effects in children. Their pilot study, led by Jaques, is being funded with a grant from the Collaborative Activities for Research and Technology Information (CARTI) of the Center of Excellence (CoE) at Syracuse University.

In one part of the study the team is measuring the distribution of DPM throughout three empty buses during different modes of operation and under various conditions. The researchers expect the concentration levels to vary depending on such circumstances as seat location, whether windows are open or closed and if the bus is idling or in motion.

Additionally, the team is measuring the heart rate and respiration of 20 different third- and fourth-grade students on school buses throughout the day. Each student wears a LifeShirt TM, an elastic shirt worn under clothing that measures heart and respiratory rates and breathes into respiratory monitors that indicate lung inflammation.

"This gives us data we can later organize and analyze computationally," Rossner said. "We evaluate respiratory inflammation by measuring nitric oxide from exhaled breath at specific intervals, including before and after bus rides. Students also wear personal exposure monitors the size of a small backpack throughout the day."

The goal of this study is to develop techniques and a sufficient exposure database to use later in a more extensive study. The researchers hope their work will improve understanding of diesel exposure-related effects in children. They also hope to strengthen knowledge of the risks associated with exposure to DPM in buses, especially for children with asthma.

See the Source:
Clarkson University

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How to reduce diesel particulate matter using particulate filters

EPA awards $50,000 grant to Wisconsin Department of Commerce for Clean-Diesel project

CHICAGO (Feb. 15, 2007) - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 5 has awarded a $50,000 grant to the Wisconsin Department of Commerce for a project to cut emissions from heavy-duty diesel trucks that operate in Wisconsin.

"Heavy duty trucks are the workhorses of our transportation economy," said EPA Region 5 Administrator Mary A. Gade. "This grant will help truckers reduce air pollution in the communities they serve."

EPA said the grant will be used to upgrade up to 25 trucks with emission reduction equipment. Cost per truck ranges from about $2,000 for diesel oxidation catalysts to about $12,000 for diesel particulate filters.

The grant is part of Region 5's Midwest Clean Diesel Initiative, a collaboration of federal, state and local agencies, along with communities, non-profit organizations and private companies working together to reduce emissions from diesel engines in the Midwest. MCDI estimates there are more than 3 million engines in the Midwest that would benefit from new pollution-reduction technology.

The retrofits will complement the state's idle reduction grant program that provides funds to install an alternative source of power to heat, cool or provide electricity to the cab or other parts of the truck. This lets the trucker shut down the main engine to save fuel and cut diesel emissions.

Diesel emissions contain large amounts of nitrogen oxides and fine particles (soot). Nitrogen oxides are precursors of ground-level ozone (smog), which is a lung irritant, and fine particles can aggravate respiratory and heart diseases. Fine particles can also impact lung function and structure.

More information on MCDI is at http://www.epa.gov/midwestcleandiesel/.

See the Source:
EPA

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About retrofitting diesel vehicles with diesel oxidation catalyst and diesel particulate filters

Air Quality Site Reports Daily Air Quality

AIRNow is a daily update of the Air Quality Index (AQI) reporting how clean or polluted the air is in your neighborhood. Five major air pollutants (ground-level ozone, particulate matter, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide) are used by the EPA to calculate the AQI.

Using this information, the AIRNow website offers daily AQI forecasts and real-time conditions for over 300 metropolitan areas in the United States. The user-friendly website is a government-backed program, developed collaboratively by the EPA, NOAA, NPS, tribal, state, and local news agencies to assist the public in understanding the health effects of breathing polluted air.

See the Source:
AIRNow

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How particulate matter can be reduced using diesel particulate filters from CleanAIR Systems

Court Ruling Protects Mine Workers against Diesel Pollution

PITTSBURGH--(February 12)--News From USW: An appeals court has ruled that standards set by the U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration for reducing diesel particulate pollution were reasonable in a case that the United Steelworkers joined to protect its mineworker members.

A three-judge panel from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia rejected every argument against the pollution standards made by the National Mine Association, the National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association and several mine operators.

“It’s a hands down victory for the safety of our members and thousands of other miners,” said Michael Wright, USW Director of Health, Safety and Environment. “This decision was a rebuff of the mining companies and the mining associations,” he added.

The regulations will limit miners’ exposure to the tiny particles in the diesel fuel emissions from trucks and heavy equipment that operate underground in metal mines, such as those for gold, and non-metal mines, such as those for limestone. The rules do not affect coal mines, which are subject to a different regulation. The USW represents more metal and non-metal miners in North America than any other union.

MSHA issued the standards because the tiny particles have been linked to lung cancer, respiratory problems and eye irritation.

The court decision, written by Judge David B. Sentelle, and joined by Chief Judge Douglas H. Ginsburg and Senior Judge Harry T. Edwards, affects 16,000 workers at 256 mines across the country. Before the regulations took effect on an interim basis, miners toiled in conditions that Wright said were “like working inside the tailpipe of a city bus.”
The mine operators and industry groups filed suit to prevent implementation of the regulations, contending MSHA did not have sufficient evidence that the tiny particles endangered workers’ health, that MSHA shouldn’t have used a substitute substance to measure the particles and that it simply was infeasible for mines to meet the MSHA limit deadlines.

The USW filed a brief seeking enforcement of the regulations, which put the union in the unusual position of supporting a Bush Administration agency, Wright noted.
The court found that all of the mine industry arguments were without merit, which means the regulations will take effect over the next 15 months.

MSHA proposed the first set of rules on Jan. 19, 2001 after conducting a risk assessment that determined miners were exposed to very high levels of diesel particles that jeopardized their health.

Because diesel exhaust contains many different substances, MSHA based its limitation on a measure of carbon. The court said that was reasonable because carbon accounts for the bulk of the tiny particles.

The first set of regulations limited carbon concentrations and were to take full effect by January of 2006. MSHA offered numerous suggestions to mine operators for curtailing the particles, including exhaust filters, improved ventilation systems, low-emission engines and low sulfur fuels.

MSHA changed the rules several times over the next five years, trying to appease industry representatives who were unhappy with the carbon measure. Finally, in May 2006, MSHA proposed that mines reduce carbon exposure over time until a final standard was met in May 2008. In addition, MSHA gave companies a break, saying they could get an extra year to comply. And, it said, if mines found it impossible to limit particulates, they could give workers respirators.

Despite all of that, mining companies and industry groups then filed suit calling the rules capricious. The court disagreed.

It said that although the carbon measure wasn’t perfect, it didn’t need to be. It was only necessary that it be realistic, and it was. It said the science MSHA used to determine that the particulates were dangerous was sound. And it said the mine operators’ contention that they just couldn’t comply on time was unreasonable because MSHA had offered the extra year as well as the respirator solution.

Mine operators also objected to MSHA requiring them to give physicals to workers to see if they could tolerate respirators, which sometimes cause excessive stress. And they complained that MSHA required them to transfer workers when a doctor determined a respirator would be hazardous to their health.

As with everything else, however, the court ruled against the operators.
The industry may seek another hearing of the case before the same panel or could ask the U.S. Supreme Court to take the case.

See the Source:
MSHA

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How CleanAIR’s diesel particulate filters help keep miners safe by reducing particulate matter by greater than 85% and MSHA’s test results for the CleanAIR PERMIT FBC Filter in mines.

Stricter Pollution Control Regulations Drive Industrial Air Pollution Control Market in Southeast Asia

Research and Markets has announced the addition of the new Frost & Sullivan Report "Southeast Asian Industrial Air Pollution Control Equipment Markets" to their offering.

This Frost & Sullivan research service titled Southeast Asian Industrial Air Pollution Control Equipment Market provides overview of and forecasts for the APCE markets in the region along with a complete analysis of drivers, restraints, and market trends that are influencing the revenues of the industrial air pollution control equipment markets. In this research service, Frost & Sullivan´s expert analysts thoroughly examine the following applications: ESP, fabric filter, and scrubbers.

Market Sectors
Expert Frost & Sullivan analysts thoroughly examine the following market sectors in this research:
By End User Verticals:
- Power plants
- Chemicals and petrochemicals
- Cement
- Steel and metal smelters
- Oil refineries
- Technologies

The following technologies are covered in this research:
- Electrostatic precipitator
- Fabric filters
- Scrubbers

Market Overview:
Stricter Pollution Control Regulations Drive Industrial Air Pollution Control Market in Southeast Asia

Southeast Asia is seeing a new wave of regulations and stringent implementation of legislation aimed at controlling the increasing levels of industrial pollution, which is driving growth in the industrial air pollution control equipment (APCE) market. Since tourism is a key industry in countries of this region, they need to sustain their attraction for tourists by offering a cleaner, pollution-free environment, which translates into better enforcement of installation of APCE in stationary emitting facilities. The presence of innovations in air pollution control such as the agglomerator, which captures fine particulates of size 2.5 microns, is likely to bring about further changes in legislation for particulate matter. This is also likely to activate a new wave of filters and electrostatic precipitator (ESP) sales.

Increasing medical costs due to the emission of harmful industrial pollutants have also contributed to this proactive move to control industrial pollution, thus creating a surge in the APCE market. Emissions from factories have contaminated the ambient air, necessitating some strong steps to clean up the air. This is made more significant as chemicals accumulating in the atmosphere come down as acid rain or cause a number of respiratory and cardio-vascular diseases. Such chemical pollution-related health hazards are costing Southeast Asia an estimated $18.40 billion a year in medical expenses and lost productivity, thus creating a vast market for APCE, says the analyst of this research service.

Overseas Investments to Set Quality Standards for Domestic Companies
Overseas manufacturers are finding it easy to participate in Southeast Asian countries due to low tariffs on imports and tax incentives. Most of these foreign companies have the financial strength to invest in R&D initiatives. They have brand recognition and can leverage from economies of scale as well as bigger marketing budgets, which help product penetration in the market. Domestic firms, in many cases, lose out in this aspect. They also face issues of technological inefficiency and inability to cut through bureaucracy or offer proactive maintenance and after-sales services.

On the other hand, domestic APCE companies have traditionally not been very enthusiastic participants due to the constraints of initial capital costs in R&D, development, and installation of APCE as well as intellectual property rights (IPR) issues. After the entry of foreign companies, domestic enterprises in Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, and Taiwan have started installing filters, ESPs, and scrubbers at low costs, notes the analyst. Although these low-priced equipment do not provide the longevity or the quality that bigger brands offer, they have been able to establish a market of their own. This grey market is now posing a challenge to overseas suppliers, as companies in this space need to invest less in terms of the production of emission trapping equipment, geographic diversification, and product advertisement, thus benefiting from easier market positioning.

See the Source:
Research and Markets

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How out about Particulate Filters and Selective Catalytic Reduction manufactured by CleanAIR Systems

ARB announces 2007 State Implementation Plan for Ozone

Sacramento - The California Air Resources Board (ARB) today announced its new state strategy to attain the new federal one hour air quality standard for ozone.

"The State Implementation Plan (SIP) is the blueprint for how the state will meet the federal one hour ozone standard. The plan assures attainment of clean air standards as quickly as possible through technically feasible and cost-effective measures," said Catherine Witherspoon, ARB Executive Officer.

The strategy announced today will reduce ozone-forming emissions in the South Coast Air Basin (the greater Los Angeles region) and the San Joaquin Valley by as much as one half between now and 2024. The state strategy combined with local measures proposed by the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) and the San Joaquin Valley Air Quality Management District make up the 2007 plan for attaining the federal one hour ozone standard. The ozone plan is due to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) by June 15, 2007.

The state's plan for the South Coast Air Basin (the greater Los Angeles area) will reduce photochemical ozone-forming emissions by 212 tons per day (tpd) in 2024. The proposed strategy builds on existing ARB programs that will reduce smog forming emissions in the South Coast by 670 tpd in 2024. The South Coast Air Quality Management District is expected to adopt regional measures that will cut another 32 tpd of ozone-forming emissions.

The San Joaquin Valley plan calls for new measures that will reduce ozone-forming emissions by 68 tons per day in 2024. Existing State programs will eliminate 473 tpd by 2024. The Valley's air quality agency is proposing its own measures that will cut an additional 54 tpd in that time period. The plan projects attainment for all other areas of the state of the federal standard by 2020.

The state strategy will also reduce emissions that form fine particulates (PM-2.5) by approximately 40 percent in the SCAQMD by 2015. However, the nature of particulate pollution is technically complex. The ARB proposes to use the remainder of 2007 to refine the science and revisit the particulate strategies for those regions. The federal PM 2.5 plan is due to USEPA in April 2008.

Mobile source measures are the heart of the ARB strategy with modernization of California's diesel fleets an essential near-term goal. The measures make up 90 percent of the reductions identified in the SIP. "The legacy fleet of older, higher polluting trucks, buses, locomotives and off-road equipment will continue to slow our progress toward cleaner air and currently is our biggest hurdle. Natural turnover is slow for engines designed to last for decades. Therefore, the state strategy is to focus on programs that will clean up or replace those engines through a comprehensive package of regulations, incentives and efforts by the goods movement industries as quickly as possible," Witherspoon added.

The SIP is a comprehensive strategy designed to attain federal air quality standards as quickly as possible through a combination of technologically feasible and cost-effective measures. It outlines ARB staff's assessment of how far adopted regulations will take us towards attainment of federal standards, what new actions can be taken, and what are the earliest feasible timeframes for meeting those standards.

The Air Resources Board is a department of the California Environmental Protection Agency. ARB's mission is to promote and protect public health, welfare, and ecological resources through effective reduction of air pollutants while recognizing and considering effects on the economy. The ARB oversees all air pollution control efforts in California to attain and maintain health based air quality standards.

See the Source:
California Air Resource Board

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How to reduce fine particulate emissions from diesel engines using the CleanAIR PERMIT Filter

Long-term Exposure to Air Pollution Hardens Arteries

Study in Environmental Health Perspectives Finds women most vulnerable to atherosclerosis

Long-term exposure to air pollution may lead to the development of atherosclerosis, a form of cardiovascular disease in which fatty deposits cause artery walls to thicken and harden, according to a study published today in the February issue of Environmental Health Perspectives. The study adds to the growing body of literature linking air pollution with cardiovascular disease and provides the first epidemiologic evidence linking atherosclerosis with exposure to fine particulate matter.

Researchers evaluated 798 healthy Los Angeles-area men and women over the age of 40 who showed some signs of increased risk of cardiovascular disease. They used data from 23 monitoring stations to estimate annual average concentrations of particulate matter in residential zip codes throughout the Los Angeles area. Beginning with data from 2000, researchers found concentrations of particulate matter ranging from 5.2 to 26.9 micrograms per cubic meter.

Overall, the more polluted the air to which subjects were exposed, the thicker the inner layers of their carotid artery, which transports blood to the head and neck. The most-exposed study participants experienced about 8% more artery thickening than the least-exposed participants, after accounting for such factors as diet, use of vitamin supplements and hormone-replacement drugs, physical activity, blood pressure, education, and income.

Women over the age of 60 experienced artery thickening at a rate almost four times higher than the overall population. In general, women were much more vulnerable than men, and nonsmokers and people taking drugs to reduce cholesterol also proved to be more vulnerable than average.

"From a biologic perspective, our results support the hypothesis that long-term exposure to ambient particulate matter contributes to systemic inflammatory pathways, which are a relevant aspect of atherogenesis," the study authors write. "The findings indicate a biologically plausible link between the observed acute effects of ambient air pollution on systemic inflammation and the long-term consequences of sustained vascular inflammation leading to increased atherosclerosis and, ultimately, cardiovascular death."

"We've known for some time that air pollution leads to lung damage, but this study also emphasizes the role air pollution plays on the arteries. Heart disease is a primary cause of death in the western world, so more research, perhaps focusing on those at highest risk, is important," says Dr. Jim Burkhart, science editor for EHP.

The lead author of the study was Nino Künzli of the University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine. Other authors included M. Jerrett, W.J. Mack, B. Beckerman, L. LaBree, F. Gilliland, D. Thomas, J. Peters, and H.N. Hodis. The article is available free of charge at http://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/members/2004/7523/7523.html.

The study was supported in part by the National Institute on Aging, the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, the Wright Foundation, the Hastings Foundation, and the Health Effects Institute.

EHP is published by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. EHP is an Open Access journal.

See the Source:
Environmental Health Perpectives

Find out:
How diesel particulate filters can reduce fine particulate matter.

Long-Term Exposure to Fine Particulate Matter Increases Risk of Heart Attack and Stroke

In a recent study by The New England Journal of Medicine findings link long-term exposure to fine particulate matter (soot) found in air pollution, to cardiovascular disease. The study targeted postmenopausal women living in 36 US metropolitan areas during the years of 1994 to 1998, with a median follow-up 6 years later. The study included 65,893 women. Air pollution levels and assessed exposure were taken using the closes monitor located near each woman’s residence. Key sources of particulates include internal combustion engines (such as diesel-powered vehicles and stationary generators) and coal-fired powered plants.

The results showed 1816 women had “one or more fatal or nonfatal cardiovascular events, as confirmed by a review of medical records, including death from coronary heart disease or cerebrovascular disease, coronary revascularization, myocardial infarction, and stroke” during the study. The study showed that in increased exposure to fine particulate pollution was associated with an increase risk of heart attack, stroke and death.

The conclusion was “long-term exposure to fine particulate air pollution is associated with the incidence of cardiovascular disease and death among postmenopausal women. Exposure differences within cities are associated with the risk of cardiovascular disease.”

See the Source:
The New England Journal of Medicine

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About the environmental and health impact of fine particulate matter.

EPA Kicks Off Midwest Clean Diesel Leadership Program

CHICAGO, Jan. 24 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 5 hosted the first meeting of its Midwest Clean Diesel Leadership Group today in Chicago. The group of 32 public-sector and private- industry organizations shares the goal of cutting emissions from one million diesel engines in the region by 2010.

The Leadership Group is co-chaired by Cummins Inc., Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, Ohio Environmental Council and EPA Region 5.

"EPA helped form the Leadership Group to accelerate efforts toward cleaner air," said EPA Region 5 Administrator Mary A. Gade. "Cleaning up diesel emissions in this country will take a concerted, collaborative effort of public and private organizations, and this group will bring greater visibility, energy and resources to this effort."

"From schoolchildren to truck drivers, millions of Americans are exposed everyday to dangerous emissions from America's aging fleet of diesel-powered vehicles and heavy equipment," said Staci R. Putney McLennan, director of clean air programs at the Ohio Environmental Council. "The good news is that cost-effective pollution-control technologies are available. We look forward to collaborating with industry and government representatives to tackle this important challenge."

"We look forward to sharing the strategies and approaches we have used in Illinois with our colleagues from other Midwestern states," said Illinois EPA Director Doug Scott. "We are also interested in learning about strategies others have found effective, as well as how we all can maximize the clean air benefits from the ongoing technological advances."

"This initiative is about fostering a collaborative environment where we all work together for cleaner communities," said Brian Mormino, director of government relations for Cummins Inc. "Cummins is pleased to step forward with our public and private partners to lead this effort. We have made a significant investment to meet EPA's emissions standards for new engines and know that we can accomplish much more by leveraging our relationships to address those already in operation today."

EPA created the Midwest Clean Diesel Initiative to reduce emissions from older, existing diesel engines not covered by EPA's stringent standards for cleaner fuels and new, cleaner engines. MCDI estimates that more than 3 million diesel engines in the Midwest would benefit from the use of cleaner fuels and idle-reduction and diesel-retrofit technologies and strategies. These include rebuilding, re-powering, replacing, refueling and retrofitting these engines with emission control devices. Already, the public-private partnership has undertaken more than $30 million in projects, affecting 350,000 engines, and reducing air pollution by more than 3.5 million pounds per year.

Diesel emissions contain large amounts of nitrogen oxides and fine particles (soot). Nitrogen oxides are precursors of ozone (smog), which is a lung irritant, and fine particles can aggravate respiratory and heart diseases. EPA has found that fine particles from diesel engines are a leading public health risk in the Midwest.

Quotes from the Midwest Clean Diesel Leadership Group

“New clean diesel technology completely changes the way people view diesel. The Midwest Clean Diesel Initiative is taking the lead to increase the adoption of clean diesel technologies to dramatically reduce emissions by 90 percent in older trucks and buses.”
Patrick Charbonneau, Vice President of Government Relations International Truck and Engine Corporation

“We are pleased and honored to be a part of this group and share its focus on partnership and real, measurable environmental and health outcomes for the region. This kind of recognition and support by EPA is especially critical for Minnesota proactively to stay ahead of air quality problems and to comply with all federal air quality standards. We applaud EPA's foresight and dedication in launching this comprehensive effort to address a major regional air quality problem like diesel emissions.”
Bill Droessler, Clean Air Minnesota Director Minnesota Environmental Initiative

“As the crossroads of America, Indiana has a significant interest in improving air quality while facilitating the increased movement of goods necessary for our growing economy. The Indiana Department of Environmental Management is honored to be part of the Midwest Clean Diesel Leadership Group. The initiative is an excellent example of a public/private partnership to harness the power of the marketplace to improve both the economy and the environment in Indiana and the entire Midwest.”
Thomas Easterly, Commissioner Indiana Department of Environmental Management

“Our partners are making a difference in the Midwest in improving the quality of life by reducing air pollution.”
Carl Lisek, South Shore Clean Cities Inc.

“The diesel industry is proud to be an active participant in the Midwest Clean Diesel Leadership Group. The diversity of supporters stepping forward to join together for this program speaks volumes about the universal agreement that cleaner diesel means cleaner air for all of us, and the industry is committed to doing its part. Opportunities for upgrading the existing diesel fleet are now greater than ever, and diesel retrofit programs have proven time and again to be one of the most cost-effective ways we can reduce diesel emissions, help improve air quality and promote environmental progress.”
Allen Schaeffer, Executive Director Diesel Technology Forum

“The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency recognizes the importance of cleaning up diesel emissions and working in partnership with businesses and stakeholders to voluntarily reduce diesel emissions with a number of actions. As a state focused on maintaining attainment of air quality standards, strategic partnerships are the focus for gaining air quality improvement. For example, as a major partner along with several businesses and stakeholder groups, the MPCA helped establish, promote and support Clean Air Minnesota's Project Green Fleet which will retrofit 500 diesel school buses, reducing harmful particulates 30 percent by the end of 2007.”
David Thornton, Assistant Commissioner for Air Policy Minnesota Pollution Control Agency

“Continuing to release harmful diesel particulate matter into the air when available, cost-effective technologies can nearly eliminate this environmental health problem is unacceptable. The American Lung Association of Metropolitan Chicago is pleased to join the Midwest Clean Diesel Group in its efforts to quickly reduce soot pollution in order to protect the most vulnerable populations: children with developing lungs, the elderly and those suffering from pulmonary diseases.”
Brian Urbaszewski, Director of Environmental Health Programs American Lung Association of Metropolitan Chicago

“The American Lung Association supports the advancement and promotion of cleaner traditional and alternative fuels because the reduction in toxic petroleum components is good for lung health and the environment.”
Harold Wimmer, President and CEO
American Lung Association of the Upper Midwest

See the Source:
EPA – Midwest Clean Diesel Initiative

Find out:
How soot and fine particulate matter can be substantially reduced with CleanAIR diesel particulate filters.

From the MASSPIRG 2007 Legislative Agenda

Cleaning up Diesel Pollution

Each year diesel pollution in Massachusetts is responsible for more than 450 premature deaths, 700 non-fatal heart attacks, 9,900 asthma attacks, and 60,000 work loss days. Pollution control equipment and cleaner fuels can reduce deadly fine particle pollution by up to 90%. Massachusetts should establish aggressive programs to dramatically reduce pollution from existing diesel engines.

MASSPIRG:
• Supports An Act to Reduce Diesel Pollution (Sen. Hart, Rep. Rivera) legislation to achieve a reduction in diesel particulate matter pollution of 75% in key fleets by 2010, and 75% overall by 2020, (in conjunction with the new federal diesel engine rules,) in order to protect public health, prevent global warming pollution, and reduce serious economic and environmental threats .

About MASSPIRG Massachusetts Public Interest Research Group (MASSPIRG) is an advocate for the public interest. MASSPIRG’s mission is to deliver persistent, result-oriented activism that protects the environment, encourages a fair, sustainable economy, and fosters responsive, democratic government.

See the Source:
MASSPIRG

Find out:
How CleanAIR diesel particulate filters reduce fine particle pollution by over 85% from diesel emissions.

PennFuture, EIP Reach Agreement with Allegheny Power to Clean Up Hatfield's Ferry Plant in PA

PennFuture and the Environmental Integrity Project announced a settlement of its lawsuit against Allegheny Power for violation of soot and particulate matter standards at the Hatfield's Ferry Plant in western Pennsylvania. The agreement requires immediate steps to reduce sooty discharges through flue gas conditioning and other measures, and will further reduce particulate matter through installation of a scrubber no later than June 30, 2010. The settlement is expected to ultimately save over 200 lives and $1.2 billion in health costs annually by reducing exposure to fine particle pollution that triggers asthma attacks and premature death from heart disease

See the Source:
The Environmental Integrity Project
PennFuture

Find out:
How to reduce soot and particulate pollution using the CleanAIR PERMIT Filter.