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☆ Northeast flights delayed as Canada wildfire smoke cuts visibility
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-07 | by ( Leslie Josephs | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Smoke from wildfires in Canada delayed flights at New York-area airports and in Philadelphia on Wednesday as haze blanketed the region and cut visibility. Smoke drifting south from wildfires in Canada covered the New York City area on Tuesday into Wednesday, tainting air quality and sending residents indoors. As of noon Wednesday, the city ranked fourth in the world for worst air quality, with an IQAir World Air Quality Index of 158, a level considered unhealthy for all residents. As of mid-afternoon, 115 flights scheduled to fly to Newark, or around 18% of the day's total, were delayed, according to FlightAware. Flights to LaGuardia were delayed an average of about 120 minutes, and flights to Newark were delayed an average of 82 minutes, according to the FAA.

Persons: John F, —, Emma Newburger Organizations: FAA, Philadelphia International, New York's LaGuardia, New, LaGuardia, Kennedy International, United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, CNBC, American Airlines Locations: Canada, New York, Philadelphia, East Coast, Midwest, New York City, U.S, Newark, LaGuardia

New York City’s air quality index was above 200 at one point Tuesday night – a level that is “very unhealthy,” according to IQair. Later Tuesday night, New York City had the second-worst levels of air pollution in the world after New Delhi, India, IQair reported. Air quality alerts were in effect across parts of the Northeast and the Midwest on Tuesday as wildfire smoke spread west into Detroit and Chicago. Spencer Platt/Getty ImagesDetroit was listed in IQair’s top 10 worst locations for air pollution on Tuesday afternoon. Chicago’s air quality was moderate on Tuesday afternoon and is expected to remain moderate for the next couple of days.

Persons: IQair, ”, William Barrett, ” Barrett, Spencer Platt Organizations: CNN, New, Doha, World Health, World Health Organization, American Lung Association, Canadian Interagency Forest Fire, Midwest, National Weather Service, Getty, Detroit, IQAir Locations: New York City, Quebec, York, New Delhi, India, Qatar, Baghdad, Iraq, Lahore, Pakistan, New York, Canadian, Canada, Detroit, Chicago, IQair’s, New England, Massachusetts , Connecticut, Rhode Island and Vermont, Cities, Baltimore, Boston, Hartford, Providence, Montpelier , Vermont, South Carolina, IQAir North America

☆ Sandstorms, dangerous pollution return to Beijing
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] A woman poses for pictures near the Forbidden City, as the city is shrouded in smog amid a sandstorm, in Beijing, China March 10, 2023. The capital Beijing has seen regular air pollution and an unseasonal number of sandstorms over the past few weeks. On Tuesday morning, smog and misty grey clouds could be seen enveloping Beijing and the city's real-time air quality index was at a serious pollution level, according to the website of the Beijing Municipal Ecological and Environmental Monitoring Center. The concentration of fine particulates in the air in Beijing is currently 46.2 times the World Health Organization's annual air quality guideline value, according to IQAir, a website that issues air quality data and information. Beijing has regular sandstorms in March and April as it is near the large Gobi desert.

☆ Pollution choking Thailand's north hits tourism, worries public
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

CHIANG MAI, Thailand, April 10 (Reuters) - High pollution levels in Thailand's northern city of Chiang Mai and surrounding provinces are keeping tourists away and alarming locals, with the government on Monday urging residents to avoid outdoor activities. For several weeks last month the city was at the top of air quality information platform IQAir's global chart on poor air quality, ahead of Lahore and New Delhi. That is far short of the 80% to 90% expected ahead of this week's Thai New Year holidays, known as Songkran. Addressing the deteriorating air quality in the north, Thailand's health ministry urged the public on Monday to avoid outdoor activities and wear masks that can filter particles. Chiang Mai resident Pathsharasakon Po, 36, said she was concerned about allergies, or even cancer.

Arif Ali | AFP | Getty ImagesAbout 90% of the global population in 2022 experienced unhealthy air quality, and only six countries met the World Health Organization's recommendations of safe air pollutant levels, according to a new report from Swiss air quality technology company IQAir. The report found that the top five most polluted countries in 2022 were Chad, Iraq, Pakistan, Bahrain and Bangladesh. Lahore's air quality worsened to 97.4 micrograms of PM 2.5 particles per cubic meter in 2022 from 86.5 in the year prior, making it the most polluted city in the world. The 2022 report used air quality data from more than 30,000 regulatory air quality monitoring stations and air quality sensors from 7,323 cities across 131 countries, regions and territories. "Too many people around the world don't know that they are breathing polluted air," Aidan Farrow, senior air quality scientist at Greenpeace International, said in a statement.

☆ Lahore is most polluted city, Chad worst among countries - survey
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Lahore's air quality worsened to 97.4 micrograms of PM2.5 particles per cubic meter from 86.5 in 2021, making it the most polluted city globally. Hotan, the only Chinese city in the top 20, followed Lahore with PM2.5 levels of 94.3, an improvement from 101.5 in 2021. While Chad had an average level of 89.7, Iraq, which had the second most polluted air for a country, averaged 80.1. Bangladesh's air quality improved from 2021, when it was tagged as the country with the worst air. The index was prepared using data from more than 30,000 air quality monitors in more than 7,300 locations in 131 countries, territories and regions.

☆ 'I feel my eyes burn': Thailand says stay indoors as air pollution spikes
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/4] A view of the city amid air pollution in Bangkok, Thailand, February 2, 2023. REUTERS/Athit PerawongmethaBANGKOK, Feb 2 (Reuters) - Air pollution in Bangkok and neighbouring Thai provinces spiked past safe levels on Thursday, prompting authorities to urge people to stay indoors and avoid strenuous outdoor activity. The country's pollution control department said "stagnant weather conditions" were exacerbating vehicle emissions and seasonal fires on agricultural lands. The level in Bangkok and the surrounding areas is currently 70.5 micrograms per cubic metre. Every year, exposure to outdoor air pollution is estimated to cause 4.2 million premature deaths, according to the WHO.

☆ New Delhi’s air pollution leaves residents gasping for breath
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-14 | by ( Gafira Qadir | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +5 min

By the first week of November, New Delhi’s air quality index was 472, high enough to affect healthy people while having a serious impact on those with existing conditions. In some areas of the city, the reading exceeded 800, according to the Delhi Pollution Control Committee, a regulatory body. Experts say exposure to low air quality levels increases the risk of respiratory infections, heart disease and lung cancer. In response to the poor air quality, Delhi officials ordered the closure of primary schools and reduced outdoor activities for older students from Nov. 4 to 9. A government vehicle sprinkles water to control air pollution in New Delhi last month.

☆ At COP27, a young climate activist from India demands historical dues
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-11 | by ( Yashraj Sharma | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +4 min

Growing up in India, Licypriya Kangujam has already felt the impact of climate change. The 11-year-old, known as Licy, is one of India’s most vocal climate activists as well as one of the youngest people at the United Nations climate talks in Egypt this month. “They keep blaming each other for climate change and fail to take up collective efforts.”About one billion children around the world are at “extremely high risk” of exposure to climate and environmental hazards, according to Unicef. Prakash Singh / AFP via Getty Images fileOf the world’s 50 most polluted cities, 42 of them are in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, according to Swiss technology company IQAir. Speaking at the climate summit on Monday, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said his crisis-hit country needed debt relief and climate compensation after the floods, which caused $30 billion in damage.

☆ What it feels like to visit a fusion company lab on a day when wildfire smoke cloaks the horizon
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-04 | by ( Catherine Clifford | In Catclifford | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +13 min

The Helion Energy building under construction to house their next generation fusion machine. For the employees of Helion Energy, building a fusion device is their job. Helion Energy's building under construction to house the seventh generation fusion machine on a day when wildfire smoke was not restricting visibility. On the one hand, I had a newfound sense of hope about the possibility of fusion energy. This is the Polaris Injector Test, where Helion Energy is building a component piece of the seventh generation fusion machine.

☆ New Delhi wrestles with 'hazardous' air pollution, primary schools shut
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-04 | by ( Tanvi Mehta | Ian Ransom | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

NEW DELHI, Nov 4 (Reuters) - Authorities in New Delhi ordered primary schools to shut from Saturday, and told schools to stop outdoor activities for older children as air in the world's most polluted capital had become a severe risk to health. The chart below shows the daily maximum PM 2.5 concentration at the U.S. Embassy New Delhi since 2015. Delhi environment minister Gopal Rai said going forward 50% of Delhi government employees would be told to work from home, and he urged private firms to take similar steps. School girls walk towards a school as they reopened after remaining closed for nearly 15 days due to a spike in air pollution, on a smoggy morning in New Delhi, India, November 29, 2021. According to data compiled by the Swiss group IQAir, New Delhi has been the world's most polluted capital for the past four years.

Seattle and Portland, Oregon, were first and second, respectively, in the global ranking of places with the poorest air quality, according to IQAir, a Swiss company that measures air pollution. Air quality issues have persisted for about a month because of the prolonged fires burning west of the Cascades. That’s what’s been contributing to the persistent air quality issues we’ve had." Sports and other outdoor activities in the Pacific Northwest have been called off due to the poor air quality. The problem is worst in the West, where rising air pollution levels due to smoke have reversed decades of improvements in overall air quality.

☆ Wildfires Are Intensifying. Here’s How to Protect Your Health.
▼ + stars: | 2022-08-01 | by ( Molly Peterson | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +9 min

Wildfire smoke is “like tobacco smoke without the nicotine,” one expert said. Here are some of the most common questions about the health risks of wildfire smoke, and how to guard against them. PurpleAir can also offer a more local picture of air quality, as can other products and apps, like IQAir and BreezoMeter. Show moreAdvertisement Continue reading the main storyWhat else can I do to limit smoke pollution inside my home? But making sure you’re prepared for the hazards of wildfire smoke before a fire occurs can help, Dr. Cooper said.

Persons: ”, Mary Prunicki, Sean, John Balmes, Christian Monterrosa, Keith Bein, Davis, you’re, Prunicki, That’s, Balmes, Robin Cooper, Dr, Cooper Organizations: Getty, Parker Center for Allergy, Asthma Research, Stanford University, University of California, The New York Times, Air Quality Research, Environmental Protection Agency, Centers for Disease Control, American Lung Association Locations: campfires, Butte County, Calif, San Francisco, California, Bay

☆ România, în top 3 țări din UE cu cea mai mare poluare a aerului în zonele urbane
▼ + stars: | 2021-06-03 | by ( Milena Onisim | ) www.zdg.md time to read: +2 min

Media anuală a concentraţiei de particule fine în zonele urbane din Uniunea Europeană a scăzut considerabil în ultimii ani, dar continuă să fie peste nivelul recomandat de Organizaţia Mondială a Sănătăţii, arată datele publicate joi, 3 iunie, de Eurostat. În rândul statelor membre, cea mai mare poluare a aerului din UE o au zonele urbane din Bulgaria, Polonia şi România, notează Digi 24. La nivelul țărilor Uniunii Europene, cea mai mare medie anuală a concentraţiei de particule fine (PM2,5) se regăseşte în zonele urbane din Bulgaria (19,6 ľg/m3), Polonia (19,3 ľg/m3) şi România (16,4 ľg/m3). La polul opus, concentraţia este cea mai scăzută în zonele urbane din Estonia (4,8 ľg/m3), Finlanda (5,1 ľg/m3) şi Suedia (5,8 ľg/m3). PM2,5 reprezintă cele mai periculoase particule fine, adică cele cu un diametru mai mic de 2,5 microni.

Persons: OMS Organizations: Uniunea Europeană, Uniunii Europene, OMS Locations: Bulgaria, Polonia, România, Estonia, Finlanda, Suedia, Europa, Bucureşti, Delhi, India, Insulele Virgine, Noua Zeelandă

Are o suprafață totală de 268 000 de kilometri pătrați și o populație de 4,8 milioane de oameni. Consumul de droguriÎn Noua Zeelandă, consumul de substanțe narcotice este interzis. Totodată, în școli este interzisă vânzarea dulciurilor, a chips-urilor și a produselor fără valoare nutritivă. Poluarea aeruluiUnul dintre principalele obiective ale Noii Zeelande este păstrarea naturii verzi și a curățeniei (Green and Clean New Zealand). Această țară a reușit să adune în experiența sa multe practici progresive care s-au adeverit a fi necesare în perspectivă.

Persons: Pandemia Organizations: ONU, Marlboro, Parlamentul, Ministerului Sănătății, Ministerul Sănătății Locations: Moldova, Noua Zeelandă, Pacific, Wellington, n.r, Auckland, Gisborne, New Zealand, Noii Zeelande, Australia, Asia, Africa

☆ Nepalul se confruntă cu cele mai severe incendii de pădure din ultimii ani
▼ + stars: | 2021-04-09 | by ( Publika.Md - Aici Sunt Știrile | ) www.publika.md time to read: +2 min

A fost cel mai grav sezon al incendiilor din punct de vedere numeric din 2012, când guvernul a început să monitorizeze fenomenul. ''Incendiile de pădure sunt cauza principală pentru nivelul crescut de poluare din Kathmandu şi multe alte locuri'', a declarat Sharma pentru Reuters. Oficialul nu a menţionat un motiv care să fi determinat această creştere.Indexul pentru calitatea aerului (AQI) în Kathmandu s-a ridicat vineri la un nivel toxic de 174, potrivit datelor publicate pe iqair.com, un site care monitorizează calitatea aerului. Un nivel al AQI sub 50 este considerat benefic. ''Nivelurile de poluare s-au redus în multe locuri, dar nu sunt suficient de adecvate pentru a respira normal'', a spus Indu Bikram Joshi, un purtător de cuvânt al Ministerului Mediului.

Persons: Reuters, Oficialul Organizations: Mediului Locations: Nepalului, India, Tibet, China.Nu, Kathmandu, Nepal

☆ Европейские города с самой высокой смертностью от загрязнения воздуха
▼ + stars: | 2021-01-21 | by ( Mld Media Srl | ) noi.md time to read: +4 min

В исследовании воздействия на здоровье впервые была оценена смертность, связанная с загрязнением воздуха, в более чем 1000 европейских городах. Однако, если бы все города соответствовали уровню качества воздуха наименее загрязненного города в списке, можно было бы предотвратить еще большее количество смертей. После оценки предотвратимых преждевременных смертей в каждом городе исследовательская группа оценила города по бремени смертности для каждого из двух изученных загрязнителей. «В отношении PM2,5 города с самым высоким уровнем смертности находятся в долине реки По в Италии, на юге Польши и в восточной части Чешской Республики. На противоположном конце рейтинга находятся города с самыми низкими показателями смертности от загрязнения воздуха, привилегированное положение занимают города Северной Европы как в рейтингах PM2,5, так и NO 2.

Persons: — ISGlobal, Саша Хоменко, Хоменко Organizations: Барселонский институт глобального здравоохранения (), Швейцарский институт тропиков и общественного здравоохранения ( ), Всемирная организация здравоохранения (ВОЗ), НВ Locations: PM2,5, Европа, Испания, Бельгия, Италия, Франция, По, Польша, Чешская Республика, Брешиа, Мадрид, Северная Европа, Исландия, Рейкьявик, Тромс, Бергамо, Карвина, Чешская Республика)Виченца, Силезская метрополия, Острава, Чешская Республика)ЯстшебеЗдруй, Гавиров, Антверпен, Турин, Париж, Милан, Барселона, Молле дель Валлес, Брюссель, Германия, Киев

☆ Bulgaria, în alertă. Aerul irespirabil creşte nivelul de îngrijorare în plină pandemie
▼ + stars: | 2020-12-10 | by ( Publika.Md - Aici Sunt Știrile | ) www.publika.md time to read: +4 min

Guvernul "nu a început cu adevărat să pună în aplicare măsuri pe teren", a argumentat Bruxelles.Vinovaţii sunt însă cunoscuţi: praful, emisiile de la încălzirea cu cărbune sau lemn, dar şi gazele de eşapament de la parcul auto îmbătrânit şi particulele rezultate de la uzura anvelopelor. În cartierele sărace, anvelope, mobilă veche şi materiale plastice sunt încă arse pentru încălzire.Sofia nu este singura afectată de acest flagel. "În oraşul meu natal din nord, în mijlocul munţilor, toate hornurile scot fum şi răspândesc un miros insuportabil care îţi taie respiraţia. Este o problemă la nivel naţional", declară Ina Hristova.Iarna aceasta, însă, poluarea se combină cu noul coronavirus, cei doi factori agravând situaţia, potrivit mai multor studii recente. "Niciun organ din corp nu rămâne neafectat de poluarea cu particule fine" şi acţionează "în sinergie" cu COVID-19, a declarat pentru AFP pneumologul Alexander Simidciev.Aceste particule minuscule, odată ce intră în sistemul respirator, atacă plămânii şi inima, ceea ce poate agrava efectul virusului.

Persons: Georgy Pavlov, Ea, Ina Hristova.Iarna, Alexander, Borisov Organizations: OMS, Comisia Europeană Locations: Europa, Sofia, Bulgaria, pneumologie, UE

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