Daily Dose of Air Pollution: January 2009

Friday, January 30, 2009

Air Pollution in Hyderabad, India

Andhra Pradesh State Pollution Control Board (APPCB) operates and maintains the monitoring network in Hyderabad. Below are some figure excerpts from the "Air Pollution and Co-benefits Analysis of an Action Plan for Hyderabad" report. Two journal articles also published out of this study

Source emissions and health impacts of urban air pollution in Hyderabad, India
Journal article in Air Quality, Atmosphere, & Health (2014)

Receptor model based source apportionment of particulate pollution in Hyderabad, India
Journal article in Environmental Monitoring and Assessment (2013)

***********

This study was conducted in 2005-06, including a year long (three seasons) monitoring for PM10 and PM2.5 for source apportionment, emissions inventory development, and air pollution analysis of an action plan for the city of Hyderabad, India.

Click on the images to enlarge.

Figure represents averaged monitoring data (RSMP - PM10) from multiple stations. Blue line represents the urban stations, while the green represents the background stations.

Figure represents an average result of the source apportionment study - following monitoring at three stations for three seasons, chemical analysis, and CMB modeling. This project was conducted under the USEPA's Integrated Environmental Strategies Phase 2 program for Hyderabad, India.

Figure represents a comparison of vehicular growth vs. average PM10 concentrations in the city. The city of Hyderabad is experiencing an average of 10 percent annual growth in vehicular population.

Figure represents modeled annual average PM10 concentrations in Hyderabad. Additional information (in the report) includes maps of seasonal contribution of various sources to ambient air pollution, and percent contribution of sources such as industries, transport - direct vehicular exhaust and indirect road dust, domestic combustion, open burning in the city, and background concentrations.

Final report, including the co-benefits analysis is available @ www.urbanemissions.info

Green Essentials in Goa, India

At Green Essentials, we sell natural and eco-friendly alternatives to several every-day products used in most of our homes. These products can make a real difference to your immediate environment by making it cleaner, chemical-free and beautiful.

Put simply, our goal is to encourage (and enable) doing small things to produce less waste, eat healthier and release fewer chemicals in the environment.

Most importantly, we believe that ‘Going Green’ doesn’t have to be a full-time job nor should it become ‘another mouth to feed’. Which is why the ‘green’ products we offer fit into your life seamlessly, making it easier, not harder and are so affordable that you don’t end up spending any more than you normally do.

Some of the products that you can currently find at our store are:

Garbage management products – Composting pots for apartment dwellers (from Daily Dump in Bangalore)
Natural insect and pest repellents – Mosquito repellent cum air freshener, Plant-pest repellent, General insect repellent
Natural home decor – Indoor plants, Kitchen herb pots, Planters and pots

And more will follow...

Find us @ Taliegao, Panjim, Goa. Right on the new Taleigao-St. InezRoad, near Ideal Primary School.

You can also contact "Green Essentials" @ +91-832-2451823 or +91-9960643250.

See the movie "Garbage, the revolution starts at home" and read more at their website.

Thursday, January 29, 2009

Is Reducing Carbon Emissions Worth The Cost? (NPR)

An intriguing debate on NPR on January 21st, 2009, "Is Reducing Carbon Emissions Worth The Cost?"

FOR THE MOTION

Peter Huber, the co-author of The Bottomless Well, is a partner at the Washington, D.C., law firm of Kellogg, Huber, Hansen, Todd, Evans and Figel, a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute and a columnist for Forbes.
Bjorn Lomborg, the author of Cool It and The Skeptical Environmentalist, is an adjunct professor at the Copenhagen Business School. In 2004, he began the Copenhagen Consensus, a conference of top economists who come together to prioritize the best solutions for world problems.
Philip Stott, professor emeritus and a biogeographer from the University of London, was the editor of the Journal of Biogeography for 18 years.

AGAINST THE MOTION

L. Hunter Lovins is president of Natural Capitalism Solutions, which creates practical tools and strategies aimed at enabling companies, communities and countries to increase prosperity and quality of life. Lovins consults for industries and governments globally.
Oliver Tickell is the author of Kyoto2, in which he sets out an international framework for the control of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere intended to be effective, efficient and equitable.
Adam Werbach, global chief executive officer at Saatchi & Saatchi S, a sustainability consulting division of Saatchi & Saatchi, is regarded as one of the world's premier experts in sustainability. At age 23, he was elected as the youngest president ever of the Sierra Club, the oldest and largest environmental organization in the United States.

Photo Diary of Air Pollution in Beijing

I found this website very innovative in portraying the real time problem of air pollution in Beijing.

Room with a View

Previous posts on air pollution in Beijing

Sensing air quality in Beijing (Interactive Maps)
Beijing still hazy !!
Air pollution in Beijing

Previous posts on public awareness of air pollution

Air Quality Monitoring in Asian Megacities

For air quality analysis, monitoring of various pollutants is very crucial for public health, compliance, and regulation. Here are some links to air pollution monitoring data from Asian megacities.

Delhi, India
Central Pollution Control Board, New Delhi, India
Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board, Hyderabad, India
Maharashtra Pollution Control Board, Mumbai, India
West Bengal Pollution Control Board, Kolkata, India
Karnataka Pollution Control Board, Bangalore, India
Pollution Control Department, Bangkok, Thailand
Air quality in Chinese cities, VECC-MEP, China
Environmental Pollution Department, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
Bureau of Environment, Tokyo, Japan
Pollution Watch, Kathmandu, Nepal
National Environmental Agency, Singapore
Air Resource Management Center, Colombo, Sri Lanka
Department of Environment, Malaysia

Sunday, January 25, 2009

Brown Cloud's of Pollution Over Asia (ABC)

aka Atmospheric Brown Cloud over Asia, is back in the news.

(1) Science Daily - Sources of climate and health effecting pollution over South Asia identified.
(2) TIME (CNN) - Study gets inside the world's "Brown Cloud".
(3) BBC - Asia's Brown Clouds 'warm planet'.
(4) Int. Herald Tribune - Haunting Asia, a brown cloud blots out sun.
(5) New York Times - Study pinpoints main source of Asia's Brown Cloud.
(6) Times of India - Wood fires fueling India's brown haze.
(7) Scientific American - Wood and dung fires feed Asia's brown cloud.
(8) Live Mint (WSJ) - Burning biomass contributes 70% of brown cloud soot.
(9) Scientific American - Clear the air down south.

Here is a list of interesting (and useful) publications, news, and journal articles on ABC in the past

ABC Regional Assessment report (2008)
Impacts of Asian megacity emissions on regional air quality during spring 2001 (JGR)
NASA probes the sources of world's tiny particles
Global and regional climate changes due to Black Carbon (Nature)
INDOEX (The Indian Ocean Experiement, 1999) studies aerosols over the Indian Ocean
Brown clouds over South Asia: Biomass or fossil fuel combustion? (Science)
UNEP's Asian Brown Cloud experiment - see the impact assessment report (2002).
Wikipedia
New Directions: Atmospheric Brown Clouds (Atmospheric Environment)
Aerosol radiative characteristics at Gosan, Korea, during the ABC East Asian Regional Experiment 2005 (JGR)
Indian Ocean Experiment 1999: An integrated analysis of the climate forcing and effects of the great Indo-Asian haze (JGR)
How dangerous is the ABC?
Brown clouds over South Asia: Biomass or fossil fuel combustion? (Science)
Discovery of the ABC over the Indian Ocean, sets off flight
ABC: Impacts on South Asian climate & hydrological cycles (PNAS)
Air pollution & climate change, both reduce India's rice harvests (PNAS)
North American, Asian, & Indian haze: Similar regional impacts on climate (GRL)
Air pollution, greenhouse gases, and climate: Global & regional perspectives (Atmospheric Environment)
Characterization of the seasonal cycle of south Asian aerosols: A regional-scale modeling analysis (JGR)
Warming trends in Asia amplified by brown cloud solar absorption (Nature)
Overview of the Atmospheric Brown Cloud East Asian Regional Experiment 2005 (JGR)

Clean Air News - January 25th, 2009

On January 25th, 2009 (News Every Sunday)
See the last issue on January 18th, 2009

Salt Lake Tribune, January 16th, 2009
It's a scientific certainty: Dirty air kills people.

Guardian, January 18th, 2009
Clearer skies over Europe as fog halved in 30 years.

Times of India (Kolkata), January 18th, 2009
Act today to curb pollution, say docs.

Gulf News, January 19th, 2009
Coastal collapse comes under spotlight.

China Greenpeace Blog, January 19th, 2009
New Signs of Concern for Pollution in China.

AFP, january 19th, 2009
Hong Kong's economic growth spluttering on filthy air.

Science News, January 18th, 2009
Clearing Some Air Over Warming in Europe.

Science Daily, January 19th, 2009
Aerosol Research Key To Improving Climate Predictions.

Oxford Times, January 19th, 2009
Pollution is Choking Us.

Daily Green, January 20th, 2009
U.S. Will Finally Crack Down on Toxic Air Pollution From Cement Plants.

BBC, January 22nd, 2009
Cleaner air 'adds months to life'.

Green Prophet, January 22nd, 2009
Israel's Offshore Gas Deposits May Lead to Cleaner Air But Not Energy Independence.

CSE, January 2009
Tracking Sustainable Transport Action in India.

CSE, January 2009
Air Pollution in Indian Cities.

The Star (Canada), January 22nd, 2009
Canada needs a green economic stimulus plan.

Washington Post, January 22nd, 2009
Green Groups Sue State Over Air Pollution.

AFP, January 23rd, 2009
Health concerns as Hong Kong pollution levels rise.

The Star (Canada), January 21st, 2009
Tar sands smog seen worsening.

Business Mirror (Philippines), January 21st, 2009
Cleaning up or cashing in on clean technology?

Bloomberg, January 21st, 2009
Germany Exceeded Limits for Air Pollution Last Year.

All Africa, January 21st, 2009
Nigeria: Still On Dangers of Generator's Fumes, Noise Pollution in Lagos.

TIME, January 23rd, 2009
Study Gets Inside the World's "Brown Cloud".

International Herald Tribune, January 23rd, 2009
A driving force to change Paris.

Science Daily, January 24th, 2009
Prince Uses Date Stones To Decrease Air And Water Pollution (Saudi Arabia).

Science Daily 23rd, 2009
Sources Of Climate- And Health-afflicting Soot Pollution Over South Asia Identified.

Friday, January 23, 2009

New Experiences in CDM & Transport

An interesting presentation at Better Air Quality Conference (2008) in Bangkok, Thailand by Dr. Jurg M. Grutter, summarizes the current experiences in CDM & Transport.

The abstract & the presentation is available here. A more detailed presentation is available from the Climate and Transport Pre-event organized by GTZ/SUTP.

The programs highlighted in this presentation are

Trans Melineo
Megabus, Pereira, Colombia
MIO, Cali, Colombia
Trolebus, Quito, Ecuador
BRT, Chongqing, China
Metrobus Insurgentes, Mexico City, Mexico
Bus Occupation, Manila, Philippines
Metro, Mumbai, India
Metro, Delhi, India
Cablecar, Medellin, Colombia
TOD, Nanchang, China
E-Diesel, Bangalore, India
Tunnel, Colombia
Bridge road, Mumbai, India
Freight road to rail, Colombia
SVO, Paraguay
Electric vehicles, India
Freight road to ship, Colombia

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Carbon Footprint Calculators

Following the tools for air pollution analysis and management, here is a list of carbon calculators available for readers to play and even calculate personal footprints.

Also see SIM-air tools (e.g., VAPIS and smart-CART) @ www.urbanemissions.info

Sunday, January 18, 2009

Clean Air News - January 18th, 2009

On January 18th, 2009 (News Every Sunday)
See the last issue on January 11th, 2009

Science Daily, January 8th, 2009
To Climate-change Worries, Add One More: Extended Mercury Threat.

Guardian, January 12th, 2009
The Carbon Cost of Googling.

Bloomberg, January 12th, 2009
Budapest Mayor Restricts Car Traffic to Control Air Pollution.

Africa Files, January 2nd, 2009
Climate Change and Cocoa Production in Cameroon: Farmers' Experience and Livelihood Implications.

European Environmental Agency (EEA), 2009
2009 Key Environmental Issues for Europe.

Korean Times, January 7th, 2009
Seoul's Air Becomes Cleaner.
Seoul News, January 8th, 2009
Seoul Air Quality Improving.

PG Citizen (Canada), January 6th, 2009
Roundtable sets targets to slash air pollution.

Times of India, January 13th, 2009
Ride a Cycle and Save Environment, Pune, India.

Science Daily, January 13th, 2009
'Refinery Dust' Reveals Clues About Local Polluters in Houston, Texas.

The National (India), January 12th, 2009
Polluted air inflates respiratory ailments.

WWF, January 13th, 2009
Power emissions limits to save most carbon at least cost.

Guardian, January 13th, 2009
Women bear the brunt of growing environmental problems in Katine, Uganda.

Manila Standard, January 12th, 2009
Agencies bungle air clean-up program in Manila, Philippines.

NY Times, January 15th, 2009
US E.P.A. Pick Vows to Put Science First.

The News, January 15th, 2009
CNG use in vehicles to cut air pollution in Lahore, Pakistan.

NPR, January 15th, 2009
A Billion Cars and Counting by Daniel Sperling.

Science Daily, January 16th, 2009
Mass production of Micro-hybrid Technology Set To Cut Emissions And Fuel Use In Cars.

ITS, November, 2008
Comparing air quality impacts of hydrogen and gasoline.

Grist News, January 15th, 2009
Transport ministers plot climate action in Japan.

Times of India, January 15th, 2009
Winter smog can affect joggers in Mumbai, India.

Daily Triumph (Nigeria), January 15th, 2008
Rescuing Nigerians from carbon monoxide emissions.

NPR, January 16th, 2009
Afghans Feel Ill Effects of Rising Air Pollution in Kabul.

Hong Kong, January 16th, 2009
Hong Kong To Revise Air Pollution Index.

Pinoy Press (Philippines), January 17th, 2009
Street-Level Air Pollution in Asian Cities Worse Than Thought.

Friday, January 16, 2009

Seven Alternative Technologies (New Scientist)

The study, carried out by Mark Jacobson of the atmosphere and energy programme at Stanford University, found wind power to be by far the most desirable source of energy. Biofuels from corn and plant waste came right at the bottom of the list, along with nuclear power and "clean" coal.

The article is published in Energy & Environmental Science
"Review of solutions to global warming, air pollution, and energy security."

Watch a video of Jacobson discussing his findings.

Read the news post on New Scientist.

Also see

China's wind power development exceeds expectations (WWI)
Renewable energy futures (by Eric Martinot)
Should wind power be next on big oil's investment agenda (WSJ)
Artificial energy islands (Inhabitat)

One Billion Cars & Counting (NPR)

This piece by Daniel Sperling, aired on NPR Radio on January 15th, 2009, discussing the consequences of the doubling on the vehicles, which now stands at one billion, on the environment and sustainability.

Read the News Post or Listen on NPR

Daniel Sperling is a professor of civil engineering and environmental science and policy at the University of California, Davis and the founding director of University of California, Davis' Institute of Transportation Studies.

He co-authored (with Deborah Gordon) the book "Two Billion Cars: Driving Toward Sustainability"

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

2008 Top Environmental News in Asia - IGES

A compilation of top environmental news in Asia is 2008 is published by IGES (Japan), featuring news & reports from 21 countries in the Asia-Pacific region and includes 114 articles from three international organizations and 21 countries.

The report covers the topics of global warming, air quality, water, waste and recycling, forests, biodiversity and others.

Also see.. a compilation on daily clean air news from Urban Emissions @

Clean Air News - January 11th, 2009

The Year 2008 in Energy - Technical advances jump-start electric cars, wind turbines, and solar power.

Biotech.org, January 5th, 2009
Bioenergy for sustainable electricity.

Guardian, January 6th, 2009
It will take more than goodwill and greenwash to save the biosphere.

Times of India, January 6th, 2009
Realtors may hit jackpot in BRTS.

ABC News (Australia), January 6th, 2009
Sydney's pollution sparks health warning.

Inhabitat, January 6th, 2009
China Announces the World's Largest Solar Plant.

Associated Press, January 7th, 2009
NY adopts clean air rules, stricter than EPA's.

Monday, January 05, 2009

2008 SIM-series

In 2008, 14 working papers were published under the SIM series.

SIM 01-2008: Using Google Earth for GIS Road Maps
For the transport sector emissions analysis, a good database of the urban road maps is required. This working paper describes a methodology to develop a set of road maps in GIS format using Google Earth.

SIM 02-2008: Four Simple Equations for Vehicular Emissions Inventory
This working paper explains four different equations to develop an emissions inventory - using base as (a) number of vehicles (b) fuel consumption by mode (c) passenger kilometers traveled or (d) ambient data followed by source apportionment. Each methodology has its advantages and disadvantages and an explanation is provided for developing the involved parameters.

SIM 03-2008: Informed Decision Support for AQM in Developing Cities

SIM 04-2008: Simple and Interactive Models for Air Pollution Analysis
This working paper provides an overview of the SIM-air analytical tool for the rapid assessment and integrated analysis.

SIM 05-2008: Urban Air Pollution Analysis for Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
This is an executive summary of the analysis conducted for the city of Ulaanbaatar with 2005 as the base year and particulates as the criteria pollutant. An AQM action plan for year 2020 was developed. A series of management options were analysis following the development of an emissions inventory and dispersion modeling.

SIM 06-2008: Estimating Health Impacts of Urban Air Pollution
This working paper presents a methodology to estimate health impacts - mortality and morbidity - of urban air pollution. A summary of the dose response functions and literature is also presented.

SIM 07-2008: Estimating Road Dust Emissions: Methods & Parameters
Dust 1.01, an excel based tool to calculate dust emissions on paved and unpaved roads, due to vehicular activity.

SIM 08-2008: Co-Benefits: Management Options for Local Pollution & GHG Emission Control
This working paper presents a summary of possible co-benefits of various management options - for outdoor and indoor air pollution.

SIM 09-2008: Air Pollution & Co-Benefits Analysis for Hyderabad, India
This is an executive summary of the analysis conducted for the city of Hyderabad with 2006 as the base year and particulates as the criteria pollutant. A Co-benefit AQM action plan was developed for year 2020 and submitted to local pollution control board.

SIM 10-2008: What is Particulate Matter - Composition & Summary?

SIM 11-2008: Urban Transport in India - Not so Fast for Nano Car
This working paper describe the urban transport - public and private in India and possible implications or benefits of have a small and efficient cars.

SIM 12-2008: DIESEL Program in Bangkok
For details visit - DIESEL Page

SIM 13-2008: VAPIS - Vehicular Air Pollution Information System
This is an explanation for methodology No.1 presented in SIM 02-2008 and an excel based tool to plug and play.

SIM 14-2008: An "Air Quality Management" Action Plan for Hanoi, Vietnam
This is a summary of the AQM action plan for 2020 developed for the city of Hanoi, with 2006 as the base year.

SIM-air - Simple Interactive Models for better air quality @ www.sim-air.org

Sunday, January 04, 2009

Clean Air News - January 4th, 2009

Clean Air News - 2009 Issue No.01
(News Every Sunday - Last issue December 28th, 2008)

Times of India, December 29th, 2008
Improvement in public transport in Pune, India, a must in 2009.

Washington Post, December 26th, 2008
Climate Change May Boost Contact With Pollutants.

Science Daily, December 27th, 2008
No Quick Or Easy Technological Fix For Climate Change.

World Watch Institute, December 29th, 2008
Clean Coal: Wave of the Future or Empty Rhetoric.

New York Times, December 15th, 2008
Australia Unveils Targets to Cut Pollution.

India Together, December 24th, 2008
Driving away cars from city centres by Darryl D'Monte

The City Fix, December 29th, 2008
Mumbai Transportation: Where is the Money at?

Wired, December 29th, 2008
Motorcycles Finally Go Green.

Network Musings, December 12th, 2008
Advice for Cities & Towns on Green Transport.

Reuters, December 31st, 2008
Beijing's New Year Resolution - Scrap Polluting Cars.

Clear the Air - Hong Kong, December 23rd, 2008
Clean Coal Best Way To Fuel Asia's Growth.

Inhabitat, December 29th, 2008
New York City to Install Super-Efficient LED Streetlamps.

The News, December 31st, 2008
EPD Fails to Control Air Pollution in Lahore, Pakistan.

The New Nation, January 1st, 2009
Making an Environmentally Friendly City, Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Guardian, January 2nd, 2009
NASA climate expert (James Hansen) makes personal appeal to Obama.

The Star Online, Malaysia, January 1st, 2009
Project towards making Penang smoke-free.

NY, USA, January 1st, 2009
Clean air for the New Year.

Tehran News, January 1st, 2009
Car exhaust fumes blamed for over 80% of air pollution in Tehran, Iran.

Ghana Business News, January 2nd, 2009
Ghanaians warned about effects of carbon emissions.

AFP, January 2nd, 2009
Hong Kong air pollution worst since records began.

Punch (Nigeria), December 31st, 2008
Steady Pace to Mega City Status for Lagos, Nigeria.

Reuters, January 2nd, 2009
Big solar power plant planned for northwest China.

Now Public, January 3rd, 2009
Two-stroke Engine Pollution Solution Bangkok, Thailand.

Thursday, January 01, 2009

Happy New Year, 2009

Happy New Year.. may the year 2009 see better air pollution regulations and a speedy recovery to cleaner environment.

Happy Zeno Year by Abstruse Goose
Top 10 Green Stories of 2008 by CNN
Top 100 Environmental News of 2008 by Discover Magazine

With best Wishes,
Sarath
Urban Emissions.Info