Hazy Days Increase the Risk of Premature Death

“Although a hazy day generally has 2.9% higher risk [of death] than a day without haze, a very intense adverse effect is found on the mortality associated with mental and behaviour disorders,” the researchers reported. “A combined influence of haze, extreme weather/air quality and urban environment can result in extremely high mortality.” Read the full article @ The Guardian

The Hong Kong research, published in the journal Environment International, is the first to analyse the link of haze days and risk of death. Haze days are those on which pollutants gather in the air and cut visibility, usually dry days with low winds. In the study period from 2007 to 2014, there were 111 haze days when particle pollution was on average twice as high.

Delhi 2017-18 Winter Time PM2.5 Concentrations Above 300 micro-gm/m3

 

The data is worrying, but neither the Delhi government nor the Centre has made localised plans to deal with emissions. Read the full article @ Times of India

More on Delhi's air quality is @ http://www.delhiairquality.info 

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SIM-air = Simple Interactive Models for Better Air Quality

The SIM-air, “Simple Interactive Models for better AIR quality”, family of tools have been developed to use the available information to support integrated urban air quality management. The modules are designed to estimate emissions and to simulate the interactions between emissions, pollution dispersion, impacts, and management options. All the databases, calculations, and interfaces are maintained in spreadsheets for easy access. For the analysis of emissions inventory and health impacts, a database of emission factors and concentration-response functions are included in the tools, which can be adjusted with specific data from cities.


These tools and supporting documentation are distributed for free @ urbanemissions.

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Infographic - When Do We Talk About Delhi's Air Pollution

Come Diwali, in all probability, we will witness unhealthy spikes in air pollution leading to an increase in air pollution related morbidity and mortality. This is also the time when the debate around strategies to address pollution reach a crescendo. If we wait it out .. the debate usually dies down till people either forget, are indifferent or are too disillusioned to expect change… only to be resurrected the following year. More details on Delhi's Air Quality @ DelhiAQ.info

How Many Continuous Monitoring Stations are Recommended for Indian Districts and States

Based on thumb rule proposed by CPCB and the district level urban and rural population (as per 2011 census), we estimate the need for 4,000 continuous monitoring stations (2,800 in the urban areas and 1,200 in the rural areas of the districts, as per 2011 census) to spatially, temporally, and statistically represent the PM2.5 pollution in the urban and the rural areas of India. More @ India Air Quality Info

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