Discourse for all interested in all things air-quality related
I am interested in driving statistics relative to population growth. With a growing population, how have the miles drivers drive and gallons of gasoline consumed changed over the years? The reason for the interest revolves around the impact the above has had on driving-produced emissions. If emissions from the motor vehicle sector are becoming less … Read more
“Particulate matter (PM) is a complex mixture of substances ranging from dry solid fragments, solid-cores fragments with liquid coatings, and small droplets of liquid,” the California Environmental Protection Agency Air Resources Board (ARB) in: “Facts About Particulate Matter Mortality: New data revealing greater dangers from PM2.5,” expressed. “These particles vary in shape, size and chemical … Read more
It is May at last and that means Mother’s Day; those appealing-to-the-eye April-showers-induced-May flowers, inspiring canvas paintings and prompting springtime picture taking; and, lest I forget, to that list add National Bike Month. Considering that last item, what with winter in cold storage (for at least a half a year), much milder and more pleasant … Read more
Harmful pollution emissions should be on their way out, not up. In one state, Pennsylvania, as it pertains to proposed new smog rules that notion could quite possibly be turned upside down. “The Sierra Club, the American Lung Association, the Clean Air Council, and other groups say that under the new emission limits, the state’s biggest … Read more
Putting and keeping Earth on a sustainable track is the best medicine. In addition, it goes without saying, or should, that staying that course requires our help because, frankly, in this regard our planet cannot go it alone. To achieve that end will take work – heaping helpings of it, in fact. Fortunately, causes like … Read more
In the more than a-year-and-a-quarter’s time since I began blogging on air quality, cars have not been a hot-ticket item for me. In other words, in the big-picture perspective, I haven’t given autos their due like I have trains. So, today, for the auto I thought I would dedicate space. ‘Charge Ahead California’ campaign hits … Read more
Globally, in 2012, from the effects of air pollution 7 million people died prematurely, according to World Health Organization or WHO estimates. This is up from an estimated 800,000 in 2000. The fact of the matter is, without mitigation, the situation could get worse. Although the 7 million amounts to just 0.1 percent of the … Read more
Score one more for the environment. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently moved to set standards for fuel and tailpipe emissions. In a Mar. 3, 2014 “EPA Sets Cleaner Fuel and Car Standards, Slashing Air Pollution and Providing Health Benefits to Thousands” news release, the federal agency explained it thusly: “Based on extensive input from … Read more
The other day (Feb. 7, 2014), I posted: “Annual per-capita California driving 1.5 times the national average.” So, to recap: In California: Annual average per-capita miles driven – 13,636 Number of licensed drivers – 22 million Number of registered vehicles – 27.5 million Annual average fuel consumption – 681.81 gallons Average vehicle fuel economy rating … Read more
Californians love their cars. So, how do I know this? Well, depending upon source referenced, in the Golden State there is anywhere between 27.5 million and 32 million registered motor vehicles. Even at the more conservative of the two numbers, that’s a minimum of 1.25 statewide registered cars and light-duty trucks for every licensed in-state … Read more