Discourse for all interested in all things air-quality related
When it comes to polluted air, there is the abstract part: pollution-related illness and death. On Mar. 25, 2014, the World Health Organization (WHO) in the “7 million premature deaths annually linked to air pollution” news release states: “In new estimates released today, WHO reports that in 2012 around 7 million people died – one … Read more
This year June 19th is dedicated as National Dump the Pump Day by the American Public Transportation Association. That’s tomorrow. Twenty-fourteen marks nine years that National Dump the Pump Day has been observed. “Sponsored by the American Public Transportation Association (APTA), in partnership with the Sierra Club and the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), this national … Read more
Number 10 in the Transport in a Fine Fix Series. The point of all mobility – and transportation is included in that broad context – is to get from Point A to Point B. That’s it – nothing more, nothing less. But what matters most is what happens transiting-wise between points. In moving from place … Read more
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Jun. 2, 2014 issued a news release regarding a proposal to reduce the amount of carbon emitted from power plants. In its news release, titled: “EPA Proposes First Guidelines to Cut Carbon Pollution from Existing Power Plants/Clean Power Plan is flexible proposal to ensure a healthier environment, spur innovation and strengthen … Read more
By presidential proclamation, President Barack Obama on May 9, 2014 declared the week of May 11th through May 17th as National Transportation Week 2014. With this in mind what better time is there than right now to talk transportation? For all regular Air Quality Matters blog readers paying close attention since Day-1 (Nov. 5, 2012), … Read more
If it were up to me to choose the date to celebrate National Train Day it would be May 1st, the date Amtrak began its national train network operations some 43 years ago in 1971. Now this isn’t to suggest that the historic transcontinental rail hook-up occurring May 10th in the year 1869 wasn’t news-, note- … Read more
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