Discourse for all interested in all things air-quality related
The two oldest modes of mechanized land transportation are also two of the best – still – even after all these years. Not surprisingly, it is the train and bicycle we are talking about here. The latter, about 180 years1 in the making and the former, 20 years the bicycle’s senior; about a generation difference.2 … Read more
High-speed trains have been part of the landscape, a fixture, if you will, since 1934, with Pennsylvania Railroad’s (PRR) model GG1 electric locomotive whose top speed was 100 miles per hour and for a non-electric, Union Pacific’s M-10001 diesel-electric trainset, its maximum velocity, a reputed 120 mph. Certainly not to be overlooked were the many … Read more
Picture what it’s like living next to or very near a busy expressway, freeway, highway, motorway or turnpike for your entire life or if not that, then a goodly proportion of it. I would assume some of you reading this can directly relate. The sound of trucks barreling past all hours of the day and … Read more
This year, the American Lung Association in its 2017 “State of the Air” report was clear: four-in-10 Americans live in counties with unhealthy air. That’s not too, too bad considering six-in-10 don’t. When you think problematic air, there are a whole slew of so-called “hot spots.” The more familiar ones are such cities as Beijing, Delhi, … Read more
It cannot be emphasized enough the need to reduce pollution in air. According to Environment America, people in 72 metropolitan areas located across the U.S. were exposed to unhealthy particulate matter levels in 2015 on 100 days or more, information brought to bear in the concern’s new report: “Our Health at Risk: Why Are Millions … Read more
For yard cleanup work, for me, using a broom and dustpan, suffices just fine. Nor would I rule out vacuuming. Leaf blowing, as far as options go, is just not for me. That said, many a leaf blower is made use of for just this very activity – yard cleanup work. Though I understand why … Read more
Particulate-matter pollution, a multi-dimensional air contaminant, is of particular concern, especially a finer version of it or that known as PM 2.5 or fine particulate matter less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter (about 1/30th the width of a typical human hair). That PM 2.5 is present in the air is on account of the incomplete … Read more
Nearly 40 percent of the U.S. population resides in counties with polluted air. This is one of the messages in the American Lung Association’s (ALA) “‘State of the Air’ Report Finds Continued Improvement in Air Quality, Yet Increase in Life-threatening Spikes of Particle Pollution: American Lung Association report finds 4 in 10 Americans live in counties … Read more
Background California’s transportation system, which consists of highways and roads totaling more than 175,000 miles, is valued at around $1.5 trillion. The Golden State, moreover, has north of 500 transit agencies, 12 major ports and an 800-mile total high-speed rail system now under construction. There is more to the state transportation network, so much more. … Read more
California’s San Joaquin Valley in 2016 exceeded the 2008 national 8-hour ozone health standard of 75 parts per billion (ppb) 88 times – a jump of six over 2015’s total. Regarding the more stringent 70 ppb standard, one that would have been more protective of public health, and incidentally, the one approved by the U.S. … Read more