Particulates

Despite marked progress made, Fresno, Kern, Madera counties remain ‘hot spots’ for dirty wintry air

Wood-burning restrictions in California’s eight-county San Joaquin Valley as of Mar. 1, 2020 were lifted. Though the burning of wood in residential fireplaces, fire-pits, woodstoves, etc. post-Feb. 29, 2020 is allowed, it is however, as the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District (Air District) has stated, discouraged. And, for good reason, obviously: Fine-particulate-matter pollution … Read more

Global warming, climate change: Major/minor disruptions/distractions, what?

The world Corona Virus Disease – 19 (COVID-19) pandemic is a disruption of major proportions to which there is no equal, not in this century, anyway. This infection has the potential to develop into one of the worst health crises because, at this moment in time, the disease continues to spread and there is still … Read more

World’s cleanest diesel locomotives make California’s Central Valley their home

Imagine what it means for people to regularly have to breathe dirty, deleterious and deplorable air. San Joaquin Valley, California residents know all too well. It was better than a dozen years ago on Dec. 16, 2007 that The Fresno Bee’s comprehensive “Fighting For Air” air-quality report was published. In it, it was brought out … Read more

In air: More than pollution and meets the eye and what to do about it

Among a cohort or cohorts there is this sense, an opinion, that whether carbon dioxide is introduced into the atmosphere naturally or is the result of such being released through the burning of fossil fuels like oil, natural gas or coal, CO2 isn’t air pollution – at all. Then there, of course, are those who … Read more

Air quality in the news: It’s been one notable and at the same time tough year

When it comes to news, 2019 has not been a particularly encouraging nor comforting year where environmental protection is concerned. In getting at specifics, we’re talking air quality news here folks! As a case in point, it was announced that the U.S. had formally withdrawn from the Paris Climate Accord. Here at home also, California … Read more

Hefty economic costs, new hospital admissions causes linked to daily PM2.5 exposure

The below Nov. 27, 2019 press release from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Hospitalizations for several common diseases—including septicemia (serious bloodstream infection), fluid and electrolyte disorders, renal failure, urinary tract infections, and skin and tissue infections—have been linked for the first time with short-term exposure to fine particulate air pollution (PM2.5), according to a … Read more

Measuring transpo. emissions: Per-mile or per-gallon of gas burned. Which is more useful and why it may matter

It’s no secret transportation emits more greenhouse gas pollutants (carbon mostly) than any other single sector and that emissions from transportation worldwide are on the rise. And, it should be no mystery either that for every gallon of gasoline burned in an internal combustion (IC) engine, 19.64 pounds of carbon dioxide from said burning is … Read more

$130 million provided Calif. bus owners; part of VW Environmental Mitigation Trust program

The below Oct. 21, 2019 news release is from the California VW Mitigation Trust. Today [Oct. 21, 2019], the first Volkswagen (VW) Environmental Mitigation Trust funding program launched for projects throughout California. The Zero Emission Transit, School, and Shuttle Bus program provides $130 million to replace internal combustion engine transit, school, and shuttle buses with … Read more

A mode less traveled – rail: What it affords that roads don’t – Part 2

A concluding thought in “Road expansion or repair: Can either do anything to lower burden on air?” (Part 1) had to do with whether road-based projects – expansion or repair thereof – could have “an air-remedying effect.” Affirmative is the answer. Though “yes,” it’s conditional. A new overpass used to replace a physical intersection, for … Read more