With winter around the corner, air pollution levels rise at an alarming rate. Stubble burning, vehicular emissions, construction activities, fire crackers and other factors contribute to degrading air quality. These can lead to breathing issues and aggravate diseases and health conditions such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), respiratory infections and cardiovascular diseases. Moreover, smog, which is a mixture of smoke and air pollution, can damage your lungs. It can comprise airborne particulate matter, mostly PM 2.5 and PM 10, that can have adverse health effects.

Why you should watch out for PM 2.5 over PM 10

This is a fine, inhalable particle, generally 2.5 micrometres of diameter or smaller. The combustion of gasoline, oil, diesel fuel or wood produces much of the PM 2.5. Due to its smaller size, the particulate matter can be drawn deep in the lungs and can be more harmful as compared to PM 10. It can penetrate the lung deeply, irritate and corrode the epithelial walls and consequently impair lung function.

According to the US-based National Library of Medicine, PM 2.5 have small diameters but they can spread over large surface areas. They are “capable of carrying various toxic stuff, passing through the filtration of nose hair, reaching the end of the respiratory tract with airflow and accumulating there by diffusion, damaging other parts of the body through air exchange in the lungs… The ‘Harvard Six Cities Study’, published in 1996, revealed that PM 2.5 was one of the causative factors of human non-accidental death. In this study, PM 2.5 was positively related to daily morality of humans, particularly the elderly (RR =1.5 per cent, 95 per cent CI: 1.1–1.9 per cent).”

How damaging is PM 10

It is an inhalable particle, generally with 10 micrometres of diameter or smaller. It includes dust from construction site, landfills, agriculture, waste burning and so on. These particles settle and get deposited in the lungs. The exposure of particulate PM 10 is associated with worsening of respiratory diseases like asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). The larger size of particulate matter means it gets trapped mostly in the nose, mouth or throat, causing irritation of mucous membranes.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared air pollution as a public health emergency and more than 90 per cent of the global pollution is enduring toxic, polluted outdoor air.

Pollution impacts other organs too

While it is a common notion that air pollution mostly affects lungs, it is crucial to note that other body organs too can be damaged due to continuous exposure to polluted air. For instance, air pollution can damage skin and cause premature ageing and problems like rashes, wrinkles, discoloration, pigmentation and so on. Exposure to polluted outdoor air has been proven to be harmful to the human eye. Common eye problems caused by pollution are watery eyes, soreness, redness, itching sensation, dry eyes and allergy. Other than this, air pollution can have adverse effects on the cardiovascular, nervous, digestive and urinary systems. Due to air pollution, there have been increasing cases of heart diseases and cancer.

Know what AQI levels mean

As air pollution is increasing day by day, it is important to adopt various measures and steps to minimise the harmful impact on your health. To know about the air quality, you can easily refer to the air quality index (AQI), which is a daily measure of the quality of air. The main purpose is to calculate or measure how air pollution affects health and help people become more aware, especially those who suffer from serious or chronic illnesses caused by exposure to pollutants. Plan your activities around good and bad air days. The categories of AQI are: good (0-50), satisfactory (51–100), moderately polluted (101–200), poor (201–300), very poor (301–400), severe (401-500).

Health tips you should follow

1) You must cover your nose and mouth with a handkerchief or wear a mask in polluted areas to avoid harmful pollutants.
2) You must avoid smoking as it causes cancer and the smoke contributes to air pollution.
3) You must ensure proper ventilation at home for circulation of air with chimneys or exhaust fans.
4) Working out in clean and unpolluted air is necessary for increasing immunity and overall well-being. Outdoor exercise in a heavily polluted environment can have adverse effects on health. Therefore, one must daily do indoor exercise for healthier lungs and other health benefits. Include zumba, yoga or other exercises that can be done in small spaces.
5) Indoor air is equally polluted like outdoor air and you should get an air purifier which can refresh stale air and reduce the chances of infections and other health issues. In smog conditions, indoor air is considered five times more harmful than outdoor air if not purified. Air purifiers can help in eliminating 99.7 per cent of airborne particulate matter circulating in the home environment. Air purifiers with HEPA technology can help in capturing small pathogens. While purchasing an air purifier, tick off these boxes: HEPA filters, asthma and allergy-friendly certification and clean-air delivery rate.

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Originally Appeared Here

Oslo, Norway (October 20th, 2022) – Airthings ASA is pleased to invite
investors, analysts and other stakeholders to our 3Q 2022 results presentation
on Thursday October 27th, 2022. The event will be held in-person as well as
being streamed live. The interim report and related materials will be made
available on www.airthings.com/investors.

The 3Q 2022 results will be released at 07:00 (CET) on Thursday October 27th,
2022 and will be presented by CEO Øyvind Birkenes and CFO Jeremy Gerst at 08:00
(CET) at Airthings ASA headoffice, Wergelandsveien 7, Oslo, Norway. The
presentation is open to the public and can also be followed via the following
link:
https://events.webcast.no/airthings/presentations/3q-2022-presentation

The presentation will be held in English and will be followed by a Q&A session.

For any questions or interview requests, please contact:

Øyvind Birkenes, CEO
+47 922 43 551
[email protected]

Jeremy Gerst, CFO
+47 455 11 103
[email protected]

About Airthings
Airthings is a global technology company and producer of award-winning radon and
indoor air quality monitors for homeowners, businesses, and professionals.
Founded in 2008, Airthings is on a mission to ensure that people around the
world recognize the impact of indoor air quality and take control of their
health through simple, affordable, and accurate technology solutions while
optimizing energy consumption in buildings. Airthings’ products have made radon
detection and indoor air quality monitoring easy to deploy, accurate, and user
friendly, and have received several accolades including the TIME’s Best
Inventions award and CES Innovation Award Honors. Headquartered in the heart of
Oslo, Norway, and with offices in the US and Sweden the company has over 130
employees from more than 35 nationalities-and counting. To see the full range of
Airthings indoor air quality monitors and radon detectors or to learn more about
the importance of continuous air quality monitoring, please visit airthings.com

Click here for more information

© Oslo Bors ASA, source Oslo Stock Exchange

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Originally Appeared Here

From left: Jacob Vasquez and Godwin Severa in front of Vasquez’s award-winning poster.

A University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa student’s work to improve the efficiency of fuel-cell technology was awarded first place in the student poster presentation session at the 13th World Filtration Congress in October. The honor came with a scholarship from the American Filtration Society.

Global Environmental Science student Jacob Vasquez presented research he has been conducting for his senior thesis with Godwin Severa, assistant researcher at the Hawaiʻi Natural Energy Institute in the School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology. They developed and tested specialized materials that capture atmospheric acidic gases that can pass through and impact the efficiency of fuel cells as they generate clean energy. To improve air purification technology, Vasquez analyzed the capacity for various materials to absorb gases such as carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide.

Jacob Vasquez talking with conference attendees about his research findings.

“The entire experience developed my presentation and networking skills and was an absolutely beneficial experience for me made possible by my department, the Hawaiʻi Natural Energy Institute, and the UH Mānoa Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP),” said Vasquez. “It was rewarding to share our efforts to improve this promising clean energy technology.”

The conference was an international opportunity for professionals and students to present their state-of-the-art research in filtration. It included presentations from 30 students representing seven different countries over the course of two days. Students were evaluated by a panel that included experts in the filtration industry.

“We have exceptional students at UH doing cutting edge materials research that is critical for sustaining our future, including the full realization of fuel-cell based technologies,” said Severa. “It’s fulfilling to see our students participating in these efforts being rewarded. I encourage students to seek research experiences. It’s never too early to start. We are here to assist students in achieving and exceeding their expectations.”

Vasquez’s travel and conference attendance was supported by UH Mānoa UROP Presentation funding.

–By Marcie Grabowski

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For decades, the Clean Water Act – passed this week in 1972 – has limited pollution in America’s waterways and set water quality standards across the country. Its passage required the work of activists paired with bipartisan support.

Today, the Clean Water Act demonstrates some of the great successes and limitations of environmental regulation in the United States, says Martin Doyle, director of the Water Policy Program at Duke’s Nicholas Institute for Energy, Environment and Sustainability and author of the book “The Source: How Rivers Made America and America Remade its Rivers,” and Ryke Longest, clinical professor of law and co-director of the Duke Environmental Law and Policy Clinic.

Here are their insights.

Q: What is the significance of the Clean Water Act today?

Martin Doyle

The Clean Water Act largely worked. While it isn’t perfect, and we still have polluted waters, it’s important to remember what the situation was like before. Industrial and municipal wastewater was being dumped into streams, rivers and lakes in many places without any treatment. It’s not that the Cuyahoga River burned; it’s that the Cuyahoga River burned frequently, as did many other rivers in industrial cities. That doesn’t happen much anymore. When there is an event, that event gains a lot of attention, which means that they are relatively unusual. So, the Clean Water Act is working but can keep getting better.

Also, people pay attention to the CWA, as they should, but they forget the profound importance of the Safe Drinking Water Act which passed years later in 1974. That’s the one that we really need to focus on, as it is why we can drink water from the tap…usually.

Ryke Longest

The Clean Water Act’s 50th anniversary presents a great opportunity to reflect on its successes as well as its shortcomings. The act reformed existing federal laws which had failed to clean up direct discharges of untreated wastewater from industries and municipalities nationwide. Its comprehensive approach, deadlines for compliance, technology-forcing measures and funding for transformation of waste management profoundly improved water quality in many watersheds very rapidly in its first 25 years.

Its more ambitious goals remain unmet, including eliminating the discharge of pollutants to waters and restoration of impaired waters. When compared with the Clean Air Act, I would argue that the Clean Water Act was less successful in meeting its aspirations. This has been due to lack of political will on the part of states to assess and protect waters as well as continuing challenges by certain lobbies to regulations of wetlands, stream segments, groundwater and newly concerning pollutants.

 

Q: How did the Clean Water Act gain bipartisan support five decades ago? Are there lessons to be learned from its passage?

Martin Doyle

People were sick of how bad local streams and rivers were. They were fed up. The driver behind the Clean Water Act passing was actually the League of Women Voters in Ohio and the Great Lakes region. Edith Chase was an absolute warrior to push for clean water in Cleveland and Kent, Ohio. If it weren’t for her, and many other women like her, I’m not sure that the Clean Water Act would have gotten the breadth of support it received.

Ryke Longest

Environmental issues have always been flashpoints of political division, but typically not along partisan divides as much as today. The legalization of unlimited corporate spending on electioneering communications in Citizens United ruling has made a huge change in the partisanship associated with the huge influx of money into electioneering activities. A strong case can be made that the high partisan divide on current environmental issues is exacerbated by the post-Citizens United influx of cash to influence outcomes.

As newsrooms have laid off reporters on the environmental beat, the information desert on environmental stories may also be filled with social media, another primary locus of electioneering efforts. Since such content is highly curated, social media consumers only receive information from a narrow perspective. These challenges were not present in 1972 to this degree at all, at a time when a few television networks and local newspapers were dominate sources of information.

 

Q: What is the most significant issue facing clean water today?

Martin Doyle

Legacy and emerging contaminants, like PFAS/PFOA (per-and poly-fluoroalkyl substances/perfluorooctanoic acid), coal ash in old reservoirs and all manner of things that we create but can barely measure. It’s easy to see oil slicks on rivers but hard to see the kinds of contaminants that still exist. The problem is really hard. And adding to that, the costs of dealing with these contaminants is incredibly high.

Ryke Longest

The most significant issue facing clean water today is nonpoint pollution, in general, and PFAS pollution in particular. [Nonpoint pollution occurs when, instead of being directly discharged into a water body, contaminants mix with runoff and are carried into rivers, streams and lakes.]

PFAS are being found in water everywhere we look. And these compounds are not only hazardous pollutants to human and ecological health but relatively immune to destruction by our typical methods of treatment. A wastewater treatment plant can knock out bacterial pollutants from human waste, but the PFAS passes through the plant without being destroyed. And the nonpoint pollution sources of PFAS and other contaminants have been largely left untreated under the Clean Water Act.

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Originally Appeared Here

The paultan.org Auto Car Expo (ACE) is set to take place on November 5-6 at the Setia City Convention Centre (SCCC), and you can expect plenty of amazing deals on a wide variety of vehicles and brands at the event. Indeed, ACE 2022 – which is co-sponsored by Petron, Yinson GreenTech and myTukar – is the place to be if you’re looking to purchase your ideal new or pre-owned car.

One of the brands that will be at the show is Honda, and its highlight display will centre around the new 2022 HR-V. You’ll be able to get up and close with the SUV and explore the wide variety of powertrain options available for it.

Take your pick from the 1.5L i-VTEC naturally aspirated DOHC engine producing 121 PS and 145 Nm of torque on the base S variant or the 1.5L VTEC Turbo engine, with 181 PS and 240 Nm, on the E and V variants. There’s also the HR-V RS, which features an e:HEV hybrid powertrain, with 131 PS and 253 Nm on tap from the motor. The NA Atkinson-cycle petrol engine, which functions as a generator and can also drive the car directly at higher speeds, makes 107 PS and 131 Nm.

Safety is big here, with the Honda Sensing active safety and driver assist suite standard across the HR-V range. The introduction of the latest wide-view camera makes it the most comprehensive outing for Sensing, and hill descent control also makes its debut with the HR-V.

As you’d expect, it’s not just form, but plenty of function too. There’s plenty of practicality, what with
60:40 split-folding rear seats with Ultra Seat function and a hands-free power tailgate with walkaway close. The new HR-V also features a Honda-first air diffusion system that you’ll find on the side vents. Basically, if you don’t want cold air blasted on your face, but still want ventilation, turn the knob and air will flow out gently from the slim inverted-L strips at the edge.

Honda is just one of that many brands taking part in the the sales-driven event. Other exhibitors include Toyota, Nissan, Hyundai, Proton, Perodua and Subaru. Similar to the inaugural outing last year, the expo will also see representation from the premium segment, with Mercedes-Benz (through Cycle & Carriage) and BMW/MINI (through Wheelcorp Premium) also taking part in the event.

Aside from the promotions from participating brands, you’ll also be able to enjoy a host of deals being offered by paultan.org. The first 200 customers to book a new car will receive a RM2,500 combined voucher consisting of a RM500 V-Kool auto window film/auto coating voucher, a RM500 Dodomat voucher, a RM500 Blueair air purifier voucher, a RM500 voucher for Recaro child car seats and a RM500 DK Schweizer voucher for interior leather personalisation and customisation.

myTukar is also offering RM1,000 vouchers for the first 25 customers who make a booking on a used car or trade-in their car via the platform. Those who trade-in their ride will get a RM500 V-Kool auto window film/auto coating voucher and a RM500 Blueair air purifier voucher, while the first 25 customers who place a booking on a used car will get a RM500 Dodomat voucher and a RM500 voucher for Recaro child car seats. If you trade-in and book a used car at one go, the voucher amount increases to RM1,500.

The goodies don’t end there. Confirmed new car bookings will enter you into a lucky draw that can win you prizes, including ten smartphones worth RM2,300 each and a grand prize, consisting of a holiday package for two worth RM10,000!

Despite rules and regulations having eased up since the country moved into the endemic phase, we will still be taking every possible measure to keep you safe. We’re encouraging visitors to wear masks at all times in the event premises, and hand sanitisers will be strategically placed at locations at the event. Stay safe, and see you at ACE 2022 this November 5 and 6 at the SCCC.

Tags: ACE 2022

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Originally Appeared Here

When one hand gives, the other taketh away. That’s how some consumers may feel about energy prices these days as high prices seem to just move from one part of the budget to another instead of disappearing. 

U.S. households are expected to spend more on energy this October through March than recent winters due to a combination of higher fuel prices and increased heating demand because of forecasts for slightly colder weather than last year, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) said last week.

Bills for every type of fuel are expected to rise, with propane coming in at the low end with a 5% spike  while natural gas could soar 28%. If winter proves 10% colder than expected, natural gas bills could surge 51%, EIA said. And even if the winter is 10% warmer, only propane prices would decrease from last year, down 12%, forecasts showed. 

This all comes just as people have felt some relief at the pump, which means no inflationary relief for the holidays. 

“This holiday, people are hoping for coal in their stockings because utility bills will go way up and pressure their finances, and the last thing they can tolerate is white snow,” said Jonathan Walker, executive director of Elevate’s Center for the New Middle Class, which researches behaviors and needs of financially strained Americans. 

How much more will utility bills be?  

Nearly half of U.S. households rely primarily on natural gas for heating, and they are forecast to spend about $930 this winter, 28% more than they spent last winter, EIA said. 

The 4% of U.S. households that use heating oil as the primary space heating fuel will spend about $2,350 on average this winter, up 27%. 

Electricity users will pay 10%, or an average of $1,360, more per household. Forty percent of homes rely on electric heat pumps or electric resistance heaters as the primary source for space heating. Nearly two-thirds of Southern homes primarily use electricity. Electric heaters are also commonly used as a secondary heating source in many U.S. homes. 

Propane will rise the least, with households in the Northeast, Midwest, and South spending 5% ($80) more, on average. But only about 5% of all U.S. households use propane as the primary space heating fuel. 

Will Americans be able to afford higher utility bills? 

So far, most Americans have managed to pay, but the share of those falling behind is rising. 

About 17% of U.S. households have either missed a utility bill or paid it late, a Bank of America/CivicScience survey showed last month. But the share jumped to 25% among households earning less than $50,000 a year.  

“This suggests we should not be complacent on the impact of high energy prices on consumers,” Bank of America said. 

Last year, even before fuel prices started to rise, about 29% of Americans surveyed by the Census Bureau said they had to reduce or forego expenses for basic household necessities to pay an energy bill. 

“For many struggling families, higher prices can mean being forced to choose between heat, food or medication,” the National Energy Assistance Directors Association said last month. 

Cold inflation:Winter bills will send shivers up your spine with energy prices set to rise, analysts say

Shifting expenses:How the pandemic and war reshuffled the prices Americans are paying

Does it matter where I live? 

Yes. 

Midwest natural gas users should expect to pay 32.9% more than last year, according to EIA. The South should expect to pay 23.9% more, the West 29.3%, and Northeast 22.7%. 

Spending on heating oil, used mostly by Northeast homes (18%), should rise 26.6%, or $2,354, on average, from last winter, according to EIA estimates. 

Electricity expenses are growing by 11% in the Northeast, and 12% in the South, EIA said. In the Midwest and West, winter expenditures are expected to average 8% more than last year, the administration said. 

The small number of American propane users in the Northeast, Midwest, and South will spend 5%, or $80, more, on average, EIA predicted. 

Gas inches up:Gas prices tick up after 98 days of declines. Here’s where gas is cheapest and most expensive

Falling behind:More than 20 million Americans are behind on their utility bills

Why is fuel so expensive this year? 

Like everything else, price is determined by supply and demand. Not only are weather forecasters predicting a slightly colder winter this year, but inventory for various fuels is low. 

For example, EIA forecasts natural gas consumption to rise an average 5% across the country at the same time inventories are expected to be 6% below their five-year average at the end of the month. 

The East Coast is seeing particularly low inventories of distillate fuels, which include heating oil and diesel fuel. At the end of September, they stood at 25.5 million barrels, or 45% below the five-year average.  

Northeast inventories are 57% below the five-year average, partly due to limited regional refining capacity, increased demand in the first half of the year and tighter world supply after Russia’s Feb. 24 invasion of Ukraine. Sixty percent of East Coast distillates are in the Northeast. 

Searching for oil:Biden searching for ‘alternatives’ to help lower gas prices after OPEC cuts oil production

What the world needs:Six months into the Russia-Ukraine war, the entire world is losing. A look at where we go from here.

What can Americans do to save on utilities this winter? 

• Set your thermostat to the proper temperature. Use the built-in energy-saving functionality most of today’s thermostats have. According to Energy Star, homeowners will likely save at least $100 a year on energy bills with a smart thermostat. 
• Change or clean a reusable air filter about every 30-90 days (shorter if you have pets, longer if you don’t). “Doing so doesn’t require any tools and it will keep your HVAC running efficiently and improve your indoor air quality. If you don’t swap them out, over time, dust and dirt will collect on the filter screen and can cause a blockage to your air ducts, which causes your system to work harder to maintain your desired temperature and thus result in higher-than-normal utility bills,” said Anthony Carrino, a home designer and developer and Trane Residential partner. 
• Cover windows with plastic from the inside for extra insulation to keep cold air out. 
• Run your ceiling fan clockwise. “Fans are not just for keeping you cool in the summer,” Carrino said. “Ceiling fans do a great job of circulating warm air that rises to the top of the room and redistributes it throughout the house.” 
• Use an Energy Star qualified system and look for the Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency rating of a gas furnace, which shows how much of the fuel you pay for is turned into usable heat. The higher the rating, the less fuel it takes to keep your home cozy. 
• Ensure your system is working properly with seasonal maintenance. 

What if I still can’t pay my utility bills? 

If all else fails and you still find yourself struggling to pay your bills, find help. The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) helps more than six million low-income families afford utilities.  

If you don’t qualify for LIHEAP assistance, try a state social services agency or a nonprofit organization. You can also contact your gas, oil, or electric company about budget billing programs or new payment options, especially for customers with disabilities who are on Supplemental Security Income.

Medora Lee is a money, markets, and personal finance reporter at USA TODAY. You can reach her at [email protected] and subscribe to our free Daily Money newsletter for personal finance tips and business news every Monday through Friday morning.  

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Originally Appeared Here