AIR POLLUTION: Minister vows to cut killer air by 50% in 5 yrs, lotions and soaps as bad as diesel pollution? Germany’s ‘free transport’ solution

Environment minister has said India will cut down air pollution in 100 cities by 50% in 5 years. The government plans to achieve this by expanding monitoring network, set up air information systems, certify monitoring institutes, air quality forecasting systems, awareness and capacity building drives.

Household chemicals rival vehicles

According to a study by US agency NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) everyday household items such as soaps, perfume, paint and pesticides contribute as heavily to air pollution in cities as cars and trucks. Volatile organic compounds contribute to the formation of ozone and particulate matter that make up smog, which is linked to asthma and heart disease.

Air pollution behind poor lung capacity among kids: study

80% of the sample population have below normal lung function because of particulate matter pollution that’s the finding of a new study that monitored over 15 different locations across the Capital for over three winter months.

Peak flow test (assessing how quickly you can blow air) was conducted, the samples for the health study were taken from Holambi, Bhalaswa, Ayanagar, Punjabi Bagh, Wazirpur, Seelampur, Seemapuri, Saket, Okhla-NFC, Badarpur-TGK andMunirka. Hazardous AQ levels were over 30 times WHO limits, equalled to 50 cigarettes in a day.

Indraprastha Gas, Mahindra & Mahindra fight stubble burning

Natural gas supplier Indraprastha Gas and automakers Mahindra & Mahindra joined hands to curb stubble burning, identified as a major cause of air pollution in Delhi and its suburbs. The two are developing plants for producing gas from crop stubble and organic farm waste.

UP’s biofuel policy to address crop burning

The UP cabinet approved Rs 8,000 crore biofuel policy expected to tackle stubble burning issue. The policy will address issues of bagasse, the residue left over after juice is extracted from sugarcane, and that of agricultural residue. Crop stubble burning spikes air pollution to hazardous levels.

Germany: Free public transport to quash air pollution

To reduce number of private cars on the road and cut air pollution, Germany has radically proposed to make public transport free, to meet EU air pollution targets and avoid big fines. The move comes just over two years after Volkswagen’s devastating “dieselgate” emissions cheating scandal.

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