Subjective perception of air pollution can have important implications in terms of health-protective behaviours and citizen and stakeholder engagement in cleaner-air policies. A recent study, conducted under the EU-funded PASTA¹ project, has analysed the link between level of concern over health effects of air pollution and personal and environmental factors in seven European cities. Overall, 58% of participants were worried over health effects of air pollution, with large differences between cities. On a city scale, average levels of concern over health effects of air pollution had a good correlation with average NO₂ levels and a lower correlation with average PM_2.5 levels. Individual level of concern was found to be linked to gender, having children in the household, levels of physical activity, and NO₂ levels at the home address. These findings can be used to inform future policymaking.

Air pollution via small particulate matter (PM) from diesel fumes and other sources is of growing concern in urban areas, and contributes to poor air quality. In European urban areas, PM pollution often exceeds World Health Organization (WHO) safe levels for human wellbeing. In response to this, the European Commission has encouraged researchers to develop a low-cost, sustainable material that captures these particles in order to clean the air1. This study created a new PM capture material using sustainable chemical processes where the carbon footprint and energy use of the production process of the remediation material is taken into account. The newly developed porous material is called ‘SUNSPACE’ (an acronym derived from ‘(SUstaiNable materials Synthesized from By-products and Alginates for Clean air and better Environment’).

Air quality standards worldwide are facing increasing scrutiny as countries struggle to meet World Health Organisation (WHO) air-quality guidelines (AQGs), particularly regarding ozone (O₃) and particulate matter (pollutant particles with diameters of less than 10 or 2.5 micrometres — PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 respectively). A new study aimed to evaluate whether WHO guidelines are being met in Europe; the researchers focused on Portugal, using recent data alongside climate change and background air pollution predictions. At present, Portugal frequently exceeds legislated values for ozone and PM₁₀.

Researchers have developed a new computer model to help decision-makers quickly assess proposed strategies to cut air pollution, by generating an array of useful data and maps in under half a minute. The model uses artificial intelligence (AI) technology to quickly make sense of the complex problem of urban air quality, and innovatively considers the influence of public opinion in its assessment of emission reduction strategies — given that some are deemed more socially acceptable than others.

Nitrogen deposited from the atmosphere is in decline in Western Europe due to targeted policies on emissions, with emissions 25% lower than their peak in 1990. Policy measures to lower nitrogen air pollution — which damages plant diversity, buildings and human health — have made an impact and are forecast to continue to lower nitrogen levels in the future, offering an opportunity to evaluate their impact. This study uses the UK as a case study to answer the policy question: what is the economic impact on biodiversity of forecast reductions in nitrogen pollution?

Ahead of the 2016 Paris Agreement on climate change, various climate and energy policy actions were proposed to target pledged 'nationally determined contributions' (NDCs). Now, researchers have quantified the global impact of implementing these actions on air quality, and determined that they have the potential to substantially reduce air pollution worldwide, with significant co-benefits for human health and agriculture — including the prevention of up to 99 000 premature deaths annually by 2030. These co-benefits could offset the global costs of climate policy; this study thus calls for an integrated policy perspective that aims to maximise the benefits of NDCs for climate and health.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) enter the environment in large quantities via the combustion of fossil fuels and organic matter. They are a cause for concern given their known toxicity, potential to cause cancer and ability to move large distances in the atmosphere — meaning that they are found in remote or protected areas, such as the Arctic, even if not emitted there. This study explores how PAH levels in the Arctic atmosphere have changed over the past 20 years at three sites in Canada, Norway and Finland. The results show that, despite a global decrease in PAH emissions in the same timeframe, the air concentrations in the Arctic are not significantly declining — possibly partly as a result of local warming causing more volatile PAHs to move from the surface to the air.

It may be possible to use trees to monitor levels of air pollution in cities, new research suggests. A Belgian study found evidence that leaves of urban trees change both chemically and physiologically when exposed to different levels of air pollution. If these changes are carefully quantified, trees could provide cheap and widespread ‘bio-indicators’, the study’s authors suggest.

A BT cloud-based virtual contact centre helps Etihad deliver own-language service excellence to guests from 37 countries

Grey tested his resolve, Myke is struggling with manufacturing, and they both talk about their current bag setup.

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CULPEPER — The Virginia Department of Transportation invites the public to attend a citizen information meeting to learn about the upcoming project...

FREDERICKSBURG, Va. ⸺ Route 3 in Lancaster County has reopened to through traffic between Route 201 and Route 600 in the Lively area. The road...

FREDERICKSBURG, Va. ⸺  Route 202 (Hampton Hall Road) in Northumberland County reopened to through traffic today following an emergency repair...

FREDERICKSBURG, Va. ⸺  Long-term repair work is underway to rebuild state-maintained roads that sustained severe damage during Tropical Storm...

The post Aussie dairy plan to trace milk from grass to glass appeared first on The Lead SA.

South Chesterfield – After repairing and reopening approximately 200 roads in the region, Virginia Department of Transportation crews are shifting...

SOUTH CHESTERFIELD – Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) crews have repaired and reopened over 200 roads and bridges that were affected by...

Watford chairman and chief executive Scott Duxbury has labelled the Premier League's Project Restart plans as "unfair" and claims they are "lacking sporting integrity".

Thursday, May 14, 2020, 10am – 2pm

The Virtual Career Fair offers a convenient and interactive format that allows you to engage with top Recruiters in the St. Paul/Minneapolis area. Looking for a new career? Register TODAY!

Event type: Job and Career Fairs
Filter by Location: Greater Minnesota
Event Audience: For Job Seekers, For Veterans
Registration link: minneapolis.vfairs.com…
Accommodation Request: 952-491-4080
CareerForce Sponsored Event: Other event
More info: minneapolis.vfairs.com

Tuesday, May 12, 2020, 1 – 2pm

This is an online event. Registered participants will receive information on how to connect to the Virtual Career Fair prior to the beginning of the event.

We will have 4 employers:

• Spartan Nash careers.spartannash.com
  
• APH autopartshq.com…
  
• Meduit www.meduitrcm.com…
  
• Opportunity Matters www.opportunitymatters.org…
  

NEWINGTON – Backlick Road at the Fairfax County Parkway (Route 286) intersection between Cinder Bed Road and Terminal Road will be closed nightly...

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This file is in PDF format, requiring the Adobe Acrobat Reader to open.

This file is in PDF format, requiring the Adobe Acrobat Reader to open.

This file is in PDF format, requiring the Adobe Acrobat Reader to open.

Airfluence founder and president Kristen Clonan talks about starting her own firm and operating during a pandemic, as well as the latest industry news.

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​The NTU Open House and NTU Career Fair, two of the biggest annual events in the calendar at NTU Singapore, will be presented virtually this year, in response to the evolving Covid-19 situation and advice to avoid crowds and holding large-scale events....

Above is an artist's impression of Texas LNG's planned liquefaction facilities at the Port of Brownsville. IMAGE SOURCE: Texas LNG Brownsville LLC.

Check out this useful infographic that has tips on pairing cheese with red, white or pink wine, plus explanations on why the pairings work.

Wine educator Jennifer Malme shares some basic guidelines for pairing chocolate with wine.

Passengers acted swiftly to save a visually impaired man who had fallen off a platform near an Atlanta public transit rail line.

It won't exactly make Venus any more desirable as a tourist destination.

U.S. Cattlemen's Association has filed a petition to USDA arguing that lab-grown and plant-based meat startups shouldn't be able to call their products meat.

Tour just a couple of the super-efficient gut renovation projects that have helped transform Brooklyn into a hotbed of passive house building activity.

Eco-architect-turned-full-time vintage aluminum trailer renovator Matthew Hofmann reveals an Airstream hotel in beautiful downtown Santa Barbara.

These tasty duos work together to pack a nutritional punch.