Tag: air pollution

Air pollution can affect blood pressure: study

by Marlowe HOOD PARIS, France (AFP) — Long-term exposure to urban air pollution incrementally increases the risk of high blood pressure, according to a study released Tuesday of more than 41,000 European city-dwellers. Constant noise pollution — especially traffic — also boosts the likelihood of hypertension, researchers reported in the European Heart Journal. High blood pressure is the most important risk factor for premature illness and death. The study found that one extra adult per […]

Over 90% of world breathing bad air: WHO

GENEVA, Switzerland (AFP) — Nine out of 10 people globally are breathing poor quality air, the World Health Organization said Tuesday, calling for dramatic action against pollution that is blamed for more than six million deaths a year. New data in a report from the UN’s global health body “is enough to make all of us extremely concerned,” Maria Neira, the head of the WHO’s department of public health and environment, told reporters. The problem […]

Germany accuses Fiat of car emissions cheating

FRANKFURT, Germany (AFP) – The German government has accused Fiat-Chrysler of incorporating emissions cheating technology into some vehicles, in a letter to the European Commission seen by AFP on Thursday. “From our point of view, evidence has been provided of the use of an illegal defeat device” in some diesel-powered Fiat-Chrysler vehicles, the letter from the German transport ministry reads. Germany launched an investigation into emissions cheating earlier this year after Volkswagen’s September 2015 admission […]

Mexico to plant 18 million trees against pollution

MEXICO CITY, Mexico (AFP) — Authorities will plant 18 million trees in Mexico City and its surrounding suburbs as part of efforts to combat air pollution, the government said Monday. Environment Minister Rafael Pacchiano dubbed it a “historic reforestation” to reinforce the “green belt in the megalopolis.” The greater Mexico City area was hit by the worst air pollution in more than a decade in March, prompting authorities to restrict traffic for the 5.4 million […]

Mexico City businesses say smog alert cost $300 mn

by Jennifer GONZALEZ COVARRUBIAS MEXICO City (AFP) — Mexico City businesses warned Tuesday that traffic restrictions have cost them more than $300 million since April as authorities banned nearly half of vehicles again due to high smog levels. It was the second time since last month that the government kept 40 percent of the city’s 5.5 million vehicles off the streets because air pollution exceeded acceptable limits. The government imposed temporary rules on April 5 […]

Millions die from air pollution, mainly in China, India

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP)–Air pollution kills more than 5.5 million people around the world each year, with over half of those deaths occurring in fast-growing China and India, researchers said Friday. And the number of premature deaths will continue to climb in the years ahead unless more aggressive measures against pollution are adopted, scientists warned the American Association for the Advancement of Science conference in the US capital. “Air pollution is the fourth highest risk […]

Wars improve air quality in the Middle East

AUGUST 25 (Reuters) — Amid the increase in death, displacement and overall chaos in the Middle East over the past five years.. Professor Jos Lelieveld of the Max-Planck Institute, says he has spotted one area where statistics indicate a decrease. He says, air pollution has declined significantly. Using satellite data Lelieveld says he’s found that the ongoing turmoil in the Middle East is drastically decreasing the level of air pollutants across the region. The findings […]