Sweden.
The levels of mercury in the country's freshwater fish is increasing every year with a few percent. The cause remains a major fallout of the toxic heavy metal that particular spread of coal burning.
- This increase is evenly spread across the country, "said Kjell Johansson at the Environmental Protection Agency.
Environmental Protection Agency will this week present a report with the alarming figures.
The report has been prepared as a basis for further negotiations within the UN air convention that works to halt the shipment of long-range air pollution.
- We want to have their feet firmly on the negotiations, "said Kjell Johansson.
Agency has analyzed data over the past ten years, stored in a database at the IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute. The data come mainly from municipal, county and water conservation as the years had an analysis of freshwater fish mercury.
In about half the country's lakes - 50000 pieces - exceeded the limits for mercury in fish.
- The concentrations of fish will increase by two percent each year and has done so in the last ten years, "said Kjell Johansson. Our report is a result of the development.
Environmental problems associated with mercury attention in the 1960s. Then the metal was used on a large scale to protect the seed against disease and to protect the pulp mills sewers to grow again.
The high levels when measured in fish and birds led both the ban on mercury in the pulp industry and in agriculture. They also led to the NFA blacklisted thousands of lakes which meant a ban on selling fish catches.
Blacklisting ended in 1991 after mercury levels have been on a downward trend after peaking in the 1970s.
The levels are now rising again due to atmospheric deposition.
- It falls down about as much now as it did in the last ten years, "said Lars Lundin, Professor at the Department of Environmental Assessment at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences.
According to Lars Lundin shows analysis of the rainwater that had gone through the treetops to ground storage of mercury is filled at a higher rate than being carried away. When the mercury content increases in the soil increases also in water and in fish.
In the south of the country is the concentration of mercury in the soil about four times higher today than a century ago.
The concentrations in fish vary considerably. The leaner chips lake is surrounded by, the more mercury can be expected in the fish. And the bigger fish, the higher the concentration of the poison.
The relationship is well illustrated by the survey the County Administrative Board in Skåne was performed six years ago. Fish in Örsjöns in northern Skåne woodlands contain ten times more mercury than fish in Råbelövsjön on the plain outside Kristianstad.
In Sweden it is mainly the crematories that today is spreading mercury. Most of the fallout will depend on imports via the sea air.
- Coal burning is a major source of mercury can travel long distances in the air before it reaches us, "said Kjell Johansson. Incinerator and all other combustion also gives a contribution.
Mercury gives man serious injuries
Mercury causes a series of injuries in humans. In particular,
Faroe Islands has found that children risk being mentally retarded and in Finland to adults increases the risk of cardiac infarction.
Jumat, 20 Mei 2011
Air pollution makes children stupid
So much bad air affects children's intelligence.
Children who grow up in an environment of air pollution will have on average a 4.5 points lower performance on IQ tests than children who have breathed clean air.
This according to a study by Kimberly Gray of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences in the United States.
If children are exposed to air filled with car exhaust or cigarette smoke before they start school is hampered brain development, and it is no small deterioration involved.
- For each child, if it's not your own, a 5 points lower IQ results did not seem so much, "says Bruce Lanphear, pediatric epidemologist at Simon Fraser University in Canada. But set against the U.S. population have changed a lot.
- But a decrease of 5 points per IQ test means that 3.5 million more children will achieve the criteria for mental retardation, explains Lanphear, according
Children who grow up in an environment of air pollution will have on average a 4.5 points lower performance on IQ tests than children who have breathed clean air.
This according to a study by Kimberly Gray of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences in the United States.
If children are exposed to air filled with car exhaust or cigarette smoke before they start school is hampered brain development, and it is no small deterioration involved.
- For each child, if it's not your own, a 5 points lower IQ results did not seem so much, "says Bruce Lanphear, pediatric epidemologist at Simon Fraser University in Canada. But set against the U.S. population have changed a lot.
- But a decrease of 5 points per IQ test means that 3.5 million more children will achieve the criteria for mental retardation, explains Lanphear, according
Air pollution damages and delays the development of children
Closing the coal-fired power plants can have a significantly positive effect on children's cognitive development, according to a study conducted at Columbia Center for Children's Environmental Health (CCCEH) (Columbia University). Researchers followed two groups of children in Tongliang in China. One group, while coal-fired power plant was still running and the other after it closed. Developmental delay was common in the first group but had declined sharply for the second. CCCEH have previously shown that a wide range of air pollution in New York City can cause serious disturbances in children and delay their development.
Both groups of children were followed by pregnancies. For the first group was a coal power plant started right from the conception and the goal was to see how emissions during the pregnancy (in utero) affect children's development later in life. Coal power plant, however, had been closed before the same point of the second group of children.
Coal-fired plants harms the brain
For the first group of children was a coal power plant associated with significantly lower scores for development and reduced motor skills at age two. At the same age showed no such extensive degradation of the second group. Coal power plant resulted in other words, in neurlogiska problems and developmental delays:
- This study provides direct evidence that the elimination of environmentally damaging coal-fired power plants benefit children's neurological development. These findings have major implications for energy policy as they demonstrate that a reduction in dependence on coal for energy provides a measurable positive effect on child development and health - in China and elsewhere, says Frederica Perera, DrPH, Professor of Environmental Health Sciences at the Mailman School of Public Health.
Developmental delay is increasing among children
Developmental disabilities have in the U.S. increased by 15% in recent decades. Columbia Center for Children's Environmental Health (CCCEH) have already shown that air pollution is a cause of this and delay the development of children. CCCEH föjde previous 700 pregnant women and their children in New York City. Problems CCCEH saw that pollution increased the risk included:
CCCEH recommend that you should avoid air pollution from fossil fuels and coal as much as possible, especially during pregnancy.
Remove pollutants in the home
Toxins found to damage children's nervous system includes not only air pollution from coal power plants, cars and industry, but also compounds we take direct control over the home. These include tobacco smoke and pesticides, but in general is great care with different types of household chemicals is very true.
Read more:
Both groups of children were followed by pregnancies. For the first group was a coal power plant started right from the conception and the goal was to see how emissions during the pregnancy (in utero) affect children's development later in life. Coal power plant, however, had been closed before the same point of the second group of children.
Coal-fired plants harms the brain
For the first group of children was a coal power plant associated with significantly lower scores for development and reduced motor skills at age two. At the same age showed no such extensive degradation of the second group. Coal power plant resulted in other words, in neurlogiska problems and developmental delays:
- This study provides direct evidence that the elimination of environmentally damaging coal-fired power plants benefit children's neurological development. These findings have major implications for energy policy as they demonstrate that a reduction in dependence on coal for energy provides a measurable positive effect on child development and health - in China and elsewhere, says Frederica Perera, DrPH, Professor of Environmental Health Sciences at the Mailman School of Public Health.
Developmental delay is increasing among children
Developmental disabilities have in the U.S. increased by 15% in recent decades. Columbia Center for Children's Environmental Health (CCCEH) have already shown that air pollution is a cause of this and delay the development of children. CCCEH föjde previous 700 pregnant women and their children in New York City. Problems CCCEH saw that pollution increased the risk included:
- Reduced weight at birth.
- Significantly lower scores at age three on Bayley's test.
- Delayed development of motor skills and cognition.
- Symptoms of ADHD.
- Pervasive developmental disorders more often three years of age (ie, autism, Asperger syndrome, CDD, Rett's syndrome and the like).
CCCEH recommend that you should avoid air pollution from fossil fuels and coal as much as possible, especially during pregnancy.
Remove pollutants in the home
Toxins found to damage children's nervous system includes not only air pollution from coal power plants, cars and industry, but also compounds we take direct control over the home. These include tobacco smoke and pesticides, but in general is great care with different types of household chemicals is very true.
Read more:
- Closure Of Coal-Burning Power Plant in China Directly Linked to Improved Cognitive Development in Children. Columbia University. Press release about the research. There is more to read about the study.
- Developmental Delays. Columbia Center for Children's Environmental Health. Here are the conclusions drawn from the earlier study in New York City. Factors and risks that delay children's development are reviewed and tips on what to avoid exposing the fetus to be given during pregnancy.
- Pervasive Developmental Disorders. HealthAtoZ.com. Here is an explanation of the term Pervasive Developmental Disorders.
- Coal-Fired Power Plant. TVA (Energy in the Tennessee Valley). Diagram explaining how a coal operation. From the large chimney can be placed toxins that cause development delays and developmental disabilities in children.
- In New York, Air Pollution Reacher Babies In The Womb. Genome News Network
- Bayley Scales of Infant Development. HighBeam Encyclopedia. There is more to read more about the Bayley Scales of Infant Development which has been used to detect development delays.
Relation between air pollution and rain
In the current environment website you can read about that light rainfall has fallen by almost a quarter in the last 50 years in eastern China. Researchers from Sweden and other countries and may make changes to air pollution!
The risks it carries, including drought and lower yields. The number of rainy days per year has declined by 23 percent in 50 years in some areas in eastern China. In particular, the light rainfall, less than 10 millimeters, declined. Across the country, emissions to the atmosphere have increased by 800 percent over the past century. Now a team of climate scientists from the U.S., China and University of Gothenburg been able to demonstrate a link between the decline in rain and air pollution.
According to the researchers, it depends on the amount of aerosols in the atmosphere. Aerosols composed of small particles with gas and water around them, which can bind raindrops in the clouds and in the new study, researchers have discovered that raindrops were much less where the aerosol was high. In some cases they were only half as large as normal.
Small raindrops are more difficult to shape itself to the clouds, which can release the rain and this is the reason for the reduction of light rain in China.
The risks it carries, including drought and lower yields. The number of rainy days per year has declined by 23 percent in 50 years in some areas in eastern China. In particular, the light rainfall, less than 10 millimeters, declined. Across the country, emissions to the atmosphere have increased by 800 percent over the past century. Now a team of climate scientists from the U.S., China and University of Gothenburg been able to demonstrate a link between the decline in rain and air pollution.
According to the researchers, it depends on the amount of aerosols in the atmosphere. Aerosols composed of small particles with gas and water around them, which can bind raindrops in the clouds and in the new study, researchers have discovered that raindrops were much less where the aerosol was high. In some cases they were only half as large as normal.
Small raindrops are more difficult to shape itself to the clouds, which can release the rain and this is the reason for the reduction of light rain in China.
Prevention of air pollution may reduce heart attacks
Taking cocaine could be the most dangerous trigger for heart attacks. But from a public health are other important factors, which go by car and being exposed to air pollution, according to a new study.
Atherosclerosis is the underlying cause of most heart attacks. But then there are other factors that may contribute to triggering an infarction in the acute phase. Now researchers from Belgium made a compilation of data from epidemiological studies of such triggers.
It is concluded that cocaine use was the strongest factor, increasing the risk of heart attack as much as 23 times. This was followed by eating an unusually large meal and to have smoked marijuana, which increased the risk 7.0 and 4.8 times.
The researchers also did calculations on how long people may be exposed to the different circumstances. Having traveled in a vehicle appeared then that the overall most important trigger for myocardial infarction.
If people would stop to such travel by car, cycle and use public transport would be 7.36 percent of all heart attacks avoided, according to the analysis.
Number two to four on the list were physical exhaustion, alcohol and coffee drinking. See list below.
Researchers pay particular attention to air pollution exposure, which triggers the analysis indicated 4.8 percent of heart attacks. They believe that the reduction of air pollution should be an important goal for the onset of heart attack will decrease.
Overall the analysis is based on 36 different studies of the onset of non-fatal heart attacks. The researchers stress that they could not estimate the effect of some possible triggers that the World Cup, earthquakes, temperature changes, passive smoking and participation in the war. They also point out that you can not say anything about how the various factors may interact.
Atherosclerosis is the underlying cause of most heart attacks. But then there are other factors that may contribute to triggering an infarction in the acute phase. Now researchers from Belgium made a compilation of data from epidemiological studies of such triggers.
It is concluded that cocaine use was the strongest factor, increasing the risk of heart attack as much as 23 times. This was followed by eating an unusually large meal and to have smoked marijuana, which increased the risk 7.0 and 4.8 times.
The researchers also did calculations on how long people may be exposed to the different circumstances. Having traveled in a vehicle appeared then that the overall most important trigger for myocardial infarction.
If people would stop to such travel by car, cycle and use public transport would be 7.36 percent of all heart attacks avoided, according to the analysis.
Number two to four on the list were physical exhaustion, alcohol and coffee drinking. See list below.
Researchers pay particular attention to air pollution exposure, which triggers the analysis indicated 4.8 percent of heart attacks. They believe that the reduction of air pollution should be an important goal for the onset of heart attack will decrease.
Overall the analysis is based on 36 different studies of the onset of non-fatal heart attacks. The researchers stress that they could not estimate the effect of some possible triggers that the World Cup, earthquakes, temperature changes, passive smoking and participation in the war. They also point out that you can not say anything about how the various factors may interact.
Zero vision for air pollution
The car emissions significantly affect your health is an old truth, but now researchers have managed to identify the factors and mechanisms that cause the deaths.
According to calculations, it is between 2000-3500 people per year who die because of air pollution in Sweden, which according to me is an unacceptable figure.
In addition there are a large number of people who have allergies, asthma and other diseases that can be directly linked to air pollution.
Comparatively dying there about 500 people in traffic per year which, unlike air pollution, are aimed at a zero.
The causes of air pollution is now no longer the industry in which progress has been good progress and many achievements have been made to minimize emissions.
The major sources of air pollution are the major traffic.
The cars generate lots of unburned hydrocarbons (eg toluene and benzene), nitrogen oxide, nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide, but also a large amount of hazardous particles of different sizes (PM1.0 - PM10).
Among other places, but diesel particulate filter (still the most common type) the amounts of harmful substances straight into our surroundings.
The largest particles (> PM10) are put into circulation, mainly due to the traffic swirls up road dust, which is pretty easy to fix, but rarely done.
Environmental quality standard, which currently sets the limit for the acceptable incidence of the various pollutants, is by no means scientifically designed, "says senior researcher (including Bertil Forsberg, Umeå University).
The risk is that many municipalities in Sweden does not act, in the belief that when limit values are not overwritten so there is no danger to health, which is wrong.
Most can probably write in that we want to breathe clean and safe air, without it being necessary to run the risk of cardiovascular and lung diseases or allergies.
So the question is what can be done?
Some of the options are:
Reduce car traffic, lowering speed limits, improve public transport, encouraging cycling, plan thoroughfares and neighborhoods from pollution point of view, use the dust but on the roads, rinse regular routes during the summer months, regularly measuring particulate matter and put measures in time.
There is a whole arsenal of measures; Can we save 2000-3000 lives annually, it is worth.
According to calculations, it is between 2000-3500 people per year who die because of air pollution in Sweden, which according to me is an unacceptable figure.
In addition there are a large number of people who have allergies, asthma and other diseases that can be directly linked to air pollution.
Comparatively dying there about 500 people in traffic per year which, unlike air pollution, are aimed at a zero.
The causes of air pollution is now no longer the industry in which progress has been good progress and many achievements have been made to minimize emissions.
The major sources of air pollution are the major traffic.
The cars generate lots of unburned hydrocarbons (eg toluene and benzene), nitrogen oxide, nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide, but also a large amount of hazardous particles of different sizes (PM1.0 - PM10).
Among other places, but diesel particulate filter (still the most common type) the amounts of harmful substances straight into our surroundings.
The largest particles (> PM10) are put into circulation, mainly due to the traffic swirls up road dust, which is pretty easy to fix, but rarely done.
Environmental quality standard, which currently sets the limit for the acceptable incidence of the various pollutants, is by no means scientifically designed, "says senior researcher (including Bertil Forsberg, Umeå University).
The risk is that many municipalities in Sweden does not act, in the belief that when limit values are not overwritten so there is no danger to health, which is wrong.
Most can probably write in that we want to breathe clean and safe air, without it being necessary to run the risk of cardiovascular and lung diseases or allergies.
So the question is what can be done?
Some of the options are:
Reduce car traffic, lowering speed limits, improve public transport, encouraging cycling, plan thoroughfares and neighborhoods from pollution point of view, use the dust but on the roads, rinse regular routes during the summer months, regularly measuring particulate matter and put measures in time.
There is a whole arsenal of measures; Can we save 2000-3000 lives annually, it is worth.
Air pollution can consist of a variety of topics. Here you will find a glossary of the most common.
Nitrogen dioxide
Nitrogen dioxide, NO2, is a red-brown gas (visible in high concentrations) formed during combustion or oxidation of nitric oxide. Nitrogen dioxide irritates the respiratory tract and can cause damage to the lungs. In very high concentrations of nitrogen dioxide is lethal.
Nitrogen dioxide is one of the worst air pollution for two reasons. First, the gas itself is very irritating to the respiratory tract and contributes to the formation of ground-level ozone. In nature, seems to acidifying gas (lowers the pH of soil and water).
For most urban areas road traffic is the biggest source of emissions. Although the total emissions declined slightly since the 1980s, the emissions are still too high. Emissions from new vehicles is lower, but improvements "eaten up" by increased traffic.
Sulphur dioxide
Sulphur dioxide, SO2, is a colorless gas that can cause cough. The gas is produced naturally when organic material decomposes. It also occurs in the combustion of sulfur-containing substances, including fossil fuels. The largest natural source of sulfur dioxide is volcanoes. In nature, seems to acidifying gas (lowers the pH of soil and water).
In Sweden, the sulfur dioxide emissions have fallen sharply since the 1970s. The decrease is primarily improved gas in large combustion plants and a shift to low-sulfur oil. The replacement of coal and oil with biofuels has also reduced emissions.
Benzene
Benzene (ex benzene) is a colorless and flammable liquid with strong odor. Benzene is used in particular as a solvent for substances with a fat-like properties. Benzene has been shown to be carcinogenic and are therefore not used as a solvent to the same extent as before.
The main sources of benzene are motor vehicle emissions, evaporative losses during transportation, distribution and storage of petroleum products and the emissions from the burning of wood, especially in non-environmentally approved equipment.
Ozone
Ozone is the pure form an explosive gas, with a special scent that can be sensed by lightning. The formation of electrical discharges. Even in low concentrations is toxic. Ozone is used extensively for disinfection of drinking water and water for the brewing industry needs, for waste water treatment and bleaching of pulp.
Ground level ozone is formed by chemical reactions between nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The concentrations are usually higher in spring and summer and in the afternoons, because the reaction accelerated in the presence of sunlight and high temperatures. Ozone concentrations may exhibit great variation depending on weather, season, time of day and changes in the amount of long-range transported ozone.
Nitrogen dioxide, NO2, is a red-brown gas (visible in high concentrations) formed during combustion or oxidation of nitric oxide. Nitrogen dioxide irritates the respiratory tract and can cause damage to the lungs. In very high concentrations of nitrogen dioxide is lethal.
Nitrogen dioxide is one of the worst air pollution for two reasons. First, the gas itself is very irritating to the respiratory tract and contributes to the formation of ground-level ozone. In nature, seems to acidifying gas (lowers the pH of soil and water).
For most urban areas road traffic is the biggest source of emissions. Although the total emissions declined slightly since the 1980s, the emissions are still too high. Emissions from new vehicles is lower, but improvements "eaten up" by increased traffic.
Sulphur dioxide
Sulphur dioxide, SO2, is a colorless gas that can cause cough. The gas is produced naturally when organic material decomposes. It also occurs in the combustion of sulfur-containing substances, including fossil fuels. The largest natural source of sulfur dioxide is volcanoes. In nature, seems to acidifying gas (lowers the pH of soil and water).
In Sweden, the sulfur dioxide emissions have fallen sharply since the 1970s. The decrease is primarily improved gas in large combustion plants and a shift to low-sulfur oil. The replacement of coal and oil with biofuels has also reduced emissions.
Benzene
Benzene (ex benzene) is a colorless and flammable liquid with strong odor. Benzene is used in particular as a solvent for substances with a fat-like properties. Benzene has been shown to be carcinogenic and are therefore not used as a solvent to the same extent as before.
The main sources of benzene are motor vehicle emissions, evaporative losses during transportation, distribution and storage of petroleum products and the emissions from the burning of wood, especially in non-environmentally approved equipment.
Ozone
Ozone is the pure form an explosive gas, with a special scent that can be sensed by lightning. The formation of electrical discharges. Even in low concentrations is toxic. Ozone is used extensively for disinfection of drinking water and water for the brewing industry needs, for waste water treatment and bleaching of pulp.
Ground level ozone is formed by chemical reactions between nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The concentrations are usually higher in spring and summer and in the afternoons, because the reaction accelerated in the presence of sunlight and high temperatures. Ozone concentrations may exhibit great variation depending on weather, season, time of day and changes in the amount of long-range transported ozone.
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