| |
HEALTH |
Air
Pollution and Health |
Air
pollution is known to affect lungs, especially for asthmatics.
Various studies now indicate it can raise blood pressure,
and also lead to formation of blood clots and increase
the risk of heart disease and stroke.
Researchers at the American Society of Hypertension
at its annual meet observed that being exposed to particulate
matter, a major component of air pollution, for just
a few hours can rapidly raise blood pressure and increase
the risk of heart attack and stroke for many people.
A group of healthy adults, between ages of 18 to 50,
were exposed to a different range of air compositions.
The air containing particulate matter increased diastolic
blood pressure in the participants – an effect
that was solely attributed to air pollutants. Air without
any particulate matter didn’t appear to cause
any significant changes in blood pressure.
Yet another study conducted by researchers at Harvard
found that every 10 microgram per square metre increase
in particulate matter upped the risk of clot development
by a whopping 70 percent. Exposure to fine particles
of solid and liquid chemicals, released by burning fossil
fuels, has already been linked to increased risk of
heart disease and stroke.
The study was conducted among 870 patients diagnosed
with such clots (deep vein thrombosis) between 1995
and 2005. These patients, along with 1,210 controls
who were free of the condition, were assigned to one
of nine geographic regions based on where they lived
at the time of the study. The researchers then used
the average concentration of particulate matter for
each area to estimate the level of exposure over the
year before diagnosis (for cases) or examination (for
controls).
It was found that individuals with deep vein thrombosis
tended to have a higher exposure to particulate air
pollution than controls – and for every increase
in particulate matter of 10 micrograms per square metre
the previous year, the risk of deep vein thrombosis
increased 70 percent. The association between particle
exposure and blood clots was stronger in men than in
women taking oral contraceptives or hormone therapy. |
(Heart and Stroke Foundation, May 2008) |
|
| Nuclear
Power under CDM |
Nuclear
power though considered not so environmentally friendly,
is gaining favour of various countries to reduce GHG.
At the 170-nation climate talks in Bonn for expanding
a fast growing UN scheme for curbing greenhouse gases,
developing nations might get help to build nuclear
power plants under proposals.
You de Boer, head of the UN Climate Change Secretariat,
on suggestions by countries, including India and Canada,
at the June 2-13 talks of aid for atomic energy said,
“It’s one of the issues that needs to
be considered.”
Not all nations and environmentalists favour inclusion
of nuclear power to CDM. Martin Hiller of WWF commented,
“Nuclear power is not the energy of the future.
It should not be in the CDM.”
|
(Planet ArkNews, Jun 13, 2008)
|
| |
| Support
for Wind Expansion |
A
new report by US Department of Energy (DOE) says that
wind energy can supply 20 percent of US electricity
needs by 2030 at a “modest” cost difference.
The report predicts that the 20 percent wind scenario
would cost about 2 percent more than sticking with
the current energy mix, which relies more heavily
on traditional fossil fuels.
The report, was prepared in conjunction with analysts
from industry and environmental, says that the 20
percent wind scenario entails higher initial capital
costs (to install wind capacity and associated transmission
infrastructure) in many areas, yet offers lower ongoing
energy costs than conventional power plants for operations,
maintenance, and fuel. Under the scenario, 500, 000
new jobs would be created.
To reach their goal by 2030, the department said wind
energy installation would need to triple from the
current rate of 5.2 gig watts (GW) added in 2007 to
more than 16 GW per year by 2018, with that pace continuing
through 2030. The total wind energy growth, 290 GW,
would displace the projected use of coal for power
generation by 18 percent and the use of natural gas
by about 50 percent.
|
(Environmental News Network, May 28, 2008)
|
| |
|
|
|
