This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/magazine/7532603.stm
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| The filthy air conundrum | The filthy air conundrum |
| (8 minutes later) | |
| A repeat of this scene on opening ceremony day would be a PR disaster By Finlo Rohrer BBC News Magazine | A repeat of this scene on opening ceremony day would be a PR disaster By Finlo Rohrer BBC News Magazine |
| Beijing is taking drastic measures to improve its air quality in the run-up to the Olympics. But is it possible to conquer air pollution in a short space of time? | |
| In China's capital city, emergency measures are afoot. | In China's capital city, emergency measures are afoot. |
| It is nine days until the games begin. Beijing has a reputation for bad air pollution and if the national stadium is shrouded in smog on the first day of the games, the embarrassment will be palpable. | It is nine days until the games begin. Beijing has a reputation for bad air pollution and if the national stadium is shrouded in smog on the first day of the games, the embarrassment will be palpable. |
| Driving through the city is restricted to cars with even or odd number plates on alternating days. Factory emissions have been reduced and some building sites shut down. When Beijing bid for the games it made a clear promise - the air in this city would be clean James Reynolds James Reynolds' blogBeijing pollution: Facts and figuresIn pictures: Beijing pollution-watch | Driving through the city is restricted to cars with even or odd number plates on alternating days. Factory emissions have been reduced and some building sites shut down. When Beijing bid for the games it made a clear promise - the air in this city would be clean James Reynolds James Reynolds' blogBeijing pollution: Facts and figuresIn pictures: Beijing pollution-watch |
| The aim is to reduce air pollution so when athletes and tourists arrive for the Olympics, they can see blue sky above the bird's nest stadium. They also want competitors concerned over health risks to rest easy. | The aim is to reduce air pollution so when athletes and tourists arrive for the Olympics, they can see blue sky above the bird's nest stadium. They also want competitors concerned over health risks to rest easy. |
| But the BBC's James Reynolds has been monitoring air quality in Beijing since the measures came into force and the results are not good. A measurement of PM10 (particles smaller than 10 micrometres) shows things got worse - at a given snapshot moment each day - for five successive days after the introduction of the measures. | But the BBC's James Reynolds has been monitoring air quality in Beijing since the measures came into force and the results are not good. A measurement of PM10 (particles smaller than 10 micrometres) shows things got worse - at a given snapshot moment each day - for five successive days after the introduction of the measures. |
| Despite lower emissions, levels of pollution are still bad. The authorities are even talking about more severe "ultra-emergency" measures immediately prior to key events, with 90% of cars off the roads and much industry shut down. | Despite lower emissions, levels of pollution are still bad. The authorities are even talking about more severe "ultra-emergency" measures immediately prior to key events, with 90% of cars off the roads and much industry shut down. |
| Whether the weather | Whether the weather |
| It is possible to tackle air pollution in the short term, says Hugh Coe, professor of atmospheric composition at Manchester University.The nightmare scenario is indicated by what happened in London in 1952Enlarge Image | It is possible to tackle air pollution in the short term, says Hugh Coe, professor of atmospheric composition at Manchester University.The nightmare scenario is indicated by what happened in London in 1952Enlarge Image |
| "It isn't like climate change where you put carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and it lasts for decades. Air quality is a short term problem. If you stop emitting, your air quality could improve very quickly." | "It isn't like climate change where you put carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and it lasts for decades. Air quality is a short term problem. If you stop emitting, your air quality could improve very quickly." |
| But it's not quite as simple as just turning off the pollution tap, says Prof Coe. | But it's not quite as simple as just turning off the pollution tap, says Prof Coe. |
| "It's about the rate at which you pump this stuff into the atmosphere and the meteorological conditions. There is not too much you can do about the latter." | "It's about the rate at which you pump this stuff into the atmosphere and the meteorological conditions. There is not too much you can do about the latter." |
| The weather is the great variable in any efforts to clear the air. | The weather is the great variable in any efforts to clear the air. |
| Frank Kelly, professor of environmental health at King's College London, says the worst case scenario is "very, very low winds, high atmospheric pressure, an anti-cyclone building up above the city - it acts like a saucepan with the lid on". | Frank Kelly, professor of environmental health at King's College London, says the worst case scenario is "very, very low winds, high atmospheric pressure, an anti-cyclone building up above the city - it acts like a saucepan with the lid on". |
| Pollution needs to be able to rise into the atmosphere and blown by winds to properly disperse. | Pollution needs to be able to rise into the atmosphere and blown by winds to properly disperse. |
| The worst case scenario is a situation like London's Great Smog of December 1952. Then there was almost certainly increased coal burning because of the cold weather, but the main culprit was a rather nasty weather pattern, known as an inversion layer. | The worst case scenario is a situation like London's Great Smog of December 1952. Then there was almost certainly increased coal burning because of the cold weather, but the main culprit was a rather nasty weather pattern, known as an inversion layer. |
| Normally the air gets colder the higher you go. In an inversion layer, this is reversed with a layer of cold air held in place by a warmer "lid". The result in 1952 was a city choked with smog and at least 4,000 extra deaths. | Normally the air gets colder the higher you go. In an inversion layer, this is reversed with a layer of cold air held in place by a warmer "lid". The result in 1952 was a city choked with smog and at least 4,000 extra deaths. |
| "The weather conditions were unique. The whole of London's pollution didn't go anywhere," says Prof Kelly. | "The weather conditions were unique. The whole of London's pollution didn't go anywhere," says Prof Kelly. |
| BBC Weather forecaster Dan Corbett says meteorological patterns in Beijing over the summer are not conducive to dispersing pollution, with high pressure and inversion layers common. | BBC Weather forecaster Dan Corbett says meteorological patterns in Beijing over the summer are not conducive to dispersing pollution, with high pressure and inversion layers common. |
| "It is like taking a pan of soup off the hob. It steams, but put a lid on it and everything just sits under the lid." | "It is like taking a pan of soup off the hob. It steams, but put a lid on it and everything just sits under the lid." |
| Gobi dust | Gobi dust |
| And as well as weather conditions trapping smog in, there are conditions that suck in pollution. Take a coastal city like Newcastle. When the wind blows out to sea it's perfect for dispersing pollution, but should there be a south-easterly wind it can bring in new pollution from continental Europe and boost readings. Particles emitted are much, much smaller - people feel safer but the real problem is that because they are smaller they get deep down into the lungs Prof Frank Kelly | And as well as weather conditions trapping smog in, there are conditions that suck in pollution. Take a coastal city like Newcastle. When the wind blows out to sea it's perfect for dispersing pollution, but should there be a south-easterly wind it can bring in new pollution from continental Europe and boost readings. Particles emitted are much, much smaller - people feel safer but the real problem is that because they are smaller they get deep down into the lungs Prof Frank Kelly |
| In Beijing the issue is serious, with winds carrying pollution from all over the surrounding region as well as dust from the Gobi desert in spring. | In Beijing the issue is serious, with winds carrying pollution from all over the surrounding region as well as dust from the Gobi desert in spring. |
| Then there's the effect of sunlight. Nitrogen oxide and hydrocarbons can form ozone as long as there's bright sunlight. Ground-level ozone is hazardous and a major component of photochemical smog. | Then there's the effect of sunlight. Nitrogen oxide and hydrocarbons can form ozone as long as there's bright sunlight. Ground-level ozone is hazardous and a major component of photochemical smog. |
| In London in 1952, the concentration of the pollution was visible, largely a result of coal, which produces black smoke consisting of large particles. The sulphurous type of coal then used also produced large quantities of sulphur dioxide that caused smog. | In London in 1952, the concentration of the pollution was visible, largely a result of coal, which produces black smoke consisting of large particles. The sulphurous type of coal then used also produced large quantities of sulphur dioxide that caused smog. |
| In the West today, less and cleaner coal is used. Now the threat is usually less visible and comes in the form of nitrogen dioxide, volatile organic compounds - such as paint thinner or solvents - and smaller particulate pollution under 10 micrometres in size, known as PM10. | In the West today, less and cleaner coal is used. Now the threat is usually less visible and comes in the form of nitrogen dioxide, volatile organic compounds - such as paint thinner or solvents - and smaller particulate pollution under 10 micrometres in size, known as PM10. |
| "Modern pollution is coming from motor vehicles," says Prof Kelly. "Particles emitted are much, much smaller. They are not as visible, people feel safer but the real problem is that because they are smaller they get deep down into the lungs where the coal particles didn't get." | "Modern pollution is coming from motor vehicles," says Prof Kelly. "Particles emitted are much, much smaller. They are not as visible, people feel safer but the real problem is that because they are smaller they get deep down into the lungs where the coal particles didn't get." |
| Asthma attacks | Asthma attacks |
| And being of a size that can penetrate deep into the airways and settle in the lungs, these PM10 particles are among the most dangerous forms of air pollution, says environmental epidemiologist Prof Tanja Pless-Mulloli, of Newcastle University.Santiago's geography and weather patterns lead to chronic smog | And being of a size that can penetrate deep into the airways and settle in the lungs, these PM10 particles are among the most dangerous forms of air pollution, says environmental epidemiologist Prof Tanja Pless-Mulloli, of Newcastle University.Santiago's geography and weather patterns lead to chronic smog |
| "People who already have asthma more likely to have an asthma attack. There is an impact on the number of hospital visits and there is an impact on mortality, even at concentrations that many countries experience." | "People who already have asthma more likely to have an asthma attack. There is an impact on the number of hospital visits and there is an impact on mortality, even at concentrations that many countries experience." |
| The health concerns over air pollution have prompted some places to employ drastic measures along the lines of Beijing. | The health concerns over air pollution have prompted some places to employ drastic measures along the lines of Beijing. |
| Athens tried the odd/even registration plate restrictions, starting in the 1980s. Not the hardest restriction to circumvent, many motorists bought an old banger with the other plate. Atlanta put traffic restrictions in place for the 1996 Olympics. | Athens tried the odd/even registration plate restrictions, starting in the 1980s. Not the hardest restriction to circumvent, many motorists bought an old banger with the other plate. Atlanta put traffic restrictions in place for the 1996 Olympics. |
| On 1 September 1990, Dublin banned the sale and burning of bituminous coal. A study published in the Lancet by Luke Clancy, Pat Goodman, Hamish Sinclair, and Douglas W Dockery - comparing the six years before the ban and the six years after - found dramatic results. | On 1 September 1990, Dublin banned the sale and burning of bituminous coal. A study published in the Lancet by Luke Clancy, Pat Goodman, Hamish Sinclair, and Douglas W Dockery - comparing the six years before the ban and the six years after - found dramatic results. |
| Black smoke concentrations in Dublin fell 70%, and the authors estimated there would have been 116 fewer respiratory deaths and 243 fewer cardiovascular deaths a year in the city after the ban. | Black smoke concentrations in Dublin fell 70%, and the authors estimated there would have been 116 fewer respiratory deaths and 243 fewer cardiovascular deaths a year in the city after the ban. |
| And in Santiago, Chile, short-term emergency action was taken in the 90s when there were extraordinary bursts of smog, says Nigel Bell, professor of environmental pollution at Imperial College London. | And in Santiago, Chile, short-term emergency action was taken in the 90s when there were extraordinary bursts of smog, says Nigel Bell, professor of environmental pollution at Imperial College London. |
| "It put a lot of babies in hospital. Santiago has got a ring of mountains round it and a lot of vehicles. They closed a lot of factories. The smog went but I don't know how much one could ascribe it to the actions taken."Cirrus clouds are thin and whispy | "It put a lot of babies in hospital. Santiago has got a ring of mountains round it and a lot of vehicles. They closed a lot of factories. The smog went but I don't know how much one could ascribe it to the actions taken."Cirrus clouds are thin and whispy |
| And one dramatic change in the atmosphere came after 9/11, says Prof Coe. All flights were grounded in the US and the vapour trails which form many cirrus clouds were thereby removed. These cirrus clouds reflect some radiation from the sun, as well as absorbing some of the heat energy escaping to space from the earth. | And one dramatic change in the atmosphere came after 9/11, says Prof Coe. All flights were grounded in the US and the vapour trails which form many cirrus clouds were thereby removed. These cirrus clouds reflect some radiation from the sun, as well as absorbing some of the heat energy escaping to space from the earth. |
| The difference in radiation levels at the surface would have been measurable during the grounding, says Prof Coe. | The difference in radiation levels at the surface would have been measurable during the grounding, says Prof Coe. |
| Emissions can be controlled, particularly by aggressive government action, but no power on earth can control the weather patterns that carry those emissions around our atmosphere. | Emissions can be controlled, particularly by aggressive government action, but no power on earth can control the weather patterns that carry those emissions around our atmosphere. |
| Switching off air pollution is possible, but only if the weather lets us. | Switching off air pollution is possible, but only if the weather lets us. |
| Send us your comments using the form below. | Send us your comments using the form below. |