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"Air pollution in Scotland 'creating public health crisis' "

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  1. HankChief
    Member

    A new monitoring station been set up at Maybury directly above the Westbound lanes.

    Looks like it is linking pollution to vehicle number plates.

    Anyone know more?

    Posted 7 years ago #
  2. chdot
    Admin

    "Looks like it is linking pollution to vehicle number plates."

    Is that remotely possible??

    Posted 7 years ago #
  3. acsimpson
    Member

    I noticed it flashing as if it was capturing number plates and assumed it was checking for untaxed vehicles. However there is a sign which starts along the lines of "What's happening here? Air quality monitoring..." Just after you pass it. There's far too much text to read while driving past.

    Posted 7 years ago #
  4. Frenchy
    Member

    Is that remotely possible??

    They might be using ANPR to count the numbers of different types of vehicle, and then look for a link to air quality?

    EDIT: Or perhaps they were putting up the air quality monitors anyway, and figured they might as well attach ANPR checkers too?

    Posted 7 years ago #
  5. HankChief
    Member

    The 'what's going on' sign takes you to this website

    http://switchoffandbreathe.org/

    Posted 7 years ago #
  6. acsimpson
    Member

    Curious that the website doesn't appear to have been updated for a year and contains no mention of CEC or indeed this specific installation.

    Posted 7 years ago #
  7. neddie
    Member

    Curious also that the website suggests that one can "improve your health and protect the environment" all by a "simple action" of switching off your engine if idling for more than a minute.

    All whilst ignoring the elephant in the room of streams of cars, each belching out clouds of invisible, yet toxic gas, while belting along at 40+mph.

    I really think most people have no idea just how much gas a single car pumps out while travelling at speed. It really is enough to fill a whole street.

    Posted 7 years ago #
  8. chdot
    Admin

    "

    "Scotland’s cities are literally choking – choking from the growing numbers of cars, while people are choking as air pollution from traffic worsens.

    "

    http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/transport/passengers-increasingly-upset-by-late-running-buses-1-4400373

    Posted 7 years ago #
  9. slowcoach
    Member

    "Is that remotely possible??" - it has been previously reported in a New Scientist article from 1990!
    "Don Stedman of the University of Denver ... has measured the emissions from more than 1,000 cars in an hour." Half the pollution came from 10% of the vehicles so taking these off the roads would have a disproportionate benefit. In that report they were measuring the emissions of carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons, but other measurements are available. Prof Stedman died last year of lung cancer.

    Posted 7 years ago #
  10. HankChief
    Member

    So as well as cameras/sensors fixed to an overhead gantry there is also an channel dug out of the road with a U shaped piece of metal in it. But only on the left hand lane.

    Posted 7 years ago #
  11. HankChief
    Member

    It's been removed so feel free to pollute again...

    Posted 7 years ago #
  12. Stickman
    Member

    From the sixth floor of my office building I got a great view over west Edinburgh yesterday. The clear blue skies made the low level band of brown air very visible. Is that air pollution or another atmospheric effect?

    Posted 7 years ago #
  13. chdot
    Admin

    "

    Highly polluting cars may face Glasgow city centre pollution charge

    "

    http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/15213131.Highly_polluting_cars_may_face_Glasgow_city_centre_pollution_charge/

    Posted 7 years ago #
  14. LaidBack
    Member

    @WeAreSTV2 1h1 hour ago

    Join @STVhalla now for the very first #STVNewsTonight exclusively on STV2

    Pollution in Hope St and other places covered. Monitored from rickshaw.
    UK Gov have delayed meeting the EU guidelines again until T May crushes the opposition. I'd like my country back with higher air quality but doubt that will happen!

    STV Scottish 7 is one year ahead of the BBC now. Only a half hour bulletin but I thought it was not bad at all. This new STV2 channel brings together the various city channels. Repeated later or on http://player.stv.tv/tvguide/

    Posted 6 years ago #
  15. chdot
    Admin

    "Pollution in Hope St and other places covered. Monitored from rickshaw."

    23:20 3 mins

    Posted 6 years ago #
  16. neddie
    Member

    The licensing authority for the City of Edinburgh (‘the Council’) is considering introducing an age limit for its licensed taxis and Private Hire Car (PHCs).

    This measure should not only improve vehicle standards, but also local air quality through a reduction in exhaust emissions from licensed hire cars.

    https://consultationhub.edinburgh.gov.uk/sfc/age-of-taxis-and-phcs/

    Posted 6 years ago #
  17. chdot
    Admin

    Oh, thought it was age limit on drivers!

    Posted 6 years ago #
  18. HankChief
    Member

    Great idea. Should be made to happen due to the high mileage of Taxis/PHCs within the city.

    Much easier to implement than anything on private vehicles.

    Have filled it in.

    Posted 6 years ago #
  19. chdot
    Admin

    "

    Air pollution: 'Heart disease link found'

    "

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-39710321

    Posted 6 years ago #
  20. chdot
    Admin

    "

    Super pollen is created when the substance mixes with diesel fumes and has the ability to trigger extreme hay fever and asthma reactions.

    "

    http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/our-region/edinburgh/super-pollen-outbreak-could-spark-hay-fever-and-allergy-epidemic-1-4430955

    Posted 6 years ago #
  21. chdot
    Admin

    "

    Spokes CycleCampaign (@SpokesLothian)
    12/05/2017, 12:37 pm
    Spokes member @CllrChasBooth motion calls for #LowEmissionZone at first meeting of new @Edinburgh_CC --> http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/download/meetings/id/54052/full_meeting_papers_-_council_-_18_may_2017

    @CyclingEdin

    http://pic.twitter.com/IHtisqXa7q

    Posted 6 years ago #
  22. chdot
    Admin

  23. chdot
    Admin

  24. Blueth
    Member

    I suppose the Council will now instigate a programme to see what can be done about the lack of snow☺

    Posted 6 years ago #
  25. chdot
    Admin

    "

    Tiredtaxpayer

    4:43 PM on 19/05/2017 010203:

    "elderly and children whose lungs are more vulnerable to damage from PM2.5s"

    In which case, wouldn't it be sensible to deal with the worst offenders?

    http://www.bmj.com/content/350/bmj.h2757/rr-1

    Wood burning stoves - so cosy but so very polluting......

    Brake dust and tyre particles (from braking) are also probably worse than even stinky bus diesels therefore the best way to decrease these is to get rid of artificial congestion generators like bus lanes and traffic lights sequenced by someone with the brainpower of a Mayfly.

    "

    http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/transport/edinburgh-bids-for-first-pollution-charging-zone-1-4450435

    Posted 6 years ago #
  26. HankChief
    Member

    Is this a new journalistic low?

    Article quote 2 business people, one of whom uses this jem "I’ve been in this shop 35 years and my health’s fine"

    http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/capital-business-owners-react-to-low-emission-zone-plans-1-4453175

    Posted 6 years ago #
  27. chdot
    Admin

    "

    “I don’t agree with it at all. Roads should be free,”

    "

    And the things his shop sells too?

    Posted 6 years ago #
  28. @chdot I think that may have been a Scotsman mis-print; it should in fact say "Roads should be free of cars." ;-)

    Posted 6 years ago #
  29. crowriver
    Member

    Supermarkets’ petrol price war helps drivers save £2 per tank

    “If the Government had implemented wholesale price transparency, which would warn drivers when pump prices are likely to rise or fall, families that rely on their cars to get to work, take the kids to school and for daily errands would be better able to take the peaks and troughs in their stride.”

    http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/cars/car-news/supermarkets-petrol-price-war-helps-drivers-save-2-per-tank_724109283aa292966549229d5ac82c9c/

    *Why* do families rely on their cars for these things? Because fuel is cheap?

    Posted 6 years ago #
  30. amir
    Member

    Perhaps pollution forecasts should be based partly on fuel prices, as well as weather, time of year ...

    Though I expect driving habits, especially for short journeys, are only weakly associated with prices

    Posted 6 years ago #

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