Category: Pollution

The Best Plants For Removing Indoor Pollution

picture of forest

Common indoor plants may provide a valuable weapon in the fight against rising levels of indoor air pollution. NASA scientists are finding them to be surprisingly useful in absorbing potentially harmful gases and cleaning the air inside homes, indoor public spaces and office buildings.

The indoor pollutants that affect health are formaldehyde, Volatile Organic Compounds (benzene and trichloroethylene or TCE), airborne biological pollutants, carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides, pesticides and disinfectants (phenols), and radon. These pollutants contribute to ‘sick building syndrome’, which causes symptoms ranging from allergies, headaches and fatigue through to nervous-system disorders, cancer and death.

Through studies conducted by NASA, scientists have identified 50 houseplants that remove many of the pollutants and gases mentioned above. Dr. B. C. Wolverton rated these plants for removing chemical vapors, ease of growth, resistance to insect problems, and transpiration (the amount of water they expire into the air). NASA, with assistance from the Associated Landscape Contractors of America, conducted a two-year study directed by Dr. B.C. Wolverton, an environmental engineer from Picayune, Mr. Wolverton has worked as a research scientist for NASA for some 20 years. His study, in the late ’80s and early ’90s, of the interaction of plants and air found that houseplants, when placed in sealed chambers in the presence of specific chemicals, removed those chemicals from the chambers.

More information on this study as well as references and details on specific chemicals can be found on Dr. Wolverton’s website.

Dr. B.C. Wolverton, researcher and author of “How to Grow Fresh Air – 50 Houseplants that Purify Your Home or Office”, conducted plant studies for NASA that determined that plants can clean pollutants in homes, offices, factories and retail outlets. Later, Wolverton expanded the study and assigned plants a rating from one to 10, based on a plant’s ability to remove chemical vapors or indoor air toxins, ease of growth and maintenance, resistance to insect infestation and the rate at which water evaporates from the leaves.

Top ten plants for removing formaldehyde, benzene, a

 

nd carbon monoxide from the air:

1. Alreca Palm (Chrysalidocarpus lutescens)

Also called the “Butterfly Palm”. An upright houseplant that is somewhat vase shaped. Specimen plants can reach 10 to 12 foot in height. Prefers a humid area to avoid tip damage. Requires pruning. When selecting an Areca palm look for plants with larger caliber trunks at the base of the plant. Plants that have pencil thin stems tend to topple over and are quite difficult to maintain.

2. Lady Palm (Rhapis excelsa)

Also called the “Lady Palm”, this durable palm species adapts well to most interiors. The Rhapis are some of the easiest palms 

to grow, but each species has its own particular environment and culture requirements. The “Lady Palm” grows slowly, but can grow to more than 14′ in height with broad clumps often having a diameter as wide as their height.

3. Bamboo palm (Chamaedorea seifrizii)

Also called the “reed palm”, this palm prefers bright indirect light. New plants will lose of some interior foliage as they acclimate to indoor settings. This plant likes to stay uniformly moist, but does not like to be over-watered or to sit in standing water. Indoor palms may attract spider mites which can be controlled by spraying with a soapy solution. They can get as tall as 12 Feet, so make sure to have a tall ceiling! It removes carcinogenics such as benzene, formaldehyde, trichloroethylene.

4. Rubber Plant (Ficus robusta)

Grows very well indoors, preferring semi-sun lighting. Avoid direct sunlight, especially in summer. Young plants may need to be supported by a stake. The Ficus grows to 8’ with a spread of 5’. Wear gloves when pruning, as the milky sap may irritate the skin. Water thoroughly when in active growth, then allow the soil to become fairly dry before watering again. In winter keep slightly moist. This plant is native to South East Asia. It doesn’t need much water, or sunlight, and removes benzene, formaldehyde, and trichloroethylene.

5. Dracaena “Janet Craig” (Dracaena deremensis)

 The Dracaena grows to 10’ with a spread of 3’. Easy to grow, these plants do best in bright indirect sunlight coming from the east/west. They can adapt to lower light levels if the watering is reduced. Keep the soil evenly moist and mist frequently with warm water. Remove any dead leaves. Leaf tips will go brown if the plant is under watered but this browning may be trimmed.

6. Philodendron (Philodendron sp.)

One of the most durable of all house plants. Philodendrons prefer medium intensity light but will tolerate low light. Direct sun will burn the leaves and stunt plant growth. This plant is available in climbing and non-climbing varieties. When grown indoors, they need to be misted regularly and the leaves kept free of dust. Soil should be evenly moist, but allowed to dry between watering.

7. Dwarf Date Palm (Phoenix roebelenii)

A hardy, drought-tolerant and long-lived plant, the Dwarf Date Palm needs a bright spot which is free of drafts. It grows slowly, reaching heights of 8-10’. The Dwarf Date Palm should not be placed near children’s play areas because it has sharp needle-like spines arranged near the base of the leaf stem. These can easily penetrate skin and even protective clothing.

8. Ficus Alii (Ficus macleilandii “Alii”)

The Ficus Alii grows easily indoors, and resists insects. It prefers a humid environment and low to medium light when grown indoors. The Ficus Aliii should not be placed near heating or air conditioning vents, or near drafts because this could cause leaf loss. Soil should be kept moist but allowed to dry between watering.

9. Boston Fern (Nephrolepis exaltata “Bostoniensis”)

The Boston fern grows to 4’ in height with a spread up to 5’. It has feathery ferns which are best displayed as a hanging plant. It prefers bright indirect sunlight. Keep the soil barely moist and mist frequently with warm water. This plant is prone to spider mites and whitefly which can be controlled using a soapy water spray. Inspect new plants for bugs before bringing them home. It removes carcinogenics such as formaldehyde and xylene.

10. Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum “Mauna Loa”)

The Peace Lily is a compact plant which grows to a height of 3’ with a 2’ spread. This hardy plant tolerates neglect. It prefers indirect sunlight and high humidity, but needs to be placed out of drafts. For best results, the Peace Lily should be thoroughly watered, then allowed to go moderately dry between waterings. The leaves should be misted frequently with warm water. It removes carcinogenics such as ammonia, benzene, formaldehyde, and trichloroethylene.

11. Garden Mum

In the NASA research, this plant was an air-purifying champion, removing ammonia, benzene, formaldehyde, and xylene from indoor air. Popular and inexpensive at garden stores, they can be planted outside after they’re finished blooming. It is best at removing ammonia, benzene, formaldehyde, and xylene.

12. Spider Plant

Spider plants are among the easiest houseplants to grow, making them a great choice for beginners or forgetful owners. A fan of bright, indirect sunlight, spider plants will send out shoots with flowers that eventually grow into baby spider plants or spiderettes. They remove the carcinogenics formaldehyde and xylene.

13. Aloe Vera

In addition to being easy to care for, aloe makes some serious health claims. The plant’s leaves contain a clear liquid full of vitamins, enzymes, amino acids, and other compounds that have wound-healing, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties, and there is some evidence that aloe may help (and is unlikely to hurt) skin conditions like psoriasis. Aloe Vera is proven to remove formaldehyde from surrounding areas.

References:
How to Grow Fresh Air: 50 House Plants that Purify Your Home or Office (Penguin; First Edition edition April 1, 1997).
Wolverton Environmental Services (http://www.wolvertonenvironmental.com/air.htm), Last updated May 2009.

Dr. B.C.Wolverton’s book is available online: “How to Grow Fresh Air – 50 Houseplants that Purify Your Home or Office”.

For more information on non-toxic home cleaning read the guide here.
For information on non-toxic pest control read the guide here.
Browse hundreds of environmentally friendly products in our store here.

This article was borrowed from the amazing authors at Greatist.com and Learn.EarthEasy.com.

http://greatist.com/connect/houseplants-that-clean-air

http://learn.eartheasy.com/2009/05/the-top-10-plants-for-removing-indoor-toxins/

 

How to Stop Everything from Getting Dusty

The answer is simple: buy and use electrostatic (microfiber) cloth!

There are many reasons why dust collects on our things. First of all, most people own more things than they actually use daily. That’s because we have invested our time or money into material things, which then seem to lose their use, or are sometimes replaced. We then convince ourselves that we will later find time to sell, get rid of, or make use of it… which rarely is more important than things you’ve purchased more recently. This, can be seen as hoarding.

Dust is more rampant in dusty areas. Therefore, if you often keep windows or doors open, and you live in a dusty area, the invisible dust particles will creep into your home and lodge themselves on your belongings. To stop this from happening, limit the amount of time you leave your windows and doors open, and perhaps use the fan on your air conditioner or another ventilation system to keep circulating air indoors.

If you use your A/C a lot, and have not had it maintained in a long time, you should call a repairman to take a look at the filter and perhaps change it. If you have no pets or allergies, you should change your A/C filter every 6-12 months. If you have a pet or allergies, you should change/clean your A/C filter every 20-60 days.

When sweeping, keep the broom at a 45-degree angle from the floor. Don’t sweep everything swiftly, letting the broom stay perpendicular or upright. Doing this will cause all the dust to go into the air and spread. It will also only come down out of the air slowly and spread onto other material belongings.

Here are 6 tips to living in a dust free environment.

1. Sell your material things, or simply own less.
2. Keep windows and doors closed, but don’t forget to circulate the air in your living space.
3. Keep dusty things (shoes, bikes, furry jackets, or old fabric) out of your living space. To clean, use electrostatic cloth that attract dust particles.
4. Use electrostatic cloth instead of a duster! They collect the dust instead of spread it.
5. When sweeping, don’t rush!
6. Get a high quality HEPA air purifier that removes the dust from the air you live in. We would suggest the Xiaomi 2S for around $130.

Vitamin B Sources – What can help protect you from air pollution?

From our last post, you know that taking vitamin B can help protect you from air pollution, according to a research done by Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health. If you missed our post, please click here to read it.
Now, we are going to suggest some medical and natural vitamin B sources available in Vietnam.
There are 8 main vitamin B: B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B7, B9 and B12.
Vitamin B1 (thiamin) helps to convert glucose into energy and plays an important role in nerve function. Thiamin deficiency includes confusion, irritability, poor arm or leg coordination, lethargy, fatigue and muscle weakness. Natural sources of vitamin B1 include: whole cereal grains, seeds (especially sesame), legumes, nuts, yeast and pork.
Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) mainly involves in energy production, and helps vision and skin health. You can find vitamin B2 in milk, yoghurt, cottage cheese, wholegrain breads and cereals, egg white, leafy green vegetables, meat, yeast, liver and kidney. It is not common to have vitamin B2 deficiency – hair loss, an inflamed tongue, inflamed eyelids, sensitivity to light and skin rash. If you do, remember to drink less, and include one or some of the food above in your diet.
Vitamin B3 (niacin) helps the body convert carbohydrates, fat and alcohol into energy. It also helps maintain skin health, and supports the nervous and digestive systems. Niacin can be found in all protein-containing foods like: lentils, meat, fish, poultry, milk, eggs, nuts and mushrooms. Vitamin B3 deficiency, also known as pellagra, includes dementia, diarrhea, and dermatitis, and can lead to death if not treated.
Vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid) helps to metabolize carbohydrates, proteins, fats and alcohol. It also helps producing red blood cells and steroid hormones. Vitamin B5 sources are widespread and can be found in meat, milk, eggs, peanuts and legumes.
Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) is necessary to metabolize protein and carbohydrate. It is also involved in the formation of red blood cells, certain brain chemicals, brain processes and development, immune function and steroid hormone activity. Too much or too little of vitamin B6 can lead to unwanted health risks.
Vitamin B7 (biotin) helps metabolize energy and amino acid and synthesize fat and glycogen. Sources of vitamin B7 are cauliflower, egg yolks, peanuts, chicken, yeast and mushrooms.
Vitamin B9 (folate) is involved in red blood cells formation, development of the fetal nervous system, DNA synthesis and cell growth. You can find vitamin b9 in green leafy vegetables, legumes, seeds, poultry, eggs, cereals and citrus fruits
Vitamin B12 helps to produce and maintain the myelin surrounding nerve cells, mental ability, red blood cell formation, and the breaking down of some fatty acids and amino acids to produce energy. Sources of vitamin B12 are often anything animal origin like meat, eggs, milk and cheese. If you are a vegan, you can get your vitamin B12 from fortified soy products, cereals, and marmite.
Whole cereal grains in Vietnam can be found in dark ‘seedy’ breads, oatmeal, corn, brown rice. We found this healthy snack of puffed up brown rice with seaweed in Fivimart.
For sesame seeds, there is a special dish called “muoi vung” (gomasio), made from sesame seeds and salt, to be eaten with sticky rice, salad, boiled vegetables. Other seeds also work just as well. Next time you are ordering a coffee, maybe also order that extra serving of sunflower or pumpkin seeds. It is high in nutrients and definitely helping to protect you against air pollution.
Nuts in Vietnam that you can find easily are peanuts and cashews. They are not as expensive as almonds, hazelnuts or macadamia. Peanuts and cashews are great snacks, and they can be added as condiments into dishes.
Meat, eggs, milk and cheese provide good amount of vitamin B needed for our body. Seafood is also a great source of vitamin B.
Do not forget to include dark green leaves like kale and spinach in your diet. There is this new great place by “Hom” Market that is selling fresh kale! If you dislike salad or cooked vegetables dish, make some chips with it by drizzling some “sesame oil” and sprinkling some sea salt on top and pop them in the oven.
For medical vitamin B sources, we recommend taking vitamin B complex, which includes all the necessary vitamin B in the group. You want the balanced combination of all the B1, B2, B3, B5, B6 and B12. If you take more than the daily value, you can face certain unwanted side effects. We have included some photos of certain vitamin B complex that are available in Hanoi. Go to your local pharmacy and see what they have got in stock. You can also order them online by typing in “vitamin B tổng hợp”(vitamin B complex)
Thanks for reading our post about vitamin B sources. We hope this might help you improve your diet, and more importantly, help protect you from air pollution. Let us know if you have any other advice, tips or questions for us regarding this subject.
Breathe Clean and Have a Good Afternoon!
– AryMask Team –

Before The Flood Is A Must See

Recently, a remarkable documentary called 'Before The Flood', was released to explain how real climate change is. It explicitly describes the causes and effects of the earth's production, consumption, and emissions. Leonardo Di Caprio is the producer and interviewer throughout the film. Amazing photography and words depict Leonardo's trip around the world seeing and speaking to numerous scientists, activists and politicians.

Connecting some of the largest corporations to the investment in their products vast destruction of our land, DiCaprio pursues interviews with a range of world leaders and innovators, including Barack Obama, Pope Francis, Ban Ki-Moon and Elon Musk, to discuss factors that threaten Earth's sustainability, while also taking aim at global warming skeptics.

See the movie on YouTube free! It may only be available for a short time!

EDIT* 

The movie was available for free on YouTube but has since been removed.

Here are some of the quote's that left a lasting impression on us:

"If we're gonna fight climate change effectively, we have to start by acknowledging that most of our economy is based on fossil fuels. Oil powers most of the transportation sector, coal and natural gas power most of the electricity".

"Almost everything we do releases CO2"

"Temperatures are rising, coral reefs are dying, and not since a meteor hit the earth 65 million years ago have so many species of plant and animals become extinct"

"Hundreds of cubic kilometers of ice have melted in less than 5 years"

"97 percent of climate scientists, our climate is changing due to fossil fuel burning"

global-warming-graph

"All of that hatred and fear is in fact organized and funded by fossil fuel interests like the Koch brothers finance, a very large echo chamber of climate change denialism"

Fossil Fuel Backers

"These are front groups that are funded by corporate interests"

"Due to our release through factories and automobiles, every year more than 6 billion tons of carbon dioxide are released"

"Coal is cheap"

"China has recently surpassed America as the number 1 world's polluter"

"Chinese media talks about climate change on a regular basis"

"China's got some of the biggest wind and solar companies in the world now"

"China is still heavily relying on fossil fuels but they seem to be transitioning to renewable's much faster than anyone anticipated"

"India is the world's third largest emitter, yet the country is struggling with massive power shortages and rolling blackouts"

India is a country where "energy access is as much a challenge as climate change"

"There are 300 million people without access to electricity in India... that's the entire population of the U.S.!"

"700 million households cook with biomass in India... if they switched to coal the earth would fry"

"The U.S. has been the biggest emitter of greenhouse gases in history"

"There are over a billion people out there without electricity and they want lights, they want heat, they want the lifestyle that we've had in the United States"

"Reefs as we know them are going to virtually disappear"

'Oceans are a buffer, that absorb about 1/3 of the C02 that we dump'

"Decades and decades of the forests breathing in the carbon storing it in the trunks and the leaves and the organic matter. Those carbon emissions are being held safe for us until we clear them and light them on fire. It acts like a carbon bomb and releases massive carbon emissions back into the atmosphere"

plants-burning

"Palm oil plantations grow the cheapest vegetable oil in the world. Its in cooking oil's, processed foods, in cosmetics, detergents, making corporations tremendous profits"

companiesq

"Beef is one of the most inefficient uses of resources"
"Every molecule of Methane (CH4) is equivalent to 24 molecule's of CO2" -'47% of the United States' land is used for food production. 70% of the 47% is used for beef production'

"The things that we actually eat, like fruit, is 1%"

"About 10% of total U.S. emissions are from beef"

"Beef requires 50x as much land as potatoes"

"Just by switching from eating chicken to eating beef, you will have eliminated 80% of what you emit"

"You would only need 100 Tesla Gigafactories to produce all of the power consumption of the world"

"Politicians call them our elected leaders are really our elected followers"

"What makes scientists so nervous is that we can reach a point where earth takes over and starts reinforcing warming. This is what we call the tipping point… Greenland is melting on its entire surface to a point where the white surface becomes a dark surface. Because the sun cannot reflect back the whole surface starts to melt"

"Denmark produces 100% of its electricity from wind"

"Sweden is now the first fossil free nation"

'The Paris agreement is a step in the right direction but it does not mention carbon tax. There are no penalties, there are no enforcement provisions'

"The peace talks in Paris are nowhere near enough for what the scientists tell us we have to do eventually to solve this problem. But if we can use the next 20 years to apply existing technologies to reduce carbon emissions and then start slowly turning up the dials as new technologies come on line, more and more ambitious targets each year. Completely reversing the warming that now is inevitable can stop it before it becomes catastrophic" -Obama

"The ice is melting the earth is warming the sea level is rising"

"As a U.N. Messenger of Peace I have traveled all over the world for the last two years seen cities like Beijing choked by industrial pollution, boreal forests in Canada that have been cut clear, rainforests in Indonesia that have been incinerated. In Greenland and in the Arctic I was astonished to see that ancient glaciers are rapidly disappearing well ahead of scientific predictions"

"I just need a minute to breathe"

We need to stand together as one world, and stop polluting the earth that we stand on. If we think before we do, we can turn global warming around and take a fresh breath of air. We really need it.

Practice what you preach. If you can, show others how to take care of the environment around you. 

While we take positive actions, step by step, lets not forget to protect ourselves. Protect your loved ones the best you can. Provide them with clean air and add years to their life.

All of the media and quotations used in this article can be found in the YouTube video posted above. The producer is Leonardo Di Caprio. It can be found on National Geographic's website here: http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/before-the-flood/videos/before-the-flood/

How Your Motorbike Pollutes

How Your Motorbike Pollutes

When an engine is running, it looks like this:

Image result for internal combustion engine

Blue is a gas-air mixture, red is an exploding gas-air mixture, and black is exhaust

In many places around the world, the majority of the population likes the idea of saving money, and therefore puts off the amount of money and time spent on the maintenance of their vehicles.

We’ve seen a lot of motorbikes that have halted due to their owners completely forgetting to change oil.

Motorcycles and scooters have worse emissions than cars! Can you believe it?!

This is because they have worse pollution control standards, so although they emit less CO2, the other greenhouse gasses they emit count for more than the CO2 emitted by cars. Even though two-wheelers are better than single-driver cars in urban areas (slower speed zones), they are far worse on highways.

Comparing a single driver two-wheeler to a full car of course shows that a car emits less per person.


Amount of Car VS Motorcycle Pollution in grams of CO2 source.

Looking at the amount of emissions produced in manufacturing, surprisingly, a $15,000 car VS a $15,000 two-wheeler, two-wheelers produce a lot more CO2 than cars. This is due to the auto industry improving emissions control technologies while the motorcycle industry has not. Overall, cars have both more sophisticated fuel systems and better emission controls than motorcycles.

Anyways! Back to how your motorbike is polluting the environment.

First of all, motorbikes produced in Asia have extremely little regard to emissions. There are no stringent emissions testing before they are sold. Second, motorbikes and scooters are being produced for as low as possible. People want fast and strong vehicles, not those that have the environment in mind. Third, people only replace things when they break. A lot of scooters don’t have oil lights, so forgetting to change oil, or simply leaving it too long can really harm the environment and people living in it.

Fuel Quality:

It is widely known that regulations for the quality of fuel are lower in many developing countries in comparison to those in industrialized nations.

Estimates indicate that there are currently about 1.2 to 1.3 million automobiles and 33 million motorbikes in Vietnam. With Vietnam’s rapid urbanization and sustained high economic growth, these vehicles are expected to increase substantially in the near future. The vehicle emissions and fuel quality roadmap can greatly ensure that future automobiles and motorcycles will be cleaner.

Maintenance

The frequency at which we maintain our motorbikes is extremely important. You should check your motorbikes manual (online if not on paper) to see how often you should do standard maintenance.

For example, you should change oil every 1000 kilometers. You should inspect (clean, adjust, lubricate, or replace if necessary) the fuel line, throttle operation, spark plugs, and engine idle speed every 4000 kilometers. Beware that this schedule is for a very simple semi-automatic. For older bikes, you should maintain more frequently, and for newer bikes, you should check your manual.

Brakes, oil and tires the 3 most important things to maintain on your motorcycle.

Maintenance Frequency for Honda Wave 110cc (source)

Brakes

Brakes should be replaced as soon as you feel like you cannot brake as well as you used to, or as soon as you hear a scratching sounds coming from them. Disc brakes start to hiss when you are not using them at all if they’re getting too thin.

Oil

The right type of oil for your engine should be used. Your manual should state if your bike uses synthetic or semi-synthetic oil. The higher quality (and thus more expensive) oil you use should ensure that your engine lasts a long time.

Tires

Your tires are the only thing that connects you to the tarmac. To make sure your tires are good, inspect the treads for depth. Your front tire will be used more quickly (and thus should be replaced more often) because you turn it more frequently. Motorcycle/scooter tires flatten in the middle as they’re used more, which makes it more difficult to make turns without slipping out.

Air Filter

In polluted areas, the air filter on your bike needs to replaced more often than on clean roads. Extreme amounts of dust are filtered by your air filter, and the filter needs to be cleaned or replaced to stop from dust entering into the engine.

Chain/Drive Belt

Chain’s on semi-automatic or manual motorbikes and scooters need to be maintained regularly. They should be lubricated and kept tight. In automatic scooters, you have to monitor the rubber belt that turns the wheel. In most bikes it is located under the air filter. The drive belt doesn’t need to be replaced frequently, unless it is showing cracking (around every 4000km). If it is slipping (when accelerating you don’t move forward like you used to), it needs to be replaced. There are variator rollers (or ceramic bearings) that allow the drive belt to move faster and slower depending on your required acceleration. These rollers allow the belt to move smoothly, and they need to be replaced more frequently than your belt. Inside this same housing is your clutch. A clutch has pads that wear down over time. It is an expensive part but you do have to change this to make sure you can accelerate as you’re supposed to. You can see all of this in the following link that shows how to replace everything in your variator housing.

Shocks

For a comfortable ride, your shocks need to be maintained every 10,000km or so by replacing the oil in the shocks. You could also buy a new pair of shocks after your bike has ran 30,000km or so with the stock ones. Newer shocks have better mechanics and make for a much smoother ride.

More on Fuel in Vietnam

Euro 4 emission standards VS Euro 5 emission standards:

Euro 3 standard fuel is still in circulation in Vietnam. It is named RON 92 petrol. In comparison, the newer Euro 5 standard Biofuel requires better petrochemical filtering technology, and therefore is more expensive.

The European Emission Standards define the acceptable limits for exhaust emissions of vehicles in the EU. The stages are typically referred to as Euro 1, Euro 2, Euro 3, Euro 4, Euro 5 and Euro 6 for Light Duty Vehicle standards.

In Vietnam, under the September 1st, 2011 roadmap, automobiles are required to comply with Euro 4 emission standards by January 1, 2017 with further tightening to Euro 5 emission standards starting January 1, 2022. Vietnam will skip Euro 4 standards and move ahead to Euro 5 Standards in 2022.

Motorcycles manufactured, assembled or newly imported will be required to comply with Euro 3 emission standards beginning January 1, 2017.

Phan Quynh Nhu, Secretary-General of the Vietnam Clean Air Partnership (VCAP), says that the leading cause of air pollution in Vietnam is from transport, particularly engine-run vehicles, which led to the need for strict limits on emissions. (Source)

Problem

The problem of air pollution in cities of newly developed and developing countries is mainly created by a rapid growth in the use of motorcycles and passenger cars as traffic tools. In comparison to passenger cars, information about motorcycles’ hardware controls on emissions, including catalyst, engine design, and fuel composition, is scarcely available. Motorcycle tail-pipe emissions are affected by fuel type, engine type, and catalyst. Regulatory agencies, motorcycle industries, and fuel industries should further explore optimal control strategies to reduce motorcycle-related air pollution. (Source)

Scandal

In 2015, the Volkswagen emissions scandal involved revelations that Volkswagen AG had deliberately falsified emission reports by programming engine management unit firmware to detect test conditions, and change emissions controls when under test. The cars thus passed the test, but in real world conditions, emitted up to forty times more NOx emissions than allowed by law.[22] An independent report in September 2015 warned that this extended to “every major car manufacturer”,[23] with BMW, and Opel named alongside Volkswagen and its sister company Audi as “the worst culprits”,[23] and that approximately 90% of diesel cars “breach emissions regulations”.[23] Overlooking the direct responsibility of the companies involved, the authors blamed the violations on a number of factors, including “unrealistic test conditions, a lack of transparency and a number of loopholes in testing protocols”. (Source)

Solution

The only good way forward is to take responsibility for manufacturing, owning, and taking care of our vehicles so that the environment is not harmed.

How A City Becomes Polluted

Is Hanoi Heading Towards "Airpocalypse"?

People are flocking to city centers all over the world, in search of better jobs in urban environments. For the people who design the roads and buildings in cities this requires significant planning. Without planning for the future, expensive mistakes can deter growth and have negative impact on housing, sanitation, education, and employment. A city's narrow streets and high tax on cars leads to an increased number of motorbike owners. This has recently led to pollution becoming dangerous to people’s health.

Emissions of all types are found in many city's air, including fine particles which lead to a large number of deaths per year. Particles (PM) as small as 2.5 micrometers lodge deep in our lungs, clogging arteries, making it harder to breathe. This irreversible effect is the reason scientists have been studying how safe it is to live in such an environment.

For example in Vietnam, it has been reported that 70% of Hanoi’s air pollution comes from the endless stream of traffic, reported by Vietnam’s Center for Environmental Monitoring. Hanoi was once a capital filled with bicycles, and only in the 1990's, motorbikes were introduced. Now almost everybody has a motorcycle, and more people are moving into the city, as Hanoi grows larger. Construction needs to meet the demand of more citizens, and thus large apartment buildings are finding their place.

Official data shows that there are now "5.3 million motorbikes and 560,000 cars in Hanoi, with figures set to increase at 11% every year for motorcycles and 17% for cars". Khuat Viet Hung, vice chairman of the National Traffic Safety Committee said that around 44,000 people a year die from air pollution and related illnesses.

As the government attempts to build infrastructure to support the growth, more an more motorbikes are being bought. A new railway with 8 lines is due in Hanoi by 2020, which is grinding along slowly, leaving less space for motor vehicles to get by, causing ever worsening traffic congestion. “Frequent and prolonged traffic congestion is the main contributor to the increasing air pollution level," said Professor Le Huy Ba, head of the Institute for Science, Technology and Environment Management under HCMC’s University of Industry. This is followed by powerplant's

Can Hanoi curb the emissions by strict regulation of environment effecting discharge coming out of industries, while regulating growing traffic concerns as well?

What do you think?

Leave a comment below.

Sources

Yeh, Ray. 19 Apr 2016. Web. http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asiapacific/airpocalypse-soon-hanoi/2707674.html