Diesel pollution prevents honeybees from finding flowers

Photo: James Barker/freedigitalimages.net

Exposure to common air pollutants found in diesel exhaust pollution can affect the ability of honeybees to recognise floral odours, new University of Southampton research shows.

Honeybees use floral odours to help locate, identify and recognise the flowers from which they forage.

The Southampton team, led by Dr Tracey Newman and Professor Guy Poppy, found that diesel exhaust fumes change the profile of flora odour. They say that these changes may affect honeybees’ foraging efficiency and, ultimately, could affect pollination and thus global food security.

The study mixed eight chemicals found in the odour of oil rapeseed flowers with clean air and with air containing diesel exhaust. Six of the eight chemicals reduced (in volume) when mixed with the diesel exhaust air and two of them disappeared completely within a minute, meaning the profile of the chemical mix had completely changed. The odour that was mixed with the clean air was unaffected.

Furthermore, when the researchers used the same process with NOx gases (nitric oxide and nitrogen dioxide), which is found in diesel exhaust, they saw the same outcome, suggesting that NOx was a key facilitator in how and why the odour’s profile was altered. The changed chemical mix was then shown to honeybees, which could not recognise it.

Dr Newman, a neuroscientist at the University, comments: “Honeybees have a sensitive sense of smell and an exceptional ability to learn and memorize new odours. NOx gases represent some of the most reactive gases produced from diesel combustion and other fossil fuels, but the emissions limits for nitrogen dioxide are regularly exceeded, especially in urban areas. Our results suggest that that diesel exhaust pollution alters the components of a synthetic floral odour blend, which affects the honeybee’s recognition of the odour. This could have serious detrimental effects on the number of honeybee colonies and pollination activity.”

Professor Poppy, an ecologist at the University, adds: “Honeybee pollination can significantly increase the yield of crops and they are vital to the world’s economy... However to forage effectively they need to be able to learn and recognize the plants. The results indicate that NOx gases — particularly nitrogen dioxide — may be capable of disrupting the odour recognition process that honeybees rely on for locating floral food resources. Honeybees use the whole range of chemicals found in a floral blend to discriminate between different blends, and the results suggest that some chemicals in a blend may be more important than others.”

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Commuting to work? Diesel emissions increase cancer risk

This is a guest post from Electrocorp.

Diesel exhaust emissions can affect your
health and well-being, experts say.

Exposure to diesel fumes could be causing cancer at a greater rate than previously known, researchers say.

A new long-term study by the National Cancer Institute and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health found that miners exposed to diesel engine exhaust are three times more likely to contract fatal lung cancer, and that commuters on busy highways in smoggy, urban areas might face a similar risk.

The study was published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

While diesel exhaust is currently classified as a “probable carcinogen”, health authorities will review this classification in the months to come.

A change in classifications could mean tighter regulations as well.

The study looked at 20 years of data on miners exposed to diesel exhaust and showed significant increases in the risk of lung cancer deaths with higher level of exposures, especially in miners working more than 5 years.

The study authors warn of the risks to Americans living in urban areas as well, although the risk is lower for lower doses of diesel exhaust.

Drivers getting stuck on long highway commutes may be exposed more than people standing on the sidewalk because of wind tunnel effect, experts say.

Commuters can help protect themselves by

• Leaving car windows closed on busy highways and streets
• Setting the air on “recirculate” to keep pollutants out
• Having a HEPA filter installed in the car

Newer diesel cars are much cleaner than older models, experts say, but many older models are still being used on the streets.

Source: The Sun

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Health problems created by road traffic

Exposure to air pollution can lead to
a variety of health problems.

Millions of research dollars are being spent on examining the health issues related to road traffic and environmental pollution.

Especially in highly trafficked areas such as LA and other urban centers, air pollution effects have become a topic of concern for children health and women’s health, among others.

To shed some light on the issues, a recent detailed report by Environmental Health News’ Editor in Chief Marla Cone put the spotlight on health in LA and LA traffic.

Air pollution effects

Researchers have found that spending too much time too close to busy highways could lead to

• Asthma
• Reduced lung function
• Cardiovascular disease
• Autism
• Other health effects

Schools, businesses and homes near freeways, ports and railways (or all of them together as is the case in the area stretching from Long Beach to East Los Angeles) expose people to emissions from trucks, ships, trains, and other diesel-powered sources.

Environmental pollution high in busy regions

That means many volatile organic compounds, including trichloroethylene and benzene that are known carcinogens can be in the air.

While new technologies and regulations have made improvements to the overall air quality, high levels of pollutants remain. For example, the Los Angeles basin is still the worst when it comes to ozone, the main ingredient in smog, and it also has very high levels of fine particles.

About half of the residents of Los Angeles County – about 7 million people -- live within a mile of a freeway, some within 100 meters or less.

Breathing easier with air cleaners

Some schools have put air filters in the classrooms and have noticed a tremendous improvement in the air quality, the article says.

It shouldn’t be a debate of jobs versus health, the experts say.

Portable air cleaners with carbon and
HEPA help keep the air clean and safe.

While it’s obvious that ports and freeways are economically necessary, they have to be designed and equipped to protect the community’s health.

Cleaner air at home, at school and at work

If it works in schools, it will certainly work in the home. AllerAir has designed a series of air purifiers for the home and office that can remove the widest range of air pollutants.

The key to a good filtration system is to have the most efficient and safe technologies. AllerAir air purifiers feature the biggest activated carbon + HEPA filters to remove airborne chemicals, odors, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), particles, allergens, bacteria, viruses and molds.

Browse our products online or contact AllerAir directly to find the right air purifier for your needs: 1-888-852-8247.

Source: Environmental Health News
  

Diesel Exhaust and California Air Pollution; Air Purifiers a Must for Polluted State

One of the worst states to live in, in terms of pollution, is California. Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Experts agree: if any state should be worried about its air quality, it is indeed this one—- and if any residents should use air purifiers, Californians should.

A new report released this week by the South Coast Air Quality Management District found diesel exhaust was the key driver for air toxics risk, accounting for more than 80 percent of the total air toxics risk in the overall Southern California area sampled. In areas where there is more truck traffic, the air quality is significantly worse.

A separate report issued by Cal State Northridge researchers states that particulate concentrations are on the rise in the east end of the San Fernando Valley.

California also has the worst rate of soot pollution in the United States, according to a 2006 report released by an environmental group.

The air quality reports and alerts that focus on California are abundant. Karen Hand, B. Chem. Eng and IAQ Expert with AllerAir says, “People who live in California must take measures to ensure that the air they breathe when they are indoors is at least safer than the air outdoors—- and that’s not necessarily the case if you don’t have an air purifier in your home.”

Hand recommends air purifier units like AllerAir’s Air Medic+ Exec, that combines a HEPA filter to remove 99.97% of particles, with a deep-bed carbon filter for additional protection against dangerous airborne chemicals.

For more information on air purifiers, you can contact any of AllerAir’s IAQ Experts at 888.852.8247.