Diesel: when bad policy makes for toxic hell

Just consider. Every time petrol prices are raised, oil companies end up losing more money. Simply because the price differential between petrol and diesel increases further, and people gravitate towards diesel vehicles. More the use of diesel, more the oil companies bleed. Worse, we all bleed because diesel vehicles add to toxic pollution in our cities, which, in turn, adds to ill health and treatment costs.

Green game over

The opening and closing ceremonies for Commonwealth Games at the Jawaharlal Nehru (JLN) Stadium will flaunt two things— glitter and smoke.

More cities critically polluted

on november 18, the Union environment ministry revised the ambient air quality standards for the country after a gap of 15 years. The new standards are more stringent. They also mandate that air quality in industrial areas should be at par with residential areas.

On the shelf?

Centre's intent on ambient air quality standards unclear India's national ambient air quality standards have hit a roadblock. Revised after 14 years and finalized in May, the standards await the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests' (moef) clearance. Looks like the clearance will

Ozone restrictions not enough

The us government has tightened federal air quality standards for smog-forming ozone, but not to the extent recommended by the us Environmental Protection Agency's scientific advisers. The rules, which cover average concentrations of ground-level ozone, have lowered the current standard of 80-84 parts per billion (ppb) to 75 ppb. Air quality officials and environmental groups say the rules will hardly help protect the public or the environment from serious health hazards of smog.

In Court

hard on pollutants: A recent court settlement has required the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to review environmental hazards of nitrogen oxides and sulphur oxides and revise, as necessary, the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for the pollutants under its Clean Air Act. The settlement comes as a result of a lawsuit by a coalition of public-interest groups, challenging EPA's failure to perform the mandated regular reviews of air-pollution standards.

US to revise air quality standards for ozone

the us Environmental Protection Agency (epa) has proposed to revise the national ambient air quality standards for ozone for the first time since 1997. The proposal recommends an ozone standard within a range of 0.07-0.075 ppm (parts per million). At the same time, it has asked for comments on a range of alternative levels of standards between 0.06 ppm and 0.08 ppm (the current standards). Although the proposed level is tighter than the existing level, it has drawn criticism from environmental and health groups.