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Friday, 23 March 2007,
Written by Julien
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Spring is coming, and with the spring come the winter babies, future mothers see their bellies getting rounder and anyone can see excitement on fathers' faces. I was chatting with one of those future fathers recently and I realized that most people do not know anything about indoor air pollution.
So let's start from basics and play the Spot the difference game! What are the differences between indoor and outdoor?
- you spend 80% of your time indoor, and a merely 20% outdoor
- there is not much air renewal
- your brand new furnitures contains a lot of formaldehyde
- your child is playing with the dog
- air is quite still inside, so the dust tends to stay on the ground
- there is no car in your living room, so no direct exhaust of pollutants
Do you see any other differences? Please give me your suggestions...
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The best air in 6 months!
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Monday, 05 March 2007,
Written by Julien
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Today the sky is blue, and the air is crystal clear. Your lungs feel it, and so do the figures.
Air Pollution index is only 28 in Beijing (March 4th), and even in Paris, it would be considered as good. Last time we had such good air was exactly 6 months ago, on Sept 4th 2006. And before, it was on Oct 28th 2005.
Such good air is exceptional! It might be the best day of the year, so stop thinking it's too cold: wear your running shoes and furred cap, and go jogging in Beijing!
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Wednesday, 14 February 2007,
Written by Julien
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Previously, I started comparing some data between Beijing and Paris, but it was for fixed dates only.
So, I have been working and discovering the possibilities of new technologies to propose you a brand new tool: a dynamic comparator, to convert the daily pollution in Beijing in the Paris system.
The aim is to extend soon this tool to other cities in China and to other pollution reference in the world, so you can know the air quality in your own reference. Let's say you are from Sydney and live in Guangzhou, and you would like to compare easily the air quality to the air back home.
You can notice now on the top of the page, the real time conversion of air quality in Beijing to Paris system!
Would you like to do some other comparisons??
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Even dogs can wear masks ;)
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Monday, 05 February 2007,
Written by Julien
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The temperatures are rising now in Beijing, so Beijing dogs can let their winter coat at home and run freely...
... they can also now wear their oxygen masks to protect themselves from the coming sand storms!
Many thanks to China Daily website
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A multi function low energy bulb!
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Thursday, 25 January 2007,
Written by Julien
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Browsing the web I found a new funny kind of low energy bulb: a bulb that clean the air and diffuse negatives ions, using 80% less energy than normal bulbs!
It uses two technologies:
- the photocatalysis, which is a relatively new technology that is now used in many applications like auto-cleaning glass and plaster, new generation air purifiers...
- air ionizing, which is supposed to increase the amount of negative ions in the air, like in deep forest or on the beach.
Might no be sufficient to clean the air of your home, but for sure the air around your bulbs will be a bit fresher!
French speaker can buy it on www.zone-ecolo.com
What do you think?
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Tuesday, 23 January 2007,
Written by Julien
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I was having at the look at the China Daily website today and I found this nice picture of Harbin, awaking in the smog. No comments...
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Tuesday, 09 January 2007,
Written by Julien
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After three weeks spent in Europe, regenerating my lungs in Alps, I am back in Beijing! I am back with many ideas and many projects regarding air pollution and health. (I'll give you more details soon)
I do not want to start this new year with bad news regarding air pollution, so I'll tell you what I learned this morning, which is directly linked to my last post in December:
I was chatting with the taxi driver on the way back from the airport, discussing the usual topics: China, France, family, air pollution, and finally came the 2008 Olympics. And do you know what? During the whole Olympics, there will be special holidays for all the industries not related to the Games. That mean that during the Olympics, the athletes (and us) will be able to breathe crystal clean air!!!
Anyway, 2007 is just starting and 2008 is still far. I wish you a happy new year, with health, health and health!
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Another Chinese solution!
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Thursday, 14 December 2006,
Written by Julien
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As you know, the aim of this blog is to talk about pollution, but also to try to find solutions. Here is an example of a solution found by Beijing Government.
People that were in Beijing during the Sino-African summit in November remember that during all the summit, we had a wonderful weather. Coincidence or Chinese miracle?
I found back among my emails the instructions from the Circulation Bureau for the summit. Here below are some of these instructions (see on the map):
- 80% of service vehicles (vehicles from administrations) shall stay parked
- no trucks allowed within 4th ring road
- cars from other provinces not allowed in town
- working hours changed in many companies
- empty taxis not allowed on some main avenues
- ...
This solution worked well for a two days diplomatic summit, but how will it work during the month-long 2008 Olympics? Do you have some clues?
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Wednesday, 13 December 2006,
Written by Julien
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I have a big default for someone living in Beijing and being concerned about air pollution: I love outdoor and urban sports. Notably, I like inline skates, and lately I've been using them a lot to move around.
I know! It is not such a good idea! Most people would think that skating is dangerous, especially in Beijing traffic, but I am used to it now and I had less troubles on skates than on bicycle. I think the main problem is for my lungs, rolling along ring roads or next to construction works.
After the pollution peak we experienced yesterday, I decided to do something for my health. I've been to B&Q and finally bought a mask:
It is definitely ugly and might not be that efficient, but a little is better than nothing. At least, the few particles that this mask stops do not arrive in my mouth and my nose.
Would you be ready to wear one as well?
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Tuesday, 12 December 2006,
Written by Julien
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We saw it, we smelled it, we felt it and ... now we have some evidences: yesterday was a really polluted day in Beijing.
The index rang a bell today, reaching the maximum: 500, grade V! This means particle matters (PM10) with a concentration higher than 600µg/m3!!! Last time we reached such a level in Beijing was in on May 7th, so 7 months before!
Yesterday, I wrote that what is considered as "good" in Beijing is "very bad" in Paris! But with such levels as today, I guess Paris would be "frozen", under major alert: no school for children, no cars at all, no industry, radio broadcasting messages requesting people to draughtproof all windows and external doors!
Did you see that in Beijing?
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