Air pollution in the modern world | Fully Charged Podcast

Helen Czerski interviews one of her colleagues at University College London all about how air pollution has evolved in the city. From the most recent times to historic events, they talk about how air pollution has altered over the years.
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[@markiliff]

Really interesting discussion, and brava to Helen for letting Gary give full replies to her well chosen questions

[@libellula3313]

Great interview thanks Helen.

[@cbromley562]

Brilliant video! Tyres and brakes do significantly add to particle pollution, but in towns and cities, (and grid locked motorways and highways), exhaust emissions can't be underestimated. We gulp a lot of 'debris' in stationary and slow moving traffic. Cycling would be the ideal mode of transport, but it's not always practical, especially in rural areas with tight lanes and inattentive drivers. Plus the distances to work and back aren't always practical, and the weather can make things seriously dangerous. It would be good if landowners and farmers could be recompensed for giving up parts of their land to make proper off-road cycleway network. There are small stretches here and there, but they end abruptly, dumping you into the thick of it. It would change things dramatically if there were a serious resolve.. Until infrastructure is changed significantly, I still believe EV ownership (and solar etc), is the best personal/small contribution we can make.

[@charleslefeuvre5267]

Great interview dr Helen , good questions and great listening 👂👍

[@frejaresund3770]

I have been enjoyed, so thank you for delivering.

[@victorseal9047]

Excellent questions Helen, and in-depth answers from Gary.

[@MrPDawes]

I've really noticed the cleaner air from the drop in air transport. The drop in noise has also been appreciated despite living 15 miles from Manchester Airport, airplanes still use my house as an away point. I've also seen record solar PV production as a result. I'm thinking of suing for loss of earnings.

[@showme360]

So clearly there is a third person missing from this conversation who specialises in health! I use to live in a village in Sussex call Storrington, the second highest air polluted villages in Sussex, when my office which sits on the high street, was decorated the air pollution soon became shockingly self evident, a year later I am living in mid Wales. My coughing habit is still with me, but I feel much better. But perhaps more importantly there is no so soot on our window sills.

[@williamgoode9114]

You don't mention the source of contamination, and how realistically would you take a clean air option like nuclear

[@watcher24601]

That was a very diplomatic and carefully worded discussion. I sense that the UCL has some major sponsors that should be offended. I would highly recommend Tim Smedley's book "Clearing the air" for further details of street level pollution, dash for diesel and why woodburners are re-creating London's Smog. If you live in London and have young children, you may want to consider buying them a gas mask! Alternatively portable air quality monitors are available something missed at 18:30

[@clivethomas6864]

That was really interesting and informative. Brilliant!

[@SaffyMirza]

what happens to the particle after travelling around for a week? Does it go into the ground? Does it get absorbed into water?

[@timregester1173]

That's an interesting point, I have a suspicion that the much cleaner rivers we were seeing during lockdown are related to the lack of PM being washed drained and/or washed into them. Now we are getting back up towards normal traffic levels the rivers are getting less clear, though higher rainfall may also be a factor.

[@JillesvanGurp]

A lot of it ends up in the oceans. Apparently the primary source of micro plastics in the oceans is tire dust that washes down the sewers into rivers and into the oceans. People obsess about plastic bags as a source of microplastics but car tires are a much bigger problem.

[@williamgoode9114]

@@JillesvanGurp microplastics coming from rubber tires might confuse. Bags was source of confusion for like turtles thinking they were like jellyfish. Plastic bags have come back with avengence here (Oz), except now they are thicker, brighter and cost 15c instead of being free.

[@showme360]

Tyre pollution is a big problem, especially now we are driving bigger and bigger cars and for what reason, oh yes safety! What has the pandemic taught us is that some of us can work from home, and have no need to travel, my misses is doing just that! The government should make this a new rule for businesses to follow and give incentives as a reward! Speaking as a posties, we walk ten to twelve miles a day, and my van does just ten miles, and yet our business is suffering! because more and more white van men and women are driving around delivering parcels, parcels that we posties should be delivering! The system of so called competition means they don’t have to follow health and safety rules, and parcel drop of rules, paid less means work faster, drive faster, etc, etc....which all has an impact on air quality! Had my rant!!

[@williamgoode9114]

Arrive is making 10,000 electric vans for UPS. In America Rivian is doing likewise for Amazon. You don't seem to understand letters are data can be sent electronically, same newspapers; packages are a physicality and need delivery

[@Hitstirrer]

Over the last six years I haven't heard of any EV driver complaining about their tyres needing replacement sooner than their old ICE cars. Surely this is evidence that the larger mass of an EV has little effect on the overall tyre dust. But brake dust is another matter as EVs cause far less due to regen. Confirmed by experience.

[@zapfanzapfan]

Road wear is proportional to axle load to the fourth power (at least according to research in the US on the interstate highway system) so the real culprits are trucks and buses. If road wear is high then tire wear must be similar.

[@williamgoode9114]

@@zapfanzapfan Tesla Semi has just as many tires, and we still throw away 95% of a tire, and yes regen reduces diesel consumption and brake shoe / pad wear, but breaking up bridges and bitumen is by weight, a Tesla has a seven tonne battery, yet the Chinese manage high speed rail from Beijing to Berlin, unfortunately the Americans haven't managed one high speed train because they are car and truck obsessed

[@zapfanzapfan]

I wouldn't call the trans-Siberian freight trains high speed and the Americans actually transport a lot on trains, it's just the high speed passenger trains they don't quite manage.

[@williamgoode9114]

@@zapfanzapfan in discussion with Russia for 400kmh will try and find article for you

[@rtfazeberdee3519]

CoCharger sounds a lot like the app they have in a few places (I think Brighton is one) where people can rent out their driveway as a car parking space in parking restricted areas.

[@josephcullen2512]

I think there needs to be more attention paid to the ionosphere and the role of ozone, and also the effect of radioisotopes upon the inonosphere, as well as flow-on effects upon climate and such of all of this

[@turningpoint4238]

Living in the bush Australia you'd think I'd have wonderful air to breath, but no. The main issue we have is smoke, in the summers from bush fires, spring and autumn "planned burns" and in the winter from domestic wood fires, doesn't help we are one of the least windiest towns in the world so the air just hangs about. Our nearest monitoring site is in a large town over 100 miles away as the crow flies, we are in the foot hills of the Snowy Mountains and they are on flat country, very different. I brought a cheap air monitor to give an idea of the pollution (inaccurate for sure but not that far off). This years with the fires it went off the scale at 999 pm2.5, but not surprising as the fire did get to 100 meters of the house. But even with planned burns the readings get well over 300. And at present with the wood fires been used (winter here) quite often it will read in the 80's. We have brought a couple HEPA filters which make a massive difference in the house. But still the schools still seem to have no action or prevention for exposing the children to this, although after the large fires here they said they were looking into it, but not holding my breath.

[@christill]

So if you’re drag racing from every light in your Tesla with sticky sports tyres and cornering as one guy did when I was a passenger to show off, you’re not helping. I haven’t always been perfect with my car but I’ve had 2 small EVs, the Smart weighs under a ton, and I try to be as smooth as possible in all aspects of driving. And back when I did drive aggressively more often, it’s not like those kind of cars with their EV tyres would have done too much damage. Also interesting to go into cycling because I’m going to be riding full time soon. Would be good to learn more about bike impacts inc tyres (are they less plastic than car tyres?), oil and other lubricants washing off in the rain on exposed drivetrains. And also how belts and chain cases effect things. And that’s before you even get into road surfacing. If the council resurfaced the roads as infrequently as they resurface the seafront bike lane (aka never) then they would be suitable only for rock crawling jeeps. The bike lane is still rideable albeit not the most pleasant ride. Even with the harsh conditions by the sea, bikes just don’t damage much at all.

[@GeorgeRow]

For anyone struggling to find Co-charger’s website, Robert left out a dash. The website is: co-charger.com

[@transitionbollingtongroup2996]

Great content but the background music at the start makes it really uncomfortable for those with certain hearing difficulties.

[@constructioneerful]

So - good interesting program. Fast acceleration and speedy cornering are a luxury..and can be programmed out of EVs, or even rationed electronically. Indeed European cars under self driving regs are already under such controls. Maybe we need to create a stink about needless speed. After all, it's not going to get you from A to B any quicker; the pace car effect sees to that.

[@williamgoode9114]

As Elon grows up (50+) less obsession with 0-60 ! We can only hope because those Tesla get through a set of tires in 20K

[@cbromley562]

@@williamgoode9114 We don't drive our Tesla like madmen, as we're too concerned about getting through expensive tyres too quickly. ;) The acceleration is very useful for overtaking, getting into roundabouts and pulling out of awkward side roads, and joining motorways etc. It acts as a safety feature. And it's actually a very smooth driving experience. As for driving fast, you can do that in any vehicle. I do believe that an infrastructure to help cycling is necessary...we cycle a lot, to pick up food and for leisure, but country lanes are riddled with crazy drivers. Dedicated cycle tracks would be a Godsend.

[@williamgoode9114]

For instance sand dust from Sahara to Florida (5000miles), just last weekend.

[@steverichmond7142]

Electric bikes for all. A district nurse in Scotland travels over 15 miles a day on an electric bike. Cities and suburbs grew out of villages joined up by ribbon development so local infrastructure should still be there.

[@williamgoode9114]

EBIKES are wonderful many of the big cites have them in racks outside Tube Stations; Tokyo,London,Paris etc and certainly in Tokyo you use your train pass to unlock and hire, am sure they would have a place in villages. In 2016 some American kid got into the Guinness Book of Records for doing just that, 5000 miles in thirty days on an EBIKE.

[@tekkenhail2625]

In the talk about pollution we forget that the two biggest killers are light and sound pollution. Electricity use, not production creates both as does transportation. The radiation waves that come from them kicks up the dust from urbanisation which has also created sub tropical climates

[@coniow]

On the subject of the record 'run without coal,' it ended on 16th June 2020 at "67 days, 22 hours, 55 minutes" HOWEVER, the REASON it ended is interesting: It was caused by a Coal Unit running tests after essential maintenance, (therefore, by implication, not because it was NEEDED). ALSO: Coal was on line for 2 hrs, off for 8hrs, back for 10 hrs, then off for 14, lastly back for 8 hours. (total of 20 hours on line). Since then, coal has been off for 4 days and 15 hours (at the time I write this). Perhaps another way of looking at this is that the UK ran on coal for only 20 hours out of 72 days, 13 hours and counting. I am thinking that now would be a good time to 'Divest' from your 'Coal Investments' should you happen to have any! The source for this information is mobile.twitter.com/UK_Coal

[@williamgoode9114]

Well great, mild weather, no industry,masses of Russian gas, try it again in December and see how you go. Those wonderful politicians of yours, who either squabble in the commons,or pontificate in the Lords, are the same that brought down the price of diesel to stimulate small car diesel sales, mostly VW, and look how that went, fracking only stopped because of protests not leadership, nuclear had to stop because they actually wanted to make too much plutonium and the weapon stockpile got embarrassing. Sure you've got some Chinese panels, but they don't work so well in the winter. Sure you've got some wind farms, but realistically the greatest possibility of getting through winter is the double glazing and insulation generally, maybe heat pumps (reverse cycle aircon ditioning), but mostly imported oil and imported gas.

[@Ivan.endicott]

Don't seem to be able to find cocharger.com anyone else?

[@helenlawson8426]

Found it, web address not the same as the company name. www.chargeandparking.com/

[@TorstigHjalmr]

I think Bobby got the link wrong! co-charger.com/ I think so anyway!

[@libellula3313]

Ivan Endicott oh no, a Bobby Boo Boo!

[@zapfanzapfan]

Last time I was this early Robert was driving a gas guzzler :-)

[@lucansanchez5129]

Shoe's are still not shaped to the foot and grips weather there for vehicles or shoes are rubbish especially for shoes. Maybe break pad systems could be replaced with Decelerators for all electrical vehicles. Tyre's will always have this problem but if we had hover car this would remove the problem. With all the street lights road side and a change to the composition of roads maybe its possible.

[@K1989L]

Riding a bicycle will still produce tyre wear but not nearly as much as when you're driving a couple ton metal beast with four wheels to get one person to work.

[@williamgoode9114]

All electric and hybrid vehicles do have decelerators or what are actually called regenerators. If you float on air you can't steer very well, and it's incredibly noisey

[@bibliotek42]

So the chief cause of air pollution is actually tyres? I had not expected that. So actually not driving at all is the best option for air quality? Or even cycling!?!?

[@williamgoode9114]

Not to mention when they accidentally catch fire in recycling centre

[@christill]

That percentage of journeys being driven under 2 and 5 miles makes me sick every time I hear it. And the wood burning thing as well. It’s one of the biggest scandals that it’s been left unchecked for so long. My neighbours all burn wood, and use 2 stroke petrol mowers. And one of them paved over their front lawn. We haven’t mowed our lawn for ages and it looks like a meadow. I keep seeing butterflies I wouldn’t normally see. When we do eventually have to mow it, we just got one of those Bosch battery mowers Robert showed in an episode. And to top it off, people around here really like fireworks so you keep getting the smoke coming in when they find the latest excuse to set more off.

[@K1989L]

I think EV drivers tend to use tires that have lower rolling resistance. Or maybe the difference in weight is not significant enough.

[@williamgoode9114]

We use eGO, great 56v range of garden tools, mower, chainsaw hedge trimmer, blower, strimmer

[@So-Flo]

Long live the electric mower. Wasn't the flymo such a brilliant invention? P.S. petrol mowers are 4-stroke, so not quite as bad. But still very primitive, side valve engines with no exhaust treatment technology implemented. Petrol strimmers, chainsaws, hedgecutters and circular saws are indeed 2-stroke. Given a bit of know-how and entheusiasm it is actually very easy to convert a small petrol engine to run on butane/propane (LPG). LPG produces vastly fewer particulates, hydrocarbon and NOx emmisions, as well as slightly lower CO2.

[@christill]

@@So-Flo Aren’t these 4-stroke mowers still equivalent to something like 15 cars worth of pollution? I can’t remember the exact number but it’s pretty grim. If we’re going go convert fossil garden tools, I think we can just electrify them. Would make more sense. Not really a fan of Flymos myself. I prefer the wheeled ones. I imagine that was your point too. But definitely not necessary to get a battery mower. Corded ones are absolutely fine. A bit of a hassle to keep an eye on where the cord is but they’re fine. And they’ve been fine for a very long time. We had one when I was growing up in the 90s.

[@joshuasmith7369]

According to a video by Robert Llewellyn, England was coal free for 2 months. Just think about how much air pollution Laura Dekker didn't have to breathe in while sailing around the world in a sailboat.

[@williamarmstrong7199]

He is wrong on several points regarding particulates from EV vehicles. Having run Taxis for over 13 years I can definitely state that EV's (a Mitsubishi PHEV and an MG5) both last as long as any normal vehicle tyre wear wise and brakes last 3 to 4 times longer. Disks have never needed changing in over 220,000 miles on the PHEV. Brake disks disks needed changing every 45,000 miles (2 sets of brake pads) on normal light weight taxis. So on both counts EV vehicles produce far less total particulates than ice vehicles.

[@williams908v2]

50.44 I believe that the BBC has abandoned any impartiality it had a long time ago

[@ramblerandy2397]

When the BBC imparts a view which may disagree with one's own, they are often trying to balance the view by reporting the other viewpoint. They do this more these days than they've ever done. Through their independence from advertising they can be uniquely impartial, when compared to any commercial broadcaster. However, they are by no means perfect.

[@zapfanzapfan]

I guess they are Ox-Bridge middle class centrists which means they piss off both the right and the left. As long as one side calls them reactionary war mongers and the other side calls them communist George Soros social justice warriors they must be doing something right. Impartiality = piss everyone off equally :-)

[@williamgoode9114]

@@zapfanzapfan bit like the Americans being rude about China, remember how Trump said;"The China Virus"

[@williamgoode9114]

Do you remember second hand smoke, and burning autumn leaves

[@williamgoode9114]

So airlines weren't the worst that we thought they were. Has smoking gone down in that people are now concerned about their respiratory health ?

[@alaneasthope2357]

A good interview on an interesting topic. I never thought about agriculture creating pollution. I enjoy cycling, however, doing it other than for pleasure or exercise is impracticle. Try carrying the weeks shopping on a bike. Not to mention wearing waterproofs in rain and snow which make you wetter from sweat than the rain itself. Also, at the end of your journey, you need access to a shower.

[@showme360]

Alan Easthope i did just that, made do without a car for a year, which ended up as two years. I built a trailer for my bike, and carried my weekly shop in that took an hour to get to Sainsbury’s 6 miles away in Pulborough Sussex. I also travel across the downs to the coast 12 miles, to get to family and friends. The trailer became my dogs mobility ride, when he became old and suffer with arthritis! I was i. At the end I had cover over 35 thousand miles. I was in my mid 30s then I am now 60 would I do it again here in mid Wales, yes and I still have the trailer, but I would trade the car in for an electric bike! But my commute to work is 40 miles round trip. When I retire and my body can still manage to pedal then I will make this transition!

[@K1989L]

Sounds like you've never tried cycling around the year.

[@jfv65]

Interesting BUT when you are cooking on a gas stove in your home kitchen you will be exposed to a LOT more airpolution then you would be when standing outside in busy street. Just saying.

[@timregester1173]

Evidence please for this assertion.Where would the PM2.5 and PM10 pollution come from in your kitchen?

[@JBLHPJ]

sounds like you made that up sir

[@ramblerandy2397]

The writer above is referring to Nitrogen Dioxide pollution from gas hob combustion. Get an electric induction hob.

[@williamgoode9114]

@@ramblerandy2397 better yet do as much as you can using microwave on the plate meals with plastic film. Cooking with gas is a luxury 50% of women don't have , they use solid fuel or kerosene

[@williamgoode9114]

Worst hayfever in Japan, hence the masks, from their forests. Also pollution heavy down in tube trains.

[@timmurphy5541]

I think that looking to bicycles is hopeless. It's an idea we have already tried and for the most part rejected for warmer, longer range, easier, more useful mechanisms. I'm sure popularity will increase but it's a non-answer. It's like saying lets go back to living as feudal tenants or whatever.

[@andymccabe6712]

Spot on! Bicycles are slow, dangerous and impractical if you need to transport more than your lunch to work or if you live rural or semi-rural. Or if you have a disability..... And how many people are able to arrive at work hot, sweaty and rained on..........?! Next.......

[@markparker5585]

Tim Murphy If a main goal is to decrease the amount of daily commutes done by car, I don’t think it’s hopeless. You only have to look at the Netherlands to see that it’s not impossible. I’m not so naive to think that people would give up their cars, or the roads (hopefully and cycle paths) would be full of cyclists during a UK Winter, but I can see a future, especially with the fast growth in sales of electric bikes, where many more daily commutes are carried out by bike.

[@timmurphy5541]

I don't want to be too negative but I don't think it's the saviour. I loved my little go at biking in Amsterdam but it's flat and it was summer, no ice, and I wasn't trying to shop. They have also had a good policy for decades on providing lanes.

[@markparker5585]

Tim Murphy I agree it’s not going to replace the car. Hopefully electric cars will replace ICE cars, air quality will continue to improve, and more people will cycle. Electric cargo bikes are a thing, the electric assist makes carrying a few days shopping very easy, even in the hilly UK. I’m trying to be optimistic, considering what’s going on around us now. 😀

[@K1989L]

I keep hearing this same shit over and over and over and over again. And it is just that.. shit!

[@haloclips5387]

2nd comment BRUH

[@eclecticcyclist]

Useful information, but I'm afraid that Helen Czerski's voice sounded strident and uncomfortable to listen to on this one. I accept that the current pandemic probably makes things difficult, but possibly your sound specialist need to keep an ear out for this.

[@williamgoode9114]

Too strident for a female you mean ?