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Study quantifies impact of oil and gas emissions on Denver’s ozone problem

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The first peer-reviewed study to directly quantify how emissions from oil and natural gas (O&NG) activities influence summertime tropospheric ozone (O 3 ) pollution in the Colorado Front Range confirms that chemical vapors from oil and gas activities are a significant contributor to the region’s chronic ozone problem.

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California ARB soliciting research suggestions for FY 2012-2013 plan; sustainable communities, behavior, pollutant exposure, air pollution science, GHG targets

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The California Air Resources Board (ARB) is soliciting research suggestions for the Fiscal Year 2012-2013 Annual Research Plan in the form of brief conceptual descriptions that address specified research gaps and support the Board’s ongoing regulatory and policy priorities. The deadline to submit research concepts is 31 January 2012.

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NOAA, partners find about 98% decline in VOCs concentrations in LA Basin over last 50 years despite 3x increase in use of gasoline and diesel

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VOCs, primarily emitted from the tailpipes of vehicles, are a key ingredient in the formation of ground-level ozone which, at high levels, can harm people’s lungs and damage crops and other plants. Parrish (2012), Multi-Year Trends in Volatile Organic Compounds in Los Angeles, California: Five Decades of Decreasing Emissions, J.

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Study finds changes in the Arctic sea ice cover may be driving changes in atmospheric chemistry

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Bromine also can remove ozone from the lowest layer of the atmosphere, the troposphere. Despite ozone’s beneficial role blocking harmful radiation in the stratosphere, ground-level ozone is a harmful pollutant. Bromine then reacts with a gaseous form of mercury, turning it into a pollutant that falls to Earth’s surface.

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CARB approves $423M plan to mitigate harm from Volkswagen defeat devices; significant investments in heavy-duty vehicles and equipment sectors

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Beginning in model year 2008 VW sold about 600,000 2.0- Excess NO x emissions are a major public health concern in California, because they are a key ingredient in formation of ozone (smog), CARB notes. More than 10 million Californians live in areas in extreme non-compliance areas for ozone. Background.

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US and UK researchers report direct measurement of key atmospheric reactant; more rapid formation of secondary aerosols

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Credit: Marston (2012), Photo credit: Daniel Stein/Istockphoto.com.Click to enlarge. Ozonolysis—the cleavage of carbon-carbon double bonds through reaction with ozone—is a reaction that plays a key role in a number of fields, including synthetic chemistry and tropospheric removal of unsaturated hydrocarbons. Welz et al.

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California ARB greenlights states GHG cap-and-trade program

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The regulation will cover 360 businesses representing 600 facilities and is divided into two broad phases: an initial phase beginning in 2012 that will include all major industrial sources along with utilities; and, a second phase that starts in 2015 and brings in distributors of transportation fuels, natural gas and other fuels.