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Air pollution regulations over last decade in Chinese city has halved health costs

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The study is the first to document the health and economic benefits of policies to reduce the burden of air pollution in a highly polluted area of China, and provides a model to measure how policies to improve air quality can protect human health. The cost of premature death due to air pollution decreased by 3.83

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Pollutant emitted by biomass burning found to cause DNA damage and lung cell death; the role of retene

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A new study by a team from Brazil, with colleagues in the US, has shown that particulate pollution biomass burning in the Amazon induced inflammation, oxidative stress and severe DNA damage in human lung cells. After 72 hours of exposure, more than 30% of the cultured cells are dead, the researchers found.

Pollution 170
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Researchers calculate social cost of German nuclear phase-out at $12B/year; 70% from increased mortality risk

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More than 70% of this cost comes from the increased mortality risk associated with exposure to the local air pollution emitted when burning fossil fuels; the researchers found that the lost nuclear electricity production due to the phase-out was replaced primarily by coal-fired production and net electricity imports.

Cost Of 268
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Argonne releases GREET 2020

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Argonne National Laboratory’s Systems Assessment Center has released the 2020 version of the suite of GREET models and associated documentation. Electricity generation efficiency and criteria air pollutant emission factors. road, air, marine, and rail) and other end-use sectors, and energy systems.

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Argonne updates GREET and AFLEET tools for transportation technologies analysis

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The 2017 release of the suite of GREET (Greenhouse gases, Regulated Emissions, and Energy use in Transportation) models and associated documentation includes the following expansions and updates: Added plastic-to-fuel (PTF) pathway. Added well-to-pump air pollutants and vehicle cycle petroleum use, GHGs, and air pollutants.

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Nations agree on global, legally binding treaty on mercury emissions: Minamata Convention on Mercury

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The Minamata Convention on Mercury—named after a city in Japan where serious health damage occurred as a result of mercury pollution in the mid-20 th Century—provides controls and reductions across a range of products, processes and industries where mercury is used, released or emitted. From Power Stations to Cement Factories.

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EPA proposes rule for nationwide 30% cut in GHG from existing power plants by 2030 relative to 2005

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Cutting particle pollution, nitrogen NO x , and SO x by more than 25% as a co-benefit. The value allocated here in EPA’s goal-setting formula was an average heat rate improvement of 6% for coal steam electric generating units (EGUs). EPA is only proposing goals for states with fossil fuel-fired power plants.

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