Particulates

AFP - Urban air pollution, mostly from vehicles, is associated with an increased risk of dementia, according to research published Wednesday.

The link remained even after heavy drinking, smoking and other well established risk factors for dementia were ruled out, the researchers reported in medical journal BMJ Open.

Exposure to air pollution may impede cognitive ability as people become older, with less-educated men the worst affected, a new study has found.

"Most existing research on air pollution focuses on its health effects," study author Xiaobo Zhang told Euronews. "Our study shows a persistent negative effect on cognitive health, which not been widely discussed."

Brussels City Council decided that in days of excessive air pollution urban transport and bicycle rentals will be free, local media reported, quoted by BTA.

Veliko Tarnovo will be installed 1,500 filter for clean air. The facilities will be placed on the chimneys of the combustion plants, as experts say their installation will lead to a drastic reduction in particulate matter and air emissions.

The project is made by the municipality in the old capital.

The European Union's top court on Thursday said Poland had failed to uphold air quality standards, part of a wider EU battle to reduce deaths from airborne pollution which it estimates kills 400,000 people every year, Reuters reports. 

Researchers at Thessaloniki's Aristotle University have warned that excessive use of fireplaces instead of other forms of heating creates dangerous pollution inside homes, saying that microparticles in closed spaces can exceed maximum safety levels set by European authorities within just two or three hours of lighting a fire.

An increase in the levels of fine particulate matter in air is expected. Given the norm of 50 mg per cu m, the expected increase will be in the range from 51 to 100 mg per cu m, the municipality of Sofia said.

Two of the city stations today are expected increase in the levels of fine particulate matter in the air. 

This is reported by Sofia Municipality. It is recommended to use public transport, while walking on large city boulevards. For heating if possible using electric appliances  or other ecological way.

On January 28, Sofia citizens will be traveling by public transport with a special "green ticket" for BGN 1, the Sofia Municipality announced. It is valid all day for all lines.

The reason is the dirty air in the city - today the levels of fine particles are high, shows the interactive map that measures air pollution in real time.

The level of fine particulate matter in the air of Sofia is again above the norm.