Air pollution

STMicroelectronics and Mobile Physics join forces to create EnviroMeter for accurate air-quality monitoring on smartphones

Retrieved on: 
Monday, February 12, 2024

Geneva, Switzerland, Kfar Saba, Israel -- February 12, 2024 -- STMicroelectronics (NYSE: STM), a global semiconductor leader serving customers across the spectrum of electronics applications, and Mobile Physics, a software-development startup specialized in environmental physics, have revealed an exclusive collaboration that enables smartphones and other devices to measure household and ambient air quality with a built-in optical sensor.

Key Points: 
  • With accuracy comparable to purpose-designed air-quality monitors, Mobile Physics’ EnviroMeter app acts as a personal, portable environment monitor and smoke detector to safeguard health - and enhance fire safety.
  • Manufactured using ST’s low-power technology, it can operate ‘always on’ to provide constant awareness with minimal impact on battery life.
  • “Personal environment monitoring can give everyone greater control over their own health and safety, using their smartphones.
  • The solution does not require any additional equipment; a standard dToF sensor and the Mobile Physics software is all that is needed.

Cummins (CMI) $1.675 Billion DOJ Penalty Precipitates Securities Fraud Class Action – Hagens Berman

Retrieved on: 
Monday, February 12, 2024

SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 12, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hagens Berman urges Cummins Inc. (NYSE: CMI) investors who suffered substantial losses to submit your losses now .

Key Points: 
  • SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 12, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hagens Berman urges Cummins Inc. (NYSE: CMI) investors who suffered substantial losses to submit your losses now .
  • Cummins Inc. (CMI) Securities Fraud Class Action:
    In a report to clients, analysts at UBS recently commented on Cummins’ agreement to pay a $1.675 billion fine for installing devices on hundreds of thousands of engines to allow them to emit excess pollution, the largest-ever civil penalty for a Clean Air Act violation.
  • “We are investigating whether Cummins intentionally made false statements concerning its public health and regulatory compliance,” said Reed Kathrein, the Hagens Berman partner leading the firm’s investigation.
  • Under the new program, whistleblowers who provide original information may receive rewards totaling up to 30 percent of any successful recovery made by the SEC.

SoCalGas Showcases Zero Emissions Hydrogen Fuel Cell Electric Technologies by Kenworth and Toyota at 2024 World Ag Expo

Retrieved on: 
Monday, February 12, 2024

TULARE, Calif., Feb. 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Southern California Gas Company (SoCalGas) alongside Kenworth Truck Company (Kenworth) and Toyota Motor North America Inc. (Toyota) are displaying two zero emissions hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEV) at the annual World Ag Expo this week. SoCalGas' booth will showcase Kenworth's Class 8 T680 hydrogen FCEV truck powered by Toyota, as well as one of SoCalGas's zero emissions fleet vehicles, a hydrogen fuel cell electric Toyota Mirai. As part of SoCalGas' ASPIRE 2045 sustainability strategy, SoCalGas has converted 38% of its over-the-road fleet to run on alternative fuels like hydrogen, renewable natural gas, and battery electric. The company aims to continue growing its alternative fuel vehicle (AFV) fleet, with an interim goal of reaching a 50% AFV powered fleet by 2025 and a 100% zero emissions fleet by 2035.   

Key Points: 
  • TULARE, Calif., Feb. 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Southern California Gas Company (SoCalGas) alongside Kenworth Truck Company (Kenworth) and Toyota Motor North America Inc. (Toyota) are displaying two zero emissions hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEV) at the annual World Ag Expo this week.
  • SoCalGas' booth will showcase Kenworth's Class 8 T680 hydrogen FCEV truck powered by Toyota, as well as one of SoCalGas's zero emissions fleet vehicles, a hydrogen fuel cell electric Toyota Mirai.
  • As part of SoCalGas' ASPIRE 2045 sustainability strategy , SoCalGas has converted 38% of its over-the-road fleet to run on alternative fuels like hydrogen, renewable natural gas, and battery electric.
  • Also on display at the booth is one of SoCalGas' zero emissions hydrogen fleet vehicles, the Toyota Mirai, which uses a hydrogen fuel cell to generate the electricity that powers the vehicle.

UBS Comments on Cummins’ (CMI) Record-Setting $1.675 Billion US Environmental Fine Amid Investor Class Action – Hagens Berman

Retrieved on: 
Friday, February 9, 2024

SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 09, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hagens Berman urges Cummins Inc. (NYSE: CMI) investors who suffered substantial losses to submit your losses now .

Key Points: 
  • SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 09, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hagens Berman urges Cummins Inc. (NYSE: CMI) investors who suffered substantial losses to submit your losses now .
  • “We are investigating whether Cummins intentionally made false statements concerning its public health and regulatory compliance,” said Reed Kathrein, the Hagens Berman partner leading the firm’s investigation.
  • Under the new program, whistleblowers who provide original information may receive rewards totaling up to 30 percent of any successful recovery made by the SEC.
  • For more information, call Reed Kathrein at 844-916-0895 or email [email protected] .

Heart attacks, cancer, dementia, premature deaths: 4 essential reads on the health effects driving EPA’s new fine particle air pollution standard

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, February 8, 2024

These minute particles can penetrate deeply into the body and have been linked to many serious illnesses.

Key Points: 
  • These minute particles can penetrate deeply into the body and have been linked to many serious illnesses.
  • The new rule sets an annual limit of 9 micrograms per cubic meter of air, down from the previous level of 12 micrograms.
  • Under the Clean Air Act, the EPA is required to set air pollution standards at levels that protect public health.

1. An alarming array of health effects

  • Subsequent research has linked fine particulates to a much broader range of health effects.
  • They termed fine particle pollution an urgent global health threat.
  • “Developed countries have made progress in reducing particulate air pollution in recent decades, but much remains to be done to further reduce this hazard,” they observed.

2. Aging the brain

  • Medical researchers are looking closely at air pollution as a possible accelerator of brain aging.
  • “When we compared the brain scans of older women from locations with high levels of PM2.5 to those with low levels, we found dementia risk increased by 24% over the five years,” Chen wrote.
  • More alarmingly, “(T)hese Alzheimer’s-like brain changes were present in older women with no memory problems,” Chen noted.

3. Disadvantaged communities have dirtier air

  • As researchers in environmental justice have shown, facilities such as factories and refineries often are concentrated in low-income neighborhoods and communities of color.
  • This means that these areas are exposed to higher pollution levels and face heavier related health burdens.
  • Regulations put in place under the Clean Air Act have greatly reduced levels of harmful air pollutants across the U.S. over the past 50 years.
  • “In 1981 PM2.5 concentrations in the most polluted 10% of census tracts averaged 34 micrograms per cubic meter,” the authors reported.

4. Fine particle pollution hurts wildlife too

  • Like the proverbial canaries in coal mines, wild animals can show effects of exposure to pollution that offer broader warnings.
  • Cornell University conservation biologist Wendy M. Erb was studying wild orangutans in Indonesian Borneo when that island suffered large-scale wildfires.
  • “Using passive acoustic monitoring to study vocally active indicator species, like orangutans, could unlock critical insights into wildfire smoke’s effects on wildlife populations worldwide,” she observed.

ComEd Announces New EV Rebates for Business and Public Sector Customers; Applications to Open February 15

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, February 8, 2024

The two new EV rebate programs will begin accepting applications on February 15, 2024, with funds awarded on a first come, first served basis.

Key Points: 
  • The two new EV rebate programs will begin accepting applications on February 15, 2024, with funds awarded on a first come, first served basis.
  • New EV rebates for businesses and public sector customers follows the recent launch of the EV Charger and Installation Rebate Program for residential customers, for which customer can apply for by visiting ComEd.com/Clean .
  • “ComEd’s new EV programs complement state and federal incentives designed to boost EV adoption and charging buildout on a larger scale.
  • For more information on eligibility and to apply for new EV rebates on or after February 15th, visit www.comed.com/clean .

The Parts Washer Market to Worth $1.93 Billion by 2029 - Growing Preference for Environmentally Friendly Cleaning Driving Evolution in the Market - Arizton

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, February 7, 2024

The automotive industry is a major consumer of parts washers, and APAC has witnessed substantial growth in automotive manufacturing.

Key Points: 
  • The automotive industry is a major consumer of parts washers, and APAC has witnessed substantial growth in automotive manufacturing.
  • Amidst this trend, key vendors in the global parts washer market have shifted towards sustainable options to mitigate environmental impact.
  • Precise estimation of market size: Accurate assessments of the parts washer market size and its contribution and focusing on key market segments.
  • Competitive landscape analysis: A thorough examination of the market's competitive landscape is presented, including detailed information about companies operating in the parts washer market.

The Parts Washer Market to Worth $1.93 Billion by 2029 - Growing Preference for Environmentally Friendly Cleaning Driving Evolution in the Market - Arizton

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, February 7, 2024

The automotive industry is a major consumer of parts washers, and APAC has witnessed substantial growth in automotive manufacturing.

Key Points: 
  • The automotive industry is a major consumer of parts washers, and APAC has witnessed substantial growth in automotive manufacturing.
  • Amidst this trend, key vendors in the global parts washer market have shifted towards sustainable options to mitigate environmental impact.
  • Precise estimation of market size: Accurate assessments of the parts washer market size and its contribution and focusing on key market segments.
  • Competitive landscape analysis: A thorough examination of the market's competitive landscape is presented, including detailed information about companies operating in the parts washer market.

New Report Highlights Benefits of California Clean Air Policies

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, February 6, 2024

SACRAMENTO, Calif., Feb. 6, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Lung Association has released its "Living and Breathing in California: Health Benefits of Clean Air Programs" report to illustrate the potential for major health benefits from recently approved clean air policies in California.

Key Points: 
  • SACRAMENTO, Calif., Feb. 6, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Lung Association has released its " Living and Breathing in California: Health Benefits of Clean Air Programs " report to illustrate the potential for major health benefits from recently approved clean air policies in California.
  • Policies designed to help the Golden State attain health-protective clean air and climate standards will cumulatively provide $200 billion in public health benefits while saving over 20,000 lives over the coming decades.
  • "Especially for kids growing up in the shadow of clouds of diesel exhaust, California must continue to invest in clean air."
  • We urge the public to read the full report at www.Lung.org/Breathing-In-CA and sign the petition supporting stronger clean air investments.

SeekOps Receives Regulatory Approval Under Colorado AIMM Program

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, February 6, 2024

AIMM) in Colorado.

Key Points: 
  • AIMM) in Colorado.
  • SeekOps is the first unmanned aerial system to be part of an approved Alt AIMM, and builds on their record of demonstrated success in quantifying emissions for oil and gas facilities worldwide.
  • "Colorado is committed to reducing air pollution to improve the health of all Coloradans and local communities.
  • This approval is an important step in Colorado’s proactive efforts to understand the state’s emissions inventory, and to adopt the latest cost-effective abatement tools.”