damage by stealth

[micox]

I'm curious to find out how many COPD sufferers are having their COPD made worse by inadvertant exposure to air pollution and if there is anything we can do about it?

[2greys]

Well I tried to use the Environmental Health services of my council to stop the dust pollution being thrown up by a concrete churning firm that started up next to my workshop and they were as useful as a chocolate teapot. Same result with the government's Environment Agency who did not want to know at all. In the end I had to do many hours of research and found that they were actually breaching a court order (using 2 forbidden company names), for which they were fined further and the director/owner bared from holding office for 2 years and having to do 100 hours unpaid work. I then informed the landlord that their lease had to be invalid and consequently evicted. The equipment they owned was impounded by the state to pay towards the tax and vat that they also owed.

3 months on and they have set up again in another, neighbouring council district, so a personal "win" but they have just become someone else's problem which is regrettable but caused by the authorities inaction.

[Robin77 in reply to 2greys]

Well done!

[O2Trees in reply to 2greys]

Crikey, you're a warrior 2G. Good to hear your account.

[2greys in reply to O2Trees]

At the time, I saw it as fighting for my life. The dust they were kicking up had to be seen to be believed, it was like a sand storm in the desert. The cement dust was also very bad and a dangerous, noxious substance without even inhaling it. With the attitude that the council's Environmental Health has, it is little wonder the city air has become one of the worst examples of pollution in the UK

[Lily- in reply to 2greys]

It's terrible but what example do they have to follow from higher up? The government have been taken to high court 3 times & all they can come up with are vague schemes 'somewhere' in the future. It was disturbing to see the report by 'Dispatches' (episode 11) this week. It is about deisil pollution by the illegal use of high tech devices used by haulage companies to save themselves money. The love of money is certainly the root of all evil when this can be accepted. It was a harrowing report that demonstrated how easy it was to get a device to disable the emissions controls on their vehicles which heavily contributes to the 23,000 premature deaths due to dangerous gases produced by HGV deisil engines each year! Notwithstanding, any driver who may or may not be aware of the danger is exposed to these gases as well. Obviously vulnerable people exposed to these fumes are at greater risk & small children who are at a height of exhaust level. I live on a main haulage route to the docks & I cannot even venture into the garden on low cloud days without a serious threat to my life. As the report outlined, these hauliers ' have blood on their hands' & so does the authority that ignores this matter of great urgency happening on an hourly & daily basis!

[Robin77 in reply to Lily-]

I had no idea. Thank you for informing.

[stone-UK]

Hi

Some reading for you.

blf.org.uk/support-for-you/...

Indoor air pollution can just be as deliberating.

Regular vacuuming, plenty of ventilation, reducing chemical cleaners and air freshener.

[Robin77 in reply to stone-UK]

At least we can control the domestic environment to a certain extent.

[andyrrc]

I am absolutely convinced that my time in the middle East has had a major effect on my COPD continual dust (sand) in the air coupled with petroleum output into the atmosphere are not the best things to breath in. That coupled with my time in highly polluted cities around the world are certain to have made things worse.

What can we do about it - not much in the developing world but we can try in the developed world just as 2greys did and maybe we can have similar successful outcomes.

[Robin77 in reply to andyrrc]

Yes. Take action where possible and take steps to look after oneself where not. Where you are now sounds dreadful for any lung condition.

[greatauntali]

12 years ago when I moved from the countryside to my current house in a village, my main concern was that the traffic noise would bother me because the house is on a busy trunk road. Bother me it did/does but that was actually the least of it. I had not realised that to due to the precise situation of the property, lorries sit idling whilst waiting on through traffic and the effects of that are plain to see in my house - nasty oily residue on the inside of my windows and doors which are next to the road. No such residue evident at the rear of the house.

Unfortunately all the bedrooms and living areas are towards the front of the house with only the kitchen and bathroom to the rear, so there is no escape.

I was diagnosed with COPD three years after moving. Prior to that, I had been a very infrequent visitor to my GP's surgery.

I can see no way out of this situation because I am now barely fit to move about the house never mind move house.

[Robin77 in reply to greatauntali]

That's really unfortunate. Like you, after living in a country area where dust was just dust, I now find myself "dusting" black sticky film. Great that 2greys won his local clean air battle.

[Verenaandjosie]

Robin there are gadgets..but they are not cheap. Cheapest I’ve found is about £2000! I have researched pollution a lot in my desperation to help my horse..her COPD/asthma symptoms are severely exacerbated through the middle of the day, I think due to ozone (pollution reacting with sunlight) ..she doesn’t react when it’s very cloudy or at night when ozone levels drop. You can hire a gadget but still very expensive..as a minimum 3 month hire.

[anng1814]

Hi alI, I believe that air pollution has had an enormous effect on my copd. I traveled by public transport for years, standing at bus stops and bus stations where there was a lot of diesel from the road (lorries/cars/vans) and the buses. I also worked as an engineering assistant many years ago and was seated next to an ammonia printer, which I had to use frequently as part of my job. We queried the Health and Safety aspect of the ammonia printer as it really smelt and gave you bad headaches, but were assured it was within safety limits (institution was about to be privatised - a lot of rather nasty things happened to people working there - we never believed Health and Safety officer - we just thought he wanted to keep his job.) I am also effected badly by barbecues and any form of wood burning.

What really concerns me nowadays, is when I see young children/babies on these busy roads, first thing in the morning - their lungs must be affected.

[Hidden]

Kittiecat here yes any wind cold and humidity affects my breathing grrrrr I think doctors not doing all they can medication is big business spelt that wrong but yes what if they can find a cure or have I wonder whether that would be shared and passed on to us call me sceptical but there is a saying money talks am I wrong ? You decide

[locheil]

Hi Micox,

I guess we are all suffering from air pollution.I have bronchiectasis and just changes in climatic conditions can impact that. In my experience 2 of the worst places for airborne pathogens are hospital out patients departments and multi screen cinemas.I tend to carry surgical mask if I feel I may be at risk.

[donut43]

2greys put up a wonderful fight for external pollution. The smokeless zone acts have saved a lot of people. In the home fresh air with windows open when and where you can and avoid chemicals that irritate the lungs and also pollen when in season.

Dan

[1Celticlioness]

Greenpeace are pretty good on these things they also have equipment to measure polluting check it out

[Robin77 in reply to 1Celticlioness]

Will do, thanks