It's cold as f....

[WuDrWu]

How many GW that were normally expected by ERCOT in Texas affected by the generational weather occurrence so adversely that they were not able to provide the power they were contracted to provide ERCOT?

Not to include the ones scheduled for maintenance or shut down seasonally, as MANY do, because demand is much lower in February (even THIS February) than the average summer month.

Dan correctly pointed out (somewhere) that the issues with solar and wind that caused them to shut down aren't being fixed anytime soon (because they can't be). If Texas was all FF would we even have this problem? There seems little doubt that forced, subsidized, green energy made this problem much much worse.

[WuDrWu]

Root cause of our problem in Texas is that our esteemed republican leaders thought it was smart to not require power providers to weatherize their facilities. Thought it would save people money......they were penny wise and pound foolish.

No doubt if esteemed liberals were in charge every possible contingency plan would be in motion protecting every citizen from every potential disaster, no matter how remote the chance.

And for free!!

[MikeKennedyRulZ]

If you knew how to read, you would know....get someone to read it to you, and ask them to bring a dictionary to help you when you hit a word that isn't in your obviously limited vocabulary.

Sounds like someone is a little chilly and needs to thaw out...

[MikeKennedyRulZ]

How many GW that were normally expected by ERCOT in Texas affected by the generational weather occurrence so adversely that they were not able to provide the power they were contracted to provide ERCOT?

Not to include the ones scheduled for maintenance or shut down seasonally, as MANY do, because demand is much lower in February (even THIS February) than the average summer month.

Dan correctly pointed out (somewhere) that the issues with solar and wind that caused them to shut down aren't being fixed anytime soon (because they can't be). If Texas was all FF would we even have this problem? There seems little doubt that forced, subsidized, green energy made this problem much much worse.

No doubt about this at all. The root cause of the problem in Texas is that they have been pushing these clean energy BS for over a decade and cutting FF. Now when the clean energy sources fail during these "once in a lifetime" events, the FF production has been cut and can no longer keep pace. Reap what you sow...

[C0|dB|00ded]

Root cause of our problem in Texas is that our esteemed republican leaders thought it was smart to not require power providers to weatherize their facilities. Thought it would save people money......they were penny wise and pound foolish.

You're pretty much correct. The whole green energy conspiracy was started by Fox News and their surrogates (Trump politicians).

https://nypost.com/2021/02/17/texas-power-outages-fault-of-unique-supply-not-green-energy/

As they shivered without power, many Texans started spreading conspiracies that wind turbines and solar energy were to blame.

A photo started going viral as people claimed it showed a “chemical” solution being applied to one of the massive wind generators in Texas — when in fact it was taken in Sweden years ago, the AP said.

The conspiracies were quickly shot down by ERCOT itself, which blamed failures in natural gas, coal and nuclear energy systems, not wind turbines and solar panels.

ERCOT said that of the 45,000 total megawatts of power that were offline statewide, about 30,000 consisted of thermal sources — gas, coal and nuclear plants — and 16,000 came from renewable sources.

While Texas has ramped up wind energy in recent years, it still relies on it for only about 25% of its total electricity, according to ERCOT data.

“Texas is a gas state,” Webber, the Austin professor, told the Texas Tribune. “Gas is failing in the most spectacular fashion right now.”

Mark Jacobson, director of the Atmosphere/Energy Program and professor of civil and environmental engineering at Stanford University, also dismissed the move to blame green energy.

“It’s really natural gas and coal and nuclear that are providing the bulk of the electricity and that’s the bulk of the cause of the blackouts,” Jacobson told the AP.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and the North American Energy Reliability Corp. announced a joint inquiry on Tuesday into the operations of the bulk-power system after the outages.

Texas state officials on Tuesday called for hearings on the blackouts.

“The statewide blackouts raise questions about the reliability of our electric grid and its ability to withstand extreme weather events in the future,” said House State Affairs Committee Chairman Chris Paddie.

People should just... U N P L U G ! ! !

[ShockerFever]

You're pretty much correct. The whole green energy conspiracy was started by Fox News and their surrogates (Trump politicians).

https://nypost.com/2021/02/17/texas-power-outages-fault-of-unique-supply-not-green-energy/

People should just... U N P L U G ! ! !

Why do you tell people to unplug when you're plugged in to so many biased news sources yourself?

[MoValley John]

Root cause of our problem in Texas is that our esteemed republican leaders thought it was smart to not require power providers to weatherize their facilities. Thought it would save people money......they were penny wise and pound foolish.

The problem is deeper than that. We have to get past finger pointing. Lack of weatherization was a problem, dedicating 10% of your grid to solar and wind, which doesn't work well in these conditions is another. 10% sounds like a small number, but in power generation, its huge.

I hate to say it, but nuclear would fix everything. Anyone opposed to nuclear should watch an ancient episode of Penn & Teller Bull$hit that covers nuclear. Its on Hulu I believe.

[wufan]

The problem is deeper than that. We have to get past finger pointing. Lack of weatherization was a problem, dedicating 10% of your grid to solar and wind, which doesn't work well in these conditions is another. 10% sounds like a small number, but in power generation, its huge.

I hate to say it, but nuclear would fix everything. Anyone opposed to nuclear should watch an ancient episode of Penn & Teller Bull$hit that covers nuclear. Its on Hulu I believe.

Texas even had a nuclear plant that went down as one of the sensors froze over. This is also a problem on coal, gas, and wind; even in Canada. Sometimes sensors freeze.

That said, only one nuclear plant had a sensor freeze. If it was all nuclear and 2 or 3 went down for this, there would still be plenty of power.

[C0|dB|00ded]

Why do you tell people to unplug when you're plugged in to so many biased news sources yourself?

NYPost is biased to the right. I thought offering that as a source would help. Apparently it didn't. Oh well.

I don't read the political "news". I unplugged early last summer. Just a few occasional scientific articles on Covid and vaccine announcements now. When you see me post political articles on here it is because I searched for them in response to someone's comment that I know is biased/uniformed/programmed. This is exactly what happened when I saw all the "see what the Green New Deal would do to us" talk.

And to be clear, I'm not for the Green New Deal. But I am for a reduction of pollution regardless of its impact on global warming. It absolutely DOES impact the breathing of human beings. Asthmatics are literally created in places like China, Los Angeles, etc. I would hope that all the planet's air can be clean and free of harmful, manmade particulates.

[wufan]

https://www.cdc.gov/asthma/most_recent_data_states.htm

Maine is actually number 1 for asthmatics. California is pretty far down the list.

There are not more asthmatics in LA than in the rest of California.

http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/doc...sthma_2014.pdf

China has far fewer asthmatics than the US

http://www.globalasthmareport.org/management/china.php

[wufan]

You're pretty much correct. The whole green energy conspiracy was started by Fox News and their surrogates (Trump politicians).

https://nypost.com/2021/02/17/texas-power-outages-fault-of-unique-supply-not-green-energy/

People should just... U N P L U G ! ! !

Serious question: if Texas had been connected to the rest of the grid, wouldn’t the rest of us in the US experienced additional blackouts to feed electricity to Texas?

[C0|dB|00ded]

https://www.cdc.gov/asthma/most_recent_data_states.htm

Maine is actually number 1 for asthmatics. California is pretty far down the list.

There are not more asthmatics in LA than in the rest of California.

http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/doc...sthma_2014.pdf

China has far fewer asthmatics than the US

http://www.globalasthmareport.org/management/china.php

Are you auditioning for a staff spot at Fox News now? Don't do this to your mind friend.

UNPLUG! Reality is standing by ready to restart a new relationship with you.

https://www.aafa.org/air-pollution-smog-asthma/

Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America

Air Pollution

What Do I Need to Know About Air Pollution?


The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) defines air pollution as “any visible or invisible particle or gas found in the air that is not part of the natural composition of air.”

Air pollution comes from many different sources – some are man-made and some are naturally occurring. Air pollution includes gases, smoke from fires, volcanic ash and dust particles.

Research shows that air pollution can worsen asthma symptoms. A study of young campers with moderate to severe asthma showed they were 40 percent more likely to have acute asthma episodes on high pollution summer days than on days with average pollution levels.

Another study found that older adults were more likely to visit the emergency room for breathing problems when summer air pollution was high.

How Can Air Pollution Affect My Asthma?


Ozone

Ozone, a gas, is one of the most common air pollutants. Ozone contributes to what we typically experience as "smog" or haze. It is most common in cities where there are more cars. It is also more common in the summer when there is more sunlight and low winds.

Ozone triggers asthma because it is very irritating to the lungs and airways. It is well known that ozone concentration is directly related to asthma attacks. It has also caused the need for more doses of asthma drugs and emergency treatment for asthma. Ozone can reduce lung function. Ozone can make it more difficult for you to breathe deeply.

Airborne particles

Other forms of air pollution may also trigger your asthma. Small particles in the air can pass through your nose or mouth and get into your lungs. Airborne particles, found in haze, smoke and airborne dust, present serious air quality problems. People with asthma are at greater risk from breathing in small particles. The particles can make asthma worse. Both long-term and short-term exposure can cause health problems such as reduced lung function and more asthma attacks.
Are There Special Programs for Monitoring Air Pollution?


The EPA reports air pollution levels using the Air Quality Index (AQI). AQI reports the level of ozone and other air pollutants. When the AQI is 101 or higher, it is dangerous for people with asthma. You may have to change your activities and medicines. If you have asthma, your symptoms can worsen even when ozone levels are moderate (AQI 51-100).

Many local weather forecasts warn the public about high air pollution days. You can find this information anytime at AirNow.gov.

Throughout the United States, when air pollution is high, we have AirNow Action Days. These forecast high air pollution days with unhealthy air. During Action Days, people with asthma should limit their time outdoors, especially from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Stay in a well-ventilated, preferably air-conditioned, building. Most of all, do not exercise outdoors on Action Days.

https://www.aaaai.org/conditions-and-treatments/library/asthma-library/air-pollution-asthma

American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology

Does air pollution increase the chances of people developing asthma in the first place?
Research suggests that asthma and exposure to air pollution are linked. Air pollution contains harmful substances which can be toxic to the respiratory tract. Prenatal exposure to air pollution has been shown to increase the risk of wheezing and asthma development in children. This finding was found to be true whether or not the expectant mother had asthma herself.

Exposure to air pollution early in life contributes to the development of asthma throughout childhood and adolescence, particularly after age 4 years. Traffic-related air pollution in particular is associated with the development of asthma in school children. Air pollution exposure is thought to potentially cause asthma in children by impacting the developing lung and immune system.

Air pollution, especially traffic-related pollution, can increase the chances of developing asthma in adults as well.

If so, what can people do to protect themselves?
Reducing overall levels of regional air pollution through public policies, establishing initiatives to decrease community exposure (i.e. building buffers between major roadways and neighborhoods), and minimizing one’s personal exposure to air pollution could reduce the risk of developing asthma in children and adults.

The following steps may help in reducing one’s personal level of exposure to air pollution:

1. Live more than 200 meters from a major road.
2. Avoid traveling during rush hour if possible. Stick to back roads when driving.
3. Limit your time spent outdoors when air quality is poor. Check local air quality forecasts.
4. Keep your car windows closed while driving, especially if you’re stuck in traffic.
5. Avoid outdoor physical activities and exercise close to main roads when pollution levels are high, especially in the afternoon and evening.

I understand air pollution increases the risk of worsening asthma. Which are the biggest polluters, and what can patients do to limit their exposure?
Main polluters are PM 2.5 (particulate matter or small droplets, less than or equal to 2.5 µm in diameter), PM10, O3 (ozone), NO2 (nitrogen dioxide), SO2 (sulfur dioxide) and CO (carbon monoxide). NO2 is produced by vehicles and SO2 mainly by the coal industry. Exposure to such polluters and traffic-related air pollution increases the risk of exacerbations of asthma symptoms.
The most efficient action to limit their exposure is to relocate, which it is not always possible. During recent years, air filters have been marketed to reduce home pollution, but their efficacy in asthma prevention has not been scientifically demonstrated.

If patients monitor air pollution levels online, what are the “red flag” numbers that one should know?
The number of pollens or spores or amount of pollutants that can trigger an asthma attack may vary from person to person depending on a number of factors, including the severity of their asthma. Other factors include air temperature, wind speed, humidity, time of day and exact location. Air pollutants can also increase the allergenicity of pollen grains. Levels of pollens and spores found in the air are generally listed as low, moderate, high and very high by counting stations. Grass pollen levels tend to be highest in the early morning and early evening, while other pollens are usually highest midday and afternoon.

Air pollution is made up of a number of substances not naturally found in the air. Ozone is one of the most important and most likely to cause asthma attacks. When ozone levels reach an Air Quality Index of 51-100, asthma symptoms may worsen, and above 101 is considered dangerous. Regulatory agencies will typically announce when levels of air pollution reach harmful levels.

What changes should people with asthma make to their medication intake on bad pollution days?
The primary change would be to use their short-acting beta2-agonist (SABA) or rescue inhaler, such as albuterol/salbutamol. It can be used as often as every 4 hours for symptoms of wheeze, cough and shortness of breath or chest tightness. Beyond that, stay inside as much as possible on bad pollution days, and consider wearing a respiratory protective device designed to achieve a very close facial fit and very efficient filtration of airborne particles, such as an N95 mask, if you must go out.

In addition, if your doctor has prescribed daily medicine(s) for your asthma, be sure to use those as prescribed over time to help keep your lungs protected. Signs that your asthma is well-controlled include no asthma attacks, no limitation of sleep or activity and infrequent need for your reliever medication. For those who are particularly young or elderly or those with severe asthma, extra care must be taken.

I’ve heard about “thunderstorm asthma” and how even people who have not been diagnosed can present with symptoms. Please explain.
Rainfall is usually known to remove pollen from the air, but thunderstorms may cause increased concentrations of pollens. Thunderstorms pull pollen grains up toward moisture-rich clouds, where they rupture. Pollen fragments, or pieces of pollen grains, are then brought back to the ground by downdrafts, where air flows spread them. This can create very high levels of airborne pollen allergens exposure.

This tends to occur with grass pollen, which is usually too big to get beyond the nose. However, the pollen fragments are small enough to get into the lungs. Whereas typically the intact pollen would just cause sneeze and other allergy symptoms in the nose, since the pollen fragments now can get into the lungs, they can cause asthma, even in people with only nasal and ocular allergies and no previous diagnosis of asthma. Those affected by grass pollen allergy should be informed about a possible risk of asthma attack and possible relapse at the beginning of a thunderstorm during the pollen season.

Thunderstorm asthma can also happen with some weed pollens and molds, particularly in the first 20 to 30 minutes of a thunderstorm. Those with seasonal or mold allergies, with or without asthma, must be cautious about being outdoors and should consider staying indoors with closed windows if a strong thunderstorm is approaching.

We hear a lot about outdoor air pollution. Is there any concern about indoor air pollution?
Indoor air pollution can be a significant problem. It can come from indoor cooking or heating, open fireplaces, (tobacco) smoking, indoor plants and offgassing of building materials. This problem has been increasingly recognized and was termed ‘sick building sydrome’ (SBS) referring to health issues with subsequent loss of productivity and increased sick leave. Indoor air pollution leads to increased incidence of pneumonia, allergy, chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (including asthma), lung cancer and others. In fact, the World Health Organization estimates that 4.3 million people worldwide die every year from indoor air pollution, mostly from indoor use of solid fuels.

Interventions include switching to alternative fuels such as electricity or solar power, using improved stoves and having adequate ventilation.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4465283/

Abstract


Traffic and power generation are the main sources of urban air pollution. The idea that outdoor air pollution can cause exacerbations of pre-existing asthma is supported by an evidence base that has been accumulating for several decades, with several studies suggesting a contribution to new-onset asthma as well. In this Series paper, we discuss the effects of particulate matter (PM), gaseous pollutants (ozone, nitrogen dioxide, and sulphur dioxide), and mixed traffic-related air pollution. We focus on clinical studies, both epidemiological and experimental, published in the previous 5 years. From a mechanistic perspective, air pollutants probably cause oxidative injury to the airways, leading to inflammation, remodelling, and increased risk of sensitisation. Although several pollutants have been linked to new-onset asthma, the strength of the evidence is variable. We also discuss clinical implications, policy issues, and research gaps relevant to air pollution and asthma.

A substantial body of research on the effects of air pollution on asthma has been published in the past 5 years, adding to the body of knowledge that has accumulated over several decades. Presently, short-term exposures to ozone, nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide, PM2·5, and TRAP is thought to increase the risk of exacerbations of asthma symptoms. Increasing amounts of evidence also suggest that long-term exposures to air pollution, especially TRAP and its surrogate, nitrogen dioxide, can contribute to new-onset asthma in both children and adults. Much more about the mechanisms that are involved with exacerbations induced by pollution and onset of asthma needs to be understood, but oxidative stress and immune dysregulation are probably both involved. Young children with asthma, especially those growing up in economically disadvantaged neighbourhoods, are at increased risk of adverse effects from exposures to air pollution. Unravelling which components of the traffic pollution mixture are responsible for asthma exacerbations and onset is a substantial challenge. Improved air quality to prevent exacerbations and new cases of asthma will require strong governmental efforts to move economies in both developed and developing countries away from combustion of fossil fuels for transportation and energy production; this approach is also needed to mitigate climate change.

https://www.epa.gov/sciencematters/links-between-air-pollution-and-childhood-asthma

Researchers have long linked asthma— a serious and life threatening chronic respiratory disease that affects the quality of life of more than 23 million Americans— with exposure to air pollution. Air pollution can make asthma symptoms worse and trigger asthma attacks. The estimated six million children in the United States with asthma are especially vulnerable to air pollution.

EPA studies the link between air pollution and asthma so that action can be taken to reduce the health burden associated with the disease. Childhood asthma research at the Agency covers a variety of topics including the impact of certain air pollutants on asthma, how exposure to air pollution may contribute to asthma, and which children may be particularly vulnerable.

Three recent studies on children’s asthma are highlighted below.

African American Adolescents are More Vulnerable to Air Pollution Than Other Children

This studyEXIT reported that low levels of outdoor ozone were associated with respiratory changes and other outcomes in African American children with difficult-to-treat asthma, even when they used asthma therapies such as inhalers to modify the adverse effects of air pollutants.

EPA collaborated with investigators at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill to study the health impact of ozone on African American children with moderate-to-severe persistent asthma who live in the Raleigh, North Carolina area. Results demonstrate that ozone exposure at levels lower than the National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) for ozone was associated with pulmonary and other changes in African-American children with persistent asthma.

Researchers found that an increase in ozone concentrations was associated with a decrease of lung function, even at low levels and when the participants were treating their asthma with medication. They also found that ozone exposure was associated with an increase in the level of fatty substances found in the blood, a finding previously only documented in adults.

The study concluded that ozone may impact at risk populations even at low concentrations and that the impact is more widespread than just respiratory outcomes.

Exposure to Coarse Particulate Matter Linked with Asthma in Children

In a study funded in part by EPA,EXIT researchers from Johns Hopkins University found that children exposed to outdoor coarse particulate matter (PM_10-2.5), were more likely to develop asthma and need emergency room or hospital treatment for it. Coarse PM can come from roadway particles such as brake and tire wear, and mixtures of road dust and metals.

This finding is significant because while researchers have generally found that exposure to fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) is associated with the development of asthma and other respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. Coarse particulate matter was thought to be less harmful, in part because the larger particle size prevents penetration deep into the lungs. However, coarse PM can deposit into the airways, and recent research suggests that short-term exposure may be associated with cardiovascular and respiratory disease.

Researchers analyzed a dataset of nearly eight million children ages 5-20 enrolled in Medicaid in 34 states between 2009 and 2010. They found that exposure to coarse PM was associated with increased asthma diagnosis, hospitalization, and emergency department visits; and children ages 11 years and younger were found to be the most susceptible to adverse health effects from exposure to coarse PM.

Researchers hypothesized that this was because younger children traditionally spend more time outdoors and their respiratory systems are still developing. This is the first analysis of long-term effects of coarse PM on asthma in a nationwide sample of U.S. children.

Air Pollution May Impact DNA Associated with Asthma

A recent studyEXIT funded by EPA provides novel information on the relationship between air pollution and asthma. While researchers do not fully understand how air pollution exposure increases asthma prevalence, evidence suggests air pollutants suppress genes that regulate the immune system’s ability to differentiate an allergen from a dangerous foreign substance, such as a virus or bacteria. The immune system then goes into action, setting up an inflammatory response whether the substance is harmful or not, which leads to asthma.

In the study, researchers from the Children’s Center at Stanford University examined the impact of air pollution on two genes involved in immune tolerance in children from an area known to have high air pollution levels. Researchers found that short-term and long-term exposures to high levels of carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, and PM _2.5 were associated with alterations to these two genes and those alterations were significantly associated with asthma. These findings provide insight into the epigenetic effects of exposure to air pollutants and could inform the development of preventative treatments for asthma.

Each of these asthma studies have advanced our understanding of childhood asthma and provided EPA with critical information that can be used to help protect human health and the environment.

Learn More:

Pollutants from outdoors can migrate indoors, and asthma triggers that are generated indoors can also exacerbate asthma. To learn more about other asthma resources and indoor environmental asthma triggers, visit EPA’s asthma page.

You can learn about asthma and outdoor air pollution by visiting the AirNow page.

https://www.cdc.gov/nceh/multimedia/infographics/asthma_air_pollution.html

PARTICLES IN THE AIR LIKE DUST, DIRT, SOOT, AND SMOKE ARE CALLED
PARTICULATE MATTER & CAN CAUSE

• Increased hospital visits
• Worsened asthma symptoms
• Adverse birth outcomes
• Breathing problems

• Decreased lung growth in kids
• Lung cancer
• Early death

Forms when pollutants from cars and trucks, power plants, factories, and other sources come in contact with each other in heat and sunlight. Factors such as weather conditions and intensity of sunlight also play a part in how ozone is formed. Ground-level ozone is one of the biggest parts of smog, and it is usually worse in the summer months.

WHO’S AT RISK?

People with heart or lung disease, infants, children with asthma or who spend a lot of time outdoors, older adults, and active people of all ages who exercise or work hard outdoors.

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

• Check the daily air quality forecast via newspaper, TV, radio, or online at http://airnow.govexternal icon to learn when particle levels are unhealthy
• Reduce the amount of time outside when pollution is high
• Plan outdoor activities when ozone levels are lower, usually in the morning and evening
• Exercise away from roads and highways. Particle pollution is usually worse near these areas
• Do easier outdoor activities, such as walking instead of running or using a riding lawn mower instead of a push mower

[C0|dB|00ded]

https://www.cdc.gov/asthma/most_recent_data_states.htm

Maine is actually number 1 for asthmatics. California is pretty far down the list.

There are not more asthmatics in LA than in the rest of California.

http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/doc...sthma_2014.pdf

China has far fewer asthmatics than the US

http://www.globalasthmareport.org/management/china.php

Prior post was too big for the Internets. Here's Part II: China

Please don't deceive people. Pollution is a problem that can be fixed over time. It is additive to the already serious problem of pollen allergy which has a wide array of treatments.

https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(06)69267-2/fulltext

Doctors blame air pollution for China's asthma increases

Specialists estimate that the number of asthma cases in China has risen by 40% in the past 5 years. Prevalence in some cities is near 4%. With 16 of the world's worst air-quality hotspots within its borders, China is starting to think its pollution problem may be to blame. Jonathan Watts reports.

Of all the mega-statistics that can be used to illustrate China's spectacular economic development, the dramatic rise in the prevalence of asthma is, not surprisingly, low down on the list of boasts that the government in Beijing would like to make to the world.

But—just like the connected increase of cars on the roads, pollution in the air, and farmland-turned-into-factories—the aggravation of the nation's respiratory tracts is a sure sign that the planet's most populous nation is wheezing its way towards modernity with at least as many pants and gasps as Britain, the USA, or Japan during their most rapid phases of growth.
According to the China Journal of Pediatrics, the prevalence of asthma among urban children rose 64% between 1990 and 2000, when it hit 1·97%. In bigger cities, where the air quality is lower and awareness of the ailment is higher, this figure more than doubled. Worst affected was Chongqing—one of the fastest growing metropolises in China—where the prevalence among children younger than 14 years was 4·63%.

Strengthening the association of asthma with urbanisation, the least-affected cities were those that have lagged behind in developing their economies, notably Lhasa (the capital of Tibet) with 0·57%, and Xining (the capital of Qinghai province) with 0·25%. Though even these cities notched up rapid increases in the disorder during the 1990s.
More recent data is not available, nor is there a nationwide figure for adults. But Chinese specialists estimated that the number of asthma cases they see has risen by about 40% in the past 5 years. Reported cases in the adult population suggests the prevalence is roughly half that among children.

As with all statistics in this vast, diverse, and economically unbalanced nation, China's asthma figures need to be taken with a health warning. Boys, for example, were shown to have a 75% higher chance of seeing a doctor for asthma than girls. Rather than show greater vulnerability among male children, this disparity is just as likely to reflect a cultural preference for male offspring.

But the very facts that asthma data are now being collected and specialists trained in the field show that the government is starting to be more aware of environment-related health problems. Just as significantly, it reveals that more and more people now have the economic means and the medical knowledge to consult a doctor over coughs that might once have been ignored as too trivial to warrant attention. Thanks to these trends, the Chinese Medical Association last year established the Chinese Asthma Alliance, which organises training programmes in the provinces. Drug makers, such as GlaxoSmithKline, are experiencing a rapid growth in sales of inhalers. And, little by little, more research is being carried out on the genetic and environmental origins of the disorder.

The most obvious cause is air pollution—arguably the most dangerous side-effect of China's economic growth. According to the World Bank, China is home to 16 of the planet's 20 worst cities for air quality. It is evident from the haze that envelops Hong Kong harbour in the south, to the thick smog that obscures the streets of Linfen in Shaanxi in the north, and it is not just an eyesore. The health costs are increasingly apparent. Respiratory diseases are the leading cause of death in China. Along with one of the highest smoking rates in the world, doctors blame smog for sharp rises in cases of bronchitis, pulmonary fibrosis, tuberculosis, and lung cancer.

Beijing is among the worst affected. Last year, satellite sampling by the European Space Agency revealed that sulphur dioxide levels in the capital and northeast China were the highest in the world. On a day of average haze, some of the more distant tower blocks fade from view. During the worst periods, every building in this city of 14 million people seems to melt into the grey air. Such days are supposed to be getting fewer. Over the past 5 years, the Beijing municipal government has spent 67 billion yuan (US$8·4 billion) relocating some of the dirtiest factories, tightening rules on sulphur emissions, and introducing a fleet of electric and gas-fuelled buses.

But even though more and more homes are switching from coal to gas, the environmental benefits are being outweighed by the dramatic increase in traffic. The number of cars on Beijing's roads has more than doubled in the past 5 years to 2·4 million. Most burn cheap high-sulphur fuel, which creates dirtier—and more unhealthy—emissions. The environmental protection agency estimates that road vehicles are responsible for 70% of the sulphur in the air.

Every day, Beijing television announces the air-quality forecast along with the weather. On a level one “excellent” day—usually following a strong and prolonged breeze—there might enough clarity to see the Fragrant Hill to the west of the city. On a level five “severe” day—usually at the end of a windless week—the pollution build-up is so bad that teachers are advised to keep children indoors at playtime, and asthma sufferers are warned not to venture outside.

“Level five days are absolutely bad for human health. They exacerbate asthmatic attacks, heart disease, disorders of the upper and lower airways and other respiratory conditions”, says Gao Jinming, associate professor in the respiratory disease department of the Peking Union Medical College Hospital.

https://bmcpediatr.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12887-019-1530-7

Background


The short-term effects of particulate matter (PM) exposure on childhood asthma exacerbation and disease control rate is not thoroughly assessed in Chinese population yet. The previous toxic effects of PM exposure are either based on long-term survey or experimental data from cell lines or mouse models, which also needs to be validated by real-world evidences.
Methods


We evaluated the short-term effects of PM exposure on asthma exacerbation in a Chinese population of 3106 pediatric outpatientsand disease control rate (DCR) in a population of 3344 children using case-crossover design. All the subjects enrolled are non-hospitalized outpatients. All data for this study were collected from the electronic health record (EHR) in the period between January 1, 2016 and June 30, 2018 in Xiamen, China.
Results


We found that exposure to PM_2.5 and PM₁₀ within the past two weeks was significantly associated with elevated risk of exacerbation (OR = 1.049, p < 0.001 for PM_2.5and OR = 1.027, p < 0.001 for PM₁₀). In addition, exposure to PM₁₀ was associated with decreased DCR (OR = 0.976 for PM₁₀, p < 0.001).
Conclusions


Our results suggest that exposure to both PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 has significant short-term effects on childhood asthma exacerbation and DCR, which serves as useful epidemiological parameters for clinical management of asthma risk in the sensitive population.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28654880/

Fine particulate air pollution and hospital visits for asthma in Beijing, China

Abstract


Data on fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) in China were first announced in 2013. The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the acute effects of PM_2.5 on asthma morbidity in Beijing, China. A total of 978,658 asthma hospital visits consisting of 928,607 outpatient visits, 40,063 emergency room visits and 9988 hospital admissions from January 1, 2010, to June 30, 2012, were identified from the Beijing Medical Claim Data for Employees. A generalized additive Poisson model was applied to explore the association between PM_2.5 and health service use. The mean daily PM_2.5 concentration was 99.5 μg/m³ with a range from 7.2 μg/m³ to 492.8 μg/m³. Ambient PM_2.5 concentration was significantly associated with increased use of asthma-related health services. Every 10 μg/m³ increase in PM_2.5 concentration on the same day was significantly associated with a 0.67% (95% CI, 0.53%-0.81%), 0.65% (95% CI, 0.51%-0.80%), and 0.49% (95% CI, 0.35%-0.64%) increase in total hospital visits, outpatient visits and emergency room visits, respectively. The exposure-response association between PM_2.5 concentration and hospital visits for asthma exacerbations was approximately linear. In conclusion, this study found that short-term elevations in PM_2.5 concentration may increase the risk of asthma exacerbations. Our findings contribute to the limited scientific literature concerning the acute effects of PM_2.5 on asthma morbidity outcomes in developing countries.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29529393/

Abstract


Background: Few data exist on asthma and rhinitis across China in relation to indoor and outdoor air pollution, climate and socioeconomic factors. The main aim was to study associations between asthma, rhinitis and current respiratory symptoms among pre-school children across China and selected indoor and outdoor exposure and indicators of socio-economic status (SES) in mutually adjusted models.

Methods: Chinese children (3-6 yr.) (n = 39,782) were recruited from randomly selected day care centres in seven cities in China. Data on asthma, respiratory symptoms, rhinitis, indoor and outdoor exposure at home and SES were assessed by a parentally administered questionnaire. Lifetime mean ambient temperature, PM₁₀, NO_2, and GDP per capita on city level were calculated.

Results: Totally 7.4% had ever doctors' diagnosed (DD) asthma and 8.7% DD-rhinitis, 19.7% had current wheeze, 45.0% rhinitis and 16.9% cough. DD-asthma was associated with ambient temperature (OR = 1.15, 95% CI 1.11-1.20 per °C), NO₂ (OR = 1.16, 95% CI 1.02-1.33 per 10 μg/m³), indoor mould/dampness (OR = 1.25, 95% CI 1.13-1.39) and living near major roads (OR = 1.13, 95% CI 1.02-1.25). DD-rhinitis was associated with ambient temperature (OR = 1.07, 95% CI 1.05-1.10 per °C), NO₂ (OR = 1.20, 95% CI 1.09-1.32 per 10 μg/m³), GDP (OR = 1.03, 95% CI 1.01-1.06 per 10,000 RenMinBi/year), indoor mould/dampness (OR = 1.23, 95% CI 1.11-1.35), passive smoking (OR = 1.11, 95% CI 1.01-1.21), and living near major roads (OR = 1.14, 95% CI 1.03-1.25). Children in suburban or rural areas, in larger families (≥5 persons) and with prenatal farm exposure had less DD-asthma and DD-rhinitis.

Conclusions: Economic development level of the city, higher SES, ambient temperature, NO₂, PM₁₀, traffic air pollution and mould/dampness can be risk factors for asthma and rhinitis and respiratory symptoms among pre-school children in China. Breastfeeding, large family size and early-life farm exposure could be protective factors.

[wufan]

What do the experts say about the fact that asthma cases are not correlated geographically with air pollution? Please note, I didn’t say that air pollutants don’t worsen asthma, I was specifically calling out that air pollutants don’t correlate with incidents of asthma. This would seem to be counter to your assertion that it creates asthmatics specifically in LA and China.

[C0|dB|00ded]

Serious question: if Texas had been connected to the rest of the grid, wouldn’t the rest of us in the US experienced additional blackouts to feed electricity to Texas?

This is a strawman argument. I don't have the time to follow you through the many hay fields of your partisan mind. I just ask you to open it. You've been lied to.

I am also not a power grid expert. I am a bullshit detection expert though, and I can give you 100% assurance that the running Fox News narrative the other night, by all their nighttime personalities on what a harbinger of doom Texas is for the hope of cleaner air, is unadulterated poppycock.

On second thought, I will humor your strawman for a brief moment because I am a generous soul, and I kind of like you.

I had the pleasure of sharing many a chat w/ a very successful geophysicist with many years in the industry. He explained in great detail once how energy is made, transferred, and stored all across the United States. The conversation came out of a discussion about Enron, who was moving electricity out of Cali in order to create artificial shortages and then selling it back at exorbitant prices. So my non-Googled answer to your question is: had Texas been part of the national grid, I suspect they would have been able to purchase all the power they needed at a premium price.

I could be wrong. I never argue in-depth on subjects I am not thoroughly knowledgeable in.

But the primary problem in Texas was one of cost-cutting necessary maintenance/contingency protocols. Kind of like how Trump came into the White House and killed the "unnecessary" programs that would have been helpful in the pandemic. Because we're "never gonna have a major pandemic in America"; just like "we're never gonna see Texas frozen solid"... penny-wise and pound-foolish indeed.