pollution
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High Level Of Pollution Measured In Capital Area
On February 16, amounts of particulate matter measured at noon exceeded average pollution measurements in the Capital Area. According to the website Loftgæði.is, serviced by the Icelandic Environment and Energy Agency, levels of PM10 particulates reached 199.8 micrograms per cubic metre at Grensásvegur,…
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Volcanic Smog Spreads Over Capital Area
As the latest eruption on the Reykjanes Peninsula keeps spewing freshly molten lava to the surface, northbound winds bring sulphuric pollution to the capital area. Despite the predicted sunny conditions, on June 11 citizens woke up to a blue-grey mist engulfing the…
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Pile Of Junked Cars Catch Fire In Akranes
At about half past two in the afternoon yesterday, pretty much anyone outside near Akranes or even in the greater capital area noticed a large plume of black smoke rising just went of Akrafjall. [su_pullquote]It’s only one week until Iceland Airwaves returns…
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Garbage Piling Up On Sea Floor Of Icelandic Waters, Report Says
A new report (.pdf) from the Marine and Freshwater Research Institute details that garbage on the sea floor within Icelandic territorial waters is accumulating. [su_pullquote]Join our weekly newsletter to get our next quiz sent by email and you could win our new…
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People Ingest Five Grams Of Plastic Each Week, Study Finds
A study found that people ingest five grams of small plastic particles a week, which is about the size of a single credit card, reports Fréttablaðið. [su_pullquote]Who better to ask what’s best in Reykjavík than the people who live here? Every year…
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MPs Propose Investigating Link Between High Cancer Incidence In Suðurnes And Pollution
A new parliamentary proposal, submitted by seven MPs–all but one from the South Iceland district and all but two from the Independence Party–calls upon the Minister of Health to launch an investigation into why there is a particularly high incidence of cancer…
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First COVID Symptoms Can Also Be From Volcanic Pollution
Some of the first symptoms of being possibly infected with the coronavirus also closely resemble the symptoms of volcanic air pollution, RÚV reports. It is therefore important to check the air quality every day, and get screened for the coronavirus if you…
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Experts Urge Sensitive Groups To Stay Indoors Due To Eruption
An expert at the Environment Agency of Iceland recommends people monitor the air quality in their area, as pollution has increased in southwestern Iceland from the volcanic eruption in Geldingadalur. Furthermore, those with respiratory diseases should avoid the outdoors when pollution is…
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Decrease To Maximum Speeds On More Streets In Reykjavík
There are plans to increase the number of streets in the city with a 30kph speed limit, RÚV reports. The reason for lowering the speed limits is because particulate matter pollution can be reduced by up to 40% by reducing the maximum…
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People Urged To Leave Eruption Site Before 17:00
The Meteorological Office are encouraging people who plan to visit the eruption site to leave before 17:00 today as toxic gas is making the area very unsafe. Gas pollution increases during the day and can be expected to be well above the…
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Winter Tires Have Huge Impact On Air Pollution
A recent study has shown that studded tires have the greatest effect on the formation of particulate matter caused by traffic in the capital area, Kjarninn reports. The use of studded tires must be significantly reduced if the Icelandic government are to…
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Several Birds Die Due To Oil Pollution
27 bird carcasses, most of them eider, were found on the beach in Reykjanes on Sunday, May 3rd. The staff of the South Iceland Nature agency went to Stafnes yesterday after receiving reports of many bird carcasses washing ashore. Of the 27…
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Fireworks: “Never Environmentally Friendly Nor Harmless”, Environment Agency Says
Pollution from fireworks on New Year’s Eve between 2018 and 2019 was up from the previous New Year’s, RÚV reports, and the pollutants from them are never good for anyone’s health, the Environment Agency of Iceland would like to remind people. As…
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Heavy Air Pollution In Reykjavík
The city of Reykjavík is suffering from heavy air pollution. The concentration of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) is high in Reykjavik today, according to reports from the measuring station at Grensásvegur, and this trend has been ongoing for a few days now. At…
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“Jellyfish” Against Plastic Pollution
Six Icelandic women swam 34 kilometers across the English Channel, from Dover in England to Cap Gris Nez in France. The group is called “Marglytturnar”, which is Icelandic for “The Jellyfish” and their main objective is to raise awareness for plastic pollution.…
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A Change In The Weather: Iceland And The Climate Crisis
The party leading Iceland’s coalition government—the Left-Greens—has, as its name implies, a very strong emphasis on environmental issues in general and tackling the climate crisis in particular. Rhetoric from the party’s leadership reflects this, whether from party chair Prime Minister Katrín Jakobsdóttir…
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Iceland’s Greenhouse Gas Emissions Increase
Greenhouse gas emissions in Iceland rose by 2.2% between 2016 and 2017, and are up by 85% from 1990 levels, a new report from the Environment Agency of Iceland (UST) details. As RÚV reports, greenhouse gases in Iceland actually began to decrease…
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Alarming Amounts Of Plastic Found In Icelandic Birds And Sea Life
The North East Iceland Nature Center (NNA) has released a new report detailing the disturbingly high levels of plastic found in animals around the country. The report, conducted in cooperation with the Icelandic Environment Association, found that about 70% of Northern Fulmars…
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New Years In Iceland: Less Pollution, No Serious Fireworks Injuries
Fireworks either got cleaner this year, or fewer people exploded them, because while air pollution over New Year’s was high, it was less than last year. Seven people ended up in the emergency room that night due to fireworks-related injuries, but no…
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Pollutants Over Iceland Will Be Measured Before And After New Year’s
The Environment Agency of Iceland will measure pollution in the air over Iceland five days before and after New Year’s, RÚV reports, and lead will be amongst the pollutants that are tested for. The agency has set up a precise air quality…
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The Precious Plastic Initiative Aims To Change An Unhealthy Relationship
Sometimes we need a reminder that even small actions—and a small number of people—can change the world. Björn Steinar Blumenstein and Brynjólfur Stefánsson are such a reminder. In just a little over two months, they built a container, four different plastic recycling…
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New Silica Factory Opens For Business In Húsavík, North Iceland
A new silica factory called PCC BakkiSilicon just opened for business in the municipality of Húsavík, in the north of Iceland. This week, in fact, one of the furnaces will be fired up in preparation for next week, when the factory will…
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Iceland To Propose A Ban On Use Of Heavy Fuel In The Arctic
Alongside eight other countries, Iceland has recently filed a proposal to the International Maritime Organisation to ban the use of heavy fuel in the Arctic region, RÚV reports. The decision comes after an intense battle led by various environmental organisations, including the…