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Beware Of Air In EU, It's Dangerous

By Countercurrents.org

29 September , 2012
Countercurents.org

Almost a third of Europe's city dwellers are exposed to excessive concentrations of microscopic particles, known as particulate matter, one of the most important pollutants in terms of harm to human health as it penetrates sensitive parts of the respiratory system, said the Air quality in Europe — 2012 report , a European Environment Agency report.

Apart from the impact on health, the pollution costs the bloc 1 trillion euros ($1.3 trillion) a year in healthcare and dealing with the wider impact on ecosystems. The pollutants are also a threat to agriculture production.

The major findings of the report have been presented with the headline “Many Europeans are still exposed to harmful air pollutants” ( http://www.eea.europa.eu/pressroom/newsreleases/many-europeans-still-exposed-to ). It was published on September 24, 2012.

The EU has made progress over the past decades to reduce the air pollutants which cause acidification, but the report shows that many parts of Europe face persistent problems with outdoor concentrations of PM and ground level ozone.

Professor Jacqueline McGlade, EEA Executive Director, said: "In many countries, air pollutant concentrations are still above the legal and recommended limits that are set to protect the health of European citizens. In fact, air pollution reduces human life expectancy by around two years in the most polluted cities and regions."

Poor air quality can cause heart disease, respiratory problems, lung cancer, breathing difficulties and other illnesses. Some pollutants can lead to eutrophication, reduced agricultural crop yields, decreased forest growth and have an impact on the climate. Emissions of several pollutants have fallen in recent years, resulting in improved air quality in some areas. However, they have not always resulted in a corresponding drop of atmospheric pollutant concentrations.

The report examines citizens' exposure to air pollutants and provides a snapshot of air quality in Europe . The report is intended to support the development of more effective clean air policies.

Key findings:

• Particulate matter (PM) is the most serious air pollution health risk in the EU, leading to premature mortality. The report estimates that in 2010, 21 % of the urban population in 2010 was exposed to PM10 concentration levels higher than the most stringent, daily, EU limit value designed to safeguard health. Up to 30 % of the urban population was exposed to finer PM2.5 concentration levels above the (less stringent) yearly EU limit values. According to the WHO reference levels, which are even tighter than those imposed by EU law, respectively up to 81 % and 95 % of urban dwellers were exposed to PM concentrations that exceed the reference values set for the protection of human health – underlining the urgency of the coming review of air legislation. 

• Ozone (O3) can cause respiratory health problems and lead to premature mortality. Exposure in cities is very high – 97 % of EU urban inhabitants were exposed to O3 concentrations above the WHO reference level in 2010. 17 % were exposed to concentrations above the EU target value for O3. In 2009, 22 % of arable land in Europe was exposed to damaging concentrations of O3, leading to agricultural losses.

• Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) is a major cause of eutrophication (excessive plant and algal growth in water) and acidification, and also contributes to the formation of PM and O3. In 2010, 7 % of Europeans living in cities were exposed to NO2 levels above the EU limit values. National emissions of nitrogen oxides in many European countries still exceed emission ceilings set by EU legislation and under United Nations agreements.

• Benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) is a carcinogen. A considerable proportion of the urban population in the EU (20-29 % between 2008 and 2010) were exposed to concentrations exceeding the EU target value, which must be met by 2013. The increase in BaP emissions in Europe in recent years is therefore a matter of concern.

•   Sulphur dioxide (SO2) is a big success story: emissions have been reduced significantly in recent years thanks to EU legislation requiring the use of emissions scrubbing technology and lower sulphur content in fuels. 2010 was the first year that the EU urban population was not exposed to SO2 concentrations above the EU limit value.

• Carbon monoxide, benzene and heavy metals (arsenic, cadmium, nickel, lead) concentrations in outdoor air are generally low, localized and sporadic in the EU, with few exceedances of the limit and target values set by EU legislation.

A Brussels , Sep 24, 2012 datelined Reuters report added:

On average, air pollution was reducing human lives across the region by roughly eight months, the report said. It also quoted separate European Commission-funded research showing that a reduction in particulate levels could extend life expectancy by 22 months in some areas.

The report did not spell out where those areas were, but it said that Poland and other industrial regions of eastern Europe had particularly high levels or particulate pollution.

Alone among British cities, London also exceeded daily EU limits for particulate matter.

"This (the report) is a really serious warning about the importance to our quality of life and health," Janez Potocnik EU Environment Commissioner told Reuters .

Apart from the impact on health, Jacqueline McGlade said that the pollution costs the bloc 1 trillion euros ($1.3 trillion) a year in healthcare and dealing with the wider impact on ecosystems.

The pollutants come from fumes from cars, industry and household fuel burning.

After going through complex chemical reactions in the air, the pollutants get into water and agricultural land, thereby posing a threat to agricultural production.

In 2010, the EU urban population for the first time was not exposed to sulphur dioxide above the EU limit level.

 

 




 

 


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