The World Health Organisation (WHO) has recommended that limiting air pollution can reduce 50,000 deaths in Europe each year. Puza Snigdha reports.
According to a research by WHO, every year 7 million people face illness, absenteeism even death because of air pollution. WHO shared the research result that shows reducing air pollution can prevent 50,000 deaths each year.
Cities, crowded streets and high energy use are also related to the illness and dieses to air pollution.
The WHO suggests that fine particulate matter (PM2.5) not exceed 10 milligrammes per cubic metre of air, averaged annually. For nitrous oxide (NO2), the threshold not to be exceeded is 40 mg/m3.
The Lancet Planetary Health journal published an article on Wednesday. The article shows the premature death burden due to these two pollutants in nearly 1,000 cities across Europe.
The research shows that if PM2.5 and NO2 to safe WHO levels can be reduced that 51,213 premature deaths will be prevented.
“The research proves that many cities are still not doing enough to tackle air pollution. Levels above WHO guidelines are leading to unnecessary deaths,” said Mark Nieuwenhuijsen, Barcelona Institute for Global Health.
Deaths from air pollution vary widely. Cities in the Po-Valley region of northern Italy, Poland, and the Czech Republic were the highest in mortality burden. Brescia, Bergamo, and Vicenza all within the top five for PM2.5 concentrations.
“We need an urgent change from private car transport to active public transport (and) reducing emissions from industry, airports and ports,” said Sasha Khomenko, co-author of IS Global research.
Komenko suggests to ban the burning of domestic timber and coal. It will help limiting air pollution. Plant more trees and make the area green.
