Nepal has ‘world’s highest’ lung disease death rate

Posted on August 19, 2022 by Respro® UK Ltd

Nepal has the world’s highest age-adjusted death rate for chronic lung disease at 182.5 per 100,000 population, with more than 3,000 years lost to ill health or disability from the condition, according to an international study.

Nearly all cases of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are environmental in origin, says Jay Kaufman, an author of the study and professor at the Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health at McGill University in Montréal, Canada.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a group of diseases that lead to blockage in airflow and problems relating to breathing. It includes conditions like chronic bronchitis and emphysema.

In the context of poorer Asian countries, the main causes of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are smoking, indoor air pollution from cooking and heating, and outdoor air pollution, Kaufman tells SciDev.Net.  “The very high COPD death rates in these countries also speak to the limited access to medical interventions that might improve survival of those with COPD,” he says.

According to the study, in 2019, the national age-standardised death and disability-adjusted life years (DALY) rate of COPD ranged from 178 to 3,318 patients per 100, 000. DALY is a time-based measure that combines years of life lost due to premature mortality and years of healthy life lost due to disability.

The highest rates were seen in Nepal (3,318), Papua New Guinea (2,903), and the Solomon Islands (2,179) whereas the lowest rates were in Barbados (178), Antigua and Barbuda (178) and Peru (190).

The authors found that Nepal had the highest death rate from COPD caused by air pollution with 26 per cent of COPD deaths caused by exposure to this risk factor. With Nepal’s rapid urbanisation, the use of motorised vehicles increased from nearly 224,000 in 1990 to 1.3 million in 2012. The country has failed to effectively regulate air pollutants and implement air quality control measures, the authors said.

Published in The BMJ, the study looked at data related to COPD from 204 countries and territories between 1990 and 2019.

“In 2019, 212.3 million prevalent cases of COPD were reported globally, with COPD accounting for 3.3 million deaths,” the study said.

“The burden of COPD reaches its peak in older adults.”

The overall incidence of COPD is likely to be just the tip of an iceberg as most patients seek medical help only when they have substantial symptoms, says Sushmita Roychowdhury, director of pulmonology at the Fortis Hospital in Kolkata, India.

To tackle COPD in developing countries such as Nepal, Roychowdhury recommends annual mandatory spirometry test [a common test used to assess how well the lungs are working] for all above the age of 40. “It will not only unearth many more cases but help diagnose and treat early.”

“Given the expense and complexity of medical interventions, the best hope for [poorer Asian] countries lies in primary prevention, which means reducing tobacco use and replacing dangerous indoor combustion sources with safer, less polluting modern stoves,” says Kaufman.

“Although Nepal generates much of its electricity from clean hydroelectric sources, it suffers from high levels of air pollution from the burning of garbage and biomass and from road traffic. This contributes to the high burden of COPD and must be reduced.”

Nepal has ‘world’s highest’ lung disease death rate – Asia & Pacific
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Major cities blighted by nitrogen dioxide pollution, research finds

Posted on August 17, 2022 by Respro® UK Ltd

Shanghai, Moscow and Tehran have the highest levels of NO2 pollution, according to the research

Cities in relatively prosperous countries are blighted by serious levels of air pollution from nitrogen dioxide, often without realising the extent of the problem, research has found.

Moscow is the world’s second worst city for nitrogen dioxide pollution, behind Shanghai in China, while St Petersburg takes fourth place. Other cities near Russia follow close behind, including Ashgabat, capital of Turkmenistan, and Minsk, capital of Belarus, at seventh and eighth place respectively, according to the research, published on Wednesday.

Pallavi Pant, senior scientist at the Health Effects Institute in the US, who oversaw the research, said: “Finding several Russian cities at the top of the list [for NO2 air pollution] was definitely surprising for us. It is likely to mainly come from traffic pollution and a vehicle fleet that is older.”

Other cities worst affected by NO2 pollution included Tehran in Iran, Cairo in Egypt, Istanbul in Turkey and Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam.

While the problem of particulate pollution – caused by very fine pieces of soot or debris, mostly from burning and some industrial sources – has been an increasing cause of concern around the world, the problem of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) pollution has been less well studied, with limited on-the-ground monitoring stations capable of detecting the gas.

Scientists from the Health Effects Institute in the US used satellite data, along with on-the-ground read-outs, to compile a global picture of fine particulate (PM2.5) and NO2 air pollution in more than 7,000 cities globally, for the State of the Global Air report.

They found that while poorer countries tended to be plagued by pollution from particulates – very fine pieces of unburnt carbon or debris, mostly from burning or industrial sources – the problem of NO2 pollution was less well studied.

The worst cities for particulate pollution – which can come from coal-fired power stations, the burning of waste and agricultural burning, as well as from vehicles – were Delhi and Kolkata in India, followed by Kano in Nigeria and Lima in Peru. South Asia and Africa dominated the Top 10, with Dhaka, Karachi and Jakarta, Lago and Accra also on the list, while Beijing was ninth worst globally.

Robert O’Keefe, the vice-president of the Health Effects Institute, said: “China has continued to make progress this decade on air pollution. It shows that there is hope, things can go in the right direction, though this is a long-term trip.”

According to the report, 18 of the top cities showing the steepest declines in NO2 exposure over the past decade were in China.

NO2 is not as closely linked to mortality as particulate pollution, but can cause a variety of respiratory problems, including the onset of asthma in children, and exacerbate breathing difficulties for those already susceptible. Deaths have been linked to the pollution, though on a lesser scale than pollution caused by particulates.

Vehicles are the main source of nitrogen dioxide pollution, and older vehicles produce far more than more modern models.

The State of the Global Air report is published annually by HEI.

It has previously found that air pollution, both outdoor and indoor, was so widespread that nearly all people experienced it in some form, and that babies were dying across the world from it. This year’s edition focused on NO2 for the first time as scientists were concerned about the lack of knowledge of the issue.

While about 117 countries have ground-level monitoring systems to track PM2.5, only 74 monitor NO2.

This year’s study focused on NO2 levels from 2010-2019, to give a picture of the underlying problem of air pollution, avoiding the effect of the Covid-19 lockdowns.

The authors also estimate that in 2019, at least 1.7 million deaths linked to PM2.5 exposure occurred in the 7,239 cities they covered. The impact was worst in Asia, Africa and eastern and central Europe.

Major cities blighted by nitrogen dioxide pollution, research finds | Air pollution | The Guardian

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Researchers examine the effect of cumulative exposure to air pollutants with lung cancer diagnosis

Posted on August 11, 2022 by Respro® UK Ltd

Researchers from Vancouver, British Columbia examine the effect of duration of past exposure to air pollution with lung cancer diagnosis.

In 2013, the International Agency of Research on Cancer classified outdoor air pollution and particulate matter of 2.5 micrograms/meter3 (PM 2.5) in outdoor air pollution as carcinogenic to humans, but the effects of air pollution exposure may take 15 to 20 years to be reflected in the lung adenocarcinoma incidence rate. To assess the connection between pollution and lung cancer diagnosis, Renelle Myers, BC Cancer, in Vancouver, B.C. compared the cumulative three-year versus 20-year exposure in females with newly diagnosed lung cancer who have never smoked.

Dr. Myers and her colleagues invited Vancouver-area women with lung cancer who had never smoked to participate in the study. The researchers collected detailed information on the patients’ age, sex, race, country of birth, age of arrival in Canada (for foreign born Canadians), their occupation, family history of lung cancer, and secondhand smoke exposure. A detailed residential history from birth to cancer diagnosis for residences within Canada, and prior residences outside of Canada (for foreign born immigrants) were recorded. This geographical data included street and city address with postal codes, which allowed accurate linking of residential locations to satellite-derived PM 2.5 exposure data that were available from 1996 onwards. Cumulative exposure to PM 2.5 was quantified with a high-spatial resolution global exposure model. The magnitude of three-years versus 20-years exposure were compared.

Myers acknowledged that even a 20-year cumulative exposure does not capture childhood exposure and is an underestimate of lifetime exposure and depends on countries of residence.

Of the 236 female patients with lung cancer who had never smoked, 190 (83.3%) were foreign born; 71% were Asians. The mean years lived in a foreign country was 37.3 years. The mean age of lung cancer diagnosis was 66 years; 92.8% of them had adenocarcinoma and 55.9% were Stage III/IV lung cancer. For foreign-born Canadian females, only4/190 (2%) had 3-year cumulative PM2.5 exposure of >10 ug/m3 whereas 38/190 (20%) had a 20-year cumulative PM2.5 of >10 ug/m3 (p≥0.0001). All had a PM2.5 exposure greater than 5 ug/m3. Shorter term (3-years) assessment significantly under-estimate the cumulative exposure to PM2.5 prior to lung cancer diagnosis especially among foreign-born Canadians.

“Our study demonstrates the important of incorporating long-term cumulative exposure to ambient air pollutants in the assessment of individual lung cancer risk in combination with traditional risk factors. Research is needed regarding the best method to incorporate the effects of air pollution exposure prior to 1996 when accurate satellite data became available. Our finding has important clinical implication in assessing lung cancer risk with global migration.”

Dr. Renelle Myers, BC Cancer, Vancouver

Source:International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer

Researchers examine the effect of cumulative exposure to air pollutants with lung cancer diagnosis
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Air pollution increases risk of future disease in children

Posted on August 8, 2022 by Respro® UK Ltd

Many studies have shown that, in children, ambient air pollution can lead to allergic sensitization, respiratory problems, and ultra-structural and cellular changes to their lungs and airways. Due to their higher intake of contaminants and greater lung surface area relative to their body weight, children are more susceptible to the damaging effects of pollution compared to adults. 

A study led by the University of California, Davis has now found children exposed to high levels of air pollution also have elevated markers of inflammation (such as interleukin 6), and lower cardiac autonomic regulation, which impacts how fast the heart beats and how hard it pumps.

The scientists examined blood samples from over 100 children aged 9-11 in the Sacramento area of California where significant levels of pollutants were recorded by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The analysis revealed that 27 children who were exposed to particulate matter carried by wildfire smoke had markers of systemic inflammation and lower cardiac autonomic regulation.

“By examining daily and monthly levels of particulate matter in relation to children’s inflammation and autonomic physiology, this study further demonstrates the immediate consequences of exposure to air pollution, which may increase risk of future disease,” said study lead author Anna Parenteau, a doctoral student in Psychology at UC Davis. 

“As climate change continues to impact children and families, it is paramount to understand the impact of environmental contaminants such as air pollution on children’s physiology.”

According to Parenteau and her colleagues, children exposed to pollutants released during wildfires are likely to develop long-term health conditions, including asthma, decreased lung function, and a host of neurodevelopmental problems such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism, memory issues, and deficits in school performance.

Continued developmental research on environmental contaminants is necessary to sound the alarm about the hazardous effects of air pollution and inform policy changes that could promote long-term population health.

The study is published in the journal New Directions for Child and Adolescent Development.

Air pollution increases risk of future disease in children • Earth.com
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Exposure to air pollutants released during wildfires has ill effects among children

Posted on August 5, 2022 by Respro® UK Ltd

New research linking air pollution data from federal monitors in the Sacramento area of California, including during significant fires, is showing ill effects of pollution exposure among children, a new University of California, Davis, study suggests.

Blood samples show that children have elevated markers of inflammation, such as interleukin 6, if they were exposed to higher air pollution. Further, higher air pollution was linked to lower cardiac autonomic regulation in children, which impacts how fast the heart beats and how hard it pumps, according to the study.

In the study, published Aug. 3 date in the journal New Directions for Child and Adolescent Research, researchers looked at blood samples from more than 100 healthy children ages 9-11 in the Sacramento area where pollutants near their homes were recorded by the Environmental Protection Agency. The study was authored by Anna M. Parenteau, a doctoral student, and Camelia E. Hostinar, associate professor, both from the UC Davis Department of Psychology. The work took place at UC Davis.

These findings are important because exposure to pollutants released during wildfires has been related to numerous negative health outcomes in children, who have smaller bodies and organ systems than adults, including asthma and decreased lung function, as well as neurodevelopmental outcomes like attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, autism, and deficits in school performance and memory, researchers said.

Looked at particulates

Researchers looked at fine particulate matter data from the EPA (PM2.5) -; or the fine particles that can penetrate lungs and pass into the bloodstream -; finding the children’s blood contained markers of systemic inflammation. Additionally, PM2.5, which refers to particulate matter measuring 2.5 micrometers or smaller by the EPA, was linked to lower cardiac autonomic regulation assessed using an electrocardiogram. Specifically, researchers used data files maintained by the EPA, which have daily air quality summary information from each outdoor monitor in the country.

In total, 27 of the children studied had inflammation markers in their blood recorded during significant fires when their neighborhoods recorded significant levels of PM2.5 in the air. These times when fires were burning included during the Mendocino Complex Fire in 2018, which was active about 100 miles from the lab where blood was drawn. The findings were similar to those found in an earlier study, in which the blood of young primates was collected by UC Davis researchers after significant wildfires.

“By examining daily and monthly levels of particulate matter in relation to children’s inflammation and autonomic physiology, this study further demonstrates the immediate consequences of exposure to air pollution, which may increase risk of future disease,” Parenteau said. Furthermore, Parenteau added: “As climate change continues to impact children and families, it is paramount to understand the impact of environmental contaminants such as air pollution on children’s physiology.”

Previous studies with children have shown significant associations between ambient air pollution and allergic sensitization, respiratory symptoms, and ultra-structural and cellular changes to their lungs and airways, researchers said.

Researchers have found children may be especially susceptible to the effects of air pollution, given that, compared to adults, they have a higher intake of contaminants and greater lung surface area relative to their body weight.

Continued developmental research on environmental contaminants can sound the alarm about the effects of air pollution and inform policy changes that could promote long-term population health, researchers concluded.

Source:University of California – DavisJournal reference:Parenteau, A.M., et al. (2022) Associations of air pollution with peripheral inflammation and cardiac autonomic physiology in children. New Directions for Child and Adolescent Development. doi.org/10.1002/cad.20474.

Exposure to air pollutants released during wildfires has ill effects among children
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How Air Pollution Can Lead To Certain Cancers

Posted on August 2, 2022 by Respro® UK Ltd

It might seem like the plot of a horror film or a true crime podcast, but in everyday air there is a mix of microscopic acids, metals, chemicals, and other eerie ingredients that sound like the ingredients of a deadly cocktail (via American Lung Association). Made up of tiny bits of liquid and solid matter, particle pollution is a massive environmental problem that poses a threat to health and has been linked to certain types of cancers. From dirt and soil to emissions from motor vehicles, power plants, and forest fires, the air we breathe is filled with dangerous micro-particles that can’t be seen with the naked eye, but can be extremely toxic to our health.

Particle pollution is pollution created by particle pollutants, which are also called particulate matter or PM for short, according to the California Air Resources Board. These particle pollutants cause particle pollution — try saying that three times fast! Unfortunately, this tongue twister comes with a necessity to become informed about the particles in the air we breathe that can lead to life-threatening health conditions. Particulate matter is defined as particles 10 micrometers (a marker known as PM10) or smaller in diameter. Even smaller than particle pollutants are fine particles, which measure 2.5 micrometers (PM2.5) or smaller in diameter. While PM10 particles can enter the average human nose and throat and travel to the lungs, PM2.5 particles can dig themselves even deeper into lungs. This is important to know for both lung and overall health.

Particle pollution and lung cancer

Of all forms of cancer, lung cancer is the top killer in the United States according to the American Lung Association, and it’s not just due to cigarettes — air pollution is also a culprit. Our bodies have natural defense systems to sneeze or cough out particles and foreign bodies that are dangerous to our health, but the smaller the particles, the less likely it is that our bodies can get rid of them. Instead, they become lodged in our lungs and may even enter our bloodstreams. In particular, exposure to and inhalation of fine particles has been linked to higher rates of mortality in lung cancer (via United States Environmental Protection Agency). The effects of fine particles on lung cancer and mortality have been linked to many types of particle pollutants, but especially those from coal combustion, wood smoke, and other known carcinogens.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that up to 20% of lung cancers present in people who don’t smoke cigarettes or use tobacco products. When it comes to identifying lung cancer, symptoms can vary from person to person. Some people generally feel unwell or fatigued without symptoms indicating an issue in the lungs, while others may experience chest pain, wheezing, or a persistent cough that becomes worse or includes blood. Since lung cancer can metastasize to other parts of the body, it’s critical that you see your doctor if you experience any symptoms.

Protect against particle pollution

Since particle matter can’t be seen by the naked eye but can be so harmful to our health, it’s important to know how you can protect yourself. For particle pollutants from wildfires, dust, fumes, and other air pollution, wearing a respirator mask can protect you from dangerous particulate matter, including PM from home renovation projects (via The New York Times). Effective respirator masks to protect against particle pollutants include disposable N95 masks labeled 3M-8210 and 3M-8511. Investing in an air purifier can help you protect the air quality in your home to filter particle pollutants from indoor air. A 2021 study published in Heliyon determined that air purifiers with High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters are effective in removing approximately 99.97% of particulate matter larger than 0.3 micrometers.

To reduce the particulate matter that you create, there are several steps you can take to make the environment and air quality better for everyone around you. The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control recommends avoiding open burning of debris and household trash by instead utilizing compost and recycling options available in your local area. The average person’s biggest contribution to particle pollution is usually through driving, which creates air pollution and particulate matter from vehicular emissions. Don’t idle your car, keep your tires properly inflated so your car runs efficiently, and use cruise control on the highway. When possible, carpool with friends or colleagues, and take advantage of alternative transportation methods like biking or walking.

How Air Pollution Can Lead To Certain Cancers

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Air pollution likely to be causing dementia, say UK science advisers

Posted on July 25, 2022 by Respro® UK Ltd

Air pollution likely to be causing dementia, say UK science advisersWe know that air pollution is bad for our lungs and heart, but now advisers to the UK government say it can also be linked to dementia and cognitive decline in older people

Air pollution is likely to be contributing to dementia and a declining mental ability in older people around the world, science advisers to the UK government have said for the first time.

The opinion from the authoritative Committee on the Medical Effects of Air Pollutants (COMEAP) adds significant weight to a growing number of studies linking dirty air to cognitive decline.

In a report published today, the group said that after reviewing nearly 70 studies it had concluded the evidence now suggested an association between exposure to air pollutants and “an acceleration of the decline in cognitive function often associated with ageing, and with the risk of developing dementia.” To date, air pollution has largely only been firmly linked to physical health impacts on the lungs, heart and other organs.

Frank Kelly at Imperial College London, who started working on the report three years ago, says the amount of research suggesting a link to mental decline had “snowballed” in recent years. “Dementia is one of the greatest, if not the greatest, global challenge for health and social care in the 21st century,” he says.

The committee said that it couldn’t put a number on how many older people had seen a mental decline linked to air pollution, largely due to a scarcity of investigative studies that might provide causal evidence. However, Kelly says that a 2018 study of people in London indicated roughly 60,000 of the 209,600 new cases of dementia in the UK each year could be due to poor air quality.

The report identifies three main mechanisms for how air pollution could be accelerating mental declines. Chief among these is the damage done to blood vessels by tiny particulate matter, which can affect blood supply to the brain: dementia can result from a reduction in blood supply to brain cells. There are a number of human, as well as animal, studies showing the effect pollution can have on blood vessels.

More tentative explanations include the brain’s immunological system being activated by exposure to pollution and the very smallest particles directly reaching the brain via the nasal passage and the nerve cells that give our sense of smell, the olfactory bulb. The evidence for these other two mechanisms is slimmer, and the committee has much higher confidence in the blood vessel one, says Kelly.

“Thanks to an immense amount of work in the last several years, we can say with confidence this link exists,” says Brian Castellani at Durham University, who was not involved in the report. It shows exposure to dirty air in early life can have significant later-life impacts on brain health, he says.

Stefan Reis at the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology says: “The findings of COMEAP are not surprising, but add further weight to the understanding that air pollution health impacts are much wider and likely more profoundly affecting public health beyond the traditionally known immediate effects.”

Air pollution likely to be causing dementia, say UK science advisers | New Scientist

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Wood heating pollutes the air in mountain areas more than previously assumed

Posted on July 25, 2022 by Respro® UK Ltd
Mobile measurements—during the run in the village of Retje, Dinaric Alps, Slovenia. Credit: Kristina Glojek, University of Nova Gorica

Around 30 million people in Europe live in mountain valleys. A large part of this population is more affected by air pollution than previously assumed. This is the conclusion of a Slovenian-German research team from measurements in the Northern Dinaric Alps. Due to temperature inversions in winter, pollutants are trapped in the valleys to such an extent that soot and fine dust could reach alarming levels even in small villages, as they otherwise occur mainly in the centers of congested metropolises, write researchers from the Universities of Ljubljana, Molise and Nova Gorica and the Leibniz Institute for Tropospheric Research (TROPOS) in Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics (ACP). With mobile measurements using an instrumented backpack by TROPOS, it had become possible to examine the pollutant distribution in more detail.

Wood combustion is responsible for more than half of the small particulate matter (PM2.5) in Europe, which is dangerous to health. According to the European Environment Agency (EEA), wood combustion is now the largest source of this pollutant. The promotion of wood as a “carbon dioxide-neutral” fuel, the rising costs of fossil fuels and several financial crises have led to significantly increasing use of wood as an alternative source. People are more likely to burn wood for household heating in small heating systems.

Air quality studies have so far mostly focused on cities. However, in the EU, the UK and the four EFTA countries Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland, over a quarter of the population live in rural areas. To study the impact of wood burning on the air quality in such villages, the researchers took a closer look at a karst hollow in Slovenia. The hollow in the municipality of Loški Potok around the village of Retje is representative of many mountainous and hilly rural areas in Central and South-Eastern Europe with wood heating systems. The study area is located in a shallow karst depression with a topography that favors the formation of temperature inversions and cold air pools typical in many valleys and relief depressions in winter. In addition to two fixed measuring stations at the bottom of the hollow in the village and on a hill, mobile measurements with instruments aboard a backpack, in particular, provided crucial details on the distribution of air pollutants in space. With this backpack, the team walked the six-kilometer route through the valley three times a day in December 2017 and January 2018 —in the morning, at midday and in the evening. In 107 measurement tours, 642 kilometers were covered on foot.

In addition to particulate matter, the team also examined one of its components: black carbon—colloquially also simply called “soot”.. Black cabon is produced by incomplete combustion of carbon-containing materials such as fossil fuels or wood. Among other things, carcinogenic substances adhere to the tiny soot particles. Black carbon is, therefore, considered a highly problematic component of particulate matter in terms of health. While the fixed measuring stations provided hourly concentrations of black carbon (eBC) of 1 to 40 micrograms per cubic meter and particulate matter concentrations (PM10) of 10 to 205 micrograms per cubic meter, the mobile measurements provided black carbon and PM2.5, but with levels more representative of the actual concentrations many people in the hollow were exposed to. These high levels of pollutants can be attributed to one effect that frequently occurs in the mountains in winter which proved to be particularly problematic: in the morning, the sun warms the upper parts of the relief depression faster than the lower parts—due to the morning fog that forms in the relief depression sheltered from the wind and prevents warming near the ground. The resulting temperature inversion acts like a lid on a pot: the exhaust gases and particles cannot escape upwards and concentrate at the bottom. In this study, several temperature inversion events occurred, during which the pedestrian level pollutant concentrations of soot (eBC) reached an average of 4.5 micrograms per cubic meter and of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) 48 micrograms per cubic meter, which is comparable to the centers of large metropolises where there is heavy traffic. These values are much larger than the European Union’s annual limit (20 micrograms per cubic meter) and the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) recommendations for the daily limit (15 micrograms per cubic meter). As measured by the EU Air Quality Index for fine particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), air quality was very poor during such temperature inversions. Overall, air quality was only moderate during the entire study period (December and January).

“During temperature inversions, pollutant levels in the hollow were highest in the early evening, reaching up to 22 micrograms per cubic meter for black carbon and 560 micrograms per cubic meter for particulate matter. This is the result of domestic wood burning, which increases when people come home after work, and the stable air layer at the bottom of the hollow. However, with some wind, both black carbon and particulate matter levels in the basin dropped to less than 1 and 12 micrograms per cubic meter, respectively, which is about four times lower than during a temperature inversion and in line with European regional background levels,” reports Dr. Kristina Glojek who studied for her Ph.D. at the University of Ljubljana. During morning and afternoon temperature inversions, in the village of Retje, people living on the lower part of the south-facing slopes were most exposed to the high concentrations of particulate matter, while in the early evening hours, when the inversion is limited to the bottom of the hollow, people there breathe in the highest levels of pollutants.

Such weather conditions are typical for hilly and mountainous regions. During the study, temperature inversions occurred on more than 70 percent of all winter nights and mornings. “These very stable conditions prevent effective mixing of the air in the relief depression, which leads to increased pollutant levels. Therefore, during temperature inversions, particulate matter concentrations in the sink rise to levels comparable to those in larger European city centers and above the EU daily limit value (PM10 = 50 micrograms per cubic meter) as well as above the annual limit value and the WHO daily guideline values (PM2.5 = 20 and 15 micrograms per cubic meter, respectively),” emphasizes Prof. Mira Pöhlker from TROPOS.

From the researchers’ point of view, the example of the small relief depression in Slovenia points to a problem that is not limited to this region alone: “The pollutant concentrations measured during the temperature inversions in the rather sparsely populated small relief hollow are worrying, as similar conditions can be expected in numerous hilly and mountainous regions throughout Europe, where about 20 percent of the total population live, 30 percent of whom live in rural relief hollows comparable to the Retje site,” emphasizes Prof. Griša Močnik from the University of Nova Gorica.

In the view of the Slovenian-German research team, the results of this study highlight the importance of high-resolution measurements of air quality also in rural areas to monitor and aim to reduce the residential wood-burning pollution and its consequent health effects, especially in mountainous areas with limited atmospheric self-purification capacity. Therefore, they specifically propose:

1. to study pilot sites at smaller spatial scales that could help decision-makers to take effective action at the local level;

2. raising public awareness of the problem of air pollution from wood burning, including knowledge of the negative effects on health, energy efficiency, the economic costs of ineffective burning, the optimal use and regular maintenance of heating appliances, and the use of quality fuels (e.g. dry wood);

3. informing residents when weather conditions cause pollutants to concentrate in the valley and burning wood is not recommended;

4. identifying local major polluters as they may be the main cause of deterioration of local air quality;

5. to encourage retrofitting of existing stoves, centralizing combustion in district heating systems, improving energy retrofitting of buildings, and changing fuel if there is a better alternative are possible options to reduce pollution from wood burning.

It is also important to strongly involve the local population in the measures to reduce pollution emissions. Furthermore, everyone should be aware that there is not one universal solution to this complex problem. Rather, measures are needed at several levels, taking into account geographical and cultural specificities.

Wood heating pollutes the air in mountain areas more than previously assumed

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