Ultrafine particles from planes put 52 million Europeans at risk of serious health conditions

Posted on June 25, 2024 by Respro® UK Ltd

A new study by green group Transport & Environment (T&E) suggests that thousands of cases of high blood pressure, diabetes and dementia across Europe could be linked to the tiny particles emitted by planes.

52 million people – more than 10% of Europe’s total population – live within a 20km radius from the 32 busiest airports in Europe and are particularly exposed to ultrafine particles from aviation, new research by CE Delft and commissioned by T&E finds [1],[2]. In Paris, one of the cities included in the study, 8 million people are affected by its two main airports Charles de Gaulle and Orly. The exposure to ultrafine particles can be linked to the development of serious and long-term health conditions, including respiratory problems, cardiovascular effects and pregnancy issues.

Exposure to ultrafine particles may be associated with 280,000 cases of high blood pressure, 330,000 cases of diabetes, and 18,000 cases of dementia in Europe, according to the new research. The study extrapolated reported cases of these illnesses around Amsterdam Schiphol airport and gives the first ever estimate of health effects linked to aviation-related UFPs in Europe.

Ultrafine particles are particularly concerning because they penetrate deeply into the human body and have been found in the blood, brain and placenta. UFPs are below the size of 100 nanometres in diameter – approximately 1,000 times smaller than a human hair. To date, there is no regulation on safe levels of UFPs in the air, even though the WHO warned it was a pollutant of emerging concern over 15 years ago.

UFPs from planes are emitted at high altitude but also at take-off and landing meaning residents living near airports are particularly affected. People living in a 5km radius from an airport breathe in air that contains, on average, anything from 3,000 to 10,000 ultrafine particles per cm3 emitted by aircraft. In many cities, a correlation exists between people living near an airport and lower incomes. This shows once again that the most vulnerable in society are most affected by air pollution.

Jemima Hartshorn, founder of Mums for Lungs, a UK-based campaign group on air pollution, “First we had the problem of air pollution from roads, then we had wood burning stoves, and now we are becoming aware of another invisible danger affecting everyone’s health. We know that air pollution is the biggest public health crisis and particularly affects children, babies and older people. These tiny particles are known to penetrate every organ of the body, including the placenta. Most people have no choice over where airports are sited or how big they are, and often this pollution is being created by planes carrying passengers from all around the world”.

Using ‘better quality’ jet fuel, though, can reduce UFPs by up to 70%, the study finds. The amount of UFPs emitted from planes depends largely on the composition of the fuel. The cleaner the aviation fuel, the less pollution it generates when burnt. Cleaning this fuel happens through a process called hydrotreatment [3]. It has been used for decades to remove sulphur from fuels for cars and ships fuels and could cost less than five cents per liter of fuel. But jet fuel standards for planes have never been improved, even though it can significantly reduce air pollution around airports.

Other measures to reduce UFPs and improve air quality include reducing air traffic and aviation’s exponential growth, as well as using cleaner technologies like sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs) and zero-emission aircraft that release much fewer pollutants.

“It’s not often that an alarming problem affecting millions of people can be reduced, and at a low cost. Dirty fumes caused by planes can be drastically reduced if we clean up the fuel. The sector prides itself with cutting-edge technology and so-called efficient planes, yet continues to use fuels which have a devastating impact on the health of millions of Europeans. It’s time for the EU to set jet fuel quality standards for the sake of the climate and people’s health”, Carlos Lopez de la Osa, aviation technical manager at T&E, concludes.

UFPs are part of the so-called “non-CO2 emissions” from planes, which include many other toxic pollutants, both gases and particles, such as nitrogen oxides and sulphur dioxide. Although these pollutants do not fall within the scope of the study, they also have known health effects that add to the ones previously described. These emissions also have a harmful effect on climate, making aviation’s contribution to global warming at least twice as bad as commonly thought. For example, the formation of contrails – the white lines criss-crossing the sky behind planes, with a significant warming effect – is also related to UFP emissions. Reducing UFP emissions through better quality jet fuel would not only be beneficial for the population living near airports, but also for the planet.

Ultrafine particles from planes put 52… | Transport & Environment
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Study suggests that air pollution promotes inflammation in the brain, accelerating consequences for dementia

Posted on May 20, 2024 by Respro® UK Ltd

Levels of air pollution and road traffic noise levels of nurses from the Danish Nurse Cohort at the cohort baseline aggregated at the municipality level. Credit: Alzheimer’s & Dementia (2024). DOI: 10.1002/alz.13814

Results from a new study suggest that long-term exposure to air pollution leads to increased risk in dementia in Denmark.

“We also find association with noise, but this seems to be explained by air pollution primarily. Our study is in line with growing international knowledge on this topic,” says Professor at Section of Environmental Health Zorana Jovanovic Andersen.

This is an important finding that adds that air pollution, beyond well-known effects on respiratory and cardiovascular system, also has major impacts on our brain, promoting inflammation in the brain, accelerating cognitive decline, and increasing risk of dementia.

“This is the first study in Denmark showing a link between air pollution and dementia. Although air pollution levels in Denmark have been declining and are relatively low, compared of the rest of Europe and world, this study shows that there are still significant and concerning health effects that demand more action and policies towards reduction of air pollution.

“As we are going to live longer, and more and more people will be diagnosed with dementia, this finding is important as it offer an opportunity to prevent new dementia cases, and ensure more healthy aging, by cleaning up the air we breathe,” says Andersen.

The study followed a cohort of nurses for 27 years, from 1993 until 2020.

“This is internationally unique and necessary in regards of the development of dementia which can take many years. Second, the air pollution was estimated for each participant for a total of 41 years (from 1979 until 2020), which is also incredible. Third, we had extensive details about participant’s lifestyle and socio-economics and all our result take them in consideration.

“The novelty of this study is the very detailed and accurate data that we used,” says Research Assistant from Section of Environmental Health Stéphane Tuffier.

“Nurses with higher physical activity had a lower risk of dementia when exposed to air pollution compared to nurses with less physical activity. This indicates that physical activity might mitigate the adverse effects of air pollution on cognitive decline and risk of dementia,” Tuffier says.

More information: Stéphane Tuffier et al, Long‐term exposure to air pollution and road traffic noise and incidence of dementia in the Danish Nurse Cohort, Alzheimer’s & Dementia (2024). DOI: 10.1002/alz.13814

Journal information: Alzheimer’s & Dementia 

Provided by University of Copenhagen 

Study suggests that air pollution promotes inflammation in the brain, accelerating consequences for dementia

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West Midlands air pollution causing up to 2,300 early deaths each year, research suggests

Posted on May 10, 2024 by Respro® UK Ltd

Percentage of mortality attributable to air pollution in the West Midlands combined Authority. Credit: Environmental Pollution (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.123871

Every resident of the West Midlands lives in an area exceeding the World Health Organization’s air quality guidelines, and air pollution in the region is causing up to 2,300 premature deaths each year according to new research.

The study published in Environmental Pollution conducted by researchers at the University of Birmingham in collaboration with local authority partners looked at the health economic burden of air pollution on residents in the West Midlands Combined Authority geographical area.

The team from WM-Air—Clean Air Science for the West Midlands—developed a new air quality analysis tool and, using data from 2019, found that every ward in the WMCA area exceeded WHO safe levels of Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) and Particulate Matter (PM2.5), and the annual health burden included up to:

  • 2,300 deaths,
  • 4,200 asthma diagnoses,
  • 1,400 coronary heart disease (CHD) diagnoses,
  • 300 lung cancer diagnoses, and
  • 1,000 stroke cases

The economic benefit of bringing air quality in the WMCA area to WHO health-based levels was also calculated using the tool, with a potential £3.2bn of economic benefits over 20 years.

The benefits include reduced health care and social care demand, improved productivity; and the prevention of up to 12,000 deaths, 50,000 asthma, 15,000 CHD, 2,400 lung cancer, and 10,000 stroke diagnoses. These financial calculations are based on new cases potentially connected to air pollution, and do not account for existing cases of these diseases.

Dr. Suzanne Bartington, clinical associate professor in environmental health at the University of Birmingham and senior author of the study said, “Air pollution is one of the biggest challenges facing public health, and our data shows that every resident in the West Midlands lives in a ward where the air quality doesn’t meet WHO health-based guidelines. The impacts for the region are significant, both in poorer health outcomes for residents and the extra burden on our health services.

“Our new Air Quality Lifecourse Assessment Tool has enabled us to put stark numbers to these impacts, showing us that more than 2000 people die each year prematurely due to air pollution across the region.”

Dr. James Hall, health economist in the Institute of Applied Health Research at the University of Birmingham and lead author of the paper said, “The results show some of the many benefits associated with tackling nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter in the region including a potential £3.2bn of health-related economic benefit including to the health system, the broader economy and the public via reducing the rates of asthma, lung cancer, strokes, coronary heart disease and mortality.

“We also know that there is a potential link between air pollution and increased risk of developing other major chronic diseases including COPD and types of dementia, so the impact is likely to be even higher.”

Roy Harrison, professor of environmental health at the University of Birmingham and co-author of the study, said, “These data provide an important baseline for the health impacts of air pollution in the West Midlands region. Relative to 2019, we know that there have been some improvements in air quality and they will have reduced the attributable burden on the region’s health.

“Initiatives such as the Clean Air Zone, introduced in 2021, have had an impact on the amount of NO2 pollution in the city center, which is a relatively small geographical area. Across the region as a whole, nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter pollution is still a significant problem which we need to tackle with urgency.”

More information: James Hall et al, Regional impact assessment of air quality improvement: The air quality lifecourse assessment tool (AQ-LAT) for the West Midlands combined authority (WMCA), Environmental Pollution (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.123871

Journal information: Environmental Pollution 

Provided by University of Birmingham 

West Midlands air pollution causing up to 2,300 early deaths each year, research suggests

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Study shows link between air pollution, stress, and heart health risk

Posted on May 2, 2024 by Respro® UK Ltd

A study in more than 3,000 US counties, with 315 million residents, has suggested that air pollution is linked with stress and depression, putting under-65-year-olds at increased risk of dying from cardiovascular disease. The research is presented today at ESC Preventive Cardiology 2024, a scientific congress of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC).

“Our study indicates that the air we breathe affects our mental well-being, which in turn impacts heart health.” – Dr. Shady Abohashem, study lead author of Harvard Medical School, Boston, US

According to the World Health Organization, air pollution is estimated to have caused 4.2 million premature deaths worldwide in 2019. Mental illness has also been linked with premature death. This study examined whether air pollution and poor mental health are interrelated and have a joint impact on death from cardiovascular disease.

The study focused on particles less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter, also referred to as fine particles or PM2.5. They come from vehicle exhaust fumes, power plant combustion, and burning wood, and present the highest health risk. To conduct the study, county-level data on annual PM2.5 levels were obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).4 PM2.5 exposure was categorized as high or low according to World Health Organization (WHO) standards. The researchers gathered data on the average number of days (age-standardised) that county residents experienced mental health issues-;including stress, depression, and emotional problems-;from the CDC. Each county was then categorized into three groups based on these numbers. Counties in the top third reported the most days of poor mental health (PMH).4 Age-adjusted premature cardiovascular mortality rates (under 65 years of age) per county, were obtained from the CDC. County characteristics were sourced from the County Health Rankings project.

The study included 3,047 US counties, representing 315,720,938 residents (with over 207 million aged 20 to 64 years and 50% females) in 2013. Between 2013 and 2019, some 1,079,656 (0.34%) participants died from cardiovascular disease before the age of 65 years. The researchers analyzed the associations between pollution, mental health, and premature cardiovascular mortality after adjusting for factors that could influence the relationships.

Counties with dirty air (high PM2.5 concentrations) were 10% more likely to report high levels of PMH days compared to counties with clean air (low PM2.5 concentrations). That risk was markedly greater in counties with a high prevalence of minority groups or poverty. The link between PMH and premature cardiovascular mortality was strongest in counties with higher levels (above WHO recommended levels: ≥10 µm2) of air pollution. In these counties, higher levels of PMH were associated with a three-fold increase in premature cardiovascular mortality compared to lower PMH levels. Further, one-third of the pollution-related risk of premature cardiovascular deaths was explained by increased burden of PMH.

Dr. Abohashem said: “Our results reveal a dual threat from air pollution: it not only worsens mental health but also significantly amplifies the risk of heart-related deaths associated with poor mental health. Public health strategies are urgently needed to address both air quality and mental wellbeing in order to preserve cardiovascular health.”

The levels of pollution across ESC countries can be viewed in the ESC Atlas of Cardiology:https://eatlas.escardio.org/Data/Risk-factors/Enviromental-risk-factors/rf_avpmpol-average-annual-population-weighted-pm2-5-ug-m3.Source:European Society of Cardiology

Study shows link between air pollution, stress, and heart health risk

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Study links air pollution to increased colorectal cancer risk through DNA changes

Posted on April 22, 2024 by Respro® UK Ltd

A recent eBioMedicine study explores the association between air pollution and colorectal cancer (CRC) risk based on epigenomic analysis. 

The role of air pollution in CRC risk

CRC is one of the most common cancer types worldwide, whose etiology is associated with a wide range of lifestyle and environmental factors. In the context of environmental factors, ambient air pollution is particularly crucial, as it could lead to the development of cancer by affecting the inflammatory system.

A significant association between particulate matter (PM) and risk of CRC, gastrointestinal and liver cancer incidence, and mortality has been documented. Thus, it is imperative to understand the mechanism through which PM influences the incidence of CRC. The synergistic effect of PM with other air pollutants, such as nitrogen oxides, on the incidence of CRC also requires further investigation.

Emerging epigenome-wide association studies (EWAS) have highlighted that exposure to air pollution leads to an alteration in epigenetic markers, particularly DNA methylation (DNAm). This alteration induces inflammation that could increase the risk of disease development and progression.

The formation of 5-methylcytosine in cytosine-phosphate-guanine (CpG) dinucleotides that reflect aberrant DNAm has been identified as an important epigenetic mechanism in CRC carcinogenesis. Considering this finding, it is crucial to understand the role of air pollution in the altered DNAm, which is associated with CRC pathogenesis.

Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis is a powerful tool for identifying causal interferences. It uses genetic variants as proxies for air pollution-related DNAm exposure to identify the causal factor. One major advantage of this method is minimizing reverse causality and confounding factors.

About the study

The current prospective cohort study evaluated the relationship between individual and combined ambient air pollution exposures with CRC risk and overall mortality. It also assessed the pathological effects associated with air pollution-related DNAm and the gene-environment interaction.

The association between air pollutants, including PM10, PM2.5, and nitrogen oxides (NOx and NO2), and CRC incidence and survival were assessed using relevant samples from the United Kingdom Biobank (UKB) cohort. Both genotypic and phenotypic health-related data were obtained from the UKB.

Two-sample epigenetic MR methylation quantitative trait loci (mQTL) analyses were conducted to identify the underlying mechanism of air pollution-related DNAm. Gene-environment interaction and genetic colocalization analyses were performed to elucidate the potential carcinogenic effect of air pollutants on CRC manifestation.

Study findings

A total of 428,632 participants from UKB were considered, 2,401 of whom were diagnosed with CRC and were eligible for the current study. Among these individuals, 533 all-cause deaths and 767 newly diagnosed CRC cases were identified. To determine all-cause mortality among patients with CRC, those with a prior CRC diagnosis were considered.

Consistent with previous studies, the current study also indicated a positive correlation between PM2.5 exposure and elevated CRC risk. The newly developed Air Pollutants Exposure Score (APES) indicated that exposure to various air pollutants, individually or jointly, decreased the overall CRC survival rate in a dose-response manner.

The detrimental prognostic effects of air pollution were more prevalent, although not statistically significant, among men, smokers, and those with insufficient physical activities. Thus, altering certain lifestyle factors could reduce the risk of CRC.

A significant association between air pollution and CRC incidence/survival was observed. DNA methylation occurred within the protein-coding genes of transmembrane BAX inhibitor motif-containing 1 protein (TMBIM1)/paroxysmal nonkinesigenic dyskinesia (PNKD), CX-C motif chemokine receptor 5 (CXCR5), and transmembrane protein 110 (TMEM110), which mediate the adverse effects of air pollution on CRC. The experimental findings strongly indicated an overall detrimental effect of air pollution exposure on CRC development and prognosis.

Air pollution mediates the development of CRC through the systemic inflammatory pathway, which is associated with increased messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) and protein levels of interferon-γ (IFN-γ), interleukin production, and blood proinflammatory activity.

The gene-environment interaction analyses indicated that PM2.5 exposure affects the CpG site rs876961 of the TMBIM1/PNKD gene, which influences CRC survival. Long-term PM2.5 exposure has also been associated with increased C-reactive protein levels and the induction of a systemic inflammatory state.

The PM2.5-related CpG site cg16235962 was associated with the CXCR5 gene, which encodes for a vital inflammatory factor in the microenvironment. PM2.5-related CpG site cg16947394 has been associated with the TMBIM1 gene, whereas the presence of rs992157 in the intron of PNKD and TMBIM1s is significantly associated with progression and susceptibility to CRC.

Conclusions

The current study confirmed the detrimental effect of ambient air pollution on CRC risk and survival, as well as the effect of epigenetic alterations of TMBIM1/PNKD, CXCR5, and TMEM110 on CRC pathogenesis. Future studies are needed to elucidate the underlying mechanism by which epigenetic alterations cause CRC development. Notably, the current study identified some modifiable factors, such as physical activity, smoking, and air pollution, which can help prevent CRC.

Journal reference:

  • Jiang, F., Zhao, J., Sun, J., et al. (2024) Impact of ambient air pollution on colorectal cancer risk and survival: insights from a prospective cohort and epigenetic Mendelian randomization study. eBioMedicine. doi:10.1016/j.ebiom.2024.105126.
Study links air pollution to increased colorectal cancer risk through DNA changes

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Exposure to air pollution during the first two years of life is associated with worse attention capacity in children

Posted on April 18, 2024 by Respro® UK Ltd

A growing body of research shows that exposure to air pollution, especially during pregnancy and childhood, may have a negative impact on brain development. Now a study led by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal) has found that exposure to nitrogen dioxide (NO2) during the first two years of life is associated with poorer attention capacity in children aged 4 to 8, especially in boys. NO2 is a pollutant that comes mainly from traffic emissions.

The study, published in Environment International, shows that higher exposure to NO2 was associated with poorer attentional function in 4- to 6-year-olds, with increased susceptibility to this pollutant observed in the second year of life. This association persisted at an age of 6 to 8 years of age only in boys, with a slightly greater susceptibility period from birth to 2 years of age.

The researchers used data from 1,703 women and their children from the INMA Project birth cohorts in four Spanish regions. Using the home address, the researchers estimated daily residential exposure to NO2 during pregnancy and the first 6 years of childhood. In parallel, they assessed the attentional function (the ability to choose what to pay attention to and what to ignore) at 4–6 years and 6–8 years, and working memory (the ability to temporarily hold information) at 6–8 years, using validated computerized tests.

A previous INMA study reported that exposure to NO2 during pregnancy and childhood was associated with impaired attentional function in children at 4–5 years of age. The present study found that:

  • Higher exposure to NO2 between 1.3 and 1.6 years of age was associated with higher hit reaction time standard error, an indicator of speed consistency, in the attentional function test at 4–6 years of age.
  • Higher exposure to NO2 between 1.5 and 2.2 years of age was associated with more omission errors.
  • Higher exposure to NO2 between 0.3 and 2.2 years was associated with higher hit reaction time standard error at 6–8 years only in boys.
  • No associations were found between higher exposure to NO2 and working memory in children aged 6 to 8 years.

“These findings underline the potential impact of increased traffic-related air pollution on delayed development of attentional capacity and highlight the importance of further research into the long-term effects of air pollution in older age groups,” explains Anne-Claire Binter, last author of the study and postdoctoral researcher at ISGlobal.

Attentional function is crucial for the development of the brain’s executive functions, which manage and control actions, thoughts and emotions to achieve a goal or purpose. “The prefrontal cortex, a part of the brain responsible for executive functions, develops slowly and it is still maturing during pregnancy and childhood,” adds Binter. This makes it vulnerable to exposure to air pollution, which has been linked in animal studies to inflammation, oxidative stress, and impaired energy metabolism in the brain.

“In boys, the association between exposure to NO2 and attentional function may last longer because their brains mature more slowly, which could make them more vulnerable,” she points out. To understand this better, future studies should follow people over time to see how age and gender affect the relationship between air pollution and attention span, especially in older age groups.

In conclusion, “this study suggests that early childhood, up to the age of 2, seems to be a relevant period for implementing preventive measures,” says Binter. “Even a small effect at the individual level from relatively low levels of exposure, as in this study, can have large consequences at the population level. Exposure to traffic-related air pollution is therefore a determinant of the health of future generations.”

More information: Kellie L.H.A. Crooijmans et al, Nitrogen dioxide exposure, attentional function, and working memory in children from 4 to 8 years: Periods of susceptibility from pregnancy to childhood, Environment International (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2024.108604

Journal information: Environment International 

Provided by Barcelona Institute for Global Health 

via https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-04-exposure-air-pollution-years-life.html

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The Toxic Air We Breathe: Greenpeace Maps Africa’s Air Pollution Hotspots

Posted on March 28, 2024 by Respro® UK Ltd

Egypt, Nigeria, and South Africa have emerged as Africa’s most polluted countries in terms of air pollution disease burden, with profound health consequences for Africa’s people and exacerbated impacts on climate change, a report prepared by Greenpeace Africa and Greenpeace MENA can now reveal.

Titled “Major Air Polluters in Africa Unmasked,” the report investigates the biggest human sources of air pollution across Africa, focusing on major industrial and economic sectors, including the fossil fuel industry. Every year in Africa,  as many as 1.1 million premature deaths have been linked to air pollution.

Dr Aidan Farrow, Senior Scientist at the Greenpeace Research Laboratories said, “In many parts of Africa a lack of air quality monitoring [1] has allowed pollution to remain hidden. However, there is abundant evidence that African nations face a serious public health crisis from air pollution. The root causes of this crisis are the air pollutant emitters. Data from satellites and even fuel sales in each country allow scientists to investigate emission sources. These data point towards the biggest hotspots, the biggest contributions to pollution and who is responsible for them. The data are clear, areas like Mpumalanga in South Africa, where coal burning for electricity is a major industry, really stand out.” 

The report found that Africa is home to some of the worst nitrogen dioxide and sulphur dioxide hotspots in the world, all of which are primarily linked to thermal power plants. The report also found that Eskom, a public utility company that has the government of South Africa as its sole shareholder, operates many of the most polluting plants in South Africa.

Key findings compiled by the report include:

  • Exposure to air pollution is the second leading risk factor for death in Africa (HEI 2022), and achieving World Health Organization guidelines could result in significant gains in life expectancy.
  • Pollutant emissions lead to a considerable number of premature deaths in Africa. Egypt, Nigeria, and South Africa consistently exhibit large disease burdens, with the highest mortality linked to fossil fuel air pollution in these nations
  • Six of the world’s ten largest NO2 emission hotspots identified were found in Africa, all in South Africa.
  • Of the ten largest SO2 point sources identified in Africa, nine are thermal power stations, and one is linked to a smelter complex in Mali. Four of the power plants are located in South Africa owned by ESKOM, two in Morocco and Egypt, and one in Zimbabwe.
  • Health impact studies suggest that life expectancy could be improved by up to 3 years in some African nations if air quality met WHO guidelines.

According to the World Health Organisation, exposure to air pollution, including nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide, can cause both short- and long-term health problems. These include heart and lung diseases, pregnancy problems, kidney issues and cancer.

“We urgently call upon North African governments to adopt the report’s recommendations particularly the installation of air quality monitors and ensuring access to real-time data. This proactive approach empowers affected communities to address their governments for action, to take charge of their well-being, make informed decisions, and collectively work towards cleaner and healthier environments” stresses Sarra Ben Abdallah, Greenpeace MENA Campaigner. 


“For too long, the people of Mpumalanga have borne the burden of South Africa’s coal dependency, not just in the air we breathe but in the opportunities we’re denied. The pollution from coal plants like those operated by Sasol in our region has not only tarnished our health, leading to failed health assessments and chronic diseases, but it has also clouded our future, leaving us jobless as companies opt to hire from outside, citing our ‘unfitness’ for work. This report by Greenpeace sheds light on our struggle, linking every breath of polluted air to the systemic injustice that fuels unemployment and health disparities in Secunda,” said Fana Sibanyoni, an activist from the Mpumalanga region.

The report presents recommendations to address the critical issue of air pollution in Africa, emphasising the need for investment in clean technologies, especially in the energy sector. International institutions share a significant responsibility in sustainably developing the African continent.

Many of the causes of air pollution, such as the combustion of oil, coal, and gas, are also sources of greenhouse gas emissions. Policies aimed at reducing air pollution, therefore, offer a win-win strategy for both climate and health.

The Toxic Air We Breathe: Greenpeace Maps Africa’s Air Pollution Hotspots   – Greenpeace Africa
The Toxic Air We Breathe: Greenpeace Maps Africa’s Air Pollution Hotspots  
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Only seven countries meet WHO air quality standard, research finds

Posted on March 19, 2024 by Respro® UK Ltd

Almost all countries failing to meet mark for PM2.5, tiny particles expelled by vehicles and industry that can cause health problems

Only seven countries are meeting an international air quality standard, with deadly air pollution worsening in places due to a rebound in economic activity and the toxic impact of wildfire smoke, a new report has found.

Of 134 countries and regions surveyed in the report, only seven – Australia, Estonia, Finland, Grenada, Iceland, Mauritius and New Zealand – are meeting a World Health Organization (WHO) guideline limit for tiny airborne particles expelled by cars, trucks and industrial processes.

The vast majority of countries are failing to meet this standard for PM2.5, a type of microscopic speck of soot less than the width of a human hair that when inhaled can cause a myriad of health problems and deaths, risking serious implications for people, according to the report by IQAir, a Swiss air quality organization that draws data from more than 30,000 monitoring stations around the world.

While the world’s air is generally much cleaner than it was in much of the past century, there are still places where the pollution levels are particularly dangerous. The most polluted country, Pakistan, has PM2.5 levels more than 14 times higher than the WHO standard, the IQAir report found, with India, Tajikistan and Burkina Faso the next most polluted countries.

But even in wealthy and fast-developing countries, progress in cutting air pollution is under threat. Canada, long considered as having some of the cleanest air in the western world, became the worst for PM2.5 last year due to record wildfires that ravaged the country, sending toxic spoke spewing across the country and into the US.

In China, meanwhile, improvements in air quality were complicated last year by a rebound in economic activity in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, with the report finding a 6.5% increase in PM2.5 levels.

“Unfortunately things have gone backwards,” said Glory Dolphin Hammes, North America chief executive of IQAir. “The science is pretty clear about the impacts of air pollution and yet we are so accustomed to having a background level of pollution that’s too high to be healthy. We are not making adjustments fast enough.”

Air pollution kills an estimated 7 million people a year worldwide – more than Aids and malaria combined – and this burden is most heavily felt in developing countries that rely upon particularly dirty fuels for heating, light and indoor cooking.

The most polluted urban area in the world last year was Begusarai in India, the sixth annual IQAir report found, with India home to the four most polluted cities in the world. Much of the developing world, particularly countries in Africa, lacks reliable air quality measurements, however.

The WHO lowered its guideline for “safe” PM2.5 levels in 2021 to five micrograms per cubic meter and by this measure many countries, such as those in Europe that have cleaned up their air significantly in the past 20 years, fall short.

But even this more stringent guideline may not fully capture the risk of insidious air pollution. Research released by US scientists last month found there is no safe level of PM2.5, with even the smallest exposures linked to an increase in hospitalizations for conditions such as heart disease and asthma.

Hammes said that countries should act to make their cities more walkable and less reliant upon cars, amend forestry practices to help curtail the impact of wildfire smoke and move more quickly to embrace clean energy in place of fossil fuels. “We share the atmospheric envelope with everyone else in the world and we need to make sure we are not doing things that harm those elsewhere,” she said.

Aidan Farrow, senior air quality scientist at Greenpeace International, said that better air quality monitoring is needed, too.

“In 2023 air pollution remained a global health catastrophe, IQAir’s global data set provides an important reminder of the resulting injustices and the need to implement the many solutions that exist to this problem,” he said.

Only seven countries meet WHO air quality standard, research finds | Pollution | The Guardian

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