European Union can save up to €161 billion a year by reducing
air-pollution
deaths
Press Release
EURO/08/05
Berlin, Copenhagen, Rome, 14 April 2005
Air pollution with particulate matter (PM) claims an average of 8.6 months
from the life of every person in the European Union (EU), but Germans lose
more: 10.2 months of life in the year 2000. Today in Berlin, the WHO
Regional Office for Europe spells out the recently evaluated cost of air
pollution to human health.
Evidence indicates that PM increases deaths from cardiovascular and
respiratory diseases. Even a short-term rise in PM concentrations increases
the risk of emergency hospital admissions for cardiovascular and
respiratory causes. PM comprises tiny particles, varying in size,
composition and origin. Inhaled, the coarse fraction (PM10 - particles with
a diameter smaller than 10 µm) may reach the upper part of the airways and
lung). What are called fine particles (PM2.5 -with a diameter smaller than
2.5 µm) are more dangerous, as they penetrate more deeply into the lung and
may reach the alveolar region.
Council Directive 99/30/EC sets down limit values for PM10: 50 µg/m3 for
the 24-hour average and 40 µg/m3 for the annual average. Current policies
to reduce emissions of air pollutants by 2010 are expected to save 2.3
months of life for the EU population and 2.7 months of life for the
population of Germany. This is the equivalent of preventing 80 000
premature deaths and saving over 1 million years of life in the EU; the
corresponding figures for Germany are about 17 000 premature deaths and
over 240 000 years of life (see Fact sheet EURO/04/05 of 14 April 2005).
Since long-term exposure to PM is particularly damaging to human health and
reduces life expectancy, reducing long-term PM concentrations and exposure
is a priority. This would also bring important financial savings. In the
EU, the estimated annual monetary benefit from decreased population
mortality attributed to PM is €58-161 billion, and savings on the costs of
diseases attributed to PM account for €29 billion. The corresponding
figures for Germany are €13-34 billion and €6 billion per year,
respectively.
"Measures to reduce the effects of air pollution on health and extend life
expectancy already exist and work", says Dr Marc Danzon, WHO Regional
Director for Europe. "The data presented today emphasize that health damage
due to PM exposure, its costs for European society and the ability of the
current European legislation to reduce this impact, are critical arguments
for the continuation and strengthening of all stakeholders' efforts to
reduce air pollution."
In many cities, current concentrations of PM10 exceed the EU limit values
established. In the first 3 months of 2005, for example, the daily limit
value was exceeded on more than 30 days in several German cities.
Transport and use of fossil fuel in households are the major contributors
to PM air pollution. In particular, diesel combustion contributes a third
of total emissions of PM2.5. In 2000, Germany contributed up to 14% of
total primary PM10 emissions in the EU, and up to 13% of primary PM2.5
emissions. The projected decline in PM10 and PM2.5 emissions in the period
2000-2020 is expected to be slower in Germany than in the rest of the EU.
Owing to the transboundary movement of PM, a substantial part of
concentrations in a country originates in emissions from other countries.
For example, it has been estimated that, on average, 41% of PM2.5
concentrations in Germany is of German origin. The rest is due to
transboundary air pollution: for example, 14% is emitted in France. On the
other hand, German emissions contribute to PM2.5 in other countries: for
example, 21% of the total in Denmark and 20% in the Czech Republic.
"The transboundary nature of PM pollution requires that all countries take
measures that will benefit the European population," comments Dr. Roberto
Bertollini, Director of the Special Programme on Health and Environment at
the WHO Regional Office for Europe. "The German contribution is essential
in this respect, both to protect the health of the German population and to
help reduce exposure in neighbouring countries and in the WHO European
Region as a whole."
Reducing PM to benefit health
Studies have been unable to identify a threshold concentration below which
ambient PM has no effect on health. Although the reduction of PM levels to
the EU limit values for 2005 is a key measure to benefit health, it will
not eliminate all significant health effects of PM exposure. This means it
is important to reduce PM pollution more than expected under the current
legislation. Cost-effective methods already exist to accomplish this task.
Activities to manage air quality at the local, regional and national levels
need to be integrated to improve air quality in cities. Taking such
measures as traffic management or improved urban design at the local level
alone may be very cost-effective in reducing the exposure of people living
in hot spots, but of limited effectiveness for the protection of society as
a whole. Providing alternatives to private motorized vehicles, particularly
public and non-motorized transport such as trains, cycling and walking, may
lead to changes in people's behaviour and would reduce traffic congestion
and influence long-term trends in transport demand and pollution emission.
Other measures - such as increasing energy efficiency, using cleaner fuels
in households, industry and vehicles, and using end-of-pipe controls such
as particle filters - are also important for the reduction of pollution and
population exposure. They are not sufficient, however, without society's
commitment to clean air. Long-term planning, fiscal incentives, legislative
measures and communication with the public are all necessary to achieve
this result.
WHO and the European Commission are working together on the long-term Clean
Air for Europe (CAFE) programme to develop an integrated policy to protect
health and the environment against significant negative effects of air
pollution, and on the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE)
Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution, which will serve as a
basis for national strategies on pollution abatement. More information on
these issues is available on the web site of the WHO Regional Office for
Europe (http://www.euro.who.int/air).
For more information contact:
TECHNICAL INFORMATION:
Dr Michal Krzyzanowski
Regional Adviser, Air Quality and Health
WHO European Centre for Environment and Health, Bonn
WHO Regional Office for Europe
Bundeshaus, Görresstraße 15
D-53113 Bonn, Germany
Tel.: + 49 228 209 4405. Fax: +49 228 209 4201
Email: mkr@ecehbonn.euro.who.int
PRESS INFORMATION:
Ms Liuba Negru
Press and Media Relations Officer
WHO Regional Office for Europe
Scherfigsvej 8, DK-2100 Copenhagen Ø, Denmark
Tel.: +45 39 17 13 44. Fax: +45 39 17 18 80
E-mail: LNE@euro.who.int
Ms Cristiana Salvi
Technical Officer, Communication and Advocacy
WHO European Centre for Environment and Health, Rome
WHO Regional Office for Europe
Via Francesco Crispi 10, I-00187 Rome, Italy
Tel.: +39 06 4877543. Mobile: +39 348 0192305
Fax: +39 06 4877599
E-mail: csa@ecr.euro.who.int
link:
http://www.euro.who.int/eprise/main/WHO/MediaCentre/PR/2005/20050414_1
_________________________________________________
Berlin, Copenhagen, Rome, 14 April 2005
Air pollution with particulate matter (PM) claims an average of 8.6 months
from the life of every person in the European Union (EU), but Germans lose
more: 10.2 months of life in the year 2000. Today in Berlin, the WHO
Regional Office for Europe spells out the recently evaluated cost of air
pollution to human health.
Evidence indicates that PM increases deaths from cardiovascular and
respiratory diseases. Even a short-term rise in PM concentrations increases
the risk of emergency hospital admissions for cardiovascular and
respiratory causes. PM comprises tiny particles, varying in size,
composition and origin. Inhaled, the coarse fraction (PM10 - particles with
a diameter smaller than 10 µm) may reach the upper part of the airways and
lung). What are called fine particles (PM2.5 -with a diameter smaller than
2.5 µm) are more dangerous, as they penetrate more deeply into the lung and
may reach the alveolar region.
Council Directive 99/30/EC sets down limit values for PM10: 50 µg/m3 for
the 24-hour average and 40 µg/m3 for the annual average. Current policies
to reduce emissions of air pollutants by 2010 are expected to save 2.3
months of life for the EU population and 2.7 months of life for the
population of Germany. This is the equivalent of preventing 80 000
premature deaths and saving over 1 million years of life in the EU; the
corresponding figures for Germany are about 17 000 premature deaths and
over 240 000 years of life (see Fact sheet EURO/04/05 of 14 April 2005).
Since long-term exposure to PM is particularly damaging to human health and
reduces life expectancy, reducing long-term PM concentrations and exposure
is a priority. This would also bring important financial savings. In the
EU, the estimated annual monetary benefit from decreased population
mortality attributed to PM is €58-161 billion, and savings on the costs of
diseases attributed to PM account for €29 billion. The corresponding
figures for Germany are €13-34 billion and €6 billion per year,
respectively.
"Measures to reduce the effects of air pollution on health and extend life
expectancy already exist and work", says Dr Marc Danzon, WHO Regional
Director for Europe. "The data presented today emphasize that health damage
due to PM exposure, its costs for European society and the ability of the
current European legislation to reduce this impact, are critical arguments
for the continuation and strengthening of all stakeholders' efforts to
reduce air pollution."
In many cities, current concentrations of PM10 exceed the EU limit values
established. In the first 3 months of 2005, for example, the daily limit
value was exceeded on more than 30 days in several German cities.
Transport and use of fossil fuel in households are the major contributors
to PM air pollution. In particular, diesel combustion contributes a third
of total emissions of PM2.5. In 2000, Germany contributed up to 14% of
total primary PM10 emissions in the EU, and up to 13% of primary PM2.5
emissions. The projected decline in PM10 and PM2.5 emissions in the period
2000-2020 is expected to be slower in Germany than in the rest of the EU.
Owing to the transboundary movement of PM, a substantial part of
concentrations in a country originates in emissions from other countries.
For example, it has been estimated that, on average, 41% of PM2.5
concentrations in Germany is of German origin. The rest is due to
transboundary air pollution: for example, 14% is emitted in France. On the
other hand, German emissions contribute to PM2.5 in other countries: for
example, 21% of the total in Denmark and 20% in the Czech Republic.
"The transboundary nature of PM pollution requires that all countries take
measures that will benefit the European population," comments Dr. Roberto
Bertollini, Director of the Special Programme on Health and Environment at
the WHO Regional Office for Europe. "The German contribution is essential
in this respect, both to protect the health of the German population and to
help reduce exposure in neighbouring countries and in the WHO European
Region as a whole."
Reducing PM to benefit health
Studies have been unable to identify a threshold concentration below which
ambient PM has no effect on health. Although the reduction of PM levels to
the EU limit values for 2005 is a key measure to benefit health, it will
not eliminate all significant health effects of PM exposure. This means it
is important to reduce PM pollution more than expected under the current
legislation. Cost-effective methods already exist to accomplish this task.
Activities to manage air quality at the local, regional and national levels
need to be integrated to improve air quality in cities. Taking such
measures as traffic management or improved urban design at the local level
alone may be very cost-effective in reducing the exposure of people living
in hot spots, but of limited effectiveness for the protection of society as
a whole. Providing alternatives to private motorized vehicles, particularly
public and non-motorized transport such as trains, cycling and walking, may
lead to changes in people's behaviour and would reduce traffic congestion
and influence long-term trends in transport demand and pollution emission.
Other measures - such as increasing energy efficiency, using cleaner fuels
in households, industry and vehicles, and using end-of-pipe controls such
as particle filters - are also important for the reduction of pollution and
population exposure. They are not sufficient, however, without society's
commitment to clean air. Long-term planning, fiscal incentives, legislative
measures and communication with the public are all necessary to achieve
this result.
WHO and the European Commission are working together on the long-term Clean
Air for Europe (CAFE) programme to develop an integrated policy to protect
health and the environment against significant negative effects of air
pollution, and on the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE)
Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution, which will serve as a
basis for national strategies on pollution abatement. More information on
these issues is available on the web site of the WHO Regional Office for
Europe (http://www.euro.who.int/air).
For more information contact:
TECHNICAL INFORMATION:
Dr Michal Krzyzanowski
Regional Adviser, Air Quality and Health
WHO European Centre for Environment and Health, Bonn
WHO Regional Office for Europe
Bundeshaus, Görresstraße 15
D-53113 Bonn, Germany
Tel.: + 49 228 209 4405. Fax: +49 228 209 4201
Email: mkr@ecehbonn.euro.who.int
PRESS INFORMATION:
Ms Liuba Negru
Press and Media Relations Officer
WHO Regional Office for Europe
Scherfigsvej 8, DK-2100 Copenhagen Ø, Denmark
Tel.: +45 39 17 13 44. Fax: +45 39 17 18 80
E-mail: LNE@euro.who.int
Ms Cristiana Salvi
Technical Officer, Communication and Advocacy
WHO European Centre for Environment and Health, Rome
WHO Regional Office for Europe
Via Francesco Crispi 10, I-00187 Rome, Italy
Tel.: +39 06 4877543. Mobile: +39 348 0192305
Fax: +39 06 4877599
E-mail: csa@ecr.euro.who.int
link:
http://www.euro.who.int/eprise/main/WHO/MediaCentre/PR/2005/20050414_1
_________________________________________________
Posted: Di - Mai 10, 2005 at 10:12 vorm.
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