http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/jan/16/world-heslth-organisation-figures-deadly-pollution-levels-world-biggest-cities
[links and images in on-line article]
Shock figures to reveal deadly toll of global air pollution
World Health Organisation describes new data as ‘health emergency’, with
rising concern likely to influence decision over Heathrow expansion
The World Health Organisation has issued a stark new warning about
deadly levels of pollution in many of the world’s biggest cities,
claiming poor air quality is killing millions and threatening to
overwhelm health services across the globe.
Before the release next month of figures that will show air pollution
has worsened since 2014 in hundreds of already blighted urban areas, the
WHO says there is now a global “public health emergency” that will have
untold financial implications for governments.
The latest data, taken from 2,000 cities, will show further
deterioration in many places as populations have grown, leaving large
areas under clouds of smog created by a mix of transport fumes,
construction dust, toxic gases from power generation and wood burning in
homes.
The toxic haze blanketing cities could be clearly seen last week from
the international space station. Last week it was also revealed that
several streets in London had exceeded their annual limits for nitrogen
dioxide emissions just a few days into 2016.
“We have a public health emergency in many countries from pollution.
It’s dramatic, one of the biggest problems we are facing globally, with
horrible future costs to society,” said Maria Neira, head of public
health at the WHO, which is a specialist agency of the United Nations.
“Air pollution leads to chronic diseases which require hospital space.
Before, we knew that pollution was responsible for diseases like
pneumonia and asthma. Now we know that it leads to bloodstream, heart
and cardiovascular diseases, too – even dementia. We are storing up
problems. These are chronic diseases that require hospital beds. The
cost will be enormous,” said Neira.
Last week David Cameron, whose government has been accused of dragging
its feet over air pollution and is facing legal challenges over alleged
inaction, conceded in the Commons that the growing problem of air
pollution in urban areas of the UK has implications for major policy
decisions such as whether to expand Heathrow airport.
Asked by Tory MP Tania Mathias to pledge that he would never allow
Heathrow to expand while nitrogen dioxide levels are risking the health
of millions, Cameron said she was right to raise the matter, which was
now “directly being taken on by the government”. Last December, after
warnings from the Commons environmental audit committee and others,
Cameron put off a decision on Heathrow expansion for at least another
six months.
Government sources say Cameron and other ministers are now taking the
air pollution issue far more seriously. In 2014 the prime minister was
widely criticised for describing it as “a naturally occurring weather
phenomenon”.
According to the UN, there are now 3.3 million premature deaths every
year from air pollution, about three-quarters of which are from strokes
and heart attacks. With nearly 1.4 million deaths a year, China has the
most air pollution fatalities, followed by India with 645,000 and
Pakistan with 110,000.
In Britain, where latest figures suggest that around 29,000 people a
year die prematurely from particulate pollution and thousands more from
long-term exposure to nitrogen dioxide gas, emitted largely by diesel
engines, the government is being taken to court over its intention to
delay addressing pollution for at least 10 years.
The NGO ClientEarth, which last year forced ministers to come up with
fresh plans to tackle illegal nitrogen dioxide levels in British cities,
said that it would seek urgent court action because the proposed
solutions would take so long to implement and produce cleaner
environments. Under the latest government plan, announced before
Christmas, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
(Defra) promised clean air zones for five cities by 2020 in addition to
one already planned for London. But this will mean it will take years
before cities such as Manchester, Cardiff and Edinburgh feel the benefits.
Frank Kelly, director of the environmental health research group at
King’s College London, and an adviser to several governments on the
health risks of pollution, told the Observer that air pollution had
become a “global plague”. “It affects everyone, above all people in
cities. As the world becomes more urbanised, it is becoming worse.”
Sotiris Vardoulakis, head of Public Health England’s environmental
change department, said: “It’s the leading environmental health risk
factor in the UK, responsible for 5% of all adult mortality. If we take
action to reduce it, it will have multiple health co-benefits like lower
greenhouse gas emissions and healthier cities. Air pollution has an
impact on NHS spending, but we have not quantified it.”
A new report from the EU’s European Environment Agency (EEA) says
pollution is now also the single largest environmental health risk in
Europe, responsible for more than 430,000 premature deaths. “It shortens
people’s lifespan and contributes to serious illnesses such as heart
disease, respiratory problems and cancer. It also has considerable
economic impacts, increasing medical costs and reducing productivity,”
said the EEA director Hans Bruyninckx.
Leading economist Lord Stern said air pollution was an important factor
in climate change. “Air pollution is of fundamental importance. We are
only just learning about the scale of the toxicity of coal and diesel.
We know that in China, 4,000 people a day die of air pollution. In India
it is far worse. This is a deep, deep problem,” he said.
The latest scientific research, published in the journal Nature,
suggests that air pollution now kills more people a year than malaria
and HIV combined, and in many countries accounts for roughly 10 times
more deaths than road accidents.
According to the WHO, air quality is deteriorating around the world to
the point where only one in eight people live in cities that meet
recommended air pollution levels.
On Monday the shadow chancellor, John McDonnell, will give evidence in a
trial of 13 climate change activists who occupied a Heathrow runway in
July, delaying or cancelling flights. The Labour MP, whose Hayes and
Harlington constituency includes Heathrow airport, has been a prominent
opponent of the airport’s expansion and has strongly backed local
residents who are resisting a third runway. At a rally in October he
said: “In my constituency at the moment, people are literally dying.
They’re dying because the air has already been poisoned by the aviation
industry.”
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