TE24 International Desk:
LONDON – Air pollution is rising in the UK, France and southern Europe amid record temperatures and burning wildfires. Scientists from the EU’s Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAM) warned on Tuesday (July 19) that unhealthy ozone levels in southern and western Europe could soon affect northwestern Cry.
The World Health Organization has set an 8-hour limit of ozone exposure of 100 micrograms per cubic meter at the surface. Southeast England, northern France and the Benelux region now show daily concentrations above 120 micrograms.
“Compared to these heat waves, the impact on air quality is not negligible,” said Mark Parrington, senior scientist at CAMS.
Ozone pollution occurs when heat and sunlight interact with greenhouse gases such as nitrogen phosphites, carbon monoxide and volatile organic compounds released during the combustion of fossil fuels. production of
Ozone speeds up during heat waves because these chemicals happen faster, Parrington said.
Scientists say that ozone pollution is increasing with climate change. Today, global temperatures are about 1.2°C above pre-industrial levels, and heat waves are becoming more frequent and intense.
Surface ozone is known to exacerbate respiratory and cardiovascular disease and is associated with increased mortality. According to a 2019 survey
In the journal Environmental Research Letters, long-term exposure to ozone causes 55,000 premature deaths in Europe each year.
The survey found that mortality from ozone pollution could increase by 11% in 2050 in some countries in central and southern Europe due to climate change. However, reductions in greenhouse gas emissions are expected to reduce ozone-related deaths.
Fire Hazards Ozone pollution is not the only concern for air quality. Recent wildfires in Portugal, Spain and France have released choking smoke containing fine, respirable particles known as PM2.5.
“Smog particles are one of the most toxic particles we can produce,” said Athanasios Nenes, an atmospheric chemist at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne. “Inhalation increases your chances of developing all types of cancer.”
In a June 2022 study at the University of Southern California, researchers at the University of Southern California said it was either extremely hot or extremely particulate. We found that while days of material pollution increased the risk of death by 5–6%, the number of days with the probability of dying from them increased. However, 21% were more extreme associations associated with wildfires.
“We need to think about a combination of public health warnings for air pollution and heat,” said Erica Garcia, a USC public health scientist and co-author. “Two extreme days are more harmful than one day alone.”
People with pre-existing cardiovascular or respiratory disease are also at increased risk of relapse.
