Study: Air Pollution Harms Children

High air pollution like that. with solid particles leading according to a study by the EU Environment Agency, EEA in a premature death of more than 1,200 children and young people in the EU and countries like Switzerland, Norway, Isanda, Lichtenstein and Turkey. In addition, it increases the risk of further diseases in life, without the EU report.

The authors of the study seek to do much to protect children from the negative effects of air pollution, the EU's authority, which has headquarters in Copenhagen, declared. Despite improvements in past years, pollution with different substances in many countries still remains above the allowed values set by the World Health Organization, especially in Eastern Central Europe and Italy.

Long way

The main reason for pollution by fine solid particles is burning materials such as coal for heating and industry. Along with high values of polluting particles, problems remain the high values of ozone and nitrogen dioxide, according to the EU Agency. These values are especially at risk because their organs and immune systems are still developing. EEA Executive Director Hans Bruynickx said all Europeans should be protected from pollution, but children first. He urgently urged strengthening measures at the national and local level “to protect our children, who cannot protect themselves”. It's a long way to really clean air. Hans Bruynnickx stressed.

Reducement of Pollution in Its Source

“We cannot treat children as small adults when it comes to environmental risks and air pollution”, an EEA expert, Gerardo Sanchez, has been expressed. They have, among other things, a higher respiratory frequency, more breathing through the mouth, and a smaller weight. Their biology is different, but also the way they are exposed to environmental pollution. This can potentially lead to serious dangers, with serious health consequences.

To protect children, we need to reduce air pollution to its source, in traffic, in industry, and in heating, Sanchez said. A good measure is caring for air quality around schools and gardens by adding green spaces.

Some cities in Europe have, however, managed to significantly improve air quality. The cleanest-aired cities in Europe -mate on the scale of particles pollution - are Faro in Portugal and Umé and Upsala in Sweden, according to a comparison of 375 European cities. Germany is on the average level of particles pollution, while because of heavy road traffic, there are higher values in terms of nitrogen dioxide pollution. / DW