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Air Pollution
Feb 3, 2008
URBAN AIR POLLUTION: WHAT ARE THE MAIN SOURCES ACROSS THE
WORLD?
Particulate matter (PM) in the air can enter the human body, affecting the cardiovascular system
as well as other major organs. Chronic exposure leads to a number of health risks. The European
Commission's in-house science service, the Joint Research Centre (JRC) and the World Health
Organization (WHO) have identified the main categories of PM in urban air in 51 different cities
around the world. On average, traffic is the biggest source of air pollution, responsible for one
quarter of particulate matter in the air.
In order to reduce the negative health impact of air pollution, it is important to know its sources
and quantity. Measurements of fine particles PM2.5 and PM10 serve as indicators of air quality.
The recently published study shows, based on the available information, that traffic (25%),
combustion and agriculture (22%), domestic fuel burning (20%), natural dust and salt (18%), and
industrial activities (15%) are the main sources of particulate matter contributing to cities' air
pollution. However, there are significant differences between various regions of the world.
Atmospheric processes that lead to the formation of particles as a result of gaseous traffic,
heating and agriculture emissions appear to be most considerable in North America, Western
Europe, Turkey and the Republic of Korea. Domestic fuel burning dominates the contributions to
particulate matter in Eastern Europe and in many developing countries in Africa. In the
developing countries, this source is likely to be associated with cooking, while in Eastern Europe
the use of coal for heating seems to be the most probable reason. Natural dust is the main source
of PM10 in the Middle-East and Northern African countries, likely due to their vicinity to arid
areas. Sea salt is the most important natural source of PM10 in north-western Europe.
The database resulting from this study is published on the WHO website.
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) Date: December 1, 2015
www.sciencedaily.com/ article releases/
METROS-AIR-QUALITY-GETTING-WORSE-STUDY
Yes, being stuck in horrible traffic jam on a daily basis can kill you. With the worsening air quality in
Metro Manila, commuters who get stuck on the road for hours and endure long lines to catch a ride in
public transportation are exposed to various kinds of pollutants, making them highly vulnerable to
developing respiratory disease and cardiovascular illnesses, according to health experts.
Traffic is really bad for our health, Dr. Anthony Leachon, a cardiologist at Manila Doctors Hospital and
the president of the Philippine College of Physicians Foundation, told the Philippine Daily Inquirer on
Sunday. Leachon said air pollution, a major problem particularly in urban centers, could lead to lung
diseases such as bronchitis, exacerbation of bronchial asthma and recurrent respiratory tract infections
and allergies.
Air pollution also contributes to cardiovascular diseases and deaths, according to Leachon, citing a 2010
report of the American Heart Association, stating that short-term exposure to air pollution increases the
risk of heart attacks, strokes, irregular heart beats or cardiac arrhythmia in predisposed individuals. These
vulnerable individuals include the elderly and those with pre-existing medical conditions such as diabetes,
chronic obstructive heart disease and hypertension, he said.
He also cited a study conducted by researchers at the Institute of Epidemiology of Helmholtz Center in
Munich, Germany, showing that heavy traffic, regardless of what mode of transportation taken, could
triple ones risk of heart attack within an hour due to the air pollution from car fumes. The researchers had
also interviewed 1,454 people who survived heart attacks in a previous study and found out that many of
them had been stuck in terrible traffic in the hour before their heart attack. The study also suggested that
stress brought about by heavy road gridlock could be a contributing factor. Thus, traffic woes are fatal.
And the government should embark on a major strategic plan in the next six years or longer to alleviate
this stressful malady afflicting daily commuters and the whole nation as well, said Leachon.
In a statement, Dr. Leo Olarte, chair of the environmental group Coalition of Clean Air Advocates of the
Philippines, said traffic jams in the capital worsened all the deadly effects of unabated motor vehicle
emissions on the health and lives of daily commuters.
If youre a patient with cardiovascular ailments, the intensive particulate matter or soot exposure that
you can be subjected to when caught in monstrous traffic jams for several hours can possibly trigger lifethreatening episodes of heart attack, stroke and even sudden death right there and then even when youre
inside your air conditioned cars, said Olarte.
Latest records from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources showed that Metro Manilas
air quality situation has worsened in terms of total suspended particulates from 106 g/Ncm from July to
December 2014 to 130 g/Ncm from January to April this year. Both figures are beyond the maximum
safe level of 90 g/Ncm.
Particulate Matter of 10microns in diameter (PM10) in Metro Manilas air also jumped from 52 g/Ncm
from July to December 2014 to 62 g/Ncm during the first four months of the year, two points higher
than the standard PM10. Eighty-five percent of the capitals total air emissions come from vehicles,
records show.
Source :
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/source/philippine-daily-inquirer
Jocelyn R. Uy
Date: August 23rd, 2015
Source: