EU POLLUTION DEATHS COST BILLIONS

[Anonymous]

EU pollution deaths cost billions

The European Union could save up to 161 billion
euros a year by reducing deaths caused by air pollution, the World Health
Organization has said.

Air pollution reduces the life of the average European by 8.6
months.

The toxic particles in pollution increase deaths from
cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, and the price of treating these
ailments is costly.

However, EU plans to cut pollution by 2010 should on average
save 2.3 months of life for each European, WHO says.

This is the equivalent of preventing 80,000 premature deaths and
saving over one million years of life across the European Union.

“Measures to reduce the effects of air pollution on health and
extend life expectancy already exist and work,” said Dr Marc Danzon, WHO
Regional Director for Europe.

“The data presented today emphasise that health damage due to
particulate matter (PM) exposure, its costs for European society, and the
ability of the current European legislation to reduce this impact, are critical
arguments for continuing efforts to reduce air pollution.”

Diesel cars

Transport and the use of fossil fuels in homes are the major
contributors to air pollution. Diesel is a particular culprit, providing a hefty
chunk of all polluting particles.

Although each country is responsible for much of its own
pollution, winds and weather systems mean they also get an unhealthy dose from
other countries.

“The transboundary nature of PM pollution requires that all
countries take measures that will benefit the European population,” said Roberto
Bertollini, Director of the Special Programme on Health and Environment, WHO.

WHO says plans to manage air quality at the local, regional and
national levels need to be integrated. Cutting traffic at the local level may
help reduce the exposure of people living in pollution hotspots, but will not
help the society as a whole.

It suggests that people across Europe rely less heavily on
motorised transport and instead take trains, cycle or walk. People’s attitudes
need to change, WHO says, and we all need to nurture a commitment to clean air.

WHO and the European Commission are working together in a new
long-term strategy known as Clean Air for Europe (CAFE).

[Author]

April 16, 2005 at 11:11 AM