Air Pollution Is Very Serious

Recent data from the World Health Organization confirm that 9 out of 10 people worldwide breathe polluted air. This is the third leading cause of death in the world and in Spain it causes the death of 10,000 people a year. On World Environment Day, different environmental and scientific groups remind us that we are facing a public health crisis that requires urgent measures.

Invisible pollutants with very harmful effects

Among the most harmful environmental pollutants are nitrogen oxides (NO2), which are the ones that cause the most deaths in Spain (around 6,000 per year), followed by suspended particles (2,600 annual deaths), tropospheric ozone (plus 500) and others such as sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide or lead, warns the Spanish Society of Pulmonology and Thoracic Surgery (SEPAR).

Although air pollutants are often invisible, their health effects can be serious, especially on the lungs, heart, and other organs, as well as the developing fetus. Children and the elderly, chronically ill, heart patients or those with fragile health are the most vulnerable.

Decarbonisation, renewable energies and fewer polluting ships

Among the measures proposed to optimize air quality is the gradual elimination of coal-fired power plants and the use of renewable and clean transports. In Spain, the gases emitted by road traffic exhaust pipes (32.5%) and industrial or energy-producing plants (32.4%) pollute with the same proportion, according to SEPAR. Getting around on public transport, by bike or on foot are ways to contribute to the realization of the right to breathe clean air.

For its part, Ecologistas en Acción asks the Government to join France in creating an Emissions Control Area that limits the entry of highly polluting vessels into the Mediterranean Sea.

Polluted air travels through the atmosphere and knows no borders

Clean air is not a luxury. More and more people have to deal with the terrible health impacts caused by polluted and toxic air, and citizens are already standing up and demanding solutions around the world. Air pollution travels through the atmosphere and knows no national borders ”, so we must“ stop this silent killer and make the leap towards a cleaner, fairer and more sustainable future ”, stated the Executive Director of Greenpeace International, Jennifer Morgan.

According to Greenpeace Spain, the Government can curb pollution through a climate emergency law and a climate and energy plan that assumes the closure of coal power plants no later than 2025, which ends the sale of diesel cars and gasoline in 2028.

It is also necessary for cities to extend restrictions on polluting vehicles with Low Emission Zones, large pedestrian areas and urban tolls.

The Tropospheric Ozone Problem

Another necessary measure is to eliminate tropospheric ozone pollution. This pollutant is produced by the reaction between nitrogen dioxide and transport hydrocarbons in the presence of solar radiation. The European Environment Agency estimates that in Spain it causes 1,800 premature deaths annually.

According to Ecologists in Action, the central government and the autonomous communities continue to fail to comply with the obligation to act on the industry to reduce tropospheric ozone.

Almost 19 million Spaniards affected by tropospheric ozone

According to the environmental NGO, ozone levels have skyrocketed since May 31. The areas where the limits are violated affect almost 19 million inhabitants of Andalusia, Aragon, the Balearic Islands, Castilla-La Mancha, Castilla y León, Catalonia, the Valencian Country, Extremadura, Murcia, Navarra and Madrid, the most affected by urban traffic .

Another major focus is on the Mediterranean coast, where the high degree of urbanization of the coast and the high maritime and airport traffic affects more than three million people. Also toxic gases and particles from intensive farms, such as ammonia and PM2.5 microparticles increase respiratory diseases.