Pollution-related deaths: 9 million a year

Air pollutants are also having a negative impact on the climate emergency. The main causes of the carnage are fine particles and particulate matter. Italy's terrible record

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While in Europe a phantom "green deal» and while in Italy the political class, first of all from the government's megaphones, has now specialized in giving breath to the trumpets of sensational «green turns» with billion-dollar investments (all on paper), the accounting of the deaths from pollution atmospheric updates.

DEATHS DUE TO POLLUTION

For the magazine Lancet there are a total of 7 million deaths per year attributable toair pollution, of which 2,9 million are due to particulate matter and fine dust alone. Obviously, the majority of these deaths are concentrated in 15 countries that emit more greenhouse gases (the ones we should eliminate), starting from China, India, Pakistan.

This tragic accounting is updated every year, and we have thus arrived at 9 million premature deaths per year due to pollution.

ALSO READ: Fossil fuel pollution costs $8 billion a day

DEATHS DUE TO POLLUTION IN ITALY

There were 52.303, about 140 per day. Italy, unfortunately, holds the sad record of being the European country with the highest number of deaths from pollution among EU countries. Premature deaths were caused by fine particulate matter in 2020 (the last year for which an official survey is available). The statistic is increasing compared to previous years, and after Italy, Poland and Germany are the highest.

DEATHS FROM POLLUTION IN THE WORLD

But also in Europe, the continent that should become carbon neutral by 2050, deaths from pollution are half a million a yearA frightening figure. Like the 7 percent of all deaths in Italy that are attributable to well-identified killers, such as particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide, and ozone. At the top of this horrific ranking are two regions, one in the North (Lombardy) and the other in the South (Campania). In the face of the pollution massacre, Italy appears to be one and alone.

WHAT IS AIR POLLUTION?

Air pollution arises from a combination of three factors: physical, chemical, and biological. These factors alter air quality, which is crucial for human health and particularly for the risks it can pose to the respiratory and cardiovascular systems. Recent studies, particularly a study by Center for Ecology and Hydrology, in Great Britain, are adding further pathologies to the list of potential health risks deriving from pollution. In particular: low birth weight of newborns, diabetes, effects on mental health (including dementia), kidney disease.

AMOUNT OF CO2 IN THE ATMOSPHERE

Greenhouse gases significantly influence the temperature of the atmosphere and the planet, and therefore the climate emergency. Carbon dioxide (CO2) accounts for 76 percent of greenhouse gases, and its emissions come from industry, (intensive) agriculture, homes, transportation, energy in other sectors, and waste.

In 2020 have been registered 418 ppm of CO02 per million (there were 338 in 1980) and the forecasts speak of exceeding the 600 threshold by 2050, also due to global warming exceeding two degrees. The three nations that emit the most CO02 in the world are, in order, China, the United States, and India. While the three most polluted cities in the world are, in order, Ghaziabad (India), Hotan (China), and Gujranwala (Pakistan). As for Italy, the Po Valley is the place in Europe where the highest number of deaths are due to air pollution. And two Italian capitals, Turin and Milan, top the list. Lancet of places where premature deaths are attributed to levels of nitrogen dioxide, the deadly gas produced by air pollution.

WHAT DIRTY THE AIR

Air pollution arises from the diffusion of gases and fine and very fine particles into the air. Where do they come from? From factories, intensive crops and livestock farming, but also from energy generation plants, home heating and cooling, traffic, and road transport in general.

The most harmful and deadly substance to human health linked to air pollution is particulate matter, in both solid and liquid form, suspended in the air. Pm is going to «Particulate matter» and indicates the size of the particles: specifically, PM 10, which is a dust capable of reaching the inside of the nose and larynx; PM 2,5, which includes particles smaller than 2,5 micrometers in diameter and can penetrate the lungs and even the blood; and PM 0,001, which is so fine that it can enter cells and even mutate DNA. According to the latest data from the European Environment Agency (EEA), in Europe, only Estonia, Finland, Iceland, and Ireland recorded levels of fine particulate matter in the air below the maximum thresholds set by the World Health Organization as early as 2018.

As for gaseous pollutants, the most dangerous substance is the nitrogen dioxide, deemed carcinogenic: it is emitted, for example, by many diesel engines.

TO KNOW MORE: Noise pollution, the most frequent damages are to hearing, sleep, thyroid and intestines

DAMAGE FROM FINE DUST

The effect of smog on the respiratory system is well summarized by a 2018 Chinese research published in theInternational Journal of BiometeorologyHuman exposure to particulate matter causes the cilia, which move the layer of liquid mucus in the trachea, to malfunction. At this point, a fundamental defense mechanism fails: the one that should block pathogens from advancing into the respiratory tract.

Once particulate matter reaches the lungs, it is retained like a sponge and deposited in the alveoli, the small cells that allow the exchange between the oxygen present in the inhaled air and the blood. Through the capillaries, the fine They spread throughout the body. Everywhere. They lead to inflammation in the blood vessels, which increases atherosclerosis and cardiovascular risk.

CONSEQUENCES OF AIR POLLUTION

Air pollution can cause or aggravate various forms of allergies, asthma, bronchitis, respiratory diseases, including pneumonia itself. Prolonged exposure to the gaseous and liquid elements that pollute the air is linked to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, stroke, heart attack, and ischemic heart disease. And also: diabetes, metabolic dysfunction, neurological and psychiatric disorders, and premature births. With the pandemic, scientific evidence continues to mount. as we have explained in this article, on the relationship between air pollution and Covid-19. These are polluting particles, both gaseous and liquid, that make the respiratory system more fragile and therefore more exposed to the risks of infection. In particular, a biostatic study conducted by a team of scientists at Harvard University found that even a small increase in long-term exposure to PM 2,5 leads to a significant increase in the mortality rate from Covid-19. So much so that, according to a study that cross-references data from various studies, also conducted at Harvard and published in Cardiovascular Research, 15 percent of deaths worldwide from Covid-19 could be linked to air pollution.

EFFECTS OF SMOG

The first signs of the damage that air pollution is causing to our bodies are elementary and should not be underestimated. In the upper part of the body you may feel: fatigue, anxiety, headache, irritations e eye inflammation e to the mucous membranes. From the central part of the body, you may experience signs of more labored breathing than usual, while you may also feel signs of fatigue in your legs.

SMOG DAMAGES CHILDREN'S BRAINS

Smog can damage, and quite seriously at that, children's brainsA study by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health, led by Matilda von den Bosch, examined more than a thousand cases of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) among children born in Vancouver between 2001 and 2002. It emerged that living in an area polluted by particulate matter and with little green space during the brain development period significantly increases the risk of ADHD. For every 12 percent decrease in vegetation in the area, the risk increases by one-tenth; for every two micrograms of PM 2.5, the risk increases by 11 percent. Needless to say, however, the lack of greenery is more concentrated in poor neighborhoods and on the outskirts of cities, thus creating further discrimination among the population regarding sustainability. 

HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM AIR POLLUTION

There are some simple things we can do every day to increase our level of protection from air pollution. Let's start with: masks, essential for protecting yourself from the pandemic: FFP2 masks also block fine dust, although they are not suitable for significant physical exertion, such as running or cycling. When jogging or running, it is best to maintain a distance of at least 150 meters from areas with heavy traffic from cars and motorcycles, and still choose green areas. When the days are very gray due to smog, it's best to avoid any outdoor activity. At home, in the office, or in workplaces, it's essential to open windows frequently and allow for frequent air circulation. If you feel like you live in an environment at risk of indoor pollution, you can also install a small home air purification systemAll systems, both heating and cooling, require annual maintenance and inspections: poor functioning becomes a polluting factor. Finally, two simple but fundamental tips. The first concerns food: Fruits and vegetables improve the immune system and therefore in fact counteract the harmful effects of smog. Also drinking lots of water is good for you, as it helps dilute and expel mucus and pollutants that enter our body. Smoking in the home should be eliminated in any case, as it is a very serious and dangerous pollution factor.

POLLUTION AND CLIMATE EMERGENCY

Pollution also has a significant impact on the climate crisis. Greenhouse gases and air pollutants degrade air quality and have a short-term warming impact. These include hydrofluorocarbons, soot, methane, and ozone: all invisible in the air, except soot. An immediate reduction of these pollutants, according to the book Carbon Almanac, a guide to climate change (Roi Edizioni) Several studies estimate that a drop in pollutants could reduce climate change by up to 4 degrees Celsius. And the rate of sea level rise by 24-50 percent.

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