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Athens entered top 6 European cities with the highest oxidative activity air. Scientists warn: this is not acerb rain, but unsafe smog.
When the aerial becomes toxic
Winter implicit Athens thick overhangs a veil of aerosol smog – a premix of soot and microparticles from fireplaces. Study Astronomical Observatory of Athens showed: 1 fireplace throws retired 30 times much pollutionthan the heating system of a high-rise gathering with 25 apartments.
The main information is not conscionable the fig of particles, but their oxidative activity. This is the quality of microscopic particles to origin chemic reactions within the body. When a idiosyncratic inhales such air, formations signifier successful the lungs. free radicals – molecules that harm cells and tissues. This is however it arises oxidative stressassociated with inflammation, bosom and respiratory diseases.
Not to beryllium confused with acerb rain
Oxidative enactment is not related to acid rain. Rain becomes acidic owed to sulfur dioxide And nitrogen oxideswhich respond with water and signifier an acid. A oxidation imaginable of aerosol particles (PM2.5, PM10) unsafe for humans: it damages cells when breathing.
Athens is among the worst
According to an planetary radical of scientists from Université Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, Inserm, IRD and Greek researchers, the superior of Greece was included successful the six European regions with the highest level PM10 aerosol particles and successful three – by the astir dangerous PM2.5. These ultrafine particles penetrate heavy into the lungs and adjacent into the blood.
“The main menace is not oversea particulate oregon African sand, but particles from the combustion of substance and wood wrong the city.”explains Nikos MichalopoulosObservatory Research Director and Program Manager CLIMPACT.
Scientific findings and alarming figures
The study included astir 11,500 aerial samples from antithetic types of areas – urban, agrarian and industrial. It turned retired that successful megacities the level of oxidative stress tin beryllium three times higher than successful agrarian areas. Main sources – exhaust gases And biomass combustion.
To trim aerial toxicity to astatine slightest an mean level, you request reduce emissions by astatine slightest 15%. But to get person to the norm WHOemissions will request to beryllium reduced by 65%.
Fireplaces versus cities
Since the opening of the economical crisis, thousands of Athenians person started utilizing wood-burning fireplaces and stoves. “The occupation is that not lone logs are often burned, but besides varnished, painted oregon glued materials that merchandise toxins”notes Michalopoulos. As a result, a imperishable furniture formed implicit the superior toxic smog.
The observatory estimates that contamination from fireplaces successful winter is comparable to concern emissions. More than 10,000 deaths annually successful Greece are associated with precocious concentrations of microparticles. In villages, smoke dissipates, but successful megacities it settles betwixt buildings, turning the aerial into a toxic mist.
What to bash next
Scientists emphasize: we request to combat anthropogenic sources – cars, concern emissions and wood burning. Natural particulate from the Sahara does not airs the aforesaid menace arsenic quality smoke. “If these emissions are not reduced, Athens’ aerial will go a chronic irritant alternatively than an exception.”concludes Nikos Michalopoulos.
PS There is different fantabulous method that Mr. Michalopoulos was embarrassed to notation – this reduction (or adjacent abolition) of the excise tax connected stove diesel fuelwhich would let residents of the superior heat your homes astatine affordable prices. But it is not harmless to talk astir this, arsenic it differs from a imaginable biology problem.
Let us callback that different caller study showed that 80% of residents of the Greek superior suffer from vigor deficiency – they simply don’t person capable wealth to wage for heating…
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