Less air pollution would prolong lives, save healthcare costs and increase productivity: EU study

Curbing pollution could save lives
 and cut health-care costs.

A study funded by the European Union has found that 19,000 lives could be saved each year if rampant air pollution could be controlled.

Apart from saving lives, the study results also indicates that residents could add two years to their life expectancy and be more productive at work because they would not have to be absent as often.
 In addition, healthcare costs could go down by as much as $43.4 billion.


Cars blamed for high pollution rates

The study, titled Aphekom, looked at 25 cities in 12 EU countries over a period of three years and encompassed nearly 39 million people.

Most of the pollution came from vehicle exhausts on busy streets.

Stockholm fared best when it came to fine particle pollution, while Bucharest, Budapest and Barcelona were bogged down with high pollution rates.

The UN's World Health Organization (WHO) set the acceptable standards for fine particulate pollution at 10 micrograms per cubic meter. Rome was at 21.4 micrograms per cubic meter, London was at 13.1.


Health concerns associated with air pollution

In North America, pollution has been an ongoing issue. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, exposure to particulate matter can have effects on breathing and respiratory systems, damage to lung tissue, cancer, and premature death.

The elderly, children, and people with chronic lung disease, influenza, or asthma, tend to be especially sensitive to the effects of particulate matter. Acidic particulate matter can also damage manmade materials and is a major cause of reduced visibility in many parts of the U.S.

Fine particles can remain suspended in the air and travel long distances. For example, a puff of exhaust from a diesel truck in Los Angeles can end up over the Grand Canyon, where one-third of the haze comes from Southern California.

Emissions from a Los Angeles oil refinery can form particles that in a few days will affect visibility in the Rocky Mountain National Park. Twenty percent of the problem on dirtiest days in that Park is attributed to Los Angeles-generated smog.


Reduce air pollution – outdoors and indoors

If outdoor air pollution sounds dangerous, imagine what kind of an effect poor indoor air quality can have on human health -- especially since we spend most of our time inside. The silver lining: We have more control over our indoor environments.

Compact air purifiers help remove
airborne contaminants at home and at the office.

For cleaner air at home and industrial odor and chemical control solutions at the workplace, choose an air purifier with activated carbon and HEPA to provide maximum chemical, odor and particle control. Carbon adsorbs many of the prevalent airborne gases and chemicals that pollute indoor air. Find out more on the Electrocorp website or contact us today for a customized recommendation.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20110302/sc_afp/euenvironmenthealthpollution_20110302115256/print