Car emissions kill more people than traffic accidents

A large number of people in the UK die every year prematurely due to air pollution by emissions from cars, planes and power plants, as shown by the results of a study performed by mit and published in the current issue of the publication Environmental Science and Technology.









Researchers Steven Barrett and Steve Yim, decided to focus on the assessment of air quality in the country, identifying deviations from the prescribed standards established by the EU.

After analyzing all the data beginning in 2005, scientists discovered that the exhausts of cars and trucks are one of the main culprits of premature death British citizens among the various sources of emissions, the figure reached more than 3 300 deaths per year.

For comparison, it should be noted that less than 3,000 people in the UK were victims of road traffic accidents with a fatal outcome. In addition, they found that another $ 6,000 annual premature deaths in the UK is a consequence of the emission of harmful substances into the air by other sources in Europe.

Associate Professor of Aeronautics and Astronautics Stephen Barrett, operating at mit, noted in his message: "To install the localization of emissions, we tried to replicate certain weather conditions in the UK, taking into account temperature and wind direction. This model was very similar to those that meteorologists use to predict weather in the short term".

The obtained simulation results were then overlaid on maps showing population density, to determine where the most continuous impact emissions from fuel combustion.

Scientists have found that the diameter of the particles of combustion is less than 2.5 µm. According to the epidemiological centres, the particle size provokes pathological effects on the human body. Dr. Barrett also noted in conclusion: "There are a number of indicators of risk to human life. Air pollution by automobile exhaust and emissions of harmful impurities is an additional risk factor that threatens the health and lives of people, particularly urban residents".







Source: globalscience.ru