The significant drop in air pollution caused by containment measures should save 11,000 lives in Europe, according to a study published Thursday. Measures to combat the epidemic have led to a massive slowdown in the European economy, reducing the production of electricity from coal by 40%, and the consumption of oil by almost a third.
The result: lower air pollution. The concentrations of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and fine particles PM2.5 have decreased by 37% and 10% respectively, according to the study by the Center for Research on Energy and Air (CREA).
Less asthma
The analysis takes into account weather conditions, emissions and available data concerning the impact of this air pollution on health. The countries that should have the most deaths avoided are Germany (with a projection of 2,083 deaths avoided), the United Kingdom (1,752), Italy (1,490), France (1,230) and Spain (1,081 ).
This improvement in air quality could also avoid other health impacts, including 6,000 new cases of asthma in children and 1,900 visits to the emergency room for asthma attacks as well. The impact of the measures against the new virus "is similar or greater in many parts of the world," said Lauri Myllyvirta, lead author of the study.
Three years less life expectancy
In China, for example, NO2 and PM2.5 decreased by 25 and 40% during the strictest containment period. "So there could be even more deaths avoided," he added. Air pollution around the world reduces life expectancy by an average of three years, and causes 8.8 million premature deaths each year, according to a study published last month.
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates these premature deaths at 4.2 million, but according to recent research, this would underestimate the impact of cardiovascular disease. These elements should guide governments when implementing recovery plans for their economies, noted Maria Neira of WHO in response to the study.
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