Improved air quality in Europe, due to containment measures imposed to control the spread of Covid-19, had beneficial health effects, which prevented the equivalent of 11,300 deaths premature, according to a study by a Finnish institute published Thursday, April 30. 

Researchers at the Helsinki-based Clean Air and Energy Research Center have extrapolated the likely impact of illnesses caused or aggravated by air pollution, which has greatly decreased as hundreds of millions of people have remained confined for the past month. 

For comparison, says the scientist who led the study, "it's like everyone in Europe has quit smoking for a month". 

"Our analyst highlights the significant public health and quality of life benefits that could be achieved by reducing fossil fuels in a sustainable manner," adds Lauri Myllyvirta, chief analyst at the Center for Energy and clean air. 

More than 1,500 premature deaths have been averted in Germany, Britain and Italy, according to the study. 

On average, a European citizen was exposed to nitrogen dioxide levels 37% lower than they would have been normally exposed in a month-long period until April 24, researchers said . 

Air pollution causes more than 400,000 premature deaths each year in the European Union, including Great Britain, according to the environmental agency of the community block. 

With Reuters

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