A recent scientific publication entitled “Premature mortality due to air pollution in European cities: a health impact assessment” (Khomenko S, et al, Lancet 2021) highlights the heavy repercussions on Public Health of air pollution, with particular attention to avoidable mortality, if the directives of the European guidelines and the World Health Organization were respected.
The Modena section of ISDE – Doctors for the Environment analyzed the data, summarizing some key points: “Air pollution is one of the main risk factors for mortality and morbidity all over the world. In Europe, environmental pollution reduces an average life expectancy of 2.2 years, with an attributable annual mortality rate of 133 cases / year per 100,000 inhabitants. Exposure to air pollution, both short and long term, can lead to a wide range of diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases (heart attacks and strokes), chronic lung diseases (eg chronic bronchitis and asthma), metabolic diseases (type II diabetes mellitus) and respiratory infections (cold syndromes and pneumonia). for cancer research (IARC) has classified air pollution, in particular PM2.5, as a major cause of cancer “.
Emilia Romagna in general, but especially Modena and its province (Carpi and Sassuolo), stand out for absolutely alarming levels. The main cities of our Province, in fact, are placed in a significantly “high” position in this special classification of European cities of mortality linked to pollution.
“The study estimates that several hundred lives could have been saved in our cities by respecting the pollutant limits recommended by the WHO. Awareness of these scientific data must represent a call to action by local and regional administrations, which are responsible the safeguarding of public health, doctors and health personnel who are called to take care of the health of citizens. It is necessary to act on the environmental noxae that threaten health itself and all the actors of civil society must create the conditions so that we can finally live in a healthier and more sustainable environment “.
who it is possible to consult some data reported by ISDE Modena.
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