140 000 life-years lost each year in London because of air pollution

Inclusion of the impact of nitrogen dioxide for the first time suggests that more than twice as many people as previously thought die prematurely from air pollution in London.

According to a new study by King’s College London, nearly 9,500 people die early each year in London due to long-term exposure to the air pollutants particulate matter (PM2.5) and nitrogen dioxide (NO₂). The figures, which cover the year 2010 – the most recent year for which quantified figures are available – are higher than previous estimates because they combine the effects of both pollutants.

Commissioned by the Greater London Authority and Transport for London, the study is believed to be one of the first to attempt to quantify how many city dwellers are being harmed by NO₂ – an air pollutant that emanates largely from diesel-driven cars, lorries and buses.

It is estimated that in 2010 there were 5,900 premature deaths in London associated with exposure to NO₂, and 3,500 deaths associated with PM2.5.
A previous study that was based on 2006 levels of air pollution in London attributed 4,300 annual premature deaths to PM2.5 Since that year, the levels of PM2.5 have slightly fallen, and there has also been a change in methodology that excludes natural sources of PM2.5, together resulting in the figure falling to 3,537 premature deaths for the year 2010 in the new study.

This reduction in deaths due to PM2.5 is however more than cancelled out by the addition of an estimated 5,879 deaths from NO₂ each year.
Most of the health damage linked to NO₂ was caused by emissions from diesel vehicles and other sources within London, while a larger proportion of deaths caused by PM2.5 arose from particles that originated from emission sources outside the city rather than within it.

According to the Guardian, the Committee on the Medical Effects of Air Pollutants (COMEAP), which advises the government on this issue, is expected to conclude later this year that across Britain up to 60,000 early deaths can be attributed annually to the two pollutants, because NO₂ will be factored in for the first time. The figure would represent a more than doubling of the current 29,000 deaths from PM2.5, and would put air pollution much closer to smoking, which kills around 100,000 people a year.

Airqualitynews.com reported that in addition to unveiling the new estimated mortality figures for NO₂ and PM2.5, the Mayor of London has also published an update to his Air Quality Strategy detailing progress on more recent policy measures aimed at cutting air pollution in the capital.
Measures added to the strategy include £65 million towards helping taxi drivers reduce emissions and supporting the roll-out of 9,000 zero-emission-capable taxis by 2020, as well as the planned ultra-low emission zone (ULEZ).

The Mayor, Boris Johnson, said these measures taken together would ensure that 80 per cent of central London meets EU legal limits for nitrogen dioxide by 2020.

But campaigners said the evidence showed the need for more action. Alan Andrews, lawyer at ClientEarth, said: “As shocking as they are, these deaths are really only the tip of the iceberg. For every person who dies early from air pollution, many more are made seriously ill, have to visit hospital or take time off work.

“Following our supreme court victory earlier this year, the government must produce plans to bring deadly nitrogen dioxide pollution within legal levels as soon as possible. Current plans won’t achieve legal limits in London until after 2030 – condemning thousands more Londoners to an early death for every year of delay.”

Jenny Bates, air pollution campaigner at Friends of the Earth, said: “People have no choice with the air they breathe. This means we have to redouble our efforts, stop tinkering around the edges, and take really bold immediate action with a mix of cleaner vehicles and cutting traffic levels, massive investment in safe cycling and walking, and London-wide road charging.”

Clean Air in London campaigner Simon Birkett called for a ban on diesel vehicles in the capital. He said: “There can no longer be any doubt – air pollution affects all of us and the vulnerable most. We must ensure that today’s news means the death of diesel in the capital, not the deaths of Londoners. Let’s ban diesel from the most polluted places by 2018 as we banned coal burning so successfully almost exactly 60 years ago.”

Christer Ågren
The report “Understanding the Health Impacts of Air Pollution in London.” By H. Walton, D. Dajnak, S. Beevers, M. Williams. King’s College, London.
Link: http://www.london.gov.uk/priorities/environment/publications/understanding-health-impacts-of-air-pollution-in-london
Sources: The Guardian and Airqualitynews.com, 15 July 2015

In this issue

1.5°C target adequate for Paris agreement

The 2°C goal for global warming is inadequate. Risks increase significantly between 1.5 and 2°C, a UN review of climate targets concludes.

Editorial: The road from Paris

At the UN climate conference in December 2015 in Paris, 196 countries will hopefully adopt a new global agreement for strong greenhouse gas reductions.

Environment MEPs want stricter air pollutant caps

Member states should meet stricter 2025 and 2030 air pollution reduction targets and mercury should also be included in the National Emission Ceilings directive, says the Parliament’s Environment Committee.

A future based on 100 % renewable energy for all is achievable

Greenpeace has launched the new edition of the popular Energy [R]evolution report “How to Achieve 100% Renewable Energy for All by 2050”.

Film:1.5 Stay Alive

AirClim has co-published a 50-minute documentary and Caribbean music film about climate change in the coastal zones of the Caribbean Region.

Exposing the role of coal in Europe – launch of European Coal Map

There is now a comprehensive overview of existing and planned coal power plants that also displays key information on pollution and health impact, presented by the Climate Action Network (CAN).

Deal on pollution from medium combustion plants

While EU-wide application of readily available emission abatement techniques would reduce NOx emissions from these plants by more than 80 per cent by 2025, the new directive will deliver less than half of this reduction.

Weak EU coal pollution standards carry high costs

Draft new EU emission limits for coal-fired power stations are so weak that they could result in health damage, including the loss of over 23 million working days, which would cost over €52 billion between 2020 and 2029.

140 000 life-years lost each year in London because of air pollution

Inclusion of the impact of nitrogen dioxide for the first time suggests that more than twice as many people as previously thought die prematurely from air pollution in London.

Lower speed – less emissions?

Ships in the Mediterranean Sea have reduced their speed by more than 30 per cent since 2008, which has led to a 45 per cent cut in average ship NOx emission factors.

Emissions keep on slowly shrinking

Air pollutant emissions from land-based sources are continuing to fall slightly, but considerably slower than before. Some of the reductions on land are also countered by rising emissions from international shipping.

Pledges for the 2015 UN climate agreement

South Korea plans to cut emissions by 37 percent by 2030, and China plans to boost renewables. As the Paris conference approaches, countries are submitting their plans for greenhouse gas reductions.

Dirty diesel cars tested

Emissions tests on 32 Euro 6 diesel passenger cars from ten different manufacturers and with different abatement technologies show that most cars fail to meet the NOx emissions standards under more realistic driving conditions.

Lignite villages have been needlessly destroyed

Lignite has a low energy output and requires huge quantities to be mined, which has a devastating impact on landscapes and settlements. Even so, many countries are still committed to the fuel.

EU air pollution emissions still exceeded

Ten EU countries breached at least one of their air pollutant emission ceilings in 2013, preliminary data from the European Environment Agency (EEA) shows.

Main menu

140 000 life-years lost each year in London because of air pollution

In this issue

1.5°C target adequate for Paris agreement

Editorial: The road from Paris

Environment MEPs want stricter air pollutant caps

A future based on 100 % renewable energy for all is achievable

Film:1.5 Stay Alive

Exposing the role of coal in Europe – launch of European Coal Map

Deal on pollution from medium combustion plants

Weak EU coal pollution standards carry high costs

140 000 life-years lost each year in London because of air pollution

Lower speed – less emissions?

Emissions keep on slowly shrinking

Pledges for the 2015 UN climate agreement

Dirty diesel cars tested

Lignite villages have been needlessly destroyed

EU air pollution emissions still exceeded

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Food for Thought

Northern forests, climate change and the UNFCCC

EU climate targets aligned with the Paris agreement’s 1.5°C objective

Baltic Sea Offshore Wind Collaborative-Learning project

Air pollution in Europe and children’s health

Climate Change: A Himalayan Odessey

No further discussion needed. The agreed global goal is to limit temperature rise to 1.5°C

Fossil-free electricity 2021

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