2023-10-05 01:45:04
96% of the Spanish population (45.8 million people) has breathed air contaminated by ozone in 99% of the territory from January 1 to September 30, 2023, according to the annual report of Ecologistas en Acción : Ozone pollution in the Spanish State during 2023 (1), which takes as a reference the values recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO), stricter than those of Spanish and European legislation.
The study has analyzed the data collected from almost 500 measurement stations managed by the autonomous communities (CC.AA) for the evaluation of ozone pollution and has then been compared with the WHO recommendations proposed in 2021.
The study has analyzed the data collected from almost 500 measurement stations managed by the autonomous communities (CCAA) for the evaluation of ozone pollution and has then been compared with the WHO recommendations proposed in 2021.
45.8 million Spaniards exposed to air with ozone
In this way, the main conclusions reflect that 45.8 million Spaniards have been exposed to air with ozone, a pollutant that has increased significantly compared to the years of the pandemic, 2020 and 2021. although ozone concentrations have been reduced by 18% compared to pre-Covid-19 levels.
Thus, according to the report, the most affected territories in 2023 have been Andalusia, Castilla-La Mancha, Extremadura, Madrid and Murcia. Additionally, ozone levels have increased in Asturias and northern Galicia although they have reduced on the Mediterranean coast, the Ebro Valley, the northwest of the peninsula and the Canary Islands.
The main sources of ozone pollution are transport and industry, the progressive lengthening of the summer and the increase in solar radiation, as well as the lack of precipitation caused by climate change.
Furthermore, the study shows that, although the main sources of ozone concentration are transport and industry, the progressive lengthening of the duration of summer and the increase in solar radiation as well as the lack of precipitation caused by Climate change has aggravated ozone pollution in Spain.
“The highest levels of ozone in the air have been recorded mainly in spring and summer of 2023 due to heat waves“, specified the coordinator of the report, Miguel Ángel Ceballos. Therefore, according to the coordinator, the current hot period has caused a very high ozone episode in a station Puertollano (Ciudad Real) this October 3.
The report specifies that if the limits set in Spanish legislation are taken as a reference, which according to Ceballos “is obsolete“, 5% of the population (2.2 million people) in Spain have breathed air with more ozone than allowed between the period of 2021 and 2023 – since the legal limits are measured in three years – in areas of the interior of Catalonia and the Community of Madrid.
If the limits of the future regulations under discussion in the EU are taken as a reference, the percentage rises to 17% of inhabitants in Spain (8.2 million people) have breathed levels of ozone higher than those established by the regulations. community by 2030 and are mainly concentrated in areas of Madrid, Catalonia, Castilla la Mancha, Extremadura, Murcia and the Balearic Islands.
Ozone pollution causes around 2,500 deaths annually in Spain
Ozone pollution causes around 2,500 deaths annually in Spain according to the European Environment Agency, although during the summer of 2023, according to estimates by the Carlos III Institute, there were 3,000 deaths due to high temperatures and breathing ozone.
According to data from the World Bank, the health and labor cost of ozone pollution has been 5,000 million euros this year (0.33% of Spanish GDP), an expense that does not take into account the damage caused by this substance. the vegetation
Two thirds of the cultivated area in Spain see their productivity reduced by ozone
Likewise, according to data from the World Bank, the health and labor cost of ozone pollution has been 5,000 million euros this year (0.33% of Spanish GDP), an expense that does not take into account the damage it causes. this substance the vegetation, since as Ceballos explained, two thirds of the cultivated area in Spain see their productivity reduced by ozone.
Citizens lack information about ozone levels in the air
“The right to information is not respected when these ozone peaks occur,” Ceballos warned in relation to the obligation of the regional authorities to inform the population when ozone peaks occur in the air.
“The right to information is not respected when these ozone peaks occur.”
As in Madrid, where an automatic message is sent a posteriori to citizens who have registered to receive the notification
When this occurs, according to Ceballos, the warnings are made through routine messages and by procedures that do not reach the majority of the populationas in Madrid, where an automatic message is sent a posteriori to citizens who have registered to receive the notification.
Ecologists in Action demands a National Ozone Plan
Ecologists in Action demands a National Ozone Plan, since according to the organization, its preparation has been delayed since 2015, and despite the fact that the scientific bases are published, the objectives have still not been achieved.
Furthermore, Ceballos has denounced the absence of air improvement plans by the Autonomous Communities, since Extremadura is the only region that has one. “It is precisely the one that has the least room for maneuver to combat this problem, as it does not have industry or large urban areas to be able to act,” she indicated.
The main courses of action to reduce ozone emissions are to reduce motorized traffic, replace organic solvents with water, and energy savings and efficiency, as well as an orderly deployment of renewable energies.
For his part, the head of air quality at Ecologistas en Acción, Juan Bárcena, has highlighted the main courses of action to reduce ozone emissions, such as reducing motorized traffic, replacing organic solvents with water and savings and efficiency. energy as well as an orderly deployment of renewable energies.
Finally, the head of transport for the environmental organization, Carmen Duce, has explained the “Lack of compromise” by municipalities with more than 50,000 inhabitants in the establishment of low-emission zones, since “barely a dozen have complied with this obligation despite the public funds they have received for its implementation”.
References (1) Ozone pollution in Spain during 2023. Ecologists in Action.
#Spain #breathes #air #contaminated #ozone