Air pollution deaths fall during lockdown

(The Ecologist, 4 May 2020) Finland-based Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air reports levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) - from traffic and heavy industry - dropped 40 percent in the past 30 days.

Better air quality caused by the coronavirus lockdown has meant that 1,700 deaths in the UK have been avoided in the past month, according to a Europe-wide study.

The Finland-based Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) report says levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) - produced by road traffic and heavy industry - have dropped by some 40 percent in the past 30 days.

The study also found a 10 percent reduction in the average level of particulate matter pollution across Europe.

Emissions

These decreases had resulted in an estimated 11,000 avoided deaths related to air pollution across Europe, including approximately 1,752 in the UK - the second-highest number in the study behind Germany (2,083)

External link

The Ecologist, 4 May 2020: Air pollution deaths fall during lockdown