# Air pollution surges as heatwave sweeps across Europe
Author:  Pal Sinha, Barnali 
Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali
Published: 2022-07-19
Category: NEWS
Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/news
Meta Title: Record-Breaking Heatwave: Rising Ozone and Wildfire
Meta Description: Learn about the dangerous levels of ozone pollution and wildfire smoke in Europe, causing respiratory and cardiovascular illnesses, and increased mortality
URL: https://financedigest.com/air-pollution-surges-as-heatwave-sweeps-across-europehtml

![undefined](https://prod.superblogcdn.com/site_cuid_cm5qst7v3003gwirgwqtxn8i8/images/2022-07-19t112018z1lynxmpei6i0hmrtroptp4climate-change-heatwave-pollution-1736815571625-compressed.jpg)

By Gloria Dickie

LONDON (Reuters) – Air pollution is spiking across Britain, France, and southern Europe amid record-breaking temperatures and scorching wildfires.

Scientists with the EU Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) warned https://atmosphere.copernicus.eu/copernicus-scientists-warn-very-high-ozone-pollution-heatwave-continues-across-europe on Tuesday of unhealthy levels of ozone pollution across southern and western Europe which could soon affect northwestern regions.

The World [Health Organization has set](https://www.financedigest.com/investment-in-mental-health-amongst-cybersecurity-professionals-set-to-increase-according-to-infosecurity-europe-poll.html "Investment in mental health amongst cybersecurity professionals set to increase according to Infosecurity Europe poll") an eight-hour surface-level ozone exposure limit of 100 micrograms per cubic meter. Southeast England, northern France, and the Benelux region are all currently seeing daily concentrations greater than 120 micrograms.

The [air quality](https://www.financedigest.com/beijing-meets-state-air-quality-standards-for-first-time-in-2021.html "Beijing meets state air quality standards for first time in 2021") impacts are not negligible in relation to this heatwave,” said Mark Parrington, senior scientist with CAMS.

Ozone pollution forms when heat and sunlight interact with greenhouse gases such as nitrous oxide, carbon monoxide and volatile organic compounds released during the burning of [fossil fuels](https://www.financedigest.com/eu-approves-effective-ban-on-new-fossil-fuel-cars-from-2035.html "EU approves effective ban on new fossil fuel cars from 2035").

Ozone [production accelerates](https://www.financedigest.com/solgari-announces-new-investment-in-product-enhancement-and-sales-channel-acceleration.html "Solgari announces new investment in Product Enhancement and Sales Channel Acceleration") during a heatwave, Parrington said, as these chemical reactions happen faster.

Scientists [say ozone pollution will increase under climate](https://www.financedigest.com/live-up-to-your-climate-promises-uk-pm-will-say.html "“Live up to your climate promises,” UK PM will say") change. [Global temperatures are now about 1.2C above pre-industrial levels](https://www.financedigest.com/global-covid-19-cases-hit-250-million-eastern-europe-infections-at-record-levels.html "Global COVID-19 cases hit 250 million, eastern Europe infections at record levels") and heatwaves have become more frequent and more severe.

Surface-level ozone is known to worsen respiratory and cardiovascular illnesses, and has been linked to [increased mortality rates](https://www.financedigest.com/how-to-increase-repeat-purchase-rates-in-ecommerce.html "How to increase repeat purchase rates in eCommerce").

Long-term exposure to ozone pollution is responsible for 55,000 premature deaths annually in Europe, [according to a 2019 study](https://www.financedigest.com/investors-seek-higher-returns-as-catastrophe-bond-issuance-slows-during-q2-according-to-aon-study.html "INVESTORS SEEK HIGHER RETURNS AS CATASTROPHE BOND ISSUANCE SLOWS DURING Q2, ACCORDING TO AON STUDY") https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1748-9326/ab1cd9#erlab1cd9t1 in the journal Environmental Research Letters.

The study found that ozone pollution-associated mortality could be 11% higher in some [central and southern European countries in 2050 due to climate](https://www.financedigest.com/inflation-fighting-central-bankers-air-climate-role-doubts.html "Inflation fighting central bankers air climate role doubts") change. However, if emissions of greenhouse gases are slashed, ozone-related deaths are [projected to decline](https://www.financedigest.com/demand-for-temperature-controlled-pharma-packaging-solutions-to-reach-over-us-9-bn-by-2030-fmi-projects-a-decline-till-q2-2020-amid-covid-19-pandemic.html "Demand for Temperature Controlled Pharma Packaging Solutions to Reach over US$ 9 Bn by 2030; FMI Projects a Decline till Q2 2020 Amid COVID-19 Pandemic").

WILDFIRE DANGER

[Ozone pollution isn’t the only air quality](https://www.financedigest.com/new-ozone-study-demonstrates-clear-link-between-quality-of-attention-to-content-and-quality-of-attention-to-accompanying-ads.html "NEW OZONE STUDY DEMONSTRATES CLEAR LINK BETWEEN QUALITY OF ATTENTION TO CONTENT AND QUALITY OF ATTENTION TO ACCOMPANYING ADS") concern. Wildfires raging across Portugal, Spain and France in recent days have released choking smoke containing fine, inhalable particulate matter known as PM 2.5.

“Smoke particles are one of the most toxic forms of particles we can generate,” said Athanasios Nenes, an atmospheric chemist at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne. “When you breathe them, they increase your chance of getting all kinds of cancers.”

Those already suffering from cardiovascular or respiratory illnesses are also at a [greater risk](https://www.financedigest.com/with-greater-freedom-comes-heightened-risk-how-to-help-ensure-consumer-data-remains-secure-in-an-open-banking-system.html "With Greater Freedom Comes Heightened Risk: How to Help Ensure Consumer Data Remains Secure in an Open Banking System") of flare-ups.

In a June 2022 study https://www.atsjournals.org/doi/10.1164/rccm.202204-0657OC, University of Southern California [researchers found that while days with extreme heat or extreme particulate air pollution resulted in a 5% to 6% increase in mortality risk](https://www.financedigest.com/senior-leaders-more-at-risk-of-burnout-than-ceos-according-to-new-research.html "Senior leaders more at risk of burnout than CEOs, according to new research"), deaths were 21% more likely on days that saw simultaneous extremes, associated with wildfires.

We need to think about combining [public health](https://www.financedigest.com/how-can-technology-impact-public-health.html "How can Technology Impact Public Health") alerts for air pollution and heat,” said co-author Erika Garcia, a public health scientist at USC. “A day with exposure to both extremes is much more harmful than a day with just one.”

(Reporting by Gloria Dickie in London; Additional reporting by Kate Abnett in Brussels; Editing by Gareth Jones)


---
This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more.
---