Recent research from Greece has added to growing evidence that reducing air pollution can directly provide immediate health benefits to local communities.
As published in The Guardian, shutting mines and closing power stations provided an opportunity to study the effects on people’s health when air pollution is reduced.
The researchers commented: “When the air cleared, fewer patients filled the cardiac wards. This regional transition serves as a microcosm of what can be achieved globally through sustained emission reductions.”
Between 2011 and 2021, cuts in air pollution were accompanied by a great reduction in people being admitted to hospital with heart problems. The area’s main hospitals, which serve more than 200 thousand people, experienced drops in wintertime admissions for heart problems by between 22% and 42%.
This was at stark contrast with a different hospital, 100km away, with saw an increase of 2%.
Recently, it was also revealed that the ultra-low emission zone (ULEZ) in London was accompanied by an improvement in children’s lung health and fewer children with clinically impaired lunch function.
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