Health and Pollution

A recent survey conducted by experts has revealed the impact higher pollution levels may have upon a series of illnesses

Christine Leșcu, 08.11.2023, 14:00

The toxic air in Romania’s
capital city, Bucharest, has been constantly felt by its residents mainly in
the past five years. Furthermore, recent research is linking the rising
pollution to a series of health issues. The latest survey in this respect has
been carried out by a team of 14 experts under the guidance of the Bucharest-based
Center for Pneumology Marius Nasta. The research focuses on the link between
the suspended particles of the PM 2.5 and PM 10 types and patients suffering
from a series of chronic diseases. As for the pollution caused by the PMs as
well as by other toxic substances such as Nitrogen Dioxide, the Center for Durable
Policies, Ecopolis, through its Aerlive sensor network has drawn certain
conclusions presented in the 2023 report on air quality in Bucharest. Here is Oana
Neneciu, coordinator of the aforementioned 44 sensor network.

Oana Neneciu: Suspended particles are dust powders carrying
all sorts of substances, which became airborne and find their way into our
respiratory system, into our lungs. PM10s are actually larger particles, with a
larger diameter, but the PM 2.5s seem to be more toxic as they go directly into
our lungs. Out of 266 monitored days, in 101 the admitted level for PM 2.5
particles has been exceeded. Interestingly enough, St. Valentine’s Day, on
February 14th was the most polluted day of the year. It seemed that
everybody went by car to St. Valentine’s parties. The highest pollution level,
has been registered at the Victor Gomoiu’s Children Hospital, 371 micrograms
per cubic meter, right on February 14. Out of the 30 schools and 14 hospitals
monitored, 29 have registered higher PM 2.5 values than the annual average.
When we are speaking about the PM pollution, the most affected areas aren’t necessarily
those in the city center. The heaviest pollution has been registered on the city’s
most crowded boulevards. 13 out of 14 hospitals have registered an annual
average higher than the maximum value admitted.

These exceeded values have been calculated according to the
EU directives Romania has adopted and the bad effects they have on human
health.

There are also WHO recommendations concerning the admitted
limit of the suspended particles: in the case of PM 2.5s, the monthly level of
5 micrograms per cubic meter must not be exceeded and for PM10s there are
annual limits of 15 micrograms per cubic meter per month. Starting from these
reference points, the authors of the aforementioned survey, entitled The
Impact of Pollution over Chronic Diseases, have for five years studied the
effects of higher pollution on patients. Here is physician Beatrice Mahler, director
with the Pneumology Institute

Beatrice Mahler: We have compared the PMs we have monitored with the
number of hospital admissions and we have noticed three types of illnesses:
respiratory, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular accidents (CVAs). As we have noticed from data gleaned, the period
with the highest pollution level is between the months of March and May.
Pollution starts in September and rises until November. The exception was the
year 2020, during the emergency situation when people stayed at home, the
number of admissions to hospitals decreased and industrial activity almost
ceased. What we obtained from the scientific data assessment is that the
influence of PM 2.5 and PM 10 causes an average monthly number of hospital admissions
for respiratory illnesses ranging between 1963 and 3825. We have practically
had a rise of 10 micrograms per cubic meter of the average monthly PM 2.5 value
and a rise in the number of admissions for respiratory illnesses between 90 and
938. Which means the number of sick people rises according to the increased
pollution level. The number of admissions caused by the PM 10 rise is a little
lower because these particles are bigger and don’t go directly into the lungs; the
illnesses they cause are rather of the bronchitis type.

In the case of cardiovascular diseases, the situation is
similar with the same statistically valid correlation for the number of
admissions, says doctor Beatrice Mahler.

Beatrice Mahler: The monthly 10 micrograms rise per cubic
meter of PM2.5s causes a rise in the number of hospital admissions for
cardiovascular illnesses between 26 and 1392. So the impact is much higher in
the case of cardiovascular diseases, such as hyper blood pressure and heart
attacks, all the illnesses treated by our cardiologist colleagues. The PM10 particles
cause a lower number of admissions between 25 and 888. I would say that the cerebrovascular
accident (CVA) comes as a surprise, not because we didn’t know about the connection
between neurologic or cerebrovascular illnesses and these particles, but only
because we took into account only the PM 2.5 particles, not the PM10s. So there are 10 more monthly hospital admissions
if the PM levels are higher by 10 micrograms per cubic meter.

So, the expert conclusions are clear: the higher the PM2.5 and
PM10 concentration in Bucharest, the higher the number of hospital admissions
for those suffering from the aforementioned diseases. At the same time, the
economic costs are higher, according to the same survey: the increased PM2.5 concentration can cause hospitalization
costs estimated at a value between 26,500 Euros and 288 thousand Euros per
month.

(bill)