Ground level ozone is a highly reactive, oxidative gas commonly found in urban and suburban environments, mostly derived from anthropogenic (human made) emissions.
A new study collected data from 20 countries and 406 cities covering weather and air pollutants from 1985 to 2015. Data on levels of ozone, particular matter, nitrogen dioxide, mean temperature, relative humidity and total mortality were derived. The study was led by the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM).
- We found that short-term exposure to ozone above the WHO guideline of 100 µg/m3 is associated to 0.20% excess mortality, which translates into more than 6000 deaths each year in the 406 cities included in the study, says Dr Ana Maria Vicedo-Cabrera, Head of research group Climate Change & Health at University of Bern and previously at LSHTM, and one of the lead authors of the research.
The study shows that ozone related mortality could be potentially reduced under stricter air quality standards. Current air quality requirements vary greatly between countries, and only a few meet the recommendations set by the World Health Organization (WHO).
- Interestingly, we found an overall relative risk of mortality even at exposure levels below the WHO limits. This indicates that stricter policies for clean air could further reduce mortality across the world, says the senior author of the study, Professor Antonio Gasparrini from LSHTM.
These findings have relevance for the implementation of efficient clean air interventions and mitigation strategies designed within national and international climate policies.
The study was completed by researchers at LSHTM, Helmholtz Zentrum München–German Research Center for Environmental Health, Lazio Regional Health Service/ASL Roma 1 (Deplazio), Universidade do Porto (U.Porto) and a range of other universities and institutes across the world.
The whole study can be read at the British Medical Journal (BMJ)
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