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The health implications of the diesel scandal | The health implications of the diesel scandal |
(5 days later) | |
The diesel scandal started as a worry for car owners. | The diesel scandal started as a worry for car owners. |
Yet, according to Prof Alistair Lewis, an air pollution expert at the University of York, "it is overwhelmingly a health story". | Yet, according to Prof Alistair Lewis, an air pollution expert at the University of York, "it is overwhelmingly a health story". |
The costs of not doing more to tackle air pollution can be measured in "thousands of deaths and billions of pounds, all passed on to the taxpayer", he says. | The costs of not doing more to tackle air pollution can be measured in "thousands of deaths and billions of pounds, all passed on to the taxpayer", he says. |
"The real costs here are the ones the taxpayer picks up in terms of providing extra healthcare," he explains. | "The real costs here are the ones the taxpayer picks up in terms of providing extra healthcare," he explains. |
"The only reason we measure NO2 (nitrogen dioxide) and particulates is because they are harmful to health." | "The only reason we measure NO2 (nitrogen dioxide) and particulates is because they are harmful to health." |
Tax incentives | Tax incentives |
The story goes back more than a decade, to government tax breaks for diesel cars. | The story goes back more than a decade, to government tax breaks for diesel cars. |
Many people bought diesel cars believing they were less damaging to the environment. | Many people bought diesel cars believing they were less damaging to the environment. |
But the evidence linking NO2 with health effects has grown substantially in recent years, with NO2 blamed for 23,500 deaths a year in the UK, according to official estimates. | But the evidence linking NO2 with health effects has grown substantially in recent years, with NO2 blamed for 23,500 deaths a year in the UK, according to official estimates. |
Nitrogen oxides (NOx) gases - made up of oxygen and nitrogen - are produced when an engine burns diesel fuel. | Nitrogen oxides (NOx) gases - made up of oxygen and nitrogen - are produced when an engine burns diesel fuel. |
The main nitrogen oxide (NOx) in diesel exhaust is nitric oxide (NO), which is converted to nitrogen dioxide (NO2) in the air. | The main nitrogen oxide (NOx) in diesel exhaust is nitric oxide (NO), which is converted to nitrogen dioxide (NO2) in the air. |
"It is a respiratory irritant which may exacerbate asthma and possibly increase susceptibility to infections," says the Department for the Environment. | "It is a respiratory irritant which may exacerbate asthma and possibly increase susceptibility to infections," says the Department for the Environment. |
Invisible entity | Invisible entity |
According to Frank Kelly, an air pollution expert at King's College London, breathing air of poor quality can have both short and long-term effects. | According to Frank Kelly, an air pollution expert at King's College London, breathing air of poor quality can have both short and long-term effects. |
In the short-term, some will feel a temporary tightness across their chest or an irritation in their throat. | In the short-term, some will feel a temporary tightness across their chest or an irritation in their throat. |
After many decades of exposure, air pollution can lead to the development of a disease such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or heart disease, he says. | After many decades of exposure, air pollution can lead to the development of a disease such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or heart disease, he says. |
"Because air pollution is an invisible entity, not many people really understand the challenge it is having to their own health or their children's health." | "Because air pollution is an invisible entity, not many people really understand the challenge it is having to their own health or their children's health." |
There have been improvements in air quality over the last five decades through the introduction of a range of measures in the UK. | There have been improvements in air quality over the last five decades through the introduction of a range of measures in the UK. |
Emissions of nitrogen oxides have fallen by 62% since 1970, but in recent years progress has flattened off. | Emissions of nitrogen oxides have fallen by 62% since 1970, but in recent years progress has flattened off. |
In 2014 the European commission launched legal proceedings against the UK for regularly exceeding NOx limits in 16 zones from London to Glasgow. | |
And in April this year, the UK's highest court ruled that the government must take immediate action to cut air pollution. | And in April this year, the UK's highest court ruled that the government must take immediate action to cut air pollution. |
Prof Lewis says the costs to the NHS of not doing more to tackle NOx are "very substantial". | Prof Lewis says the costs to the NHS of not doing more to tackle NOx are "very substantial". |
"The gap between what we've got and what we should have had amounts to the billion pound range in terms of costs to the UK health system," he says. | "The gap between what we've got and what we should have had amounts to the billion pound range in terms of costs to the UK health system," he says. |
Follow Helen on Twitter. | Follow Helen on Twitter. |
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