like How to stand, Dieter Köhler: in the end, the controversial Statements by the lung doctor to have oxides of nitrogen and fine dust triggered a useful debate. This has now reached its provisional climax. In January, German Chancellor Angela Merkel had asked the National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina, to examine the subject scientifically and to develop an opinion. On Tuesday, the researchers presented their results in Berlin.
In its 50-page opinion (the”Clean air ‒ nitrogen oxides and fine dust in the breathing air: principles and recommendations”) to require additional efforts to reduce the concentration of pollutants in the air. Short-term or small-scale measures, such as driving, no substantial relief can be expected is prohibited. Therefore, the 20 scientists in the working group for a Federal Department to plead a cross-cutting strategy on air pollution.
“fine dust is the much larger Problem”
the focus should be more on the fine dust than on nitrogen oxides. “The fine dust is sure to be the much larger Problem,” said Martin Lohse. The Academy’s Vice-President and Scientific Board of the Max-Delbrück-center for Molecular medicine (MDC) in Berlin is the speaker of the working group. Fine dust can be significantly more damaging than nitrogen oxides and its formation is more complex. “Fine dust can arise from circulation, from power generation, industry and many other sources – and also of nitrogen dioxide,” said Lohse.
V. l. n. r.: Jos Lelieveld, atmospheric chemists, Manfred Hennecke, material scientists, and Martin Lohse, a pharmacologist and…photo: Wolfgang Kumm/dpa
He stressed that the need to make the current discussion on “from the head to the feet”: so Far, it was in the public discussion, especially to nitrogen oxides, also because of the limit of 40 micrograms per cubic meter of air in German cities regularly exceeded. The main problem with air pollution, the oxides of nitrogen are not, however, they were only on rank three. Before you throw from a health point of view, of the fine dust and in terms of global warming, the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide. Germany has committed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 38 percent by 2030. “This can’t be done with a conventional approach,” said Lohse. Therefore, we need a sustainable shift in Traffic with low-emission vehicles. This would also reduce the amount of fine dust and nitrogen dioxide in the air. Local driving bans were not, however, suitable to generate the required long-term effects. As long as the traffic passing loop only on other routes, is not won nothing. Specifically dust and fading of the fine spread quickly on a large area, as one could observe it on the Smog-bells over big cities, so Lohse.
There is no lower limit is safe
The researchers also clarified that there is no lower limit, the nitrogen dioxide or particulate matter harmless. “A simple boundary between dangerous and harmless in the ambient air is not possible,” said Manfred Hennecke, former President of the Federal Institute for materials research and testing (BAM), was also a member of the Leopoldina working group. Therefore, the policy would need to consider when Setting the limits between health and cost.
Hennecke defended the current air pollutant measurements, pleaded for a Europe-wide comparable preparation conditions and measurement techniques. Thus, new methods should be developed, what is the chemical composition of the particulate matter to analyze. In General, the fine dust will be weighed at the moment. And for the ultra fine dust of the order of about 100 nanometers in diameter there are no possibilities of measurement.
For nitrogen dioxide, there is this possibility. The limit value of 40 micrograms per cubic meter of air in the annual mean will apply in the EU since 2008. In the past year he had been nationwide exceeded at almost 50, Hennecke. For fine dust, a less stringent value of 25 micrograms per cubic meter. This will be adhered to in Germany as well as nationwide. This does not mean, however, that the existing burden from fine dust is not a Problem.
The health consequences could be greater than thought
“From new studies show that very fine dust brings more health risks than previously thought,” said Jos Lelieveld, Director at the Max-Planck-Institute for chemistry in Mainz. In addition to known effects on the cardiovascular system and the lungs in the Form of the chronic lung disease COPD and lung cancer researchers to bring the fine dust with other ailments such as Diabetes, hypertension, and dementia. “The improved availability of data shows that both at low and at higher concentrations, the health consequences greater than could be than previously thought,” said Lelieveld. The findings are based on new long-term studies conducted in the United States and China.
for this reason, it is wise to lower the limit in Europe and Germany, advised Lelieveld. It should be oriented to the benchmarks of the world health organization (WHO). For fine dust, this provides a value of ten micrograms per cubic meter of air. In States that have such or even stricter limits apply, do this also in a lower impact on our Health is noticeable, said Lelieveld.
Dieter Köhler addressed, said Martin Lohse, the pulmonary doctor had “put the Finger in the wound” by pointing out that – considered in isolation – the health effects of nitrogen dioxide are not yet well documented. “But if one looks at the whole picture, including the fact that nitrogen dioxide can convert to other gases, fine dust, is it right to keep the limit values for nitrogen dioxide are low.”
particulate matter emissions from car exhausts in Germany for years. Other relevant sources of abrasion of tires and…graphic: daily mirror/Böttcher; source: Federal environment Agency
The Leopoldina working group recommends a significant reduction of air pollutants, which could only be achieved with a sustainable Transport. However, Lohse emphasized that it is not only “what comes out of the exhaust” pollutants a source of air (see graphic). Because the amount of fine dust from exhaust gases have been reduced due to technical progress and to regulation by emissions standards significantly in recent decades. Nowadays, games and fine dust by the abrasion of brakes and tires an important role, just like the wood stoves, the number of which has increased due to government support in the past years. “We need to look at a variety of pollutant sources. This is tedious and is to be made only with an integrated approach,” said Lohse.
“a Clear mandate to the Federal government,”
in Addition, further research is needed to understand how air pollutants are emitted, can be collected and analyzed. In addition, the need to explore urgently, what are the effects of ultra fine dust on health. With the opinion of the Academy have presented the state of knowledge in terms of air pollutants, Lohse. Now the policy is on the train.
For Bettina Hoffmann, spokeswoman for the environmental policies of the Greens, the report is a clear mandate for Action by the Federal government. “Andreas Scheuer can no longer hide no longer behind the pseudo-scientific theses,” she said to the daily mirror. The facts are clear, the Federal government would have to make now as the basis of a consistent air quality policy.
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the Federal transport Minister, Andreas Scheuer (CSU) is shown by the opinion of the scientists in his strategy confirmed. They show quite clearly that distance-related driving bans are the wrong way, so shy. “We have launched with our two billion Euro package for clean air, an effective and broad packages of measures: from the conversion of Diesel buses, heavy municipal vehicles, tradesmen and delivery vehicles as well as taxis, to the digitalisation, the Expansion of electric mobility and public TRANSPORT.” Now it is necessary, further important steps for the environment and the climate.
