when you talk about air pollutionwe often have the idea that it is caused by CO2, sulfur and nitrogen oxides or heavy metals, but one of the most dangerous components of pollution is the so-called fine particles. It is like suspended soot (as well as dust) that seeps into the respiratory system of humans and causes devastating damage. The heart and lungs are the most affected. A recent study shows that in Spain these particles continue to exceed WHO recommended levels.
Particles of suspended matter (PM2.5 and PM10) pollutants with the greatest environmental impact. The smaller they are, the more harmful they can be to health. This means that PM2.5 is the most dangerous.
PM10 particles are solid or liquid particles of different composition and size (dust, ash, soot, metallic particles, cement or pollen) dispersed in the atmosphere and having an aerodynamic diameter of less than 10 µm.
They can be produced in the atmosphere both by natural causes (plant dust, suspended soil, etc.) and by human action, especially certain industrial activities.
PM2.5 particles tend to originate mainly from human activities, particularly from the combustion of motor vehicles.
This is one of the most serious health problems. microparticles to penetrate the lungs and even reach the alveolitransport of harmful substances to very sensitive areas of the respiratory system with the possibility of aggravating respiratory diseases and in extreme cases causing death.
Another important aspect is the small size of these particles, which makes it easy for humans and animals to enter through the nostrils, as well as being suspended in the air. High exposure to these particles can lead to pathologies and health problems, among which:
Respiratory diseases. Both exacerbation and cause of diseases such as bronchitis, asthma or allergies, irritation of the airways and lungs, and even increased susceptibility to respiratory diseases.
Heart diseases. Various studies indicate the incidence of PM 2.5 particles in blood and heart pathologies, cardiovascular inflammation, which can cause inflammation of the circulatory system, changes in blood viscosity and blood pressure, cause arrhythmias, heart attacks, strokes, or aggravate other types of diseases.
Air pollution according to WHO data It is linked to 25 percent of all deaths from ischemic heart disease and 24 percent of deaths from stroke.
Spain exceeds WHO recommended limits
All Spanish autonomous communities cross the border Prevention of pollutant particles harmful to the heart recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO), according to the Spanish Society of Cardiology (SEC) and the Spanish Heart Foundation (FEC).
In this context, the SEC and FEC analyzed the average annual concentration of these particles in all Spanish autonomous communities over the past decade. all regions except Canary Islands, Murcia and La RiojaThey managed to lower the average annual PM2.5 concentration between 2010 and 2020. However, the downward revision of the annual concentration limit value recommended by WHO (up to 5 micrograms/m3) means: all communities pass it.
As for PM10, the average annual concentration of these particles increased only in the Canary Islands and Galicia, but only in Extremadura, Navarre and Aragon In the case of PM10 they are below the WHO recommended limit of 15 micrograms/m3.
In this context, FEC and SEC presented the SEC-FEC Verde project, whose overall goal is to reduce the morbidity and mortality of pollution-related cardiovascular diseases.
“WHO 2021 Air Quality guidelines are more restrictive Advisor to the SEC project, Dr. “Although there has been some improvement in air quality in Spain over the last decade, we are still a long way from reaching these recommendations with recommended pollutant concentrations in the environment,” says Jordi Baths. -FEC Green.
The cardiologist adds that “these updated WHO guidelines do not have a threshold at which air pollution is harmful, but instead go hand in hand with scientific evidence that minimal concentrations of pollutants in the environment are already associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity and death.
Prevention Strategies
For all these reasons, it is “urgent” for both organizations to continue developing personal and population prevention strategies, from promoting active walking or cycling to telework or environmental policies.
In this sense only road traffic is solely responsible for the emission of pollutants, but all sources such as the generation of pollutants in the environment must be addressed. by combustion in industry, ports and airports and in homes, especially in boilers and kitchensAs noted in a recent report by the European Public Health Alliance (EPHA). This report marks Spain as one of the European countries with the least polluting emissions. “Even so, there is room for improvement,” the SEC and FEC conclude.
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