(25th September 2012) A report by the European Environmental Agency (EEA) has found that air pollution is severely shortening lives in parts of the European Union, with the number of months shaved off average life expectancy ranging from roughly eight months to twenty two months.
The report highlighted especially polluted areas, such as Poland, noting that they had particularly high levels of particulate pollution. The report also found that air pollution costs the EU region a total of 1 trillion Euros a year (about HKD 10 trillion) in healthcare and wider impacts on the ecosystem.
Comparisons conducted by Clean Air Network (CAN), using air pollution data from the same year as was used in the study (2010), found that pollutant levels in Hong Kong were worse than levels in the countries noted in the EEA report for having high levels of pollution (refer to Figure1). Furthermore, the concentrations of these pollutants in Hong Kong worsened in 2011, indicating a severe threat to the health of the Hong Kong public.
Figure 1. Comparison between air pollution levels in the European Union and Hong Kong
| Most polluted country and yearly-average measurement based on 2010 data | Hong Kong’s yearly-average measurement based on 2010 data | Hong Kong’s yearly-average measurement based on 2011 data | |
| Coarse particulate matter (PM10) |
47 micrograms per cubic meter - Poland |
49 |
51 |
| Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) |
28 micrograms per cubic meter - Poland |
31 |
34 |
| Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) |
32 micrograms per cubic meter - Germany |
66 |
69 |
Helen Choy, CEO of Clean Air Network, says “These EEA’s findings have demonstrated the danger air pollution poses to people’s lives. Hong Kong’s air pollution data for 2010 shows pollutant levels that were even worse than those in the EU’s industrial regions, with locally worsening levels in 2011. It is clear that the situation is dire and the Hong Kong Government should take up their responsibility in urgently protecting public health.”
She goes on to say, “The health impacts of air pollution include increased risk of developing asthma, respiratory diseases and heart disease, as well as mortality from lung cancer. Pregnant women are even at increased risk of suffering preeclampsia. According to the Hedley Environmental Index, created by the University of Hong Kong, between 2010 to 2011, there were approximately 3,100 – 3,500 premature deaths due to air pollution, and between HK$390 to 450 billion in economic losses. “
About Clean Air Network
Clean Air Network (CAN) is an independent NGO, founded in July 2009, which aims to educate the public about the health impacts of air pollution. CAN is harnessing public opinion to support the Hong Kong Government’s efforts to clean up air pollution in our city. We are conducting a 360° education campaign in all sectors of society to increase knowledge of how air pollution affects Hong Kong and its people. To learn more about our activities and the state of Hong Kong’s air, visit www.hongkongcan.org