| |
|
Europe Heatwave Brought Record Levels of Ozone
Tue Sep 9, 2003
BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Levels of noxious ground-level ozone reached their highest levels in 10 years in some parts of Europe this summer due to the heatwave in which thousands of people died, the European Commission said on Tuesday. Unlike the ozone layer in the upper atmosphere which protects the earth from harmful ultraviolet light, ground-level ozone, or "summer smog," can cause breathing difficulties especially for asthmatics, children and the elderly. London experienced its highest ozone levels for 10 years and the pollution in France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Austria exceeded dangerous levels on several days in August, presenting a serious health risk, the Commission said. The pollution is caused by oxides of nitrogen and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) reacting in sunlight and is partly due to car exhaust emissions on sunny days. Until this summer, levels had been decreasing in recent years. A French air quality agency said last week that ozone might have killed between 1,000 and 3,000 people in France during the heatwave. France recorded around 11,400 more deaths than usual in the first two weeks of August. "This summer has shown that we have not yet come to grips with levels of air pollution that directly affect citizens' health," EU Environment Commissioner Margot Wallstrom said in a statement announcing the start of new anti-pollution rules. The new legislation, which comes into force on Tuesday, requires all countries to monitor ozone levels and inform the public if they exceed certain limits, advising those at risk to stay indoors and avoid strenuous exercise. The law also requires governments to consider short-term measures to reduce pollution such as limiting road traffic and the use of solvents and paints that emit VOCs. |
| Copyright © 2003 Reuters Copyright © 2003 Yahoo! Inc. All rights reserved. |
|