inthenews.co.uk
Tuesday, 31 Jul 2007 11:48

Air pollution, even at relatively low levels, remains a risk factor for premature death, a new study has found.

Researchers analysing different electoral wards in Britain from 1966 to 1998 discovered that black smoke and sulphur dioxide (SO2) are strongly linked to the chances of an early death.

Despite a fall in air pollutants over the period studied, the risk of early death remained, even with the comparatively low levels of air pollutants during the most recent time frame (1994-8).

Writing in the journal Thorax, the researchers claim that the risk of premature death from respiratory disease rose by almost four per cent for every 10ug/m3 (micrograms per cubic metre of air) increase in black smoke, and by 13 per cent for every ten parts per billion increase in sulphur dioxide during 1982 to 98…. ([1] Full Story)