Nitrogen dioxide emissions “significant burden” on human health - study

Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) concentration in Germany’s air is a “significant burden” on human health, and statistically led to about 6,000 premature deaths from cardiovascular diseases in 2014, down from about 8,000 in 2010, writes the Federal Environment Agency (UBA) in a press release. UBA’s epidemiological study also shows that several hundred thousand of cases of diabetes and asthma are attributed to NO₂ pollution. UBA writes the study is based on conservative assumptions and uses the data from several other studies. “We should do everything to make our air clean and healthy,” said UBA president Maria Krautzberger. There is need for action, especially in inner cities, as a recent court ruling had confirmed, she said. “Diesel cars are clearly a significant reason for the harmful nitrogen oxides in the air.” In densely populated urban areas, road traffic is responsible for about 60 percent of nitrogen dioxide emissions caused by humans, writes UBA.

Find the press release in German here, this factsheet, and the study in German here.

For background, read the CLEW articles Court ruling opens door for diesel bans in German cities and Why the German diesel summit matters for climate and energy, and the factsheet Diesel driving bans in Germany – The Q&A.