Breathe in: global study confirms reduction in air pollution
Miscellaneous / / September 10, 2023
First of all, China’s tough measures brought benefits, although the trend in Russia is positive.
When it comes to climate change, there are plenty of reasons for concern. However, humanity has already advanced in some ways, reducing the risks of negative influence. In particular, an analysis of global data showed that exposure to fine particulate matter, a major environmental health risk, has decreased. About this in the new research Scientists at Washington University in St. Louis reported.
Exposure to fine particulate matter, called PM2.5 because its size is 2.5 micrometers or smaller, causes millions of premature deaths, shortened life expectancy and the social costs of everything world. And most often the reason for this is the usual combustion of fossil and solid biofuels.
The scientists' work confirmed that the strategies adopted by a number of countries to reduce PM2.5 production were effective. The study analyzed data for the period from 1998 to 2019 and found that a turning point occurred in 2011, after which positive dynamics began to be observed.
Until 2011, significant increases in PM2.5 exposure were observed everywhere, mainly in Asia, Africa and South America. But between 2011 and 2019, other regions of the world saw significant declines, including Europe. Asia-Pacific, Southeast Asia, Russia, Sub-Saharan Africa and especially China.
"China's strict air quality controls, which have become most prominent since 2013, have proven to be the biggest contributor to this global turnaround," said Chi Li, lead author of the study.
According to our regional data, more than 90% of the decline in global average risk from 2011 to 2019 occurred in China. This result was stunning when it was obtained, but could well be explained by the rapid decline PM2.5 concentrations due to China's mitigation efforts, benefiting nearly one-fifth world population.
Chi Li
University of Washington
The researchers also found a reduction in global mortality associated with PM2.5. According to scientists, this contributed to the postponement of 2.65 million deaths.
There is now a need to continue to maintain and develop global PM2.5 monitoring capabilities from both satellites and ground-based measurements. Success in reducing emissions demonstrates the benefits of all efforts and encourages further work, the scientists added.
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