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Research has estimated that, every year, four million children develop asthma because of nitrogen dioxide in the air.
The researchers called for tighter limits on air quality after finding that most cases of asthma in children develop in places consistent with World Organization guidelines. of Health on Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2).
In the first global study of this type, scientists estimated the number of childhood asthma cases due to NO2 – an essential pollutant generated by vehicles, especially diesel vehicles – in 194 countries and 125 cities.
Scientists based in the United States and Canada have taken into account factors such as NO2 levels, asthma rates and the total number of children living in given areas to generate their estimates.
48% of the total cases of childhood asthma caused by NO2 occurred in Shanghai, China. In several other Chinese cities, including Beijing, the figure was over 40%, as were estimates for Seoul in South Korea and Moscow, Russia.
Latin American cities have particularly suffered when comparing the estimated number of childhood asthma cases caused by NO2 to the size of the population. The highest figure among the 125 cities was 690 cases per 100,000 children in Lima, Peru, while Shanghai ranked second with 650 cities and Bogota in Colombia third with 580.
However, research has shown that many cities in the developed world also suffer, with Toronto, Canada, an estimate of 550, while Los Angeles and New York both have an estimate greater than 500, and that Chicago and San Francisco do not. Were not far behind.
Pollution is higher in some Indian cities than in some Middle Eastern cities, but cities in the Middle East also have this natural dust problem. Together, this seems to lead to an even greater number of cases of asthma
Professor Frank Kelly
China had the highest total number of cases of childhood asthma caused by NO2, about 760,000 per year, compared to 350,000 in India and 240,000 in the United States.
Numbers were high in the Middle East, including in the Gulf region, when they were examined by country and adjusted for the size of the population.
Kuwait had about 550 children's asthma cases per year per 100,000 children, the highest of any country, while the United Arab Emirates ranked second at 460, and Canada ranked third at 450. The fourth place went to Taiwan, with 420, Qatar came next, with 410 cases per year for 100,000 children.
Professor Frank Kelly, professor of environmental health at King's College London, who reviewed research on pollution in the Middle East, said the region was facing problems because of the interaction between pollutants produced by man and natural dusts.
"The numbers are very high in some countries, like those in the Middle East. This is the first time that this is done systematically; That's not surprising, the numbers, "said Professor Kelly, who was not involved in the latest study, but who has published extensively on the link between air pollution and disease.
"Pollution, in some Indian cities, for example, is higher than in some cities in the Middle East, but cities in the Middle East also have this problem of natural dust. Together, this seems to lead to an even greater number of cases of asthma. "
In 2015, when World Bank statistics indicated that the air in the UAE was the most polluted air in the world, the UAE authorities said the result was misleading because it took into account both dust storms and pollution of anthropogenic origin.
Previous studies have suggested that about 120,000 people die each year in the Mena area due to air pollution related conditions, about one in 14 deaths.
Concerns about air pollution have increased in the United Arab Emirates in recent years and officials have advocated ways to improve air quality.
As reported last year, the Environmental Agency of Abu Dhabi provides data from 20 stationary monitoring stations and two mobile stations to a free pollution detector, the Plume Air Report application, which helps residents to monitor the current air quality and provides 24-hour forecasts.
The latest study, funded by George Washington University, found that 92% of childhood asthma cases were developing in areas consistent with World Health Organization guidelines. for a maximum NO2 concentration of 21 parts per billion. As a result, the authors of the study called for tighter controls. Professor Kelly said that the absolute quality of the air was a priority.
"That's really the basis of the whole discussion about what we do with diesel vehicles, because diesel is one of the main sources of NO2," he said.
Updated: April 11, 2019 5:40 PM
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