Air pollutants near some health facilities exceed WHO limits

Concentrations of nitrogen dioxide air pollutants near some health facilities in Lisbon, Porto and Coimbra exceed the maximum values ​​recommended by the World Health Organization, according to measurements carried out by the environmental association Zero.

In a conversation with Lusa, Susana Migueis from Zero – Associação Sistema Terrestre Sustentável explained that national legislation is “not as ambitious” as WHO recommendations, highlighting the impact of air pollution on health, as it can worsen heart disease, accidents, stroke, lung diseases. oncological and respiratory diseases.

“Older people, people with respiratory conditions, pregnant women and children are particularly vulnerable to this type of pollution and at the same time are among the groups most likely to visit hospitals and other health care facilities,” Zero said in a report to be published. will be released on Tuesday – fair. The association emphasizes that for these populations, “short-term exposure (hours or days) to air pollution may be particularly harmful.”

Zero measured levels of respirable and fine particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), associated with greater morbidity and mortality, and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) in five health facilities in Lisbon, Coimbra and Porto, the cities that pose the biggest air problems. quality at the national level.

The selected units included the Portuguese Institute of Oncology in Porto, the Norton de Matos Family Health Unit in Coimbra, as well as the CUF Descobertas Hospital, the Pulido Valente Hospital and the Almirante Family Health Unit in Lisbon.

“Some discrepancies with the recommended values ​​were found. [pela OMS] in all the places where this campaign was carried out,” explained Susana Migueis, concluding that the data shows that the areas surrounding these health facilities “are experiencing air quality problems.”

Considering that air quality in cities is “predominantly affected by road transport,” Zero suggests that authorities take measures to reduce traffic near health care facilities, remembering that these facilities are usually visited by people with health problems and are therefore more fragile.

Porto’s PM10 reading is “slightly above” the WHO recommended value. For the remaining pollutants under study, no exceedances of the maximum permissible values ​​were recorded.

In Coimbra, the results were consistent with the values ​​defined in national legislation, but in accordance with WHO recommendations, average concentrations were recorded higher than those recommended for PM2.5 and nitrogen dioxide (NO2).

At CUF Descupadas in Lisbon, WHO recommended daily limit values ​​for PM2.5 and NO2 were exceeded on a number of occasions.

During two monitoring campaigns at the Pulido Valente hospital, carried out at different locations, there was a “significant discrepancy” between the reported average concentrations, highlighting the “decisive influence of local conditions”, the study said.

Although compliance with current legislation was verified at both locations, the second measurement location (with greater influence of vehicular traffic) presented values ​​higher than those recommended by WHO.

“Exceeding the daily limit values ​​recommended by WHO highlights the significant challenges that remain to be overcome to ensure optimal air quality and protect public health,” Zero said in the summary document of the study.

The study identified some best practices, such as adequate ventilation, promoting the use of public transport, specific recommendations and procedures for patients with chronic respiratory diseases, and restricting traffic in areas adjacent to health care facilities.

To reduce traffic in the surrounding area, it is proposed to create a continuous transport system between medical institutions and nearby central public transport stops/stations, as well as expand the number of electric charging stations and introduce electric vehicles into the fleets of medical institutions.