People living near Lisbon Airport are at greater risk of contracting diseases such as hypertension, diabetes or dementia, according to a study published by the Zero association, which warns of the dangers of exposure to ultrafine particles.
The findings come from research by the European Federation for Transport and the Environment, which examines the link between ultrafine particles emitted by aircraft and the health of people living near Europe’s 32 busiest airports.
“The study shows that thousands of cases of high blood pressure, diabetes and dementia in Lisbon and other European cities may be linked to these tiny particles emitted by planes, with Lisbon being the city where the largest number of people live and work. and study in the airport vicinity,” the environmental association Zero said in a statement.
In the case of the Portuguese capital, approximately 414 thousand people (about 4% of the Portuguese population) live within a five-kilometer radius of Humberto Delgado Airport and are therefore “particularly exposed to ultrafine particles.”
Data indicate a 20% risk of dementia, 12% of diabetes and 7% of high blood pressure.
Zero said the “scientific evidence summary” for the health impact assessment was compiled using data from Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands.
“These particles are left suspended in the air by aircraft, disperse widely into the atmosphere, have a diameter a thousand times smaller than a human hair and are invisible. When inhaled, they easily enter the blood through the lungs and spread throughout the body. , which can cause serious long-term health problems, including respiratory, cardiovascular, neurological, endocrine and gestational problems,” warns Zero.
According to the study, it is estimated that ultrafine particles generated by activities at Lisbon Airport could be responsible for 15,473 cases of hypertension, 18,615 cases of diabetes and 1,837 cases of dementia among the population of the city and surrounding areas.
These figures represent up to 9% of the population living within a five kilometer radius of Lisbon Airport.
“The study now released complements a 2019 study conducted by the University of Nova de Lisboa, which clearly shows that the concentration of ultrafine particles in some areas of Lisbon increases depending on their exposure to airport and aircraft traffic. Given the proximity from the airport to the city center, the impact of particles spreads over large areas,” Zero emphasizes.
The most affected areas are in the vicinity of the airport, namely Alvalade, Campo Grande and the University of Cidade, where the Santa Maria Hospital, universities, schools and kindergartens are located, as well as on the approach and take-off routes of aircraft such as Avenidas Novas, Bairro do Rego, Amoreiras and Campolide.
“This situation is unlike any other European airport, it is detrimental to the health of the citizens of Lisbon who live and live in these areas, exacerbating diseases caused by excessive noise,” the association warns.
In total, at the airports reviewed, exposure to ultrafine particles could be linked to 280,000 cases of hypertension, 330,000 cases of diabetes and 18,000 cases of dementia.
“There are currently no guidelines for safe levels of ultrafine particles in the air, despite the World Health Organization (WHO) warning more than 15 years ago that it is a pollutant of concern,” Zero laments.
In this sense, to reduce the health impact of ultrafine particles, Zero advocates not expanding the capacity of Humberto Delgado Airport or closing it “as soon as possible,” and promoting the use of clean fuels.
“Evidence also shows that airport workers, especially those working on the runway, are most exposed to ultrafine particles, so specific measures need to be taken to protect their health,” they further state.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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