AndIn statements to Lusa, Susana Migues, from the Zero – Associação Sistema Terrestre Sustentável association, explained that national legislation is “not as ambitious” as the recommendations of the World Health Organization, and highlighted the effects of air pollution on health, because it can exacerbate heart diseases, strokes and lung diseases. . Cancer and respiratory diseases.
“The elderly, people with respiratory diseases, pregnant women and children are particularly vulnerable to this type of contamination, and at the same time they are among the groups most frequently visited by hospitals and other health units,” Zero says in a report that will be released on Tuesday. – fair. In these populations, the association emphasizes, “short-term exposure (hours or days) to air pollution can be particularly harmful.”
Measured zero levels of fine, inhalable particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), associated with increased morbidity and mortality, as well as nitrogen dioxide (NO2) in five health units in Lisbon, Coimbra and Porto, cities that present the greatest air quality problems nationally.
The selected units were the Portuguese Institute of Oncology, in Porto, the Norton de Matos Family Health Unit, in Coimbra, and the CUF Descupertas Hospital, Pulido Valiente Hospital and Almirante Family Health Unit, in Lisbon.
“Some cases of non-compliance with recommended values were observed [pela OMS] In all the places where this campaign was implemented, Susana Migues explained, concluding that the data indicate that the areas surrounding these health units “suffer from problems related to air quality.”
Taking into account that air quality in urban areas is “mainly affected by road transport”, Zero suggests that the authorities take measures to reduce traffic near sanitary units, taking into account that such facilities are usually frequented by people with health problems, and therefore They are more at risk. breakable.
In Porto, the PM10 factor “slightly exceeds” the value recommended by the World Health Organization. As for the other pollutants under study, no exceedances of the limit values were recorded.
In Coimbra, the results respected the values specified in national legislation, but with regard to WHO recommendations, average concentrations higher than those recommended were recorded in PM2.5 and in nitrogen dioxide (NO2).
At CUF Descobertas, in Lisbon, the daily limit values recommended by the World Health Organization for PM2.5 and NO2 parameters were exceeded on a number of occasions.
The study says that in the two monitoring campaigns at the Pulido Valiente Hospital, conducted in different locations, a “large variation” was observed between the average concentrations recorded, highlighting the “decisive influence of local conditions.”
Although compliance with current legislation was verified at both sites, the second measurement site (with a greater influence on vehicle traffic) provided values higher than those recommended by WHO.
“Exceeding the daily limit values recommended by the World Health Organization highlights significant challenges that still need to be overcome to ensure optimal air quality and protect public health,” Zero says in the study’s final document.
The study identifies some good practices, such as adequate ventilation, promoting the use of public transportation, specific guidelines and procedures for patients with chronic respiratory diseases, and calming traffic in areas surrounding health units.
To reduce traffic in the surrounding area, it is proposed to establish a continuous transportation system between health units and nearby central public transport stations/stations, in addition to expanding the number of electric charging stations and adopting vehicle electrification in healthcare. Unity fleets.
Read also: Commission notifies Portugal of failure to transpose directives into law
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