Source: Radio New Zealand
Traffic jam in Auckland. 123RF
Health researchers are calling for policy changes to combat air pollution in Auckland, saying traffic is silently killing locals.
More than 700 Aucklanders die every year from air pollution from traffic, compared to 2000 deaths nationally, according to a new report by the University of Auckland.
It’s similar to the number of people who die from smoking cigarettes, with almost 4000 more ending up in hospital, the report said.
Dr Jamie Hosking, a public health researcher at Waipapa Taumata Rau University of Auckland, said petrol and diesel burn produce the gas nitrogen dioxide and small particles of soot, smoke, dust and chemicals.
“Those particles are really, really fine, so we can’t see them,” Dr Hosking told Morning Report. “But because they’re so fine, they get right down into our lungs and cause damage there, and can even get through into our bloodstream and cause inflammation there and give us problems such as heart disease, strokes, lung cancer and in our kids, asthma as well.”
Dr Hosking said it is really difficult for individuals to combat air pollution.
“We can’t avoid breathing in polluted air. The solution here is with our councils and with the government,” he said.
The report outlines several solutions on both a national and city level, such as investing in better public transport, raising vehicle emission standards, improving air quality monitoring and introducing equitable congestion charges.
Dr Hosking said central cities around the world, such as London, have implemented low-emission zones, which means only the cleanest cars can come into central city areas.
“That’s been really effective at lowering air pollution and giving them cleaner air,” he said.
“That’s really good for people’s health and something that we could be putting in place in Auckland.”
The report would be presented to Auckland Council’s Transport Committee, where researchers will call for urgent action towards the city’s air pollution.
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand