Portal de Lorca
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Ecologists in Action has resubmitted to the Directorate General Environment of the Presidential letter of complaint about the continuing significant ozone pollution problem in Lorca.
The magnitude of the problem comes from the fact that up to August, inclusive, have been produced and 76 exceedances of the daily maximum of 120 micrograms/m3, which exceeds the threshold figure of 25 days per calendar year at an average three years, according to official figures Counseling.
This means, say, "that so far 2013 has already surpassed Lorca 75 days of exceedances that is set for the triennium 2013-2015 [1]".
Environmentalists also recall that Lorca and easily surpassed all exceedances of daily maximum ozone for 2010-2012 allowed.
Thus, in Lorca between 2010 and 2013 exceeded the allowed limit 363 days 120 micrograms/m3, far exceeding the limit of 75 days for that three-year period (average of 25 days per year).
In this situation, the current legislation requires the development of plans to improve air quality [2] for that pollutant.
As if the situation were not already sufficiently disturbing, Ecologists in Action further alleges that the total number of days with unhealthy air in Lorca is actually much higher, as the World Health Organization has lowered since 2005 the limit value for protection health from 120 to 100 micrograms per cubic meter [3], being therefore obsolete legislation in our country.
Thus, by the criterion of health protection established by WHO in Lorca every day in July and August, but two, it exceeded 100 micrograms/m3.
Precisely in February 2013, the World Health Organization (WHO) sent a report to the European Commission about the negative effects of pollution on the health of individuals [4], which reveals that the harmful effects of pollution are scientifically proven, and scientific evidence is even worse than previously thought eight years ago.
Therefore, the WHO report recommends toughen anti-pollution legislation of the European Union, and therefore the European Commission has announced that it will review the permitted limits, to reduce them.
And, denounce environmentalists, pollution is not a problem precisely trivial, since according to official data from the European Commission, it is estimated that in Spain about 20,000 people die prematurely each year because of air pollution caused by pollutants such as ozone, nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, particulate matter, etc..
However, Ecologists in Action denounced the passivity of regional and local administration regarding this serious public health problem, because despite knowing the serious situation since 2010, and since January 2013 had to be developed by the Plan to improve air quality, the reality is that the plan does not yet exist, or has been taken of any kind.
The environmental organization condemned the attitude of the regional government and the municipal corporation in recent years of not wanting to deal with the solution of the problem, to the point that on occasion have said not to take measures that know the origin of ozone (which is known to be associated with traffic and certain industrial processes), but at the same time has not been done in over three years, any technical research / scientific about the specific source of this pollutant in Lorca, which shows a lack of care concern.
Ecologists in Action, we need a change in direction of regional and local government for the development of preventive measures, and developing a plan to improve air quality to solve once and for all this serious environmental problem and public health.
Finally, the environmental organization announced that it is preparing a complaint to the European Commission before the Ombudsman and his legal team is considering filing a complaint with the Office of Environment.
Origin and Effects of Tropospheric Ozone Pollution:
Ozone is a gas composed of three atoms of oxygen and can be found in different layers of the atmosphere.
Stratospheric Ozone
In the stratosphere (layer of the atmosphere located between 12 and 40 km altitude) ozone forms a layer that acts as a filter that protects us from harmful solar radiation determined (the famous Ozone Layer)
Tropospheric Ozone
In the troposphere (layer of the atmosphere from Earth's surface to 12 km altitude), where people live and breathe, ozone is a secondary pollutant gas, directly related to traffic emissions and certain industries.
This Tropospheric Ozone is formed by photochemical reactions due to the action of sunlight on other pollutants such as nitrogen oxides (NOx) produced by road traffic, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from industrial emissions, traffic, gas stations ...
NOx + VOC + SUNLIGHT = Tropospheric Ozone
Ozone tends to decompose in areas where there is a high concentration of nitrogen oxides.
This explains their presence in the center of large cities is usually lower than in metropolitan belts and surrounding rural areas.
Why are there more ozone in the summer months?
The increase in tropospheric ozone is linked with increased insolation acting on these primary pollutants.
Thus, periods of exceedances of ozone levels manifest generally April to October.
Impact
Ozone is not perceived by smell in this range of concentrations, but is shown by scientific studies with levels above 100 g/m3 can cause adverse health effects such as respiratory problems, irritation of mucous membranes, trigger asthma, reduce lung function and cause lung diseases (negative OMSEfectos report of pollution on the health of people).
Spanish legislation establishes the maximum daily limit 120 ug/m3, which is an obsolete level as WHO said in its recent report, and as recognized by the European Commission in February of this year.
Certain groups of people are particularly sensitive to ozone when doing outdoor activities: children, healthy adults doing heavy exercise, people with pre-existing respiratory and cardiovascular diseases and the elderly.
[1] Annex I of Royal Decree 102/2011, of 28 January, on the improvement of air quality.
[2] Article 24 and Annex XV of Royal Decree 102/2011 and Articles 16 and 17 of Law 34/2007, of 15 November, air quality and atmospheric protection.
[3] WHO air quality guidelines of WHO for particulate matter, ozone, nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide.
2005 global update.
Summary of risk assessment and WHO: Air Quality and Health Fact sheet N ° 313.
Revised in August 2008
[4] http://www.euro.who.int/__data/assets/pdf_file/0020/182432/e96762-final.pdf
Source: Ecologistas en Acción
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