53 percent of Spanish population breathing polluted air

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53 percent of Spanish population breathing polluted air
By h.b. - Jul 9, 2008 - 7:03 AM

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A new report from Ecologistas en Acción describes the situation as a serious public health problem which leads to 16,000 deaths a year.

Ecologistas en Acción has presented a report on air quality in Spain over last year and says that the results are very worrying.
At least 53% of the population, some 20.7 million people, is breathing polluted air, according to the standards of the WHO, World Health Organisation. Slightly fewer 42.4% breath air defined to be polluted by European legislation.

The report claims that 16,000 people die a year as a result of the pollution which in cities is caused 80% by cars, and say the subject is a severe public health problem in Spain.

Latest data shows little if any improvement in the numbers, which relate to three types of pollution – particles suspended in the air, breathed by 48% of us, Nitrogen Dioxide which affects 21% of the population especially in large cities, and Ozone which affects the outskirts of cities and rural areas.

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