COMENIUS PROJECTAIR POLLUTION

MAIN PROBLEMS

Urban air quality and indoor air pollution: A significant proportion of Europe’s population live in

areas, especially cities, in which ozone, nitrogen dioxide and other pollutants are higher than the recommended standards.

Air pollutants released in one country may be transported in the atmosphere.

It damages our environment and our health

CONSEQUENCES

• Health problems: Heart diseases, respiratory diseases, lung cancer, skin cancer…It can reduce life expectancy of the average city dweller by 8 months in Europe, or up to 2 years in some areas (Study of the EEA).

• ASTHMA

• LUNG CANCER

Climate changes: floods, droughts… Other problems:

Causes acid rain, damages forests, acidifies soils and waters, reduces crop yields and corrodes buildings.

29,6 million tons

12 million tons

9,8 million tons8,8 million tons

39,8 million tons

ENDESA

UNIÓN FENOSA

REPSOL

IBERDROLA

OTHERS

EMISIONS OF CO2 OF INDUSTRIES FROM SPAIN

Only a few energy, oil, steel and cement companies are responsible for a significant part of CO2 emissions in Spain and account for 65% of these emissions.

[]CO2 emission [1990-2009]. Index with regard to the year bases= 100[]Index –UE[15] []Objective Kioto-UE(2012)[]Objective Kioto-Spain(2012)

PERCENTAGE OF POLLUTION

15%

24%

22%1%

4%

11%

2%

17%

3%

1% other

electricity

transport to road

aeroplanes

waste

agriculture

cement

industry

oil refinery

marine transport

Comparison of pollution in Europe

Average annual nitrogen dioxide in micrograms per m3

WHAT CAN WE DO TO PREVENT AIR POLLUTION?

• Use more renewable sources of energy (solar, wind, water, tidal energy..)

• Make greater use of public or collective transport.

• Try not to buy items that are not biodegradable. • Recycle waste. • Not throwing rubbish in the street. • Try to avoid using insecticides.

• Care for forests, not causing fires or destroy green areas in cities.

• Propose measures to improve public transport.

• Avoid burning trash and tires. • Avoidance of smoking. • Reduce consumption of electricity, which will

contribute to reduce the emission of contaminants and particles.

• Apply the 3 Rs rule : Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.