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Pollution - link to Covid-19?

(10 Posts)
Dinahmo Tue 21-Apr-20 11:13:19

There's a report in the Guardian today that suggests that pollution may be linked to Covid 19 deaths. Apparently in Spain, France, Germany and Italy 78% of the deaths were in the 5 most polluted regions so it's possible there's a link.

The Mayor of Milan has announced that 35 kilometres of city streets will be switched to bicycles and pedestrians only. Italy has tried to deal with pollution for many years and has participated in the traffic free days in many cities.

The centre of Bologna for example has banned traffic apart from taxis, buses and delivery vehicles. They do this by having electronically operated bollards which sink down when a vehicle with some sort of tag approaches. A bit like the Dart tag I suppose.

It would be fantastic if a similar scheme could be tried out in some of the UK's cities.

Jane10 Tue 21-Apr-20 11:17:27

Pollution is linked to people. Areas of population density produce more pollution but are also more likely to be transmitting the virus.

Eglantine21 Tue 21-Apr-20 11:19:58

Cambridge already has those bollards.

Any where else?

CherryCezzy Tue 21-Apr-20 11:26:14

I was about to post the same thing there Jane10. Higher density populations = larger number of people too, which at the best of times means more people will be on the death figures for those areas. Pollution is a factor, clearly it is, in the death rate in normal times and there is more prevalence of asthma and other pulmonary conditions so it doesn't help and could add higher % of more vulnerable people but density is a bigger factor surely.

EllanVannin Tue 21-Apr-20 11:51:55

Pollution plays a large part in many ills. There have never been as many childhood asthma cases and it's quite disgusting to think that it could be air particles that are causing this long-term illness.
Lung problems too of those who live in towns and cities speaks for itself.
Something has to be done about it sooner or later.

People who live beneath flight paths must also suffer and though I personally don't live under or near a flightpath I have smelt aviation fuel at times and it's quite unpleasant to breathe it in and scary too when you smell it.

Dinahmo Tue 21-Apr-20 15:34:22

Obviously there is more pollution in densely populated areas and consequently there will be more people suffering from various lung diseases. However, there have been reports in the papers that pollution levels have dropped dramatically since the lock down started and that can only be good.

It would take a great deal of will on the part of the government and money of course to make drastic changes. IMO the money being spent on HS2 would be better spent on changes to transport in cities.

I'm an asthmatic who used to live in London up until the mid eighties and the pollution has increased a lot since then. So much so that on my last visit I had to get taxis or buses everywhere, even for a short walk down the Strand. And I'm someone who used to walk from Sadlers Wells to Liverpool Street to catch the train back to Suffolk.

aggie Tue 21-Apr-20 15:37:44

Polution is as nothing compared to the smog and peasoupers as described by Dickens

Callistemon Tue 21-Apr-20 16:29:55

Pollution is an issue and a large one which needs to be addressed.

However, the higher the density of population the more contact there is between people and the more rapidly an infectious disease will be transmitted.

I will listen to the science, not a politician.

Dinahmo Wed 22-Apr-20 21:36:30

Interesting photos on Channel 4 News: shots of the Himalayas from 100 miles away, showing snow capped mountains visible for the first time in several decades, Delhi shrowded in smog and then currently being able to see streets, grass, trees etc etc.

This has to be good for everybody. However, i suspect that climate change will take a back seat in the race to restart economies.

Sparkling Thu 23-Apr-20 07:42:42

I don't think air pollution will be a problem for many years. This Virus has made us all exam our environment. The more densly populated an area is the more risk. I live on the edge of a big city. If I travel to the Centre I feel closed in and can't wait to get away from the noise and the litter, it seemed everyone was walking around eating or drinking something out of plastic and not too fussy where they deposited the litter.