They warn that the gases of diesel engines are the cause of premature deaths

2017/05/16 Galarraga Aiestaran, Ana - Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Ingurumena
• Garraioak

A study published in the journal Nature reports that diesel engines emit much more nitrogen oxide than in laboratory tests. In addition, researchers have calculated the premature deaths due to these gases and have called for intensifying measures to reduce emissions of these gases.

The authors of the article are American, British and Austrian, who have jointly analyzed 11 international diesel engine markets. In these markets, 80% of vehicles with diesel engines are sold and it is observed that a third of the heavy vehicles and half of the light ones exceed the emission limits established by law. Thus, in 2015, these engines emitted 13.2 million tons of nitrogen oxides, of which 4.6 million were hidden.

These emissions significantly affect the concentration of fine and ozone in particles in the air, and are related to premature deaths. The study estimates that these pollutants caused 107,600 premature deaths, 38,000 more than expected, and eight out of ten occurred in China, India and the European Union. Although in most Asian and American countries the biggest problem is due to the presence of heavy vehicles, in Europe it also stands out that the problem is the dumping of vans and cars.

If drastic measures are not taken, they warn that in 2040 premature deaths will be 174,000. To avoid this, they call for compliance with the measures already implemented in Europe and for effective measures to be applied in Australia, Brazil, China, Mexico and Russia.