Bad air in Europe
Air pollution has a negative impact on health worldwide. It is estimated that a total of up to 4.2 million people die prematurely due to pollution in cities. In Europe, too, the limit values are exceeded by many countries.
Tag: measured values
Low emission zones also ensure clean air indoors
Poor air is responsible for nearly 13,000 premature deaths a year in Germany alone. The country has one of the highest nitrogen oxide concentrations in the EU. This affects not only the big cities, but also many medium-sized or small towns. Germany is trying to get a grip on the situation by introducing environmental zones, diesel driving bans and environmental lanes.
Noise protection zones are booming
In addition to air pollution in our cities, noise pollution is also increasingly coming into focus. Austria, Switzerland and France are leading the way. In Austria's Außerfern/Tyrol, loud motorbikes were already banned last year on particularly popular routes in the Tannheimertal, Hahntennjoch and Lechtal valleys. Anyone emitting more than 95 decibels has to pay a 220 € fine.
Noise costs billions
Noise costs the French state more than 150 billion euros every year. Physical and mental illnesses, but also the depreciation of property are included here. Traffic is an immense contributor to noise. A culture of noise management should help.
Fog against particulate matter
In the fight against ultra-fine dust, Amsterdam Airport wants to use fog to trap the particles and make them sink to the ground. The small particles produced by the ground movement of aircraft are particularly harmful to health because they can penetrate far into the lungs. But stronger fuel regulation would also help.
Caravanning has future problems
Travelling with motorhomes and caravans is becoming more and more restricted in Europe. It is not only the increasingly strict rules in the environmental zones that worry campers, but also the forced switch to electric drive. Because the heavy trailers consume too much energy and therefore drastically reduce the range of e-cars. Dethleffs is already working on a solution - but this means considerable costs for holidaymakers.
Mobile measuring stations on the road
In order to keep a closer eye on air quality and to be able to improve it at critical locations, the parcel service provider DPD is now also measuring air quality in Hamburg. If the data reveal many places with high air pollution, an environmental zone in the Hanseatic city could also come back into the discussion.
Why are there environmental zones?
Environmental zones and driving bans exist primarily to keep air pollution, i.e. the pollutants present in the air, as low as possible. But what exactly are these pollutants and why are they so dangerous?
The bicycle as an air filter
20 million bikes for clean air. This idea is currently maturing in China. A bicycle rental company provides bicycles that filter the ambient air during use. The idea is to finally do something about the bad air in Beijing and other supermetropolises.
ZFE, ZPA and ZPAd? French Low Emission Zones explained
There are different environmental zones in France. Some of the zones are permanently active, while others are only temporary. The latter are also called weather-related air protection zones, whereby the word "weather" does not refer to a specific weather condition such as sunshine or rain, but to the air quality, which often goes hand in hand with the weather.
