Coronavirus

I haven't posted any blogposts for a while. But sometimes things happen that you want to tell the world. That keeps you awake. This time it's the Wuhan coronavirus (aka 2019-nCoV). Well this is a blog about transitioning to more sustainable mobility. Mostly about cars. Is there a link? Well, actually there is and that's exactly what I want to write about.

That Coronavirus can cause pneumonia. That's called: novel coronavirus-infected pneumonia (NCIP). And that's what kills the people that are contaminated with this virus.

Now what decides who gets pneumonia and who doesn't? Many patients have secondary conditions. Many are older people. But even seemingly healthy people can get this pneumonia and die. What they didn't tell us is that there are risk factors that can influence who can get pneumonia and who doesn't.

The #1 risk factor is smoking. Smoking kills, that's no surprise for most readers. But it also increases the risk of infections with bacteria or virusses leading to pneumonia. So if you don't want to die from this virus, then now would be a good time to stop smoking. Smoking is also the reason why more men than women get NCIP. In China by far more men than women smoke.

Research also shows that air pollution is another risk factor for developing pneumonia from infections. Not a surprise then that in Wuhan, which like many other major Chinese cities suffers from severe air pollution, this virus can be so lethal.

So we can do something about the lethality of this virus. We can stop smoking and clean up our cities. Drive cleaner vehicles for a healthier future.

Now going back to my opening sentences, you know why I needed to inform you and write this blog. Now you know, I can sleep again. Please share my post with others who may be interested in this information.

Many European diesels have high emissions under real driving conditions

It appears that Volkswagen is not the only one with high NOx emissions under real driving conditions. Tests performed by Deutsche Umwelthilfe (DUH) show that Opel and Renault diesels also have increased NOx emissions under normal driving conditions. DUH claims that Renault Espace diesels have up to 25 times higher emissions than allowed in Europe. In a response Renault claims that their diesels pass the test. Of course Volkswagens also pass that test. It's the difference between between emissions under real driving conditions and the test that's disturbing. Volkswagen cheated by using a cheat device. It seems that officially Renault didn't cheat. Instead the cause seems to be that Renault tests with a cold engine. Lower temperatures lead to lower NOx emissions. In real life those engines heat up over time and then emit poisonous NOx emissions that kill people. In real life we need stricter regulations to ban such practices.

Dutch die 1 year early due to air pollution

A recent study by the Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) and Utrecht University shows the effect of air pollution on life expectancy in the Netherlands. Long-term (>5 years) exposure to particulate air pollution (PM10) and nitrogen dioxide was found to be associated with mortality. This was shown for total mortality as well as for mortality from respiratory diseases and lung cancer in the Netherlands. Furthermore, PM10 was associated with cardiovascular mortality.

In their studies the researchers used statistical data available from 7.2 million adults living in the Netherlands: all residents over 30 years who did not move for at least 5 years.

Until recently only levels of fine particulates have been used in calculations of premature deaths associated with air pollution in general. The study found that, in addition to the effect of fine particulates, nitrogen dioxide is also associated with premature deaths linked to air pollution.

The study also found an increased mortality risk for people under 65 while previously, it was thought that premature death due to the effects of air pollution occurred mainly in older people.

Using the numbers of this study Dutch environmental group Milieudefensie quantified the effects. PM10 pollution was shown to reduce life expectancy by 9 months while nitrogen dioxide exposure causes a 4 month reduction in life expectancy. One of the publishers of the RIVM article confirmed these findings in an interview. Milieudefensie calls for tougher regulations as they consider the effects of air pollution unacceptable.