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Bucharest, one of the most polluted capitals
The European Environment Agency informs that 28,000 Romanians die every year because of problems like bronchitis, asthma or cardiovascular diseases caused by polluted air and about one million Romanians suffer from respiratory affections.
According to the latest studies, Bucharest is one of the most polluted capitals in Europe, while in Iasi and Brasov the level of particles coming from polluting emissions generated by industry and traffic exceed the maximum level accepted by the law.
“The quality of air we breathe depends both on irritative factors included in what we call pollution and on biological particles which are less known. They are represented on the outside by pollen grains of allergy producing plants and various species of moulds and in the interior by house dust, pet hair or moulds. They can produces allergies, rhino conjunctivitis and allergic asthma in some people,” said Dr. Polliana Leru at a press conference.
“The Romanian Society of Allergology and Immunology draws attention on the risk of getting sick represented by urban vegetation by the presence of plants like ambrosia. The concentration of allergy producing pollens in atmosphere should be measured and information bulletins should be issued as it happens in the rest of European countries. Unfortunately, in Romania we do not have a national aerobiology network and there is a single centre in Bucharest able to measure pollen concentration - Colentina Clinical Hospital,” Leu added.
The Romanian Society of Pneumology estimate the number of people suffering from asthma has reached one million, which is 6% of Romania’s population.
Specialists point to the fact that inside air can be two to five times more polluted that outside and house gust is one of the most important and dangerous allergic sources inside and can trigger severe allergic reactions and asthma.
About 18 kilos of dust is gathered in a household in a single year.
The Romanian Society of Clinical Allergology and Immunology together with the Romanian Society of Pneumology launched a campaign over April 16-May 6 on the quality of air we breathe and the effects of polluted air on people’s health.