As electric cars are locally emission-free, the alternative drive type is currently regarded as the best way to combat the increasing environmental impact of traffic. Residents of metropolitan areas plagued by exhaust fumes and smog in particular could benefit from more electric cars on the road.
“The urban population living near busy roads is most at risk,” Christian Witt told the German Press Agency (dpa) on the occasion of German Lung Day. “Many lung specialists are now asking their patients where they live and advising them to move to a less polluted area if necessary,” said Witt, who is a professor of medicine at the Charité hospital in Berlin. The concentration of pollutants such as particulate matter and nitrogen oxides is particularly high in hot and dry weather.
Nitrogen oxides from diesel engines in particular are strong irritants and inflammation stimulators for the respiratory tract, explained Witt. “If the pollutants come into contact with an already damaged mucous membrane, they act like a fire accelerator – inflammation is fueled.” The physician therefore calls for: “We need more electromobility to protect our patients.”
According to dpa, over 50,000 people in Germany are diagnosed with lung or bronchial tumors every year. Nationwide, there are millions of people with lung disease. According to experts, it is difficult to determine how much of this is due to air pollution. “What is undisputed is the increased risk of developing pneumonia if you breathe in air that is permanently polluted with particulate matter,” says epidemiologist Joachim Heinrich from the University of Munich.
Source: https://ecomento.de/2018/09/26/lungenarzt-mehr-elektromobilitaet-zum-schutz-unserer-patienten/
