Shipping emissions can cause 10,000 premature deaths every year

Researchers at Lund University in Sweden have conducted a study demonstrating that hazardous nanoparticles emitted from ships completely fill the air along the coasts. Sea traffic emissions contribute nearly half of the particles measured, while the remaining are emissions from cars, industries, biomass combustion and natural particles occurring in the sea.

Nanoparticles are known to cause health hazards, due to their tiny size that allows a deeper penetration into the respiratory system, starting from the lungs. They can contribute to pulmonary and cardiovascular diseases.

Adam Kristensson, researcher in Aerosol Technology at the Faculty of Engineering at Lund University, said, “This is the first time an attempt has been made to estimate the proportion of nanoparticles stemming from sea traffic,” in a Lund University press release. “The different types of nanoparticles have previously not been distinguished, but this new method makes it possible,” he added.

Kristensson and his colleagues arrived at the results by studying air flows at a measuring point in south Sweden, passing over the Baltic sea and continuing on its way to another measuring point on the coast of Lithuania. The wind commonly travels eastward, ferrying the particles long distances before they are washed down by the rain or trapped in our lungs.

The levels of nanoparticles were compared in order to draw conclusions regarding the different proportions of emissions stemming from sea traffic as well as cars and other sources. It was observed that sea traffic emissions in the Baltic Sea and North Sea could be expected to cause 10,000 premature deaths annually. However, Kristensson pointed out the uncertainties in the estimate, stressing on the need to continue similar experiments.

“It is especially important to continue to set stricter caps on nitrogen oxides and sulphate content from ship fuel,” said Kristensson in the press release. “It is especially important to continue to raise the caps on emissions of nitrogen oxides and sulphate content from ship fuel,” he added.

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