Pollution from traffic, planes and power stations 'killing 13,000 Britons a year'

click image for link to DAILY MAIL article

The science the article is based on can be found here.

Public health impacts of combustion emissions in the United kingdom.Do be aware that air flights/traffic pollution will have exactly the same effect in the USA
Do be aware upper atmospheric pollution blocks uvb penetration to ground level and has a measurable adverse effect on vitamin d status so reducing vitamin d/immune function

...and what about the pollution coming from Fukushima Daiichi?

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Let Food Be Your Medicine And Medicine Be Your Food.(Hippocrates)

Perhaps I�m just overly skeptical but when I see reports like these red flags go up and I start asking questions.

Abstract
Combustion emissions are a major contributor to degradation of air quality and pose a risk to human health.
Yes but car engines are over 90% cleaner running then they were in the 50�s & 60�s.

We evaluate and apply a multiscale air quality modeling system to assess the impact of combustion emissions on UK air quality.
Was that that a carefully planned out modeling system or was it patterned after Al Gore�s planet warming model?

Epidemiological evidence is used to quantitatively relate PM(2.5) exposure to risk of early death.
Was there a direct provable relationship or was it just assumed.

We find that UK combustion emissions cause ∼13,000 premature deaths in the UK per year, while an additional ∼6000 deaths in the UK are caused by non-UK European Union (EU) combustion emissions.
How did they prove these deaths were caused by these particular emissions?

The leading domestic contributor is transport, which causes ∼7500 early deaths per year, while power generation and industrial emissions result in ∼2500 and ∼830 early deaths per year, respectively.
Again how did they determine that these deaths were caused by these sources?

We estimate the uncertainty in premature mortality calculations at -80% to +50%, where results have been corrected by a low modeling bias of 28%.
Oh I see they are telling us that they are making an educated guess.

The total monetized life loss in the UK is estimated at �6-62bn/year or 0.4-3.5% of gross domestic product.
In Greater London, where PM concentrations are highest and are currently in exceedance of EU standards, we estimate that non-UK EU emissions account for 30% of the ∼3200 air quality-related deaths per year.
OK are these realistic standards? Or are they unrealistically low?

In the context of the European Commission having launched infringement proceedings against the UK Government over exceedances of EU PM air quality standards in London, these results indicate that further policy measures should be coordinated at an EU-level because of the strength of the transboundary component of PM pollution.
This sounds like an excuse for more taxation and more government control over the people.

So do we know if we have a real problem here or are we in effect being asked to ban DIHYDROGEN MONOXIDE?

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First you need to understand what Airplane Emissions actually are
and then understand how
Urban Tropospheric Ozone Increases the Prevalence of Vitamin D Deficiency

How Vitamin D status has a linear association with seasonal infections and lung function

and also

Exposure to Ozone Modulates Human Airway Protease/Antiprotease Balance Contributing to Increased Influenza A Infection

So our vulnerability to infection is increased because of increased Ozone. but it's not just Ozone
Particulates of other sizes are also implicated.
we found evidence indicating that PMc may play an important role in emergency hospitalizations for respiratory diseases independent of PM2.5 and other gaseous pollutants. Our findings in Hong Kong add to the growing body of literature concerning adverse health effects of PMc.

IMPLICATIONS In Hong Kong, where air pollution may pose more of a health threat than in North American and Western European cities, the effects of air pollution also interact with influenza and with residence in socially deprived areas, potentially leading to additional harm.

As it's poor kids, the socially deprived kids and the poorest most socially deprived elderly people who are most vulnerable I doubt it will stop the most affluent undertaking unnecessary car/air travel. Most people don't care that year on year vitamin d status declines and asthma incidence rises.

I have no doubt that these items and many others can cause heath problems. The question is when do they cross over from being something to be concerned about to being a serious health threat? Are we sure that we can trust those making the decisions on what can and cannot be allowed are doing it with our best interests in mind or are they doing to advance some other hidden agenda?

I agree. The more airplanes flying over my house the more noise and air pollution I have to suffer. The more cars/lorries driving down the lane the more my house shakes and walls crack.

As soon as we notice serious harm is being caused to others. As soon as you are made aware you are harming someone else's health then I think you should reconsider if your behaviour is justified.

I don't think we can ever trust anyone or anything we read on the internet.
I think we have to look at the source of the story rather than just read a press release or news item. I certainly never believe anything I read and always check that there are other sources available that confirm the story or the idea behind the story first. Obviously I could be conned, misled like any/ever one else but I do think it's reasonable to question if all of the air travel is "necessary", if all of the car usage is "sensible" or even "desirable".

In the UK most local towns grind to a halt in the half hour before and after school opening/closure because MOST children get driven to school by a parent. One of the reasons kids are overweight is the fact they don't get sufficient exercise. The reason the kids are vitamin D deficient is because the fumes from their parents cars are preventing UVB reaching ground level and the particulates from their over-large over heavy fuel hungry 4x4 used on the school run give their kids/and other kids asthma.

I can't stop you ruining the next generations health but I can point out to you the sheer stupidity of your behaviours.