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A call for Indonesia to take action on ground-level ozone
A recent study highlighting the transboundary nature of ozone pollution shows that this is a global environemntal and health issue, and Indonesia is in a unique position to take the lead in this collective endeavor to ensure cleaner air and better health for all.
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A police officer clears vegetation on March 1, 2024 during a firefighting operation in Dumai, Riau, where blazes triggered by hot, dry weather engulfed dozens of hectares across peatland and plantation areas in the districts of East Dumai, Bukit Kapur and Sungai Sembilan.
(Antara/Aswaddy Hamid)
A
recent study published in Nature Medicine sheds light on the alarming extent of the impact of ozone pollution in Europe. According to the study, a staggering 88.3 percent of all ozone-related deaths in Europe are caused by ozone transported from other countries, including those outside the region.
This startling statistic underscores the transboundary nature of air pollution, highlighting an urgent need for international cooperation to address this pressing issue.
In the study, a team of international researchers used sophisticated air quality modeling and epidemiological data to quantify the burden of mortality attributable to ozone transported across 35 European countries.
The results are both revealing and concerning for several reasons.
First is the domination of imported ozone. The vast majority of ozone-related deaths were linked to ozone originating outside the country where the deaths occurred. This imported ozone accounted for 88.3 percent of all attributable deaths, with a range of 83-100 percent across different countries.
Second, hemispheric sources are a major contributor. The largest share of imported ozone originated outside the study’s domain altogether, indicating the significant influence of the hemispheric transport of ozone and ozone precursors. This hemispheric ozone was responsible for 56.7 percent of total ozone-attributable mortality.
Third, industrialized nations are major exporters. The study also identified major contributors to transboundary ozone pollution. Industrialized, densely populated countries like France and Germany were found to be the primary exporters of ozone, impacting the health of neighboring nations.
