Reducing Vehicle Emissions Saved Thousands of Lives

Working on environment and public health and vehicle-based impact of reductions in emissions. Researchers from Harvard University, who examined them, reached quite impressive results. With the recent reduction of emissions from vehicles in the United States, thousands of lives and billions of dollars have been saved. have been rescued researchers stating; He concluded that the death toll had dropped from 27,700 in 2008 to 19,800 in 2017.

In addition, the researchers found that the reduction in emissions also contributed to the economy. 270 billion dollars recorded as much. Cars, pickup trucks and SUVs make up a large part of the health burden reduced by stricter regulations on fossil fuel companies and vehicle manufacturers, according to the study. light commercial vehicles forming.

Harder anti-emission policies must be implemented for the continuation of this decline.

According to research published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, if vehicles had continued to emit air pollution at levels seen in 2008 during this period, the death toll in 2017 would be higher than today. 2.4 times higher would be. But these benefits are limited by a growing and aging population, and as drivers buy bigger cars and drive more, the researchers’ data show. Ernani Choma, an environmental health researcher at Harvard and lead author of the study, “Despite significant progress in reducing emissions, this counter-effect of population and larger vehicles is present” uses expressions and “Therefore, stricter policies If we do not implement it, it will be difficult to make significant progress.” he adds.

While there has been previous research on the health benefits and economic effects of reducing emissions, this study is not a study of how emissions affect public health, according to experts who were not affiliated with the research team. more precise is drawing a picture. Sumil Thakrar, an air quality researcher at the University of Minnesota, “Good environmental policy has reduced transport emissions over the last decade. highly reduced” says and his words, “But the benefits of these emissions controls are hard to understand well because it requires keeping track of a lot of other moving parts. And I think the authors are doing a remarkable job.” continues as.

In the study, which also examined the climate benefits resulting from the prevention of air pollution from vehicles, it was also stated that these benefits are not only the overall economic gains. 3% to 19%Found it created. Susan Anenberg, associate professor of environmental and occupational health and global health at George Washington University, explains that this is because most approaches to reducing transportation emissions in the United States are driven by climate change rather than climate change. to prevent air pollution shows as. Regarding this, Anenberg, “Catalytic converters, diesel particulate filters; they remove pollutants from the environment but have no effect on carbon dioxide” saves as.

This is exactly why Choma and his colleagues said that tougher policies should be implemented to reduce emissions. Another reason is that if the increasing trend in population and vehicle size and usage continues, the policies that create the health benefits highlighted in the study will be implemented in the future. will not be as effective as before. the truth. About this Choma, “If we look to 2030 and nothing changes, you will see only a modest decrease in deaths from vehicle emissions” that stricter emissions policies the importance of emphasizes.