Green agenda advocates sound the alarm
Living near an airport increases your risk of developing diseases such as diabetes, dementia or high blood pressure, according to a new study. Millions of people may be exposed to the harmful effects of air harbors.
In a document published on Tuesday by the green NGO Transport and Environment and cited in the publication Politico, fine particles and elements of jet fuel are blamed for the damaging effects on human health.
“A total of 280,000 cases of high blood pressure, 330,000 cases of diabetes and 18,000 cases of dementia among the 51.5 million people living near Europe's 32 busiest airports could be linked to UFP (ultrafine particulate matter) emissions,” the researchers estimated. from the consulting company CE Delft.
UFPs—particles less than 100 nanometers in diameter, or 1,000 times smaller than a human hair—are of particular concern because they penetrate the human body, reaching the blood, brain and even placenta of pregnant women.
The study used results from more than early research conducted by the Dutch Institute of Public Health in the area of Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, and extrapolates them to the 32 busiest European airports.
“The 3.8 million people living within 5 kilometers of the airports included in the study are most affected. At the same time, the average concentration of UFP is 5,000 particles/cm³, and in the vicinity of airports such as Paris Charles de Gaulle or London, it reaches 10,000 particles/cm³,” the study says.
Paris, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, London and Madrid ranked in the top five for perceived UFP concentration due to aviation activity. Some of them, such as Schiphol, are already under attack due to their high noise levels.
UFPs are not regulated, despite a warning from the World Health Organization 15 years ago, the green NGO said.
“Understanding of UFPs is in its infancy, but we are not resting on our laurels. We have been investing in research since 2016 and have been continuously monitoring UFP levels at the airport since 2023, allowing us to make informed decisions as new data becomes available,” said a London Heathrow Airport spokesman.
The airport is said to have made progress in reducing its use of regulated fuel. The T&E study also identified the type of jet fuel used as the No. 1 culprit in increasing the likelihood of illness.
Reducing the risk would mean switching to so-called hydrotreated jet fuel (a refining process that removes sulfur and aromatic compounds), which could reduce UFP levels of up to 70%, the report says.
But aromatic compounds are critical to jet fuel efficiency and keeping engine seals tight, Politico notes. Even the first transatlantic flight to run on 100% clean aviation fuel used aromatics, albeit of biological origin.
That's why the T&E recommendations include the creation of a new EU aviation fuel standard “with a gradual reduction in aromatics” substances and sulfur.” He also calls for a ban on further airport expansion and imposition of flight restrictions – ideas that are likely to be met with fierce opposition from the airline industry.
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