The German society for pneumology and respiratory medicine (DGP) expects that the world health organization (WHO) recommend that in the foreseeable future, a lowering of the limit values for nitrogen dioxide (NO2).
Currently, will advise the WHO about whether or not the such as in the EU’s limit corresponds to the current scientific evidence, said Professor Holger Schulz, Helmholtz center Munich, the “world”. It is expected that the WHO will propose a reduction.
Schulz is one of the authors of the position paper, which was presented to the DGP in November on the theme of air pollutants. It is in a Central location: “adverse Health effects of air diseases well studied and documented are pollutants in both the General population and in patients with different reason.” And: “A further significant reduction of air pollution and a lowering of the legal limits.”
Concretely, this means, according to Schulz: “Based on nitrogen dioxide a limit value of 30 micrograms per cubic meter of air is, in my view, makes sense.” The nitrogen dioxide limit value is currently set in the year 40 micrograms per cubic meter of air, and is based on recommendations of the WHO. Schulz stressed that it is the task of politics, not of science, new upper to formulate boundaries. It is established that air pollutants are dangerous to health: “This is already at levels of 20 micrograms per cubic meter of air detected.”
A group of more than 100 lung doctors, the retired pulmonologist Dieter Köhler had triggered in January, a fierce debate after she doubted the health Benefits of the limit values for nitrogen dioxide. Later, the author of the opinion, the physician Dieter Köhler acknowledged the calculation error, but remained at the assertion that health risks from nitrogen oxides and fine dust and the based limits are not scientifically substantiated.
