The recent high levels of particulate matter pollution due to the weather, especially in metropolitan areas such as those around Vienna, can lead to inflammation and other diseases. Exercising in the fresh air is also not healthy.
Although there is “no reason to panic”, people should act sensibly and not exert themselves too much outside, “because the more you exert, the more you inhale”, environmental doctor Hans-Peter Hutter emphasized on Tuesday in Ö1. .
“Older people belong to the risk group and can of course react particularly strongly to all kinds of air pollution and it is therefore important, especially for this group, to be careful,” explains Hutter from MedUni Vienna. Anyone who has previously had serious illnesses can also protect themselves with a fine dust mask. Daily physical activity is important. Children going out during the break is no more of a problem than when I go shopping. But if you now run like a madman through the city and think that this is an ideal training and that sport is healthy without any ifs and buts, then you are not really right,” the doctor warned.
Why particulate matter is so dangerous
There are two aspects of particulate matter that make it dangerous. “On the one hand there are very solid particles, particles that can cause an inflammatory response, and on the other hand there are other contaminants that adhere to the surface, from heavy metals to very harmful hydrocarbons,” Hutter describes. Ultrafine particles reach the alveoli in the lungs and from there can enter the bloodstream. Not only can this cause breathing difficulties and affect the lungs, “but cardiac arrhythmias, strokes and heart attacks can also be traced to exposure to particulate matter.”
“We are currently dealing with a reverse weather situation that has been going on for a long time. In addition, there is hardly any wind and these released pollutants, especially the particles, can strongly accumulate in the layer close to the ground,” the spokesperson explains. public health expert. Agglomerations with a lot of traffic, industry and trade are particularly affected. Values around Vienna have been particularly high lately. Many processes produce particulate matter, especially combustion processes. This applies not only to road traffic, “but also to domestic fires, i.e. with old wood heating systems,” Hutter emphasizes.
Difficult situation in Vienna
In Vienna, the permitted limit value for particulate matter (PM 10) of 50 micrograms per cubic meter was exceeded at several measuring stations last weekend, with the highest daily value of 56 micrograms per cubic meter being reached on Saturday. The number of days on which limit values are exceeded has been falling drastically for years, Heinz Tizek, head of air pollution control at the Vienna Environmental Protection Department (MA 22), emphasized to the APA. On Monday the PM-10 value was already below the permitted limit again, and even considerably lower on Tuesday morning.
Source: Krone
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