Giving Compass' Take:

• Mathias Traczyk explains that drastic cuts to air pollution - reducing NO2 by taking cars off of the road - could extend lifespans for city-dwellers. 

• How can funders find a practical way to decrease air pollution in cities? 

• Learn more about the dangers of air pollution. 

The average lifespan of residents of Copenhagen could increase by an entire year in 2040 if there were cuts in pollution to the level found in the countryside.

“Of course this reveals to the decision-makers the potential if they were to really do something about the air pollution. Copenhageners can live longer lives, because fewer would get sick and die from diseases which we know are caused by air pollution, among other things,” says Henrik Brønnum-Hansen, an associate professor from the public health department at the University of Copenhagen and first author of a new study.

Researchers used advanced models to simulate the effect of air pollution on the population. The model named “DYNAMO-HIA” uses data from large population surveys on health, pollution calculations for the individual streets based on traffic patterns, and register data regarding address, contact with the hospitals, and mortality.

Researchers studied nitrogen dioxide or NO2, which is emitted together with ultrafine particles from diesel vehicles.

Read the full article about city air pollution by Mathias Traczyk at Futurity.