Unborn baby also receives soot particles: “You are worse off in Amsterdam”
Soot particles can also be found in the organs of unborn babies. That appears from research from the universities of Hasselt and Aberdeen. Bad news for Amsterdam, where there is above average a lot of spanner in the works: “Normally someone from Amsterdam is worse off than someone who is on Schiermonnikoog.”
It has been known for some time that it causes damage to unborn babies, says Saskia van der Zee, an air pollution specialist at the GGD. “We know, for example, that babies come in. And areas that preterm births are more likely to happen here.”
Amsterdam, like other places in the Netherlands, has a lot of soot particles in the air. “These are ultrafine particles that are released during combustion processes. Road traffic in particular causes a lot of soot in the air. And Amsterdam is a large, bustling city where many cars drive.”
Harmful
From Amsterdam to an unhealthy place for babies? “That has to do with several factors,” says Van der Zee. “There are of course a lot of other things that can play a role. For example, the smoking behavior of the mother of social economic factors. But normally someone from Amsterdam is worse off than someone who is at Schiermonninkoog.”
Soot particles are not just for babies. “Air pollution has an impact throughout your life.
Measures
Van der Zee has, however, strengthened a great deal of confidence in air quality in the coming years. “A lot is happening in Amsterdam. The quality is very ambitious and you can already see that the air quality is improving every year. Also nationally and nationally and measures are being taken to reduce emissions from Europe, we are not there yet, if the standards that the WHO uses are also stronger, we want to be able to breathe really clean air.”