Smog Levels Drop on a Major Copenhagen Street After Traffic Ban

Bispeengbuen is a six-lane elevated roadway that leads into and out of the heart of Copenhagen, Denmark.

It is one of the busiest thoroughfares in the city, with 50,000 to 70,000 cars driving over it every day. But what many people may not know is that the heavy automobile pollution from Bispeengbuen goes straight into the nearby homes of the residents who live along the road.

A recent study by researchers at the University of Copenhagen has revealed that 48% of the indoor air pollution in an apartment located 35 meters from the roadway comes directly from Bispeengbuen-generated car pollution.

The study, which was published in the journal Dansk Kemi, used low-cost pollution sensors developed by the researchers themselves to measure the air quality for over four weeks.

The sensors were placed along Bispeengbuen, outside an inhabited apartment, and inside one of the apartment's rooms.

The room was a storage room where there were no people and where the doors and windows were closed for the entire period.

The researchers found a close correlation between indoor and outdoor air pollution, meaning that the air pollution originated outdoors and came into the room, despite it having been completely shut off.

"It was surprising," said Frederik Hildebrand, a chemistry student who led the study.

The Consequences of Air Pollution

(Photo : ATTA KENARE/AFP via Getty Images)

Air pollution is a serious health hazard that cuts the lives of more than four thousand Danes short every year.

According to the Danish Health Authority, air pollution in Denmark in 2020 resulted in 4,030 premature deaths, of which 860 cases were due to Danish sources.

Danish sources also contribute to approximately 1,930 premature deaths annually in Europe.

Air pollution is the third leading cause of death worldwide, after smoking and high blood pressure. In 2019, outdoor air pollution was estimated to cause 4.2 million premature deaths worldwide, according to the World Health Organization.

It can cause or worsen a range of respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, stroke, and heart attack.

It can also affect the brain, the nervous system, the reproductive system, and the immune system, and can also have negative impacts on the environment, such as acid rain, smog, ozone depletion, and climate change.

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The Solutions for Cleaner Air

The study by the University of Copenhagen researchers suggested that there is a need for more local and accurate monitoring of air pollution, especially in areas where people are exposed to high levels of traffic emissions.

The low-cost sensors developed by the researchers can help fill in the blanks in our understanding of local air pollution and provide data for policymakers and citizens to take action.

The researchers also recommended that people who live near Bispeengbuen or other busy roads should take measures to reduce their exposure to air pollution, such as using air purifiers, ventilation systems, or filters in their homes.

Avoid opening windows during peak traffic hours and limit their outdoor activities when the air quality is poor.

However, the ultimate solution for cleaner air is to reduce the sources of air pollution, such as by switching to cleaner and more sustainable modes of transportation, such as cycling, walking, public transit, or electric vehicles.

The city of Copenhagen has already taken steps to promote green mobility, such as by expanding its network of bike lanes, introducing congestion charges, and banning diesel cars by 2030.

These initiatives can help improve the air quality and the health of the residents, as well as the environment and the climate.