Health Aspects Of Atmospheric Pollution From Ships

Abstract

Air quality is one of the most important public health problems faced by the inhabitants of the European Union. The negative effects of air pollution include an increased incidence of various diseases and conditions, primarily respiratory, cardiovascular, and malignant diseases. Various measures are designed and implemented in all sectors to reduce the harmful consequences of air pollution. Maritime transport, when contrasted with other methods of moving people and goods, has a lesser environmental impact and its utilization is steadily increasing. To avoid a concomitant significant increase in the negative impact on the quality of the atmosphere, it is important to continuously reduce emissions of harmful substances from ships. The paper describes the most important harmful substances and their effects on human health. Based on the results of research conducted in the last five years, the effects of pollutants emitted into the air from ships on the mortality and morbidity of European Union residents are listed, with an emphasis on the effectiveness of the implemented preventive measures.

Keywords

• maritime traffic; air pollution; health impacts