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The increase in breathing issues among tourists in vacation spots emphasises the importance of travellers being aware of air quality. The study emphasises the health and economic consequences of poor air quality on tourists, emphasising the need of taking environmental variables into account when planning travel.

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Holidaymakers in Spain's Costa Brava have seen an upturn in breathing problems with conditions like asthma triggered by poor air quality, a survey by Avanti Travel Insurance has found

A host of Brits in holiday destinations have been hit with breathing problems, recent figures show.

Holidaymakers in Spain's Costa Blanca and destinations in Greece and Italy have been left wheezing as poor air quality has triggered allergies and respiratory conditions, according to the study. As well as setting off conditions such as asthma, the issue is also leaving Brits out of pocket.

The survey by Avanti Travel Insurance found that tourists were spending an average of £37 each time on treatment or remedies for their breathing issues while staying abroad. And only 13% of people travelling abroad meanwhile check the air quality status before doing so, the survey of 2,000 UK adults found.

Professor Frank Kelly, of Imperial College London, said those with breathing issues should avoid the worst places for air quality. According to the European Environment Agency, the worst recorded spots in 2021 and 2022 were Cremona in North West Italy, Slavonski Brod in Croatia and Nowy Sacz in Poland. Tourist hotspots Paris, Rome, Barcelona and the Canary Islands also rated badly.

Prof Kelly told The Sun: "Tourists can come up against airborne particles and noxious gases associated with ill health - even after short-term exposures. This is especially the case for vulnerable groups such as the young, the elderly and people with cardio-respiratory disease."

Kelly Johnstone, from Avanti Insurance, said: "It's worth knowing which destinations might not be ideal."

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Urgent warning to Brits visiting holiday hotspot over surge in breathing issues

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Holidaymakers in Spain's Costa Brava have seen an upturn in breathing problems with conditions like asthma triggered by poor air quality, a survey by Avanti Travel Insurance has found

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"Air pollution, a global health risk,

cause to reduce life expectancy, with Asia and Africa most affected, lacking infrastructure and funding solutions. "Stakeholders must be aware of the critical situation.

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"Three-quarters of air pollution's impact on global life expectancy occurs in just six countries: Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, China, Nigeria and Indonesia, where people lose one to more than six years off their lives because of the air they breathe," says Michael Greenstone, the Milton Friedman Distinguished Service Professor in Economics at the University of Chicago and the creator of the AQLI along with colleagues at the Energy Policy Institute at Chicago.

Many polluted countries lack basic air pollution infrastructure. Asia and Africa are the two most poignant examples. They contribute 92.7 percent of life years lost due to pollution. Only 6.8 and 3.7 percent of governments in Asia and Africa, respectively, provide their citizens with fully open air quality data. Further, just 35.6 and 4.9 percent of countries in Asia and Africa, respectively, have air quality standards-the most basic building block for policies.

The collective current investments in global air quality infrastructure also do not match where air pollution is having its greatest toll on human life.

Resources lacking

While there is a large global fund for HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis that annually disburses $4 billion toward the issues, there is no equivalent set of coordinated resources for air pollution. In fact, the entire continent of Africa receives under $300,000 in philanthropic funds toward air pollution. Just $1.4 million goes to Asia, outside of China and India. Europe, the United States, and Canada, meanwhile, receive $34 million, according to the Clean Air Fund.

"Timely, reliable, open air quality data in particular can be the backbone of civil society and government clean air efforts-providing the information that people and governments lack and that allows for more informed policy decisions," says Christa Hasenkopf, the director of AQLI and air quality programs at EPIC. "Fortunately, we see an immense opportunity to play a role in reversing this by better targeting-and increasing-our funding dollars to collaboratively build the infrastructure that is missing today."

In no other location on the planet is the deadly impact of pollution more visible than in South Asia, home to the four most polluted countries in the world and nearly a quarter of the global population.

Loss of five years

In Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Pakistan, the AQLI data reveal that residents are expected to lose about five years off their lives on average if the current high levels of pollution persist, and more in the most polluted regions-accounting for more than half of the total life years lost globally due to pollution.

Although the challenge of reducing air pollution around the world may seem daunting, China has had remarkable success, reducing pollution by 42.3 percent since 2013, the year before the country began a "war against pollution." Due to these improvements, the average Chinese citizen can expect to live 2.2 years longer, provided the reductions are sustained. However, the pollution in China is still six times higher than the WHO guideline, taking 2.5 years off life expectancy.

Read the full report.

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Global air pollution poses huge risk to human health, Air Quality Life Index finds

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South Asian residents expected to lose five years from lives on average if current high pollution levels persist

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Toxic smog in eastern Pakistan, particularly in Lahore, has prompted authorities to close schools, offices, malls, and parks due to dangerous air pollution levels. The situation, exacerbated by crop residue burning, mirrors North India's struggle with toxic smog. Residents report health issues, and experts criticize inadequate government measures. Air pollution, a persistent problem, is highlighted as a severe health risk, shortening lives in the region, according to the Air Quality Life Index. Efforts to address the issue are deemed insufficient.

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Kelly Ng & Tarhub Asgharin Singapore and Islamabad

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Toxic smog chokes Pakistan and shuts cities

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Smog in the country’s second-largest city Lahore has risen to dangerous levels.

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Air pollution, notably in Indian cities hosting the Cricket World Cup, raises health and safety concerns for players. The lack of clear global standards prompts calls for prioritizing player well-being. The impact of pollution on athletes, especially in severely polluted cities, remains a critical issue demanding attention.

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Angelo Mathews getting timed out is what most people will remember from Sri Lanka's World Cup group match against Bangladesh in Delhi.

The toxic air - a sooty, suffocating, blanket over a city that is home to more than 30 million people.

The Air Quality Index (AQI), which indicates the level of air pollution, rose past the scale's maximum value of 500 - 10 times the range considered 'good'.

In response, Delhi government closed primary schools and banned non-essential construction and demolition, as well as diesel vehicles entering the city.

Bangladesh and Sri Lanka cancelled training sessions. Some of the Bangladesh team did train the day before the game, mostly in masks. Those with asthma stayed away. Both teams publicly raised the issue of air quality.

Current International Cricket Council (ICC) guidelines don't mention air pollution directly, but allow the umpires to call a game off if they agree the conditions make play "dangerous or unreasonable".

In a last-ditch attempt to ensure the game went ahead, the ICC brought in pulmonologist Dr Randeep Guleria - former director of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences - who advised on mitigation, including the installation of water sprinklers around the stadium, while air purifiers were installed in the dressing rooms and match official areas.

By Monday morning, though air pollution outside the stadium was still very poor, and television footage from the match showed a city shrouded in haze, the final readings from the handheld monitors inside the stadium - which the ICC are yet to get from the Indian cricket board (BCCI) - were satisfactory enough for Dr Guleria to sign off.

Tom Moffat, the chief executive of international players' union FICA, expressed his concern.

"Player health and safety should always be a priority and clearly any time players feel they can't be outside to train or play that is an issue," he said.

"One of the challenges of international sport is that it is played in all sorts of conditions around the world.

"This is not a country specific issue and the game has more work to do on developing clearly published global standards that guide decision making in this area. They should be based on science and prioritise player wellbeing."

AQI measures the level of pollutants in the air, including PM 2.5 - tiny inhaled particles that can cause cancers and heart and lung disease, with evidence also emerging for associations with as well as low birth weight and

The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates the effects of air pollution is associated with seven million premature deaths every year.

The burning of fossil fuels accounts for 3.6 million of those deaths, according to research published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science.

As a global partner of the ICC, state-owned Saudi oil giant Aramco has its logo displayed around the Delhi stadium that was covered in smog during Bangladesh against Sri Lanka.

Independent think tank Carbon Tracker says Aramco is "the world's largest corporate greenhouse gas emitter" and called its 2021 sustainability report "heavy on rhetoric and light on substance". Aramco says it has "one of the lowest upstream carbon footprints in the industry".

Delhi consistently ranks as one of the most polluted cities in the world, with seasonal smoke from stubble burning by farmers and Diwali fireworks adding to an already toxic brew of dust, vehicle emissions, pollution from construction, and emissions from industry and electricity generation.

For the past two weeks, the city's AQI has consistently been in the 400-500 'severe range', with a haze returning on Monday after the festival of Diwali.

Delhi is not the only Indian city badly affected by air pollution in this World Cup.

England players used inhalers in cities with high pollution during their doomed title defence, and Joe Root was blunt in the news conference following defeat by South Africa in Mumbai.

"I've not played in anything like that before," he said.

"I've obviously played in hotter conditions, and probably more humid conditions. But it just felt like you couldn't get your breath. It was like you were eating the air. It was unique."

India captain Rohit Sharma also expressed his concern before their group game against Sri Lanka in Mumbai by saying "it's not ideal and everyone knows that".

It will be a worry again for India's semi-final against New Zealand in the same city on Wednesday. Swiss technology company IQAir recorded the on Tuesday as 'unhealthy'.

Though there are not any specific studies on the effect of toxic air on cricketers, levels of air pollution are particularly dangerous to those exercising, as well as children, pregnant women, the infirm and the elderly.

"Immediate exposure to elevated levels of AQI can lead to various acute issues, such as breathing difficulties and increased blood pressure," said Dr Arvind Kumar, a senior lung specialist at the Medanta hospitals.

"Additionally, it can result in enduring respiratory symptoms, potentially reducing exercise capacity. Given that athletes engage in rigorous physical activity, they are at an increased risk of experiencing more severe breathing problems."

Rob Lynch, the chief executive of the Professional Cricketers' Association (PCA), has held discussions with other player associations in India on various issues, including air pollution.

"It is imperative that the welfare of professional cricketers is protected and safe playing conditions are paramount to this," the PCA said in a statement.

"The ICC has a duty of care to deem cities and venues as safe on and off the field."

England's men and women are due to tour India in the next few months.

The men's Test tour runs from late January to early March, when pollution should have eased, but the women play three T20s and a Test in Mumbai in December, with the A side playing three T20s starting at the end of this month. The ECB were unavailable for comment.

This is not a new problem for cricket in India - during the 2017 Test between India and Sri Lanka in Delhi, players wore masks and vomited because of high levels of pollution.

Nor is it just a problem in India, with IQAir's live ranking of the most polluted cities also featuring cricketing strongholds Lahore and Karachi in Pakistan, as well as Dhaka in Bangladesh, alongside Delhi, Kolkata and Mumbai in the top 15 on Tuesday.

For the young children in these cities dreaming of emulating their heroes and becoming a cricketer, the prognosis is particularly stark, with strong evidence that exercising in areas of high pollution stunts their lung function.

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'Like eating the air' - pollution at the World Cup

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Poor air quality in India has affected players and continues to cause concern as the World Cup draws to a close.

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The FIR filed against a Mumbai builder for violating air pollution norms emphasises the importance of following environmental regulations in construction activity. Legal actions are critical in maintaining responsibility and protecting public health from the harmful consequences of non-compliant practises on air pollution.

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Air pollution: FIR against builder for not following HC guidelines

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Builder Bharat Realty Ventures Pvt Ltd failed to erect 25 feet high tin sheets at construction site

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The worsening post-Diwali air quality in Noida, Greater Noida, and Ghaziabad highlights a concerning trend compared to the previous year. Despite a brief improvement after light rainfall, the 'very poor' category indicates a pressing need for comprehensive measures to address and mitigate air pollution in the region. people was not bothered about aftereffects of their celebrations.

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NOIDA: Air quality in Noida, Greater Noida and Ghaziabad in the first four days after Diwali has been in the 'very poor' category this year as against 'poor' on at least two days of the corresponding period in 2022.

While the air breathed a day before the festival was the cleanest in at least seven years, with a rare rain respite, AQI in Delhi-NCRdeteriorated the morning after Diwali celebrations.

On Thursday, Noida recorded an AQI of 357, while Greater Noida logged 344 and Ghaziabad 376. The quality is unlikely to improve over the next few days.
Track the pollution level in your city

The CPCB's 24-hour average AQI data showed the air quality in the three cities started to worsen from October 28. The air quality of Greater Noida slipped to 'severe' (above 400) between November 2 and 9. Noida also saw hazardous air on November 4, 5 and 8 while Ghaziabad, which largely saw 'very poor' AQI during the period, logged one 'severe' air day on November 3.
Following light rainfall on November 10, the AQI improved significantly in the region, from the 'severe' to 'moderate' category. On November 11, Noida recorded an AQI of 156, Greater Noida 130 and Ghaziabad 160. On Diwali (November 12), the air quality was 189, 165 and 186 in three cities, respectively.

As the curbs on firecrackers were flouted across the cities, the after-effect of the recent rainfall wore off post-Diwali. The CPCB data showed on November 13, the AQI in the three cities had slipped back to the 'very poor' category - Noida at 363, Greater Noida 342 and Ghaziabad 329. The air quality has only deteriorated since then.
Last year, on Diwali, which was celebrated on October 24, Noida recorded an AQI of 305, Greater Noida 274 and Ghaziabad 300 - all in the periphery of the 'poor' category. But the next day, the air quality improved marginally with Noida logging an AQI of 299, Greater Noida 272 and Ghaziabad 266, all in the 'poor' category.
On October 26, too, the air quality was in the 'poor' category, even though the AQI worsened over the next two days to 'very poor'.
As per the CPCB's 24-hour average air quality, all four monitoring stations in Ghaziabad recorded an AQI in the higher levels of the 'very poor' category - Indirapuram was worst at 389, followed by Vasundhara 380, Loni 377 and Sanjay Nagar 351.
According to the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR), windspeed was unlikely to pick up and blow away the pollutants till Sunday.
Anti-smog gun at Loni
A video showing an anti-smog gun operating near the Loni monitoring station, which was doing rounds in social media on Thursday, drew flak with local residents criticising the pollution department for trying to manipulate the AQI levels instead of taking effective pollution control measures on the ground.
Sachin Gupta, who claimed to be a local resident, posted the video on X and said: "This machine monitors AQI level in Loni. To ensure the air quality level is low, an anti-smog gun is placed at this station."
When approached, UPPCB regional officer Vikash Mishra said it appeared an anti-smog gun of the Ghaziabad Municipal Corporation was at the spot. "We have directed officials to remove the anti-smog gun from the Loni monitoring station," he said.

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Post-Diwali air is worse this year than last in Noida, Ghaziabad | Noida News - Times of India

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Air quality in Noida, Greater Noida, and Ghaziabad has been in the 'very poor' category after Diwali this year, compared to 'poor' last year. The air

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The article highlights the serious impact of smog on children's health, emphasizing the risks of respiratory problems, cardiovascular issues, developmental delays, and allergies. It underscores the urgent need for parents to take practical measures to protect their children from the harmful effects of air pollution. our situation is worsening in to a very bad situation

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With the increasing level of smog and air pollution in cities, most parents are concerned about their child's health. Smog is a harmful mixture of smoke and fog which can have a serious impact on a child's respiratory health and overall well-being.

Smog is primarily composed of fine particulate matter (PM2.5), ground-level ozone (O3), and various pollutants released from vehicles, industrial processes, and other sources. Long-term exposure to smog can cause a number of health problems such as:

Respiratory Problems: Children are particularly vulnerable to smog's effects because their lungs are still developing. Exposure to smog can exacerbate asthma, increase the risk of respiratory infections, and lead to decreased lung function over time.

Cardiovascular Issues: Smog can also harm the cardiovascular system & has been linked to heart attacks, stroke, and high blood pressure.

Developmental Delays: Long-term exposure to air pollution, including smog, has been associated with developmental delays and cognitive impairments in children.

Allergies: Smog can worsen allergy symptoms, making conditions like hay fever more challenging to manage.

Here are a few practical tips for parents:

Monitoring Air Quality levels: Many weather apps and websites provide real-time air quality information. On days when pollution levels are high, consider limiting outdoor activities.

Stay Indoors on Poor Air Quality Days: When air quality is poor, especially during smoggy days, it's best to keep your child indoors as much as possible. Create a safe and clean indoor environment to minimise exposure to outdoor pollutants.

Use Air Purifiers: Consider using HEPA air purifiers in your home, particularly in your child's bedroom. These devices can help filter out harmful particulates and improve indoor air quality.

Proper Ventilation: Make sure there is enough ventilation in your house. Proper air circulation can help reduce indoor air pollutants.

Reduce Outdoor Activities During Peak Pollution Hours: If your child participates in outdoor sports or activities, try to schedule them during times when pollution levels are lower, usually in the early morning or evening.

Use Masks When Necessary: If your child needs to be outdoors on poor air quality days, consider using N95 or N99 masks designed to filter out particulate matter. Make sure the mask fits properly and is comfortable for your child.

Teach your child to wash their hands and face thoroughly after being outdoors to remove any pollutants that may have settled on their skin.

A balanced diet rich in fruits and vegetables can help support your child's immune system and overall health. Have foods high in antioxidants, such as vitamin C and vitamin E, which may help mitigate the effects of air pollution.

Stay engaged with local environmental organisations and advocate for policies aimed at reducing pollution in your city. Collective action can lead to cleaner air for everyone.

Schedule regular check-ups with your pediatrician: They can monitor your child's respiratory health and provide guidance on managing any smog-related issues.

Protecting your child from the harmful effects of smog in polluted cities requires vigilance and proactive measures. Remember that every effort counts in ensuring your child grows up in a healthier and cleaner environment.
(Dr Paula Goel is a paediatrician and adolescent specialist at Fayth Clinic) For all the latest Parenting News, download Indian Express App.

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reducing outdoor activities on smoggy days

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peak pollution hours for outdoor activities

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proactive measures for kids in polluted cities

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As Indian cities are wrapped in smog, tips to protect your child

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Smog is a harmful mixture of smoke and fog which can have a serious impact on a child's respiratory health and overall well-being. Here are a few practical tips for parents

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The article underscores France's persistent air pollution issue, with the administrative court imposing an additional €10 million fine. Despite government efforts, nitrogen dioxide levels in Paris and Lyon remain above European thresholds, emphasizing the ongoing challenges in achieving air quality improvements. this should be done to anyone inorder to reclaim the fresh air

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France fined additional €10 million for air pollution failures

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Nitrogen dioxide levels remain above the European threshold in Paris and Lyon and current and planned actions won’t bring them below the limit.

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The surge in toxic air-related mortality in Europe emphasises the importance of stricter environmental regulations. Despite advances, the EU still faces difficulties in matching air quality regulations with WHO criteria. Regional disparities persist, highlighting the importance of stronger legislation and speedier implementation to protect public health.

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An increasing number of people are dying from toxic air in Europe despite the EU's efforts to clamp down on pollution.

Air pollution killed more people in 2021 than it did in 2020 and remains the top environmental health risk to people, according to a new data analysis by the European Environmental Agency (EEA) published Friday. Toxic air contributes to a number of respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, such as diabetes, asthma, lung cancer and stroke, the report says.

Despite the recent increase in deaths, the EU remains on track to achieve its goals set in the Zero Pollution Action Plan, which is part of the Green Deal, the EEA boss said at a press conference Friday. The action plan commits the EU to reduce deaths associated with fine particulate matter (PM2.5) pollution by at least 55 percent by 2030 compared to 2005 levels. It has so far achieved a 41 percent cut.

Still, Leena Ylä-Mononen, the executive director of the EEA, warned that "if we want to deliver on the ambitions of the Zero Pollution action plan, which says by 2050 we should have no significant impacts from pollution on health, we will need to step up our efforts to meet this ambition." She hopes to see "a strengthening of existing standards in EU legislation."

In the EU, 253,000 people died prematurely because of pollution from fine particulate matters in 2021 - that's 15,000 more people than in 2020. The report added that 52,000 died because of exposure to nitrogen oxide pollution and 22,000 deaths were attributable to short-term exposure to ozone in 2021 - that's 5,000 more deaths than in 2020.

But the health impact of air pollution goes beyond directly attributable deaths, the report says, as pollutants also play a role in diseases that reduce people's quality of life, such as asthma and diabetes.

Overall, between 2005 and 2021, the number of deaths linked to PM2.5 pollution fell by 41 percent, the report stated. That's "good news" and shows that "clean air policy works," said European Commissioner for the Environment Virginijus Sinkevičius. "But we need to do better still, and bring pollution levels down further," he added.

97 percent of the urban population in the EU was exposed to fine particulate matter pollution above the recommended World Health Organization's guideline in 2021. Ylä-Mononen pointed out that regional inequalities persist across the bloc, meaning that poorer regions suffer from higher levels of air pollution - and there is "no evidence" of this gap narrowing, she said.

The new data comes as the EU is revising its binding air quality rules to try to align them more closely with the more stringent guidelines from the WHO. But setting stricter air pollution goals is proving difficult both in the European Parliament and in the Council of the EU, which represents the 27 governments.

In September, despite opposition from conservative political groups, the Parliament called for aligning EU air pollution limits with WHO standards by 2035 instead of 2050 as originally proposed by the European Commission.

EU capitals, however, do not want to set a binding commitment for matching WHO recommendations and proposed instead that the EU develops "a perspective for alignment ... by the year 2050." They also suggested giving EU countries up to 2040 to achieve the goals when they have especially strong difficulties complying with the stricter limits.

The Parliament and the Council are set to start inter-institutional negotiations on the file in the coming weeks.
Giovanna Coi contributed graphics and data analysis. UPDATED: This article has been updated with comments from a press conference and to clarify that the recent rise in deaths is in contrast to a longer-term decline.

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Deaths from toxic air on the rise as EU battles to tackle pollution

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EU capitals are struggling to respect Europe's air quality standards and are pushing back against setting stricter rules.

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Long lines at the Bulgaria-Romania border worsen air pollution, creating health concerns and environmental harm. Urgent entrance into the Schengen Area can relieve congestion, cut emissions, and protect public health, highlighting the importance of fast governmental steps to offset these effects. Reducing emissions will make a cure

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Hours-long border queues are taking a climate toll in Bulgaria and Romania. Could entry into the Schengen Area help?

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Pollution is on the rise as lorries queue for kilometres on both sides of the crossing between Romania and Bulgaria.

People in Giurgiu, a border town in southern Romania have for years felt that the air they breathe is no longer as clean as it used to be. It gets worse nearest to the checkpoint with Bulgaria where hundreds of lorries wait for hours to be inspected and allowed passage.

Romania and Bulgaria have been EU member states since 2007. Their campaign to become part of the Schengen Zone - an area that allows people and goods to travel freely between member countries without going through border controls - however, is ongoing.

Being admitted into Schengen would slash border waiting times, congestion and emissions from running engines.

For tourists going on vacation, long queues are an inconvenience. But for drivers of heavy duty vehicles that transit EU borders on a daily basis, the economic and health impact is huge.

Slow-moving traffic makes air 'unbearable' at Bulgaria and Romania's borders

"The seven kilometre bypass stretching from Giurgiu in Romania to the border with Bulgaria is packed day and night with hundreds of lorries," Bogdan Priceputu, born and raised in Giurgiu, tells Euronews Green.

"Not only is the air dirtiest in that vicinity but the field nearby gets littered with garbage as drivers wait by the side of the road for hours, without amenities and sanitation facilities, to cross the border into Bulgaria."

Until recently, Bogdan's father worked as a customs officer on the Romanian side of the border. "I know that several times a day the air got unbearable due to the slow moving traffic," he says.

Things are not much better on the Bulgarian side of the border. For years the border town of Ruse has been trying to curb its air pollution problem but to no avail. People have taken to the streets to protest against the issue and it has even become a topic of debate in the European Parliament.

The river Danube acts as the border between Romania and Bulgaria. Bogdan explains that when he gets on his boat and goes out on the river he can sometimes see smog plumes gliding across the nearby canal. "I don't know if it's from the traffic, but the increasing number of lorries waiting nearby at the border sure doesn't help."

Lorry drivers don't have it any easier.

"A couple of weeks ago I ended up waiting for over 24 hours to cross the border from Bulgaria into Romania," a Romanian lorry driver tells Euronews Green. "Of course it was unbearable, of course there's pollution. I am driving a chiller lorry and the engine needs to be running almost all of the time otherwise the shipment goes bad."

What are the health risks of traffic pollution in Bulgaria and Romania?

According to Eurostat southeastern Europe has some of the EU's most polluted cities. Bulgaria and Romania have the first and third highest values of fine particulate matter - also known as PM2.5 - in the entire European Union.

This is only set to worsen as winter descends: studies show levels of the larger PM 10 rise as temperatures drop in Bulgaria, fuelled by transport, industry and domestic heating.

Pollutants such as particulate matter suspended in the air are particularly worrisome as they reduce people's life expectancy, aggravating many chronic and acute respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, according to the European Environment Agency.

Excess traffic emissions put border communities at risk of pollution-related health problems.

"Air pollution is one of the leading causes for pulmonary cancer," oncologist Roxana Macarie, tells Euronews Green. "It also increases the risk of breast, liver and pancreatic cancer in all age groups."

Roxana practises medicine in Bucharest, Romania's capital, but travels frequently to the border city of Giurgiu where some of her relatives live.

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"Traffic has increased significantly over the past years. There are hundreds of lorries waiting each day around the city, some with their engines running, to cross into Bulgaria. That can't be good for air quality in the area," she says.

PM 2.5 can also have long-term impacts on children's lung function and development. This can lead to respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, including asthma, which affects nine per cent of young people in Europe.

The environmental toll of keeping Romania and Bulgaria outside the Schengen area is adding up.

What's keeping Bulgaria and Romania out of the Schengen area?

Both Bulgaria and Romania met the necessary criteria to join the passport-free zone over a decade ago.

They have received backing from the European Commission and the European Parliament. But the final green light has to come from the Council of the European Union.

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They need approval from all 27 EU countries but still face opposition from Austria and the Netherlands.

Austria's resistance stems from a broader dissatisfaction with Schengen and flows of migrants that cross into the EU. The Netherlands has signalled it might approve Bulgaria's bid if a series of conditions on judicial reform and anti-corruption fight is met.

A new vote is slated to be held next month.

What is the environmental impact of border crossing delays?

In a statement calling for Bulgaria and Romania's Schengen ascension by the end of 2023, the European Parliament highlights the environmental and health burden of delaying the decision.

MEPs say that queues faced at two countries' border crossings can last from a few hours to even days. This translates into 46,000 tonnes of CO2 emitted each year, according to recent analysis by accounting organisation KPMG.

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The added pollution inflicts "irreparable damages" on the environment and will have health repercussions for drivers, customs agents and people living near border crossings, the statement continues.

The European Parliament believes that limiting border crossings and obstructing the free flow of goods between EU member states do not align with the bloc's climate neutrality goal, which aims for net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

Already, the years of delays have led to half a million tonnes of excess CO2 emissions, according to KPMG. This is the equivalent of over 600 GWh of electricity produced from climate-wrecking coal sources, or enough to power 60,000 homes for a year.

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Pollution is on the rise at the border between Romania and Bulgaria

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Hours-long border queues are taking a climate toll in Bulgaria and Romania. Could entry into the Schengen Area help?

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Bath's clean air zone's unforeseen repercussions, such as increasing air pollution in Westbury, demonstrate the linked nature of environmental regulations. Collaboration among councils and improved infrastructure planning are critical for addressing regional concerns and ensuring the overall success of air quality projects.

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Air pollution rises in Westbury after Bath CAZ begins

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The increase in Westbury is being partly blamed on Bath’s clean air zone (CAZ).