PMvsDioxin
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PMvsDioxin
Comparative Risk Analysis of Dioxins and Fine Particles
Research team at KTL
- Olli Leino, M.Sc (tech)
- Marko Tainio, M.Sc
- Jouni Tuomisto, D.Med.Sc
Funding
- The Centre of Excellence for Environmental Health Risk Analysis
Contact person
- Olli Leino
Background & objectives
Dioxins and airborne fine particles both are environmental health problems that have been subject to active public debate. We performed a comparative risk assessment for both pollutants in the Helsinki metropolitan area (Finland), and estimated the health effects for several scenarios: For primary fine particles: a comparison between the present emission situation of heavy-duty vehicles and fine particle emission standards set by the EU, For dioxins: an EU-directive that regulates commercial fishing of Baltic salmon and herring that exceed the dioxin concentration limit, and a derogation from the directive for these two species. The aim of the study was to compare health effects of two topical regulations set by the European Union.
Results
We found the risk of fine particles emitted by heavy-duty vehicles clearly outweighing the risk of dioxin in Finnish fish. In addition, the beneficial effects of consuming fish were two orders of magnitude times higher than their risks.
Conclusions
Based on our results, the recent EU-directives about giving derogation to Baltic fish and having strict standards of PM emission were both in line with the aim of protecting public health. Mortality could be reduced much more effectively in case of fine particles compared with dioxins. The net benefit would be higher in case of salmon and herring consumption compared with restricting their consumption, thanks to their omega-3 fatty acids.
Links
Key words
References
Leino O., Tainio, M. and Tuomisto, J.T. 2007 Comparative risk analysis of dioxins and fine particles. Manuscript, submitted.
Files
PMvsDX.ANA To view the model graphically, save it to your computer (press the right mouse button and choose the Save target as… -option), download the free Analytica-player from Lumina and open the saved model with the program. The model identifier is: URN:NBN:fi-fe20071159
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