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Kvällposten published a review this summer that showed how air pollution in cities has a direct impact on human health.
Every year 7,600 Swedes die prematurely due to air pollution. In Skåne alone, 780 people die each year and 117 children develop asthma and 59 bronchitis for the same reason.
But what researchers Ebba Malmqvist, Christina Isaxon and Stefan Hansson were able to show was that the contamination strongly affects two groups in particular: pregnant women and their fetus.
– This is happening here and now, it affects pregnant women and children around us, said Ebba Malmqvist, a researcher at the Department of Environmental and Occupational Medicine at Lund University.
In addition, he pointed out that he does not want to alert or arouse feelings of guilt.
– This is a social problem. There will always be those who cannot afford to move, we must not scare people unnecessarily, stress is not good either.
100,000 SEK in price
Parallel to the research results in Skåne, Ebba Malmqvist has studied the effects of air pollution in Ethiopia, India and Pakistan, also there with a special focus on children and women.
She is now recognized by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences for her efforts and receives the Sight Award with a cash prize of SEK 100,000.
– It feels great. I was surprised and happy to see this, says Ebba Malmqvist.
The work in Ethiopia relied heavily on the knowledge they gathered while working in Skåne, and she still sees it as a big problem here too.
– We still see effects. This is an issue that still needs to be raised because there are still pregnant women who are affected, he says.
