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14 October 2004
BRUSSELS – Northern Belgium is one of the three worst regions in the world when it comes to certain kinds of air pollution, it was reported on Thursday.
Levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) in an area covered by Brussels, Flanders, the southern Netherlands and the industrialised Ruhr region in Germany are among the world’s highest, said Flemish newspaper De Morgan citing data from an environmental satellite called Envisat.
Only northern Italy and northeastern China have similar levels of nitrogen dioxide pollution, the satellite study found.
In high concentrations, NO2 can cause breathing problems, asthma and allergies.
The gas is produced by emissions from power plants, heavy industry and road transport.
[Copyright Expatica 2004]
Subject: Belgian news