A team of researchers, headed by USC Viterbi professor of civil and environmental engineering Constantinos Sioutas, discovered that a combination of rising unemployment and fuel costs in Greece has led to increased air pollution. The study by Sioutas and his team found that economic hardship is driving Greek citizens to burn low quality fuel such as wood and waste, which results in a dramatic increase in fine air particles which can cause long-term health problems. In some cases, the concentration of these particles rose 30 percent.
Below is a sampling of the media stories that featured this study and its findings on the connection between the Greek financial crisis and increasing air pollution.
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Greeks are seeking cheaper fuels to warm themselves this year in light of ongoing austerity measures, but the cost-saving measures are causing dangerous levels of harmful particulates that could lead to long-term health effects, according to a new study released Wednesday. The study, conducted by the University of Southern California’s Viterbi School of Engineering, found that the energy crisis has increased pollution in the economically hardest-hit areas by 30 percent. (View article) |
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Air pollution is usually not the first consequence that comes to mind when thinking about an economic crisis, but new research out of economically downtrodden Greece has found that as the price of heating oil increases, Greek residents are switching to burning cheaper material such as wood and waste materials to warm their homes, which is having an effect on the environment and possibly public health. (View article) |
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The financial crisis in Greece has led to a crisis of another kind, U.S. researchers say -- dangerous air quality caused by burning cheaper fuel for warmth. Researchers from the University of Southern California say air pollution in one of Greece's economically hardest hit areas has risen 30 percent since the financial crisis began, creating the potential for long-term health problems. (View article) |
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In the midst of a winter cold snap, a study from researchers in the United States and Greece reveals an overlooked side effect of economic crisis — dangerous air quality caused by burning cheaper fuel for warmth. (View article) |
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The financial crisis in Greece has led to a crisis of another kind, U.S. researchers say -- dangerous air quality caused by burning cheaper fuel for warmth. Researchers from the University of Southern California say air pollution in one of Greece's economically hardest hit areas has risen 30 percent since the financial crisis began, creating the potential for long-term health problems. (View article) |
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The financial crisis in Greece is now noticeable in the environment: The quality of the air we breathe has deteriorated dramatically, at least in the big cities in recent years, reports a research team led by Arian Saffari and Constantinos Sioutas of the University of Southern California in the journal Environmental Science & Technology. (View article) |
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The air quality in Greek cities has deteriorated dramatically, according to research by the University of Southern California. The main cause of deterioration is considered poverty as a consequence of the economic crisis. (View article) |
