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Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) is an inorganic gas consisting of two oxygen atoms and one nitrogen atom.
It is denser than air and has an unpleasant pungent odour. It is non-flammable and colourless at room temperature, but turns a reddish-brown colour at temperatures above 21°C.
In urban areas, nitrogen dioxide is a very common air pollutant. Combustion processes, mainly in land, sea and air transport, and some industrial processes emit nitrogen monoxide (NO).
Once NO is in the atmosphere, it oxidizes (reacts with oxygen and ozone in the air) and becomes nitrogen dioxide NO2.
In homes, it comes from cigarette smoke, as well as from gas stoves and from heaters and stoves whose combustion systems are not properly insulated.
In nature, only traces can be found from bacterial respiration, forest fires or volcanic eruptions.
Continuous exposure to NO2 can lower resistance to infectious diseases, inflame the respiratory tract in healthy people and increase respiratory symptoms in people suffering from asthma and bronchitis, especially in children.
Other known effects are aggravation of cardiovascular diseases, cause of cough and irritation of the eyes, throat, nose and lungs.
More recent studies also link this gaseous pollutant to a decrease in the attention span of children in the short term, low birth weights and a higher probability of premature births.
In cities, it is a precursor of tropospheric ozone, which is part of the finer particulate matter PM25. High and prolonged exposures to fine particulate matter also lead to cardiovascular ailments and increased population mortality in the long term.
Some measures can be taken to reduce individual exposure to NO2.
As a community, we can reduce our nitrogen dioxide emissions by prioritising travel by public transportation.
Finally, governments are imposing emission reductions on new vehicles and thermal power plants (see summary of European regulation). Low-emission zones are also being implemented in major metropolitan areas around the world.
Rambla Salvador Samà, 47
Vilanova i la Geltrú – Barcelona
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