Cruise ships emit more sulphur oxide than all Europe's cars
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Cruise liners emitted nearly 10 times more sulphur oxide (SOX) air pollution around European coasts than all of the continent's cars in 2017, claims the Transport & Environment analysis.
Breathing in sulphur dioxide causes irritation of the nose and throat, the HPA, now part of Public Health England, wrote. Exposure to higher concentrations can cause nausea, vomiting, stomach pain and corrosive damage to the airways and lungs.
The most exposed European countries were Spain, Italy, Greece, France and Norway, the analysis by campaign group Transport & Environment said. These countries are so exposed due to the tourist destinations status, but also because they have more benevolent marine sulphur fuel standards which allow cruise ships to burn the dirtiest most sulphurous fuel all along their coastlines.
Among the major cruise ports, the report said Europe's top 10 cities that were most exposed to the pollution were: Barcelona (Spain), Palma de Maiorca (Spain), Venise (Italy), Civitavecchia (Italy), Southampton (UK), Lisbon (Portugal), Santa Cruz de Tenerife (Spain), Marseille (France), and Kobenhavns Havn (Denmark).
Read more about the correlation between sea transporation and air polution.
