The Impacts of Aviation
Economic Impact
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| Global Dimming. Despite Carbon emissions the Earth has warmed up by just 0.6 degrees. Now we know why. Particulate pollution has increased the reflective quality of our atmosphere. By now the temperature should have risen by 6 degrees. Britain should be like the Sahara, and Africa uninhabitable. The knife edge becomes even more dangerous if you consider that carbon emissions could outlast particulate emissions by centuries or even thousands of years. Interestingly aircraft contrails contribute to 10% of the global dimming effect: unfortunate then that they are predicted to reach a 40% contribution to the world's carbon emissions in the next few decades. Documentary from Horizon BBC2 |
| Emissions Trading and European Aviation. Detailed analysis of showing conflict between growing aviation industry and EU emissions targets. Report from the Trucost research organisation |
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Aviation’s Effects on the Global Atmosphere Are Potentially Significant and Expected to Grow, United States General Accounting Office, February 2000 [975 kb]
Report to the US General Accounts Office 2000 |
| Night flights give bigger boost to global warming
article in New Scientist |
Air Pollution and Health
| Passage of Inhaled Particles Into the Blood Circulation in Humans. Ultrafine particulate pollution, widely regarded by scientists as dangerous to health is barely recognised by the UK Government. Emitted by jet aircraft yet no facility exists at NEMA to record such emissions, and communities close by to the airport must surely be at greatly increased risk. Abstract of Study from American Heart Association. |
| Mortality link to fine particulates. Environmental Health News summary. |
| Increased carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks to health at Teterbo Airport (NJ, USA), demands further assessment. Study from Environ International Corporation. |
| The US Environmental Protection Agency describes Particulate Matter, one of many pollutants released in jet engine emissions. Fact Sheet |
| What comes out a Jet engine. Pollutants listed on "Stop Stanstead Expansion" web page. List |
Noise Disturbance and Health
| Effects of Sleep Deprivation. Briefing from the British Medical Association. |
| Noise and Health: making the link. Booklet from the London Health Commission. |
| Noise Linked to Heart Motality Noise Pollution Linked to Heart Mortality |
General Environmental Impacts
Aviation and the Environment. Summary report from the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology. |