Download Hunting for micro-dust enlarged vision 20.04.98 Microscopic dust particles in the air we breathe cause damage to the lungs. Medical costs arising as a result of this have been estimated to be three billion Swiss francs a year. Maximum permitted levels have been in force in Switzerland since 1 March 1998, although these are regularly exceeded in urban and suburban areas by as much as 100 percent in some cases. As part of a programme called Traffic and Environment, researchers have been trying to track down the source of micro-particle emission. Preliminary findings indicate that 40 to 60 percent are caused by traffic.
Measurements also indicate that the phenomenon is common throughout the country.
The final definition of sources of emission will result in appropriate counter-measures. The well-known songbird, the skylark, once a common and popular sight, is now considered endangered. There are hopeful signs, however, that the skylark could flourish once again in special natural reserves set aside in agricultural zones. This is the finding of a study in northern Switzerland, supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation. Of special importance are uncultivated spots rich in wild herbs and other flora, existing near farmland.