Study finds ship emissions may pose greater health risks than road traffic in Southampton
Researchers at the University of Southampton discovered that ultrafine particles from cruise ships contain metals that trigger inflammation and reduce antiviral defenses, potentially making them more hazardous than road-traffic pollution.
Beginning in 2018, a multidisciplinary team of 32 researchers examined air quality at Southampton, the UK’s busiest vehicle and deep-sea trading port, focusing on emissions from docked cruise ships. Their measurements revealed a distinct plume of ultrafine particles, smaller than the wavelength of light, enriched with metals such as vanadium, nickel, cobalt and molybdenum. Experiments on lung cells donated by Southampton residents demonstrated that these particles stimulate inflammatory signaling and diminish antiviral responses, with vanadium identified as the primary culprit.
The researchers observed a clear correlation between the number of cruise vessels in port and the concentration of vanadium-laden particles. While the port operator, Associated British Ports, highlights its shore-power installations—used by roughly 15% of ships—the study points out that routine monitoring of such ultrafine particles and metal content is lacking, and a forthcoming EU directive requiring such measurements does not apply in the UK.
Why it matters
Ship emissions may expose nearby residents to pollutants that worsen inflammation and lower resistance to common viruses.
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