NOAA: Ship pollution deteriorates air quality and health

Pollution from industrial ships is contributing to poor air quality and the deteriorating health of people living along Florida's coastal areas, it has been claimed.

A study from the US' National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has claimed that airborne particles omitted by diesel engines are responsible for the poor health of individuals living along the Florida coast.

Among the vessels responsible for detracting from air quality are cruise liners, cargo ships, tankers and freighters, reports the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

"These ships are emitting as much as 300 million cars. It's a hidden giant," stated the study's lead researcher Daniel Lack.

He continued: "When the particles get down into your lungs they can cause inflammation. You can actually induce heart-type illness[es] as well."

This news comes after researchers from Bristol University found that carbon dioxide emitted by cars and factories has added significantly to the acidity of the world's oceans within the last 65 years.