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The public health relevance of air pollution abatement

N. Künzli, Institute for Social and Preventive Medicine, Basel University, Switzerland

CORRESPONDENCE: Nino Künzli, Steinengraben 49, 4051, Basel, Switzerland. Fax: 41 612676190. E-mail: Nino.Kuenzli@unibas.ch

Keywords: air pollution, clean air regulation, health-impact assessment, PM₁₀, population attributable risk

Received: March 18, 2002
Accepted March 18, 2002

The author is a recipient of a National Science Foundation Advanced Scientist Fellowship (#3233-048922.96/1).

Abstract

Assuming a causal relationship between current levels of air pollution and morbidity/mortality, it is crucial to estimate the public health relevance of the problem. The derivation of air pollution attributable cases faces inherent uncertainties and requires influential assumptions. Based on the results of the trinational impact assessment study of Austria, France, and Switzerland, where prudent estimates of the air pollution attributable cases (mortality, chronic bronchitis incidence, hospital admissions, acute bronchitis among children, restricted activity days, asthma attacks) have been made, influential uncertainties are quantified in this review.

The public health impact of smoking, environmental tobacco smoke, and air pollution on the prevalence of chronic cough/phlegm are outlined. Despite all methodological caveats, impact assessment studies clearly suggest that public health largely benefits from better air quality. The studies are selective underestimates as they are strongly driven by mortality, but do not include full quantification of the impact on morbidity and their consequences on quality of life among the diseased and the caregivers.

Air pollution abatement strategies are usually political in nature, targeting at policies, regulation and technology in mobile or stationary sources rather than at individuals. It is of note that key clean air strategies converge into abatement of climate change. In general, energy consumption is very closely related to both air pollution and greenhouse gases. The dominant causes of both problems are the excessive and inefficient combustion of fossil fuel. Thus, for many policy options, the benefit of air pollution abatement will go far beyond what prudent health-impact assessments may derive. From a climate change and air pollution perspective, improved energy efficiency and a strong and decisive departure from the "fossil fuel" combustion society is a science-based must. Health professionals must raise their voices in the political decision process to give strong support for clean air policies, both on a national and international level.

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