Extract
Ambient air pollutants can adversely affect population health in multiple ways, such as through respiratory, cardiovascular, metabolic, neurological and birth-related outcomes [1–3]. These health effects lead to a substantial burden of disease and economic impact. In response, air quality policies have been put into place across the globe. The European Union has developed an extensive body of legislation which establishes health-based standards for several air pollutants [4–6]. Despite sizable successes of pollution control over the past decades, air pollution-related disease burden among Europeans remains high, leading the European Commission to conclude that the current legislation has only been partially successful in protecting the health of Europeans [7]. Recent evidence from large research programmes and comprehensive reviews supports this view and points towards important aspects to consider in striving to reduce air pollution-related burden of disease.
Abstract
Current European air pollution levels, which are in most places well below air quality limit values, still have deleterious health effects. The report discusses ways to move forward with air quality legislation to improve public health. https://bit.ly/3kFRHHf
Footnotes
We dedicate this to the memory of Kirk R. Smith, Professor at the University of California, Berkeley, who never ceased to raise his voice for the poor and the planet, and to Professor Martin Williams, Imperial College London, who has been a leader of research and policy development to solve the problems of poor air quality in the UK and more widely in Europe throughout the past four decades.
Conflict of interest: B. Hoffmann has nothing to disclose.
Conflict of interest: N. Roebbel has nothing to disclose.
Conflict of interest: S. Gumy has nothing to disclose.
Conflict of interest: F. Forastiere has nothing to disclose.
Conflict of interest: B. Brunekreef has nothing to disclose.
Conflict of interest: D. Jarosinska has nothing to disclose.
Conflict of interest: K.D. Walker reports core funding for the Health Effects Institute from the USEPA and from the motor vehicle industry.
Conflict of interest: A.M. van Erp reports that the Health Effects Institute receives funding from the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the motor vehicle industry; the contents of this document have not been reviewed by institutions that support the Health Effects Institute and no endorsement by them should be inferred.
Conflict of interest: R. O'Keefe has nothing to disclose.
Conflict of interest: D. Greenbaum has nothing to disclose.
Conflict of interest: M. Williams has nothing to disclose.
Conflict of interest: M. Krzyzanowski has nothing to disclose.
Conflict of interest: F.J. Kelly has nothing to disclose.
Conflict of interest: M. Brauer reports grants from Health Effects Institute, during the conduct of the study.
Conflict of interest: H. Bruyninckx has nothing to disclose.
Conflict of interest: H. Boogaard has nothing to disclose.
- Received July 7, 2020.
- Accepted September 16, 2020.
- The content of this work is copyright of the authors or their employers. Design and branding are copyright ©ERS 2020.
Jump To
- Article
- Abstract
- Introduction
- European Air Quality Regulation
- Recent reviews regarding the health effects of ambient air pollution: what do they tell us?
- How low should we go? New health research on low-level ambient air pollution
- Implications for future health impact assessment and regulation
- Air pollution research priorities and policy implications
- Shareable PDF
- Footnotes
- References
- Figures & Data
- Info & Metrics