Clean air for healthy lungs – an urgent call to action: European Respiratory Society position on the launch of the WHO 2021 Air Quality Guidelines

Zorana Jovanovic Andersen; Ulrike Gehring; Sara De Matteis; Erik Melen; Ana Maria Vicedo-Cabrera; Klea Katsouyanni; Arzu Yorgancioglu; Charlotte Suppli Ulrik; Sylvia Medina; Kjeld Hansen; Pippa Powell; Brian Ward; Barbara Hoffmann

doi:10.1183/13993003.02447-2021

Extract

This statement outlines how air pollution affects patients with lung disease, highlights the main messages of the 2021 World Health Organization (WHO) Air Quality Guidelines, points out how the ambitious European Union (EU) Green Deal can provide solutions through a modern air quality legislation, and discusses the role of respiratory clinicians in improving air quality-related lung health.

Abstract

Air pollution poses a major burden to respiratory patients and legislation fails to protect them. Urgent action and alignment of air quality standards with WHO guidelines are needed to ensure healthier lungs and tackle the climate change crisis. https://bit.ly/3B04dKB

Footnotes

Conflict of interest: Z.J. Andersen reports participation on the WHO GAPH Technical Advisory Group, holds an unpaid role with the European Respiratory Society, outside the submitted work.
Conflict of interest: U. Gehring has nothing to disclose.
Conflict of interest: S. De Matteis has nothing to disclose.
Conflict of interest: E. Melén is a member of the ERS Environmental Health Committee.
Conflict of interest: A.M. Vicedo-Cabrera has nothing to disclose.
Conflict of interest: K. Katsouyanni reports research grants from the EC (Horizon2020) and the US Health Effects Institute, outside the submitted work, and is a member of the WHO GAPH Technical Advisory Group.
Conflict of interest: A. Yorgancioglu is the Advocacy Council Chair of ERS and receives support for travel and accommodation at ERS meetings.
Conflict of interest: C.S. Ulrik reports fees for lectures from AZ, GSK, TEVA, Sanofi, Orion Pharma, Novartis and Chiesi, outside the submitted work.
Conflict of interest: S. Medina is an employee of Santé publique France.
Conflict of interest: K. Hansen is part of the leadership of the European Lung Foundation and the European Respiratory Society.
Conflict of interest: P. Powell is an employee of ELF.
Conflict of interest: B. Ward is an employee of ERS.
Conflict of interest: B. Hoffmann is a member of the research committee for Health Effects Institute, Boston, USA.