58 Setting Targets for Particles in Outdoor Air:  Advice from the Committee on the Medical Effects of Air Pollutants (Comeap)

Abstract

The Environment Act (2021) requires the government to set at least one long-term air-quality target, as well as a target for fine particulate matter (PM2.5) air pollution. COMEAP provided independent expert advice to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) to inform the development of targets to reduce both the annual average (mean) concentration of PM2.5 in ambient air and long term population exposures. COMEAP’s advice includes that: a focus on reducing long-term average concentrations of PM2.5 is appropriate evidence indicates that PM2.5 pollution can have harmful effects on people’s health at low concentrations reducing concentrations to, or below, the World Health Organization’s new Air Quality Guideline (5 µg/m3) would benefit public health available studies have not indicated a threshold of effect below which there is no harm reducing exposure of the whole population would achieve the greatest overall public health benefit some individuals or groups are more at risk, but it might be difficult to reflect this in a national targets framework the health benefits of reducing other pollutants, such as nitrogen dioxide and ozone, should not be overlooked. In response to Defra’s evidence report explaining the rationale for its proposed targets, COMEAP: recommended that Defra should consider roles in continuing to improve air quality, even where legally binding targets are met suggested that interim targets would be important to ensure early progress and maximise health benefits stressed the importance of considering inequalities noted that international engagement will be required