Quantifying the health impacts of ambient air pollutants: recommendations of a WHO/Europe project

Héroux, Marie-Ève; Anderson, Hugh; Atkinson, Richard; Brunekreef, Bert; Cohen, Aarón; Forastiére, Francesco; Hurley, Fintan; Katsouyanni, Klea; Krewski, Daniel; Krzyżanowski, Michał; Künzli, Nino; Mills, Inga; Querol, Xavier; Ostro, Bart; Walton, Heather

doi:10.1007/s00038-015-0690-y

Cited by 239 publications

(172 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…Epidemiological studies demonstrate that no lower “safe” threshold of exposure seems to exist at the population level [14, 15]. The European Commission (EC) acknowledges that the current standards are insufficient for the protection of public health, particularly in reference to the World Health Organization (WHO) air quality guidelines [16]. Moreover, levels of air pollution remain high and are increasing in China [17].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Knowledge and perceptions of air pollution in Ningbo, China

Qian

et al. 2016

BMC Public Health

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BackgroundThe residents’ knowledge, attitudes and practices related to ambient air pollution and health will help to improve the understanding of environmental protection and make environmental health policies more targeted and effective. This study aimed at knowing the attitudes and behaviors towards ambient air pollution and health.MethodsA cross-sectional survey was conducted in Ningbo, China in January 2015. Personal information and questions pertaining to the knowledge, attitudes and practices towards ambient air pollution and health were collected through questionnaire investigations. Descriptive statistics, chi-square tests and multiple unconditional logistic regression analysis were used.ResultsThe questionnaire was completed by 1604 respondents (59.41 % women). The awareness rate was 64.59 % and varied significantly with age, levels of education, and occupation (all p < 0.05). Only 5.80 % of the total participants were satisfied with the air quality in Ningbo in 2014. Most respondents (78.80 %) expressed concern about the possible aggravation of the haze. More than 80 % of participants believed that it will take at least 3-5 years or longer before the air quality is improved. Television and internet resources have replaced books and newspapers as the primary sources for obtaining knowledge about haze and related protective measures. 85.22 % of respondents were concerned about air quality index (AQI). Most of the residents have taken protective measures indoors during haze weather. 48.50 % have worn face masks when going outside, the most frequently type of face masks selected were cotton (39.85 %) or gauze face masks (36.24 %). Age and occupation were the main factors associated with the level of knowledge about air pollution (p < 0.05).ConclusionsThere were a relatively high knowledge awareness rate, strong health protection consciousness and high enthusiasm for air pollution control among Ningbo residents. The elderly people and less-educated residents are the targetable population for improving environment.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Knowledge and perceptions of air pollution in Ningbo, China

Qian

et al. 2016

BMC Public Health

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“…Adding the health impacts of NO x , as was recently done in London, doubles these numbers . Of course, deaths are only the top of the pyramid and there is an extensive range of other health effects of traffic-related air pollution (Héroux et al, 2015).…”

Section: Cars-related Environmental Exposure and Healthmentioning

confidence: 99%

Car free cities: Pathway to healthy urban living

Nieuwenhuijsen

Khreis

2016

Environment International

310

154

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“…Also, traffic-generated plume from vehicles includes particulate matter (PM) with a gaseous pollutant mixture of nitrogen oxides (NO, NO 2 ), carbon monoxide (CO) and multiple volatile organic compounds (e.g., benzene, ethene, ethylene and toluene). These components are associated with a range of short-term and long-term health effects; such as childhood asthma incidences (Khreis et al 2016), allergic diseases in Children (Seon-Ju Yi et al 2017), cardiovascular disease incidence (Cesaroni et al, 2014), cardiovascular mortality and morbidity (Héroux et al, 2015), respiratory infections (MacIntyre et al, 2014) and respiratory mortality and morbidity (Health Effects Institute, 2010;Héroux et al, 2015;Kurt et al, 2016). Secondly, Pandian et al (2008) note that high vehicular traffic is associated with high vehicular emission.…”

Section: Perspectives On Vehicular Emissions and Healthmentioning

confidence: 99%

Vehicular Emissions and Its Implications on the Health of Traders: A Case Study of Traders in La Nkwantanang Municipality in Ghana

Dushie¹,

Fenny²,

Crentsil³

2017

JSD

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The study was based on the recognition that although the health conditions of the human population is vital to sustainable living and productivity, some studies have found that road traffic emissions continue to give rise to infectious and chronic diseases. As a result, the study aimed at assessing the implications of vehicle emissions on the health of traders in Madina in the La Nkwantanang Municipality of Ghana where road traffic is very congested and traders are directly exposed to vehicle emissions. To achieve this objective, 300 traders, made up of 150 traders within a distance of 50 meters and 150 traders within a distance beyond 50 meters of the main road were purposively selected to participate in the survey. Data obtained was analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The findings show that although a significant proportion of the respondents had good knowledge about the health consequences of their exposure to emissions, they were reluctant to relocate due to their inability to afford a different location and scarcity of urban space. More importantly, frequent coughing, nausea, poor visibility and difficulty in breathing were among the major self-reported health outcomes. The study also found statistically significant difference in the distribution of self-reported health outcomes by distance of respondents from source of vehicle emission. Also, years spent in the occupation and average daily work hours per week were among factors that related significantly with reported cases of respiratory diseases by respondents.

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Quantifying the health impacts of ambient air pollutants: recommendations of a WHO/Europe project

Cited by 239 publications

References 16 publications

Knowledge and perceptions of air pollution in Ningbo, China

Knowledge and perceptions of air pollution in Ningbo, China

Car free cities: Pathway to healthy urban living

Vehicular Emissions and Its Implications on the Health of Traders: A Case Study of Traders in La Nkwantanang Municipality in Ghana

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