Why IAQ Policies Matter

The Importance of Clean Air and Today's Air Quality Concerns

The concern over air quality dates back to ancient times, with even Hippocratic principles of environmental health addressing this issue . As far back as 1306, King Edward of England took action by passing legislation that prohibited the burning of sea-coal due to its combustion emissions . Clean air stands as a fundamental cornerstone of life, encompassing not only human existence but also the broader biosphere. Unfortunately, contemporary human activities such as industrial processes, energy generation, residential heating, and transportation persist in generating pollutants that significantly degrade air quality. The repercussions of this deterioration are vast, with air pollution inflicting significant harm upon the environment and ecosystems .

Beyond the catastrophic environmental damage, the consequences of these activities reverberate profoundly in terms of human health and overall well-being. Outdoor and indoor air pollution collectively contribute to an alarming annual toll of 6.7 million premature deaths . In fact, it is now estimated to be on par with other major global risks such as unhealthy diet and tobacco smoking . Air pollution is now recognised as the single biggest environmental threat to human life . Within the European Union, the consequences for citizens' quality of life remain substantial, especially in urban hubs where persistently inadequate air quality standards pose an ongoing health risk . The economic impact is also substantial, as air pollution is projected to cost the European Union an annual total of 330 billion euros . This financial burden encompasses the consequences of disease exacerbated by air pollution, as well as the associated loss of productivity and elevated healthcare expenses .

References

1 Hippocrates, On airs, waters, and places (White Fish: Kessinger Publishing, 2004) 2 Eloi Laurent, “Air (ine)quality in the European Union,” the National Library of Medicine, 26 March 2022. Available online: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8960211/#CR7 3 The European Commission, “Air”, 2023. Available online: https://environment.ec.europa.eu/topics/air_en 4 The World Health Organisation, Household Air Pollution, 28 November 2022. Available online: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/household-air-pollution-and-health 5 The European Environment Agency, “Air Quality in Europe 2019 Report,” Publications Office of the European Union, 2019. Available online: https://www.miteco.gob.es/content/dam/miteco/es/calidad-y-evaluacion-ambiental/temas/atmosfera-y-calidad-del-aire/air-quality-in-europe_2019_tcm30-187944.pdf ; The United Nations, “Political declaration of the third high-level meeting of the General Assembly on the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases,” The United Nations General Assembly, 10 October 2018. Available online: https://digitallibrary.un.org/record/1648984 6 The World Health Organisation, “WHO Global Air Quality Guidelines,” the World Health Organisation, 2021. Available online: https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/345334/9789240034433-eng.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y 7 The European Commission, “Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions: A Europe that Protects: Clean Air for All,” the European Commission, 17 May 2018. Available online: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:52018DC0330 8 The European Commission, “Air”, 2023. Available online: https://environment.ec.europa.eu/topics/air_en 9 The World Health Organisation, “WHO Global Air Quality Guidelines,” the World Health Organisation, 2021. Available online: https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/345334/9789240034433-eng.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y