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Health Risks of Particulate Matter from Long-Range Transboundary Pollution

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Particulate matter is a type of air pollution that The WHO Regional Office transboundary airpollution long-range from Health risksofparticulate matter for Europe is generated by a variety of human activities, transboundary airpollution long-range Health risksofparticulate from matter can travel long distances in the atmosphere and The World Health Organization (WHO) is a specialized agency of the United causes a wide range of diseases and a significant Nations created in 1948 with the primary reduction of life expectancy in most of the responsibility for international health matters and public health. The WHO population of Europe. Regional Office for Europe is one of six regional offices throughout the world, each with its own programme geared to This report summarizes the evidence on these the particular health conditions of the countries it serves. effects, as well as knowledge about the sources of particulate matter, its transport in the Member States atmosphere, measured and modelled levels Albania Andorra of pollution in ambient air, and population Armenia Austria exposure. It shows that long-range transport of Azerbaijan particulate matter contributes significantly to Belarus Belgium exposure and to health effects. Bosnia and Herzegovina Bulgaria Croatia The authors conclude that international action Cyprus Czech Republic must accompany local and national efforts to cut Denmark pollution emissions and reduce their effects on Estonia Finland human health. France Georgia Germany Greece Hungary Iceland Ireland Israel Italy Kazakhstan Kyrgyzstan Latvia Lithuania Luxembourg Malta Monaco Netherlands Norway Poland Portugal Republic of Moldova Romania Russian Federation San Marino Serbia and Montenegro Slovakia Slovenia Spain Sweden World Health Organization Switzerland Regional Office for Europe Tajikistan The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia Scherfigsvej 8, DK-2100 Copenhagen Ø, Denmark Turkey Tel.: +45 39 17 17 17. Fax: +45 39 17 18 18. Turkmenistan Ukraine E-mail: [email protected] United Kingdom Web site: www.euro.who.int E88189 Uzbekistan Health risks of particulate matter from long-range transboundary air pollution E88189 Address requests about publications of the WHO Regional Office for Europe to: Publications WHO Regional Office for Europe Scherfigsvej 8 DK-2100 Copenhagen Ø, Denmark Alternatively, complete an online request form for documentation, health infor- mation, or for permission to quote or translate, on the WHO/Europe web site at http://www.euro.who.int/pubrequest. Keywords: AIR POLLUTION POLLUTANTS, ENVIRONMENTAL – adverse effects ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURE RISK FACTORS EUROPE © World Health Organization 2006 All rights reserved. The Regional Office for Europe of the World Health Organization welcomes requests for permission to reproduce or translate its publications, in part or in full. The designations employed and the presentation of the material in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the World Health Organization concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. Where the designation “country or area” appears in the headings of tables, it covers countries, territories, cities, or areas. Dotted lines on maps represent approximate border lines for which there may not yet be full agreement. The mention of specific companies or of certain manufacturers’ products does not imply that they are endorsed or recommended by the World Health Organization in preference to others of a similar nature that are not mentioned. Errors and omissions excepted, the names of proprietary products are distinguished by initial capital letters. The World Health Organization does not warrant that the information contained in this publication is complete and correct and shall not be liable for any damages incurred as a result of its use. The views expressed by authors or editors do not necessarily represent the decisions or the stated policy of the World Health Organization. Text editor: Frank Theakston. Cover design and layout: Sven Lund Printed in Denmark Health risks of particulate matter from long-range transboundary air pollution Joint WHO / Convention Task Force on the Health Aspects of Air Pollution European Centre for Environment and Health Bonn Office Abstract Particulate matter is a type of air pollution that is generated by a variety of human activities, can travel long distances in the atmosphere and causes a wide range of diseases and a significant reduction of life expectancy in most of the population of Europe. This report summarizes the evidence on these effects, as well as knowledge about the sources of particulate matter, its transport in the atmosphere, measured and modelled levels of pollution in ambient air, and population exposure. It shows that long- range transport of particulate matter contributes significantly to exposure and to health effects. The authors conclude that international action must accompany local and national efforts to cut pollution emissions and reduce their effects on human health. Contents Foreword vii Executive summary ix 1. Introduction 1 2. What is PM? 5 3. Hazard assessment of PM 11 4. Sources of PM 25 5. PM levels 33 6. Population exposure 65 7. The approach to estimating risk 73 8. Risk estimates 89 9. Conclusions and recommendations 95 Annex 1. 99 Main contributors Markus Amann, Richard Derwent, Bertil Forsberg, Fintan Hurley, Michal Krzyzanowski, Birgit Kuna-Dibbert, Steinar Larssen, Frank de Leeuw, Sally Jane Liu, Jürgen Schneider, Per E. Schwarze, David Simpson, John Stedman, Peter Straehl, Leonor Tarrasón and Leendert van Bree. This report was prepared by the Joint WHO/Convention Task Force on the Health Aspects of Air Pollution according to a Memorandum of Understanding between the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) and the WHO Regional Office for Europe (ECE/ENHS/EOA/2005/001), based on work covered by Memorandum of Understanding ECE/ENHS/EOA/2004/001 between UNECE and the Regional Office. VII Foreword The scale and seriousness of impacts of air pollution impacts of particulate matter on health in Europe, on health that have been detected by scientific inves- and concludes that a significant part of these effects is tigations over the past decade are the subject of media due to particles transported over long distances in the reports and policy debate throughout Europe. Evi- atmosphere. dence on those impacts has been gathered through There is sufficient evidence to indicate that reduc- numerous studies conducted by scientists of various ing emissions of major pollutants leads to reduced disciplines and published mostly by highly special- levels of particulate air pollution, of population expo- ized scientific journals. Comprehensive evaluation of sure and of health effects. Current pollution reduc- this evidence is needed in order to formulate effec- tion strategies are expected to benefit the health of tive pollution reduction strategies and national and many Europeans, but even with their full implemen- international policies for reducing health risks due to tation the health impacts will remain significant. A pollution. strong commitment from all Member States is need- This report focuses on particulate matter, a type ed to implement existing plans and to extend efforts of air pollution that causes a wide range of diseases to reduce population exposure and the effects of par- in children and adults, contributing to disability and ticulate air pollution. a significant reduction in life expectancy. Particulate The Children’s Environment and Health Action matter is present everywhere where people live and is Plan for Europe, adopted at the Fourth Ministerial generated to a great extent by human activities: trans- Conference on Environment and Health in Budapest port, energy production, domestic heating and a wide in June 2004, sets the reduction of child morbidity range of industries. As presented in this report, this caused by air pollution as one of four regional priority pollution can be transported in the atmosphere for goals. Reduction of exposure to particulate matter is hundreds or even thousands of kilometres and thus essential to the achievement of this goal, and the Con- affect people living far from the source of the pollu- vention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution tion. Particulate matter is therefore not only a serious can be an important instrument contributing to that local problem but also of regional and international achievement. concern, and one of the core issues addressed by the We are grateful to the experts who prepared this Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pol- report for summarizing the evidence and for sending lution. a clear message to decision- and policy-makers on The multidisciplinary group of experts who pre- the significance for health of particulate matter from pared this report, convened by the Joint WHO/Con- long-range transboundary air pollution. The evi- vention Task Force on the Health Aspects of Air Pol- dence clearly points to the need for health-oriented lution, has summarized the available information on policies and coordinated local, regional and interna- particulate matter – the risk it poses to human health, tional action by all polluting economic sectors in all its sources, transport and distribution in the atmos- Member States. Action is necessary if we are to reduce phere, and population exposure to it. The report also the pollution-related
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