Clean air is of vital importance The WHO has designed clear guidelines on air pollution from fine dust (indoor and outdoors), indicating that presence with an aerodynamic diameter
We all have the right to breathe clean air.
of 10 μm or smaller (PM10) is damaging to your health. These small particles are invisible to the naked eye and do not necessarily produce a noticeable odour. Therefore a visibly clean room can have a considerable air quality issue. Extensive evidence from the WHO indicates that concentrations
Yet, across the world that is not always the case. In fact, EU Commissioner for the Environment Janez Potočnik2) said recently that poor air quality
of fine dust currently found in most cities in developed countries around the world results in a serious health risk.
was a bigger killer than road traffic accidents. In the latest research3) from the World Health Organization (WHO), it is reported that in 2012 around 7 million people died - one in eight of total global deaths - as a result of exposure to indoor and outdoor air pollution. This finding more than doubles previous estimates and confirms that air pollution is the world's largest single environmental health risk. Reducing air pollution could save millions of lives. When you consider we spend 90% of our time indoors, it is critical that the inside air is as clean as possible. The presence and size of particulate matter (PM) or fine dust is a determining factor in air quality and is directly linked to potential health problems4). Once inhaled, these particles can
2)
EU Commission for the Environment: New policy package to clean up Europe’s air, December 18, 2013. http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_SPEECH-13-516_en.htm
contribute to the spread of microbial contaminants, such as mould, pollen and allergenes . In addition, they can affect the heart and lungs and cause
3)
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/releases/2014/air-pollution/en
serious physiological problems (e.g. changes in lung function or inflammation markers).
4)
World Health Organization Air quality guidelines for particulate matter, global update 2005.
5)
Pima County, Department of Environmental Quality.
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