Air Pollution and Human Health

[APIS does not provide information on human health effects from air pollution. APIS assesses the impacts of air pollution on ecosystems. However, there are a wide range of other sources that provide the latest information on human health effects - some are listed below]

There are clear associations between both daily and log-term average concentrations of air pollutants and the effects on the cardiovascular system (COMEAP 2005). People with pre-existing respiratory and/or cardiac disorders are at most risk of acute effects from exposure to air pollution, leading to a variety of outcome measures including risk of death and of hospital admissions. For example, high levels of PM 10 cause increased breathing difficulties in people with asthma, chronic bronchitis, emphysema and other lung conditions.

The Air Quality Strategy for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland has set 13 objectives for 8 different pollutants for the protection of human health.

Further Information:
UK AIR (Defra) 
Committee on the Medical Effects of Air Pollutants (COMEAP)
World Health Organisation
Air Pollution Research Database (APRED)