Policy should take into account interactive health effects of air pollution and heat stress, say experts

Of relevance to the ongoing revision of the "Ambient air quality and cleaner air for Europe directive," the research project EXHAUSTION finds interactive health effect of air pollution and heat that highlights the urgency in improving air quality across Europe.

In brief, the research shows that more people will die of heart and lung diseases in European cities when high temperatures co-occur with high levels of air pollution.

A comprehensive analysis for Europe, using a diverse set of health data, shows that the known health impacts of heat are significantly exacerbated by concurrent exposure to air pollution. Air pollution levels in Europe are still not safe, according to the European Environment Agency.

European Respiratory Society (ERS), Health Effects Institute (HEI) and International Society of Environmental Epidemiology (ISEE) Europe organize a stocktaking workshop on 24 May to discuss the proposed revision of the ambient air quality directive.

"It is important that the EU's revised Ambient Air Quality Directive takes into account the consequences of more frequent heatwaves and generally higher temperatures due to climate change in Europe," said EXHAUSTION Project Coordinator and Research Director Kristin Aunan at CICERO Center for International Climate Research.

In a study across 482 cities—including 156 European cities—the heat effect on cardiovascular and respiratory mortality was found to be significantly modified by air pollutants (particulate matter [PM2.5 &10], ozone and nitrogen dioxide).

"Reducing air pollution concentrations would not only reduce the health effects of bad air quality, but in addition reduce the health effects of heat as air pollution enhances the adverse effects of heat on health," said Alexandra Schneider, deputy director of the Institute of Epidemiology at Helmholtz Munich.

In the study heat was associated with increased cardiorespiratory mortality. Moreover, the heat effects were modified by elevated levels of all air pollutants in most locations, with stronger effects for respiratory than cardiovascular mortality. This is the first-ever study to deeply investigate effect modifications by air pollutants such as PM2.5 and NO₂ on a large-scale multi-country dataset.

More information:
Alexandra Schneider et al, Interactive Effects of High Temperature and Air Pollution in Europe, Zenodo (2022). DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.7148318

Provided by Centre for International Climate and Environmental Research (CICERO)