Health effects of ambient air pollution and how to limit personal exposure

Abstract

Air pollution seems to be continuously in the news nowadays and popular media report on it almost every single day. In many cities worldwide, including London, UK, it has become a political topic as well. Despite the fact that we hear about air pollution all of the time, many are unaware of the real nature or magnitude of the threat, the health risks and opportunities to reduce personal exposure. In this article we summarise in lay terms the current knowledge about air pollution and what city dwellers can do to stay healthy in a polluted environment. This article aligns with a strategy to communicate scientific knowledge to patients, practitioners and the larger public. It complements the excellent work being done by the European Lung Foundation in the context of the “Healthy Lungs for Life” campaign (www.europeanlung.org/en/projects-and-research/ projects/healthy-lungs-for-life/ home). In March 2016 the European Respiratory Society/European Lung Foundation hosted a workshop in Brussels (Belgium) to discuss the available evidence and derive clear messages. This article contributes to this initiative. We will summarise those facts that are undisputed and those for which there seems to be a broad consensus among scientists. Those facts can help us to derive strategies to avoid air pollution exposure.