Overall exposure
5.5 Global and Transboundary Air Pollution
5.6.4 Global and transboundary air pollution
The European Region contributes signifi-cantly to the emissions that may cause changes in global climate, and has 850 mil-lion people who may suffer from the effects.
Consideration of the possible health effects has until now received less attention than other likely consequences on the natural en-vironment, which appear to be much greater.
This is because of the large uncertainty about potential effects, and the fact that hu-mans can more easily modify their immedi-ate environment to protect themselves from adverse consequences than other, less adapt-able species. It is increasingly recognized, however, that the consequences of global en-vironmental change may severely affect human health and wellbeing in the long term by indirect as well as direct mechanisms.
Despite the difficulties in predicting the tim-ing and the likely severity of such effects, preventive action should be taken now in order to avoid these possible serious conse-quences. Very recently the United Nations Climate Convention entered into force. The next step will be to develop protocols requi-ring the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions worldwide.
Evidence that ozone depletion in the northern hemisphere is accompanied by in-creased terrestrial levels of ultraviolet radi-ation was lacking until recently (see Chapter 11). Although lifestyle is currently the
pre-dominant risk factor for adverse health ef-fects, there is a clear need to restrict further depletion of the stratospheric ozone layer to prevent future direct and indirect effects on health. The latest adjustments to the Mon-treal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, made in Copenhagen in 1992, advance the phasing out of CFCs (and carbon tetrachloride and methyl chloro-form) to 1996 and of halons to 1994.
Although acid deposition was first seen as an environmental threat, it is now recog-nized to have important potential conse-quences for human health, largely as a result of mobilization of heavy metals into water and the food chain. In June 1994 a new SO2 protocol was signed (by 25 Member States of the WHO European Region) in the frame-work of the ECE Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution. This has the overall aim of a 60 % reduction in SO2 emissions from 1980 levels.
The ambient air pollutants of major concern to health in the European Region are par-ticulate matter and SO2. Exposure to elev-ated levels of NO2 and O3 is also very wide-spread, but has less severe and extensive health effects. In certain populations, air pol-lution with lead remains an important health problem.
In addition to these pollutants in ambient air, a variety of indoor air pollutants con-tributes significantly to total exposure, and hence to health risks; many people, includ-ing young children, spend about 90 % of their time indoors. Energy conservation measures may increase exposure to pollutants indoors.
Road traffic contributes a significant share of outdoor air pollution with NOx, VOC and, secondarily, O3, as well as particu-late matter, including lead. Trends in the numbers of kilometres travelled and both petrol- and diesel-fuelled vehicles suggest that such pollution can be expected to
con-5.7 Conclusions
172 Air Pollution
tinue to increase in the 1990s; the increase may be especially marked in eastern Euro-pean countries. The problem is particularly severe in large cities, and urban planning measures (including public transport pol-icies) and vehicle emission control will be important in finding a solution.
Particularly in eastern countries, emissions from large industrial sources, in-cluding coal-fired power and heating plants and metal smelters, contribute significantly to air pollution. In addition, domestic heat-ing with coal still prevails in some areas, causing high local levels of SO2 and particu-late matter. Although cost-effective in the medium and long term, the initial instal-lation of emission control equipment requires considerable capital outlay, which may currently pose a problem for the CCEE and NIS.
Current international agreements on emission reductions are insufficient to re-duce population exposure everywhere in the Region to levels below the WHO guideline values. Until emission sources are effectively controlled, measures are needed to deal with acute pollution episodes. For example, warn-ing systems can be adopted to inform the public of elevated pollution levels and of measures that can be taken to reduce per-sonal exposure; temporary restrictions on emission sources during severe pollution epi-sodes may also be necessary.
The potential adverse effects on health as-sociated with global climate change and ozone depletion necessitate the immediate adoption of preventive measures.
Reliable data on emissions and ambient air quality are needed for the monitoring and verification of the effectiveness of controls.
Harmonized data reporting throughout the European Region could significantly im-prove the understanding of the current air pollution situation and assessments of re-lated risks to health.
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