Air quality

Air quality is a key determinant of health. Exposure to air pollution, such as particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide and ozone, is associated with an increased risk of disease and shortened life expectancy. These effects do not only occur during exceptional peaks, but accumulate through long-term exposure to concentrations that are often considered acceptable in everyday life. Climate change exacerbates this issue: higher temperatures promote the formation and accumulation of pollutants and increase the likelihood that periods of poor air quality coincide with heat, when the body is already under additional strain.

The health burden is unevenly distributed. Children, older people and individuals with chronic conditions are more vulnerable, while factors such as living environment, traffic and socioeconomic position also determine who is most exposed. Within the Climate Health Institute, our projects focus on understanding these mechanisms and inequalities, and on developing effective and fair strategies to reduce the health impacts of air pollution.