air quality

[HEAL report] In Poland, health cost associated with air pollution from coal power generation accounts to 3-8.2 bn euro every year

Burning coal in power plants in Poland results in health costs of PLN 12.5 to 34.4 billion (€3 to 8.2 billion) every year, according to a study presented in Warsaw today by the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL), a non-profit alliance of organisations from the health and medical sector. The new study links air pollution from power plants burning coal and lignite with chronic illness and premature deaths in Poland. Health groups warn that the use of coal is harmful and (...)

The public health dimension of the Urban Mobility Package

[Report] The Unpaid Health Bill - how is coal pollution making us sick?

How is coal pollution making us sick? is the latest Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) report launched on 7 March. The paper provides an overview of the scientific evidence of how air pollution impacts on health and how emissions from coal power plants are implicated in this. It presents the first ever economic assessment of the health costs associated with air pollution from coal power plants in Europe as well as testimonies from leading health advocates, medical experts and policy (...)

[Save the date] Spotlight on Clean Air & Health

The European Respiratory Society (ERS) and the Health and Environmental Alliance (HEAL) focus on the connection between clean air and Health in an event hosted by Satu Hassi MEP (FI, the Greens) and co-hosted by Claudiu Ciprian Tănăsescu MEP (RO, S&D) in the European Parliament on 19 March 2013. You all are very welcomed to attend this event! You can register using this registration link The event will run from 18:00 in the Altiero Spinelli (ASP) building in room ASP 5E1 (...)

The uncertain health impacts of climate change - a new study in the Netherlands

A new study commissioned by the Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency and carried out by the Copernicus Institute at Utrecht University assesses the potential impacts of climate change on human health in the Netherlands. The researchers asked health experts to rate the level of uncertainty attached to different health impacts of climate change. As a result, heat-related deaths and vector-borne diseases were indicated as particularly relevant to climate change adaptation. What was the (...)

Preventing global non-communicable diseases through low carbon development

Both non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and climate change are enormous threats to global health - synergies attempting to tackle these major health threats have received limited attention to date. The increasing burden of NCDs poses an enormous threat to populations and health systems across the globe. At the same time, the impacts of climate change are predicted to have profound public health effects and there is an urgent need for transition to low-carbon economies. Although important (...)

EU Commission regulation proposal on sound level of motor vehicles- the relevance of EP Plenary vote

In December 2011, the European Commission adopted a proposal for a new regulation aimed at tightening noise emissions standards for cars, vans, lorries and buses. Although the Environmental Committee of the European Parliament has voted for tighter future noise limits for vehicles, the rapporteur disappointingly announced he would repeat the vote in a full Parliament Plenary. The Plenary vote took place on 6th February 2013. What’s the problem? More than 200 million European (...)

[EPT] Car noise pollution - new EU regulation - sound level of motor vehicles

Sound level of motor vehicles In December 2011, the European Commission adopted a proposal for a new regulation aimed at tightening noise emissions standards for cars, vans, lorries and buses. To become law, the regulation now needs approval by the Parliament and member states. Vehicle noise standards were last updated in 1996, so were long overdue. More than 200 million European citizens (one in three) are regularly exposed to traffic noise levels that put their health at risk. One in (...)

Attitudes of Europeans Towards Air Quality

Air quality is a major concern for European citizens and is an area in which the EU has been particularly active over the last 30 years. As part of continuing efforts to improve air quality and air pollution, the European Commission is currently undertaking a comprehensive review of EU air policy, with a view to revising the Thematic Strategy on Air Pollution and associated legislation in 2013. The EU’s key objective in relation to air quality is "to achieve levels of air quality (...)

Plain cigarette packaging introduced today in Australia

Today, December 1st, Australia is making public health history by being the first country in the world to implement plain packaging for cigarettes. After long debates, strong pressure from the tobacco industry that went as far as to the country’s High Court, Australia becomes today the first country in the world to sell its cigarettes in plain packaging. Consisting of a standard shape without branding, design, logo or any promotional text, and the brand name appearing in a standard (...)