Air quality as respiratory health indicator - a critical review

• Authors: Hanns Moshammer , Peter Wallner

Abstracts

EN

As part of the European Public Health project IMCA II validity and practicability of “air pollution” as a respiratory health indicator were analyzed. The definitions of air quality as an indicator proposed by the WHO project ECOEHIS and by IMCA I were compared. The public availability of the necessary data was checked through access to web-based data-bases. Practicability and interpretation of the indicator were discussed with project partners and external experts. Air quality serves as a kind of benchmark for the good health-related environmental policy. In this sense, it is a relevant health indicator. Although air quality is not directly in the responsibility of health policy, its vital importance for the population’s health should not be neglected. In principle, data is available to calculate this IMCA indicator for any chosen area in Europe. The indicator is relevant and informative, but calculation and interpretation need input from local expert knowledge. The European health policy is well advised to take air quality into account. To that end, an interdisciplinary approach is warranted. The proposed definition of air quality as a (respiratory) health indicator is workable, but correct interpretation depends on expert and local knowledge.

Keywords

EN

Health indicators; air quality; public health; respiratory health

• Publisher: Instytut Medycyny Pracy im. prof. dra Jerzego Nofera w Łodzi
• Journal: International Journal of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Health
• Year: 2011
• Volume: 24
• Issue: 3
• Pages: 241-248

Dates

published

2011

Contributors

author

Hanns Moshammer

• Institute of Environmental Health, Center for Public Health, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria

author

Peter Wallner

• Institute of Environmental Health, Center for Public Health, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria

Identifiers

DOI

10.2478/s13382-011-0028-9

Biblioteka Nauki

2185392