Many air pollutants put the health of people in the European Region at risk. For example:

• high concentrations of particulate matter decrease the life expectancy of every European by, on average, almost 1 year;
• ozone pollution causes irritation of breathing, triggers asthma symptoms, causes lung and heart diseases, and is associated with about 21 000 premature deaths per year;
• biological agents in indoor air, related to dampness and mould, increase the risk of respiratory disease in children and adults by 50%;
• environmental tobacco smoke causes severe respiratory health problems in children, such as asthma and reduced lung function, and is also harmful to adults, causing premature death.

While the hazardous properties of many common pollutants are still under intensive research, evidence-based policies demonstrate that health protection is possible and effective. For example, phasing out leaded petrol decreases blood lead levels in children and reduced their risk for impaired neuro-behavioural development.

How does WHO help?

Preventing and reducing respiratory disease by ensuring clean air is one of the priorities of the WHO/Europe action plan for children's environment and health. WHO/Europe facilitates the use of available evidence on the health risks of air pollution in policy-making and in public debate by:

• reviewing scientific evidence on the health effects of air pollution;
• developing methods to quantify health risks from air pollution;
• helping countries to build capacity in assessing these risks and to develop sustainable policies on air quality;
• providing guidance such as the WHO air quality guidelines.