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Long-term exposure to air pollution: effect on mortality |
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Final report
Published: 18 June 2009
The Committee on the Medical Effects of Air Pollutants (COMEAP) announces the publication of its report Long-term exposure to air pollution: effect on mortality
The report suggests that air pollution has a greater effect on mortality in the UK than previously thought, with a 10 µg m-3 increase in fine particles being associated with a 6% increase in risk of death from all-causes. The evidence for the effects of long-term exposure to sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide and ozone on mortality is also discussed but is felt to be weaker than that regarding particles.
Reviews and comments on the draft version
A draft version of this report was released for comment and peer review on 17 July 2007. All reviews and comments received may be viewed using the hyperlinks below. These have been considered in the appendix of the final report.
Air quality strategy
The UK Government and the devolved administrations published on the 17 July 2007 the Air Quality Strategy for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. This identifies potential new national policy measures which modelling suggests could give further health benefits and move closer towards meeting the strategy's objectives. The advice from COMEAP on long-term exposure to air pollution and mortality was used in calculating these health benefits.
Further details can be found by accessing:
http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/quality/air/airquality/strategy/
Further background information
Effect on health of long-term exposure to ozone
The effect on health of long-term exposure to ozone is considered in this short document by COMEAP with a detailed discussion of the evidence on the effects of long-term exposure to ozone on mortality.
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