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Projected health benefits of air pollution reductions in a Swedish population

Year: 2024
Type: article
Abstract: Background: A large part of the Swedish population is exposed to higher levels of air pollution than the health-centered air quality guidelines recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). Aim: The aim of the study was to illustrate the potential health benefits of cleaner air in Sweden by conducting a comprehensive health impact assessment, using a population sample of 100,000 individuals representing the country’s demographics. Methods: Exposure-response functions for various health outcomes were derived from epidemiological literature, mainly from systematic reviews and low-exposure settings. Two hypothetical scenarios were studied: a 1 µg/m 3 decrease in particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter <2.5µm (PM 2.5 ) and nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 ), and a reduction in PM 2.5 or NO 2 from average exposure corresponding to Sweden’s Clean Air objectives to WHO’s air quality guidelines. Results: The findings demonstrated that even a modest decrease in air pollution concentrations can yield significant health benefits. For example, reducing PM 2.5 by 1 µg/m 3 was projected to correspond to a 1% to 2% decrease in mortality, a 2% reduction in myocardial infarction cases, a 4% decrease in stroke incidence, a 2% decline in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and a 1% decreases in lung cancer and type 2 diabetes annually. Moreover, this reduction is estimated to lower childhood asthma cases, incidences of hypertension during pregnancy, and premature births by 3%, 3% and 2%, respectively, each year. Conclusions: The results highlighted that even minor enhancements in air quality would lead to substantial improvements in public health.
DOI: 10.1177/14034948241264099
Language: English
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $4,200
OpenAlex ID: W4404730436
FWCI: 0.322
Cites: 21
Cited by: 2
Related to: 10