As EU member states, regional and local authorities prepare to implement the revised Ambient Air Quality Directive (AAQD), this briefing by the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) argues that decision-makers and authorities should pay particular attention to addressing socio-economic inequalities in their clean air efforts. The swift transposition and implementation of the new rules, with strengthened administrative collaboration and the full utilisation of financial support schemes, promise significant progress towards cleaner air across Europe. Improved air quality will be beneficial to everyone and contribute to preventing health inequalities for those living in socioeconomically disadvantaged areas.
Preventing environmental pollution can save lives. There is clear scientific evidence on how environmental, chemical and air pollution as well as climate change threaten and impact our health. Europe has a real opportunity to protect and improve Europeans’ health and prevent major chronic health epidemics – here are ten ways how.
1. A healthy planet for healthy people
Preventing environmental pollution can save lives and reduce the toll of diseases. EU laws can reduce environmental pollution.
Find out more:
- Zero pollution: Beat pollution today, prevent disease tomorrow, for everyone
- High level panel: Why urgent action on the EU’s Zero Pollution ambition matters for health – voices from communities and vulnerable groups
2. Protection of the most vulnerable
A polluted environment is most dangerous for children, older people, those already sick and people living in poverty.
Find out more:
3. Climate action for health
People in every region of the world are increasingly seeing their health affected by the climate emergency.Action to tackle it can provide immediate and significant health benefits to people and the environment.
Find out more:
- Infographic on climate change and health (available in EN, PL, DE, IT, TR)
- Briefing: Just Transition for health protection
- Infographic: Just Transition for health protection
- Report: Chronic Coal pollution Turkey
- Briefing: Chronic coal pollution Turkey: Cumulative health effects
- Report: Chronic coal pollution Western Balkans (EN, SB, RO)
- Infographic: Chronic coal pollution Western Balkans
- Briefing: The health perspective of wood-burning in the Western Balkans region
4. An EDC-free future
Everyday exposure to hormone disrupting chemicals contributes to modern health epidemics like breast cancer and prostate cancer, obesity and diabetes as well as infertility and learning disorders.
Find out more:
- Infographic: 10 tips to avoid endocrine disruptors in and around your home (in collaboration with Mutualités Libres / Onafhankelijke Ziekenfondsen)
- Infographic: Under the Label – The story behind chemicals in cosmetics (in collaboration with Tegengif / Erase all Toxins)
- Infographic: How Europe can prevent cancer by tackling environmental pollutants (in collaboration with the European Cancer Leagues)
- Infographic on why low dose exposure matters (available in EN, FR, PT, ES, NL)
- FREIA research project: How can EDCs affect female reproductive health?
- EDC-Free Europe campaign website (available in EN– DE – NL – SE – DK – ES – FR)
5. Clean up the air we breathe
Air pollution is the number one environmental threat to health in Europe, leading to 400,000 early deaths each year.
Find out more:
- HEAL 10 demands for a clean air for health transition, 2021-2030
- Infographic: Why clean air standards have to be health-based
- Infographic: Walking and cycling
- Campaign: Our healthy city of tomorrow (EN, PL, DE, ES, PT, FR)
6. Stop pesticides to promote health
Pesticides in our food, water and air can increase the risk of cancer and infertility, harm children’s healthy development and disrupt our hormonal systems.
Find out more:
- Campaign page: Why the EU needs to ban glyphosate to protect health
- Infographic: Europe needs to ban glyphosate to protect farmers, our health and the environment
- Joint statement: The EU Commission must do better to transition away from synthetic pesticides
- Infographic: Ban the toxic pesticide chlorpyrifos from our plates (available in EN, FR, ES)
- Factsheet: EU should ban brain-harming chlorpyrifos to protect health (available in EN, FR, ES)
- Video: Chlorpyrifos – Let’s get rid of this dangerous pesticide (available in EN, FR, ES, DE)
7. Healthy, renewable and efficient energy
Burning coal for energy production is the most polluting form of power generation and we pay for it with our health and our healthcare budgets.
Find out more:
- HEAL campaign page on prescription for a healthy energy future
- Healthy Energy briefing (EN, DE, PL, CZ)
- Lignite coal – Health effects and recommendations from the health sector (EN, TK, DE)
- Briefing: Just Transition for health protection
- Infographic: Just Transition for health protection
- Report: Chronic Coal pollution Turkey
- Briefing: Chronic coal pollution Turkey: Cumulative health effects
- Report: Chronic coal pollution Western Balkans (EN, SB, RO)
- Infographic: Chronic coal pollution Western Balkans
- Briefing: The health perspective of wood-burning in the Western Balkans region
8. A toxic-free future
75% of chemicals produced in the EU are hazardous to health.
Find out more:
- Factsheet: How Europe can lead the way to a non-toxic environment (EN, FR, NL)
- Campaign page: The chemicals in food contact materials are putting our health at risk
- Campaign page: The “forever chemicals” that are harming our helath: PFAS
- Infographic: 10 tips to avoid toxic chemicals during and after pregnancy (in collaboration with the Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics – FIGO and the University of California – San Francisco)
- Infographic: How Europe can prevent cancer by tackling environmental pollutants (in collaboration with the European Cancer Leagues)
- Infographic: Under The Label – The story behind chemicals in cosmetics (in collaboration with Tegengif / Erase All Toxins)
- Infographic: Harmful chemicals in food packaging are putting our health at risk (in collaboration with BEUC, CHEM Trust, ClientEarth and Zero Waste Europe)
- Infographic: How PFAS chemicals affect women, pregnancy and human development (in collaboration with the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics – FIGO and the University of California in San Francisco – UCSF)
- Infographic: 10 tips to avoid endocrine disruptors in and around your home (in collaboration with Mutualités Libres / Onafhankelijke Ziekenfondsen)
9. Healthy mobility
Fossil fuelled cars, buses and trucks are noisy, pollute the air and threaten our health.
Find out more:
- Infographic: Walking and cycling
- Campaign: Our healthy city of tomorrow (EN, PL, DE, ES, PT, FR)
- HEAL project on healthy transport in Germany
- Healthy air, healthier children: 50 schools across the EU monitor air quality
10. A safe and toxic-free environment
Find out more:
- Turning the plastic tide: the chemicals in plastic that put our health at risk
- Infographic: Harmful chemicals in food packaging hamper the circular economy
- Infographic: Under The Label – The story behind chemicals in cosmetics
- Infographic: Harmful chemicals in food packaging are putting our health at risk
- Toxic Loophole – how hazardous waste is recycled into new products (available in EN, NL, FR, DE)
- Detoxing Carpets – Pathways towards safe and recyclable carpet in a truly circular economy (available in EN, NL, FR, DE)
- Toxic chemicals found in carpets sold by major European manufacturers (available in EN, FR, DE, NL)
- Infographic: the European Carpet Market (available in EN, FR, NL, DE)
- Infographic: What are the health impacts of toxic chemicals possibly present in carpets? (available in EN, FR, NL, DE)
- Infographic: Toxic chemicals detected in carpets and their potential health impacts
- Video: Toxic chemicals found in carpets sold by major European manufacturers
Het voorkomen van milieuvervuiling kan levens redden. Er is duidelijk wetenschappelijk bewijs over hoe milieu-, chemische en luchtvervuiling en klimaatverandering onze gezondheid kan bedreigen en beïnvloeden. De Europese Unie heeft een unieke kans om gezondheidsepidemieën te voorkomen. Hier zijn tien manieren om de gezondheid van Europeanen te beschermen en te verbeteren!
1. Een gezonde planeet voor gezonde mensen
Het voorkomen van milieuvervuiling kan levens redden en het aantal ziektes verminderen. EU-wetgeving kan deze vervuiling verminderen en ziektes voorkomen.
2. Bescherm de meest kwetsbaren in de samenleving
Milieuvervuiling is het gevaarlijkst voor kinderen, oudere mensen, mensen die al ziek zijn en mensen die in armoede leven.
3. Klimaatactie en de bescherming van onze gezondheid
Klimaatverandering is de grootste bedreiging voor onze gezondheid van de 21ste eeuw. Actie om dit aan te pakken kan onmiddelijke en aanzienelijke voordelen opleveren.
Meer informatie:
- Infographic on climate change and health
- Health groups call for greater EU leadership in tackling climate change
4. Een EDC-vrije toekomst
Onze dagelijkse blootstelling aan hormoonverstorende stoffen draagt bij aan hedendaagse gezondheidsepidemieën zoals borst- en prostaatkanker, obesitas en diabetes, onvruchtbaarheid en leerstoornissen.
Meer informatie:
- Infographic on why low dose exposure matters(available in EN, FR, PT, ES, NL)
- EDC-Free Europe campaign website (available in EN– DE – NL – SE – DK – ES – FR)
5. Schonere lucht in onze steden en gebouwen
Luchtvervuiling is de belangrijkste bedreiging voor onze gezondheid in Europa, die elk jaar tot 400,000 vroegtijdige sterfgevallen leidt.
Meer informatie:
- Infographic on clean air for health (available in EN, DE)
- HEAL briefing on healthy buildings
6. Stop het gebruik van giftige pesticiden in voeding en bescherm onze gezondheid
Pesticiden in ons eten, water en lucht kunnen het risico op kanker en onvruchtbaarheid verhogen, de gezonde ontwikkeling van kinderen schaden en onze hormonen verstoren.
Meer informatie:
- Infographic: Ban the toxic pesticide chlorpyrifos from our plates (available in EN, FR, ES)
- Factsheet: EU should ban brain-harming chlorpyrifos to protect health (available in EN, FR, ES)
- Petition to ban chlorpyrifos (available in EN, FR, DE, ES)
- Video: Chlorpyrifos – Let’s get rid of this dangerous pesticide (available in EN, FR, ES, DE)
7. Gezonde en duurzame energie
Het verbranden van steenkool is de meest vervuilende vorm van energieopwekking. We betalen hiervoor met onze gezondheid en zorguitgaven.
Meer informatie:
- HEAL campaign on healthy energy
- Healthy Energy briefing (EN, DE, PL, CZ)
- Lignite coal – Health effects and recommendations from the health sector (EN, TK, DE)
- Chronic coal pollution – EU action on the Western Balkans will improve health and economies across Europe (EN, SB, RO)
8. Een toekomst zonder giftige stoffen
75% van de chemicaliën geproduceerd in de EU zijn gevaarlijk voor onze gezondheid.
Meer informatie:
9. Gezonde mobiliteit
Auto’s, bussen en vrachtwagens die rijden op fossiele brandstoffen maken lawaai, vervuilen de lucht en bedreigen onze gezondheid.
Meer informatie:
- HEAL project on healthy transport in Germany
- Healthy air, healthier children: 50 schools across the EU monitor air quality
10. Een veilige circulaire economie zonder giftige stoffen
In de EU wordt nieuw plastic speelgoed geproduceerd onder strengere normen dan gerecycleerd plastic speelgoed.
Meer informatie:
- Toxic Loophole – how hazardous waste is recycled into new products (available in EN, NL, FR, DE)
- Detoxing Carpets – Pathways towards safe and recyclable carpet in a truly circular economy (available in EN, NL, FR, DE)
- Toxic chemicals found in carpets sold by major European manufacturers (available in EN, FR, DE, NL)
- Infographic: the European Carpet Market (available in EN, FR, NL, DE)
- Infographic: What are the health impacts of toxic chemicals possibly present in carpets? (available in EN, FR, NL, DE)
- Infographic: Toxic chemicals detected in carpets and their potential health impacts
- Video: Toxic chemicals found in carpets sold by major European manufacturers
Prévenir la pollution de l’environnement peut sauver des vies. Il existe des données scientifiques claires sur la façon dont pollution environnementale, chimique atmosphérique ou encore le changement climatique menacent et impactent notre santé. L’Europe a une réelle opportunité de protéger et d’améliorer la santé des Européens et de prévenir les grandes épidémies de maladies chroniques – voici dix façons de procéder.
1. Agissez pour une planète et des personnes en bonne santé
Prévenir la pollution de l’environnement peut sauver des vies et réduire le nombre de maladies. Les lois européennes peuvent réduire la pollution de l’environnement et prévenir les maladies.
2. Agissez pour protéger les plus vulnérables
Un environnement pollué est particulièrement dangereux pour les enfants, les personnes âgées, les personnes déjà malades et les personnes vivant dans la pauvreté.
3. Agissez pour assurer la lutte contre le changement climatique et la protection de la santé
Le changement climatique est la plus grande menace sanitaire du 21ème siècle, mais des mesures pour y faire face peuvent apporter des bénéfices immédiats et significatifs pour la santé.
Find out more:
- Infographic on climate change and health
- Health groups call for greater EU leadership in tackling climate change
4. Agissez pour éliminer les pesticides toxiques de nos aliments et protéger notre santé
L’exposition quotidienne aux perturbateurs endocriniens contribue aux épidémies modernes telles que le cancer du sein et de la prostate, l’obésité et le diabète, ainsi que la stérilité et les troubles de l’apprentissage.
Find out more:
- Infographic on why low dose exposure matters(available in EN, FR, PT, ES, NL)
- EDC-Free Europe campaign website (available in EN– DE – NL – SE – DK – ES – FR)
5. Agissez pour purifier l’air que nous respirons dans nos villes et nos bâtiments
La pollution de l’air est la principale menace environnementale pour la santé en Europe et entraîne 400 000 décès prématurés chaque année.
Find out more:
- Infographic on clean air for health (available in EN, DE)
- HEAL briefing on healthy buildings
6. Agissez pour éliminer les pesticides toxiques de nos aliments et protéger notre santé
Les pesticides présents dans nos aliments, notre eau et notre air peuvent augmenter les risques de cancer et d’infertilité, nuire au bon développement des enfants et perturber le système hormonal.
Find out more:
- Infographic: Ban the toxic pesticide chlorpyrifos from our plates (available in EN, FR, ES)
- Factsheet: EU should ban brain-harming chlorpyrifos to protect health (available in EN, FR, ES)
- Petition to ban chlorpyrifos (available in EN, FR, DE, ES)
- Video: Chlorpyrifos – Let’s get rid of this dangerous pesticide (available in EN, FR, ES, DE)
7. Agissez pour une énergie saine et pour mettre fin à la dépendance au charbon
La combustion du charbon pour la production d’énergie est la forme de production d’électricité la plus polluante et nous le payons de notre santé et aux dépens de la sécurité sociale.
Find out more:
- HEAL campaign on healthy energy
- Healthy Energy briefing (EN, DE, PL, CZ)
- Lignite coal – Health effects and recommendations from the health sector (EN, TK, DE)
- Chronic coal pollution – EU action on the Western Balkans will improve health and economies across Europe (EN, SB, RO)
8. Agissez pour un avenir sans toxique
75% des produits chimiques fabriqués dans l’UE sont dangereux pour la santé.
Find out more:
9. Agissez pour une mobilité saine
Les voitures, les autobus et les camions alimentés par des combustibles fossiles sont bruyants, polluent l’air et menacent notre santé.
Find out more:
- HEAL project on healthy transport in Germany
- Healthy air, healthier children: 50 schools across the EU monitor air quality
10. Agissez pour exiger des produits de consommation sûrs et exempts de produits chimiques toxiques
Dans l’UE, les nouveaux jouets en plastique sont fabriqués selon des normes plus strictes que les jouets recyclés.
Find out more:
- Toxic Loophole – how hazardous waste is recycled into new products (available in EN, NL, FR, DE)
- Detoxing Carpets – Pathways towards safe and recyclable carpet in a truly circular economy (available in EN, NL, FR, DE)
- Toxic chemicals found in carpets sold by major European manufacturers (available in EN, FR, DE, NL)
- Infographic: the European Carpet Market (available in EN, FR, NL, DE)
- Infographic: What are the health impacts of toxic chemicals possibly present in carpets? (available in EN, FR, NL, DE)
- Infographic: Toxic chemicals detected in carpets and their potential health impacts
- Video: Toxic chemicals found in carpets sold by major European manufacturers
Die Vermeidung von Umweltverschmutzung kann Leben retten. Es ist eindeutig wissenschaftlich bewiesen, dass Umwelt-, Chemikalien-, Luftverschmutzung und der Klimawandel unsere Gesundheit bedrohen und beeinflussen. Europa hat eine echte Chance, die Gesundheit der Europäer zu schützen und zu verbessern und schwere chronische Gesundheitsepidemien zu verhindern – hier sind zehn Ideen.
1. Handle jetzt für einen gesunden Planeten und gesunde Menschen
Die Verhinderung von Umweltverschmutzung kann Leben retten und die Zahl von Krankheitsfällen senken. EU-Gesetze können Umweltverschmutzung reduzieren und Krankheiten verhindern.
2. Handle jetzt, um die stärksten gefährdeten Personen zu schützen
Eine verschmutzte Umwelt ist besonders gefährlich für Kinder, ältere Menschen, Kranke und in Armut lebende Menschen.
3. Handle jetzt, um sofortigen Klimaschutz und Gesundheitsschutz sicherzustellen
Der Klimawandel ist die größte gesundheitliche Bedrohung des 21. Jahrhunderts, aber Klimaschutz kann unmittelbare und erhebliche gesundheitliche Vorteile bringen.
Mehr:
- Infographic on climate change and health
- Health groups call for greater EU leadership in tackling climate change
4. Hilf Eine EDC-freie Zukunft aufzubauen
Die tägliche Einwirkung von hormonstörenden Chemikalien trägt zu modernen Epidemien wie Brust- und Prostatakrebs, Fettleibigkeit und Diabetes sowie Unfruchtbarkeit und Lernstörungen bei.
Mehr:
- Infographic on why low dose exposure matters(available in EN, FR, PT, ES, NL)
- EDC-Free Europe campaign website (available in EN– DE – NL – SE – DK – ES – FR)
5. Handle jetzt für saubere Luft in unseren Städten und Gebäuden
Luftverschmutzung ist in Europa die gesundheitsschädlichste Umweltbedrohung und führt jedes Jahr zu 400.000 vorzeitigen Todesfällen.
Mehr:
- Infographic on clean air for health (available in EN, DE)
- HEAL briefing on healthy buildings
6. Handle jetzt um giftige Pestizide von unseren Lebensmitteln fernzuhalten und unsere Gesundheit zu schützen
Pestizide in Lebensmitteln, Wasser und Luft können das Risiko für Krebs und Unfruchtbarkeit erhöhen, die gesunde Entwicklung von Kindern beeinträchtigen und unser Hormonsystem stören.
Mehr:
- Infographic: Ban the toxic pesticide chlorpyrifos from our plates (available in EN, FR, ES)
- Factsheet: EU should ban brain-harming chlorpyrifos to protect health (available in EN, FR, ES)
- Petition to ban chlorpyrifos (available in EN, FR, DE, ES)
- Video: Chlorpyrifos – Let’s get rid of this dangerous pesticide (available in EN, FR, ES, DE)
7. Handle jetzt für gesunde Energie
Kohleverbrennung zur Energieerzeugung ist die schmutzigste Form der Stromerzeugung, und wir bezahlen dafür – mit unserer Gesundheit und unseren Versicherungsbeiträgen.
Mehr:
- HEAL campaign on healthy energy
- Healthy Energy briefing (EN, DE, PL, CZ)
- Lignite coal – Health effects and recommendations from the health sector (EN, TK, DE)
- Chronic coal pollution – EU action on the Western Balkans will improve health and economies across Europe (EN, SB, RO)
8. Eine giftfreie Zukunft
75% der in der EU hergestellten Chemikalien sind gesundheitsgefährdend.
Mehr:
9. Gesunde Mobilität
Autos, Busse und Lastwagen mit fossilem Treibstoff sind laut, verschmutzen die Luft und gefährden unsere Gesundheit.
Mehr:
- HEAL project on healthy transport in Germany
- Healthy air, healthier children: 50 schools across the EU monitor air quality
10. Handle jetzt für Verbraucherprodukte, die sicher und frei von giftigen Chemikalien sind
In der EU werden neue Plastikspielzeuge nach strengeren Standards hergestellt als recycelte.
Mehr:
- Toxic Loophole – how hazardous waste is recycled into new products (available in EN, NL, FR, DE)
- Detoxing Carpets – Pathways towards safe and recyclable carpet in a truly circular economy (available in EN, NL, FR, DE)
- Toxic chemicals found in carpets sold by major European manufacturers (available in EN, FR, DE, NL)
- Infographic: the European Carpet Market (available in EN, FR, NL, DE)
- Infographic: What are the health impacts of toxic chemicals possibly present in carpets? (available in EN, FR, NL, DE)
- Infographic: Toxic chemicals detected in carpets and their potential health impacts
- Video: Toxic chemicals found in carpets sold by major European manufacturers