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Global Compact International Yearbook 2013
Europe is an example, where one-third
of the people living in cities are exposed
to excessive PM concentrations, and one
out of six Europeans is said to suffer from
a respiratory problem. Air pollution in
Europe is estimated to cause more than
400,000
premature deaths annually. On
a worldwide basis, the figures are just as
grim: Two million people die too early
because of exposure to air pollution,
according to WHO. Fortunately, govern-
ments are responding by reviewing and
strengthening air quality strategies based
on the latest knowledge and research.
But air pollution has a darker side: Pol-
luted outdoor air penetrates the indoor
environment through openwindows and
ventilation systems operating without
effective filters, where it mixes with a
cocktail of other indoor pollutants that
may be present, such as radon, tobacco
smoke, volatile organic compounds, and
biological pollutants. This is why our
indoor air can actually be more seriously
polluted – up to 50 times more than
outdoor pollution, involving greater
health risks for the young, elderly, and
chronically ill, especially in urban envi-
ronments and in areas with heavy vehicle
traffic. With people spending up to 90
percent of their lives indoors, we need
to think just as much as about indoor
air quality (IAQ) as ambient air quality.
Balancing ventilation and energy
demands
At the same time as we need cleaner air,
governments are focusing on the energy
aspects of ventilation as a means to cut
the energy consumption of buildings and
reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Clean-
ing air from air pollution in heating,
ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC)
systems requires substantial energy and
Buildings Need Effective
Air Filters
Camfil
Air is free and necessary for life. The quality of air also has a direct impact on quality of life:
The cleaner the air we breathe, the healthier we are, and the better we feel and perform.
Unfortunately, healthy air is becoming a scarce commodity, especially in the larger and more
densely populated cities of the world. The most common air pollutants, such as airborne
particulate matter (PM), ozone, and nitrogen oxides, are known to cause respiratory problems,
heart diseases, and other illnesses. A recent study by the World Health Organization (WHO)
suggests that long-term exposure to this air pollution can also affect brain development,
reproductive health, circulation, and diabetes.
By Myriam Tryjefaczka, Camfil