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Projected health benefits of air pollution reductions in a Swedish population

Oudin, Anna LU orcid ; Flanagan, Erin LU orcid and Forsberg, Bertil (2024) In Scandinavian Journal of Public Health
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/m3 decrease in particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter <2.5µm... (More)

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/m3 decrease in particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter <2.5µm (PM2.5) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and a reduction in PM2.5 or NO2 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 PM2.5 by 1 µg/m3 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.

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author
; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
in press
subject
keywords
ambient air pollution, clean air policy, Health impact assessment, morbidity, mortality, NO, PM
in
Scandinavian Journal of Public Health
publisher
SAGE Publications
external identifiers
  • scopus:85210149654
  • pmid:39589000
ISSN
1403-4948
DOI
10.1177/14034948241264099
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
6eb331e9-76ad-445a-a204-56149e6322cd
date added to LUP
2025-01-20 15:22:44
date last changed
2025-07-08 04:55:59
@article{6eb331e9-76ad-445a-a204-56149e6322cd,
  abstract     = {{<p>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<sup>3</sup> decrease in particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter &lt;2.5µm (PM<sub>2.5</sub>) and nitrogen dioxide (NO<sub>2</sub>), and a reduction in PM<sub>2.5</sub> or NO<sub>2</sub> 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<sub>2.5</sub> by 1 µg/m<sup>3</sup> 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.</p>}},
  author       = {{Oudin, Anna and Flanagan, Erin and Forsberg, Bertil}},
  issn         = {{1403-4948}},
  keywords     = {{ambient air pollution; clean air policy; Health impact assessment; morbidity; mortality; NO; PM}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  publisher    = {{SAGE Publications}},
  series       = {{Scandinavian Journal of Public Health}},
  title        = {{Projected health benefits of air pollution reductions in a Swedish population}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/14034948241264099}},
  doi          = {{10.1177/14034948241264099}},
  year         = {{2024}},
}