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Cleaner air in EU cities: Commission checks Population Exposure to Air Pollutants in Europe (PEOPLE)
September 13, 2002Today in Brussels EU Research Commissioner Philippe Busquin presented the PEOPLE (Population Exposure to Air Pollutants in Europe) project, to measure air pollution's impact on human health. 2000 volunteers will be asked to wear a pollution detector on a part-time basis - 12 hours per day maximum. In our busy European cities, 70 to 80% of pollution is due to road traffic. Benzene, a carcinogenic substance, is very much present in the air we breathe. Cars contribute to this, but also smoking. Exposure to benzene often depends on different transport modes and specific environments (schools, shops, offices, bars, etc.), but also on personal behaviour, lifestyles and habits. Starting in Brussels and Lisbon, the project will also involve Bucharest, Budapest, Dublin, Krakow, Ljubljana, Madrid, Paris, and Rome. Results, such as city mapping according to different urban settings and pollution levels, will be presented in February 2003.
"A recent independent study reveals that roughly 40,000 people die every year from the effects of air pollution in three European countries alone: France, Austria and Switzerland" said EU Research Commissioner Philippe Busquin. "It is clear therefore, that air pollution has a long-term negative impact on EU citizens' health in general, despite tight EU emission standards. This is why research projects such as PEOPLE are so valuable: they provide decision-makers, environment and health professionals, and the European citizen with a comprehensive snapshot of air pollution in EU cities and its impact on public health. Such knowledge will not only help policy makers take informed decisions about traffic and transport policies, it will also help citizens make informed choices on personal and health issues, to limit their exposure."
The PEOPLE Project supports forthcoming EU legislation on benzene , and the Healthy Cities project launched by WHO (World Health Organisation). It will complement Commission's Environment and Health research Programmes. EU researchers are also currently setting up a European Information System on Air Pollution and Health (APHEIS), while a review of the health effects of air pollutants for the definition of air quality standards (AIRNET) is also undertaken.
The focus of the project is on two of the most visible sources of pollution: transportation and smoking. The project will assess busy road junctions as well as quiet parks. Citizens will be selected to participate based on differing modes of transport used, for example, use of personal car, public transport or travel on foot or by bike. The results from these groups will be compared to both a control group consisting of people working away from, or staying at home, and a group of smokers.
PEOPLE uses a new sampler to detect benzene levels over short periods of time. Benzene is a carcinogenic compound found in gasoline. It can lead to leukaemia. It is produced by combustion engines, such car and truck motors. Simple choices, such as transport to and from work, will affect the individual's personal level of exposure to it. Benzene is also a good tracer for other pollutants such as carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, volatile hydrocarbons and particulate matter produced by traffic. Benzene monitoring will therefore point to exposure to other pollutants.
For more information, please contact:
Fabio Fabbi
EU Commission
Press and Communication Directorate-General
Spokesman for Research
tel. +32 2 296.41.74
GSM +32 (0)498 96.41.74
fax +32 2 296.30.03
e-mail Fabio.Fabbi@cec.eu.int
European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC)
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