In a joint statement, numerous international medical societies, especially from the fields of epidemiology, respiratory diseases and public health, welcome the update of the WHO guidelines, which is based on the overwhelming amount of scientific findings of the last 20 years. Prof. Dr. Barbara Hoffmann, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf (HHU) was also significantly involved in the statement. Prof. Hoffmann is an environmental epidemiologist and conducts research at the Centre for Health and Society (chs), the Institute for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine at HHU.
In addition to a significant reduction of the recommended guideline values for fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) in outdoor air, the most important statement of the updated WHO air quality guidelines is that every reduction of health-relevant air pollutants brings health benefits, even in places with already relatively low pollutant concentrations, emphasise the professional societies from all over the world.
To the statement of the professional societies
Contact: Prof. Dr. Barbara Hoffmann,
Institute of Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, Centre for Health and Society (chs), Medical Faculty, HHU Düsseldorf,
Tel.: +49 211 586729 -110,