Exposome: the air-polluted society

The Air-Polluted Society – Van Hier Naar […] x CO2-assistent x Van Wie Is de Lucht? x IFMSA Utrecht

20 February 2024, Utrecht City Center University Library

Each year, 12,000 people in the Netherlands die due to the effects of air pollution. Political and economic interests often take precedence over public health. How can we accelerate the transition to clean air? What role do (future) doctors, policymakers, and other stakeholders play in defending health interests?

In 2021, the WHO introduced a new health-based guideline for airborne particulate matter. Policymakers subsequently decided which limits to adopt, balancing political and economic considerations. Currently, 98% of Europe does not meet the WHO guideline, leading to deaths and chronic illnesses, such as asthma.

During the second evening of our three-part series The Exposome, we, together with the audience and a panel of experts, focused on the growing issue of air pollution and its impact on public health. This discussion featured:

• Prof. dr. Roel Vermeulen is Professor of Environmental Epidemiology and Exposome Analysis at Utrecht University and director of the Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences (IRAS). An internationally recognized expert in exposome research, he conducts extensive studies on the effects of air pollution.
• Dr. Ferko Öry is a pediatrician with a strong focus on public health. He has dedicated his career to international public health in low-income countries, with his current focus on tackling air pollution.

Key questions included: How do health interests compare to economic and political interests in decision-making about air quality? How can we ensure that the most vulnerable populations are not disproportionately affected by air pollution? What is the significance of exposome research for equitable health policies?

This event was organized in collaboration with Exposome-NL, CO₂-assistent, Van Wie Is De Lucht?, and IFMSA Utrecht.