More than half of the world’s population, mostly in developing countries, rely on polluting biomass fuels to meet their basic energy needs. Cooking and heating with open fires or primitive stoves causes unhealthy levels of indoor air pollution. The health impacts are significant and affect women and children the most.

In European Union area, outdoor air quality rarely meets reference values set by the World Health Organisation WHO. According to the studies, ambient air quality is three times more significant source of indoor air pollution than e.g. mould.

Based on European Environmental Agency’s (EEA) recent report, poor outdoor air quality causes illnesses and 500 000 premature deaths in EU and the neighbouring countries. The report states that despite the fact that air pollution has decreased over the years, the concentration levels are still very high in places.  95% of the urban population is exposed to ozone levels that exceed the WHO’s standard values and 80-90% of people living in cities are exposed to too high particulate levels. We are talking about really big numbers, right?

Air pollution causes among other things cardiovascular and lung diseases. Indoor climate systems are thus essential for the safety and wellbeing of people. Difference between indoor climate systems is considerable in terms of the indoor climate conditions they deliver. This has been noticed e.g. in air filtration and as a result requirements for air filtration in European Union are tightening. The new air filtration standard sets minimum collection efficiency and charge elimination requirements.

If you are interested to read more about the topic, check the EEA report.

Picture: Wikimedia Commons