The health of the public, especially those who are the most vulnerable, such as children, the elderly and the sick, is at risk from air pollution, but it is difficult to say how large the risk is. It is possible that the problem has been over-stressed in relation to other challenges in the field of public health.
As we have seen, there are considerable uncertainties in estimating both exposures and effects and their relationships. It may be, for example, that the effects of long-term exposure to lower concentrations of air pollutants could be more damaging to public health than short-term exposure to higher concentrations. For this reason alone, local authorities could take action to assess and improve local air quality. It is not sufficient to wait for an episode of severe air pollution and then try to deal with its effects.
Another reason for action on air pollution is that we do not know the contribution which exposure to air pollutants may make to deaths from, for example, heart disease. In many countries heart disease is a leading cause of death and even a small contribution from air pollution could mean a significant and important effect on public heath.
On an individual level, the risk to health from air pollution is very much smaller than that posed by active cigarette smoking or accidents. It is also true that healthy individuals are rather unlikely to be affected by exposure to the concentrations of outdoor air pollutants in many European countries on most days of the year. However, the old and the young, and especially those suffering from respiratory or heart diseases, are the groups who are most vulnerable to the effects of air pollution. It is only right that cost effective action should be taken to provide them with clean air, which The Times of 1881 described as "the first necessity of our existence."
For references, please go to https://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/2599XXX/page012.html or scan the QR code.