Development and implementation of the health index for transboundary air pollution

Real-time monitoring of air pollution is now more necessary than ever. Air pollution is one of the most significant factors that threaten human health worldwide. It is associated with a range of diseases, symptoms and conditions that affect the quality of human life. According to WHO, outdoor air pollution was responsible for the deaths of an estimated 3.7 million people under the age of 60 worldwide in 2012, representing 6.7% of the global burden of disease, while indoor and outdoor air pollution together are among the greatest risks to health worldwide. In addition to population, air quality has a negative impact on the natural environment and biodiversity.

The main sources of air pollution in the participating countries are caused by industrial activities, transport and heating systems.

Air quality problems from industrial sources mainly concern areas with thermal power plants and industrial units located close to residential areas.

Other sources (e.g. transport and desert dust) and natural conditions (e.g. local topography and climate conditions) also worsen air quality in urban areas. Local meteorological conditions and topography have a major impact on air quality and contribute to the generation of air pollution episodes. Air quality is also strongly influenced by pollutants that are trapped due to thermal inversions caused by sea/land breezes and thermal internal boundary layers.

The strategic objective of the TRAP project is to create an ICT application that integrates air quality monitoring with health impact indices in the participating countries and the cross-border area.

The project aims to assess the current state of air quality in the partner areas, install air quality monitoring stations and create public health indices to assess the impact of air quality on human health and the natural environment.

TRAP will expand the already established air quality network in both countries and the cross-border area by establishing 4 new monitoring stations (2 per country).

In addition, health indicators based on the effects of air pollution on human health will be displayed on the project website.

TRAP is expected to go a step further than the current state of the art in air quality by linking air quality and health and providing an integrated air quality tool – an ICT health index that will be accessible to stakeholders and the general public (voluntary target groups).