The quality of our local living environment (środowisko) has a direct impact on our health (zdrowie). Having access to green spaces for example, is essential for quality of life (jakość życia). An unspoiled environment is a source of satisfaction, improves mental well-being, allows people to recover from the stress of everyday life and to perform physical activity. In Poland, 17% of people feel they lack access to green spaces (tereny zielone).

Outdoor air pollution (zanieczyszczenie powietrza) is one important environmental issue that directly affects the quality of peoples’ lives. Despite national and international interventions and decreases in major pollutant emissions (emisja zanieczyszczeń), the health impacts of urban air pollution continue to worsen with air pollution set to become the top environmental cause of premature mortality globally by 2050.

Air pollution in urban centres, often caused by transport and the use of small-scale burning of wood or coal, is linked to a range of health problems, from minor eye irritation to upper respiratory symptoms in the short-term and chronic respiratory diseases such as asthma, cardiovascular diseases and lung cancer in the long-term. Children and the elderly may be particularly vulnerable.

PM10 – tiny particulate matter small enough to be inhaled into the deepest part of the lung – is monitored in most countries because it can harm human health and reduce life expectancy. In Poland, PM10 levels are 35.1 micrograms per cubic meter.

Access to clean water is fundamental to human well-being.  In Poland, 77% of people say they are satisfied with water quality.

Do następnego razu… (Till next time…)