Scientists welcome new measures for better air
The Swiss Academies of Arts and Sciences fully welcome the proposed measures for better air. These take into account the developments of recent years in the field of air pollution control and appear easy to implement, write the researchers in their statement on the revision of the Air Pollution Control and Energy Ordinance.
The statement was prepared under the auspices of the Swiss Commission for Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics ACP of the Academy of Sciences.
In particular, the Academies welcome the new provisions on smaller wood-burning appliances (up to 70 kW). These contribute very much to the Swiss particulate matter emissions, especially in winter. The Academies therefore consider the proposed measures to be a necessary minimum.
Similarly, the Academies consider the introduction of the annual limit value for small particulate matter (PM2.5) to be important. The annual average target values for PM2.5 and PM10 proposed by the WHO are based on an international scientific consensus. Limits of PM2.5 are based on epidemiological studies that show clear adverse health effects. Particulate matter is distributed throughout the respiratory tract and the smallest penetrate deep into the lungs. They cause not only local inflammatory reactions, but have systemic consequences, resulting in damage to many organs and especially the cardiovascular system. The lower the exposures, the less the population is affected by these health damages. Moreover, it is known that exposure to PM2.5 can be significantly reduced by regional and national long-term measures.
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