New EEA interactive atlas on how environmental risks affect the health and well-being of Europeans

How is the air quality where you live, what about noise levels or the number of green spaces and quality of the nearest bathing water sites? Now you can check the quality of the environment on one online platform, the EEA’s European environment and health atlas. Launched this week, the atlas presents data and information … Continue reading New EEA interactive atlas on how environmental risks affect the health and well-being of Europeans

Air pollution is the largest environmental health risk in Europe

Fiona Harvey writes on The Guardian website about a recent report from the European Environmental Agency on Europe’s air quality status. Dirty air causes premature death of at least 1,200 children across Europe every year. Europe ‘failing its children’ on air pollution, EEA says Europe is failing its children when it comes to air pollution, … Continue reading Air pollution is the largest environmental health risk in Europe

Nearly one adult in three in France is said to suffer from a pollen allergy – climate change is making it worse

Respiratory allergic diseases, such as seasonal rhinitis and asthma, have almost doubled in the last 20 years in industrialized countries. Raphaëlle Aubert discusses why allergies are getting worse in an article on the Le Monde website.   How climate change is making our allergies worse Between April and May, the birch pollen season is in … Continue reading Nearly one adult in three in France is said to suffer from a pollen allergy – climate change is making it worse

Idling your engine does more harm than good

Comparethemarket prepared a useful guide on ensuring you lower the impact on the environment when you use your vehicle. While there are some details specific to the UK, this should be useful wherever you are. Let us know what you think. Engine idling: the impact on the environment and laws you may not be aware … Continue reading Idling your engine does more harm than good

Recent study found that chess experts perform worse when there is more particulate matter (PM2.5) in the air

A recent study conducted by researchers from Maastricht University (Netherlands) and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (USA) analysed the quality of chess moves across multiple German chess tournaments. They found that chess experts perform worse when there is more particulate matter (PM2.5) in the air. In an article on the Conversation website, Francis Pope, Professor … Continue reading Recent study found that chess experts perform worse when there is more particulate matter (PM2.5) in the air

New study on health benefits from increased energy efficiency

Angela Symons writes on the Euronews website about a study published  inthe journal The Lancet Planetary Health showing the health effects from increased energy efficiency.   Could insulating your home make you live longer? New study shows surprising energy efficiency gains Reaching net zero emissions could prolong people’s lives significantly, new research reveals. More than … Continue reading New study on health benefits from increased energy efficiency

The demand for electric tuk-tuks is growing in Thailand

Thailand suffers from serious air pollution problems in its big cities like Bangkok. Mobility is dominated by cars and there are efforts to increase the number of electric vehicles. In cities tuk-tuks play a major role and traditional ones are highly polluting. Now, as Rebecca Root explains in an article on The Guardian website, electric … Continue reading The demand for electric tuk-tuks is growing in Thailand

Wood burning in homes produces more small particle pollution than all road traffic in the UK

Wood burning has increased in popularity over recent years, yet it remains a major source of air pollution. Damian Carrington has written several articles in The Guardian on the subject but this piece from February highlights the issues. EiD notes that in our neighbourhood of Paris (including several in our building), many are still having … Continue reading Wood burning in homes produces more small particle pollution than all road traffic in the UK

New EEA and EC reports on zero pollution monitoring

This week, the European Commission published its first Zero Pollution Monitoring and Outlook report setting pathways to cleaner air, water and soil. The Commission report, together with the European Environment Agency's monitoring assessment, shows that EU policies have contributed to reducing air pollution as well as pollution from pesticides. However, in other areas such as … Continue reading New EEA and EC reports on zero pollution monitoring

EU planning major reform of its anti-pollution legislation

As part of a major reform of the EU’s anti-pollution legislation, the European Commission said it planned to tighten air quality standards, including on one of the most dangerous pollutants, fine particulate matter. Jennifer Rankin discusses latest developments in an article on The Guardian website.   EU plans tighter controls on pollution as doctors call … Continue reading EU planning major reform of its anti-pollution legislation