Source: Telepolis

Germany is at the forefront of environmental friendly lifestyles. That's an assured wisdom for many, if not most Germans. But since the sudden outbreak of public discussions regarding particulate matter (PM), this fact is questioned. Now the European Centre for Environment and Health of the World Health Organisation Regional Office for Europe says that on average PM claims 10.2 month of life for each German, compared to an average of just 8.6 month of life from the life of every person in the EU.

EC Directive 1999/30/EC (2), which sets limits for PM concentrations, was put into force at the beginning of this year, six years after it was adopted. But the vivid discussion started not until major German cities like Munich and Stuttgart were about to exceed the limits. Obviously, communities were ill prepared to deal with a foreseeable situation.

Telepolis talked with Dr Michal Krzyzanowski about the risks of PM air pollution and the cooperation between the World Health Organization and the European Commission (EC). Michal Krzyzanowski is "Regional Adviser Air Quality and Health" at WHO's European Centre for Environment and Health (3) (ECEH), Bonn Office.

The topic of air pollution due to particulate matter (PM) has hit the general public in Germany quite unprepared. Since then, a variety of experts have shared their views of the situation with the public.

Telepolis talked with Dr Michal Krzyzanowski about the risks of PM air pollution and the cooperation between the World Health Organization and the European Commission (EC). Michal Krzyzanowski is "Regional Adviser Air Quality and Health" at WHO's European Centre for Environment and Health (ECEH), Bonn Office.

Read the full interview here.