Protecting your workforce from air pollution
There is a growing body of scientific research papers linking levels of air pollution to a range of health outcomes. Covid-19 has brought the quality of the air around us to the top of many agendas.
The impact of air pollution on the general population has been very much in the news recently. Each Covid-19 lockdown has seen a reduction in background air pollution although these gains have not always continued once the lockdown is lifted.
We are describing air pollution as background because it is usually associated with general transport, industrial and domestic emissions released from thousands of premises and vehicles. The main pollutants identified as causing ill-health in people are particulate matter (PM) at PM2.5 and PM10 and gases Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) in particular, but also Ozone (O3), Sulphur dioxide (SO2), Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) or Carbon monoxide (CO).
There has been a long-term decrease in the emissions air pollutants however in the most recent ten-year period of emissions estimates, there has been mixed progress.
This Risk Insight considers the impact of this type of air pollution on workers who may be exposed due to the nature of their jobs, rather than because of where they live.
To find out more on how to protect your workers from exposure to air pollution, read more here: Protecting your workforce from air pollution
