Air Pollution Joins Europe’s List of Proven Cancer Risks

Air pollution has now been formally recognised as a cancer risk in Europe for the first time, after being added to the latest edition of the European Code Against Cancer.  

 

Recommendations outlined in the report encourage individuals to: 

• Limit their exposure by choosing public transport, walking or cycling instead of driving 

• Choose low-traffic routes when exercising outdoors 

• Keep homes free of smoke by avoiding the burning of coal or wood.  

 

Cross River Partnership has a wide range of programmes that improve air quality by shifting polluting vehicle journeys to active travel modes, helping to improve health outcomes and reduce cancer risk.  

 

These include Healthy Streets Everyday II, improving infrastructure in the public realm to create more spaces for walking, wheeling, cycling and scooting, and freight projects such as the Waterloo Freight Hub and London Light Freight River Trial, where parcel journeys by polluting van and lorry took place by electric cargo bikes or river vessels.   

 

The inclusion of air pollution in the European Code Against Cancer reflects the risk that is posed by local pollutants such as Particulate Matter and Nitrogen Dioxide on our health, and shows the continued need to address these challenges in cities across Europe.  

 

CRP is continuing to work closely with the health sector in delivering improved health outcomes from its innovative trials and projects across sustainability, placemaking, transport and freight.  

 

For more information or to hear more on our health and air quality work, please email Ross Phillips on rossphillips@crossriverpartnership.org