Air pollution is considered the leading environmental cause of premature death worldwide. During episodes of air pollution, symptoms ranging from mild to severe may occur, particularly among the most vulnerable individuals (asthma attacks, irritation of the eyes, throat, and nose, shortness of breath, etc.). These short-term effects occur within hours, days, or weeks of exposure. However, the majority of the health impacts of air pollution result primarily from day-to-day, long-term exposure, even at levels below regulatory thresholds.

Last June, Santé publique France published several studies confirming that air pollution has significant public health consequences. They show that implementing measures to sustainably reduce air pollution would significantly improve the health and quality of life of the population.

Further reading

Are pollution spikes the most concerning for health? - What are the new estimates of the impact of air pollution on mortality in France? - Are the health effects limited to large cities? - What health benefits would result from improved air quality? - Is it possible to reduce the impact of pollution on health? Santé publique France addresses these questions through several national and regional publications from the 2016 Air and Health Monitoring Program.

Learn more about the full scope of the work

Santé publique France’s Air and Health Monitoring Program

The Air and Health Program stems from the Law on Air and the Rational Use of Energy of December 30, 1996. Monitoring the short-term effects of pollution has historically been at the core of the program. Today, it relies on a network of 20 French cities, located in mainland France and the overseas territories. Santé publique France relies on its regional offices and a network of partners to monitor air quality and study the impact of air pollution on human health. The program aims to support public policies (local, national, and European) for air quality management.