The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified outdoor air pollution as a cancer-causing agent (carcinogen). The IARC is part of the World Health Organization (WHO), and is one of the primary sources for information on cancer-causing substances. In its evaluation, the IARC concluded that outdoor air pollution causes lung cancer and is also linked to an increased risk for bladder cancer.
WHO Europe and OECD have released a report on the economic cost of the health impacts of air pollution in Europe. US$ 1.6 trillion is the economic cost of the approximate 600,000 premature deaths and of the diseases caused by air pollution in the WHO European Region in 2010.
At the same time, Estonians are breathing easier than most people in the world, ranking first in an-air quality index released by the WHO. Estonia topped the list with the best air quality.
Now for the first time, using our Garage48 project, residents of Estonia can see in real time air quality in Estonian cities of Tallinn, Tartu, Narva, Kohtla-Järve and decide for themselves whether it’s a good time to go for a run, ride a bicycle or walk with a kid in the city centers.
Please check out Air Quality in Tallinn, Tartu, Kohtla-Järve, Narva - Visual Air and provide feedback via the Visual Air Facebook page.