Brussels, 18 October 2011 - A live demonstration of real-time air quality measurement with Sirpa Pietikäinen MEP took place today at the Clean Air Mobile lab on Place Luxembourg. The demonstration was one of a series of events taking place across Europe as part of a Camfil Farr Road Show.

 

The Road Show seeks to raise awareness of indoor air pollution and see indoor air quality brought to the political agenda in view of the upcoming EU Year of Air Quality 2013.

 

These days, we spend approximately 90% of our time indoors. Yet indoor air can be up to 50 times more polluted than outdoor air due to chemicals in building materials and furniture and due to outdoor air infiltration into buildings. In Europe, more than 300,000 Europeans die prematurely from the health impacts of air pollution every year.

 

Despite these alarming facts, there has been relatively little EU focus on indoor air quality. At today’s air measurement, Sirpa Pietikainen MEP said “over the years, EU decision makers have increasingly addressed outdoor air pollution, leaving indoor air quality aside. Soft legislation in the area of indoor air quality has not been followed up by concrete measures. The importance of ventilation in the interest of indoor air quality is mentioned in the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) but it does not set binding standards preventing the creation of a level playing field across EU member states.”

 

Professor Olli Seppänen, a leading scientist specialising in indoor air quality highlighted the importance of raising awareness of small particles in indoor air which can lead to serious health effects. This can be managed by installing filters in air handling systems to protect building occupants from outdoor pollutants and also to keep ventilation and air condition systems from soiling. The EnVIE project supported by the European Commission estimated the occurrence of 1 million DALYs per year in the EU 27 (disability adjusted lost years = includes deaths and illnesses). This equates to one million life years lost, due to illnesses and premature deaths.

 

The live demonstration of real-time air quality measurement by Myriam Tryjefaczka from Camfil Farr showed the number of particles present in the Place Luxembourg air compared with other venues at the the same time, i.e. Trosa, the Camfil Farr headquarters in Sweden, Paris and Riverdale USA. The mobile lab showcased the difference between the air before and after filtration.

 

The event successfully drew attention to the issue of air quality and discussions being held on policy options available to improve human health and energy efficiency through better ventilation and filtration indoors.

__________________________________________________

 

The Camfil Farr Group is a world leader in the development and production of air filters and clean air solutions. Camfil Farr is a global company with 29 subsidiaries, 23 production plants and an extensive network of agents in Europe, North America and Asia. Camfil Farr’s products are used in offices, clean rooms for sensitive electronics production, mines, factories, hospitals and nuclear power stations.

 

For further information, please contact Myriam Tryjefaczka at Camfil Farr at +33 6 08824239 or via e-mail myriam.tryjefaczka@camfil.fr.