Health effects in the Netherlands of particulate matter and ozone, 2000

Number of people with health effects caused by particulate matter and ozone in the Netherlands in 2000.
		Total	including
		Netherlands	Particulate matter (PM₁₀)¹⁾	Ozone²⁾

		number of people	number of people⁴⁾
Mortality
All causes		140,500	1,700	1,700
Inclu-ding	COPD³⁾	6,800	250	100
	pneumonia	6,600	250	50
	cardiovascular disorders	49,200	400	450

Emergency admissions
All respiratory disorders		46,600	1,000	0
Cardiovascular disorders		95,300	1,400	0
Source: RIVM.		RIVM/EDC/Oct02
1) Based on an annual average 24-hour particulate matter concentration. 2) Based on an annual average 8-hour ozone concentration. 3) Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. This includes chronic bronchitis and lung emphysema. 4) Click on the link for information about the reliability of the figures shown (page is not available yet); the upper and lower limits of the 95% confidence interval.

Impact of particulate matter and ozone on health

Air pollution by particulate matter or ozone was responsible in 2000 for 1 to 4% of total premature mortality and emergency admissions for pulmonary and cardiovascular disorders in the Netherlands. The estimated risks associated with ozone are roughly the same as those for particulate matter.
It is not known whether ozone and particulate matter are the substances that cause the effect or whether they are only the indicators of a harmful mixture.

Policy

The policy is intended to prevent, alleviate or reduce the harmful effects of air pollution on the health of people and the environment. It therefore targets both air quality and emissions. Standards have been set at European level for many air pollutants. The NEPP4 (VROM, 2001) sets air quality targets for the Netherlands which correspond to the European standards. In addition to air quality targets, the European NEC directive sets out national emission ceilings. It should be pointed out that the NEC directive, like NEPP4, does not include any emission objectives for particulate matter.

Technical note

The estimate for the year 2000 of the health effects associated with the concentrations of particulate matter or ozone is based on the method described in two Dutch studies (Hoek et al., 1997; Vonk and Schouten, 1998). The latest data was also used.

References

Hoek, G., A. Verhoeff and P. Fischer (1997). Daily mortality and air pollution in the Netherlands, 1986-1994. Wageningen University (report no. 1997-481), Wageningen.
Vonk, J.M. and J.P. Schouten (1998). Daily emergency hospital admissions and air pollution in the Netherlands 1982-1986 and 1986-1995. VROM reg. no. 96,140072. University of Groningen.
VROM (2001). National Environmental Policy Plan 4. Working on sustainability: Where there's a will there's a world. Ministry of Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment, The Hague.

Relevant sections and indicators in the Environmental Data Compendium

Relevant information outside of the Environmental Data Compendium

RIVM (2002). Environmental balance 2002. Kluwer, Alphen aan den Rijn. Par. 2.3 - Air pollution. You will find more information here about policy and the impact of the air pollution policy.