Main environment-related health problems
Respiratory diseases
The data
Respiratory diseases are the third cause of death in Catalonia, the fourth cause of hospital admission (10%) and the cause of 15% of the visits to primary care centres. They contribute very significantly to disability and to limiting the quality of life of the people who suffer them, in particular, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
In the last three decades, the prevalence of allergic diseases and asthma has increased in Europe. Asthma is the most common chronic disease in children, although with substantial variations between regions. The differences are attributable in part to environmental factors.
Respiratory diseases, in general, and chronic respiratory diseases, in particular (especially COPD), as well as being associated with a high morbidity and mortality, also have a high healthcare and social cost.
Risk factors
Exposure to indoor air pollution and atmospheric pollution and a loss of individual immune capacity may account for the increased prevalence of asthma and a poorer respiratory health in general.
A large part of the population of the province of Barcelona lives in areas where some of the limits established in current legislation are exceeded. The regions of El Barcelonès, El Baix Llobregat, El Vallès Occidental and El Vallès Oriental have been declared areas of special atmospheric protection since 2006. Vehicle traffic is considered to be the main source of emissions in these areas.
Recommendations
Reducing the incidence and mortality of all respiratory diseases is one of the main health challenges facing our society.
Some of the actions to be implemented in the urban environment that may help improve the situation are:
- Promoting public transport in all urban centres and the large industrial parks.
- Bringing amenities (schools, shops, offices, etc.) closer to the population to reduce motorized mobility.
- Facilitating mobility by foot and bicycle with specific itineraries that cross the urban centre.
- Creating large green spaces, not too far from the town, as recreational areas.
- Taking into account the amount of sunlight received by buildings and their orientation, increasing the level of heat insulation in buildings and the use of bioclimatic architecture to reduce fossil fuel consumption for temperature control.
