Andalucia is preparing a new guide containing 44 measures designed to reduce urban air pollution and its impact on public health.
The regional government said the recommendations would help councils and other authorities decide which environmental actions should be prioritised in towns and cities.
Antonio Sanz, the minister for health and emergencies, announced the document to coincide with International Environmental Health Day.
The guide will examine five major sources of pollution, comprising transport, residential, commercial and public buildings, industry and chemical products, agriculture and forestry, and mining, construction and demolition.
Each area will have specific objectives accompanied by individual action sheets explaining how the proposed measures can be introduced.
The full document is titled the Guide to Optimising the Health Impacts of Measures to Improve Air Quality in Urban Environments.
Sanz said it was intended to place public health at the centre of decisions designed to improve air quality.
Environmental risks to health
The regional government currently monitors numerous environmental factors capable of affecting people’s wellbeing.
These include drinking and bathing water, outdoor and indoor air quality, noise, public hygiene, chemicals, electromagnetic fields, urban pests and installations at risk of spreading Legionnaires’ disease.
Health officials also supervise the reuse of wastewater and the companies providing pest-control and other biocide services.
‘The health of individuals is closely related to the conditions of the environment in which they live,’ Sanz said.
‘The quality of the air we breathe, the water we drink or bathe in, noise, pests and exposure to certain chemical substances can all have repercussions for public health.’
What can residents do?
The Junta has also published a series of recommendations explaining how residents can help improve air quality.
People are encouraged to use public transport more frequently and complete shorter journeys on foot or by bicycle whenever possible.
Those who need a car should consider sharing journeys, choosing less-polluting vehicles, keeping technical inspections up to date and adopting more fuel-efficient driving habits.
Households and workplaces can also reduce their energy consumption, consider installing renewable self-consumption systems and investigate whether local energy communities operate in their area.
Residents can check current pollution levels through Spain’s National Air Quality Index, which uses monitoring stations to provide daily information.
Authorities warn that children, pregnant women, older people and anyone with asthma, chronic respiratory conditions, cardiovascular disease or diabetes may be particularly vulnerable to poor air quality.
Intense outdoor exercise can increase exposure because it causes people to breathe more deeply and frequently. Those working outdoors or spending long periods near heavy traffic and industrial areas may also face greater risks.
