Each year, on June 5th, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) leads World Environment Day (WED), a global initiative to raise awareness about the most pressing environmental challenges. On this day, millions of people from governments, businesses, civil society and schools come together to call for urgent environmental action.
This year, the UNEP Campaign focuses on plastic pollution. Under the slogan “Together, we can #BeatPlasticPollution”, the campaign calls for collective action and systematic change, encouraging the adoption of sustainable practices to prevent plastic pollution.
The SynAir-G project joins in supporting World Environment Day, particularly by drawing attention to the health-related consequences of pollution especially among vulnerable populations like children and those living with allergy or asthma.
Plastic pollution poses a major health threat. Beyond harming nature, biodiversity, and the climate, it infiltrates our water, food, and even the air we breathe. One alarming aspect is the release of airborne micro- and nanoparticles from degrading plastic. These particles travel across continents and are now found virtually everywhere, including in our lungs.
Recent estimates suggest that people ingest between 70,000 and over 120,000 microplastic particles each year. For people with allergies and asthma and especially children, this poses a heightened risk. Airborne plastic particles add to both indoor and outdoor air pollution and have been suggested to aggravate asthma symptoms and trigger exacerbations. It is important to note that indoor levels are the highest, directly affecting the quality of air we breathe in our homes, schools, and offices.
Through targeted research, SynAir-G aims to uncover how these airborne microplastics interact with other pollutants that impact human health. With a specific focus on indoor air quality in schools, the project seeks to develop interventions that will improve the air children breathe daily. The goal: ensure that all children in Europe can learn and grow in environments free from harmful pollution.
The urgency to act is clear. Europe alone produces up to 32 million tonnes of plastic waste each year. Tackling plastic pollution across the continent is a health priority. Investing in sustainable solutions is essential to protect both people and planet.
At its core, SynAir-G’s mission is to safeguard and promote citizens’ health and well-being, by preventing premature deaths, diseases and inequalities related to air pollution. By promoting early awareness and encouraging the management of indoor air health risks from a young age, SynAir-G helps strengthen public resilience to the health impacts of environmental and air pollution.
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