Globally, between 1980 and 2020, particulate matter pollution alone was responsible for approximately 135 million premature deaths, according to a study.
Photo: Yuanzhe Ma from Unsplash
Clean Air for Our Cities: Why We Must Act Now
Air quality in cities is alarming. According to the World Air Quality Report, 99 percent of the global population breathes air that exceeds the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended limits for particulate matter and other pollutants. “This is according to the 2024 World Air Quality Report published by the Swiss air analysis company IQAir. Only 17 percent of cities met the WHO air quality guidelines.” Urban areas are particularly affected, with traffic, industry, and heating systems being the main contributors. Studies show that particulate matter not only causes respiratory and cardiovascular diseases but also significantly reduces life expectancy. The urgency to act has never been greater.
The Challenge: Particulate Matter as an Invisible Threat
Particulate matter is one of the most dangerous forms of air pollution. It penetrates deep into the lungs and can even enter the bloodstream. “In the body, it can increase the risk of cardiovascular and respiratory diseases such as asthma and lung cancer.”
According to the WHO, only seven countries worldwide meet the recommended air quality standards, as reported by the Handelsblatt. The SPIEGEL also highlighted, “Only one continent meets WHO air quality standards.” “17 percent of the analyzed cities met the annual WHO guideline last year – in 2023, it was only nine percent. ‘However, much remains to be done to protect people’s health, especially that of children.'”
In Germany, the situation is also concerning, as the taz reports. The data is “no reason to breathe easy”. “Even though there is a positive trend in pollutant levels, the data still shows that there is a widespread problem in Germany”, the taz quotes Anna-Lena Franke from the German Environmental Aid (Deutsche Umwelthilfe). “No German city has clean air.”
Photos: Meiying Ng, Daniel Domes & Anastasiia Krutota from Unsplash
The health and economic consequences are enormous: millions of people suffer from the effects of poor air quality, and healthcare costs continue to rise.
Remarkably, “At the end of February, the German Environment Agency (Umweltbundesamt) announced that all European air quality standards had been met for 2024. However, critics already pointed out that these standards are outdated – more than 20 years old, to be precise.”
The WHO recommends much stricter – and lower – limits than the German Environment Agency “to protect people’s health”.
However, “from 2030 onwards, the EU will define stricter limits, nearly halving the current thresholds”.
Photo: Rene Bernal from Unsplash
Innovations for Clean Air
Doch es existieren vielversprechende Ansätze und innovative Lösungen. Innovation und Natur können Hand in Hand gehen, um unsere Städte lebenswerter und zukunftssicher(er) zu machen. Unsere natürlichen Moosfilter nutzen die Fähigkeit von Moos, Feinstaub und andere Schadstoffe aus der Luft zu binden. Gleichzeitig produzieren sie Sauerstoff und kühlen die Umgebungstemperatur. Die Vorteile dieser Technologie sind vielfältig:
- Effektive Luftreinigung: Ein Moosfilter kann die Luftqualität in seiner Umgebung signifikant verbessern.
- Nachhaltigkeit: Die Filter sind umweltfreundlich, kommen ohne Müll aus und benötigen nur wenig Energie für den Betrieb.
- Klimaanpassung: Neben der Luftreinigung tragen die Moosfilter zur Kühlung von städtischen Gebieten bei, was in Zeiten des Klimawandels immer wichtiger wird.
- Ästhetik und Integration: Die Moosfilter lassen sich nahtlos in urbane Räume integrieren und verbessern das Stadtbild.
There are promising approaches and innovative solutions. Innovation and nature can go hand in hand to make our cities more livable and future-proof. Our natural moss filters harness the ability of moss to bind particulate matter and other pollutants from the air. At the same time, they produce oxygen and cool the surrounding temperature. The benefits of this technology are manifold:
- Effective Air Purification: A moss filter can significantly improve air quality in its vicinity.
- Sustainability: The filters are environmentally friendly, waste-free, and require minimal energy to operate.
- Climate Adaptation: In addition to air purification, moss filters help cool urban areas, which is increasingly important in the face of climate change.
- Aesthetics and Integration: Moss filters seamlessly integrate into urban spaces and enhance the cityscape.
The time to act is now. With innovative approaches and a clear focus on sustainability, we can combat the invisible threat of particulate matter and create a healthier future for everyone.
Photo: GCS