Women and Air Pollution

Yesterday was International Women’s Day – a timely opportunity to talk about equality not only in the workplace or in politics, but where it begins in everyday life: health. This year’s call to action by UN Women Germany „Rechte, Gerechtigkeit, Handeln!“ spiegelt sich im Motto “Rights. Justice. Action. For ALL Women and Girls”, demands full access to rights and justice for all women and girls. This call for justice extends to our environment — because air pollution does not affect everyone equally. Far from it.

Die ungleiche Belastung: Warum Frauen besonders betroffen sind

Studies and analyses show that women are frequently exposed to higher levels of air pollution throughout their lives – with health consequences that are, in part, specific to them.

The Clean Air Fund puts it clearly: Women are more likely to be exposed to greater levels of air pollution and, as a result, experience gendered health outcomes.

One reason lies in differing levels of exposure — shaped by individual living circumstances, roles in the household and care work, workplace environments, and mobility patterns. The medical perspective is equally relevant: pregnancy and early stages of life are particularly sensitive to pollutants.
Research highlights links between air pollutants and risks such as miscarriage or stillbirth, as well as further complications including hypertensive disorders during pregnancy and postnatal depression. More broadly, air pollution is associated with respiratory and cardiovascular diseases — a point underscored by the U.S. National Institute of -Umweltgesundheitsinstitut Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) in its healths overview.

Photo: Austin Schmid

Protecting the Most Vulnerable — Who Suffers Most from Poor Air Quality?

If air pollution affects people unequally, then access to clean air is also a matter of protecting those most at risk. Beyond women, this includes people with pre-existing conditions, children and the elderly – because the lungs, immune system, and cardiovascular system adapt differently — or compensate less effectively — depending on one’s stage of life.

We believe that everyone has the right to the best possible air quality. With our moss filters, we aim to make a difference where the greatest number of people can benefit from clean, cool air — with a particular focus on protecting those who are most severely affected by the consequences of air pollution.

What does this look like in practice?

For children, it is about the environments where learning, physical activity, and development take place — such as school Playgrounds. One example of improved conditions on the ground is the moss filter installation at schools in Schönefeld, as described in our article “Plant-Based Climate System on the School Playground Pausenhof“.

Further background information, as well as details on projects in Velbert and London, can be found here: Air Pollution and Children’s Health.

Photos: GCS

For older adults, quality of life is the central concern — particularly in the spaces where they spend a great deal of time, such as care and residential facilities. This is what we mean by Good Air for a Good Life in Old Age.

A concrete example of this in action can be found in our case study:“Two WallBreeze Units at the Christophorus Haus of Diakonie Hamburg”.

Photos: GCS

The benefits of our modular moss filters are wide-ranging:

• Health Benefits: Clean air reduces the risk of respiratory diseases and cardiovascular conditions — particularly for older adults.
• Economic Benefits: Improved air quality can enhance the time people spend in and their overall wellbeing within shopping centres and public spaces, with a positive impact on retail.
• Sustainability: Moss filters are an environmentally friendly alternative to conventional air purification systems and actively contribute to combating climate change.

What’s Next?

Women’s Day reminds us: justice also means refusing to accept environmental burdens — and taking targeted action where protection is needed most. Clean Air is not a “nice-to-have.” It is the foundation for health, participation, and a good life — for everyone.