The air we breathe is a visual investigation thatattempts to make air pollution visible. It was on display at BLANCO, Ghent, from 15 to 24 January 2021.
The World Health Organisation considers air pollution to be the greatestenvironmental health hazard. Every year, more than 400,000 people in Europedie prematurely due to air pollution. For Belgium, thenumber of years of life lost is estimated at 86,000.Research shows that air pollution is responsible for 19%of all deaths from cardiovascular disease, 21% of all deaths fromstrokes, 23% of deaths from lung cancer and almost 45% of chroniclung diseases.
The pollutant that has the greatest long-termimpact on health is particulate matter, including particulatematter (PM) 2.5. These particles end up in the atmosphere throughnatural causes or human activities such as transport, industry,agriculture and heating. People with a lower socio-economic status live,work and attend school in places with poorer air quality. Children, pregnant women, the elderly and people with a medical historyare most sensitive to the negative effects.
The World Health Organisation statesthat there is no safe threshold below which no adverse effects occur.Nevertheless, it publishes 10µg/m3 as a recommended value forthe maximum annual average concentration of particulate matter. European standardsallow a higher concentration as a result of a balancing actbetween health risks and economic considerations, among other things. In 2020,this was 20µg/m3.
The air we breathe is not an end point and contains no conclusion. The installation invited us toreflect on this ambiguous relationship that people have with their environment. Everyday, every second.
With thanks to MentorMentor and Bral.
