Orla Veale
CEO, Irish Thoracic Society
The Irish Thoracic Society, Ireland’s national body for health professionals working in respiratory care, is calling attention to the significance of clean air for lung health.
With latest figures showing an estimated 380,000 people living with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), approximately 450,000 people living with doctor-diagnosed asthma1 and almost 2,700 people being diagnosed with lung cancer each year,2 the importance of breathing clean air and maintaining healthy lungs has never been more crucial.
Indeed, people with lung conditions such as COPD and asthma are more in danger from air pollution, which can give rise to worsening symptoms, more hospital visits and a risk of dying. In addition, exposure to air pollution during pregnancy is associated with low birth weight and pre-term birth, while children living in polluted areas are more likely to suffer from coughs, wheezes and asthma more likely to develop low lung function as teenagers.
Need for screening programme
Prof Marcus Kennedy, President of the Irish Thoracic Society and consultant respiratory physician, comments: “Exposure to air pollution is responsible for some 1,400 premature deaths in Ireland each year3 — more than seven times the number of people who died on our roads last year.4 Other than prevention through clean air legislation, one of the ways that we can work to reduce this number is to screen for lung disease. This also provides an ideal opportunity to screen for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) in parallel through spirometry.
The European Union has called for lung cancer screening to be introduced in every member country, while the United Kingdom has already introduced it with data until the end of August 2024 showing 5,037 lung cancers detected. Over 75% of the cancers detected by the programme had been diagnosed at stages 1 or 2 (over 60% at stage 1). This compares to fewer than 30% of lung cancers being diagnosed at stage 1 or 2 before the rollout of the lung checks.
Lung cancer screening for ages 55–75
“The Irish Thoracic Society is advocating for a lung cancer screening programme for people aged 55–75 years with a history of smoking a pack a day for 30 years or a current smoker. This screening would involve a low-dose CT scan to catch these diseases early and improve outcomes. While, admittedly, there are some delays for current symptomatic patients in getting through the healthcare system, we can’t let that stop us from doing what’s right for the public in introducing screening measures now,” adds Prof Kennedy.
Dangers of air pollution for lungs
Ms Orla Veale, Chief Executive of the Irish Thoracic Society, adds: “Air pollution can be as dangerous as passive smoking, with those living along a busy road carrying about the same risk as passively smoking 10 cigarettes a day. Because children are generally more active, they are also prone to inhaling more pollution, which has been shown to impair the growth of their lungs.
“For adults, the possible long-term effects include chronic cough, phlegm, wheeze, accelerated loss of lung function and potentially serious respiratory disease. For those with existing lung diseases, air pollution can give rise to asthma attacks or a flare-up of COPD. If you have a persistent cough for three months or longer, shortness of breath and wheezing and recurrent chest infection, you really should see a GP. Unfortunately, there are no safe levels of air pollution.”
Make sure your home is well-ventilated.
Top tips for taking a breath of clean air
- On the home front: Make sure your home is well-ventilated. Air your house for 5–10 minutes several times a day, especially during and after cooking, taking a shower, vacuuming or cleaning with disinfectants and sprays. Maintain gas appliances and make sure that chimneys are cleaned and well-ventilated, burning only dry and untreated wood. Install alarms for smoke and carbon monoxide. Be aware of allergens and dusts generated from pets, plants, carpets and damp mould. Smoking should never be permitted indoors. Consider purchasing an air purifier to clean the air.
- On the trot: Make sure to exercise every day, but avoid exercising during rush hour or on busy streets with lots of traffic fumes. Keep a healthy distance from the road or junctions where cars are idling. Seek out green spaces and public parks if you can. For daily air pollution updates, check out www.airquality.ie.
- On the road: If you’re a car driver, think about purchasing a vehicle that uses the least fuel or is least polluting. Car sharing will also ease the pressure of the school run or work commute. Turn your engine off when stationary, reduce your speed and have your car serviced regularly. If possible, walk, cycle or use public transport instead of driving.
- On the shop floor: A total of 15–20% of COPD cases are thought to be work-related. Consider if you are inhaling dust, gases or fumes at work. From building sites to garages, factories to farms, think about how your work environment can be made safer for you, and ensure you wear any recommended personal protective equipment. Companies might consider periodic screening of exposed workers to identify any early signs of adverse respiratory effects. Take the Your Lungs at Work test, which assesses the impact of your workplace on your lung health.
Support to quit smoking
If you smoke, the most important step that you can take to breathe clean air is to quit. Containing at least 250 carcinogenic or toxic chemicals, second-hand smoke can also harm people who do not smoke. In addition, vaping impairs respiratory health and is particularly risky at a younger age, as addictive nicotine exposure can lead to long-term tobacco use. Vaping in children also impacts concentration and can negatively impact the developing brain.
To order a quit smoking kit or talk to an HSE stop smoking adviser, see www.quit.ie or Freephone 1800 201 203.
About the Irish Thoracic Society
The Irish Thoracic Society is the national organisation representing respiratory healthcare professionals throughout Ireland. The society is dedicated to championing excellence in the prevention, diagnosis and clinical care of respiratory disease through its work in advocacy, education and research. For more information, visit www.irishthoracicsociety.com
The Irish Thoracic Society is a member of the Irish Lung Health Alliance which works to promote healthy lungs. For more information, visit www.lunghealth.ie
[1] Department of Health: National Healthcare Quality Reporting System Report, 2021/2022 https://www.gov.ie/pdf/?file=https://assets.gov.ie/236763/88ff5f95-b41e-467f-aac9-e6a7a07490fe.pdf
[2] National Cancer Registry of Ireland, Cancer Factsheet, 2018-2020 https://www.ncri.ie/sites/ncri/files/factsheets/Dashboardv3.3_allcancers_update.pdf
[3] Government of Ireland: Clean Air Strategy for Ireland https://www.gov.ie/pdf/?file=https://assets.gov.ie/255392/efe212df-d9a7-4831-a887-bea2703e2c64.pdf#page=null
[4] Road Safety Authority press release https://www.rsa.ie/news-events/news/details/2024/01/01/road-deaths-in-2023-increase-by-19#:~:text=24%20.,in%20149%20collisions%20in%202022
