Abstract
This study investigates the impact of climate-related air pollution on air quality in Polish health resorts, challenging the assumption that these environments consistently offer safe conditions for recovery. Over a five-year period, air quality was evaluated in seven resorts with varying environmental conditions, focusing on concentrations of PM10 and benzo(a)pyrene (B(a)P) – pollutants linked to both non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic health risks. Analysis of 3,781 daily samples reveals significant exceedances of national air quality limits, particularly in winter, with some resorts, such as HR2 in Rabka-Zdrój and HR3 in Polanica-Zdrój, surpassing permissible levels by up to 320% and 373%. These findings highlight the influence of seasonal factors, potentially exacerbated by climate change, on air pollution levels. The health risks from long-term exposure are particularly concerning for both visitors and employees, with non-carcinogenic risks exceeding safe limits by up to 40% and carcinogenic risks up to 3.74 times higher than acceptable levels. Given the global relevance of these results, this study underscores the need for immediate action to improve air quality in health resorts, while also addressing broader climate-related pollution issues. Future research should prioritize cross-border collaborations and develop innovative, climate-adaptive strategies to mitigate pollution and safeguard public health in similar regions worldwide.
Presenters
Grzegorz MajewskiProfessor and Dean of the Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Mazowieckie, Poland Maja Radziemska
Professor, Institute of Environmental Engineering, Warsaw University of Life Sciences - SGGW, Poland Barbara Klik
Assistant Professor, Institute of Environmental Engineering, Warsaw University fo Life Sciences, Mazowieckie, Poland
Details
Presentation Type
Theme
Assessing Impacts in Diverse Ecosystems
KEYWORDS
Climate-induced Air Quality Changes, Toxic Air Pollutants, Public Health Vulnerability
