How much does the environment affect human health? Is air pollution shortening our lives and those of our
children? These questions are fundamental to environmental policies. Air pollution is a major environmental
health threat in OECD countries, contributing to a number of illnesses, such as asthma, cancer and premature
deaths. Despite national and international interventions and decreases in major emissions, the health impacts
of air pollution are not likely to decrease in the years ahead, unless appropriate action is taken. This report
presents estimates of the costs and benefits of environmental policies aiming at reducing air pollution and
provides policy recommendations in order to better address environmental health issues.
