How can open data improve air quality?
As healthcare is becoming more expensive and the world is becoming
increasingly environmentally conscious, there is an opportunity for
more proactive, preventative care. Improving air quality in European
cities can save European citizens from the negative health impacts
equivalent to several cigarettes a day. 

Combining datasets from OpenAQ [https://openaq.org/]  and OpenAIRE
[https://www.openaire.eu/] can lead to powerful insights into air
quality, which can help formulate and execute effective measures.
OpenAQ collects real-time air quality data from around the world and
OpenAIRE provides access to open research data and publications from
European research institutions, such as The League of European
Research Universities [https://www.leru.org/about-leru] and individual
universities such as Aristotel University Thessaloniki
[https://zenodo.org/record/3480043].  

The combined (open) datasets can support policies in the
decision-making process and contribute to interventions that aim to
reduce air pollution and mitigate its negative effects. For example,
researchers can use the data to identify regions with high levels of
pollution and target efforts into reducing emissions from specific
sources, such as transportation or industry. Moreover, combining these
datasets can support academics, journalists, and policymakers in
identifying gaps in research. For example, if certain regions or
populations are consistently exposed to high levels of pollution but
have not been the subject of extensive research, this indicates a
target for future research.

By combining air quality data with research data from a range of
disciplines, researchers can gain a more comprehensive understanding
of the effects of air pollution and develop more effective solutions
to address this pressing issue. Not only would this help the
environment, but it would also prevent some of the roughly 4 million
global deaths
[https://ourworldindata.org/data-review-air-pollution-deaths] caused
by outdoor air pollution. 

Are you interested in more examples of open data regarding health
issues in Europe? Explore our website and follow us on Twitter
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[https://www.facebook.com/data.europa.eu] and LinkedIn
[https://www.linkedin.com/company/publications-office-of-the-european-union/]
for more news and events.  

Publication Date/Time
2023-07-12T08:00:00+00:00
Combining real-time quality data for research can help formulate
effective strategies to address air pollution