Brussels– Civilians of Brussels have shared their problems regarding air pollution in the region. Doctors tell residents to leave the city due to poor air quality, and cyclists increasingly worry about their pollution exposure.
The result of the recently launched project “Brussels for Clean Air” project; is a crowd-sourcing exercise that gives residents a chance to make their voices heard about pollution and is not representative of the entire population but addresses the main concerns that keep them awake at night.
Anna van de Moosdijk, campaign officer for the European Citizens Action Service (ECAS), launched the initiative and asserted that ” Overall, people indicated they were very concerned about air pollution. Health concerns were mentioned by more than 50% of all respondents,
Various health concerns were linked to increased air pollution, from severe coughs to other respiratory and even dermatological issues. Van de Moosdijk said that some people were even considering moving away from the city due to the severity of the situation.
“Some people said their children were developing asthma due to living in the city. Their doctors said they should consider leaving the city because it is not sustainable and that their children will suffer too much from the consequences,” he said.
One person who moved from a “less-polluted area in Europe” said that, since moving to Brussels, they developed a chronic cough. “As soon as I spend some weeks away from the city, my condition gets better,” the testimony read.
‘Residents’ testimonies also highlighted that vulnerable road users (cyclists and pedestrians) find they are more subjected to air pollution, especially in areas where efficient cycling infrastructure is missing.
