Programme highlight: air pollution
Air pollution is a well-established cause of morbidity and mortality and it has been linked to cancer, asthma, stroke and heart disease, diabetes, obesity and dementia. Yet, despite this, large parts of the global population continue to live in areas with unhealthy air quality. As with smoking, the voice of healthcare professionals is needed to influence the opinions of the public and policymakers, and it is vital that we have a deep understanding of the way air pollution affects the respiratory system.
This year's Congress will be putting a spotlight on the latest findings in this field through a variety of sessions.
Chair of the ERS Occupation and Epidemiology Assembly, Professor Dick Heederik, commented: "We know urgent action is needed to tackle the growing problem of air pollution in Europe and worldwide. It is especially through analysing the current epidemiological evidence and mechanistic basic research in this field that we, as healthcare professionals, can help improve this situation. The Congress is the perfect occasion to explore the topic further and access the latest findings in the field."
This topic will also play a key role within this year's Healthy Lungs for Life campaign. Watch this space for more details on this campaign in the coming weeks.
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If you are interested in this topic, here is a list of associated sessions at this year's Congress. Alternatively, you can browse the full programme.
Note: Educational sessions (postgraduate courses, skills workshops, challenging clinical cases, professional development workshops and meet the expert sessions) can be attended at an additional cost to the standard registration fee.