Better health for all
Better air quality is a major health benefit, that much is clear. But there are more positive side effects of SmartMove.
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In short
The introduction of SmartMove is a sound decision in every respect. The expected impact:
- Fewer diseases of the lungs and respiratory tract.
- Less cardiovascular disease.
- Fewer chronic diseases such as asthma and allergies.
- Together with increased physical activity through walking and cycling, the health benefits of SmartMove could amount to up to €11.4 million per year.*
The situation today
1,000 premature deaths from air pollution
- Respiratory diseases are the third most common cause of death and account for just over 10% of all deaths in the Brussels region.
- In the recent ranking of 1,000 European cities, Brussels' poor score puts it in 8th place in terms of deaths from nitrogen dioxide (ISGlobal Ranking, 2021).
- According to the World Health Organisation, there is no "safe" threshold value for fine dust. Any reduction in it therefore has a positive effect on health (WHO, Ambient outdoor air pollution).
Three out of four Brussels citizens are sick of traffic noise
- According to the World Health Organisation, noise is the second biggest health hazard in Europe.
- More than three quarters of the Brussels citizens say that they experience problems due to noise, such as sleep and concentration disorders.
- Persistent noise pollution can lead to tinnitus, cardiovascular diseases (high blood pressure, risk of heart attack ...), learning disabilities in children and even diabetes.
- For 30% of Brussels households, traffic is by far the biggest source of noise in the Brussels region (Brussels Environment).
City dwellers sweat out climate change
- The increased frequency of heat waves poses a major challenge for Western European cities, which often form 'heat islands'.
- The most vulnerable groups of the population, such as the elderly, children and the chronically ill, suffer most from the heat.
- More sunlight, combined with nitrogen monoxide (present in emissions), leads to an increase in ozone concentration in the lower air layers and associated risks (throat, nose and eye irritations, coughing, chest pain, headaches, nausea, dizziness...).
- This is an additional reason to tackle our CO2 emissions, a fifth of which come from road traffic (Klimaat.be, Uitstoot per sector, 2019).
SmartMove, a health cure for Brussels
Throttle down to take a breath
Together with the Low Emission Zone (LEZ), SmartMove will help to reduce concentrations of exhaust gases and particulate matter in the Brussels region.
Less nitrogen dioxide, ozone and particulate matter, combined with less noise pollution, will result in:
- Fewer diseases of the lungs and respiratory tract.
- Less cardiovascular disease.
- Fewer chronic diseases such as asthma and allergies.
The fitness effect
There are also other positive side effects. SmartMove will encourage more people to cycle or walk. This has a domino effect.
Moving around more actively is a form of exercise, and will improve your health.
Socially, it means a saving in healthcare. People who are fit are less likely to fall ill.
Economically, you get less absenteeism, with all the extra costs that that entails for an employer. A healthy employee also performs better.
This is what economists call the health dividend. They have calculated that the positive effects in the Brussels region could generate up to €11.4 million per year for society*. Although good health is priceless.
€11.4 million
health dividend per year*