First patient in Poland diagnosed with illness caused by smog:
A year in review

While the health impacts of air pollution are well-documented in scientific studies, this factor has not been recognized in Polish medical diagnoses as a primary cause of health issues until a breakthrough case last year. As highlighted by HEAL in Poland in May 2023, an eleven-year-old boy, Maciek (name changed), suffered for most of his life from a persistent cough, shortness of breath, and frequent infections, all of which worsened during the heating season. After a prolonged struggle by Maciek’s parents to find the true cause of his health issues, a conclusive opinion was finally issued, stating: “suspected bronchial hyperreactivity/allergy due to air pollution.” 

“We’d grown used to Maciek’s respiratory issues: dry coughing fits, frequent and severe infections. […]. “We hadn’t connected the dots until we noticed that when we took him to the countryside to visit his grandparents, he often needed a doctor within two days. His shortness of breath would worsen, likely because the air quality was even worse in the countryside than in Warsaw.” – said Maciek’s mother. 

Maciek’s experience reflects the struggles of many Polish families living with persistent air pollution in urban and rural areas, especially during the heating season. Children are among the groups most vulnerable to the negative health effects of air pollution. Due to their smaller bodies, they inhale a higher concentration of pollutants than adults, making them particularly susceptible to respiratory impacts. But poor air quality affects adults too. Poland remains one of the most polluted countries in the European Union, with approximately 40,000 people dying prematurely each year due to airborne toxins.  

“We observe negative effects of pollutants starting as early as in utero development, and the long-term consequences include triggering and worsening a range of diseases affecting the respiratory, circulatory, and nervous systems,” says allergist Dr. Małgorzata Bulanda, co-author of HEAL’s report on the health impacts of air pollution (available in Polish).  

On September 13, 2023, Members of the European Parliament voted on an update to the EU’s air quality standards as a part of the Ambient Air Quality Directive (AAQD). Maciek’s mother was one of those who urged the EU lawmakers to protect our health by adopting more ambitious air quality standards in an open letter. The excerpts from the note, accompanied by a comic-style illustration from Maciek, were shared in the EP plenary debate.  

The revised Ambient Air Quality Directive was just published in the EU Official Journal and will enter into force in December 2024. In addition to strengthened legal requirements, continued awareness raising about the health impacts of smog with the health sector and implementing a systemic approach for healthcare professionals is also necessary. 

“The impact of air pollution on human health should be incorporated into medical school curricula, so that doctors can make accurate diagnoses in cases like Maciek’s, enabling protective actions and improving patient health,” notes Weronika Michalak, Director of HEAL Poland. “Currently, these issues receive very little attention, resulting in very low awareness of the health effects of smog,” she adds. 

HEAL has long advocated for stricter air quality standards and now appeals for the swift implementation of the AAQD in Poland and the other EU countries, stressing that for children like Maciek, clean air is not a luxury – it’s a necessity for a healthy life. 

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HEAL has created an animation based on Maciek’s story, click here to learn more. 

You can also access the #DzieciPrzedeWszystkim campaign page, where HEAL Polska shares its work to raise awareness among policymakers, parents, healthcare experts, and society about the health effects of air pollution and ways to effectively protect the youngest [available in Polish].