This month marks 30 years since the publication of research that completely changed our knowledge of the harm from air pollution. Known as the Harvard Six Cities study, its impact still resonates in public health actions including London’s ultra-low emission zone and the tightening of EU air pollution laws.
Prof Dan Greenbaum, a former president of the US Health Effects Institute, said: “In the wake of the serious air pollution incidents of the 50s, 60s and 70s, many people thought we had solved the problem. But then the Six Cities study came along and found strong relationships between air pollution and mortality at much lower levels.”
