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ERS 2024 Hot Topic: Urbanization and Respiratory Health

The Greenness, Air Pollution, and Health (GAP) research group helped organised a significant hot topic session at the European Respiratory Society Congress (ERS) 2024 in Vienna, emphasizing the transformative potential of urban environments for respiratory health.

Panel discussion on Hot Topic at ERS: Overcoming the challenges of increasing urbanization for respiratory health
Panel discussion at the European Respiratory Society (ERS) Congress 2024
Photo:
Shanshan Xu

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During the ERS Congress 2024, Professor Ane Johannessen co-chaired the hot topic session "Overcoming the challenges of increasing urbanisation for respiratory health" alongside other renowned experts on 9 September 2024. The session focused on how adaptations in urban spaces could significantly improve respiratory health by positively mitigating risk factors and environmental exposures. 

During the session, researchers from the GAP research group, Alessandro Marcon and Randi Jacobsen Bertelsen, presented their work. Marcon presented "Greenness and innovative strategies for the advancement of urban respiratory health," while Bertelsen discussed "Consequences of climatic conditions on the urban indoor microbiome and resistome exposure."

The discussions underscored the necessity of strategic lifestyle changes and targeted environmental management starting from pre-puberty, shaping a global agenda for healthier urban living. This engaging session was well-received and featured in the Medical Digest's congress report. Professor Johannessen and associate Professor Alessandro Marcon, provided further insights during interviews at the congress.

For more information, visit the Medical Digest interviews: