Public health impact of large airports

Civil aviation represents a growing industry and most economists expect this growth to continue. It is developing into a truly global industry, with a few conglomerates of airlines serving a world-wide network of large ’hub’ airports. In 1997 the scheduled airlines carried 1,5 billion passengers and 26 million tons of freight.

The economic gains of the aviation industry and the possibility of reaching far away locations may be beneficial for health and quality of life, probably mainly so for affluent populations in the industrialised parts of the world. However, aviation affects the environment both globally and locally in a negative sense and consequently has also negative impacts on health.