Just under 240,000 deaths per year in the European Union can be attributed to exposure to fine particulate matter, a major air pollutant, according to the latest health impact assessment of EU air quality. European Environment Agency (EEA), published today as new EU rules come into force. . The latest data also confirms, once again, that Europeans remain exposed to concentrations of air pollutants significantly higher than levels recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). A separate assessment also found that almost three-quarters of Europe’s ecosystems are exposed to harmful levels of air pollution.
Despite the challenges of reducing our exposure to air pollutants, the data supports a trend where the estimated health impact caused by long-term emissions exposure to three main air pollutants (fine particles, nitrogen dioxide and ozone) improvesaccording to the EEA briefing “Damage to human health caused by air pollution in Europe: state of the disease burden in 2024‘.
Between 2005 and 2022, the number of deaths in the EU attributable to fine particles or PM2.5 fell by 45%remaining on track to meet the 55% reduction target set out in the EU’s Zero Pollution Action Plan for 2030.
It is good news for all the citizens we have Stricter European rules on air quality in place today, but still too many people in Europe, particularly those living in cities, are negatively affected by poor air quality, leading to illness and premature death, which are largely avoidable by reducing the levels of these pollutants in the environment. Air pollution also has broader negative impacts, harming the health of our ecosystems, making it even more important to increase efforts to clean our air.
New European air quality rules are in place
THE revised directive on ambient air qualitywhich entered into force today, brings EU air quality limit values closer to WHO standards, supporting further reductions in the health impacts of air pollution in the years to come . However, aair pollution remains the main environmental risk for the health of Europeans (followed by other factors such as exposure to noise, chemicals and the increasing health effects of climate-related heat waves), causing chronic diseases and attributable deaths, particularly in cities and areas urban.
According to the latest EEA estimates, at least 239,000 deaths in the EU in 2022 were attributable to exposure to fine particles (PM2.5) pollution higher than the WHO recommended concentration of 5 µg/m3. 70,000 deaths are attributable to exposure to ozone (O3) pollution and 48,000 deaths due to exposure to nitrogen dioxide (NO2) pollution.
These attributable deaths could have been avoided respecting the WHO guiding values in 2022. Key information for each country is included in a separate document. annex to this press releaseincluding information on health and ecosystem impacts at the national level.
In addition to premature deaths, the impacts of living with illnesses linked to air pollution are significant. It is essential that these impacts are taken into account when assessing the overall health burden of air pollution, as well as the benefits that would flow from cleaner air in Europe, says the EU briefing paper. AEE.
The impact of air pollution on nature
Air pollution also has a negative impact on our nature. A separate EEA briefingImpacts of air pollution on ecosystems in Europe“, examines how vegetation is exposed to major air pollutants and how this translates into agricultural yields and economic losses.
The EEA briefing revealed that nitrogen air, which settles on ecosystems, increases nutrient loading (eutrophication), leading to changes in ecosystem structure and function (changes in the plant species that can grow in an area). Notably, 73% of EU ecosystems were above critical loads for eutrophication in 2022.
THE zero pollution action plan includes the goal of reducing the area of ecosystems where nitrogen deposition exceeds critical loads by 25% by 2030 compared to 2005 levels. This goal is currently unlikely to be met, as it has declined by 13% between 2005 and 2022.
Also, about a third of European agricultural land were exposed to tropospheric ozone concentrations above the threshold value set for the protection of vegetation under EU rules. This resulted in crop damage, reduced yields and economic losses estimated at at least €2 billion. Ozone damages forests and plants by reducing growth rates, decreasing yields and affecting biodiversity. In 2022, 62% of the total forest area in the 32 EEA member countries has exceeded the critical levels set to protect forests from ozone. Significant reduction in sulfur dioxide emissions (SO2) in recent decades have mainly addressed the problem of acidification.
Background
EEA briefings: ‘Damage to human health caused by air pollution in Europe: state of the disease burden in 2024‘ and the ‘Impacts of air pollution on ecosystems in Europe“, are part of the EEA program air quality in Europe 2024 pack.
The EEA estimates the number of deaths attributable to exposure to air pollution since 2014. The EEA uses recommendations on health impacts set out in the 2021 WHO air quality guidelines. As in previous years, the health impacts of different air pollutants should not be added to avoid double counting due to certain data overlaps. This is the case with mortality as with illness.
In addition to these two briefings, updated air pollution fact sheets were also published for each country. These factsheets provide a summary of key data related to air pollution emissions and air quality, including pollution trends over time and health impacts related to pollution impacts in each country.
THE Revised Air Quality Directive, Directive (EU) 2024/2881enters into force today, December 10, 2024, after its adoption on October 23, 2024. The directive introduces new air quality standards to be achieved in 2030 which are more aligned with WHO recommendations and an obligation to monitor additional pollutants such as ultrafine particles, black carbon and ammonia.
Additional information on the revised directive can be found in the information and the video by the European Commission.