Air pollution: 238,000 early deaths in the EU
New data on air quality comes out of the European Environment Agency and makes us wonder about the health consequences of pollution. Much remains to be done under the EU's climate plans to put an end to pollution.
In Europe, as on many other continents, air pollution continues to pose a significant health risk. This was also confirmed by the European Environment Agency (EEA), which published its full assessment "Air Quality in Europe 2022". This is an analysis that examines and assesses the state of air quality and its impact on human health and the environment, while identifying sources of emissions.
According to the current report, at least 238,000 people in the European Union died prematurely in 2020 due to concentrations of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) - which exceeded the WHO guideline value of 5 micrograms per cubic metre (µg/m3). Other pollutants were also found to be the cause of chronic diseases and the resulting premature deaths. Indeed, nitrogen dioxide pollution led to 49,000 early deaths and exposure to ozone led to 24,000 early deaths. Pretty high numbers that are not limited to individual population groups, but affect 96% of the urban population, according to the EEA. This is because they are more exposed to air pollution than those who live far from dense road traffic or industrial areas, for example.
While the situation presented in the report is critical, it nevertheless represents an improvement over previous years. By 45%, the number of early deaths from PM2.5 exposure in the EU had fallen in the period from 2005 to 2020, according to the agency's calculations. "If this trend continues, the EU is expected to reach the target of the 'Zero Pollution' action plan, namely a 55% reduction in premature deaths by 2030," the EEA said.
However, further efforts remain necessary to achieve the goals of the "Zero Pollution Plan" within the next 8 years - and above all to reduce air pollution to a level that is no longer considered harmful to health. Under this, the EU intends, for example, to improve overall air quality and to bring EU air quality standards more closely into line with the updated WHO air quality guidelines. With this in mind, the European Commission proposed a revision of the Air Quality Directive last October. Among other things, this provides for tighter limit values and an extension of the right to clean air - including possible provisions allowing citizens to claim compensation for damage to health caused by air pollution. The stricter limit values would also entail a change in urban life and environmental zone rules - these would have to be tightened across Europe.
But these are only some of the points of the Union's action plan. The EU and the member states still have a lot to do to create real change for the benefit of their citizens and the environment. Whether their plans and efforts will be enough remains to be seen. What is certain, however, is that a clean, climate-friendly and health-safe environmental situation in the EU is still far on the horizon.