OVER 10% OF PREMATURE DEATHS DUE TO AIR POLLUTION IN EU

Sun 11 December 2022:

Over 10% of premature deaths in countries of the European Union are connected with environmental pollution, though significant differences are seen among EU states, the European Commission said on Thursday.

According to the EEA analysis, air pollution continues to pose significant risks to health in Europe, causing chronic illness and premature deaths. In 2020, 96% of the EU’s urban population was exposed to concentrations of fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) above the WHO guideline level of 5 microgrammes per cubic metre (µg/m³) of air. Air pollution also harms biodiversity and damages agricultural crops and forests, causing major economic losses.

“Current pollution levels are still far too high: over 10% of premature deaths in the EU each year are still related to environmental pollution,” the statement read.

The reasons for this are increasing levels of air and noise pollution and exposure to chemicals, though the situation differs depending on a country or part of the EU, the commission said.

“The pollution similarly damages biodiversity. There are significant differences between Member States, with premature deaths levels around 5-6% in the North and 12-14% in the South and East of Europe,” the commission said.

Earlier in the day, the commission presented its first Zero Pollution Monitoring and Outlook Report analyzing current levels of pollution across the EU and providing recommendations to the bloc regarding further steps to curb pollution and mitigate its negative impact on people’s health.

The report noted that although levels of air pollution and pollution from pesticides had decreased, there was still much work to be done in terms of reducing harmful noise, nutrient pollution or municipal waste generation so as to achieve ambitious pollution goals the EU set for 2030.

EU Green Deal

The European Green Deal aims to improve air quality and to align EU air quality standards more closely with the updated WHO air quality guidelines. The EU zero pollution action plan sets a vision for 2050 to reduce air, water and soil pollution to levels no longer considered harmful to health and natural ecosystems.

In October 2022, the European Commission proposed a revision of the Ambient Air Quality Directive, which includes stricter thresholds for pollution, enhanced right to clean air – including potential provisions for citizens to claim compensation for health damage due to air pollution – strengthened rules for air quality monitoring, and better public information.

SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES

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