Air pollution kills thousands: Europe's health at risk!

Air pollution kills thousands: Europe's health at risk!

An alarming report from the European Environment Agency (EEA) shows the serious health consequences of air pollution in Europe. According to the latest data, an estimated 350,000 deaths per year are due to air pollutants, including 239,000 due to particulate matter pollution. An additional 70,000 cases due to ozone and 48,000 due to nitrogen dioxide have also been documented. These figures highlight the urgency of addressing the ongoing health risks posed by poor air quality, which are particularly serious in urban areas Euractiv reported.

The EU Environment Agency stresses that air pollution remains the biggest environmental health risk for the European population. Health problems such as ischemic heart disease, strokes and respiratory diseases lead to high rates of premature deaths. Countries such as Italy, Greece and Poland are particularly affected, where PM2.5 levels are alarmingly high. Despite a positive trend – mortality associated with particulate matter has fallen by 45 percent since 2005 – air quality remains dangerously poor. The EEA therefore urgently calls for stricter implementation of the new air quality guidelines, which came into force on December 10th, as World reported.

The new EU regulations aim to regulate concentrations of pollutants such as particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide. However, critics express concerns that these measures are not far-reaching enough to adequately protect citizens' health. Experts warn that despite these legal regulations, many people continue to suffer from the consequences of air pollution, leading to preventable illnesses and premature deaths. The implementation of these guidelines is therefore crucial to sustainably improve air quality.