Exhaust gases are blamed for air pollution, including ozone and nitrogen dioxide (Ludovic MARIN)PHOTO
Ludovic MARIN/AFP/AFP
By AFP - Agence France Presse
Fine particle pollution is responsible for almost 240,000 deaths in the EU by 2022
Fine particulate air pollution killed almost 240,000 people in the European Union in 2022, a drop of 5% from the previous year, the European Environment Agency said in a report published on Tuesday.
The agency estimated that there were “at least 239,000” deaths attributable to exposure to above-recommended levels of PM2.5, the smallest particulate matter that can be inhaled and the most dangerous for human health.
The number of deaths was highest in Italy, Poland and Germany.
Across the continent, the number has decreased compared to 2021, when particulate matter, which can penetrate deep into the lungs, caused the premature death of 253,000 people.
Overall, the agency said that the estimated health impact of long-term exposure to the three main air pollutants - fine particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide, and ozone - was improving.
Between 2005 and 2022, the number of deaths attributable to PM2.5 fell by 45%, keeping the continent on target to reduce these deaths by 55% by 2030.
The report states that there were 70,000 deaths attributable to exposure to ozone (O3) pollution, mainly due to road traffic and industrial activity.
There were 48,000 premature deaths attributable to nitrogen dioxide (NO2), mainly from vehicles and thermal power plants.
The agency does not add up the figures, as it believes this would cause some deaths to be counted twice, but emphasizes that air pollution remains the biggest environmental threat to the health of Europeans.
cbw/ef/pbo/phz/js
Comments