Air pollution responsible for over 400,000 deaths in Europe

According to the latest report by the European Environment Agency (EEA), European citizens are exposed to concentrations of harmful substances in the air that far exceed the recommended values set by the World Health Organization (WHO). The pollutants not only pose a threat to human health but also have a significant impact on the environment, harming biodiversity and reducing agricultural yields.

The European Environment Agency published the report Harm to human health from air pollution in Europe: burden of disease status 2024. EEA’s data for 2022 shows that Europeans are exposed to air pollution levels significantly above WHO’s recommended thresholds.

However, the report confirms a downward trend in the estimated health impacts caused by long-term exposure to key air pollutants: particulate matter of the PM2.5 type, nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and ozone (O3).

Between 2005 and 2022, deaths in the European Union attributed to PM2.5, also known as suspended particles or microscopic dust, decreased by 45%, remaining on track to achieve the EU’s 2030 Zero Pollution Action Plan target of a 55% reduction.

Nonetheless, the numbers remain staggering. Exposure to PM2.5 concentrations exceeding the WHO’s recommended threshold of five micrograms per cubic meter were responsible for 269,000 deaths across 40 European countries covered by the report. In the EU alone, the figure was 239,000.

In 41 countries, exposure to ozone concentrations above the WHO’s recommended level of 60 micrograms per cubic meter caused 81,000 deaths, while nitrogen dioxide exposure above 10 micrograms was linked to 66,000 deaths. Among EU countries alone, ozone-related deaths totaled 70,000, and nitrogen dioxide-related deaths reached 48,000.

Across Europe, air pollution contributed to 416,000 premature deaths in total.

Southeastern Europe has most harmful air

The highest number of PM2.5-related deaths in 2022 occurred in Italy, Poland, and Germany. However, the greatest relative impact, expressed in years of life lost (YLL) per 100,000 inhabitants over 30 years, was recorded in Southeastern European countries. YLL is an estimate of the average additional years people statistically would have lived had they not died prematurely.

Residents of North Macedonia, Kosovo*, and Bosnia and Herzegovina suffered the most years of life lost. Within EU countries, Bulgaria ranked highest, followed by Poland and Romania.

Conversely, the lowest relative impacts were observed in northern and northwestern European countries.

Turkey, Italy, and Germany recorded the highest number of deaths attributable to NO2. When considering relative impacts, measured in years of life lost, Turkey ranked highest, followed by Cyprus, Serbia, Bulgaria, and Romania.

Germany, Italy, and France had the most deaths linked to ozone exposure. However, the greatest number of years of life lost per 100,000 inhabitants over 25 years was recorded in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Kosovo*, Croatia, and Hungary. The countries with the lowest relative impacts were Ireland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Denmark.

Turkey, BiH show smallest decrease in death rates from PM2.5 in Southeastern Europe

In 2022, particulate matter caused an estimated 27,210 premature deaths in the Western Balkans. Serbia recorded the highest number (10,800), followed by Bosnia and Herzegovina (6,200).

Although significant progress is evident overall since 2005, with PM2.5-related death rates declining by 40% in Serbia, 45% in North Macedonia, 38% in Montenegro, 54% in Albania, and 33% in Kosovo*, Bosnia and Herzegovina saw only a 17% reduction. In comparison, the level dropped 45% in the EU.

In Southeastern Europe as a whole, Romania recorded the highest number of premature PM2.5-related deaths (17,900), followed by Turkey (13,900), while Serbia is closely trailed by Greece (10,700). Regarding reductions in mortality rates per 100,000 inhabitants between 2005 and 2022, Turkey showed the weakest progress, 6%, while Romania led with a 59% reduction, followed by Cyprus, 56%.

Health impacts of air pollution

In the evaluation of the overall health burden of air pollution, the EEA highlighted diseases caused by pollution in addition to premature deaths and the potential benefits of cleaner air.

PM2.5 has the most significant health impact, contributing to ischemic heart disease, stroke, diabetes mellitus, lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and childhood asthma. For NO2, the greatest adverse health effects are linked to diabetes mellitus, stroke, and adult asthma. Ozone exposure accounts for 8,400 deaths due to COPD, the only disease considered in the category.

On December 10, the revised EU Ambient Air Quality Directive (AAQD) came into force

On December 10, the revised EU Ambient Air Quality Directive (AAQD) came into force. Adopted by the EU Council in October, the legislation sets stricter limits and target values to be achieved by 2030.

“It is good news for all citizens that we have stricter EU air quality rules in place as of today, but still too many people across Europe, especially those in cities are negatively affected by poor air quality resulting in illness and premature deaths, which are largely preventable through reducing the levels of these pollutants in the environment”, said EEA Executive Director Leena Ylä-Mononen.

Environmental impacts of air pollution

Air pollution significantly impacts nature and ecosystems. According to the EEA report Impacts of air pollution on ecosystems in Europe, key pollutants affect crop yields, forest resources, and biodiversity, causing substantial economic losses.

Nitrogen deposition disrupts ecosystem structure and function, leading to processes like eutrophication in aquatic ecosystems. Excessive nitrogen causes “water blooms,” promoting algal overgrowth that harms aquatic life. In sensitive terrestrial ecosystems such as grasslands, high nitrogen levels threaten sensitive species, allowing species that benefit from high nitrogen to dominate and create ecological imbalances.

In 2022, 73% of EU ecosystems were exposed to nitrogen levels exceeding critical thresholds. The EU aims to reduce nitrogen deposition across ecosystems by 25% from 2005 levels by 2030, though achieving the goal remains uncertain.

Ozone reduces crop yields

Approximately one third of Europe’s agricultural land was exposed to ozone levels above the EU threshold for protecting vegetation. Ozone reduces the growth rate and yield of crops, negatively affecting biodiversity and causing economic losses.

In 2022, ozone’s impact on wheat and potato yields resulted in estimated economic losses of EUR 1.3 billion for wheat and EUR 680 million for potatoes. Additionally, 62% of forested areas across 32 EEA member countries exceeded ozone thresholds harmful to forest ecosystems.