Most people living in European cities are exposed to poor air quality – new report

According to a new European Environment Agency report, most people living in European cities are exposed to levels of air pollution that are harmful to their health.

Air quality in Europe – 2017 report presents air pollution levels collected at over 2,500 monitoring sites throughout Europe in 2015.

While the report shows a slow overall trend towards improvement, the figures highlight the need for more action – both at the policy and technological levels.

In particular, the report presents some concerning statistics about particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5). PM2.5 is a common type of air pollutant emitted by diesel vehicles and the burning of fuels that can have a range of negative effects on health, and especially the lungs.

The report showed that 82% of people living in European cities are exposed to higher levels of PM2.5 that deemed acceptable for health by the World Health Organization. It also highlights that exposure to PM2.5 was responsible for 428,000 early preventable deaths in Europe in 2014.

Access the full report.

Visit the Healthy Lungs for Life website to find out more about air pollution and lung health.