EEA: Air Pollution is a Silent Killer in Europe's Cities

Air pollution is not just an environmental issue: it is a major public health crisis, according to the European Environment Agency's (EEA) most recent report.

The study, which analyses data from the year 2022, presents a sobering picture of the health consequences associated with exposure to key air pollutants in urban environments.

The report finds that, in 2022, 239,000 Europeans died as a result of fine particulate (PM2.5) pollution, 70,000 from Ozone (O3) pollution and 48,000 from nitrogen dioxide (NO2) pollution.

And beyond mortality, air pollution-related illnesses are substantially impacting the quality of life of Europeans. Evaluating these effects is crucial when assessing air pollution's overall health consequences and the potential benefits of improved air quality in Europe.

The burden of disease

The report highlights that, despite improvements in air quality over the past decades, European citizens remain exposed to air pollutant concentrations far above the levels recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

The health impacts of air pollution extend beyond mortality. The report introduces the concept of 'burden of disease', which encompasses both mortality and morbidity.

This approach provides a more comprehensive understanding of how air pollution affects population health, measured in disability-adjusted life years (DALYs).

For instance, while lung cancer and ischaemic heart disease attributable to PM2.5 exposure primarily result in mortality, conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and childhood asthma contribute significantly to years lived with disability.

Urban vulnerability

Urban areas, where a majority of Europeans reside, are particularly vulnerable to air pollution. The concentration of vehicular emissions, industrial activities and energy production in cities creates pollution hotspots that pose heightened risks to residents.

Recent initiatives, such as the expansion of London's Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ), aim to address this issue by reducing traffic-related emissions in densely populated areas. However, experts note that such measures, while important, are just the beginning.

"The decision to expand the ULEZ London-wide was a difficult one, but necessary to save lives, protect children’s lungs and help reduce the risk of Londoners developing asthma, dementia and a host of other health issues," says Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan.

Comprehensive strategies like this are needed to truly tackle this issue, including reimagining urban planning, investing in clean energy, and promoting sustainable transportation options.

The economic implications of air pollution

The EEA report also highlights the economic burden of air pollution. While not quantified in monetary terms, the loss of productive years due to premature death and disability represents a significant cost to society.

In 2022, exposure to PM2.5 above WHO guideline levels resulted in an estimated 2.5 million years of life lost (YLL) across the EU-27.

One of the most sobering, yet perhaps unsurprising truths about air pollution, is the disproportionate impact it has on lower-income communities. 

“Lower-income communities are most impacted by climate change and air pollution but they're not the ones causing it,” says Gaurab Basu, Director of Education and Policy at the Centre for Climate, Health and the Global Environment at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

Often, this is because high polluting facilities like incinerators, energy plants, factories and recycling plants are located in poorer neighbourhoods.

Greenpeace, an environmental NGO, which has been running a campaign into the consequences of plastic incineration in recent months, says that "this makes incineration an issue of race and class justice, as well as environmental harm."

The geography of air pollution

The report reveals stark regional disparities in air pollution impacts.

Eastern European countries, including Bulgaria, Poland and Romania, face the highest relative impacts from PM2.5 exposure, while northern and north-western European nations like Iceland, Finland and Sweden experience lower impacts.

These disparities highlight the need for targeted interventions and support for regions struggling with air quality issues.

Campaigns advocating for cleaner air have gained momentum in recent years, buoyed by increasing public awareness and reports like this one from the EEA.

Grassroots movements and environmental NGOs, such as the Clean Air Fund, the Climate Action Network and ClientEarth, are all pushing for more ambitious air quality targets, greater investment in clean technologies and the stricter enforcement of existing regulations.

“City residents deserve access to clean air. Clean air zones are a proven measure for tackling air pollution and delivering huge health and economic advantages for their citizens," says Jane Burston, CEO of the Clean Air Fund.

"More cities around the world need support to design effective clean air zones that work for their communities, allowing millions more people to breathe the benefits.”

Cleaning up our act

The recently adopted revised Ambient Air Quality Directive (AAQD) sets updated EU legal standards to be attained by 2030, bringing them closer to WHO recommendations. However, even with these new standards, the EEA estimates that exposure to PM2.5 and NO2 above the updated limit values would still result in 92,000 attributable deaths across the EU-27 in 2022.

As cities grapple with the dual challenges of air pollution and climate change, innovative solutions are emerging. Green infrastructure, smart city technologies, and circular economy principles are being integrated into urban planning to create more sustainable and liveable cities.

"Reducing our emissions will not only help combat climate change, but reduce premature deaths, protect ecosystems, boosts crop yields, and ensure a healthier, zero-pollution future for everyone," says the EU's Environment and Climate Department.

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