The latest analysis of the impact of air quality on human health by the European Environment Agency (EEA) states that at least 239.000 deaths can be attributed to exposure to fine particles in the air, reports Euronews.
As the EEA points out, based on figures for 2022, 70.000 deaths are attributable to ozone pollution and 48.000 to nitrogen dioxide pollution.

The latest data also confirms once again that Europeans are exposed to concentrations of air pollutants significantly above the recommended levels of the World Health Organization (WHO), the EEA said in a statement.

– Although stricter EU air quality rules have been put in place, too many people across Europe, especially those in cities, are still adversely affected by poor air quality resulting in diseases and premature deaths that are largely preventable through reducing the levels of these pollutants in the environment, said EEA director Leena Ila-Mononen.

The EEA report also states that between 2005 and 2022, the number of deaths in the EU attributable to fine particles has decreased by 45 percent.

The publication of the data on the impact of air quality on human health coincided with the implementation of the new EU directive for compliance with WHO standards.