240,000 EU Deaths Linked to Air Pollution; New Rules Enforced

Karmactive Staff

Photo Source: Pixabay

The European Environment Agency (EEA) estimated that nearly 240,000 deaths in the EU each year are caused by fine particulate matter, as the agency's new health impact assessment has indicated.

In 2022, 70,000 deaths were attributed to ozone pollution and 48,000 to nitrogen dioxide, all of which might have been prevented if EU member states had met WHO standards.

Photo Source: RawPixel

Photo Source: RawPixel

The report indicates that 73% of EU ecosystems experienced critical nitrogen deposition in 2022, thus not meeting the EU's zero pollution target for 2030.

Ground-level ozone harmed one-third of EU agricultural land in 2022, with estimated crop losses of €2 billion.

Photo Source: NASA (CC BY 2.0)

Photo Source: Veeterzy (Pexels)

More than 62% of forests in 32 EEA member states exceeded critical ozone thresholds for protection.

The updated EU air quality directive seeks the WHO standards by 2030, which includes monitoring of ultrafine particles, black carbon, and ammonia.

Photo Source: Byrev (Pixabay)

Photo Source: Frans van Heerden (Pexels)

Air pollution remains a top environmental health risk in Europe, causing illness and premature deaths.

Sulphur dioxide emissions cuts are mainly responsible for acidification, but stiffer air quality rules will also provide further health impact reduction.

Photo Source: Brocken Inaglory (CC BY-SA 4.0)

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