Published : 25 Oct 2013
- Around 90 % of city dwellers in the European
Union (EU) are exposed to one of the most
damaging air pollutants at levels deemed
harmful to health by the World Health Organisation
(WHO). This result comes from the latest
assessment of air quality in Europe, published
by the European Environment Agency (EEA).
Large parts of the population
do not live in a healthy environment, according
to current standards. To get on to a sustainable
path, Europe will have to be ambitious and
go beyond current legislation.
Hans Bruyninckx, EEA
Executive Director
The report, 'Air quality
in Europe – 2013 report', is an EEA contribution
to the European Commission's review of air
quality policy and the EU 'Year of Air'.
Vehicles, industry,
agriculture and homes are contributing to
air pollution in Europe. Despite falling
emission levels and reductions of some air
pollutant concentrations in recent decades,
the report demonstrates that Europe's air
pollution problem is far from solved. Two
specific pollutants, particulate matter
and ground-level ozone, continue to be a
source breathing problems, cardiovascular
disease and shortened lives. New scientific
findings show that human health can be harmed
by lower concentrations of air pollution
than previously thought.
Hans Bruyninckx, EEA
Executive Director, said: “Air pollution
is causing damage to human health and ecosystems.
Large parts of the population do not live
in a healthy environment, according to current
standards. To get on to a sustainable path,
Europe will have to be ambitious and go
beyond current legislation.”
Environment Commissioner
Janez Potocnik added: “Air quality is a
central concern for many people. Surveys
show that a large majority of citizens understand
well the impact of air quality on health
and are asking public authorities to take
action at EU, national and local levels,
even in times of austerity and hardship.
I am ready to respond to these concerns
through the Commission's upcoming Air Policy
Review.”
Between 2009 and 2011,
up to 96 % of city dwellers were exposed
to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) concentrations
above WHO guidelines and up to 98 % were
exposed to ozone (O3) levels above WHO guidelines.
Lower proportions of EU citizens were exposed
to levels of these pollutants exceeding
the limits or targets set out in EU legislation.
These EU limits or targets are in certain
cases less strict than WHO guidelines. See
EEA data on EU exposure in 2011.
It is not just cities
- some rural areas also have significant
levels of air pollution, the report notes.
National differences across Europe are presented
in a series of country fact-sheets accompanying
the main findings.
There have been several
success stories in cutting emissions of
air pollutants – for example sulphur dioxide
emissions from power plants, industry and
transport have been reduced over the last
decade, reducing exposure. Phasing out leaded
petrol has also reduced concentrations of
lead, found to affect neurological development.
Eutrophication
Alongside health concerns,
the report also highlights environmental
problems such as eutrophication, which is
when excessive nutrient nitrogen damages
ecosystems, threatening biodiversity. Eutrophication
is still a widespread problem that affects
most European ecosystems.
Emissions of some nitrogen-containing
pollutants have decreased, for example emissions
of nitrogen oxides and ammonia have fallen
by 27 % and 7 % respectively since 2002.
However, emissions were not reduced as much
as anticipated, with eight EU Member States
breaching legal ceilings a year after the
deadline for compliance. To address eutrophication,
further measures are needed to reduce emissions
of nitrogen.
