Particulate air pollution has caused 238.000 premature deaths in the European Union in 2020, a report by the European Environment Agency (EEA) released today highlights, a number slightly up year-on-year due to the pandemic of the new coronavirus.
"Exposure to microparticle concentrations higher than World Health Organization recommendations led to 238,000 premature deaths" across the EU, the European Environment Agency says in its new report.
This isa slight increase compared to 2019, when microparticles, which penetrate deep into the lungs, led to the premature deaths of around 231,000 people.
This increase contrasts with a steady downward trend over the last 20 years, a 45% overall decline in deaths between 2005 and 2020, although the number remains "high", the report notes.
The increase is explained mainly by the fact that COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus, hits people with air pollution-related comorbidities (suffering from cancers, lung disease, or type 2 diabetes) harder.
Moreover, "if we compare 2020 with 2019, the number of premature deaths that could be attributed to air pollution increased due to (microparticles) PM2.5 but decreased due to NO2 (nitrogen dioxide) and O3 (ozone)," the EEA explains in its report.
In terms of ozone particles, especially those emitted by road transport and industrial activities, the trend in 2020 was downwards, with over 24,000 deaths (-3% in one year).
[/P][BRI][BRI]For nitrogen dioxide, a gas produced mainly by vehicles and power plants burning fossil fuels, 49 deaths were recorded.000 premature deaths (-22% in one year), partly explained by a reduction in road traffic during the pandemic.
The EEA, based in Copenhagen, does not add these figures to avoid double counting, it says.
Based on its annual report, the EU is on track to meet its target to reduce premature deaths by more than 50% in 2030 compared with 2005.
In the 1990s, microparticles caused nearly a million premature deaths a year in the 27 EU member states. In 2005, an estimated 431,000 people died.
Air pollution continues to be identified as the main environmental threat to the health of Europeans.
Source: CNA
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