Press room

Air quality and health: (Transcription of audio on video) Europe loses 200 million working days a year to air pollution-related illness. The air pollutants that affect the respiratory system are ozone, nitrogen oxides, sulphur dioxide, and particulate matter. The breathing in of fine particulate matter significantly increases the numbers of deaths from cardiovascular and cardiopulmonary diseases. Over a third of particulate matter comes from domestic wood stoves, another third from industrial sources, and the remainder from transport and agriculture. Ground level ozone, one of the components of smog and produced through vehicle exhaust and industrial emissions, also has severe implications for respiratory health. The European Commission Clean Air for Europe programme found that in the year 2000 around 350,000 people were dying prematurely due to outdoor pollution of fine particulate matter alone. Although levels of particulate matter and ozone have both been reducing in recent decades, estimates indicate that 20 million Europeans suffer from respiratory problems. Source: The European environment - State and outlook 2005
Located in Environmental topics › Environment and health › Multimedia
Industrial air pollution cost Europe up to €169 billion in 2009, EEA reveals: Air pollution from the 10,000 largest polluting facilities in Europe cost citizens between € 102 and 169 billion in 2009. This was one of the findings of a new report from the European Environment Agency (EEA) which analysed the costs of harm to health and the environment caused by air pollution. Half of the total damage cost (between € 51 and 85 billion) was caused by just 191 facilities.
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Air pollution - State and impacts (Germany): SOER Common environmental theme from Germany
Located in The European environment – state and outlook 2010 › Country assessments › Germany
National and regional story (Germany) - The way toward unifying environmental protection: SOER National and regional story from Germany
Located in The European environment – state and outlook 2010 › Country assessments › Germany
Air pollution - State and impacts (Poland): SOER Common environmental theme from Poland
Located in The European environment – state and outlook 2010 › Country assessments › Poland
Contribution of different sectors (energy and non-energy) to total emissions of PM10 and PM2.5, 2008, EEA-32: The graph includes the combined emissions of primary PM10 particles (particulate matter with a diameter of 10 μm or less, emitted directly into the atmosphere).
Located in Data and maps › Maps and graphs
Contribution to total change in PM2.5 emissions for each sector 1990-2008 (EEA member countries): The contribution made by each sector to the total change in primary PM2.5 particulate matter emissions between 1990 and 2008.
Located in Data and maps › Maps and graphs
Emissions of primary PM2.5 and PM10 particulate matter (EEA member countries): This chart shows past emission trends of primary PM2.5 and PM10 particulate matter, 1990-2008.
Located in Data and maps › Maps and graphs
Particulate matter (PM10) 2009. Annual limit value for the protection of human health: In the air quality directive (2008/EC/50), the EU has set two limit values for particulate matter (PM10) for the protection of human health: the PM10 daily mean value may not exceed 50 micrograms per cubic metre (µg/m3) more than 35 times in a year and the PM10 annual mean value may not exceed 40 micrograms per cubic metre (µg/m3). In some areas time extensions have been granted by DG Environment for meeting these limit values. Information about time extensions is provided by DG Environment at: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/air/quality/legislation/time_extensions.htm
Located in Data and maps › Maps and graphs
Particulate matter (PM10) 2010 - Annual limit value for the protection of human health: In the air quality directive (2008/EC/50), the EU has set two limit values for particulate matter (PM10) for the protection of human health: the PM10 daily mean value may not exceed 50 micrograms per cubic metre (µg/m3) more than 35 times in a year and the PM10 annual mean value may not exceed 40 micrograms per cubic metre (µg/m3). In some areas time extensions have been granted by DG Environment for meeting these limit values. Information about time extensions is provided by DG Environment at: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/air/quality/legislation/time_extensions.htm
Located in Data and maps › Maps and graphs