Health impacts of air pollution

As shown in the graph, there is a positive trend in the reduction of air-pollution-related health impacts in Finland. Finland’s air quality is very good, and premature deaths remain below the EU average. Air pollution is estimated to cause approximately 2 000 premature deaths and the loss of about 20 000 healthy life-years annually in Finland. High year-to-year variability in estimates is, however, common. This is due to calculating health impacts only for concentrations above the World Health Organization air quality guidelines, as levels for particulate matter with a diameter of 2.5 μm or less (PM_2.5), also known as fine particulate matter, in Finland are close to 5 µg/m³.

Both emission sources and exposed populations are concentrated in urban areas. Problems arise especially during winter cold spells due to wood heating in small houses, and in spring from road de-icing creating particulate matter. Fine particulate matter is the biggest cause of health problems, with the most significant source being wood burning. Emissions from large industrial facilities have been effectively reduced and directed away from breathing heights. Hearths, commonly found in houses, saunas and summer cabins, are responsible for over half of fine particulate emissions. Together with particle emissions from traffic, these emissions are difficult to reduce and require changes in both technologies and human behaviour.