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Environmental information systems
The indicator shows the number of annual premature deaths attributable to exposure to fine particulate matter (PM₂.₅) and the related zero-pollution action plan objective for 2030. Premature deaths are derived from a health risk assessment approach based on World Health Organization Europe recommendations measuring the general impact of air pollution across a given population.
Figure 10 shows that the rate of premature deaths due to exposure to particulate matter with a diameter of 2.5 μm or less (PM2.5), also known as fine particulate matter, in the Netherlands more than halved, . The concentration of PM2.5 also . At the same time, medical costs due to air pollution, allergies and ultraviolet B radiation .
The Dutch government wants to improve air quality, and thus public health. To this end, (4), which was signed by more than 100 municipalities and all provinces. The agreement includes a commitment to reduce the health effects of air pollution from Dutch sources by 50% by 2030 compared with 2016. According to calculations by the Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), the implementation of all these plans will decrease the health effects of air pollution by 46% by 2030. Health gains of 50% are possible if the effects of additional measures to combat climate change and nitrogen deposition are also taken into account. A health gain of 50% would translate to a mean increase in life expectancy of .
References and footnotes
- ↵European Environment Agency, ‘Burden of disease of air pollution (countries & NUTS)’, DiscoMap, accessed 30 June 2025, https://discomap.eea.europa.eu/App/AQViewer/index.html?fqn=Airquality_Dissem.ebd.countries_and_nuts&ScenarioDescription=Baseline.
- ↵Environmental Data Compendium, ‘Fijnere fractie van fijn stof (PM2,5) in lucht, 2009–2023’, indicator 0532, version 09, 10 July 2024, accessed 30 June 2025, https://www.clo.nl/indicatoren/nl053209-fijnere-fractie-van-fijn-stof-pm25-in-lucht-2009-2023; Statistics Netherlands, The Hague; Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency, The Hague; and National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, and Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen.
- ↵National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Monitoringsrapportage – Doelbereik Schone Lucht Akkoord: Tweede voortgangsmeting, Bilthoven, 2024, accessed 30 June 2025, https://www.rivm.nl/bibliotheek/rapporten/2023-0383.pdf.
- a bMinistry of Infrastructure and Water Management, ‘Schone lucht akkoord’, The Hague, 2020, accessed 30 June 2025, https://www.rijksoverheid.nl/documenten/convenanten/2020/01/13/bijlage-1-schone-lucht-akkoord.