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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.
Sweden has high concentrations of particles in some hotspots, but background concentrations are low. EU regulations on environment, fuel and vehicle standards have helped reduce concentrations, which resulted in a clear downward trend between 2005 and 2022. Traffic intensity and the use of studded tyres remain key sources of pollution.
Recent research has shown that negative health effects occur at lower concentrations and that the concentration-response functions are higher at lower concentrations than previously assumed. The European Environment Agency (EEA) estimates the premature deaths caused by particulate matter with a diameter of 2.5 μm or less using the World Health Organization (WHO) guideline as the counterfactual concentration, while Swedish estimates are closer to those in other EEA scenarios. Although the Swedish estimate is higher, Sweden is still estimated to meet the EU target. Modelling predicts that one third of the population in Sweden in year 2030 will be exposed to concentrations exceeding the WHO guidelines.
Measures to reduce transboundary particles and particles from traffic and, locally, wood burning are needed. Increased electrification and the industry’s climate transition should reduce particle concentrations, although this change might be after 2030. The need to increase the resilience of the energy supply could increase emissions from biofuels if purification and energy efficiency measures are not taken.
References and footnotes
- ↵Gustafsson, M., Lindén, J., Forsberg, B., Åström, S. and Johansson, E., Quantification of population exposure to NO2, PM10 and PM2.5, and estimated health impacts 2019, IVL Svenska Miljöinstitutet, Stockholm, 2022, accessed 30 June 2025, https://www.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:1691636/FULLTEXT02.pdf
- ↵Soares, J., González Ortiz, A., Gsella, A., Horálek, J., Plass, D. et al., ETC HE Report 2022/10: Health risk assessment of air pollution and the impact of the new WHO guidelines, European Topic Centre on Human Health and the Environment, 2022, accessed 30 June 2025, https://www.eionet.europa.eu/etcs/etc-he/products/etc-he-products/etc-he-reports/etc-he-report-2022-10-health-risk-assessment-of-air-pollution-and-the-impact-of-the-new-who-guidelines
- ↵EEA, ‘Air quality in Europe 2022 – Health impacts of air pollution in Europe, 2022 Table 2’, EEA website, 26 January 2023, accessed 30 June 2025, https://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/air-quality-in-europe-2022/health-impacts-of-air-pollution-table2
- ↵EEA, ‘Premature deaths attributable to exposure to PM2.5 at country level in 2005 and 2021’, EEA website, 20 September 2024 (created 24 November 2023), accessed 30 June 2025, https://www.eea.europa.eu/data-and-maps/daviz/number-of-deaths-per-100#tab-chart_1
- ↵Alpfjord Wylde, H., Asker, C., Bennet, C., Forsberg, B. and Segersson, D., ‘Quantification of population exposure to PM10, PM2.5 and NO2 and estimated health impacts for 2019 and 2030’, Report Meteorology and Climatology, No 119, Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute, Norrköping, 2023, accessed 30 June 2025, https://www.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:1735710/FULLTEXT01.pdf
- ↵IVL Svenska Miljöinstitutet, Quantification of population exposure to NO2, PM10 and PM2.5, and estimated health impacts 2019 (ivl.se), https://www.ivl.se/download/18.77932582182575f4af3ff14/1677232852333/2446.pdf
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