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3.1 Emissions of pollutants to air

This briefing assesses past trends around and the outlook for air pollution in the EU-27. The assessment is based on the latest available air pollutant emissions data reported under the National Emission reduction Commitments Directive (NECD) . The national air pollutant emission inventories reported annually under the NECD provide data from 2005 to 2023. Projections reported under the same directive and modelling within the Fourth Clean Air Outlook provide an outlook for 2030 and 2050.

3.2 Air pollution and impacts on human health

Air pollution is the largest environmental health risk in Europe. All people in Europe are exposed to air pollution and the scientific evidence of its impact on health is continuously increasing. This briefing covers concentrations of the main air pollutants, with a focus on fine particulate matter (PM 2.5 ), and their impacts on human health. An overview of air pollutant emissions can be found in briefing 3.1 Emissions of pollutants to air ; air pollution's impact on ecosystems in briefing 1.2 Pollution of ecosystems ; and inequalities in human exposure to air pollutants in briefing 3.6 Environmental health inequalities related to air pollution .

3.3 Environmental noise and impacts on human health

Living in an area affected by transport noise is associated with an increased risk of developing a wide range of health issues, including cardiovascular, metabolic and mental health diseases . This briefing evaluates the current status and future outlook of transport noise pollution in Europe and its associated impacts on human health, using data reported by countries under the Environmental Noise Directive (END).

3.4 Water pollution and human health

This briefing evaluates Europe’s progress towards reducing the risks water pollution poses to human health. It uses country data reported under EU legislation and by the Eionet , indicators and reports to assess current status as well as climate change predictions to develop an outlook for the future. It is related to briefing 1.1 State of Europe’s biodiversity and briefing 1.2 Pollution of ecosystems .

3.5 Chemical pollution and human health

People are exposed to complex mixtures of chemicals in their daily lives by consuming contaminated food and drinking water, breathing in polluted air and dust and using consumer goods. Human exposure to hazardous chemicals is linked to a wide range of health impacts, amongst others skin sensitization, reproductive toxicity, neurological disorders, endocrine disruption and carcinogenicity. This briefing assesses the past trends around and outlook for human exposure to harmful chemicals in Europe, as well as the associated health impacts.

3.6 Environmental health inequalities related to air pollution

This briefing explores environmental health inequalities by comparing exposure to air pollution (specifically PM 2.5 ) of the population living in the poorest regions of the EU with exposure in the richest regions, as measured using gross domestic product (GDP) per capita (adjusted for purchasing power). While focusing only on PM 2.5 gives a very limited picture overall, it is highly relevant to health and can serve as a proxy to illustrate existing inequalities while data coverage of other environmental risks becomes sufficient enough.