Air pollution

Most European city dwellers are exposed to unsafe levels of air pollution. Improving air quality to match World Health Organization (WHO)-recommended levels could prevent more than half of premature deaths caused by exposure to fine particulate matter.

Air pollution emissions have declined in the last two decades, resulting in better air quality. Despite this improvement, air pollution remains the largest environmental health risk in Europe. Exposure to fine particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide levels above the World Health Organization recommendations cause an estimated 238,000 and 49,000 premature deaths, respectively, in 2020. These pollutants are linked to asthma, heart disease and stroke.

Air pollution also causes morbidity. People live with diseases related to exposure to air pollution; this is a burden in terms of personal suffering as well as significant costs to the healthcare sector.

Society’s most vulnerable are more susceptible to air pollution impacts. Lower socio-economic groups tend to be exposed to higher levels of air pollution, while older people, children and those with pre-existing health conditions are more susceptible. Over 1,200 deaths in people under 18 years of age are estimated to be caused by air pollution every year in EEA member and collaborating countries.

Besides health issues, air pollution can considerably impact Europe’s economy due to increased healthcare costs, reduced life expectancy, and lost working days across sectors. It also damages vegetation and ecosystems, water and soil quality, and local ecosystems.

Across the EU, it is common to have air pollution levels that are higher than the latest WHO recommendations. Still, there are signs of improvement.

In 2021, 97% of the urban population was exposed to concentrations of fine particulate matter above the health-based guideline level set by the World Health Organization.
Over 1,200 deaths in people under 18 years of age are estimated to be caused by air pollution every year in EEA member and collaborating countries^[1] .
Data from 2021 show that Central-eastern Europe and Italy reported the highest concentrations of particulate matter, primarily due to the burning of solid fuels for domestic heating and their use in industry.
All EU countries reported levels of ozone and nitrogen dioxide above the health-based guideline levels set by the World Health Organization.
Around 275,000 premature deaths are caused by fine particulate matter and 64,000 by nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) each year.
Overall, 97% of the EU’s urban population was exposed to levels of fine particulate matter above the latest guidelines set by WHO in 2021.

Premature deaths in Europe in 2020

from chronic exposure to fine particulate matter

from chronic nitrogen dioxide exposure

from acute ozone exposure

Source: EEA, 2022, 'Health impacts of air pollution in Europe, 2022.

Air pollution damages health during childhood and increases the risk of diseases later in life

Source: Health impacts of air quality

Air pollution: Where does it come from?

Different air pollutants are associated with different sources:

Residential, commercial and institutional energy consumption was the principal source of particulate matter in 2020. The manufacturing and extraction industry was also a significant source, while agriculture was an equally important source of PM₁₀. Between 2005 and 2020, emissions of particulate matter, PM₁₀ and PM_2.5, fell by 30% and 32%, respectively.
Agriculture was the principal source of ammonia and methane in 2020, responsible for 94% and 56% of total emissions, respectively. Ammonia emissions fell by only 8% from 2005 to 2020. This was the lowest percentage reduction of all pollutants.
In 2020, road transport was the principal source of nitrogen oxides, responsible for 37% of emissions. Emissions of nitrogen oxides fell by 48% between 2005 and 2020.
The energy supply sector was the principal source of sulphur dioxide, responsible for 41% of emissions in 2020. Emissions of sulphur dioxide fell by 79% between 2005 and 2020.
The manufacturing and extraction industries, and the energy supply sector, were the principal sources of heavy metals emissions in 2020. Between 2005 and 2020, the largest reductions in emissions were nickel (64%) and arsenic (62%).

Check air quality at any time: European Air Quality Index

How clean is the air you’re breathing right now?

The European Air Quality Index provides information on the current air quality situation based on measurements from more than 2000 air quality monitoring stations across Europe.

The Index allows citizens to use an interactive map to check the air quality at station level, based on five key pollutants that harm people's health and the environment: namely particulate matter (both PM_2.5 and PM₁₀), ground-level ozone, nitrogen dioxide and sulphur dioxide.

The index is also available as an app for mobile phones.

Explore the European Air Quality Index

Air quality in your city: how clean is it compared to other European cities?

Check our air quality city viewer

ImageNeli Petrova, Well with Nature /EEA

More information

External links:

European Industrial Emissions Portal (EIEP)

Air pollution

Premature deaths in Europe in 2020

Air pollution damages health during childhood and increases the risk of diseases later in life

Air pollution: Where does it come from?

Check air quality at any time: European Air Quality Index

Air quality in your city: how clean is it compared to other European cities?

More information

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