EU urban population exposed to harmful levels of air pollutants in 2012 -2014

Infographic
Prod-ID: INF-60-en
Published 23 Nov 2016 Last modified 21 Nov 2016

Related content

Based on indicator

Exceedance of air quality standards in urban areas Exceedance of air quality standards in urban areas Air quality in Europe is slowly improving. However, between 2000 and 2014, a significant proportion of the urban population in the EU-28 was exposed to concentrations of certain air pollutants above the EU limit or target values. The numbers of people exposed were even higher in relation to the more stringent World Health Organization (WHO) air quality guideline values set for the protection of human health.    For fine particulate matter (PM 2.5 ), 8 - 17 % of the urban population were exposed to concentrations in excess of the EU target value, while 85 - 97 % were exposed to concentrations above the WHO guideline value (for 2006-2014 only). For particulate matter (PM 10 ), the respective exposure estimates were 16 - 42% for the EU limit value and 50 - 92 % for the WHO guideline value. For ozone (O 3 ), estimates was 8 - 55 % for the EU target value and 94 - 99 % for the WHO guideline value. For nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 ), estimates were 7 - 31 % in both cases (EU limit value and WHO guideline). For benzo(a)pyrene (BaP), estimates were 17 - 24 % for the EU target value and 81 - 91 % for the estimated reference level (for 2008-2014 only).

Related publication

Permalinks

Geographic coverage

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Temporal coverage

Document Actions

For references, please go to https://www.eea.europa.eu/highlights/stronger-measures-needed/eu-urban-population-exposed-to or scan the QR code.

PDF generated on 17 Dec 2018, 07:05 AM

Google QR
Subscriptions
Sign up to receive our reports (print and/or electronic) and quarterly e-newsletter.
Follow us
 
 
 
 
 
Archive

Featured article

Understanding and acting on the complexity of climate change

Understanding and acting on the complexity of climate change

Climate change is one of the most important challenges of our time. Its impacts are felt across the globe, affecting people, nature and the economy. To mitigate climate change, we need to reduce ...

Read more

European Environment Agency (EEA)
Kongens Nytorv 6
1050 Copenhagen K
Denmark
Phone: +45 3336 7100

Engineered by: EEA Web Team

Software version: EEA Plone KGS 18.12.5

Software updated on 05 December 2018 18:43 from version 18.10.30

Creative Commons Attribution License CMS login Site usage Software updates history Code for developers

The European Environment Agency (EEA) is an agency of the European Union.
Legal notice EU flag