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Unequal exposure and unequal impacts

Publication Created 11 Jan 2019 Published 04 Feb 2019

Topics: Air pollution , Environment and health , Sustainability transitions ,

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Unequal exposure and unequal impacts: social vulnerability to air pollution, noise and extreme temperatures in Europe

Publication Created 11 Jan 2019 Published 04 Feb 2019

Topics: Air pollution , Environment and health , Sustainability transitions ,

EEA Report No 22/2018

Unequal exposure and unequal impacts: social vulnerability to air pollution, noise and extreme temperatures in Europe

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TH-AL-18-022-EN-1 Unequal exposure.pdf [35.9 MB]

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ISBN: 978-92-9480-047-3

ORDER ID (Catalogue Number): TH-AL-18-022-EN-C

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Environmental justice, environmental hazards and the vulnerable in European society (briefing) [2.0 MB]

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Figures used

Number of fatalities due to extreme temperatures across Europe, 1990-2016 This map presentes the number of people who died as a result of extremely low temperatures and cold weather spells between 1990 and 2016.

Spatial distribution of exposure to four air pollutants across Europe, 2013-2014 The maps use a colour gradient to show the population-weighted average PM2.5 (top left), PM10 (top right), NO2 (bottom left) and O3 (bottom right) concentrations (µg/m3) by NUTS 3 region, for the years 2013 and 2014. The colour scale varies from dark green representing low values, purple representing high values.

Spatial distribution of extreme temperature indicators across Europe The maps use a colour gradient to show the number of hot summer days (Tmax > 35 °C) per year (1987-2016 average, top left), the number of combined summer days (Tmax > 30 °C) and tropical nights (Tmax > 20 °C) per year (1987-2016 average, top right), the cooling degree days per year (1990-2015 average, bottom left) and the heating degree days per year (1990-2015 average, bottom right).

Number of days with maximum temperature above 35 °C per year mapped against proportion of people with higher education, 2013-2014 The map uses a colour gradient to show the percentage of working age population with higher education per NUTS2 region, classified in quantiles, against the highest exposure to high temperatures (top 20 % of number of days with maximum temperature exceeding 35 °C) represented as hatched areas.

Proportion of the population exposed to average day-evening-night road noise levels (Lden) ≥ 55dB, 2011 This map shows the proportion of the population per country exposed to road traffic noise at or above 55 dB Lden (average day-evening-night noise levels).

Percentage of households unable to keep their home warm in winter and share of population living in a dwelling not comfortably cool in summer These maps show the percentage of households unable to keep their home warm in winter (2016; left) and the share of population living in a dwelling not comfortably cool during summer (2012; right).

Percentage of children under 5 years old in the population, 2013-2014 The map uses a colour gradient to show the percentage of young children in the population

Exposure to ozone SOMO35 mapped against long-term unemployment, 2013-2014 The map uses a colour gradient to show the long-term unemployment rate per NUTS2 region, classified in quantiles, against the highest exposure to O3 pollution represented as hatched areas (only the regions in the top 20 % of O3 exposure are shown as hatched).

Exposure to PM10 mapped against long-term unemployment, 2013-2014 The map uses a colour gradient to show the long-term unemployment rate per NUTS2 region, classified in quantiles, against the highest exposure to PM10 pollution represented as hatched areas (only the top 20 % of PM10 are shown).

Exposure to NO2 mapped against household income, 2013-2014 The map uses a colour gradient to show the avergae household income per NUTS2 region, classified in quantiles, against the highest exposure to NO2 pollution represented as hatched areas (only the regions in the top 20 % of NO2 exposure are shown as hatched).

Exposure to PM2.5 mapped against GDP per capita, 2013-2014 The map uses a colour gradient to show the GDP per capita per NUTS3 region, classified in quantiles against the highest exposure to PM2.5 pollution represented as hatched areas (only the top 20 % of PM2.5 are shown).

Annual number of cooling degree days (CDDs; 1990-2016 average) mapped against long-term unemployment (left) and proportion of people 75 years old or older (right), 2013-2014 The left map uses a colour gradient to show the long-term unemployment rate per NUTS2 region, classified in quantiles, against the highest number of cooling degree days as hatched areas (only the top 20 % of regions with the highest number of CDDS are shown). The right map uses a colour gradient to show the percentage of the elderly per NUTS2 region, classified in quantiles, against the highest number of cooling degree days represented as hatched areas (only the top 20 % of CDDs are shown).

Years of life lost per 100 000 inhabitants attributable to air pollution in European countries, 2015 The maps show the number of years of life lost per country attributable to air pollution (PM 2.5 left, NO2 center and O3 right).

News and articles

More action needed to protect Europe’s most vulnerable citizens from air pollution, noise and extreme temperatures Targeted action is needed to better protect the poor, the elderly and children from environmental hazards like air and noise pollution and extreme temperatures, especially in Europe’s eastern and southern regions. A European Environment Agency (EEA) report published today warns that the health of Europe’s most vulnerable citizens remains disproportionately affected by these hazards, despite overall improvements in Europe’s environmental quality.

See also

Environment and health A clean environment is essential for human health and well-being. At the same time, the local environment can also be a source of stressors - for example air pollution, noise, hazardous chemicals - that negatively affect health. The health of the EU population is also adversely affected by climate change, through heatwaves, floods and changes in the distribution of vector-borne diseases. At a broader level, climate change, loss of biodiversity, and land degradation can also impact on human well-being by threatening the delivery of ecosystem services, such as access to freshwater and food production.

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Geographic coverage

Austria , Belgium , Bulgaria , Croatia , Cyprus , Czechia , Denmark , Estonia , Finland , France , Germany , Greece , Hungary , Iceland , Ireland , Italy , Latvia , Liechtenstein , Lithuania , Luxembourg , Malta , Netherlands , Norway , Poland , Portugal , Romania , Slovakia , Slovenia , Spain , Sweden , Switzerland , Turkey , United Kingdom

Temporal coverage

Dynamic

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For references, please go to https://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/unequal-exposure-and-unequal-impacts or scan the QR code.

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