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Air quality standards

Page Last modified 03 Dec 2021
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The European Union (EU) has developed an extensive body of legislation which establishes standards and objectives for a number of pollutants in air.

The EU's air quality directives (2008/50/EC Directive on Ambient Air Quality and Cleaner Air for Europe and 2004/107/EC Directive on heavy metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in ambient air) set pollutant concentrations thresholds that shall not be exceeded in a given period of time. In case of exceedances, authorities must develop and implement air quality management plans. These plans should aim to bring concentrations of air pollutants to levels below the limit and target values.

Selected EU standards and the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines are summarised in the table below. These apply over differing periods of time because the observed health impacts associated with the various pollutants occur over different exposure times.

The WHO guideline values are set for the protection of health, and are generally stricter than the comparable politically agreed EU standards.

Source: EU Air Quality Directives (2008/50/EC, 2004/107/EC), WHO, 2006, Air quality guidelines: Global update 2005.

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Dashboard (Tableau) Serbia – air pollution country fact sheet A significant proportion of Europe's urban population lives in cities where EU air quality standards for the protection of human health are regularly exceeded. Air pollution continues to have significant impacts on the health of Europeans, particularly in urban areas. These health impacts have economic costs, cutting short lives, increasing medical costs and reducing productivity through lost working days. The pollutants with the most serious impacts on human health are particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide and ground-level ozone.
Dashboard (Tableau) North Macedonia – air pollution country fact sheet A significant proportion of Europe's urban population lives in cities where EU air quality standards for the protection of human health are regularly exceeded. Air pollution continues to have significant impacts on the health of Europeans, particularly in urban areas. These health impacts have economic costs, cutting short lives, increasing medical costs and reducing productivity through lost working days. The pollutants with the most serious impacts on human health are particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide and ground-level ozone.
Dashboard (Tableau) Bosnia and Herzegovina – air pollution country fact sheet A significant proportion of Europe's urban population lives in cities where EU air quality standards for the protection of human health are regularly exceeded. Air pollution continues to have significant impacts on the health of Europeans, particularly in urban areas. These health impacts have economic costs, cutting short lives, increasing medical costs and reducing productivity through lost working days. The pollutants with the most serious impacts on human health are particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide and ground-level ozone.
Dashboard (Tableau) Montenegro – air pollution country fact sheet A significant proportion of Europe's urban population lives in cities where EU air quality standards for the protection of human health are regularly exceeded. Air pollution continues to have significant impacts on the health of Europeans, particularly in urban areas. These health impacts have economic costs, cutting short lives, increasing medical costs and reducing productivity through lost working days. The pollutants with the most serious impacts on human health are particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide and ground-level ozone.
Dashboard (Tableau) Kosovo – air pollution country fact sheet A significant proportion of Europe's urban population lives in cities where EU air quality standards for the protection of human health are regularly exceeded. Air pollution continues to have significant impacts on the health of Europeans, particularly in urban areas. These health impacts have economic costs, cutting short lives, increasing medical costs and reducing productivity through lost working days. The pollutants with the most serious impacts on human health are particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide and ground-level ozone.
Dashboard (Tableau) Albania – air pollution country fact sheet A significant proportion of Europe's urban population lives in cities where EU air quality standards for the protection of human health are regularly exceeded. Air pollution continues to have significant impacts on the health of Europeans, particularly in urban areas. These health impacts have economic costs, cutting short lives, increasing medical costs and reducing productivity through lost working days. The pollutants with the most serious impacts on human health are particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide and ground-level ozone.
Dashboard (Tableau) Turkey – air pollution country fact sheet A significant proportion of Europe's urban population lives in cities where EU air quality standards for the protection of human health are regularly exceeded. Air pollution continues to have significant impacts on the health of Europeans, particularly in urban areas. These health impacts have economic costs, cutting short lives, increasing medical costs and reducing productivity through lost working days. The pollutants with the most serious impacts on human health are particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide and ground-level ozone.
Dashboard (Tableau) Switzerland – air pollution country fact sheet A significant proportion of Europe's urban population lives in cities where EU air quality standards for the protection of human health are regularly exceeded. Air pollution continues to have significant impacts on the health of Europeans, particularly in urban areas. These health impacts have economic costs, cutting short lives, increasing medical costs and reducing productivity through lost working days. The pollutants with the most serious impacts on human health are particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide and ground-level ozone.
Dashboard (Tableau) Sweden – air pollution country fact sheet A significant proportion of Europe's urban population lives in cities where EU air quality standards for the protection of human health are regularly exceeded. Air pollution continues to have significant impacts on the health of Europeans, particularly in urban areas. These health impacts have economic costs, cutting short lives, increasing medical costs and reducing productivity through lost working days. The pollutants with the most serious impacts on human health are particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide and ground-level ozone.
Dashboard (Tableau) Spain – air pollution country fact sheet A significant proportion of Europe's urban population lives in cities where EU air quality standards for the protection of human health are regularly exceeded. Air pollution continues to have significant impacts on the health of Europeans, particularly in urban areas. These health impacts have economic costs, cutting short lives, increasing medical costs and reducing productivity through lost working days. The pollutants with the most serious impacts on human health are particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide and ground-level ozone.
Dashboard (Tableau) Slovenia – air pollution country fact sheet A significant proportion of Europe's urban population lives in cities where EU air quality standards for the protection of human health are regularly exceeded. Air pollution continues to have significant impacts on the health of Europeans, particularly in urban areas. These health impacts have economic costs, cutting short lives, increasing medical costs and reducing productivity through lost working days. The pollutants with the most serious impacts on human health are particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide and ground-level ozone.
Dashboard (Tableau) Slovakia – air pollution country fact sheet A significant proportion of Europe's urban population lives in cities where EU air quality standards for the protection of human health are regularly exceeded. Air pollution continues to have significant impacts on the health of Europeans, particularly in urban areas. These health impacts have economic costs, cutting short lives, increasing medical costs and reducing productivity through lost working days. The pollutants with the most serious impacts on human health are particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide and ground-level ozone.
Dashboard (Tableau) Romania – air pollution country fact sheet A significant proportion of Europe's urban population lives in cities where EU air quality standards for the protection of human health are regularly exceeded. Air pollution continues to have significant impacts on the health of Europeans, particularly in urban areas. These health impacts have economic costs, cutting short lives, increasing medical costs and reducing productivity through lost working days. The pollutants with the most serious impacts on human health are particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide and ground-level ozone.
Dashboard (Tableau) Portugal – air pollution country fact sheet A significant proportion of Europe's urban population lives in cities where EU air quality standards for the protection of human health are regularly exceeded. Air pollution continues to have significant impacts on the health of Europeans, particularly in urban areas. These health impacts have economic costs, cutting short lives, increasing medical costs and reducing productivity through lost working days. The pollutants with the most serious impacts on human health are particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide and ground-level ozone.
Dashboard (Tableau) Poland – air pollution country fact sheet A significant proportion of Europe's urban population lives in cities where EU air quality standards for the protection of human health are regularly exceeded. Air pollution continues to have significant impacts on the health of Europeans, particularly in urban areas. These health impacts have economic costs, cutting short lives, increasing medical costs and reducing productivity through lost working days. The pollutants with the most serious impacts on human health are particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide and ground-level ozone.
Dashboard (Tableau) Norway – air pollution country fact sheet A significant proportion of Europe's urban population lives in cities where EU air quality standards for the protection of human health are regularly exceeded. Air pollution continues to have significant impacts on the health of Europeans, particularly in urban areas. These health impacts have economic costs, cutting short lives, increasing medical costs and reducing productivity through lost working days. The pollutants with the most serious impacts on human health are particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide and ground-level ozone.
Dashboard (Tableau) Netherlands – air pollution country fact sheet A significant proportion of Europe's urban population lives in cities where EU air quality standards for the protection of human health are regularly exceeded. Air pollution continues to have significant impacts on the health of Europeans, particularly in urban areas. These health impacts have economic costs, cutting short lives, increasing medical costs and reducing productivity through lost working days. The pollutants with the most serious impacts on human health are particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide and ground-level ozone.
Dashboard (Tableau) Malta – air pollution country fact sheet A significant proportion of Europe's urban population lives in cities where EU air quality standards for the protection of human health are regularly exceeded. Air pollution continues to have significant impacts on the health of Europeans, particularly in urban areas. These health impacts have economic costs, cutting short lives, increasing medical costs and reducing productivity through lost working days. The pollutants with the most serious impacts on human health are particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide and ground-level ozone.
Dashboard (Tableau) Luxembourg – air pollution country fact sheet A significant proportion of Europe's urban population lives in cities where EU air quality standards for the protection of human health are regularly exceeded. Air pollution continues to have significant impacts on the health of Europeans, particularly in urban areas. These health impacts have economic costs, cutting short lives, increasing medical costs and reducing productivity through lost working days. The pollutants with the most serious impacts on human health are particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide and ground-level ozone.
Dashboard (Tableau) Lithuania – air pollution country fact sheet A significant proportion of Europe's urban population lives in cities where EU air quality standards for the protection of human health are regularly exceeded. Air pollution continues to have significant impacts on the health of Europeans, particularly in urban areas. These health impacts have economic costs, cutting short lives, increasing medical costs and reducing productivity through lost working days. The pollutants with the most serious impacts on human health are particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide and ground-level ozone.
Dashboard (Tableau) Liechtenstein – air pollution country fact sheet A significant proportion of Europe's urban population lives in cities where EU air quality standards for the protection of human health are regularly exceeded. Air pollution continues to have significant impacts on the health of Europeans, particularly in urban areas. These health impacts have economic costs, cutting short lives, increasing medical costs and reducing productivity through lost working days. The pollutants with the most serious impacts on human health are particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide and ground-level ozone.
Dashboard (Tableau) Latvia – air pollution country fact sheet A significant proportion of Europe's urban population lives in cities where EU air quality standards for the protection of human health are regularly exceeded. Air pollution continues to have significant impacts on the health of Europeans, particularly in urban areas. These health impacts have economic costs, cutting short lives, increasing medical costs and reducing productivity through lost working days. The pollutants with the most serious impacts on human health are particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide and ground-level ozone.
Dashboard (Tableau) Italy – air pollution country fact sheet A significant proportion of Europe's urban population lives in cities where EU air quality standards for the protection of human health are regularly exceeded. Air pollution continues to have significant impacts on the health of Europeans, particularly in urban areas. These health impacts have economic costs, cutting short lives, increasing medical costs and reducing productivity through lost working days. The pollutants with the most serious impacts on human health are particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide and ground-level ozone.
Dashboard (Tableau) Ireland – air pollution country fact sheet A significant proportion of Europe's urban population lives in cities where EU air quality standards for the protection of human health are regularly exceeded. Air pollution continues to have significant impacts on the health of Europeans, particularly in urban areas. These health impacts have economic costs, cutting short lives, increasing medical costs and reducing productivity through lost working days. The pollutants with the most serious impacts on human health are particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide and ground-level ozone.
Dashboard (Tableau) Iceland – air pollution country fact sheet A significant proportion of Europe's urban population lives in cities where EU air quality standards for the protection of human health are regularly exceeded. Air pollution continues to have significant impacts on the health of Europeans, particularly in urban areas. These health impacts have economic costs, cutting short lives, increasing medical costs and reducing productivity through lost working days. The pollutants with the most serious impacts on human health are particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide and ground-level ozone.
Dashboard (Tableau) Hungary – air pollution country fact sheet A significant proportion of Europe's urban population lives in cities where EU air quality standards for the protection of human health are regularly exceeded. Air pollution continues to have significant impacts on the health of Europeans, particularly in urban areas. These health impacts have economic costs, cutting short lives, increasing medical costs and reducing productivity through lost working days. The pollutants with the most serious impacts on human health are particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide and ground-level ozone.
Dashboard (Tableau) Greece – air pollution country fact sheet A significant proportion of Europe's urban population lives in cities where EU air quality standards for the protection of human health are regularly exceeded. Air pollution continues to have significant impacts on the health of Europeans, particularly in urban areas. These health impacts have economic costs, cutting short lives, increasing medical costs and reducing productivity through lost working days. The pollutants with the most serious impacts on human health are particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide and ground-level ozone.
Dashboard (Tableau) Germany – air pollution country fact sheet A significant proportion of Europe's urban population lives in cities where EU air quality standards for the protection of human health are regularly exceeded. Air pollution continues to have significant impacts on the health of Europeans, particularly in urban areas. These health impacts have economic costs, cutting short lives, increasing medical costs and reducing productivity through lost working days. The pollutants with the most serious impacts on human health are particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide and ground-level ozone.
Dashboard (Tableau) France – air pollution country fact sheet A significant proportion of Europe's urban population lives in cities where EU air quality standards for the protection of human health are regularly exceeded. Air pollution continues to have significant impacts on the health of Europeans, particularly in urban areas. These health impacts have economic costs, cutting short lives, increasing medical costs and reducing productivity through lost working days. The pollutants with the most serious impacts on human health are particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide and ground-level ozone.
Dashboard (Tableau) Finland – air pollution country fact sheet A significant proportion of Europe's urban population lives in cities where EU air quality standards for the protection of human health are regularly exceeded. Air pollution continues to have significant impacts on the health of Europeans, particularly in urban areas. These health impacts have economic costs, cutting short lives, increasing medical costs and reducing productivity through lost working days. The pollutants with the most serious impacts on human health are particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide and ground-level ozone.
Dashboard (Tableau) Estonia – air pollution country fact sheet A significant proportion of Europe's urban population lives in cities where EU air quality standards for the protection of human health are regularly exceeded. Air pollution continues to have significant impacts on the health of Europeans, particularly in urban areas. These health impacts have economic costs, cutting short lives, increasing medical costs and reducing productivity through lost working days. The pollutants with the most serious impacts on human health are particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide and ground-level ozone.
Dashboard (Tableau) Denmark – air pollution country fact sheet A significant proportion of Europe's urban population lives in cities where EU air quality standards for the protection of human health are regularly exceeded. Air pollution continues to have significant impacts on the health of Europeans, particularly in urban areas. These health impacts have economic costs, cutting short lives, increasing medical costs and reducing productivity through lost working days. The pollutants with the most serious impacts on human health are particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide and ground-level ozone.
Dashboard (Tableau) Czechia – air pollution country fact sheet A significant proportion of Europe's urban population lives in cities where EU air quality standards for the protection of human health are regularly exceeded. Air pollution continues to have significant impacts on the health of Europeans, particularly in urban areas. These health impacts have economic costs, cutting short lives, increasing medical costs and reducing productivity through lost working days. The pollutants with the most serious impacts on human health are particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide and ground-level ozone.
Dashboard (Tableau) Cyprus – air pollution country fact sheet A significant proportion of Europe's urban population lives in cities where EU air quality standards for the protection of human health are regularly exceeded. Air pollution continues to have significant impacts on the health of Europeans, particularly in urban areas. These health impacts have economic costs, cutting short lives, increasing medical costs and reducing productivity through lost working days. The pollutants with the most serious impacts on human health are particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide and ground-level ozone.
Dashboard (Tableau) Croatia – air pollution country fact sheet A significant proportion of Europe's urban population lives in cities where EU air quality standards for the protection of human health are regularly exceeded. Air pollution continues to have significant impacts on the health of Europeans, particularly in urban areas. These health impacts have economic costs, cutting short lives, increasing medical costs and reducing productivity through lost working days. The pollutants with the most serious impacts on human health are particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide and ground-level ozone.
Dashboard (Tableau) Bulgaria - Air pollution country fact sheet A significant proportion of Europe's urban population lives in cities where EU air quality standards for the protection of human health are regularly exceeded. Air pollution continues to have significant impacts on the health of Europeans, particularly in urban areas. These health impacts have economic costs, cutting short lives, increasing medical costs and reducing productivity through lost working days. The pollutants with the most serious impacts on human health are particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide and ground-level ozone.
Dashboard (Tableau) Belgium – air pollution country fact sheet A significant proportion of Europe's urban population lives in cities where EU air quality standards for the protection of human health are regularly exceeded. Air pollution continues to have significant impacts on the health of Europeans, particularly in urban areas. These health impacts have economic costs, cutting short lives, increasing medical costs and reducing productivity through lost working days. The pollutants with the most serious impacts on human health are particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide and ground-level ozone.
Dashboard (Tableau) Austria – air pollution country fact sheet A significant proportion of Europe's urban population lives in cities where EU air quality standards for the protection of human health are regularly exceeded. Air pollution continues to have significant impacts on the health of Europeans, particularly in urban areas. These health impacts have economic costs, cutting short lives, increasing medical costs and reducing productivity through lost working days. The pollutants with the most serious impacts on human health are particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide and ground-level ozone.
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Hungary - Air pollution country fact sheet Air pollution country fact sheet 2020
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Montenegro – air pollution country fact sheet Air pollution country fact sheet 2020
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Switzerland - Air pollution country fact sheet Air pollution country fact sheet 2020
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Greece - Air pollution country fact sheet Air pollution country fact sheet 2020
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Estonia - Air pollution country fact sheet Air pollution country fact sheet 2020
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Malta - Air pollution country fact sheet Air pollution country fact sheet 2020
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Cyprus - Air pollution country fact sheet Air pollution country fact sheet 2020
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Lithuania - Air pollution country fact sheet Air pollution country fact sheet 2020
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Spain - Air pollution country fact sheet Air pollution country fact sheet 2020
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Germany - Air pollution country fact sheet Air pollution country fact sheet 2020
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Czechia - Air pollution country fact sheet Air pollution country fact sheet 2020
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Turkey - Air pollution country fact sheet Air pollution country fact sheet 2020
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Italy - Air pollution country fact sheet Air pollution country fact sheet 2020
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Denmark - Air pollution country fact sheet Air pollution country fact sheet 2020
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France - Air pollution country fact sheet Air pollution country fact sheet 2020
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Sweden - Air pollution country fact sheet Air pollution country fact sheet 2020
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Bulgaria - Air pollution country fact sheet Air pollution country fact sheet 2020
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Slovakia - Air pollution country fact sheet Air pollution country fact sheet 2020
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Portugal - Air pollution country fact sheet Air pollution country fact sheet 2020
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Finland - Air pollution country fact sheet Air pollution country fact sheet 2020
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Austria – air pollution country fact sheet Air pollution country fact sheet 2020
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Ireland - Air pollution country fact sheet Air pollution country fact sheet 2020
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Netherlands - Air pollution country fact sheet Air pollution country fact sheet 2020
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Albania – air pollution country fact sheet Air pollution country fact sheet 2020
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Croatia - Air pollution country fact sheet Air pollution country fact sheet 2020
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Iceland - Air pollution country fact sheet Air pollution country fact sheet 2020
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Norway - Air pollution country fact sheet Air pollution country fact sheet 2020
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Latvia - Air pollution country fact sheet Air pollution country fact sheet 2020
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Luxembourg - Air pollution country fact sheet Air pollution country fact sheet 2020
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Poland - Air pollution country fact sheet Air pollution country fact sheet 2020
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Belgium – air pollution country fact sheet Air pollution country fact sheet 2020
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Serbia – air pollution country fact sheet Air pollution country fact sheet 2020
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Romania - Air pollution country fact sheet Air pollution country fact sheet 2020
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Slovenia - Air pollution country fact sheet Air pollution country fact sheet 2020
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Liechtenstein - Air pollution country fact sheet Air pollution country fact sheet 2020
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Bosnia and Herzegovina – air pollution country fact sheet Air pollution country fact sheet 2020
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Kosovo – air pollution country fact sheet Air pollution country fact sheet 2020
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North Macedonia – air pollution country fact sheet Air pollution country fact sheet 2020
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United Kingdom - Air pollution country fact sheet Air pollution country fact sheet 2019
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Turkey - Air pollution country fact sheet 2019 Air pollution country fact sheet 2019
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Switzerland - Air pollution country fact sheet Air pollution country fact sheet 2019
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Sweden - Air pollution country fact sheet Air pollution country fact sheet 2019
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Spain - Air pollution country fact sheet Air pollution country fact sheet 2019
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Slovenia - Air pollution country fact sheet Air pollution country fact sheet 2019
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Slovakia - Air pollution country fact sheet Air pollution country fact sheet 2019
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Romania - Air pollution country fact sheet Air pollution country fact sheet 2019
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Portugal - Air pollution country fact sheet Air pollution country fact sheet 2019
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Poland - Air pollution country fact sheet 2019 Air pollution country fact sheet 2019
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Norway - Air pollution country fact sheet Air pollution country fact sheet 2019
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Netherlands - Air pollution country fact sheet Air pollution country fact sheet 2019
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Malta - Air pollution country fact sheet Air pollution country fact sheet 2019
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Luxembourg - Air pollution country fact sheet Air pollution country fact sheet 2019
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Lithuania - Air pollution country fact sheet Air pollution country fact sheet 2019
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Liechtenstein - Air pollution country fact sheet Air pollution country fact sheet 2019
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Latvia - Air pollution country fact sheet Air pollution country fact sheet 2019
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Italy - Air pollution country fact sheet Air pollution country fact sheet 2019
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Ireland - Air pollution country fact sheet Air pollution country fact sheet 2019
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Iceland - Air pollution country fact sheet Air pollution country fact sheet 2019
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Hungary - Air pollution country fact sheet Air pollution country fact sheet 2019
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Greece - Air pollution country fact sheet Air pollution country fact sheet 2019
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Germany - Air pollution country fact sheet Air pollution country fact sheet 2019
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Denmark - Air pollution country fact sheet Air pollution country fact sheet 2019
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Estonia - Air pollution country fact sheet Air pollution country fact sheet 2019
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France - Air pollution country fact sheet Air pollution country fact sheet 2019
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Finland - Air pollution country fact sheet Air pollution country fact sheet 2019
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Cyprus - Air pollution country fact sheet Air pollution country fact sheet 2019
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Croatia - Air pollution country fact sheet Air pollution country fact sheet 2019
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Bulgaria - Air pollution country fact sheet Air pollution country fact sheet 2019
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Belgium – air pollution country fact sheet Air pollution country fact sheet 2019
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Czechia - Air pollution country fact sheet Air pollution country fact sheet 2019
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Austria – air pollution country fact sheet Air pollution country fact sheet 2019
Dashboard (Tableau) France - Air pollution country fact sheet A significant proportion of Europe's urban population lives in cities where EU air quality standards for the protection of human health are regularly exceeded. Air pollution continues to have significant impacts on the health of Europeans, particularly in urban areas. These health impacts have economic costs, cutting short lives, increasing medical costs and reducing productivity through lost working days. The pollutants with the most serious impacts on human health are particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide and ground-level ozone.
Dashboard (Tableau) Greece - Air pollution country fact sheet A significant proportion of Europe's urban population lives in cities where EU air quality standards for the protection of human health are regularly exceeded. Air pollution continues to have significant impacts on the health of Europeans, particularly in urban areas. These health impacts have economic costs, cutting short lives, increasing medical costs and reducing productivity through lost working days. The pollutants with the most serious impacts on human health are particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide and ground-level ozone.
Dashboard (Tableau) Italy - Air pollution country fact sheet A significant proportion of Europe's urban population lives in cities where EU air quality standards for the protection of human health are regularly exceeded. Air pollution continues to have significant impacts on the health of Europeans, particularly in urban areas. These health impacts have economic costs, cutting short lives, increasing medical costs and reducing productivity through lost working days. The pollutants with the most serious impacts on human health are particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide and ground-level ozone.
Dashboard (Tableau) Romania - Air pollution country fact sheet A significant proportion of Europe's urban population lives in cities where EU air quality standards for the protection of human health are regularly exceeded. Air pollution continues to have significant impacts on the health of Europeans, particularly in urban areas. These health impacts have economic costs, cutting short lives, increasing medical costs and reducing productivity through lost working days. The pollutants with the most serious impacts on human health are particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide and ground-level ozone.
Dashboard (Tableau) Belgium – air pollution country fact sheet A significant proportion of Europe's urban population lives in cities where EU air quality standards for the protection of human health are regularly exceeded. Air pollution continues to have significant impacts on the health of Europeans, particularly in urban areas. These health impacts have economic costs, cutting short lives, increasing medical costs and reducing productivity through lost working days. The pollutants with the most serious impacts on human health are particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide and ground-level ozone.
Dashboard (Tableau) Switzerland - Air pollution country fact sheet A significant proportion of Europe's urban population lives in cities where EU air quality standards for the protection of human health are regularly exceeded. Air pollution continues to have significant impacts on the health of Europeans, particularly in urban areas. These health impacts have economic costs, cutting short lives, increasing medical costs and reducing productivity through lost working days. The pollutants with the most serious impacts on human health are particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide and ground-level ozone.
Dashboard (Tableau) Denmark - Air pollution country fact sheet A significant proportion of Europe's urban population lives in cities where EU air quality standards for the protection of human health are regularly exceeded. Air pollution continues to have significant impacts on the health of Europeans, particularly in urban areas. These health impacts have economic costs, cutting short lives, increasing medical costs and reducing productivity through lost working days. The pollutants with the most serious impacts on human health are particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide and ground-level ozone.
Dashboard (Tableau) Austria – air pollution country fact sheet A significant proportion of Europe's urban population lives in cities where EU air quality standards for the protection of human health are regularly exceeded. Air pollution continues to have significant impacts on the health of Europeans, particularly in urban areas. These health impacts have economic costs, cutting short lives, increasing medical costs and reducing productivity through lost working days. The pollutants with the most serious impacts on human health are particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide and ground-level ozone.
Dashboard (Tableau) Turkey - Air pollution country fact sheet A significant proportion of Europe's urban population lives in cities where EU air quality standards for the protection of human health are regularly exceeded. Air pollution continues to have significant impacts on the health of Europeans, particularly in urban areas. These health impacts have economic costs, cutting short lives, increasing medical costs and reducing productivity through lost working days. The pollutants with the most serious impacts on human health are particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide and ground-level ozone.
Dashboard (Tableau) Ireland - Air pollution country fact sheet A significant proportion of Europe's urban population lives in cities where EU air quality standards for the protection of human health are regularly exceeded. Air pollution continues to have significant impacts on the health of Europeans, particularly in urban areas. These health impacts have economic costs, cutting short lives, increasing medical costs and reducing productivity through lost working days. The pollutants with the most serious impacts on human health are particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide and ground-level ozone.
Dashboard (Tableau) Slovenia - Air pollution country fact sheet A significant proportion of Europe's urban population lives in cities where EU air quality standards for the protection of human health are regularly exceeded. Air pollution continues to have significant impacts on the health of Europeans, particularly in urban areas. These health impacts have economic costs, cutting short lives, increasing medical costs and reducing productivity through lost working days. The pollutants with the most serious impacts on human health are particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide and ground-level ozone.
Dashboard (Tableau) Hungary - Air pollution country fact sheet A significant proportion of Europe's urban population lives in cities where EU air quality standards for the protection of human health are regularly exceeded. Air pollution continues to have significant impacts on the health of Europeans, particularly in urban areas. These health impacts have economic costs, cutting short lives, increasing medical costs and reducing productivity through lost working days. The pollutants with the most serious impacts on human health are particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide and ground-level ozone.
Dashboard (Tableau) Croatia - Air pollution country fact sheet A significant proportion of Europe's urban population lives in cities where EU air quality standards for the protection of human health are regularly exceeded. Air pollution continues to have significant impacts on the health of Europeans, particularly in urban areas. These health impacts have economic costs, cutting short lives, increasing medical costs and reducing productivity through lost working days. The pollutants with the most serious impacts on human health are particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide and ground-level ozone.
Dashboard (Tableau) Czechia - Air pollution country fact sheet A significant proportion of Europe's urban population lives in cities where EU air quality standards for the protection of human health are regularly exceeded. Air pollution continues to have significant impacts on the health of Europeans, particularly in urban areas. These health impacts have economic costs, cutting short lives, increasing medical costs and reducing productivity through lost working days. The pollutants with the most serious impacts on human health are particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide and ground-level ozone.
Dashboard (Tableau) Lithuania - Air pollution country fact sheet A significant proportion of Europe's urban population lives in cities where EU air quality standards for the protection of human health are regularly exceeded. Air pollution continues to have significant impacts on the health of Europeans, particularly in urban areas. These health impacts have economic costs, cutting short lives, increasing medical costs and reducing productivity through lost working days. The pollutants with the most serious impacts on human health are particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide and ground-level ozone.
Dashboard (Tableau) Malta - Air pollution country fact sheet A significant proportion of Europe's urban population lives in cities where EU air quality standards for the protection of human health are regularly exceeded. Air pollution continues to have significant impacts on the health of Europeans, particularly in urban areas. These health impacts have economic costs, cutting short lives, increasing medical costs and reducing productivity through lost working days. The pollutants with the most serious impacts on human health are particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide and ground-level ozone.
Dashboard (Tableau) Estonia - Air pollution country fact sheet A significant proportion of Europe's urban population lives in cities where EU air quality standards for the protection of human health are regularly exceeded. Air pollution continues to have significant impacts on the health of Europeans, particularly in urban areas. These health impacts have economic costs, cutting short lives, increasing medical costs and reducing productivity through lost working days. The pollutants with the most serious impacts on human health are particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide and ground-level ozone.
Dashboard (Tableau) Montenegro – air pollution country fact sheet A significant proportion of Europe's urban population lives in cities where EU air quality standards for the protection of human health are regularly exceeded. Air pollution continues to have significant impacts on the health of Europeans, particularly in urban areas. These health impacts have economic costs, cutting short lives, increasing medical costs and reducing productivity through lost working days. The pollutants with the most serious impacts on human health are particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide and ground-level ozone.
Dashboard (Tableau) Germany - Air pollution country fact sheet A significant proportion of Europe's urban population lives in cities where EU air quality standards for the protection of human health are regularly exceeded. Air pollution continues to have significant impacts on the health of Europeans, particularly in urban areas. These health impacts have economic costs, cutting short lives, increasing medical costs and reducing productivity through lost working days. The pollutants with the most serious impacts on human health are particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide and ground-level ozone.
Dashboard (Tableau) North Macedonia – air pollution country fact sheet A significant proportion of Europe's urban population lives in cities where EU air quality standards for the protection of human health are regularly exceeded. Air pollution continues to have significant impacts on the health of Europeans, particularly in urban areas. These health impacts have economic costs, cutting short lives, increasing medical costs and reducing productivity through lost working days. The pollutants with the most serious impacts on human health are particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide and ground-level ozone.
Dashboard (Tableau) Slovakia - Air pollution country fact sheet A significant proportion of Europe's urban population lives in cities where EU air quality standards for the protection of human health are regularly exceeded. Air pollution continues to have significant impacts on the health of Europeans, particularly in urban areas. These health impacts have economic costs, cutting short lives, increasing medical costs and reducing productivity through lost working days. The pollutants with the most serious impacts on human health are particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide and ground-level ozone.
Dashboard (Tableau) Kosovo – air pollution country fact sheet A significant proportion of Europe's urban population lives in cities where EU air quality standards for the protection of human health are regularly exceeded. Air pollution continues to have significant impacts on the health of Europeans, particularly in urban areas. These health impacts have economic costs, cutting short lives, increasing medical costs and reducing productivity through lost working days. The pollutants with the most serious impacts on human health are particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide and ground-level ozone.
Dashboard (Tableau) Finland - Air pollution country fact sheet A significant proportion of Europe's urban population lives in cities where EU air quality standards for the protection of human health are regularly exceeded. Air pollution continues to have significant impacts on the health of Europeans, particularly in urban areas. These health impacts have economic costs, cutting short lives, increasing medical costs and reducing productivity through lost working days. The pollutants with the most serious impacts on human health are particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide and ground-level ozone.
Dashboard (Tableau) Bulgaria - Air pollution country fact sheet A significant proportion of Europe's urban population lives in cities where EU air quality standards for the protection of human health are regularly exceeded. Air pollution continues to have significant impacts on the health of Europeans, particularly in urban areas. These health impacts have economic costs, cutting short lives, increasing medical costs and reducing productivity through lost working days. The pollutants with the most serious impacts on human health are particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide and ground-level ozone.
Dashboard (Tableau) Bosnia and Herzegovina – air pollution country fact sheet A significant proportion of Europe's urban population lives in cities where EU air quality standards for the protection of human health are regularly exceeded. Air pollution continues to have significant impacts on the health of Europeans, particularly in urban areas. These health impacts have economic costs, cutting short lives, increasing medical costs and reducing productivity through lost working days. The pollutants with the most serious impacts on human health are particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide and ground-level ozone.
Dashboard (Tableau) Luxembourg - Air pollution country fact sheet A significant proportion of Europe's urban population lives in cities where EU air quality standards for the protection of human health are regularly exceeded. Air pollution continues to have significant impacts on the health of Europeans, particularly in urban areas. These health impacts have economic costs, cutting short lives, increasing medical costs and reducing productivity through lost working days. The pollutants with the most serious impacts on human health are particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide and ground-level ozone.
Dashboard (Tableau) Norway - Air pollution country fact sheet A significant proportion of Europe's urban population lives in cities where EU air quality standards for the protection of human health are regularly exceeded. Air pollution continues to have significant impacts on the health of Europeans, particularly in urban areas. These health impacts have economic costs, cutting short lives, increasing medical costs and reducing productivity through lost working days. The pollutants with the most serious impacts on human health are particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide and ground-level ozone.
Dashboard (Tableau) Portugal - Air pollution country fact sheet A significant proportion of Europe's urban population lives in cities where EU air quality standards for the protection of human health are regularly exceeded. Air pollution continues to have significant impacts on the health of Europeans, particularly in urban areas. These health impacts have economic costs, cutting short lives, increasing medical costs and reducing productivity through lost working days. The pollutants with the most serious impacts on human health are particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide and ground-level ozone.
Dashboard (Tableau) Netherlands - Air pollution country fact sheet A significant proportion of Europe's urban population lives in cities where EU air quality standards for the protection of human health are regularly exceeded. Air pollution continues to have significant impacts on the health of Europeans, particularly in urban areas. These health impacts have economic costs, cutting short lives, increasing medical costs and reducing productivity through lost working days. The pollutants with the most serious impacts on human health are particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide and ground-level ozone.
Dashboard (Tableau) Spain - Air pollution country fact sheet A significant proportion of Europe's urban population lives in cities where EU air quality standards for the protection of human health are regularly exceeded. Air pollution continues to have significant impacts on the health of Europeans, particularly in urban areas. These health impacts have economic costs, cutting short lives, increasing medical costs and reducing productivity through lost working days. The pollutants with the most serious impacts on human health are particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide and ground-level ozone.
Dashboard (Tableau) Iceland - Air pollution country fact sheet A significant proportion of Europe's urban population lives in cities where EU air quality standards for the protection of human health are regularly exceeded. Air pollution continues to have significant impacts on the health of Europeans, particularly in urban areas. These health impacts have economic costs, cutting short lives, increasing medical costs and reducing productivity through lost working days. The pollutants with the most serious impacts on human health are particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide and ground-level ozone.
Dashboard (Tableau) Serbia – air pollution country fact sheet A significant proportion of Europe's urban population lives in cities where EU air quality standards for the protection of human health are regularly exceeded. Air pollution continues to have significant impacts on the health of Europeans, particularly in urban areas. These health impacts have economic costs, cutting short lives, increasing medical costs and reducing productivity through lost working days. The pollutants with the most serious impacts on human health are particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide and ground-level ozone.
Dashboard (Tableau) Liechtenstein - Air pollution country fact sheet A significant proportion of Europe's urban population lives in cities where EU air quality standards for the protection of human health are regularly exceeded. Air pollution continues to have significant impacts on the health of Europeans, particularly in urban areas. These health impacts have economic costs, cutting short lives, increasing medical costs and reducing productivity through lost working days. The pollutants with the most serious impacts on human health are particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide and ground-level ozone.
Dashboard (Tableau) Albania – air pollution country fact sheet A significant proportion of Europe's urban population lives in cities where EU air quality standards for the protection of human health are regularly exceeded. Air pollution continues to have significant impacts on the health of Europeans, particularly in urban areas. These health impacts have economic costs, cutting short lives, increasing medical costs and reducing productivity through lost working days. The pollutants with the most serious impacts on human health are particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide and ground-level ozone.
Dashboard (Tableau) Sweden - Air pollution country fact sheet A significant proportion of Europe's urban population lives in cities where EU air quality standards for the protection of human health are regularly exceeded. Air pollution continues to have significant impacts on the health of Europeans, particularly in urban areas. These health impacts have economic costs, cutting short lives, increasing medical costs and reducing productivity through lost working days. The pollutants with the most serious impacts on human health are particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide and ground-level ozone.
Dashboard (Tableau) Cyprus - Air pollution country fact sheet A significant proportion of Europe's urban population lives in cities where EU air quality standards for the protection of human health are regularly exceeded. Air pollution continues to have significant impacts on the health of Europeans, particularly in urban areas. These health impacts have economic costs, cutting short lives, increasing medical costs and reducing productivity through lost working days. The pollutants with the most serious impacts on human health are particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide and ground-level ozone.
Dashboard (Tableau) Latvia - Air pollution country fact sheet A significant proportion of Europe's urban population lives in cities where EU air quality standards for the protection of human health are regularly exceeded. Air pollution continues to have significant impacts on the health of Europeans, particularly in urban areas. These health impacts have economic costs, cutting short lives, increasing medical costs and reducing productivity through lost working days. The pollutants with the most serious impacts on human health are particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide and ground-level ozone.
Dashboard (Tableau) Poland - Air pollution country fact sheet A significant proportion of Europe's urban population lives in cities where EU air quality standards for the protection of human health are regularly exceeded. Air pollution continues to have significant impacts on the health of Europeans, particularly in urban areas. These health impacts have economic costs, cutting short lives, increasing medical costs and reducing productivity through lost working days. The pollutants with the most serious impacts on human health are particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide and ground-level ozone.
Dashboard (Tableau) United Kingdom - Air pollution country fact sheet A significant proportion of Europe's urban population lives in cities where EU air quality standards for the protection of human health are regularly exceeded. Air pollution continues to have significant impacts on the health of Europeans, particularly in urban areas. These health impacts have economic costs, cutting short lives, increasing medical costs and reducing productivity through lost working days. The pollutants with the most serious impacts on human health are particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide and ground-level ozone.

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Related briefings

Briefing Europe’s air quality status 2021- update Air pollution is the single largest environmental health risk in Europe, causing cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, that, in the most serious cases, lead to premature deaths. This chapter gives the status of concentrations of pollutants in ambient air in 2019 and 2020 presented by pollutant, as relates to both EU air quality standards and WHO guideline levels. The assessment shows that, in spite of improvements in air quality in recent years, exceedances of standards are still common across the EU.
Briefing Europe’s air quality status 2021 Air pollution is the single largest environmental health risk in Europe, causing cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, that, in the most serious cases, lead to premature deaths. This EEA briefing gives the status of concentrations of pollutants in ambient air in 2019 and 2020 presented by pollutant, as relates to both EU air quality standards and WHO guideline levels. The assessment shows that, in spite of improvements in air quality in recent years, exceedances of standards are still common across the EU.
Briefing
Draft
Air Quality Status Air pollution is the single largest environmental health risk in Europe, causing cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, that, in the most serious cases, lead to premature deaths. This EEA briefing presents a status of ambient air concentrations of air pollutions in 2019 and 2020 presented by pollutant, for both EU and WHO air quality standards. The assessment shows that, in spite of improvements in air quality in recent years, exceedances of standards are still common across the EU.

See also

Page Air pollution country fact sheets 2022 The air pollution country fact sheets summarise key data on air pollution for each of the 32 EEA member countries and 6 cooperating countries. Indicators on past and future emission trends are presented, as well as a summary of the national air quality situation in each country.
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Archived
Air pollution country fact sheets 2021 The air pollution country fact sheets summarise key data on air pollution for each of the 32 EEA member countries and 6 cooperating countries. Indicators on past and future emission trends are presented, as well as a summary of the national air quality situation in each country.
Page Air pollution country fact sheets 2020 The air pollution country fact sheets summarise key data on air pollution for each of the 32 EEA member countries*, 6 cooperating countries, and the United Kingdom. Indicators on past and future emission trends are presented, as well as a summary of the national air quality situation in each country.
Page Air pollution: how it affects our health Air pollution is a major cause of premature death and disease, and is the single largest environmental health risk in Europe. Latest estimates by the European Environment Agency (EEA) show that fine particulate matter (PM2.5) continues to cause the most substantial health impacts.
Page Air quality concentrations Once air pollutants are released into the atmosphere they undergo a series of physical and chemical transformations to finally end up deposited on the ground, waters and vegetation, and are inhaled by humans and animals. Air quality is assessed by the concentrations of those pollutants in the ambient air.
Page Air pollution country fact sheets 2019 The air pollution country fact sheets summarise key data on air pollution for each of the 33 EEA member countries. Indicators on past and future emission trends are presented, as well as a summary of the national air quality situation in each country.
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Archived
Spain – air pollution country fact sheet 2018
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Sweden – air pollution country fact sheet 2018
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Switzerland – air pollution country fact sheet 2018
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Turkey – air pollution country fact sheet 2018
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United Kingdom – air pollution country fact sheet 2018
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Slovenia – air pollution country fact sheet 2018
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Slovakia – air pollution country fact sheet 2018
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Romania – air pollution country fact sheet 2018
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Portugal – air pollution country fact sheet 2018
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Poland – air pollution country fact sheet 2018
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Netherlands – air pollution country fact sheet 2018
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Luxembourg – air pollution country fact sheet 2018
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Malta – air pollution country fact sheet 2018
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Norway – air pollution country fact sheet 2018
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Lithuania – air pollution country fact sheet 2018
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Iceland – air pollution country fact sheet 2018
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Ireland – air pollution country fact sheet 2018
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Italy – air pollution country fact sheet 2018
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Latvia – air pollution country fact sheet 2018
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Liechtenstein – air pollution country fact sheet 2018
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Hungary – air pollution country fact sheet 2018
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Greece – air pollution country fact sheet 2018
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Germany – air pollution country fact sheet 2018
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Denmark – air pollution country fact sheet 2018
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Czech Republic – air pollution country fact sheet 2018
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Estonia – air pollution country fact sheet 2018
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France – air pollution country fact sheet 2018
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Finland – air pollution country fact sheet 2018
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Cyprus – air pollution country fact sheet 2018
Page Croatia – air pollution country fact sheet 2018
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Belgium – air pollution country fact sheet 2018
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Austria – air pollution country fact sheet 2018
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Bulgaria – air pollution country fact sheet 2018
Page Air pollution country fact sheets 2018 The air pollution country fact sheets summarise key data on air pollution for each of the 33 EEA member countries. Indicators on past and future emission trends are presented, as well as a summary of the national air quality situation in each country.
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