The European Environment Agency (EEA) has identified the “hazard” responsible for the deaths of half a million people in 2021, pointing to air pollution.
Researchers from the European Economic Area (EEA) largely blame fine particles, or inhalable particles known as PM2.5.
Of the total, researchers attributed 253,000 premature deaths to PM2.5 levels that exceeded the World Health Organization’s (WHO) maximum guideline limits. Other deaths were caused by excessive levels of nitrogen dioxide and ozone.
Virginijus Sinkevicius, the European Commissioner for Environment, told the British newspaper The Guardian: “The figures released remind us that air pollution remains the number one environmental health problem.”
According to the WHO, air pollution, often referred to as the “silent killer,” is one of the biggest health emergencies, contributing to an increased risk of respiratory infections, heart disease, asthma, and cancer.
A Guardian investigation this year found that 98% of people in Europe were breathing air that violated WHO guidelines.
The EEA report found that the highest levels of air pollution were found in Central and Eastern Europe, where 99% of people were exposed to PM2.5 levels above the WHO guideline.
The report also found that air pollution was responsible for a significant economic burden, costing the European economy €100 billion a year in healthcare costs and lost productivity.
The EEA report calls for urgent action to reduce air pollution, including investing in renewable energy, improving public transport, and making cities more walkable and bikeable.
