Fine particulate air pollution caused 239,000 deaths in the European Union in 2022. people. This is five percent less than a year earlier, the European Environment Agency (EEA) reported on Tuesday (10/12/2024).
EEA analyzes also show that 70 thousand premature deaths can be attributed to excessive ozone concentrations, and 48,000 nitrogen dioxide concentration.
Mostly in Italy and Poland
The number of deaths caused by particulate matter, which penetrates deep into the lungs when inhaled, was the highest in the country Italy (48.6 thousand) and in Poland (34.7 thousand). Germany was in second place with 32.6 thousand. premature deaths.
The study focused on deaths caused by PM2.5, which is particularly harmful to health. These tiny particles, no larger than 2.5 micrometers in diameter, can penetrate deep into the lungs and from there into the bloodstream. They can cause diseases of the circulatory and respiratory systems, such as asthma or cancer spit.
Good news
Despite the high number of deaths, there is also good news. According to the EEA, the decline in deaths compared to the previous year confirms the ongoing trend. Deaths decreased by 45 percent between 2005 and 2022. The health risk due to ozone and dioxide concentrations has also decreased coal.
Air pollution remains the greatest environmental threat to the health of Europeans. However, the European Union is on track to reduce the risk and reduce the number of premature deaths by 55 percent by 2030.
(AFP, DPA/home)
The article comes from the website Deutsche Welle