Many Europeans Still Exposed to Harmful Air Pollutants

A third of city dwellers found in Europe are exposed to excessive amounts of airborne particulate matter (PM), which is an important indicator and pollutant in terms of human health. Progress has been made over the past couple of decades to reduce the pollution in the air that cause acidification. However a new report recently from European Environment Agency (EEA) indicates that there are parts of Europe that are still experiencing issues with outdoor concentrations of PM.

Environment Commissioner Janez Potočnik said: "This report is a timely reminder of how important air quality is to the health of our citizens. This is why I want 2013 to be the Year of Air and why I will focus on strengthening our air quality laws to tackle the problems identified today."

Professor Jacqueline McGlade, EEA Executive Director, said: "European Union policy has reduced emissions of many pollutants over the last decade, but we can go further. In many countries, air pollutant concentrations are still above the legal and recommended limits that are set to protect the health of European citizens. In fact, air pollution reduces human life expectancy by around two years in the most polluted cities and regions."

The EEA's 'Air quality in Europe — 2012 report' examines citizens' exposure to air pollutants and provides a snapshot of air quality in Europe. The report is intended to support the development of more effective clean air policies.