Air pollution continues to affect the health of people all across the European Union, says the EU’s top environmental organisation the European Environmental Agency (EEA).
Research just published in the EEA’s report Air quality in Europe – 2013 indicates that human health can be harmed by lower concentrations of air pollution than previously thought.
Two pollutants named particulate matter (PM2.5) and ground-level ozone (O3) are the source of breathing problems, cardiovascular disease and shortened lives.
Between the years 2009 and 2011, up to 96 per cent of city dwellers were exposed to particulate matter concentrations above the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) guidelines.
Similarly, 98 per cent of citizens were exposed to ground level ozone concentrations above the recommended WHO guidelines.
Reuters Newsagency reports that ground-level ozone pollution, formed indirectly by a combination of sunlight and mixtures of other pollutants in the atmosphere, inflicts huge damage on EU crop production, particularly in Mediterranean countries such as Italy, France and Spain.
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he report mentions that the increased number of diesel vehicles on Europe’s road are a major source of nitrogen dioxide one of the main precursor pollutants that form ozone.
These exhausts not only affect people but also the honeybees, and their ability to smell flowers, which can affect pollination and undermine food production.
Environment Commissioner Janez Potocnik added: “Air quality is a central concern for many people. Surveys show that a large majority of citizens understand well the impact of air quality on health and are asking public authorities to take action at EU, national and local levels, even in times of austerity and hardship. I am ready to respond to these concerns through the Commission’s upcoming Air Policy Review.”
The EEA’s report also indicates that not only cities are affected but significant levels of air pollution, but also some rural areas.
Hans Bruyninckx, EEA Executive Director, said: “Air pollution is causing damage to human health and ecosystems. Large parts of the population do not live in a healthy environment, according to current standards.
“To get on to a sustainable path, Europe will have to be ambitious and go beyond current legislation.”
Despite the success stories of the reduction of emissions of air pollutants from the past decade, the report indicates that Europe is far from solving the problem.
The full report can be read on <http://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/air-quality-in-europe-2013>
One Response
Everyone has heard about air pollutants in China but that it is Europs turn is a bit of a surprise. declining numbers of bees has been reported in the news but that that is caused by bees not being able to smell is news indeed. diesel cars are very popular and in fact encouraged over gas cars which are much cleaner.