Revealed: almost everyone in Europe is breathing toxic air

Europe Faces Severe Public Health Crisis Due to Air Pollution

Europe is facing a “severe public health crisis”, with almost everyone across the continent living in areas with dangerous levels of air pollution, an investigation by the Guardian has found.

Analysis of data gathered using cutting-edge methodology – including detailed satellite images and measurements from more than 1,400 ground monitoring stations – reveals a dire picture of dirty air, with 98% of people living in areas with highly damaging fine particulate pollution that exceed World Health Organization guidelines. Almost two-thirds live in areas where air quality is more than double the WHO’s guidelines.

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Emphasized:

1. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
2. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
3. SDG 13: Climate Action

Worst-hit Countries in Europe

• North Macedonia: Almost two-thirds of people across the country live in areas with more than four times the WHO guidelines for PM2.5, while four areas were found to have air pollution almost six times the figure, including in its capital, Skopje.

• Eastern Europe (excluding Italy): Significantly worse air pollution than western Europe, with more than a third of those living in the Po valley and surrounding areas in northern Italy breathing air that is four times the WHO figure for the most dangerous airborne particulates.

Data and Findings

The Guardian worked with pollution experts to produce an interactive map revealing the worst-hit areas on the continent. The measurements refer to PM2.5 – tiny airborne particles mostly produced from the burning of fossil fuels, some of which can pass through the lungs and into the bloodstream, affecting almost every organ in the body. The current WHO guidelines state that annual average concentrations of PM2.5 should not exceed 5 micrograms a cubic metre (µg/m³). The new analysis found only 2% of the population of Europe live in areas within this limit. Experts say PM2.5 pollution causes about 400,000 deaths a year across the continent.

Key Findings

• Almost all residents in seven countries in eastern Europe – Serbia, Romania, Albania, North Macedonia, Poland, Slovakia and Hungary – have double the WHO guidance.

• More than half the population of North Macedonia and Serbia live with four times the WHO figure.

• In Germany, three-quarters of the population lives with more than twice the WHO guidance. In Spain that figure is 49%, and in France it is 37%.

• In the UK, three-quarters of the population live in areas where exposure is between one and two times the WHO guidance, with almost a quarter over it.

• Close to 30 million Europeans are living in areas with small particle concentrations that are at least four times the WHO guidelines.

• In Sweden, by contrast, there is no area where PM2.5 reaches more than twice the WHO figure, and some areas in northern Scotland are among the few across Europe that fall below it.

Causes and Impacts of Air Pollution

Traffic, industry, domestic heating, and agriculture are the main sources of PM2.5, and the impact is often felt disproportionately by the poorest communities.

Call for Urgent Action

Air pollution has become a key issue in Europe, with the EU coming under pressure to do more to tackle the growing public health crisis. Last week, the European parliament voted to adopt the WHO guidelines on PM2.5 by 2035. The law, which must still be finalized in negotiations with the council, would set a legally binding limit for annual PM2.5 concentrations of 5µg/m³, down from 25µg/m³ today. However, experts stress the need for urgent action to address the immediate health risks.

Health Impacts of Air Pollution

Experts point to a growing body of evidence that shows air pollution affects almost every organ in the body and is linked to a range of health problems, including heart and lung disease, cancer, diabetes, depression and mental illness, cognitive impairment, and low birth weight.

Expert Opinions

Dr Hanna Boogaard, an expert on air pollution in Europe at the US Health Effects Institute, emphasizes the need for bold action to maximize public

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
• SDG 13: Climate Action

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• SDG 3.9: By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water, and soil pollution and contamination.
• SDG 11.6: By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management.
• SDG 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

The article mentions the following indicators:

• Percentage of people living in areas with dangerous levels of air pollution
• Percentage of people living in areas with highly damaging fine particulate pollution that exceed WHO guidelines
• Percentage of people living in areas where air quality is more than double WHO guidelines
• Percentage of people living in areas with PM2.5 concentrations that exceed WHO guidelines

Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

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Source: theguardian.com

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