Air pollution | European Environment Agency’s home page

Air pollution emissions have declined in the last two decades, resulting in better air quality. Between 2005 and 2022, the number of deaths in the EU attributable to PM_2.5 fell by 45%, moving the EU closer to achieving the 55% reduction target outlined in the zero pollution action plan for 2030. Despite this improvement, air pollution remains the largest environmental health risk in Europe. Exposure to fine particulate matter, ozone and nitrogen dioxide levels above the World Health Organization recommendations cause an estimated 239,000, 70,000 and 48,000 premature deaths, respectively, in 2022. These pollutants are linked to asthma, heart disease and stroke.

Air pollution also causes morbidity. People live with diseases related to exposure to air pollution; this is a burden in terms of personal suffering as well as significant costs to the healthcare sector.

Society’s most vulnerable are more susceptible to air pollution impacts. Lower socio-economic groups tend to be exposed to higher levels of air pollution, while older people, children and those with pre-existing health conditions are more susceptible. Over 1,200 deaths in people under 18 years of age are estimated to be caused by air pollution every year in EEA member and collaborating countries.

Besides health issues, air pollution can considerably impact Europe’s economy due to increased healthcare costs, reduced life expectancy, and lost working days across sectors. It also damages vegetation and ecosystems, water and soil quality, and local ecosystems.

Across the EU, it is common to have air pollution levels that are higher than the latest WHO recommendations. Still, there are signs of improvement.

More than 83% of urban citizens are exposed above safe levels for all pollutants, except SO₂, according to 2021 World Health Organization air quality guideline values..
Over 1,200 deaths in people under 18 years of age are estimated to be caused by air pollution every year in EEA member and collaborating countries^[1] .
Data from 2021 show that Central-eastern Europe and Italy reported the highest concentrations of particulate matter, primarily due to the burning of solid fuels for domestic heating and their use in industry.

All EU countries reported levels of ozone and nitrogen dioxide above the health-based guideline levels set by the World Health Organization.

In 2022, 16 Member States met their respective 2020-2029 national emission reduction commitments under the EU’s National Emission reduction Commitments Directive (NECD) for each of the five main pollutants (nitrogen oxides, non-methane volatile organic compounds, ammonia, sulphur dioxide and fine particulate matter), according to the latest EEA assessment. Eleven Member States failed to do so for at least one of five main air pollutants.

Reducing ammonia emissions remains the biggest challenge: they have decreased only slightly in many Member States since 2005 and in some cases have increased.The agriculture sector is the principal source, responsible for 93% of total ammonia emissions

Since the 1980s, the EU has adopted strict policies on air quality. The EU’s Ambient Air Quality Directives set air quality standards for 12 air pollutants. These directives also define common methods to monitor, assess and inform the public on ambient air quality in the EU. The European Commission has proposed an updated Directive on ambient air quality and cleaner air for Europe, with a key goal being to bring EU standards closer to recommendations from the WHO.

To see where we are in relation to these goals, a network of more than 4,000 air quality monitoring stations creates reliable, objective, comparable information on air quality. When levels are above the limit or target values, Member States are expected to prepare an air quality plan or programme that addresses responsible sources and ensures compliance.

The Zero Pollution Action Plan also sets the 2030 target of improving air quality, with a focus on PM_2.5, in order to reduce the number of premature deaths caused by air pollution in the EU by a minimum of 55%, relative to those in 2005.

The National Emission reduction Commitments Directive sets national emission reduction commitments for Member States and the EU for five important air pollutants: nitrogen oxides (NO_x), non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOCs), sulphur dioxide (SO₂), ammonia (NH₃) and fine particulate matter (PM_2.5). These pollutants contribute to poor air quality, leading to significant negative impacts on human health and the environment.

The EEA supports these policies through data, indicators and assessments, including the annual air quality report and the zero pollution monitoring assessment.

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