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Key messages: Environmental pollution contributes to at least 10% of annual premature deaths in the EU, with air and noise pollution posing significant health risks, including respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. Policy interventions targeting pollution reduction are critical to reducing the environmental burden of disease and protecting public health in Europe.

Environmental pollution, including air, noise and chemical pollution, significantly contributes to premature deaths and disease in Europe. At present, at least 10% of annual premature deaths in the EU-27 are estimated to be related to environmental pollution (see Figure).

For instance, air pollution, both outdoor and indoor, is a leading risk factor for respiratory diseases, particularly chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma; with asthma contributing significantly to morbidity and quality of life (EEA, 2024a). Long-term exposure to pollutants like PM2.5, PM10, and NO2 increases the risk of COPD, especially in individuals with genetic predispositions and unhealthy lifestyles (EEA, 2024b). Other environmental risks, such as exposure to occupational hazards also contribute to respiratory diseases and are inherently preventable. Regulatory interventions and policies targeting pollution reduction are essential to address these risks.

Premature deaths and years of life lost in 2021 caused by environmental pollution in the 27 EU Member States

Note: The left-hand maps illustrate premature deaths and years of life lost (YLL) attributable to a range of environmental pollution risk factors. The right-hand chart illustrates the non-communicable diseases linked to different environmental risk factors.  Noise is not included as a risk factor in the chart on the right as the data are not included in the IHME database on which this figure is based. 

The primary purpose of the chart on the right is to illustrate the proportion of relevant non-communicable diseases associated with exposure to different air pollutants and this is based only on data from IHME (see source information below). The total number of premature deaths estimated by IHME for PM2.5 exposure is lower than the EEA estimate, however both are of the same order of magnitude.

Source: For the left-hand map, all data for particulate matter (PM2.5), ozone (O3) and noise are based on EEA assessments and relate to 2022. The other risk factor data are extracted from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) global burden of disease database which relates to 2021. For the right-hand chart, all data relate to 2021 and are extracted from the IHME global burden of disease database.

Environmental noise, primarily from transport sources such as road, rail, and air traffic, is another major health risk in Europe after air pollution (Hänninen et al., 2014). Chronic exposure to transport noise is linked to cardiovascular, metabolic, and mental health conditions. Children are particularly vulnerable, with transport noise impairing cognitive development, reading comprehension, and behaviour (EEA, 2024c).

The harmful effects of lead on both the environment and human health have been recognised for a long time. Lead exposure poses risks to neurological, cardiovascular, renal, and reproductive health, as well as developmental toxicity. Research has shown that early-life exposure to lead is associated with adverse developmental outcomes, such as impaired neuromotor skills, reduced academic performance, behavioural issues, attention deficits, challenges in executive functioning, and diminished auditory and visual capabilities. It is only in recent decades that the severe consequences of low-level lead exposure have been fully understood (EEA, 2024d).

Therefore, reducing environmental pollution through appropriate policy measures at an EU and national level  is critical to lowering the burden of disease and preventing premature deaths. While data gaps and uncertainties remain, available evidence clearly underscores the urgency of reducing exposure to pollution to protect public health.

Please consult the relevant indicators and signals below for a more comprehensive overview on the topic.

Zero Pollution Action Plan 2030 target or policy objectives

  • Reduce air, water and soil pollution to levels no longer considered harmful to human health and ecosystems by 2050.

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Health

Zero pollution monitoring assessment

Other relevant indicators and signals

Progress in regulating lead (Signal)
Progress in regulating lead (Signal)
Premature deaths due to exposure to fine particulate matter in Europe (Indicator)
Premature deaths due to exposure to fine particulate matter in Europe (Indicator)
Exposure of Europe’s population to environmental noise (Indicator)
Exposure of Europe’s population to environmental noise (Indicator)
Morbidity due to exposure to air pollution (Signal)
Morbidity due to exposure to air pollution (Signal)

References

  1. EEA, 2024a, Beating chronic respiratory disease: the role of Europe’s environment, European Environment Agency, EEA web report no. 02/2024.
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  2. EEA, 2024b, Harm to human health from air pollution in Europe: burden of disease status, 2024, European Environment Agency, EEA Briefing no. 21/2024.
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  3. Hänninen, O., et al., 2014, ‘Environmental Burden of Disease in Europe: Assessing Nine Risk Factors in Six Countries’, Environmental Health Perspectives 122(5), pp. 439-446 (DOI: 10.1289/ehp.1206154).
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  4. EEA, 2024c, The effect of environmental noise on children’s reading ability and behaviour in Europe, European Environment Agency, EEA web report no. 16/2024
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  5. EEA, 2024d, Progress in regulating lead (Signal), EU indicator framework for chemicals, Progress in regulating lead (Signal) | European zero pollution dashboards accessed 24 January 2025.
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