Air quality in Europe 2021

Health impacts of air pollution in Europe, 2021

Briefing Published 15 Nov 2021 Last modified 09 Feb 2023

13 min read

Photo: © Teodora Todorova, Sustainably Yours /EEA

Air pollution is a major cause of premature death and disease and is the single largest environmental health risk in Europe. Heart disease and stroke are the most common reasons for premature deaths attributable to air pollution, followed by lung diseases and lung cancer. This chapter estimates the potential health benefits of attaining the EU air quality standards and the WHO guideline values for fine particulate matter in ambient air. It also assesses progress towards the health-related objective of the EU’s Zero Pollution Action Plan. Finally, it presents the latest estimates of the health impacts of exposure to the following key air pollutants: fine particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide and ozone.