Urban air quality

According to the report, despite a reduction in emissions in 2020, concentrations of particulate matter, (including both PM_2.5 and PM₁₀), ozone (O₃), and nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) regularly exceed the European Union (EU) Air Quality Standards and they are well above the latest World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations.

Figure 1 presents the percentage of the EU urban population exposed to air pollutants concentrations above EU standards as set out in the ambient air quality directives and the WHO global air quality guidelines. The EU air quality standards are less strict for all pollutants than the WHO air quality guidelines.

Figure 1. Percentage of the EU urban population exposed to key air pollutant concentrations above EU standards and WHO guidelines in 2020

PM_2.5

PM_2.5 can travel deeply into the human respiratory system, reaching the lungs. Exposure to PM_2.5 is linked to respiratory and cardiovascular diseases and reduced lung function. 96% of the urban population was exposed to concentrations of fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) above the WHO annual guideline of 5 µg/m³. 

Figure 2 presents annual average concentrations of PM_2.5 measured at urban monitoring stations located in European cities in 2020 and in 2021. The highest levels of PM_2.5 concentrations were measured in cities in Italy, Poland, Bulgaria, Croatia, and the Czech Republic.

Figure 2. Concentrations of PM_2.5 in 2020 and 2021 in relation to the EU annual limit value and the WHO annual guideline

Note: The maps present annual average PM_2.5 concentrations measured at urban air quality monitoring stations, including background, industrial and traffic stations.

PM₁₀

PM₁₀ includes particulate matter with a diameter of 10 µm or less. Exposure to particles can adversely affect both human lungs and heart and leads to premature death in people with heart or lung disease. In 2020, 71% of the urban population was exposed to concentrations of PM₁₀ above the WHO guideline of 45 µg/m³.

Figure 3 presents the 90.4 percentile of average daily concentrations of PM₁₀ measured at urban monitoring stations located in European cities in 2020 and in 2021. Exceedances of the EU daily limit value for PM₁₀ are seen at urban locations in Italy, Poland, Croatia, Bulgaria, and south-eastern countries (Figure 3).

Figure 3. Concentrations of PM₁₀ in 2020 and 2021 in relation to the EU daily limit value

Note: The maps present the 90.4 percentile of daily PM₁₀ concentrations measured at urban air quality monitoring stations, including background, industrial and traffic stations. The 90.4 percentile refers to the EU daily limit value for PM_10.

O₃

Exposure to high ozone concentrations can cause serious harm to the respiratory system and leads to cardiovascular diseases and puts sensitive receptors at a higher risk of premature death. 95% of the urban population was exposed to concentrations of O₃ above the WHO guideline of 100 µg/m³.

Figure 4 presents the 93.2 percentile of maximum daily 8-hour mean concentrations of O₃ measured at urban monitoring stations located in European cities in 2020 and in 2021. Exceedances of the EU target value for O₃ were widely reported throughout Europe.

Figure 4. Concentrations of O₃ in 2020 and 2021 in relation to the EU target value

Note: The maps present the 93.2 percentile of maximum O₃ daily 8-hour mean concentrations measured at urban air quality monitoring stations, including background, industrial and traffic stations. The 93.2 percentile refers to the EU target value for O_3.

NO₂

Elevated levels of NO₂ are associated with adverse effects to the human respiratory system and a long-term exposure to high levels of NO₂ can cause chronic lung disease. 89% of the urban population was exposed to concentrations of NO₂ above the WHO guideline of 10 µg/m³.

Figure 5 presents the annual average concentrations of NO₂ measured at urban monitoring stations located in European cities in 2020 and in 2021. The highest NO₂ concentrations were recorded in big cities across Europe. 

Figure 5. Concentrations of NO₂ in 2020 and 2021 in relation to the EU annual limit value and the WHO annual guideline

Note: The maps present annual average concentrations of NO₂ measured at urban air quality monitoring stations, including background, industrial and traffic stations.

Source: Europe’s air quality status 2022 — European Environment Agency (europa.eu) and AIR003