European Environment Agency: Air pollution has become Europe's biggest health threat, especially in urban areas

【Global Times comprehensive report】 The European Environment Agency released a series of reports on European air quality on the 7th, saying that air pollution has become the biggest health threat in Europe, especially in urban areas.

The report shows that although emissions of major air pollutants and their concentrations in the air have dropped significantly over the past 20 years, air quality in many areas remains poor. According to WHO's updated air quality indicators this year, in 2019, 97% of the EU urban population lived in excess of PM2.5, 94% of people lived in environments with nitrogen dioxide exceeded the standard, 99% of people lived in environments with excessive ozone standards, and air pollution continued to be the leading cause of premature death and disease.

The report also said that people living in larger cities are exposed to higher concentrations of nitrogen dioxide due to vehicle exhaust in cities, such as in Central and Eastern Europe, where concentrations of airborne particulate matter and benzo(a) pyrene are highest due to household heating and industrial production of burning solid fuels, while southern Europe has the highest concentrations of ozone due to sunshine. However, global air quality improved overall in 2020, mainly due to weather and pandemic lockdown measures. (Hao Shuangyan)

Source: Global Times