Europe’s urban population is at risk of environmental pollution

Although during 2020, due to the measures against the pandemic, the decrease in the environmental pollution, mainly that of the air, has been significantly noticed, the fight against the environmental pollution seems to be not over.

According to the European Economic Area (EEA), the most harmful pollutants to human health are nitrogen dioxide (NO2) ozone (O3) and benzo[a]pyrene. The EEA presents the latest official data for 2020, plus provisional data for 2021, on concentrations of major air pollutants.

According to a study by one of Britain’s largest rubbish removal companies, 96% of Europe’s urban population is exposed mainly to particulate matter found in the air polluted.

Researchers show that the populations most exposed to environmental pollution, in general, are people with low socio-economic status and minority populations. They are more vulnerable to negative health impacts. The health risk from pollution varies depending on age, place of residence, basic health and immunity.

Populations most at risk of health problems related to air pollution:

• People with lung diseases, such as asthma, chronic bronchitis, emphysema, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
• Babies and young children
• People who work or exercise outside
• Adults over 65
• People with cardiovascular disease
• People in poverty; persons who do not have access to health care
• People who smoke or are exposed to secondhand smoke
• People working in occupations where there is high exposure to contaminated air
• People who spend a lot of time near busy roads

Particles in polluted air remain a challenge

Despite the reduction in air pollution by 2020 most of the EU urban population was exposed to major air pollutants and fine particles. Central and Eastern Europe and Italy reported higher concentrations of particulate matter and benzo [a] pyrene (a carcinogen), mainly due to the burning of solid fuels, such as coal and wood, for domestic heating and the use of fossil fuels in industrial production.

Under the European Green Arrangement Zero Pollution Action Plan, the European Commission identified a number of actions to help address air quality in Europe. This includes a review of ambient air quality directives, aiming, inter alia, to harmonize EU air quality standards with WHO recommendations. (World Health Organization)