Air pollution in Europe is responsible for 467,000 premature deaths every year. According to the European Environment Agency, people living in urban areas are particularly at risk. They are about 85% exposed to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) at harmful levels.
The highest number of premature death due to air pollution in Europe takes place in Italy. The second name on the list is the UK. The findings come as a critical update for the UK as ministers have recently been given a legal deadline to come up with a stronger air quality plan.
According to the EEA, NO2 caused 11,940 premature deaths in the UK in 2013. In 2012, while it was 14,100 in 2012, the UK was still the second-worst country in Europe. The EEA has also revealed that the UK happens to be Europe's worst NO2 hotspot.
The highest annual mean level of the pollutant was recorded in Marylebone Road in London. The recorded numbers are way higher than the legal limit in Europe. It shows how critical the air pollution in Europe is.
"Today's EEA report puts the UK in an unwanted position near the top of the table when it comes to premature deaths from exposure to NO2 pollution," The Guardian quoted ClientEarth CEO James Thornton as saying. "The UK government should be ashamed of these figures and must act now to protect the health of people in this country."
PM2.5 is too small to smell or see. However, it has a severely harmful impact on people. It can cause asthma, lung cancer and heart disease. More than 430,000 people in Europe had premature death in 2013 due to PM2.5. But, according to EEA, the air quality is worse in 2016. The toxic gas nitrogen dioxide level in Europe can now cause 71,000 premature deaths a year. Central heating boilers and vehicles release NO2.
Another lethal factor is ground-level ozone that can kill around 17,000 people a year in the EU. While the stratospheric ozone layer is protective, the ground-level ozone can be lethal. It is formed when NO2 get in touch with other pollutants under sunlight or heat, the BBC reported.
