Most residents of European cities face unsafe levels of air pollution. Reducing pollution to comply with the recommended standards of the World Health Organization (WHO) could prevent over half of premature deaths caused by exposure to fine particles in the air.

Air pollution is a major problem in Europe, with serious consequences for health, especially for children and adolescents. Despite a decrease in pollutant emissions in recent decades, air pollution levels remain high in many European countries. According to the World Health Organization, pollutant levels are higher than recommended, especially in Central and Eastern Europe and Italy.

Air pollution causes over 1,200 premature deaths annually in children under 18 in the 32 member countries of the European Environment Agency. Although this number may seem relatively small compared to the European population, deaths at a young age represent a significant loss and are associated with a substantial burden of chronic diseases in childhood and adulthood.

Children and adolescents are particularly vulnerable to air pollution as their organs and immune system are still developing. They face an increased risk of respiratory conditions such as asthma, respiratory infections and allergies. Air pollution can affect lung development and contribute to premature birth and low birth weight, negatively impacting long-term health.

To protect the health of our children, it is necessary to intensify measures to reduce air pollution at the European, national and local levels. It is important for air quality policies to focus on protecting all citizens, especially children, who are most exposed to the harmful effects of air pollution. Improving air quality around schools and kindergartens and during outdoor activities such as commuting to school and sports can help reduce children's exposure to pollutants, writes eea.europa.eu, the official website of the European Environment Agency (EEA).

According to the latest data monitored by the EEA, air pollution levels remain high in Europe. Over 90% of the urban population of the European Union has been exposed to harmful levels of nitrogen dioxide, ozone and fine particulate matter. Fine particulate matter, especially PM2.5, is considered one of the most dangerous forms of air pollution, associated with an increased risk of stroke, cancer and respiratory diseases.

According to preliminary data from 2022, Central and Eastern Europe and Italy recorded the highest concentrations of PM2.5, mainly due to the burning of solid fuels, such as coal. This situation highlights the need for urgent action to reduce atmospheric pollutant emissions and improve air quality in these regions.

In the ranking of the cleanest European cities, Faro in Portugal, Umeå and Uppsala in Sweden achieved the best results in terms of average PM2.5 levels. These cities have managed to maintain clean air, contributing to the protection of their citizens' health.

JRC's Air Quality Atlas for Europe is a document that presents and analyzes the most important sources of PM2.5 particle emissions in 150 European cities. Here are the main pollution factors in Europe, according to the respective document:

The main identified pollutant factors are industry (27%), agriculture (19%), maritime transport (18%), land transport (14%) and residential sector (13%). The distribution of these factors varies from city to city - in Malmo, transportation is the main factor, while in Ljubljana, the residential sector is the main factor.

Regarding the accepted limit set by European Union standards for PM2.5 particles (25 µg/m3 on an annual average), this is often met. However, when it comes to the recommended limit by the World Health Organization (10 µg/m3 on an annual average), very few European cities can maintain it. Exceeding the limit imposed by EU standards directly affects public health, increasing health costs and affecting the economies of states.

According to the report, land transport accounts for 14% of the total pollutant factors in a European city. The main cities and regions that contribute most to these statistics through PM2.5 emissions are Malmo (39%), Brescia (28%), Parma (27%), Angers and Verona (26%), while Oviedo, Kosice, Limassol, Gijon and Lisbon contribute the least. Maritime transport also plays a significant role, accounting for 18% of the total pollutant factors. Coastal cities, such as Valetta (33%), Palermo (29%), Palma de Mallorca (26%), Athens (24%) and Bari (21%), record high PM2.5 emissions.

The residential sector also has a significant impact on air pollution, accounting for 13% of the total pollutant factors in cities. According to the analysis, the most affected cities are those in Eastern Europe and certain regions in Italy. Ljubljana (45%), Turin (41%), Sofia (40%), Zagreb (38%) and Budapest (33%) recorded the highest contributions to these statistics, according to raportuldegarda.ro.

Although agricultural activities mainly take place outside cities, their emissions significantly contribute to the concentration of PM2.5 in many European cities. Agriculture is responsible for 19% of the total pollutant factors in cities. The highest contributions were recorded in Newcastle (34%), Wolfsburg (32%), Hannover (31%), Kiel (30%) and Bonn (40%).

Industry plays a key role in numerous cities, being responsible for 27% of the total pollutant factors.

In the report, only two cities in Romania were analyzed, Iași and Bucharest. Although Romania fares relatively well regarding compliance with EU standards for PM2.5 and PM10 particle emissions; when it comes to the recommendations of the World Health Organization, we fall into the group of countries that cannot maintain a value close to the recommended average.

Regarding the main pollutant factors in Bucharest, industry, the residential sector and land transport occupy the top positions. According to the document, PM2.5 particle emissions associated with the residential sector include emissions from home heating devices, such as fireplaces and stoves, boilers, cooking and heating appliances found in commercial, institutional or residential activities.

Regarding the pollutant factors encountered in Iași, the statistics are similar to those in Bucharest, although there is a slightly higher proportion of the "other types of emissions" category. This may include the extraction and distribution of fossil fuels, the use of solvents, other sources of transportation (rail, air), waste treatment and disposal, NOx emissions, and so on.

One of the biggest problems regarding pollution in Europe is related to means of transportation. However, it is important to identify which of these are the most polluting and what are the health consequences.

Air transport

Pollution caused by airplanes is indeed alarming. For example, a flight from Paris to New York contributes to global warming equivalent to consuming 6 kg of red meat. Statistics show that carbon emissions are continuously increasing in Europe, Asia and America, despite efforts by organizations to promote less polluting transportation methods.

Moreover, many currently used planes do not comply with environmental standards, diminishing pollution control efforts. However, finding quick solutions to this situation is challenging. Air transport remains the only means of transportation that can connect destinations at great distances in a very short time. The use of renewable fuel sources and the construction of more efficient planes are necessary to reduce the long-term impact of pollution.

Car transport

Car transport remains the most polluting means of transportation, especially in major European cities. Diesel cars, which are still popular, significantly contribute to urban air pollution and are directly responsible for greenhouse gas emissions and climate change. In 2018, the number of premature deaths caused by illegal nitrogen dioxide emissions in Europe was 71,000 per year. Although authorities have set significant goals to reduce these worrying figures by 2025, statistics show that they are still far from achieving this objective. However, there are some car companies that comply with legal limits for nitrogen dioxide, such as the BMW-Mini group, Mazda, the Audi-Porsche group and the Seat-Skoda group. Among all types of vehicles, trucks are the most polluting, emitting up to 26%.

In addition to air pollution, vehicles also contribute to noise pollution in major cities. The noise produced by heavy traffic has a negative impact on health, causing headaches and sleep disorders.

Maritime transport

The situation is not favorable for maritime transport either, as 90% of global trade is conducted through ships. They pollute so much that it is estimated that by 2050, they will produce up to 20% of total global emissions due to the fuel used, according to reciclare-carton.ro.

Rail transport

The close link between the environment, human health and traffic makes us focus on railway transport as well. Although it may seem a less polluting source, the storage and handling of certain products transported in wagons can contribute to pollution. A clear example is coal. Waste management and cleaning of wagons can also be another source of pollution.