Pollution levels are still too high despite an improvement in air quality, according to a new report by the European Environment Agency (EEA).
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00:00 While air quality in Europe is improving, pollution levels are still too high.
00:07 That's the warning issued by the European Environment Agency in a report published Friday.
00:16 It points out that all 27 EU member states are failing to meet their own standards, let
00:21 alone those set by the World Health Organization, and that it's threatening the health of Europeans.
00:29 There are of course many different air pollutants, but I picked the one that is most severe and
00:33 most harmful, fine particles. And we have our latest estimation is that 253,000 deaths
00:40 can be attributed to this pollutant. And these indeed could be prevented by right measures.
00:50 The number of deaths linked to fine particles fell by 41% between 2005 and 2021, but the
00:57 Environment Agency says member states must continue their efforts. Nitrogen dioxide pollution
01:04 was responsible for 52,000 deaths, and short-term exposure to ozone gas is responsible for 22,000
01:10 deaths in the EU. In cities, transport is the main source of pollution. And in some
01:17 regions, domestic heating using solid fuels like coal or wood also affects air quality.
01:24 All of these cumulative phenomena can cause or exacerbate illness.
01:30 In the most severe cases, it causes illnesses which lead quite quickly to death. Lung cancer
01:37 as an example. But it is also important to note, and our report is now first time looking
01:41 more in detail into various diseases and what is the impact of air pollution to aggravate
01:48 these diseases like asthma or chronic heart conditions. So it is the quality of life is
01:55 in many ways is hampered by air pollution still today in Europe.
02:00 The European Environment Agency also says that climate change, in particular the increase
02:05 of temperatures in cities, threatens air quality and as a result the health of all Europeans.
02:12 www.ecoeconomy.eu
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