With 307,000 premature deaths in 2019 in the European Union, the mortality caused by fine particles posted a drop of 10% in one year. The trend could continue by respecting the new air quality objectives set by WHO.
Le Monde with AFP
Pollution with fine particles caused 307,000 premature deaths in the European Union (EU) in 2019. If the number remains alarming, it nevertheless decreased by more than 10% in one year, according to a report of the European Environmental Agency (EEA), published Monday, November 15th.
In 2018, the number of deaths bound to fine particles PM 2.5 (air suspension particles with a diameter of less than 2.5 micrometers) was estimated at 346,000. The net decrease of 2019 S ‘ Partly explains by favorable weather conditions but especially by the continuation of the gradual improvement of the air quality in Europe, according to the EEA.
In the early 1990s, the fine particles, which are deeply penetrating in the lungs, thus provoked nearly one million premature deaths in the twenty-seven countries of the EU, according to these data. One number has fallen to about 450,000 in 2005.
Nearly 30,000 deaths in France
Among the main countries of the EU, pollution with fine particles has been responsible, in 2019, of 53,800 premature deaths in Germany, 49 900 in Italy, 29,800 in France and 23 300 in Spain, according to the AEE. With 39,300 dead, Poland is the most affected country with respect to its population.
The Agency, based in Copenhagen, also measures deaths related to the other two main air pollutants for health, but does not add the balance sheets as it would depend on double counts.
For ozone particles (o 3 ), the trend in 2019 was also down with 16,800 premature dead, a decline of 13% over one year. For nitrogen dioxide (no 2 ), gas produced mainly by vehicles and thermal power plants, premature deaths decreased by a quarter of 2018 and 2019, passing 40 400.
Air pollution remains the most important environmental threat to the health of Europeans. Cardiac diseases and brain strokes are the most common causes of premature deaths attributable to air pollution, followed by lung diseases and lung cancers, recalls the EEA. In children, atmospheric pollution could hinder the development of lungs, cause respiratory infections and aggravate asthma.
Mortality in the world close to that of smoking
Even if the situation is gradually improving, the EEA warned in September that most European countries were still beyond the limits, whether European recommendations or those more ambitious of the World Health Organization (WHO). According to the latter, air pollution makes seven million people premature per year in the world, a balance sheet that places them at levels close to smoking or poor diet.
This heavy assessment has pushed it, at the end of September, to establish more binding limits for the main air pollutants, for the first time since 2005.
“Investing in heating, mobility, agriculture and a cleaner industry improves the health, productivity and quality of life of all Europeans, including the most vulnerable,” pleaded the director of The EEA, Hans Bruyninck.
The EU has set itself the goal of having reduced by at least 55% in 2030 the number of premature deaths caused by fine particles, compared to the 2005 levels. If air pollution decreases At the current rate, the Agency considers that this objective would be reached by 2032.
However, trends in aging and urbanization could affect some of the sanitary gains associated with the reduction of air pollution concentrations.
“An older population is more sensitive to atmospheric pollution and a higher urbanization rate generally means that more people are exposed to fine particle concentrations, which tend to be higher in cities,” says The EEA in its report, calling for redouble efforts.