AFP | Stockholm, Sweden
Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com
More than 250,000 people died from fine particle pollution in the European Union in 2021, according to a European Environment Agency (EEA) report published on Friday.
Particulate matter (PM2.5) is a term used to describe fine particles that are typically a byproduct of vehicle exhaust or coal-fired power plants.
Their small size allows them to penetrate deep into the airways, worsening the risk of bronchitis, asthma, and lung disease.
“At least 253,000 deaths in the EU in 2021 were due to exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) pollution above concentrations recommended by the WHO, according to the EEA’s latest estimates.” the group said.
The EEA added that these deaths “could have been avoided if fine particulate matter concentrations met WHO recommendations.”
This figure represents an increase compared to 2020, when fine particles were blamed for 238,000 premature deaths.
The EEA said this increase could be explained by increased exposure to pollutants and a slight increase in mortality rates in Europe, mainly due to COVID-19.
For other pollutants, premature deaths from exposure to nitrogen dioxide (NO2) also increased slightly from 2020, reaching 52,000 in 2021.
Meanwhile, deaths from exposure to ozone (O3), mainly caused by road traffic and industrial activities, were estimated to be responsible for 22,000 premature deaths, a slight decrease compared to 2020.