Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Al Mayadeen correspondent to southern Lebanon: Israeli warplanes launched a raid on the Ksar Zaatar neighborhood in western Nabatieh.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza: The tower destroyed by the Israeli occupation in Gaza includes media offices, including Al Mayadeen's bureau.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza: Four fetuses and three premature babies died at Nasser Medical Complex due to malnutrition
Lebanese Ministry of Health: One person was killed in an Israeli airstrike on a car in the town of Burj Qalawieh, south Lebanon.
Al Mayadeen correspondent: The first ship of the Maghreb fleet delivering aid to break the siege on Gaza departs from the port of Gammarth in Tunisia.
Channel 12: Airspace closed at Ramon Airport due to fears of drone infiltration
IOF Spokesperson: Sirens sounded over an aircraft infiltration in the Bir Ora area, and details are being examined
Drone infiltration sirens sound north of the Gulf of Aqaba
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza: The Israeli occupation carried out five extremely violent raids on the western areas of Gaza City
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza: The Israeli occupation carried out major bombings in the Gaza Strip, the most violent since October 7

EU27 can save 238,000 lives/yr. by following WHO pollution guidelines

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: News websites
  • 23 Feb 2024 11:49
4 Min Read

A study focuses on 41 European countries and how limiting air pollution because of traffic and house heating can help save lives.

  • x
  • The sun sets behind the cole-fired power plant 'Scholven' of the Uniper energy company in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, on Oct. 22, 2022(AP)
    The sun sets behind the cole-fired power plant 'Scholven' of the Uniper energy company in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, on Oct. 22, 2022 (AP)

The European Environment Agency revealed that approximately 238,000 air pollution deaths could be prevented each year if the EU27 countries actually followed the World Health Organization guidelines for air pollution. It added that more than 400,000 deaths could also be prevented if particle air pollution was avoided completely.

The EU Council on February 20 agreed on a new legislation for clean air for 2030 and beyond. A new study revealed the expected benefits that could arise from reductions in air pollution due to traffic and home heating if these new legal limits are met.

The study focused on 41 European countries and discovered that a 20% drop in road traffic pollution could decrease annual excess deaths across Europe by about 7,000 people a year by reducing particle pollution. Diving deeper, they concluded that Germany tops the chart with potential decreases of more than 1,000 deaths annually, while in the UK and Italy, it would be more than 500. The latter estimates were based on air pollution and health statistics from 2015.

In parallel, a 20% decrease in air pollution from home heating would decrease the number of deaths by approximately 13,000 each year, which, in turn, helps East and Central Europe the most because of their high use of solid fuel for heating. Germany, Italy, Poland, Ukraine, and Turkey would have at least 1,000 fewer deaths each, while the UK would experience at least 650 fewer deaths.

The new study also revealed that more than half of the benefits would come from fewer deaths specifically those caused by heart attacks, strokes, and type 2 diabetes, as well as lung cancer.

Related News

WHO vows to stay in Gaza, appalled by 'Israel’s' evacuation order

Jewish health professionals condemn silence over Gaza

More determination and commitment, better results

Dr. Niki Paisi, who was part of the study team at the Climate and Atmosphere Research Center at the Cyprus Institute, stated, “Of the excess deaths in Europe that are attributed to long-term exposure to particle pollution, 26% and 12% of these can be avoided if residential combustion and road-transport emissions are phased out, respectively. Countries like the Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Estonia, Hungary, and Poland could experience higher benefits from a phase-out, given that these two sectors contribute together to nearly 50% of the particle pollution mortality in these countries.”

These sectors are the center of net zero strategies, which means that there are opportunities for optimizing European air pollution and climate policies for maximum health benefits.

What about other sources of particle pollution?

A study by Barcelona’s ISGlobal research institute published in 2023 shed some light on the issue of death caused by sources of particle pollution other than traffic and house heating. This study can assist national and especially city governments in understanding which polluting sectors they should prioritize.

Prof Mark Nieuwenhuijsen from ISGlobal explained, “Cities are still hotspots of air pollution and premature deaths. Urgent action is needed. This requires a holistic approach bringing together many different sectors including energy, transport, industry, and agriculture.”

Nieuwenhuijsen’s team has created an online tool that permits the public, city authorities, and governments to delve into the research database and visualize the harm from the different pollution sources in their area.

Many people in the UK and countries bordering the North Sea may be shocked by knowing that shipping is listed as a substantial source of particle pollution.

For large areas of north-west Europe, including much of the UK, the Netherlands, Denmark, and Germany, agriculture is one of the largest sources of early deaths from particle pollution, alongside transport and home heating. The latter gets little public and political attention, and solutions from farmers are rarely incorporated in air pollution plans. Figures released by the UK government in mid-February shed light on the need for more action with slow or no progress in reducing air pollution from farms and home heating with solid fuels.

  • World Health Organization
  • polan
  • Turkey
  • Air pollution
  • Italy
  • Germany
  • United Kingdom
  • Ukraine
  • European Union

Most Read

The damaged building in the Katara neighborhood, Doha, Qatar, September 9, 2025 (Social media)

Hamas delegation survives Israeli assassination attempt in Qatar

  • Politics
  • 9 Sep 2025
Pro-"Israel" conservative Charlie Kirk shot during Utah speech

American far-right activist Charlie Kirk shot dead during Utah speech

  • US & Canada
  • 11 Sep 2025
Uprising against Volker Turk at the Human Rights Council over Gaza.

Uprising against Volker Turk at the Human Rights Council over Gaza

  • Politics
  • 12 Sep 2025
A screengrab from the ad played on Fox News. (X Screengrab)

Fox airs ad warning Trump not to let Netanyahu 'play' him on Gaza

  • US & Canada
  • 11 Sep 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
President Nicolas Maduro gestures to supporters during the inauguration of a monument in China's honor on the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, in Caracas, Venezuela, Wednesday, September 3, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Maduro warns of threats, urges 'battle for truth' to defend Venezuela

Damage is seen after an Israeli strike targeted a compound that hosted Hamas' political leadership in Doha, Qatar, Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Jon Gambrell)
Politics

Netanyahu informed Trump before deadly attack in Doha: Reports

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio hold a joint press conference at the Prime Minister's Office, during Rubio's visit, in occupied al-Quds, occupied Palestine, Monday, September 15, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Netanyahu warns of Israeli isolation, calls to boost self-reliance

Spain axes €700Mln arms deals with 'Israel' over Gaza genocide
Politics

Spain axes €700Mln arms deals with 'Israel' over Gaza genocide

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS