(MENAFN) More than 180,000 premature deaths in the European Union during 2023 were linked to prolonged exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) exceeding World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines, according to a recent health impact assessment.

The briefing, titled ‘Harm to human health from air pollution in Europe: burden of disease status, 2025’, highlights a continuing decline in air pollution-related deaths over the past 19 years. Reports indicate that fatalities tied to PM2.5 have dropped by 57% since 2005, surpassing the EU’s Zero Pollution Action Plan target of a 55% reduction by 2030—achieving the goal seven years ahead of schedule.

The analysis estimates that if air pollution levels had met WHO recommendations in 2023, roughly 182,000 deaths from PM2.5, 63,000 from ozone, and 34,000 from nitrogen dioxide could have been prevented across the EU.

Despite this progress, around 95% of urban residents in Europe remain exposed to pollution levels above WHO guidelines, with the highest health impacts reported in eastern and south-eastern Europe. Beyond premature mortality, air pollution exacerbates chronic diseases such as asthma, ischemic heart disease, stroke, and lung cancer. Emerging research also suggests a link between pollution and dementia, with this burden potentially exceeding that of other pollution-related conditions.

The findings were released in conjunction with the EU Clean Air Forum held in Bonn, Germany, on December 1-2. The revised EU Ambient Air Quality Directive, which came into effect in 2024, aligns EU standards more closely with WHO recommendations and is expected to further reduce air pollution-related health risks in the coming years.

The assessment covers 41 European countries, including all EU member states and other members of the European Economic Area, and tracks air pollution-related deaths based on the 2021 WHO guidelines. Mortality figures for different pollutants are reported separately to avoid double-counting.

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