Health impacts of exposure to fine particulate matter in Europe

Health impacts of exposure to fine particulate matter in Europe

The EU’s zero pollution action plan aims to reduce the number of premature deaths caused by fine particulate matter (PM2.5) by at least 55% by 2030, from 2005 levels. Between 2005 and 2019, the number of premature deaths in the EU attributed to PM2.5 fell by 33%. If the number of premature deaths continues to fall at this rate, the 55% target will be achieved by 2032 at EU level. In 2019, as in previous years, the highest numbers of deaths per inhabitant were reported in Balkan regions, where solid fuel burning causes high PM2.5 levels, and the lowest numbers in Scandinavian regions, where PM2.5 levels are lower.