Europe’s kids suffer from air

CAUSES OVER 1 200 PREMATURE DEATHS

Air pollution still causes more than 1 200 premature deaths a year in under-18s across Europe and increases the risk of chronic disease later in life, the EU environmental agency said.

Despite recent improvements, “the level of key air pollutants in many European countries remain stubbornly above World Health Organisation” (WHO) guidelines, particularly in central-eastern Europe and Italy, said the EEA after a study in over 30 countries, including the 27 members of the European Union.

The report did not cover the major industrial nations of Russia, Ukraine and the United Kingdom, suggesting the overall death tolls for the continent could be higher.

The EEA announced last November that 238 000 people died prematurely because of air pollution in 2020 in the EU, plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland and Türkiye.

The study was the agency’s first to focus specifically on children.

“Although the number of premature deaths in this age group is low relative to the total for the European population estimated by EEA each year, deaths early in life represent a loss of future potential and come with a burden of chronic illness, in childhood and later in life,” the agency said.

It urged authorities to focus on improving air quality around schools and nurseries, as well as sports facilities and mass transport hubs.

“After birth, ambient air pollution increases the risk of several health problems, including asthma, reduced lung function, respiratory infections and allergies,” the report noted.

Poor air quality can also “aggravate chronic conditions like asthma, which afflicts nine percent of children and adolescents in Europe, as well as increasing the risk of chronic diseases in adulthood”.

A total of 97% of the urban population were in 2021 exposed to air that did not meet WHO recommendations, according to figures released Monday.

The situation in Europe looks better than for much of the planet, says WHO. –