Air pollution: Europe’s silent killer and the call for cleaner air

Breathing is the most fundamental act of life, yet for millions of people across Europe, the very air they inhale poses a silent, pervasive threat. Air pollution has long been recognized as a major environmental issue, but its impacts on human health, ecosystems, and economies are becoming increasingly impossible to ignore. According to the European Environment Agency (EEA), air pollution remains the leading environmental health risk in Europe, responsible for approximately 240,000 premature deaths annually due to exposure to fine particulate matter (PM_2.5). These microscopic pollutants, invisible to the naked eye, infiltrate our lungs and bloodstream, causing devastating health outcomes that ripple through families, communities, and entire nations.

Air pollution is the silent killer, claiming over 240,000 lives annually in the EU. The fight for cleaner air is not just an environmental issue—it’s a matter of life and death.

The fight against air pollution is not only a scientific or regulatory challenge; it is a matter of justice and equity. Vulnerable populations, including children, the elderly, and economically disadvantaged communities, are disproportionately affected by poor air qualityAir quality refers to the state of the air we breathe and its composition in terms of pollutants present in the atmosphere. It is considered good when poll...
Read more, exacerbating existing inequalities. Moreover, the environmental repercussions extend far beyond human health, threatening biodiversity, agriculture, and the global climate. Despite these challenges, there is hope. The EU’s revised Ambient Air Quality Directive (AAQD) marks a significant step forward, seeking to align European standards with the scientific air quality guidelines advised by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

In this article, we delve into the multifaceted impacts of air pollution, the solutions at our disposal, and the role of advanced monitoring technologies in building a cleaner, healthier, and more equitable future. By pushing the importance of accurate data, innovative solutions and collective action, we can pave the way towards a #ZeroPollution Europe where clean air is a right, not a privilege.

Understanding the impact of air pollution

The human health toll

Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) penetrates deep into the respiratory system, causing or exacerbating chronic respiratory diseases, cardiovascular problems, and even cancer. Vulnerable populations—children, the elderly, and individuals with pre-existing health conditions—are disproportionately affected. Research published in The Lancet highlights that long-term exposure to PM_2.5 reduces life expectancy by several months to years, even at levels considered acceptable by older standards.

Environmental consequences

Air pollution does not just harm humans. Ecosystems are also under threat. Excess nitrogen from air pollutantsAir pollution caused by atmospheric contaminants is one of the most critical and complex environmental problems we face today, both because of its global r...
Read more can lead to eutrophication in water bodies, while certain pollutants, such as ozone, damage crops, reducing agricultural yields. Furthermore, pollutants like black carbon and methane accelerate global warming, contributing to climate change’s cascading effects.

The revised Ambient Air Quality Directive: a step forward

In response to these alarming trends, the EU has revised its Ambient Air Quality Directive (AAQD) to better align with the World Health Organization’s (WHO) air quality guidelines. The goal is to significantly reduce exposure to harmful pollutants and move closer to a #ZeroPollution future by 2030.

This directive not only promises stricter pollution limits but also underscores the critical need for real-time monitoring and actionable insights to tackle this crisis head-on.

Key highlights of the revised directive

• Stricter Limits on Pollutants: The AAQD introduces tighter thresholds for PM_2.5, nitrogen dioxide (NO₂)Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) is a harmful gas whose presence in the atmosphere is mainly due to the use of fossil fuels in combustion vehicles and industrial act...
  Read more, and other hazardous substances.
• Increased Transparency: Enhanced public access to real-time air quality data ensures accountability and informed decision-making.
• Support for Local Authorities: Member states will receive technical and financial support to implement air quality measures effectively.

Measuring the environmental burden of disease: a critical perspective

One of the most impactful ways to understand air pollution’s effect on health is through the ‘environmental burden of disease’ (EBD) framework. This approach quantifies how environmental risk factors, such as air pollution, contribute to diseases and mortality across populations. By using indicators like Years of Life Lost (YLL) and Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs), the EBD method provides a holistic measure of health impacts that goes beyond simple mortality rates.

The concept of DALYs is particularly important—it represents the total years of healthy life lost due to both premature death and the years lived with disability from illness. For instance, exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) has been strongly linked to chronic diseases such as ischemic heart disease, lung cancer, and diabetes mellitus. These illnesses not only shorten lives but significantly reduce the quality of life for those affected.

By breaking down the burden of disease into categories like YLL and YLD, policymakers can identify where interventions, such as stricter air quality standards or real-time monitoring systems, will have the greatest impact. For example, in Europe, air pollutants like PM_2.5, NO₂, and O₃ have been found to cause significant morbidity and mortality, highlighting the urgent need for targeted measures to reduce exposure.

This analytical approach underscores an uncomfortable truth: many of these health impacts are preventable. Implementing advanced air quality monitoringControlling air quality is an essential task in order to enjoy optimal environmental conditions for healthy human development and to keep the environment i...
Read more systems and enforcing compliance with WHO’s air quality guidelines are key steps towards reducing the EBD and ensuring that clean air is a universal right, not a privilege.

By leveraging tools like DALYs, society can better appreciate the true cost of pollution—not just in economic terms but in the immeasurable value of human life and well-being.

The burden of disease can generally be measured using four indicators:

1. Years lived with disability (YLD): This quantifies the years a population has lived in reduced health due to a particular health outcome. YLDs are estimated by multiplying the number of prevalent cases of a particular health outcome by a disability weight, which indicates the severity of the health outcome on a scale from 0 (full health) to 1 (most severe health state).
2. Number of deaths: This counts the deaths that have occurred because of a specific disease or group of diseases.
3. Years of life lost (YLL): This is defined as the years of potential life lost due to death caused by a disease or group of diseases. YLL is an estimate of the average number of additional years that people in a population would have statistically lived if they had not died before reaching a certain statistical life expectancy. National mortality data are the baseline input used to estimate deaths and YLL.
4. Disability-adjusted life years (DALYs): A DALY represents one lost year of healthy life due to disease or injury. DALYs are obtained by adding YLL and YLD for the same disease or group of diseases. The burden of disease is the sum of these DALY values in a population. Therefore, DALYs are a standardised indicator for health effects resulting from both the number of people affected by a disease and the number of people dying from it.

Why monitoring air quality is essential

The role of advanced monitoring systems

Accurate and real-time data collection is the cornerstone of effective air pollution management. Innovative technologies, such as those developed by Kunak, provide robust solutions for measuring pollutants like PM_2.5, nitrogen oxides (NOx), and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). These systems enable policymakers, businesses, and communities to identify pollution hotspots and implement targeted interventions.

Real-time air quality monitoring is no longer optional—it’s essential for protecting public health and ensuring a sustainable future.

For instance, portable air monitoring stations equipped with advanced sensors offer flexibility and precision, making them ideal for urban environments, industrial zones, and even remote areas. This technology empowers stakeholders to act promptly and reduce emissions where they are most impactful.

Justice in environmental health

The right to breathe clean air is fundamental. However, studies show that marginalized communities often bear the brunt of air pollution. In urban settings, economically disadvantaged groups are more likely to live near industrial facilities or major roads, exposing them to higher pollutant levels. Addressing air pollution is not just an environmental challenge but a matter of justice and equity.

Clean air should not be a privilege for some but a fundamental right for everyone, regardless of where they live or their socioeconomic status.

Benefits of cleaner air

Health improvements

Reducing air pollution will lead to fewer premature deaths, hospital admissions, and days lost to illness. The European Respiratory Society estimates that for every 10 μg/m³ reduction in PM_2.5, thousands of lives could be saved annually.

Economic gains

Cleaner air translates to healthier workforces and increased productivity. Moreover, the agricultural sector benefits from fewer crop losses due to ozone pollution.

Combatting climate change

Lowering emissions of pollutants like black carbon and methane contributes to mitigating global warming. This dual benefit strengthens the case for comprehensive air quality policies.

Actions for a zero pollution future

Redefining health through air quality metrics

The concept of the environmental burden of disease provides a powerful framework for understanding the true impacts of air pollution on public health. By quantifying metrics such as Years of Life Lost (YLL) and Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs), we can clearly see the devastating toll of pollutants like PM_2.5, NO₂, and ozone. These indicators help highlight not only the mortality rates linked to air pollution but also the years lived with disability and reduced quality of life.

Crucially, these burdens are often preventable. Cutting emissions and aligning policies with WHO air quality guidelines could drastically lower the number of premature deaths and diseases caused by poor air quality. Technologies, such as real-time air quality monitoring, offer an evidence-based pathway to reducing these impacts and moving closer to a zero-pollution future.

Policy and regulation

Governments must prioritize enforcing the AAQD and investing in clean energy, sustainable transport, and greener industrial processes. Public-private partnerships can also drive innovation and efficiency.

Individual responsibility

While systemic change is vital, individuals can contribute by using public transport, reducing energy consumption, and advocating for cleaner air policies.

Leveraging technology

Modern air quality solutions, such as Kunak’s monitoring systems, play a key role in achieving these goals. By providing information that supports effective action, these technologies empower communities to take charge of their environmental health.

Geographical scope	Pollutant	Potential additional attributable deaths	Potential total attributable deaths
EU-27	PM2.5	174,000	413,000 (95% CI: 316,000-460,000)
EU-27	NO2	87,000	135,000 (95% CI: 68,000-263,000)
40 European countries	PM2.5	187,000	456,000 (95% CI: 349,000-507,000)
41 European countries	NO2	102,000	168,000 (95% CI: 85,000-326,000)

A call to action

The fight against air pollution is a fight for our health, our ecosystems, and our future. Each step towards reducing emissions brings us closer to a healthier and more equitable world. Investing in advanced monitoring systems, like those offered by Kunak, ensures that we have the tools to measure, manage, and mitigate the impacts of air pollution effectively.

Together, we can achieve the vision of a #ZeroPollution future where everyone has the right to breathe clean, healthy air.

References

• European Environment Agency. (2024). Harm to Human Health from Air Pollution. Link.
• The Lancet. (2023). Global Burden of Air Pollution on Human Health. Link.
• European Respiratory Society. (2022). Impact of Air Quality Improvements on Public Health. Link.

By raising awareness and adopting actionable solutions, we can pave the way for a cleaner, healthier Europe.

Source: Harm to human health from air pollution in Europe: burden of disease status, 2024