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Even low levels of PM2.5 can increase health risks
Air pollution below current air quality standards in Europe has been linked to mortality. In a large joint research programme the focus was on understanding effects of exposure levels below the current EU Air Quality Directive annual limit. The studies support efforts for more ambitious air quality standards in Europe and other global regions as severe health effects were found. Long-term exposure to concentrations of PM2.5 and NO2 was associated with non-accidental, cardiovascular, non-malignant respiratory, and lung cancer mortality in seven large European cohorts.
Source: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanplh/article/PIIS2542-5196(21)00277-1/fulltext