More than 180,000 deaths in the EU in 2023 were attributable to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) levels above World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines, according to a new assessment from the European Environment Agency (EEA).
The briefing, Harm to human health from air pollution in Europe: burden of disease status, 2025, shows that health impacts from PM2.5, nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) and ozone (O₃) have continued to decline for nearly two decades. Premature deaths linked to PM2.5 fell by 57% between 2005 and 2023, meaning the EU has already met its zero-pollution action plan target for 2030.
Despite this progress, 95% of Europeans living in cities are still exposed to pollution levels far above WHO recommendations.
According to the EEA, reaching WHO guideline levels could have prevented 182,000 PM2.5-related deaths, 63,000 ozone-related deaths and 34,000 deaths linked to nitrogen dioxide in 2023. Eastern and south-eastern Europe face the highest health impacts due to persistently high pollution levels.
Air pollution also causes significant illness, from asthma to ischemic heart disease and lung cancer, and new evidence suggests it may contribute to dementia.
The revised EU Ambient Air Quality Directive, which entered into force last year, brings standards closer to WHO levels and is expected to further reduce health impacts. Air pollution remains the leading environmental health risk in Europe.
Link to EEA report: https://www.eea.europa.eu/en/analysis/publications/harm-to-human-health-from-air-pollution-burden-of-disease-status-2025
