EEA publishes air quality report

On 24.09.2012, the European Environment Agency (EEA) has published its “Air quality in Europe – 2012 report” which examines citizens‘ exposure to air pollutants. The report indicates that air quality in Europe is improving, as well as the fact that an absolute decoupling between economic growth and emissions has been registered. Nevertheless, many parts of Europe have persistent problems with outdoor concentrations of particulate matter (PM) and ground level ozone (O₃). In this respect, in 2010 21 % of the urban population was exposed to PM10 concentration levels higher than the most stringent, daily, EU limit value designed to safeguard health. 97 % of EU urban inhabitants were exposed to O₃ concentrations above the WHO reference level in 2010.