Nearly everyone in Europe was exposed to air pollution above the recommended World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines in 2022. Italy was particularly affected by poor air quality that year, with approximately 18 percent of the country's population exposed to PM2.5 levels more than four times higher than the current WHO PM2.5 recommended limits. Exposure to high PM2.5 levels can lead to an increased risk of respiratory and heart disease, and can also result in premature death.
Share of European population that lives in areas where fine particle (PM2.5) concentrations are above WHO recommended limits in 2022, by country
Characteristic
Below WHO limits
Up to 2x the limits
Up to 3x
Up to 4x
Over 4x
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Deutsche Welle. (September 7, 2023). Share of European population that lives in areas where fine particle (PM2.5) concentrations are above WHO recommended limits in 2022, by country [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved July 22, 2024, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/1455363/eu-population-pm25-exposure-above-who-limits/
Deutsche Welle. "Share of European population that lives in areas where fine particle (PM2.5) concentrations are above WHO recommended limits in 2022, by country." Chart. September 7, 2023. Statista. Accessed July 22, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1455363/eu-population-pm25-exposure-above-who-limits/
Deutsche Welle. (2023). Share of European population that lives in areas where fine particle (PM2.5) concentrations are above WHO recommended limits in 2022, by country. Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: July 22, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1455363/eu-population-pm25-exposure-above-who-limits/
Deutsche Welle. "Share of European Population That Lives in Areas Where Fine Particle (Pm2.5) Concentrations Are above Who Recommended Limits in 2022, by Country." Statista, Statista Inc., 7 Sep 2023, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1455363/eu-population-pm25-exposure-above-who-limits/
Deutsche Welle, Share of European population that lives in areas where fine particle (PM2.5) concentrations are above WHO recommended limits in 2022, by country Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1455363/eu-population-pm25-exposure-above-who-limits/ (last visited July 22, 2024)
Share of European population that lives in areas where fine particle (PM2.5) concentrations are above WHO recommended limits in 2022, by country [Graph], Deutsche Welle, September 7, 2023. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1455363/eu-population-pm25-exposure-above-who-limits/
