Air pollution deadlier than car accidents?

In a report published by the European Environment Agency earlier this week, Europeans are being warned that air pollution has cut our average life expectancy by nearly a year, and contributes to the premature deaths of hundreds of thousands of people annually.

The 400-page report suggests that in some areas air polluting emissions have increase by around 10% since 2000.  Areas most at risk are said to be countries of the former communist bloc.  This is mainly due to their rapid economic transformation, increases in transportation and poor pollution preventing policies. 

The report also highlights Belgium, the Netherlands, northern Italy and parts of Poland and Hungary as being particular affected by air pollution. 

“Air pollution by fine particles represents the highest risk to public health in all regions, higher than that of other air pollutants. The estimated annual loss of life is significantly greater than that due to car accidents”

The report was unveiled during the sixth ministerial “Environment for Europe” conference in Belgrade. The conference was attended by ministers and other officials from over 50 countries.  As well as the problem of air pollution, the report also highlights that there are still millions of people in Europe that lack access to safe drinking water, particularly in acute rural areas.