Air pollution from fine particles caused the death of 253,000 people in the European Union in 2021, according to a report by the European Environment Agency published today.

“At least 253,000 deaths in the European Union in 2021 can be attributed to particulate matter (PM2.5) pollution that is higher than the concentration of 5 µg/m3 recommended by the World Health Organization,” the European Environment Agency said in a statement.

The number is up from 2020 when 238,000 premature deaths were attributed to fine particles, which penetrate deep into the lungs.

The increase between these two years is explained by increased exposure to pollutants and the slight increase in mortality due to Covid-19 in the European Union, according to the European Environment Agency.

However, the trend remains clearly favorable in the long termas between 2005 and 2021, the number of premature deaths attributable to particulate matter fell by 41%, according to the study.

Despite the “great advances” that have been made in recent years, “The impact of air pollution on our health remains too high,” said the European Agency’s executive director Leena Ila-Mononen in the statement.

By pollutant category, mortality attributable to PM2.5 is slightly up compared to 2020.

Alongside, about 52,000 premature deaths can be attributed to exposure to nitrogen dioxide (NO2)gas produced mainly by cars and thermoelectric plants, and here too there is a slight increase compared to 2020.

Ozone (O3) particulates, produced by car traffic and industrial activities, can be attributed to 22,000 premature deaths, a figure slightly reduced from 2020.

Air pollution remains the most important environmental threat for the health of Europeans, the report underlines.