NIK: Polish air pollution worst in the EU

The Supreme Audit Office (NIK) has published a report on the quality of the air in Poland. It is estimated that as many as 45,000 Poles die prematurely due to poor air quality. The poor air quality could also cost Poland up to PLN 4 billion in penalties from the EU. Six Polish cities place in the top ten of european cities exceeding PM10 limits, considering days per year when particulate matter concentration exceeds allowable levels. Cracow tops the list with 150 days of poor air quality per year. Cities have spent PLN 3 billion on prevention measures in 2008-2014, the time period studied by the report. According to NIK, the Ministry of the Environment is working too slow in initiating emission standards for home furnaces and setting up a national air quality program.