13:20 14 June 2024
Smog Continues to Choke European Cities, Air Quality in Poland Particularly Poor
The European Union is striving to combat smog, but air quality in member states remains a significant concern, especially in urban areas. Poland is among the countries with the highest exceedances of air pollution standards.
The European Environment Agency (EEA) reports alarming pollution levels across Europe. In 2022, nearly 96 percent of the urban population in the EU was exposed to PM2.5 levels exceeding WHO's recommended annual limit of 5 µg/m³ and ozone levels above the short-term recommended limit of 100 µg/m³.
Poland and Italy are among the worst offenders of PM2.5 and PM10 pollution.
"The main reason for this situation in Central and Eastern Europe is the use of solid fuels and older vehicle fleets," explains the EEA.
Preliminary data for 2023 shows similar trends, with most monitoring points recording PM2.5 levels above WHO standards. Nitrogen dioxide pollution, primarily from transportation, also exceeds EU norms in several countries, including Poland. Poland, along with the Czech Republic and Slovakia, also records exceptionally high levels of carcinogenic benzo(a)pyrene, primarily from coal and wood burning for heating. The EEA's 2022 data highlights this ongoing issue.
