COPENHAGEN, April 1, 2022 (BSS/AFP) - Despite a fall in emissions due to 
Covid curbs, nearly all EU urban dwellers in 2020 were exposed to 
microparticle pollution that breached recommended UN limits, the bloc's 
environmental watchdog said on Friday.

"Critically for health, 96 percent of the urban population was exposed to 
concentrations of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) above the WHO guideline of 
5 micrograms per cubic metre," the European Environment Agency (EEA) said.

Estonia was the only EU country where urban PM2.5 levels did not exceed World 
Health Organization (WHO) recommendations, while Italy and Eastern Europe had 
the highest levels, it said in a report.

However, if the EU's less stringent benchmark for PM2.5 particles is used -- 
15 micrograms per cubic metre -- the picture changes.

Under this scenario, only one percent of urban populations were exposed to 
levels higher than those recommended by the bloc, it said. 

PM2.5 is the term for fine particulates that are typically the by-product of 
car exhausts or coal-fired power plants.

Their tiny size enables them to travel deep into the respiratory tract, 
worsening the risk of bronchitis, asthma and lung disease.

In 2019 fine particle pollution is estimated to have caused 307,000 premature 
deaths in the EU.

"Lockdown measures introduced in 2020 to stop or minimise the spread of 
Covid-19 led to reduced activity in the road transport, aviation and 
international shipping sectors, which in turn led to falls in emissions of 
air pollutants," the EEA noted.

Levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) pollution plummeted by as much as 70 
percent, the report said.

Despite the drop, 89 percent of the urban population remained exposed to NO2 
levels above WHO guidelines, it said.

According to the WHO, air pollution causes seven million premature deaths per 
year worldwide, putting it on par with smoking or poor diets.