September 09, 2020

Andrew Campbell 

A new report published on September 8 by the European Environment Agency (EEA) disclosed 1 in every 8 deaths in the European Union has been related to environmental pollution resulting from human activity. The EEA report, titled “Healthy environment, healthy lives: how the environment influences health and well-being in Europe”, draws extensively on the World Health Organization's (WHO's) data on the causes of death and disease. The EEA indicated the quality of Europe’s environment plays a key role in improving the health and well-being of European citizens.

Air and noise pollution, the impacts of climate change such as exposure to dangerous chemicals, and heatwaves across Europe cause the public ill-health. According to EEA’s assessment of Europe’s health and environment, poor quality in environments has attributed 13% (1 in every 8) of deaths. EEA found that air pollution remains Europe's top environmental threat to health with more than 400,000 premature deaths linked to air pollution every year. In addition, EEA found that noise pollution comes second, contributing to 12,000 premature deaths in the EU, followed by the impacts of climate change, notably heatwaves.

The EEA suggested that green and blue spaces ought to be prioritized to cool down cities during heatwaves, alleviate floodwaters, diminish noise pollution, and sustain urban biodiversity. They will nurture a healthy nature as a key mechanism to deliver public health, reduce disease, and foster good health and well-being of European citizens.

Photo:Webshot.