After over a year of lockdowns and mask-wearing, we’ve all come to appreciate taking a deep breath of fresh air outdoors. But for urban dwellers, that can be somewhat of a luxury – especially when heatwaves compound the problem of air pollution.
According to the European Environment Agency (EEA), exposure to fine particulate matter – an air pollutant that’s a major cause of cardiovascular and respiratory diseases – led to about 417,000 premature deaths across the continent in 2018 alone.
The EEA is aware that air pollution is not only a major health threat but also a key liveability criterion for many people. Last month it launched a new city air quality viewer allowing citizens to check the air quality where they live over the past two years.
Natalie Huet www.euronews.com
