As part of the European Green Deal (EGD), the European Commission developed a zero pollution action plan in 2021, which aims to reduce the number of premature deaths due to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) by 55% by 2030 compared to 2005. By 2050, particulate matter should no longer have a significant impact on the health of citizens in Europe.

The EU air quality standards are contrasted with the limits set out in the WHO guidelines. As our graphic shows, the WHO targets are much stricter and are being missed for 96 per cent of the urban population in the EU in terms of fine particulate matter (PM2.5).

The WHO guideline value for fine particulate matter with a particle size of 2.5 micrometres (PM2.5) is 5 µg/m³. Particulate matter refers to dust with a grain size of less than 10 micrometres (PM10). The guideline value for particulate matter with a particle size of PM10 is not being met in 83 per cent of urban areas in the EU. However, the main cause of the disease burden is fine particulate matter with a particle size of 2.5 micrometres.

High concentrations of particulate matter have negative health consequences for the human organism. Particularly at risk are small children, people with weakened immune systems, the elderly, asthmatics and people with existing respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. As early as 2012, the WHO classified dust particles resulting from the combustion of diesel as a proven carcinogen. However, the limit values for particulate matter according to the EU air quality directive are binding for the EU.

However, even the limits set by the EU itself are not being met across the board in the EU. The previous EU standards are based on the drafts and specifications from 2004 and 2008. The current WHO guidelines were set in 2021. The proposals for the revision of the EU standards, which have been developed by the EU Commission since 2022 and adopted in February 2024, now provide for a significant increase in line with the WHO recommendations.

Each member state of the European Union is obliged to divide its territory into assessment areas, such as conurbations, and to assess these. Conurbations are cities with more than 250,000 inhabitants. However, comprehensive measurement coverage is not mandatory. The measuring points should be located at the point of highest pollution in the respective assessment area and should measure at least 90 percent of the time in a calendar year. There are a total of around 360 measuring stations in Germany, for example. 228 of them are located in urban areas and are measuring stations (PM10).

You can find more information on this topic, further evaluations and graphics on various internet portals, such as the official website of the European Union, the European Environment Agency.