Poor air quality kills over 400,000 Europeans a year

Ambient air quality is a determinant of respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, and is responsible for more than 400,000 premature deaths per year, according to the EU Commission.

The Commission was replying to three questions raised by the Latvian MEP Andrejs Mamikins about respiratory diseases.

In a preamble to his questions, Mamikins cited 2012 data indicating that, within the EU, countries such as Denmark, Ireland, Portugal and the UK had the highest rates of respiratory diseases per 100,000 inhabitants. Similarly, these countries, along with Croatia, Hungary and Poland, had the highest number of lung cancer sufferers.

‘A major problem in this respect is that while the EU actively addresses the smoking habits of Europeans (i.e. by various depictions of potential diseases on cigarette packages) and promotes environmentally friendly manufacturing and energy production methods, the number of such lung-related diseases continues to rise,’ he said.

He then asked what programs and projects the Commission was implementing and expected to conclude within the next few years in order to bring about a ‘dramatic decrease’ in respiratory diseases among Europeans.

He asked whether the Commission could explain why Denmark and Ireland for example — countries with relatively stringent anti-smoking and environmental rules — had so many inhabitants suffering from such diseases.

And he asked what further proactive anti-smoking and eco-friendly measures the Commission planned to implement within the EU and in co-operation with its partners around the world in order to combat people’s smoking habits and related diseases, as well as to improve overall air quality.

In its reply, the Commission said that the main provisions of the new EU Tobacco Products Directive (2014/40/EU) would be applied from 20 May 2016. ‘These include mandatory combined health warnings on packs, a prohibition on characterising flavours in certain products and on promotional elements on packs,’ it said. ‘The provisions of the directive are expected to lead to a two percent reduction in tobacco consumption in the EU over five years. The Commission is working in close collaboration with member states to ensure a smooth transition to the new rules.

‘The Commission is not aware of all factors accounting for respiratory disease prevalence in the member states. However, evidence shows that enforcement of strict tobacco control policies plays a role in decreasing the disease burden. Smoking prevalence in Ireland and Denmark is estimated at 21 percent and 23 percent respectively, compared to [the] 26 percent EU average.

‘In addition, the Commission implements EU-wide anti-smoking campaigns (such as Ex-smokers are unstoppable), promotes and monitors national tobacco control measures, such as smoke-free environment laws, and oversees EU compliance with the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC).

‘Ambient air quality is also a determinant of respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, and is responsible for over 400,000 premature deaths per year. The Commission’s Clean Air Programme for Europe, and its legislative initiatives, the revised National Emission Ceilings Directive and the Medium Combustion Plants Directive, would, if implemented, reduce this impact by 52 percent by 2030 (compared with [that of] 2005).’