Exposure to air pollution was responsible for more than two thousand deaths in Portugal in 2021.

Around 2,100 deaths in Portugal in 2021 could be linked to exposure to particulate matter, says a report published this Friday by the European Environment Agency.

According to the report “The Hazards of Air Pollution to Human Health: Burden of Disease 2023”, air pollution “is now the largest environmental risk factor in Europe”, remains a leading cause of “poor health and contributes to respiratory and cardiovascular diseases in particular” . illness.”

The paper contains information relating to 2021 and concludes that 2,100 deaths in Portugal this year can be attributed to exposure to suspended particles, also known as fine particles.

This estimate also indicates a total loss of “20,700 life years” in Portugal due to exposure to air pollution, especially in large urban centers.

In Poland, exposure to the same type of particles was responsible for 47,300 deaths in 2021, the highest figure on the entire European continent. Next come Italy (46,800 deaths) and Germany (32,300 deaths). Ireland was the country with the fewest deaths recorded as a result of exposure to pollution (460).

A total of 253,000 deaths across Europe may be linked to exposure to fine particles.

The European Environment Agency warned that despite progress made between 2005 and 2021, with a 41% reduction in deaths due to exposure to fine particles, air pollution levels remain above World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines. .

Diseases caused by exposure to these particles include cardiovascular disease, heart attacks, diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer and asthma.

The European Environment Agency estimates that decarbonization and environmental protection policies need to be strengthened to, for example, reduce the number of cars in cities, where pollution is concentrated, and work to effectively reduce energy poverty. – the use of wood and coal for heating homes leads to the release of some pollutants into the air.