Environmental health impacts | European Environment Agency’s home page

Pollutants in the environment or climate-related events can have a massive impact on our health. Air and noise pollution, and heavy metals like mercury are directly related to health issues like asthma, hearing loss, dehydration and heart diseases. Heatwaves and floods affect the whole population but cause the highest burden for vulnerable groups like infants, the elderly, those in poor health or communities living on floodplains.

Air pollution is the single most important cause of environmental health hazards affecting millions of Europeans. Air pollution can cause lung and heart diseases and premature deaths. More than 90% of Europeans living in cities are exposed to harmful levels of fine particulate matter, which causes more than 200,000 premature deaths per year in Europe.

• Noise pollution from highways, airports and streets can lead to hearing loss, tinnitus, sleep loss, and cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. Long-term exposure to environmental noise is estimated to cause 12,000 premature deaths and contribute to 48,000 new cases of ischemic heart disease per year in Europe.
• Pollutants can enter rivers and lakes, eventually accumulating in our oceans. Some chemicals used in industry and agriculture can enter the food chain and accumulate in our bodies. Ongoing biomonitoring research sheds light on these chemicals and their health impacts.
• Climate change affects all Europeans. It can cause heatwaves, elevated exposure to UV radiation, extreme and harmful weather events, prolonged and intensified pollen seasons, the proliferation of infectious diseases and forest fires. Vulnerable groups like the elderly, children and people with a low income or in poor health are most affected. One in ten European schools and hospitals may also be at risk of flooding.

The health impacts of specific environmental stressors like air pollution, noise, chemicals and climate change are being thoroughly researched.

Recent findings include:

• Environmental risks are estimated to cause over 18% of cardiovascular disease-related deaths in Europe.
• Environmental and occupational risks are responsible for around 10% of all cancer cases in Europe — almost all of which are preventable.
• Heavy metals emissions are in decline. Between 2005 and 2022, emissions have continued to decline, with lead emissions decreasing by 44%, mercury emissions by 53% and cadmium emissions by 39% across the EU-27 Member States.
• Europe’s air is cleaner but health impacts continue. The EU has achieved significant improvements in air quality over the last four decades. Still, exposure to pollutants, particulate matter and NO_x from road transport continues to cause health concerns.
• Forever chemicals continue to pose health risks. National monitoring shows that per and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) are accumulating in drinking water supplies in the EU. Their health impacts have not been fully assessed yet.
• Climate change increases health risks. Over the past decades, Europe has experienced more frequent and severe weather and climate-related natural hazards like droughts, forest fires, heat waves and heavy rain. This extreme weather can cause several health issues. Simultaneously, the rise in mean temperature increases the incidence of infectious, allergic, water- and food-borne diseases given the climate sensitivity of pathogens.
• Between 1980 and 2022, 5,582 flood-related deaths and 702 wildfire-related deaths were recorded across 32 European countries. Already today, one in eight Europeans lives in areas potentially prone to river floods and around 30% of people in southern Europe face permanent water stress.