Air Pollution and Human Health in Europe

Dear Colleagues,

Ambient and household air pollution currently ranks fourth for attributable diseases and mortality among 20 major risk factors evaluated in the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study, after hypertension, smoking, and dietary factors.

Air pollution has a detrimental effect on several organs and outcomes, including respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, high blood pressure, stroke, neurodegenerative diseases, premature deaths, and decreased birthweight.

In 2020, across Europe, 275,000 premature deaths were caused by fine particulate matter (PM), 64,000 were caused by nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), and 28,000 were caused by ozone (O₃). In 2021, in the European Union, over 90% of the urban population was exposed to harmful levels of NO₂, O₃, and fine particulate matter (PM_2.5). Hence, it is important to focus on air pollution in Europe.

In this Special Issue, we will focus on the respiratory health effects of PM, NO₂, O₃, and other compounds derived from vehicle traffic, combustion processes, and agricultural activities in Europe.

Original research, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses related to the theme of air pollution and human health in Europe are welcome. 

We very much look forward to your submissions.

Best regards,

Dr. Giuseppe Sarno
Guest Editor

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• human health
• respiratory diseases
• air pollution
• epidemiology
• mortality
• morbidity
• Europe