Air threat: Luxembourg relies on European research on the harms of air pollution
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In response to a parliamentary enquiry by Dan Biancalana and Mars Di Bartolomeo, the Luxembourg Ministries of Health and Environment have responded jointly: the country has not conducted its own research into the impact of air pollution on chronic diseases. Instead, the authorities rely on analyses by the European Environment Agency (AEE) published in 2024.
According to AEE, air pollution remains the main environmental risk to the health of Europeans, especially in cities. In 2022, the agency estimates that:
- 239,000 deaths in the EU were attributed to levels of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) above the WHO recommended level of 5 µg/m3;
- 70,000 deaths - linked to ozone pollution (O₃);
- 48,000 deaths are from exposure to nitrogen dioxide (NO₂).
These figures confirm that the impact of air pollution on chronic disease and mortality is a proven factor, affecting tens of thousands of lives each year.
Despite the seriousness of the situation, Luxembourg is not yet planning its own national study, which has drawn criticism from MPs. The authorities cite the sufficiency of data from the AEE and the latest EU legislative measures, including the 2024 air quality directive, which brings the permissible pollution thresholds closer to WHO recommendations.
However, this decision raises questions: how applicable is the EU data to the real situation in Luxembourg, and shouldn't the country invest in localised studies taking into account its specificities and vulnerable groups?
