Air pollution costs the average European city resident €1,276 per year, according to the largest study of its kind. The report for the European Public Health Alliance quantifies the monetary value of premature death, medical treatment, lost working days and other health costs caused by the three air pollutants causing the most illness and death: particulate matter, ozone and nitrogen dioxide. Though Bucharest in Romania tops the Europe chart for highest costs faced by the average city resident, based on intense pollution levels, Italian cities dominate the top 10, based on their pollution and higher general costs. Read the full press release here.
EPHA’s report was written by an external research body and required considerable work to ensure it was understood by reporters and the general public. The simplicity of the final message and its relevance to broad audiences meant that the story did well – covered in over 1,000 articles in 60 countries globally.
