EU agrees new pollution limits

Countries in the EU have agreed upon new regulations that aim for a 20% reduction in air pollution between 2010 and 2020..

The legally binding limits specifically focus on the airborne concentration of ultra-fine dust known as PM2.5.

Ultra-fine pollution particles are the most dangerous to human health because they can get deeper inside lungs than larger particles, causing asthma, bronchitis and emphysema.

They are emitted from a wide range of sources including residential fire places, industrial furnaces, and the fumes from diesel vehicles, and cause an estimated 350,000 deaths in the EU every year.

The new limit for ultra-fine dust particles has been set at 25 micrograms per cubic metre of air.

In addition to the limit, environment ministers from across the EU also agreed to reduce the levels of PM2.5 in the air by 20% between 2010 and 2020.

The EU’s environment commissioner, Stavros Dimas has welcomed the new legislation, calling it a ‘decisive step’ in tackling health and environmental problems.