Pollution has massive cost in Europe
November 30th, 2011
The European Environment Agency warns air pollution caused more than 100bn euros in health and environmental damage, highlighting the need for more renewables sources of energy.
The agency says in 2009 Europe’s 10,000 largest factories and energy facilities resulted in 102-169bn euros in health issues, such as respiratory and cardiovascular problems, and environmental costs because of air pollution. This amounts to around 300 euros per citizen.
The study shows the power generation sector was the biggest contributor of damage costs, with 66-112bn euros. It covered the EU 27 member states as well as Norway and Switzerland.
A small number of facilities, 622 or 6% of the total number, represented 75% of the total damage costs resulting from air pollutants, such as heavy metals, sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and carbon dioxide greenhouse gases.
Germany, France, Italy, Poland, and the UK, were singled out as contributing the most in terms of total damage costs. Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Poland and Romania were also responsible for a significant level of damage.
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