Air pollutants affecting public health in the European region of the world health organization: an overview of studies

The authors give an analytical overview of major studies on the effects on public health made by air pollutants in the WHO European Region. In the recent decade, most countries of the WHO European Region have shown a positive trend in the atmospheric air quality, which is associated with a number of preventive steps aimed at reducing harmful emissions, including various protocols to the Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution. However, there is strong evidence that current levels of air pollution continue to pose a significant threat to the environment and public health. WHO experts suggest that the annual death rate associated with polluted air will reach 100,000 cases, with transport being the major source of pollution in the next decade.