Air-quality guides
Plain-English explainers on European air quality, pollutants, monitoring, and the EU vs WHO regulatory gap.
Understanding PM2.5 vs PM10
Why fine particulate matter is more dangerous than coarse — health pathways, sources, and where the EU and WHO numbers come from.
EU limit values vs WHO 2021 guidelines
The gap between European legal limits and World Health Organization health-evidence guidelines explained, with the 2024 revised directive timeline.
The seven regulated EU air pollutants
PM2.5, PM10, NO2, O3, SO2, CO, and benzene — what each pollutant is, where it comes from, and how exposure affects health.
How air pollution affects health
Cardiovascular, respiratory, and cognitive impacts — the WHO 2021 evidence summary translated for a general audience.
Best and worst European cities for air quality
A snapshot of the cleanest and most polluted urban environments in 2024, with population-weighted PM2.5 rankings.
What is an air-quality monitoring station?
How traffic, background, and industrial stations differ, why the EEA station-code classification matters, and what 75% data capture actually means.
Wildfire smoke and Saharan dust intrusions
How trans-boundary events drive short-term PM2.5 spikes across Europe and how the EEA handles attribution.