Poland is one of the most polluted countries in the EU. Around 50 thousand people, mostly the elderly, die prematurely every year from diseases linked to air pollution. This shortens life expectancy of an average Polish citizen by around 9 months.
- According to a 2022 World Health Organization database, out of the 50 most polluted cities in the EU, as many as 23 are in Poland.
- According to the latest data gathered by the European Environmental Agency, in terms of poor air quality, Poland has the highest concentrations of PM2.5 and benzo[a]pyrene from all EU-27 countries.
- Household boilers are the main reason for such high concentrations of PM10 and PM2.5. The National Centre for Emissions Management (KOBiZE) estimates that around 80% of particulate matter and almost 90% of the carcinogenic benzo(a)pyrene comes from household boilers.
- In many Polish towns and cities, the annual limit value for the carcinogenic benzo[a]pyrene is often exceeded by 500%.
- WHO norms for annual PM2.5 concentrations were not met at any of the measurement stations, while for PM10 they were met at one station out of more than 250.
