2025/11/24 by Gillian Flower, Rochelle Schneider, Karen Exley +3 · 1 voice
Environmental Science · #Air Quality and Health Impacts #Climate Change and Health Impacts #COVID-19 impact on air quality
paper · doi:10.1016/j.apr.2025.102827
openalex publication_date 2025/11/24 · openalex created_date 2025/11/25 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/14
PM 2.5 and NO 2 are two of the most dangerous air pollutants, contributing to substantial excess mortality across Europe. In 2021, the World Health Organization (WHO) revised its air quality (AQ) guidelines, decreasing the recommended annual limit from 10 μg/m 3 to 5 μg/m 3 for PM 2.5 , and from 40 μg/m 3 to 10 μg/m 3 for NO 2 . In this study, we analysed concentrations and associated long-term premature mortality across Great Britain from 2008-2018 in relation to multiple AQ limits, as determined by WHO guidelines and international/national regulations. The percentage of the population exposed to PM 2.5 concentrations above 10 μg/m 3 decreased from 67.6% to 38.2% over the study period, whereas those exposed to NO 2 levels above 40 μg/m 3 remained low. Levels below the new, lower WHO guidelines for PM 2.5 and NO 2 were reached in only a handful of locations. Exposure to PM 2.5 in 2018 resulted in 36,403 (30,422-42,640) premature deaths, whereas NO 2 exposure contributed to 20,175 (7,125-32,281) premature deaths. These numbers could be reduced by 46% and 44%, respectively, if exceedances beyond the lower cut-offs were avoided. These findings indicate that complying with the new WHO recommendations would require considerable effort, but they can lead to substantial health benefits. • We used high-resolution datasets spanning Great Britain, to calculate premature mortality due to two of the most dangerous air pollutants, PM 2.5 and NO 2 • We evaluated the impact of a range of national and international air quality limits • In 2018, we found that the lower limits recommended by the WHO were rarely achieved • Exposure to PM 2.5 in 2018 resulted in 36,403 (30,422-42,640) premature deaths, whereas NO 2 exposure contributed to 20,175 (7,125-32,281) premature deaths • These numbers could be reduced by 46% and 44%, respectively, if exceedances beyond the lower cut-offs were avoided.