Air pollution deaths are double previous estimates, kills more than smoking

[Morgen]

The number of early deaths caused by air pollution is double previous estimates, according to research, meaning toxic air is killing more people than tobacco smoking.

The scientists used new data to estimate that nearly 800,000 people die prematurely each year in Europe because of dirty air, and that each life is cut short by an average of more than two years. The health damage caused by air pollution in Europe is higher than the global average. Its dense population and poor air results in exposure that is among the highest in the world.

The new research, published in the European Heart Journal, indicates that while air pollution hits the lungs first, its impact via the bloodstream on heart disease and strokes is responsible for twice as many deaths as respiratory diseases.

The analysis builds on research published in September and confirms that calculation of 8.8m early deaths a year from outdoor air pollution around the world, double previous estimates.

“To put this into perspective, this means that air pollution causes more extra deaths a year than tobacco smoking,” said Prof Thomas Münzel at the University Medical Centre Mainz in Germany and one of the scientists behind the new study. “Smoking is avoidable but air pollution is not.”
...
Prof Jos Lelieveld of the Max-Plank Institute for Chemistry in Mainz and also part of the team, said: “Since most air pollutants come from the burning of fossil fuels, we need to switch to other sources of energy urgently. When we use clean, renewable energy, we are not just fulfilling the Paris agreement to mitigate the effects of climate change, we could also reduce air pollution-related death rates by up to 55%.”

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/mar/12/air-pollution-deaths-are-double-previous-estimates-finds-research

[FPtje]

You can view a map online that shows live data. I looked up my country and zoomed out:

https://files.facepunch.com/forum/upload/107070/35d4edbe-5925-4cae-8b67-2e0e769008df/Screenshot_20190312-230325_Chrome.jpg

Centre West Europe looks fine, Spain, Italy and UK are doing eh, everyone in eastern Europe are in the danger zone.

It's odd that the article says Germany has more relative deaths than the UK, despite Germany being greener on the map.

[ferrous]

Watch as life expectancy, on the increase for centuries, starts going backwards.

[Borealis]

Already has in the United States.

[Mitsuma]

Without looking further into that map I would guess that the live data might not include everything and just some more basic air quality data.
While the study looks at more data and other pollution as well.

[Spongmana]

The AQI does not account for all types of pollutants, it is limited by what governments chose to install at their measuring sites.

https://files.facepunch.com/forum/upload/58112/8c5ead0f-ea00-4b44-963b-82c9340719c8/image.png

Also keep in mind that the entirety of Europe has been experiencing very strong Eastern winds for the past few days, blowing a large part of Germany's pollution to Poland and the Balkan. Would be interesting to see how the map looks in a relatively wind-free period. To draw some parallels to the picture you posted; Northern Italy is currently well shielded by the Alps and experiencing very little wind, which shows in the much higher AQI. Also note the band of high AQI above Greece and how it coincides with a large area of low and diffuse wind speed.