'Room for improvement' in air clean-up attempts

The European Environment Agency (EEA) has insisted there is still room for improvement in the continent's attempts to cut down on air pollution.

According to new statistics published by the organisation this week, air quality has shown advancement throughout Europe since 1990, but many countries are still lagging behind in certain areas.

It stated that although in many cases carbon emissions have fallen, high volumes of pollutants such as particulate matter (PM10) - which is one of the most dangerous threats to public health - still exist in the air.

The EEA found 20 per cent of EU citizens lived in a region that exceeded acceptable PM10 levels in 2009.

Executive director at the EEA Jacqueline McGlade suggested a number of polices and measures need to be introduced to boost air clean-up efforts.

"Europe's air quality is generally getting better, but concentrations of some pollutants are still endangering people's health," she commented.

Last week, representatives of the Energy Services and Technology Association said it would be necessary to raise the price of carbon allowances in order to cut down on pollution.

Posted by Lauren Steadman