Fine particulate matter, or PM2.5, is a term for fine particulates that are typically the by-product of car exhausts or coal-fired power plants.
Their tiny size enables them to travel deep into the respiratory tract—worsening the risk of bronchitis, asthma and lung disease.
“According to the latest EEA estimates, at least 253,000 deaths in the EU in 2021 were attributable to exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) pollution above the WHO recommended concentration” the group said.