A new report from the European Environment Agency (EEA) reveals that cardiovascular diseases remain the leading cause of death in the European Union, responsible for more than 1.7 million deaths in 2022—roughly one-third of all fatalities in the bloc.
According to the report, at least 18% of these deaths are linked to environmental factors such as air pollution, exposure to extreme heat or cold, and contact with toxic substances. The EEA estimates that around 130,000 people die annually due to fine particle pollution, while another 115,000 lose their lives to temperature extremes.
The agency also highlighted that Europe records around 6 million new cases of cardiovascular disease each year, costing the region an estimated €282 billion annually. However, the EEA stressed that these figures are “modifiable” through effective environmental and health policies aimed at reducing pollution and improving living conditions.
Headquartered in Copenhagen, the agency noted that the EU is making steady progress toward its Zero Pollution Action Plan goal—to cut premature deaths from air pollution by more than 55% by 2030 compared to 2005 levels.
Still, the EEA warned that significant challenges remain, calling for greater public awareness of the environmental factors behind heart disease, reduced transport noise, and stricter chemical regulations to better protect Europeans’ health.
