Air quality is expected to deteriorate across parts of Europe in the coming days, driven by an increase in microscopic polluting particles, the EU's earth observation program said on Thursday.
The Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) forecast a spike in fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in France, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, the UK and Ireland, among other countries in the region.
Spring is when farmers spread fertilizer, releasing ammonia emissions that react with nitrogen oxides from sources like traffic to form tiny floating aerosols.
This degrades air quality, a situation made worse by colder weather, warmer afternoons and little wind, conditions that mean that instead of dispersing, these fine particles stay close to the ground.
Expected rises in airborne pollen from birch and alder trees is tipped to make matters worse, CAMS said in a briefing note on the developing situation.
"Whilst this situation is not unusual in spring, it is notable and can be intensified by stable and mild meteorological conditions and atmospheric inversions," said CAMS director Laurence Rouil in a statement.
Other contributors to background pollution include the burning of fossil fuels, CAMS said, particularly across parts of eastern Europe and the Balkans.
Long-term exposure to fine airborne particulate matter causes cardiovascular and respiratory disease, cancers and other major health problems.
Air pollution is estimated to cause millions of deaths worldwide every year and a burden of disease on par with smoking and unhealthy diets, the World Health Organization says.
