Unequal exposure and unequal impacts: social vulnerability to air pollution, noise and extreme temperatures in Europe

Pollution and other environmental hazards pose health risks to everyone, but have greater impacts on some people due to their age or state of health. Individuals' ability to avoid, or cope with these hazards is also influenced by their income, employment status or level of education. The EEA report assesses the links between social and demographic inequalities and exposure to air pollution, noise and extreme temperatures at various scales in Europe.

The assessment described in this report looks at the overlap between socio-demographic characteristics and the levels of exposure to environmental health hazards within sub-national regions. In many European countries, the disproportionate exposure of lower socio-economic groups to air pollution, noise and high temperatures occurs in urban areas, so the report also addresses cities.

Key Messages

The uneven distribution of the impacts of air pollution, noise and extreme temperatures on the health of Europeans closely reflects the socio‑demographic differences within our society.

There are pronounced regional differences in social vulnerability and exposure to environmental health hazards across Europe.

Inequalities in exposure to environmental health hazards and their impacts on European society are only somewhat addressed by current policy and practice.

The social inequalities in the impacts of and exposure to environmental health hazards are likely to continue in the future and thus require increased recognition in policy across governance levels.