EUROPE'S -BILLIONS- AIR POLLUTION : REPORT

Copenhagen : Air pollution from industries in Europe cause health and environmental damage estimated at up to $430 billion euros [$500 billion] for a single year, the European Environmental Agency [ EEA ] said Wednesday.

In 2017, industrial air pollution cost society between 277 billion euros and 433 billion euros, according to a new report from the agency.

''This is equivalent to about two to three percent of EU GDP, and is higher than many individual Member States' total economic output that year,'' the EEA said in a statement.

While European industry has made ''significant progress'' in reducing its environmental and climate impact, ''societal costs'' or ''externalities'' caused by air pollution from the sector remains high.'' [ AFP]