The latest in a series of assessments of the pan-European environment published by the EEA over the past 15 years, the report assesses environmental progress in 53 countries -- an area with a total population of more than 870 million people. Despite some success with air pollution, current levels -- mainly nitrogen oxide, fine particles and ground-level ozone -- are estimated to shorten average life expectancy in Western and Central European countries by almost a year and to threaten the healthy development of children.
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