Every year, in Poland, about 40,000 die prematurely due to smog and air pollution. people – this is one of the highest indicators in the EU. The CMKP report indicates that Poles are low in awareness of the main sources of emissions and health effects, and the level of preventive measures is limited.
Every year in Poland about 40,000 people die prematurely because of exposure to polluted air – according to the report “Map of social attitudes towards air pollution in Poland” prepared by the Public Health Department of the Public Health School of Public Medical Postgraduate Education (CMKP).
The authors of the report are prof. dr hab. n. med. Mateusz Jankowski, MD Justyna Grudziąż-Sękowska and Dr. about health Kuba Sękowski. The study was based on a study of public opinion conducted in June 2025 on a representative sample of 1092 adult residents of Poland.
According to the World Health Organization, over 99 percent The globe population lives in areas where air quality standards are exceeded. In Poland, this problem is particularly severe – the country is at the forefront of the European Union in terms of the number of deaths related to air pollution. Estimates of the European Environment Agency indicate that every year in Poland smog is responsible for about 40 thousand. premature deaths.
– Exposure to air pollution is the most important environmental pathway, leading, among others for respiratory, cardiovascular and cancer diseases. The topics of environmental health are still insufficiently present in the public debate – emphasized prof. Jankowski.
The study shows that Poles' knowledge of smog and its sources is limited. Carbon dioxide (71 percent) was the most frequently indicated air pollution, although PM2.5 and PM10 suspended dust is the greatest threat to health – recognized only by 36–39 percent. respondents.
Only half of the respondents pointed to homemade stoves and boilers as the main source of emissions, although it is the so -called Low emission is responsible for the largest share in domestic smog. Most respondents consider industry (72 percent) and transport (66 percent) as more important sources.
– The fact that only half of Poles identify key sources of emissions and implements protective activities, limits the effectiveness of environmental strategies – noted Dr. Kuba Sękowski.
91 percent respondents agree that polluted air causes serious illness. Pulmonary (84 percent) and cancer (68 %) are most commonly mentioned. Much less often respondents combined smog with heart disease (43 percent), premature death (40 percent) or a decrease in fertility (34 %). Only 7 percent Poles were aware that air pollution increases the risk of diabetes.
According to respondents, the most sensitive groups are the elderly (72 percent), chronically ill (68 percent) and children (51 percent). Only every third respondent indicated pregnant women as particularly vulnerable to smog.
The level of implementation of protective activities in Poland is low. 44 percent respondents declared closing windows during poor air quality, 37 percent Avoiding being outside, and only 29 percent Checking current smog data. Air purifiers are used by 19 percent respondents, and protective masks – 10 percent
-The latest research shows that insufficient public awareness of the problem of air pollution and their effects is a serious obstacle to making health-promoting elections and a barrier to supporting effective public policies-noted Dr. Grudziąż-Sękowska.
Three out of four respondents recognize that the fight against smog should be a priority of public authorities. However, support for specific activities is varied. The exchange of old furnaces is supported by 53 percent Poles, taxation of companies emitting pollution – 54 percent, and restrictive industrial emissions limits – 49 percent
Much less support was recorded in the case of pure transport zones (27 percent), closing mines (23 percent), or the ban on the production of internal combustion cars (10 %).
The report points out that the most vulnerable to smog are people living in energy poverty, who more often use the cheapest and most emission sources of heating. -Air pollution deepens health unevenness in Poland, the limitation of which is the goal of the National Public Health Program-pointed out Dr. Grudziąż-Sękowska.
The authors of the report emphasize the need to intensify educational activities, including incorporation of environmental health content in school programs. They also recommend strengthening the role of family doctors, cardiologists and pulmonologists in patient education, as well as social campaigns addressed to various social groups.
– I hope that the data presented in the report will contribute to the dissemination of the prevention of environmental threats among the inhabitants of Poland – summed up prof. Jankowski.
The report was based on an epidemiological cross -sectional questionnaire study.
The study was conducted on June 6-10, 2025 by the CAWI (Computer-Assisted Web Interview) method, i.e. a computer-assisted online interview.
The implementation was commissioned to the nationwide research panel Ariadna, and the author's questionnaire was prepared by the research team of the CMKP Public Health School.
Sample: 1092 adult residents of Poland aged 18-84, representative of the population in terms of gender, age and the size of the town of residence.
Mira Suchodolska (PAP)
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