Air pollution, chiefly from coal-fired power plants, cost society up to 189 billion euros ($235 billion) in 2012 - equal to the gross domestic product of Finland, the European Environment Agency (EEA) said in a report published on Tuesday, Reuters reported. The agency provides research to guide EU policymakers, who are reconsidering proposals put forward last year by the European Commission, the EU executive, to tighten laws on air quality. It analysed the impact of air pollution from industry on health costs, lost working days, damage to buildings, reduced agricultural yields and other costs and found the cost was at least 59 billion euros and up to 189 billion euros in 2012. The wide range reflects different ways of calculating costs and compares with estimates of between 79 billion and 251 billion euros in 2008 at the start of the 2008-2012 period analysed. Costs fell as EU environment law and an economic downturn curbed emissions including carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, sulphur oxides and particulate matter, but the researchers said it would be a challenge to maintain progress in reducing emissions during times of economic growth. Of the 30 biggest facilities it identified as causing the most damage, 26 were power plants, mainly fuelled by coal in Germany and eastern Europe.
