Are Current EU Air Quality Standards Protecting Our Health?

Profile Picture of - Julia Mink

Julia Mink

Abstract information

In this video, JULIA MINK examines whether air pollution still harms health in countries where pollution levels are considered safe by EU standards. Focusing on France, she uses administrative health data and atmospheric variation to identify causal effects of fine particulate matter. Her findings show that even moderate pollution significantly increases healthcare spending across all age groups, raising important questions about current air quality thresholds and public health policy.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.21036/LTPUB101230

Researcher

Julia Mink is Argelander Professor of Environmental Economics, Sustainability and Inequality (Tenure Track Assistant Professor) at the University of Bonn. She is an empirical economist specialising in quasi-experimental methods and large spatio-temporal administrative and survey data. Her research lies at the intersection of environmental and health economics, with a focus on quantifying the societal costs of pollution and climate change and their unequal distribution across populations. Mink earned her PhD in Economics from Sciences Po and previously held a postdoctoral position at INRAE.

Institution information

University of Bonn (Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn)

The University of Bonn is one of Germany’s most prestigious and research-intensive institutions, consistently ranked among the top universities worldwide. Founded in 1818, it is celebrated for its academic excellence, particularly in mathematics and economics, and boasts a record of producing several Nobel Laureates and Fields Medalists. Located in the former German capital, the university is integrated into the city’s historic fabric, offering a vibrant international environment and a diverse range of programs across seven faculties. As a member of the elite U15 group, it remains a global leader in innovation and higher education.
University of Bonn (Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn)
Cover Photo of - University of Bonn (Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn)

Original Publication

The healthcare costs of air pollution in France

Julia Mink

Published in

Citation

Julia Mink, 

Latest Thinking, 

Are Current EU Air Quality Standards Protecting Our Health?, 

https://doi.org/10.21036/LTPUB101230, 

Credits:

© Julia Mink 

and Latest Thinking

This work is licensed under CC-BY 4.0