Long-term exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) has been shown to have significant negative impcts on human health. It is estimated  that current levels of air pollution shorten the statistical life expectancy of European citizens byseveral months. The GAINS integrated assessment model calculates shortening of life expectancy from population exposure to PM2.5 using epiemiologically-derived health  impact functions. In addition, GAINS estimates PM2.5 concentrations at 1875 air quality monitoring sations located in diverse  environments ranging from remote background locations to busy street canyons. In this article, differnt approaches to dealing with the PM2.5  pollution problem are compared. We assess for the present and future the attainment of EU and WHO ai quality standards for  PM2.5 and estimate the loss of life expectancy under different policy scenarios developed for the onging revision of the EU Air Quality Legislation.