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Sulphur dioxide 2009. Annual limit value for the protection of ecosystems: In the air quality directive (2008/EC/50), the EU has set two limit values for sulphur dioxide (SO2) for the protection of vegetation within the zones designated by member states: the SO2 annual mean value may not exceed 20 micrograms per cubic metre (µg/m3) and the SO2 mean value for the winter period (1 October to 31 March) may not exceed 20 micrograms per cubic metre (µg/m3).
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Air pollutant emission limits exceeded in twelve EU Member States: Twelve Member States exceeded one or more of the emission limits set by the EU National Emission Ceilings (NEC) Directive, according to recent official data for 2010 reported to the European Environment Agency (EEA). In some instances the limits were exceeded by significant amounts.
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Avoiding harmful ozone pollution this summer: High summer temperatures combined with air pollution can cause ground-level ozone to form, which has serious effects on health, especially for older people or children, or those with asthma and other breathing problems. The European Environment Agency (EEA) presents some useful information on protecting your health from ground-level ozone this summer.
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4th highest 24-hour mean SO2 concentration observed at urban stations, 2001-2010 (EU-27): Only urban and sub-urban background monitoring stations have been included in the calculations. Data for Cyprus, Denmark, Finland and Malta, are not included due to missing availability of operational urban and sub-urban background monitoring stations in the Urban Audit cities.
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Rural concentration map of the ozone indicator AOT40 for crops, year 2009: AOT40 for crops are vegatation exposure related indicators and are based on rural background station observation only.
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Exposure of forest area to ozone (exposure expressed as AOT40 in (μg/m³).h) in EEA member countries: The figure shows the exposure of forest area to ozone (exposure expressed as AOT40f in (μg/m3).h) in EEA member countries . By the UNECE a critical level for protection of forest is set to 10000 (μg/m3).hour. Since 2004 a growing number of EEA member countries have been included. In 2004 Bulgaria, Greece, Iceland, Norway, Romania, Switzerland, and Turkey have not been included. In 2005-2006 Iceland, Norway Switzerland and Turkey are still excluded in the analyses due to lack of detailed land cover data and/or rural ozone data. In 2007 Switzerland and Turkey are not included. Since 2008 only Turkey is not included. Calculations of forest exposure are not available for year prior to 2004.
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Annual variation in the ozone AOT40 value for crops (May-July) in (μg/m³).h, 1996-2009: Average values over all rural stations which reported data over at least eleven years in the period 1996-2009. The black line corresponds to the 5-year averaged value. Variations over Europe in observed values is large, eighty percent of the observations falls with the red shaded area.
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Laying the foundations for greener transport — TERM 2011: transport indicators tracking progress towards environmental targets in Europe: For the first time ever the European Commissions is proposing a greenhouse gas emissions target for transport. But how is transport going to provide the services that our society needs while minimising its environmental impacts? This is the theme for the Transport White Paper launched in 2011. TERM 2011 and future reports aim to deliver an annual assessment on progress towards these targets by introducing the Transport and Environment Reporting Mechanism Core Set of Indicators (TERM-CSI). TERM 2011 provides also the baseline to which progress will be checked against, covering most of the environmental areas, including energy consumption, emissions, noise and transport demand. In addition, this report shows latest data and discuss on the different aspects that can contribute the most to minimise transport impacts. TERM 2011 applies the avoid-shift-improve (ASI) approach, introduced in the previous TERM report, analysing ways to optimise transport demand, obtain a more sustainable modal split or use the best technology available.
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PM2.5 2009. Annual target value for the protection of human health: In the air quality directive (2008/EC/50), the EU has set a target value for fine particulate matter (PM2.5) for the protection of human health: the PM2.5 annual mean value may not exceed 25 micrograms per cubic metre (µg/m3).
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Nitrogen dioxide 2009. Hourly limit value for the protection of human health: In the air quality directive (2008/EC/50), the EU has set two limit values for nitrogen dioxide (NO2) for the protection of human health: the NO2 hourly mean value may not exceed 200 micrograms per cubic metre (µg/m3) more than 18 times in a year and the NO2 annual mean value may not exceed 40 micrograms per cubic metre (µg/m3). These limit values come into force for concentrations measured from 1.1.2010 so during 2009 a margin of tolerance equal to an annual mean value of 42 micrograms per cubic metre (μg/m3) is still in place
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