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Indicator Assessment
This indicator compares concentrations of pollutants at background stations to those at traffic stations. This comparison provides an estimate of the increased levels of air pollution to which the population is exposed in areas with increased road traffic. It also provides a measure of the impact of the technical and non-technical measures adopted to reduce the road transport sector's contribution to observed concentrations.
The indicator makes use of the data submitted to Airbase. Data permitting, pan-European coverage is attempted and the indicator focuses on selected station pairs (traffic and urban background stations) from capital cities across Europe. Where data in capital cities are not available, the next largest city is chosen.
The units used in this indicator are the average yearly, daily and weekly variations of the concentrations at traffic and urban background stations, measured in micrograms per cubic metre (mg/m3).
This indicator provides information relevant for current European air quality legislation related to the setting of national emission targets (National Emission Ceiling Directive 2001/81/EC), the reduction of transport related emissions (discussed in detail in TERM 34) and the protection of human health from harmful air pollutant levels (Directives 1999/30/EC for sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter and 2002/3/EC for ozone, both discussed in detail in CSI 004). The Directive on ambient air quality and cleaner air for Europe (Directive 2008/50/EC) also sets target and limit values for PM2.5 (particulate matter that passes through a size-selective inlet with a 50 % efficiency cut-off at 2.5 micrometres aerodynamic diameter), since 2010.
EU limit values for concentrations of nitrogen dioxide in ambient air
Both limit values had to be met by 1 January 2010:
EU limit values for concentrations of PM10 in ambient air
Both limit values had to be met by 1 January 2005:
EU limit values for concentrations of other pollutants:
- sulphur dioxide
Two limit values have been set for the protection of human health. Both limit values had to be met by 1 January 2005
- ozone
A combined ozone and acidification abatement strategy has been developed by the European Commission, resulting in a new Ozone Daughter Directive (2002/3/EC) and a National Emission Ceiling Directive (2001/81/EC). In this legislation, target values for ozone levels and for precursor emissions have been set.
Concentrations
Data submitted to Airbase have been used. The average diurnal variation was obtained by averaging each hour of the hourly data available at the selected measurement station. Average weekly variation was obtained by averaging the daily average for each day of the week (hourly or average daily data were used, depending on data availability) at the selected measurement station. Average yearly data were obtained from average hourly or average daily data, whichever were available at the selected measurement station (see data availability table for details). For all of the above, data gaps were not filled in.
No gap-filling is applied for this indicator, however, the databases and spreadsheets used for the production of the indicator contain gap-filled values.
No methodology references available.
Air quality data are officially submitted. It is assumed that data have been validated by the national data supplier. Station characteristics and representativeness are often insufficiently documented. The data are thought to be representative for the urban population in each city. Locally, (at the city level) the indicator is subject to year-on-year variations due to meteorological variability.
No uncertainty has been specified
For references, please go to https://www.eea.europa.eu/data-and-maps/indicators/exceedances-of-air-quality-objectives/exceedances-of-air-quality-objectives-1 or scan the QR code.
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