Indicator Fact Sheet

Exposure to fine particles above EC threshold values

Indicator Fact Sheet

Prod-ID: IND-34-en

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This page was archived on 13 Nov 2014 with reason: Other (New version data-and-maps/indicators/exceedance-of-air-quality-limit-3/assessment was published)

Assessment made on 01 Jan 2001

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Policy issue: Are Europeans less exposed to particulates?

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Exposure to fine particles above EC threshold values

Key assessment

While there are no targets set for PM10 emssions, there are limits set for exposure to suspended particles, set out in a European Directive in 1980. Unfortunately, suspended particles have not been monitored consistently over the years, while monitoring PM10 has only begun recently.

While this does emphasise the need for consistent PM10 monitoring across Europe in the future, the data collected to date does show that a large fraction of Europeï¿½s population is exposed to particulates at levels above those recommended for their health. Despite the reductions forecast for emissions of PM10 and its precursors, this is expected to remain the case in the near future.