Transport contribution to air quality

Generic metadata

Classification

Identification

Road transport is the largest contributor to NOx emissions in Europe and the second largest for PM10. The data analysed from selected stations in major urban agglomerations, indicate that both mean and maximum values of NO2 concentrations at road traffic stations remain relatively stable (trend is smaller than the statistical uncertainty on estimate) during the period 1999-2002, though an increase is observed in 2003. The background concentrations remain relatively stable throughout the period 1999-2003. During the period 1999-2003, for NO2 the maximum traffic concentration is observed in London, whereas the maximum background concentration is observed in Paris. For PM10, an increase is observed during the period 2001-2003 in both station types for the mean concentrations and the maximum background concentrations. The maximum concentration at traffic stations remains relatively steady during the same period. In 2002 and 2003 the maximum traffic value is observed in Rome, whereas the maximum background concentration is observed in Prague. Overall, the decrease in emissions does not appear to have a statistically significant influence on the air quality and the increase in the number of vehicles is off-setting the technological and fuel quality improvements.