Indicator Fact Sheet

Exposure of population to exceedances of EU air quality standards

Indicator Fact Sheet

Prod-ID: IND-106-en

Also known as: TERM 004

This is an old version, kept for reference only.

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Topics: Transport

This page was archived on 26 Aug 2017 with reason: A new version has been published

Assessment made on 01 Jan 2001

Generic metadata

Classification

Topics:

Transport

DPSIR: Impact

Identification

Indicator codes

TERM 004

Contents

Policy issue: Meet EU air quality standards set for protection of human health

Figures

Urban population potentially exposed to exceedances of EU urban air quality standards (EU) - 1995 and 2010 (including Auto Oil II emission scenarios)

Key assessment

Air quality in Europe (and particularly in the large urban areas) has improved in recent decades. However, it is estimated that in 1995 nearly all EU urban citizens were exposed to air pollution levels exceeding the (proposed) EU air quality standards set for the protection of human health.

Although implementation of the Auto-Oil measures is expected to result in significant improvements, the outlook for 2010 shows that some 70 % of the EU urban population will still be exposed to PM10 levels exceeding the limit values, some 20 % to NO₂ exceedances, and some 15 % to benzene exceedances.