Press room

EU to exceed nitrogen oxides emission ceiling, mostly due to road transport: The EU-27 and its Member States must meet legally binding limits for four air pollutants set by the National Emission Ceilings Directive (NEC Directive) to protect human health and the environment. The annual status report released today by the European Environment Agency (EEA) shows that while EU-27 emissions for three air pollutants are projected to meet the ceilings, nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions for the EU-27 as a whole will exceed its ceiling by 17 %. Ten Member States expect to miss their respective NOx ceilings.
Located in News
Europe's environment — The fourth assessment: Located in Publications
Europe's environment — The fourth assessment. Executive summary: Located in Publications
Exceedance of air quality limit values in urban areas (CSI 004) - Assessment published Aug 2010: Particulate Matter (PM 10 ) In the period 1997-2008, 18-50 % of the urban population was potentially exposed to ambient air concentrations of particulate matter (PM 10 ) in excess of the EU limit value set for the protection of human health (50 microgram /m 3 daily mean not be exceeded more than 35 days a calendar year); (Figure 1). Nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 ) In the period 1997-2008, 6-41 % of the urban population was potentially exposed to ambient air nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 ) concentrations above the EU limit value set for the protection of human health (40 microgram NO 2 /m 3 annual mean). There was a slight downwards trend over the period (Figure 1). Ozone (O 3 ) In the period 1997-2008, 13-62 % of the urban population in Europe was exposed to ambient ozone concentrations exceeding the EU target value set for the protection of human health (120 microgram O 3 /m 3 daily maximum 8-hourly average, not to be exceeded more than 25 times a calendar year by 2010). The 62 % of the urban population exposed to ambient ozone concentrations over the EU target value was recorded in 2003, which was the record year. There was no discernible trend over the period (Figure 1). Sulphur dioxide (SO 2 ) In the period 1997-2008, the fraction of the urban population in EEA-32 member countries that is potentially exposed to ambient air concentrations of sulphur dioxide in excess of the EU limit value set for the protection of human health (125 microgram SO 2 /m 3 daily mean not to be exceeded more than three days a year), decreased to less than 1 %, and as such the EU limit value set is close to being met everywhere in the urban background (Figure 1).
Located in Data and maps › Indicators › Exceedance of air quality limit values in urban areas
Exceedance of air quality limit values in urban areas (CSI 004) - Assessment published May 2012: Particulate Matter (PM 10 ) In the period 1997-2009, 18-49 % of the urban population in EU-27 was potentially exposed to ambient air concentrations of particulate matter (PM 10 ) in excess of the EU limit value set for the protection of human health (50 microgram/m 3 daily mean not to be exceeded more than 35 days a calendar year and to be met by 2005). There was no discernible trend over the period (Figure 1). Nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 ) In the period 1997-2009, 6-41 % of the urban population in EU-27 was potentially exposed to ambient air nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 ) concentrations above the EU limit value set for the protection of human health (40 microgram NO 2 /m 3 annual mean and to be met by 2010). There was a slight downwards trend over the period (Figure 1). Ozone (O 3 ) In the period 1997-2009, 13-61 % of the urban population in EU-27 was potentially exposed to ambient ozone concentrations exceeding the EU target value set for the protection of human health (120 microgram O 3 /m 3 daily maximum 8-hourly average, not to be exceeded more than 25 times a calendar year by 2010, averaged over three years and to be achieved where possible by 2010). The 61 % of the urban population exposed to ambient ozone concentrations over the EU target value was recorded in 2003. There was no discernible trend over the period (Figure 1). Sulphur dioxide (SO 2 ) In the period 1997-2009, the fraction of the urban population in EU-27 that is potentially exposed to ambient air concentrations of sulphur dioxide in excess of the EU limit value set for the protection of human health (125 microgram SO 2 /m 3 daily mean not to be exceeded more than three days a year and to be met by 2005), decreased to less than 1 %, and as such the EU limit value is close to being met everywhere in the urban background (Figure 1).
Located in Data and maps › Indicators › Exceedance of air quality limit values in urban areas
Exceedance of air quality limit values in urban areas (CSI 004) - Assessment published Nov 2012: Particulate Matter (PM 10 ) In the period 2001-2010, 18-41 % of the urban population in EU-27 was potentially exposed to ambient concentrations of particulate matter (PM 10 ) in excess of the EU limit value set for the protection of human health (50 microgram/m 3 daily mean not to be exceeded more than 35 days a calendar year); (Figure 1). Nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 ) In the period 2001-2010, 6-27 % of the urban population in EU-27 was potentially exposed to ambient nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 ) concentrations above the EU limit value set for the protection of human health (40 microgram NO 2 /m 3 annual mean). There was a slight downwards trend over the period (Figure 1) Ozone (O 3 ) In the period 2001-2010, 15-61 % of the urban population in EU-27 was exposed to ambient ozone concentrations exceeding the EU target value set for the protection of human health (120 microgram O 3 /m 3 daily maximum 8-hourly average, not to be exceeded more than 25 times a calendar year, averaged over three years and to be achieved where possible by 2010). The 61 % of the urban population exposed to ambient ozone concentrations over the EU target value was recorded in 2003, which was the record year. There was no discernible trend over the period (Figure 1). Sulphur dioxide (SO 2 ) In the period 2001-2010, the fraction of the urban population in EU-27 that is potentially exposed to ambient concentrations of sulphur dioxide in excess of the EU limit value set for the protection of human health (125 microgram SO 2 /m 3 daily mean not to be exceeded more than three days a year), decreased to less than 1 %, and as such the EU limit value set is close to being met everywhere in the urban background (Figure 1).
Located in Data and maps › Indicators › Exceedance of air quality limit values in urban areas
Exceedances of the ozone concentration threshold value for protection of human health, 1995: Note: number of days the 110 &#956;g/m3 (12.00-20.00 hrs) threshold value was exceeded, observed at urban/street or other/unspecified stations during the whole year 1995.
Located in Data and maps › Maps and graphs
Forests and their forgotten communities: In May 2008 a helicopter flew over unexplored parts of the Amazon in Acre State in Brazil, near the country’s border with Peru. Onboard were officials from Funai, the Brazilian government's Indian affairs department, on a mission to prove the existence of unknown Amazonian tribes who have never been in contact with the outside world. The few aerial pictures Funai has released show startled and intrigued people and their huts but do not reveal any landmarks which could be used to identify the exact location.
Located in Articles
Forests, health and climate change: Forests are essential to our survival and well-being. Forests clean our air, our water, our soil and they regulate our climate, amongst many other things. Trees and forests are not always associated with urban landscapes. However, there too they provide invaluable, often invisible, services. Simply by acting as 'green oasis' in our concrete jungles, they offer recreation and health services for many European citizens.
Located in Articles
Frequency distribution of concentrations in excess of the long-term objective for the protection of human health.: Presented as Box-Jenkins plots indicating the minimum, the 25th percentile, the 75th percentile and the maximum value
Located in Data and maps › Maps and graphs