Press room

A portrait of global aerosols: ‘African dust’ from the Sahara is one of the natural sources of particulate matter in the air. Extremely dry and hot conditions in the Sahara create turbulence, which can propel dust upwards to a height of 4–5 km. Particles can stay at these heights for weeks or months, and are often blown across Europe.
Located in Signals — every breath we take › Signals 2013 › Close up
Building our knowledge about air: Our knowledge and understanding of air pollution is growing every year. We have an expanding network of monitoring stations reporting data on a wide range of air pollutants, complemented with results from air quality models. We now have to make sure that scientific knowledge and policy continue to develop hand in hand.
Located in Signals — every breath we take › Signals 2013 › Articles
Every breath we take – Signals 2013 focuses on air quality in Europe: Poor air quality can have serious impacts on our health and the environment. How is Europe’s air quality? What are the main sources of air pollutants? How do they affect our health and the environment? What does Europe do to improve air quality? The new edition of the European Environment Agency’s (EEA) Signals takes a closer look.
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EEA Signals 2013 - Every breath we take: Improving air quality in Europe: Signals 2013 focuses on Europe’s air. This year’s edition tries to explain the current state of air quality in Europe, where they come from, how air pollutants form, and how they affect our health and the environment. It also gives an overview of the way we build our knowledge on air, and how we tackle air pollution through a wide range of policies and measures.
Located in Publications
AirBase - Exchange of information: Location of stations for which 2011 air quality data for components O3, PM10, NO2, SO2, C6H6, PM2.5, Pb, CO have been reported. Observed concentration maps for which 2011 air quality data for components O3, PM10, NO2, SO2, C6H6, PM2.5, CO, BaP, Pb, Cd, As and Ni have been reported.
Located in Data and maps › Maps and graphs
Reducing the € 45 billion health cost of air pollution from lorries: Road charges for heavy goods vehicles (HGVs or lorries) should reflect the varied health effects of traffic pollution in different European countries. This means charges should be much higher in some countries compared to others, according to analysis from the European Environment Agency (EEA).
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Transport emissions of air pollutants (TERM 003) - Assessment published Feb 2013: Between 2009 and 2010, all air pollutant emissions from transport, except NOx, decreased (ranging between 2.5 % and 10 %). During the period 1990 to 2010, the main pollutants that contribute to acidification and particulate and ozone formation have shown a decreasing trend in emissions in the EEA‑32 (with fluctuations in some years). The largest percentage decreases over this period have been for CO (76 %) and non-methane volatile organic compound (NMVOC) (75 %). However, increases in shipping activity since 1990 have offset some of the reductions elsewhere, in particular for SOx, but also for NOx and PM. International shipping currently contributes to nearly 87 % of all transport SOx emissions. The rise of road freight transport explaines most of the increase in NOx in 2010.
Located in Data and maps › Indicators › Transport emissions of air pollutants
Fewer summer ozone peaks in 2012, but levels still harmful: Ozone pollution still exceeded target levels in Europe during summer 2012, but the number of exceedances of the alert threshold was lower than in any year since monitoring started in 1997. However, almost all EU Member States failed to keep levels of the pollutant within targets set to protect human health.
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Air pollution by ozone across Europe during summer 2012: Overview of exceedances of EC ozone threshold values for April - September 2012
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Cadmium 2010 - Annual target value for the protection of human health: In the directive 2004/107/EC (Fourth Daughter Directive), the EU has set a target value for cadmium (Cd) for the protection of human health: the Cd annual mean value may not exceed 5 nanograms per cubic metre (ng/m3). The target value enters into force 31.12.2012.
Located in Data and maps › Maps and graphs