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Air pollution: Air pollution harms human health and the environment. In Europe, emissions of many air pollutants have decreased substantially over the past decades, resulting in improved air quality across the region. However, air pollutant concentrations are still too high, and air quality problems persist. A significant proportion of Europe’s population live in areas, especially cities, where exceedances of air quality standards occur: ozone, nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter (PM) pollution pose serious health risks. Several countries have exceeded one or more of their 2010 emission limits for four important air pollutants. Reducing air pollution therefore remains important.
Located in Environmental topics › Air pollution
Air pollution - Drivers and pressures (Finland): Air pollution - Drivers and Pressures
Located in The European environment – state and outlook 2010 › Country assessments › Finland
Air pollution - Drivers and pressures (Poland): SOER Common environmental theme from Poland
Located in The European environment – state and outlook 2010 › Country assessments › Poland
Air pollution from electricity-generating large combustion plants: Located in Publications
Air pollution: breaches of legal limits continued through 2010 and 2011: Air pollutant emissions were above legal limits in eight Member States in 2011, preliminary data shows. In 2010, 12 Member States exceeded these limits, according to final official data reported under the European Union’s National Emission Ceilings (NEC) Directive.
Located in News
Ammonia (NH3) distance-to-target for EEA member countries: The distance-to-target indicator shows how current emissions compare to a linear emission reduction 'target-path' between 1990 emission levels and the 2010 emission ceiling for each country. Negative percentage values indicate the current emissions in a country are below the linear target path; positive values show that current emission lie above a linear target path to 2010.
Located in Data and maps › Maps and graphs
Areas at risk of eutrophication in 2010 vs 1990: Grid cells indicating where areas at risk of eutrophication in 2010 are reduced by more (dark orange shading) and less (red shading) than 30 % in comparison to the 1990 situation, when using original (left) and present (right) knowledge.
Located in Data and maps › Maps and graphs
Capture the invisible for the EEA photo story competition: The air we breathe may not be the most photogenic subject, but depicting an odourless, colourless gas is the challenge set out by ImaginAIR, a new competition created by the European Environment Agency (EEA) which invites participants to tell a story about Europe's air in three pictures.
Located in News
Carbon efficiency of new cars is increasing: Preliminary data published today by the European Environment Agency (EEA) show that new passenger cars registered in the European Union (EU) in 2010 are emitting 3.7 % less CO2 per kilometre travelled than new cars from 2009. A new data viewer with confirmed data will be available in October allowing consumers to compare the carbon efficiency of cars from different manufacturers.
Located in News
Change (%) in cadmium emissions 1990-2007 (EEA member countries): Change in cadmium emissions
Located in Data and maps › Maps and graphs