Air pollution - State and impacts (Greece)

Air pollutant concentrations

The air quality assessment for the period 2001-2007 refers to population resident in municipalities of the Metropolitan Area of Athens and there was no clear trend over the period. (Figure 1; GR – EEA CSI 004). This corresponds to about 40 % of the total Greek population and is covered by urban background monitoring stations. More specifically:

• 4-30 % of the above urban population was exposed to daily mean PM₁₀ concentrations in excess of the indicative limits set for each year (50 μg/m³, in 2005-2007).
• 70-85 % of the resident population was exposed to NO₂ annual mean concentrations in the range of the indicative target limit for each year. Only in 2005, about 12 % of the resident population was potentially exposed to concentrations greater than the indicative limit value for that year (50 μg/m³).
• The target level of 120 μg/m³ for ozone was not exceeded for 12-52 % of the resident population. However, between 100 % in 2001 and 32 % in 2007 was potentially exposed to exceedances on more than 25 days.
• There was no exceedance of the EU limit for SO₂ daily mean (125 μg/m³, not to be exceeded on more than three days a year).

Air pollutant effects

High concentrations of tropospheric ozone and its precursors (e.g. NO_x and NMVOC) have shown to adversely affect the human health and vegetation. In the past, deposition of acidifying substances had damaged ecosystems, historical buildings and materials (corrosion). Excessive input of nutrients from atmospheric deposition leads to eutrophication in freshwaters. Acidifying pollutants also contribute to the formation of particulate matter, which cause human respiratory diseases.