Zones in relation to EU air quality thresholds

Data
Prod-ID: DAT-18-en
Created 21 Aug 2014 Published 21 Aug 2014 Last modified 04 Sep 2014
4 min read
Topics: ,
2012 - Member States provide an annual assessment of air quality in comparison to EU air quality thresholds

GIS data

Zone exceedance SO2, day, hour

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Zone exceedance Ozone vegetation, health

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  • EU12_OH
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  • EU12_OV
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Zone exceedance Lead

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  • EU12_L
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Zone exceedance PM10, hour, year

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  • EU12_PM10
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Zone exceedance SO2, winter, year

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  • EU12_SE
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Zone exceedance Benzene

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  • EU12_B
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Zone exceedance NO2 hour, year

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  • EU12_NH
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Zone exceedance NOx year

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  • EU12_NV
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Zone exceedance CO

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  • EU12_C
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Zone exceedance AsCdNi

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Zone exceedance BaP

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Zone exceedance PM25

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  • EU12_PM25
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Zone exceedance All Pollutants

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Metadata

information.png Reporting obligations (ROD)
information.png Temporal coverage:
information.png Geographic coverage:
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information.png Rights:
EEA standard re-use policy: unless otherwise indicated, re-use of content on the EEA website for commercial or non-commercial purposes is permitted free of charge, provided that the source is acknowledged (https://www.eea.europa.eu/legal/copyright). Copyright holder: Directorate-General for Environment (DG ENV), European Environment Agency (EEA).
information.png Disclaimer:
Spatial data should be used for visual presentation. It is not intended for use in spatial analysis. Attribute values are those reported by Member States under Annual report (questionnaire) on air quality assessment and management (2004/461/EC).
information.png Coordinate reference system:
EPSG:4326
information.png Data sources

European Topic Centre for Air Pollution and Climate Change Mitigation (ETC/ACM).

information.png Owners:
Directorate-General for Environment (DG ENV)
European Environment Agency (EEA)
information.png Processors:
European Topic Centre on Air pollution and Climate change mitigation (ETC/ACM)

Additional information

Information is reported for the zones designated under the ambient air quality directives (2008/50/EC; 2004/107/EC). Member States have to divide their entire territory into zones. Zones can be regarded as the primary territorial units for assessment and management of air quality under the air quality directives. Consequently, unambiguous definition of all zones is needed. Member States have employed different approaches for the definition of their zones. Some Member States have divided their territory into a single set of zones serving all pollutants. Other Member States have defined a single base set of zones and modified some of the zones for the application to particular pollutants. Where a Member State has distinguished different sets of zones in relation to health protection and ecosystem/vegetation protection respectively, a single location can be situated in several zones, e.g. in a zone defined for all pollutants except lead and in another, larger zone defined for lead.

More information about EU air quality standards is available on the DG Environment web site at http://ec.europa.eu/environment/air/quality/standards.htm.

Pursuant to Article 22 of Directive 2008/50/EC, Member States may notify to the Commission when in their opinion the conditions are met in a given zone or agglomeration for postponing the attainment deadline for the limit values for nitrogen dioxide and benzene, or for being exempt from the limit values for PM10. More information is available at: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/air/quality/legislation/time_extensions.htm .

Additional information is available in The annual technical overview and analysis of the reports submitted by Member States.

 

Related content

Figures produced

Benzene - Annual limit value for the protection of human health In the air quality directive (2008/EC/50), the EU has set a limit value for benzene (C6H6) for the protection of human health: the annual mean value may not exceed 5 micrograms per cubic metre (µg/m3). The limit value comes into effect for data measured from 1 January 2010. During 2009 a margin of tolerance was in place so the annual mean should not exceed 6 micrograms per cubic metre (µg/m3).
Sulphur dioxide - Hourly limit value for the protection of human health In the air quality directive (2008/EC/50) the EU has set two limit values for sulphur dioxide (SO2) for the protection of human health: the SO2 hourly mean value may not exceed 350 micrograms per cubic metre (µg/m3) more than 24 times in a year and the SO2 daily mean value may not exceed 125 micrograms per cubic metre (µg/m3) more than 3 times in a year.
Sulphur dioxide - Annual limit value for the protection of ecosystems In the air quality directive (2008/EC/50), the EU has set two limit values for sulphur dioxide (SO2) for the protection of vegetation within the zones designated by member states: the SO2 annual mean value may not exceed 20 micrograms per cubic metre (µg/m3) and the SO2 mean value for the winter period (1 October to 31 March) may not exceed 20 micrograms per cubic metre (µg/m3).
Ozone - 8 hour mean target value for the protection of human health In the air quality directive (2008/EC/50), the EU has set a target value and a long term objective value for ozone (O3) for the protection of human health. Target value: the maximum daily eight-hour mean may not exceed 120 micrograms per cubic metre (µg/m3) on more than 25 days per calendar year averaged over three years. Long term objective value: the maximum daily eight-hour mean may not exceed 120 micrograms per cubic metre (µg/m3) within a calendar year.
Benzo(a)pyrene - 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 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) for the protection of human health; the target is defined in terms of concentration of benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) which is used as a marker substance for PAHs generally: the BaP annual mean value may not exceed 1 nanogram per cubic metre (ng/m3). The target value enters into force 31.12.2012.
Nitrogen dioxide - Annual limit values for the protection of human health In the air quality directive (2008/EC/50) the EU has set two limit values for nitrogen dioxide (NO2) for the protection of human health: the NO2 hourly mean value may not exceed 200 micrograms per cubic metre (µg/m3) more than 18 times in a year and the NO2 annual mean value may not exceed 40 micrograms per cubic metre (µg/m3). These limit values come into force for concentrations measured from 1.1.2010 so during 2009 a margin of tolerance equal to an annual mean value of 42 micrograms per cubic metre (μg/m3) is still in place.
Particulate matter (PM10) - Annual limit value for the protection of human health In the air quality directive (2008/EC/50), the EU has set two limit values for particulate matter (PM10) for the protection of human health: the PM10 daily mean value may not exceed 50 micrograms per cubic metre (µg/m3) more than 35 times in a year and the PM10 annual mean value may not exceed 40 micrograms per cubic metre (µg/m3). In some areas time extensions have been granted by DG Environment for meeting these limit values. Information about time extensions is provided by DG Environment at: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/air/quality/legislation/time_extensions.htm
Nitrogen dioxide - Hourly limit value for the protection of human health In the air quality directive (2008/EC/50), the EU has set two limit values for nitrogen dioxide (NO2) for the protection of human health: the NO2 hourly mean value may not exceed 200 micrograms per cubic metre (µg/m3) more than 18 times in a year and the NO2 annual mean value may not exceed 40 micrograms per cubic metre (µg/m3). These limit values come into force for concentrations measured from 1.1.2010 so during 2009 a margin of tolerance equal to an annual mean value of 42 micrograms per cubic metre (μg/m3) is still in place
Nickel - 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 nickel (Ni) for the protection of human health: the Ni annual mean value may not exceed 20 nanograms per cubic metre (ng/m3). The target value enters into force 31.12.2012.
Particulate matter (PM10) - Daily limit value for the protection of human health In the air quality directive (2008/EC/50), the EU has set two limit values for particulate matter (PM10) for the protection of human health: the PM10 daily mean value may not exceed 50 micrograms per cubic metre (µg/m3) more than 35 times in a year and the PM10 annual mean value may not exceed 40 micrograms per cubic metre (µg/m3). In some areas time extensions have been granted by DG Environment for meeting these limit values. Information about time extensions is provided by DG Environment at: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/air/quality/legislation/time_extensions.htm
Lead - Annual limit value for the protection of human health In the air quality directive (2008/EC/50), the EU has set a limit value for lead (Pb) for the protection of human health: the Pb annual mean value may not exceed 0.5 milligrams per cubic metre (µg/m3) except in the immediate vicinity of specific, notified industrial sources where the Pb annual mean value may not exceed 1.0 milligram per cubic metre (µg/m3)
Cadmium - 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.
Carbon monoxide - 8 hour mean limit value for the protection of human health In the air quality directive (2008/EC/50), the EU has set a limit value for carbon monoxide (CO) for the protection of human health: the CO maximum daily 8-hour mean values may not exceed 10 milligrams per cubic metre (mg/m3).
Sulphur dioxide - Winter limit value for the protection of ecosystems In the air quality directive (2008/EC/50), the EU has set two limit values for sulphur dioxide (SO2) for the protection of vegetation within the zones designated by member states: the SO2 annual mean value may not exceed 20 micrograms per cubic metre (µg/m3) and the SO2 mean value for the winter period (1 October to 31 March) may not exceed 20 micrograms per cubic metre (µg/m3).
Nitrogen oxide - Annual limit value for the protection of vegetation In the air quality directive (2008/EC/50), the EU has set a critical level for nitrogen oxides (NOx) for the protection of vegetation within the zones designated by member states: the NOx annual mean value may not exceed 30 micrograms per cubic metre (µg/m3).
PM2.5 - Annual target value for the protection of human health In the air quality directive (2008/EC/50), the EU has set a target value for fine particulate matter (PM2.5) for the protection of human health: the PM2.5 annual mean value may not exceed 25 micrograms per cubic metre (µg/m3).
Arsenic - Annual target value for the protection of human health
Ozone - Target value for the protection of vegetation In the air quality directive (2008/EC/50), the EU has set a target value and a long term objective value for ozone (O3) for the protection of vegetation. Target value: the AOT40 may not exceed 18000 (µg/m3) per hour in the period from 1 May to 31 July averaged over five years. Long term objective value: the AOT40 may not exceed 6000 (µg/m3) per hour in the period from 1 May to 31 July within a calendar year. AOT40 (expressed in (μg/m3) ∙ hours) means the sum of the difference between hourly concentrations greater than 80 μg/m3 (= 40 parts per billion) and 80 μg/m3 over a given period using only the one-hour values measured between 8.00 and 20.00 Central European Time (CET) each day. More information is provided in Annex VII of directive (2008/EC/50).
Sulphur dioxide - Daily limit value for the protection of human health In the air quality directive (2008/EC/50) the EU has set two limit values for sulphur dioxide (SO2) for the protection of human health: the SO2 hourly mean value may not exceed 350 micrograms per cubic metre (µg/m3) more than 24 times in a year and the SO2 daily mean value may not exceed 125 micrograms per cubic metre (µg/m3) more than 3 times in a year.
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