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This report was prepared under the supervision of
Gabriel Kielland, Project Manager European Environment Agency
Download the report as PDF File (Approx. 791 Kb)
Table of contents |
EXCEEDANCE OF OZONE THRESHOLD VALUES IN THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITY IN 1996.
2.1 Introduction
2.2 Data handling
3. SUMMARY OF REPORTED DATA FOR 1996
4.1 Geographic coverage of monitoring stations
4.2 Annual statistics, 1996
4.3 Exceedances of thresholds in 1996
4.3.1 Exceedances of
the threshold value for protection of human health
4.3.2 Exceedances of
the threshold values for information and warning of the population
4.3.3 Exceedances of the
daily threshold value for protection of vegetation
4.3.4 Exceedance of
the hourly threshold value for protection of vegetation
4.4 Summer smog episodes in 1996
4.5 Data reported for 1989-1996
4.6 Preliminary survey of exceedances in Italy
5. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
REFERENCES
ANNEX I. Observed Exceedances and Annual Statistics
ANNEX II. Phenomenology of ozone concentrations
INFORMATION DOCUMENT CONCERNING AIR POLLUTION BY OZONE
Overview of the situation in the European Union during the
1997 summer season (April-August)
3. SUMMARY OF DATA REPORTED FOR SUMMER 1997
3.1 Geographical distribution
3.2 Comparison with previous years
4.1 Population exposure
4.2 Territorial exposure
This report is based upon data collected by the European Commission under the Directive
92/72/EEC on air pollution by ozone and presented to the European Council in their meeting
of October 1997 as two separate reports, one covering the year 1996, the other covering
summer 1997. The Commission requested the European Environment Agency to assist in the
reporting obligations. The reports were subsequently produced by the European Topic Centre
on Air Quality under contract to the Agency. The separate reports are also available in
electronic form on the EEA homepage on the Internet.
In this topic report the annual 1996 and summer 1997 reports are reproduced in their
original form as presented to the Commission. The differences in available data, the set
of threshold values, the number of stations, the location of stations, and the status of
the information based on validated 1996 data and non-validated 1997 data, justifies such
an approach.
A major asset of this report is the timeliness of its delivery. The assessment of ozone
episodes in 1997 was based upon data measured only two months earlier, while the normal
production time from field measurements to validated assessment reports is rarely less
than eighteen months. This timely reporting has only been possible with the support of the
individual contact points within each Member State and the efficient communication
established.
The harmful effects of tropospheric ozone on human health and well-being as well as
damage to ecosystems is now being recognised as a major concern throughout the Member
States of the European Union. The European Community has taken steps to deal with the
problem through a number of Directives including the 92/72/EEC Directive on ambient ozone
and the 96/62/EEC Directive on ambient air quality assessment and management (the
Framework Directive) as well as the decision to develop a Community strategy for the
reduction of ozone pollution. The measures necessary to combat pollution remain however a
responsibility of each Member State and require political decisions with cost implications
and consequences for the development of activities in society. In this political process
basic and reliable information on the extent and severity of the problem is essential.
It is the intention of EEA to continue yearly reporting and assessment of the ground
level ozone situation in Europe in close co-operation with the European Commission.
Gordon McInnes
Programme Manager
This report summarises the annual information on exceedances of ozone threshold values
during 1996 and gives a first evaluation of the observed exceedances of the thresholds
during summer 1997 (April-August). According to the Council Directive (92/72/EEC) on air
pollution by ozone, Member States have to provide information on ozone levels (statistical
parameters, number and duration of exceedances of specified threshold values) on an annual
basis before 1 July of the next year. Additionally, exceedances of the threshold values
for population information and warning, as set in the Directive, must be reported to the
Commission within one month after occurrence. The analysis for the year 1996 presented in
this report is based on information made available before 6 August 1997. By then
information for the calendar year 1996 had been received from 13 Member States. Data from
France was not available. Data from Italy was received at a very late stage and
inconsistent with the agreed format and could not be included fully in the report. As
weather conditions during August 1997 indicated a high probability of occurrence of
exceedances, the preparation of the report on summer 1997 was postponed for two weeks in
order to include as far as possible information on the situation in August. All
information received not later than 19 September has been included. 14 Member States
submitted data; information from France was not available.
From an evaluation of the exceedances and annual statistics, the following conclusions are reached:
During Summer 1997 this threshold value was exceeded in all Member States with the exception of Ireland, Finland, Denmark and Sweden. In the Member States where exceedances were observed, the number of days on which at least one exceedance was observed ranged from five in Luxembourg to 49 in Italy. 41% of all stations reported one or more exceedances during the 1997 summer season. An initial estimate was made of the percentage of the urban population which was exposed to at least one exceedance of the population information threshold. From all the cities in which at least one monitoring station was operational, 43% (157 cities) reported one or more exceedances. 25 million people (34% of the population in cities with monitors operational) may have been exposed to these exceedances.
The threshold value of hourly average concentrations was exceeded largely and widely (reported by 10 out of 13 Member States) on a limited number of days: in 44% of the mapped area exceedances were reported during 1- 5 days.
For references, please go to https://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/P1I92-9167-076-6/page001.html or scan the QR code.
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