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Air quality in Europe - 2018

Publication Created 09 Jul 2018 Published 29 Oct 2018
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The current report presents an updated overview and analysis of air quality in Europe from 2000 to 2016. It reviews the progress made towards meeting the air quality standards established in the two EU Ambient Air Quality Directives and towards the World Health Organization (WHO) air quality guidelines (AQGs). It also presents the latest findings and estimates on population and ecosystem exposure to the air pollutants with the greatest impacts and effects. The evaluation of the status of air quality is based mainly on reported ambient air measurements, in conjunction with modelling data and data on anthropogenic emissions and their evolution over time.
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Publication Created 09 Jul 2018 Published 29 Oct 2018
EEA Report No 12/2018
The current report presents an updated overview and analysis of air quality in Europe from 2000 to 2016. It reviews the progress made towards meeting the air quality standards established in the two EU Ambient Air Quality Directives and towards the World Health Organization (WHO) air quality guidelines (AQGs). It also presents the latest findings and estimates on population and ecosystem exposure to the air pollutants with the greatest impacts and effects. The evaluation of the status of air quality is based mainly on reported ambient air measurements, in conjunction with modelling data and data on anthropogenic emissions and their evolution over time.

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: 978-92-9213-990-2
: TH-AL-18-013-EN-N

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Figures used

Annual mean NO2 concentrations in 2016 Observed concentrations of NO2 in 2016. The map shows the NO2 annual mean concentrations. The dots in the last two colour categories indicate stations with exceedances of the annual limit value (40 µg/m3). Only stations with more than 75 % of valid data have been included in the map.The French overseas territories´ stations are not shown in the map but can be found at https://www.eea.europa.eu/data-and-maps/dashboards/air-quality-statistics
Ozone indicator SOMO35 in 2015 The map represents the calculated concentrations of O3 (SOMO35) combining monitoring data at regional and urban background stations with results from the European Monitoring and Evaluation Programme (EMEP) chemical transport model and other supplementary data.
Annual mean PM2.5 concentrations in 2016 Observed concentrations of PM2.5 in 2016. The map shows the PM2.5 annual mean concentrations. Dots in the last two colour categories indicate stations with concentrations exceeding the limit value (25 μg/m3). Dots in the first colour category indicate stations reporting values below the WHO air quality guidance for PM2.5 (10 μg/m3). Only stations with more than 75 % of valid data have been included in the map. The French overseas territories´ stations are not shown in the map but can be found at https://www.eea.europa.eu/data-and-maps/dashboards/air-quality-statistics
NO2 annual mean in 2015 The map represents the calculated concentrations of NO2 (annual mean) combining monitoring data at monitoring stations with results from the European Monitoring and Evaluation Programme (EMEP) chemical transport model and other supplementary data.
Annual mean benzene concentrations in 2016 Observed concentrations of benzene in 2016. The map shows the benzene annual mean concentrations. Dots in the last colour category indicate stations with exceedances of the annual limit value (5 µg/m3). Dots in the first colour category correspond to concentrations under the estimated WHO reference level (1.7 µg/m3). Only stations with more than 50 % of valid data have been included in the map. The French overseas territories´ stations are not shown in the map but can be found at https://www.eea.europa.eu/data-and-maps/dashboards/air-quality-statistics
Annual mean lead concentrations in 2016 Observed concentrations of lead in 2016. The map shows the lead annual mean concentrations. Dots in the last two categories indicate stations with exceedances of the annual limit value (0.5 µg/m3). Only stations with more than 14 % of valid data have been included in the map. The French overseas territories´ stations are not shown in the map but can be found at https://www.eea.europa.eu/data-and-maps/dashboards/air-quality-statistics
PM2.5 annual mean in 2015 The map represents the calculated concentrations of PM2.5 (annual mean) combining monitoring data at regional and urban background stations with results from the European Monitoring and Evaluation Programme (EMEP) chemical transport model and other supplementary data.
Annual concentrations of PM10 in 2016 Observed concentrations of PM10 in 2016. The map shows the PM10 annual mean concentrations. Dots in the last two colour categories indicate stations with concentrations exceeding the limit value (40 μg/m3). Dots in the first colour category indicate stations reporting values below the WHO air quality guidance for PM10 (20 μg/m3). Only stations with more than 75 % of valid data have been included in the map. The French overseas territories´ stations are not shown in the map but can be found at https://www.eea.europa.eu/data-and-maps/dashboards/air-quality-statistics
Annual mean BaP concentrations in 2016 Observed concentrations of BaP in 2016. The map shows the BaP annual mean concentrations. The dots in the last colour category indicate stations with exceedances of the annual target value (1 ng/m3). The dots in the first colour category correspond to concentrations under the estimated WHO reference level (0.12 ng/m3). Only stations reporting more than 14 % of valid data, as daily, weekly or monthly measurements, have been included in the map. The French overseas territories´ stations are not shown in the map but can be found at https://www.eea.europa.eu/data-and-maps/dashboards/air-quality-statistics.
PM10 annual mean in 2015 The map represents the calculated concentrations of PM10 (annual mean) combining monitoring data at regional and urban background stations with results from the European Monitoring and Evaluation Programme (EMEP) chemical transport model and other supplementary data.
Annual mean cadmium concentrations in 2016 Observed concentrations of cadmium in 2016. The map shows the cadmium annual mean concentrations. The dots in the last two colour categories indicate stations with exceedances of the annual target value (5 ng/m3). Only stations with more than 14 % of valid data have been included in the map. The French overseas territories´ stations are not shown in the map but can be found at https://www.eea.europa.eu/data-and-maps/dashboards/air-quality-statistics
93.2 percentile of O3 maximum daily 8-hour mean in 2016 Observed concentrations of O3 in 2016. The map shows the 93.2 percentile of the O3 maximum daily 8-hour mean, representing the 26th highest value in a complete series. It is related to the O3 target value, allowing 25 exceedances over the 120-μg/m3 threshold. At sites marked with the last two colour categories dots, the 26th highest daily O3 concentration exceeded the 120-μg/m3 threshold, implying an exceedance of the target value threshold. Only stations with more than 75 % of valid data have been included in the map. The French overseas territories´ stations are not shown in the map but can be found at https://www.eea.europa.eu/data-and-maps/dashboards/air-quality-statistics
Annual mean nickel concentrations in 2016 Observed concentrations of nickel in 2016. The map shows the Ni annual mean concentrations. The dots in the last two colour categories indicate stations with concentrations exceeding the target value (20 ng/m3). Only stations with more than 14% of valid data have been included in the map. The French overseas territories´ stations are not shown in the map but can be found at https://www.eea.europa.eu/data-and-maps/dashboards/air-quality-statistics
Annual mean arsenic concentrations in 2016 Observed concentrations of arsenic in 2016. The map shows the arsenic annual mean concentrations. The dots in the last two colours cateories indicate stations with exceedances of the annual target value (6 ng/m3). Only stations with more than 14 % of valid data have been included in the map. The French overseas territories´ stations are not shown in the map but can be found at https://www.eea.europa.eu/data-and-maps/dashboards/air-quality-statistics
90.4 percentile of PM10 daily concentrations Observed concentrations of PM10 in 2016. The map shows the 90.4 percentile of the PM10 daily mean concentrations, representing the 36th highest value in a complete series. It is related to the PM10 daily limit value, allowing 35 exceedances of the 50 μg/m3 threshold over 1 year. Dots in the last two colour categories indicate stations with exceedances of this daily limit value. Only stations with more than 75 % of valid data have been included in the map. The French overseas territories´ stations are not shown in the map but can be found at https://www.eea.europa.eu/data-and-maps/dashboards/air-quality-statistics
CO maximum daily 8-hour mean in 2016 Observed concentrations of CO in 2016. The map shows the maximum CO daily 8-hour mean. The dots in the last two colour categories indicate stations with concentrations exceeding the limit value and the WHO air quality guidance (10 mg/m3). Only stations with more than 75 % of valid data have been included in the map.
Rural concentration of the ozone indicator AOT40 for crops, 2015 Accumulated ozone exposure values for crops — over a threshold of 40 parts per billion (AOT40c) — for 2015, as calculated for the fusion maps and as measured at rural background stations.
Archived
Rural concentration of the ozone indicator AOT40 for forest, 2016 Accumulated ozone exposure values for forest — over a threshold of 40 parts per billion (AOT40f) — for 2016, as calculated for the fusion maps and as measured at rural background stations.

News and articles

New initiative to measure outdoor air quality at schools across Europe Air pollution is a growing concern in Europe and globally. CleanAir@School initiative is putting focus on air quality around Europe’s schools by involving children, parents and teachers in measuring pollutant concentrations. The project is a joint initiative of the European Environment Agency and the European Network of the Heads of Environmental Protection Agencies.
Challenges for achieving clean air — lessons from ten cities across Europe Implementing EU air quality legislation to protect human health and the environment from pollution can be demanding for countries and cities. The European Environment Agency (EEA) has worked together with a number of European cities to better understand policy implementation challenges. The EEA’s new report, published today, summarises key findings on the cities’ progress over the past five years and highlights on-going challenges for improving air quality at the local level.
Air pollution still too high across Europe Despite slow improvements, air pollution continues to exceed European Union and World Health Organization limits and guidelines, according to updated data and information published by the European Environment Agency (EEA). Air pollution still poses a danger to human health and the environment.

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NEC Directive reporting status 2019 This briefing presents progress made by the European Union (EU) and its Member States in meeting the 2010 emission ceilings that remain applicable until the end of 2019 under the Directive (EU) 2016/2284 on the reduction of national emissions of certain atmospheric pollutants (the National Emission Ceilings (NEC) Directive). In addition, it provides an assessment of the projected emissions reported by Member States for 2020 and 2030, in relation to the 2020 and 2030 reduction commitments for each country set in the Directive.
Greening the power sector: benefits of an ambitious implementation of Europe's environment and climate policies Europe's electricity generation still relies largely on fossil fuels as an energy source and thus contributes to emissions of sulphur dioxide (SO2), dust and nitrogen oxides (NOx), among other pollutants. A new EEA assessment shows that with an ambitious implementation of new requirements under the EU Industrial Emissions Directive, Member States can significantly reduce pollutant emissions and thus minimise their potential harmful effects on the environment and human health. There is also a close link between future reductions in pollutant emissions and EU climate and energy policy, which drives growth in renewables and the switch towards cleaner fuels in the remaining power plants. A more fundamental restructuring of the power sector is, however, needed to meet the EU's long-term decarbonisation targets.
Assessing the risks to health from air pollution The European Environment Agency (EEA) produces annual air pollution health risk assessments at the European level. These give an objective and comparable estimate of the impacts of air pollution on the population’s health. This briefing provides an overview of the methodology followed in the assessments.

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