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Air quality in Europe - 2020 report

Publication Created 20 Aug 2020 Published 23 Nov 2020
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The Air quality in Europe report provides an annual assessment of the status and impacts of air quality and recent air quality trends. The report supports policy development and implementation in the field of air quality at both European and national levels.
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Publication Created 20 Aug 2020 Published 23 Nov 2020
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EEA Report No 9/2020
The Air quality in Europe report provides an annual assessment of the status and impacts of air quality and recent air quality trends. The report supports policy development and implementation in the field of air quality at both European and national levels.

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Relative changes (%) in PM10 concentrations attributed to lockdown restrictions during April 2020 The dots represent measurements stations, where the changes have been estimated using UTD monitoring data and the generalized additive model (GAM). The background shading represents the changes estimated using CAMS chemical transport modelling with an emission inventory estimated for the lockdown conditions.
Relative changes (%) in NO2 concentrations attributed to lockdown restrictions during April 2020 The dots represent measurements stations, where the changes have been estimated using UTD monitoring data and the generalized additive model (GAM). The background shading represents the changes estimated using CAMS chemical transport modelling with an emission inventory estimated for the lockdown conditions
Average percentage change in NO2 pollution levels during the period 15th March to 30th April, due to the COVID-19 lockdown in agglomerations with more than 0.5 million inhabitants, based on satellite observations The map shows the average percentage change in NO2 pollution levels from NO2 TROPOMI satellite observations during the period 15th March to 30th April, comparing the observations under the COVID-19 lockdown to the business-as-usual scenario, in European agglomerations with more than half a million inhabitants. The gradient boosting regressor machine learning technique was used to simulate a business as usual (BAU) NO2 tropospheric columns satellite observations.
Relative reductions in the premature deaths attributable to PM2.5 (2018 and 2009 Relative reductions by country, in 2018 compared to 2009, in the estimated premature deaths (PD) attributed to exposure to PM2.5.
Average NO2 pollution level (tropospheric vertical column) for 15 March - 15 April 2019 (left panel) and for the same period in 2020 (right panel) The figure shows the average NO2 pollution level (tropospheric vertical column) from Sentinel-5P/TROPOMI for the period 15 March to 15 April 2019 and for the same period in 2020.
Trends for the 93.2 percentile of the O3 maximum daily 8-hour mean concentrations (2009-2018) The map shows trend analysis considering the 93.2 percentile of O3 maximum daily 8-hour concentrations at monitoring sites. The coloured squares represent stations with "significant" trends, while the black dots represent stations with “non-significant” trends
Trends in O3 indicator AOT40 for vegetation and crops (2009-2018) The map shows trend analysis considering the ozone indicator AOT40 for vegetation calculated at monitoring sites. The coloured squares represent stations with "significant" trends, while the black dots represent stations with “non-significant” trends
SOMO35 trends (2009-2018) The map shows trend analysis considering the ozone indicator SOMO35 calculated at monitoring sites. The coloured squares represent stations with "significant" trends, while the black dots represent stations with “non-significant” trends.
Trends in NO2 annual mean concentrations (2009-2018) The map shows trend analysis considering NO2 annual mean observations at monitoring sites. The coloured squares represent stations with "significant" trends, while the black dots represent stations with “non-significant” trends.
Trends for the 99.8 percentile (p99.8) of the NO2 hourly concentration value (2009-2018) The map shows trend analysis considering 99.8 percentile (p99.8) of the NO2 hourly concentrations at monitoring sites. The coloured squares represent stations with "significant" trends, while the black dots represent stations with “non-significant” trends.
Trends in SO2 annual mean concentrations (2009-2018) The map shows trend analysis considering SO2 annual mean observations at monitoring sites. The coloured squares represent stations with "significant" trends, while the black dots represent stations with “non-significant” trends.
Annual mean NO2 concentrations Observed concentrations of NO2 in 2019. The data presented were reported as up-to-date (UTD) data and therefore should be considered as not validated. They are used for the purpose of providing a preliminary assessment of the situation in 2019 in relation to the NO2 annual limit value. Triangles in the last two colour categories correspond to values above the EU annual limit value and the identical WHO AQG (40 μg/m3). Only stations with more than 75 % of valid UTD data have been included in the map.
Trends in PM2.5 annual mean concentrations (2009-2018) The map shows trend analysis considering PM2.5 annual mean observations at monitoring sites. The coloured squares represent stations with "significant" trends, while the black dots represent stations with “non-significant” trends.
Trends for the 90.4 percentile of PM10 daily concentration values (2009-2018) The map shows trend analysis considering the 90.4 percentile of PM10 daily observations at monitoring sites. The coloured squares represent stations with "significant" trends, while the black dots represent stations with “non-significant” trends
Annual mean SO2 concentrations in 2018 Observed concentrations of SO2 in 2018. The map shows the SO2 annual mean, which is not related to any legal standard, for comparison purposes. Only stations with more than 75 % of valid data have been included in the map.
Trends in PM10 annual mean concentrations (2009-2018) The map shows trend analysis considering PM10 annual mean observations at monitoring sites. The coloured squares represent stations with "significant" trends, while the black dots represent stations with “non-significant” trends.
Annual concentrations of PM10 in 2018 Observed concentrations of PM10 in 2018. The possibility of subtracting contributions to the measured concentrations from natural sources and winter road sanding/salting has not been considered. Dots in the last two colour categories indicate stations reporting concentrations above the EU annual limit value (40 μg/m3). Dots in the first colour category indicate stations reporting values below the WHO AQG for PM10 (20 μg/m3). Only stations with more than 75 % of valid data have been included in the map.
93.2 percentile of O3 maximum daily 8-hour mean in 2019 Observed concentrations of O3 in 2019. The data presented were reported as up-to-date (UTD) data and therefore should be considered as not validated. They are used for the purpose of providing a preliminary assessment of the situation in 2019 in relation to the O3 target value. 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. At sites marked with triangles in the last two colour categories, the 26th highest daily O3 concentrations were above the 120 μg/m3 threshold, implying an exceedance of the target value threshold. Please note that the legal definition of the target value considers not only 1 year but the average over 3 years. Only stations with more than 75 % of valid UTD data have been included in the map.
Annual mean PM2.5 concentrations in 2019 Observed concentrations of PM2.5 in 2019. The data presented were reported as up-to-date (UTD) data and therefore should be considered as not validated. They are used for the purpose of providing a preliminary assessment of the situation in 2019 in relation to the PM2.5 annual limit value. Furthermore, the possibility of subtracting contributions to the measured concentrations from natural sources and winter road sanding/salting has not been considered. Triangles in the last two colour categories indicate stations reporting concentrations above the EU annual limit value (25 μg/m3). Triangles in the first colour category indicate stations reporting values below the WHO AQG for PM2.5 (10 μg/m3). Only stations with more than 75 % of valid UTD data have been included in the map.
90.4 percentile of PM10 daily concentrations in 2019 Observed concentrations of PM10 in 2019. The data presented were reported as up-to-date (UTD) data and therefore should be considered as not validated. They are used for the purpose of providing a preliminary assessment of the situation in 2019 in relation to the PM10 daily limit value. Furthermore, the possibility of subtracting contributions to the measured concentrations from natural sources and winter road sanding/salting has not been considered. 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. Triangles in the last two colour categories indicate stations with concentrations above this daily limit value. Only stations with more than 75 % of valid UTD data have been included in the map.
Rural concentration of the ozone indicator AOT40 for forest, 2018 Accumulated ozone exposure values for forest — over a threshold of 40 parts per billion (AOT40f) — for 2018, as calculated for the fusion maps and as measured at rural background stations.
Rural concentration of the ozone indicator AOT40 for vegetation, 2018 Accumulated ozone exposure values for vegetation and crops — over a threshold of 40 parts per billion (AOT40c) — for 2018, as calculated for the fusion maps and as measured at rural background stations.
Ozone indicator SOMO35 in 2018 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.
PM10 annual mean in 2018 The map represents the calculated concentrations of PM10 (annual mean) combining monitoring data with results from the European Monitoring and Evaluation Programme (EMEP) chemical transport model and other supplementary data.
Annual mean nickel concentrations in 2018 Observed concentrations of Ni in 2018. Dots in the last two colour categories correspond to concentrations above the target value. Only stations reporting more than 14 % of valid data have been included in the map.
Annual mean lead concentrations in 2018 Observed concentrations of Pb in 2018. Dots in the last two colour categories correspond to concentrations above the EU annual limit value. Only stations reporting more than 14 % of valid data have been included in the map.
Annual mean cadmium concentrations in 2018 Observed concentrations of Cd in 2018. Dots in the last two colour categories correspond to concentrations above the target value. Only stations reporting more than 14 % of valid data have been included in the map.
Annual mean arsenic concentrations in 2018 Observed concentrations of As in 2018. Dots in the last two colour categories correspond to concentrations above the EU target value. Only stations reporting more than 14 % of valid data have been included in the map.
Annual mean benzene concentrations in 2018 Observed concentrations of C6H6 in 2018. Dots in the last colour category correspond to concentrations above the limit value of 5 μg/m3. Dots in the first colour category correspond to concentrations under the estimated WHO RL (1.7 μg/m3). Only stations reporting more than 50 % of valid data have been included in the map.
CO maximum daily 8-hour mean in 2018 Observed concentrations of CO in 2018. The map shows the CO maximum daily 8-hour mean. Dots in the last two colour categories correspond to values above the EU annual limit value and the WHO AQG (10 mg/m3). Only stations with more than 75 % of valid data have been included in the map.
Annual mean BaP concentrations in 2018 Observed concentrations of BaP in 2018. Dots in the first colour category correspond to concentrations under the estimated RL (0.12 ng/m3). Dots in the last colour category correspond to concentrations exceeding the 2004 Ambient Air Quality Directive target value of 1 ng/m3. Only stations reporting more than 14 % of valid data, as daily, weekly or monthly measurements, have been included in the map.
Annual mean NO2 concentrations in 2018 Observed concentrations of NO2 in 2018. Dots in the last two colour categories correspond to values above the EU annual limit value and the identical WHO AQG (40 μg/m3). Only stations with more than 75 % of valid data have been included in the map.
93.2 percentile of O3 maximum daily 8-hour mean in 2018 Observed concentrations of O3 in 2018. 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. At sites marked with dots in the last two colour categories, the 26th highest daily O3 concentrations were above the 120 μg/m3 threshold, implying an exceedance of the target value threshold. Please note that the legal definition of the target value considers not only 1 year but the average over 3 years. Only stations with more than 75 % of valid data have been included in the map.
Annual mean PM2.5 concentrations in 2018 Observed concentrations of PM2.5 in 2018. The possibility of subtracting contributions to the measured concentrations from natural sources and winter road sanding/salting has not been considered. Dots in the last two colour categories indicate stations reporting concentrations above the EU annual limit value (25 μg/m3). Dots in the first colour category indicate stations reporting values below the WHO AQG for PM2.5 (10 μg/m3). Only stations with more than 75 % of valid data have been included in the map.
90.4 percentile of PM10 daily concentrations in 2018 Observed concentrations of PM10 in 2018. 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 concentrations above this daily limit value. Only stations with more than 75 % of valid data have been included in the map. The possibility of subtracting contributions to the measured concentrations from natural sources and winter road sanding/salting has not been considered.
NO2 annual mean in 2018 The map represents the calculated concentrations of NO2 (annual mean) combining monitoring data with results from the European Monitoring and Evaluation Programme (EMEP) chemical transport model and other supplementary data.
PM2.5 annual mean in 2018 The map represents the calculated concentrations of PM2,5 (annual mean) combining monitoring data with results from the European Monitoring and Evaluation Programme (EMEP) chemical transport model and other supplementary data.

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News and articles

Air pollution still too high in most EU Member States Concentrations of key air pollutants remain too high in most European countries. According to the European Environment Agency’s official data, published today, most European Union (EU) Member States exceed at least one or more of the EU’s legal limits for pollutants in ambient air in 2019.
New European city air quality viewer allows you to check long term air pollution levels where you live Air pollution is a serious problem in many European cities, posing a real risk to health. Today, the European Environment Agency (EEA) launched the European city air quality viewer. You can check how the air quality has been over the past two years in the city where you live and compare it with other cities across Europe.
Marked improvement in Europe's air quality over past decade, fewer deaths linked to pollution Better air quality has led to a significant reduction of premature deaths over the past decade in Europe. However, the European Environment Agency’s (EEA) latest official data show that almost all Europeans still suffer from air pollution, leading to about 400,000 premature deaths across the continent.

Related briefings

Europe’s air quality status 2022 Air pollution is the single largest environmental health risk in Europe, causing cardiovascular and respiratory diseases that lead to the loss of healthy years of life and, in the most serious cases, to premature deaths. This briefing presents the status of concentrations of pollutants in ambient air in 2020 and 2021 by pollutant, in relation to both EU air quality standards and the WHO guidelines, updated in 2021. The assessment shows that exceedances of air quality standards are common across the EU, with concentrations well above the latest WHO recommendations. Nevertheless, in 2020, lockdown measures adopted to minimise the spread of COVID-19 had a temporary impact on emissions of air pollution from road transport and led to improved air quality.
National Emission reduction Commitments Directive reporting status 2021 This briefing presents progress made by the EU and its 27 Member States [1] towards reducing emissions of key air pollutants regulated under EU legislation. Specifically, it assesses progress towards meeting annual maximum emission levels set for the period 2010-2019, known as 2010 emission ceilings under the National Emission reduction Commitments (NEC) Directive. It also assesses the effort still needed by each Member State to reach the emission reduction commitments for 2020-2029 and for 2030 onwards under the NEC Directive. This briefing is based on 2019 data, the latest year for which data have been submitted.

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For references, please go to https://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/air-quality-in-europe-2020-report or scan the QR code.

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