Air pollution

Contributions to EU emissions from main source sectors of primary PM, NOX, SOX, NMVOCs and NH3, 2002–2011 (Gg/year = 1 000 tonnes/year)

This figure shows the sectoral output of primary PM and precursor gases Various source sectors contribute to the primary anthropogenic PM and precursor gases

EU Emissions of O3 precursor gases

CH4 emissions are total emissions (IPPC sectors 1–7) excluding sector 5, LULUCF (land use, land use change and forestry).

Percentage of the EU urban population exposed to ozone concentrations over the target value threshold set for protection of human health, 2002–2011

The O3 monitoring data in AirBase provide the basis for estimating the urban exposure of the European population to exceedances of the EU's O3 target value (applicable from 2010) for the protection of human health, for the period 2002–2011.

Trends in NO2 annual mean (top) and NO2 hourly concentrations (bottom) in μg/m3, 2002–2011, per station type

The graphs are based on annual mean concentration trends (top) and the trends in percentile 99.78 of NO2 hourly values (bottom); they present the range of concentration changes per year (in μg/m3) per station type (urban, traffic, rural, and other — mostly industrial). The trends are calculated based on the officially reported data by the EU Member States with a minimum data coverage of 75 % of valid data per year for at least 8 years out of the 10-year period. The diagram indicates the lowest and highest trends, the means and the lower and upper quartiles, per station type. The lower quartile splits the lowest 25 % of the data and the upper quartile splits the highest 25 % of the data.

Percentage of the EU urban population potentially exposed to NO2 concentration over the limit value set for protection of human health, 2002–2011

The NO2 monitoring data in AirBase provide the basis for estimating the exposure of the European population to exceedances of the NO2 annual mean limit value of 40 µg/m3. Figure 4.4 presents this data for the period 2002–2011, based on NO2 measured at urban background monitoring stations.

Attainment situation for SO2 in 2011

The red line corresponds to the EU limit value of 125 μg/m3, EU Member States only. The graph is based on the 99.18 percentiles of the daily mean concentration values for each Member State; the boxes present the range of the 99.18 percentiles at all stations types (in μg/m3) with data officially reported by the EU Member States and how they relate to the daily limit value set by EU legislation (marked by the red line). The diagram indicates the lowest and highest observations, the means and the lower and upper quartiles. The lower quartile splits the lowest 25 % of the data and the upper quartile splits the highest 25 % of the data.

Percentage of the EU urban population exposed to SO2 concentrations over the daily average limit value for protection of human health, 2002–2011

Monitoring data from AirBase provide the basis for estimating the European population's exposure to exceedances of the SO2 limit value of 125 µg/m3 as a daily average. According to the relevant directive, this limit value should not to be exceeded on more than three days in a year and was to be met by 2005.

Attainment situation for the maximum daily 8-hour mean value of CO in 2011

The graph is based on the maximum daily 8-hour mean value of CO concentrations (in mg/m3) for each Member State; the boxes present the range of concentrations at all stations types officially reported by the EU Member States and how the concentrations relate to the limit value set by EU legislation (marked by the red line). The diagram indicates the lowest and highest observations, the means and the lower and upper quartiles. The lower quartile splits the lowest 25 % of the data and the upper quartile splits the highest 25 % of the data.

EU emissions of As, Cd, Hg, Ni and Pb, 2002–2011, as a percentage of 2002 emissions

The graph shows the development in As (and other heavy metals) emissions reported by the EU Member States between 2002 and 2011 as a percentage of 2002 emissions.

Attainment situation for annual limit value of benzene in 2011

The graph is based on the annual mean concentration values for each Member State; the boxes present the range of concentrations at all stations types (in μg/m3) officially reported by the EU Member States and how the concentrations relate to the limit value set by EU legislation (marked by the red line). The diagram indicates the lowest and highest observations, the means and the lower and upper quartiles. The lower quartile splits the lowest 25 % of the data and the upper quartile splits the highest 25 % of the data.

Percentage of the EU urban population exposed to air pollution exceeding WHO air quality guidelines

The figure shows percentage of the EU urban population exposed to air pollution exceeding WHO air quality guidelines

Annual changes in concentrations of PM10, O3 and NO2 in the period 2001–2010

The data presented were derived from a consistent set of stations in all years. Statistically significant trends (level of significance 0.1) are calculated by applying the Mann-Kendall test. Increasing concentrations are indicated with red dots and decreasing concentrations with green dots, when statistically significant. The applied method is described in de Leeuw, 2012.

Annual mean concentrations of heavy metals (arsenic, cadmium, lead and nickel), 2011

The four maps shows the annual mean concentrations of arsenic, cadmium, lead and nickel in the year 2011

Annual mean benzene concentrations

The map shows the annual mean benzene concentrations in 2011, based on annual averages with percentage of valid measurements >= 50% in μg/m3

Annual mean concentrations of benzo(a)pyrene (ng/m3), 2011

Dark green dots correspond to concentrations under the WHO reference level (0.12 ng/m3). Pale green dots correspond to concentrations under the lower assessment threshold (0.4 ng/m3). Orange dots correspond to concentrations between the lower and the upper assessment threshold (0.6 ng/m3). Red dots correspond to concentrations above the upper assessment threshold but under the target value of 1 ng/m3. Dark red dots correspond to concentrations exceeding the target value of 1 ng/m3.

Contributions to EU emissions of O3 precursors from main source sectors of NOX, NMVOC, CO and CH4, 2002–2011 (Gg/year = 1 000 tonnes/year)

CH4 emissions excluding sector 5, LULUCF (land use, land use change and forestry)

Exposure of forest area to ozone (exposure expressed as AOT40 in (mg/m³).h) in EEA member countries

Please consider that since 2004 a growing number of member countries has been included. In 2004 Bulgaria, Greece, Iceland, Norway, Romania, Switzerland, and Turkey have not been includedwere added. In For 2005/2006 Iceland, Norway Switzerland and Turkey are were still excluded in the analyses due to lack of detailed land cover data and/or rural ozone data. In 2007 Switzerland and Turkey are were not included. Since 2008 only Turkey is has not beennot included. Calculations of forest exposure are not available for year prior to 2004.

Exposure of agricultural area to ozone (exposure expressed as AOT40 in (μg/m³).h) in EEA member countries

Exposure of agricultural area to ozone (exposure expressed as AOT40 in (μg/m3).hour) in EEA member countries . In the Air Quality Directive (2008/50/EC) the target value for protection of vegetation is set to 18000 (μg/m3).h while the long-term objective is set to 6000 (μg/m3).hour. Until 2006 Iceland, Norway Switzerland and Turkey have not been included in the analyses due to lack of detailed land cover data and/or rural ozone data, in 2007 Switzerland and Turkey are not included; since 2008 only Turkey is not included

Agricultural area (in 1 000 km²) in EEA member countries for each exposure class

A data summary of agricultural area (in 1000 km²) for EEA countries for each exposure class is given in the table below. The total agricultural area in the EEA-32 member countries excluding Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and Turkey amounts to be 2.024 million km2; since 2007 Iceland and Norway are included in the analysis increasing the total agricultural area to 2042 million km2. Since 2008 data for Switzerland is available

Annual variation in the ozone AOT40 value for crops (May-July) in (μg/m³).h, 1996–2010

Average values over all rural stations which reported data over at least eleven years in the period 1996-2010. The black line corresponds to the 5-year averaged value. Variations over Europe in observed values is large, eighty percent of the observations falls with the red shaded area.

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.

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).

Arsenic - Annual target value for the protection of human health

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).

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).

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).

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).

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.

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)

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