European Environment Agency — European Environment Agency

Transport and public health: Air and noise pollution from transport cause a wide range of health problems, with road transport and diesel vehicles in particular the biggest contributors. The European Union and its Member States are taking a series of measures to reduce the impact of transport on health with some success. Innovative solutions and local action can improve the situation further.
Located in Signals - Towards clean and smart mobility › Signals 2016 › Articles
Temperature inversion traps pollution at ground level: Pollution events are more likely to occur under temperature inversion conditions. During extended periods of high pressure in winter months, solar radiation reaches the ground, warming it up. At night, the lack of cloud cover means the ground loses heat rapidly and the air in contact with the ground becomes colder. The warmer air rises and acts as a lid trapping the colder air close to the ground. Pollution, including that from road traffic is also trapped, so the air layer closest to the ground becomes more and more polluted. This continues until the prevailing meteorological conditions change.
Located in Media › Infographics
Trend in emissions of air pollutants from transport: Located in Data and maps › Data visualisations
The ecosystem area at risk of acidification and the magnitude of exceedance in each country: Located in Data and maps › Data visualisations
Monitoring CO2 emissions from new passenger cars in the EU: summary of data for 2012: The EEA has collected EU Member States' data on passenger car registrations, in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 443/2009. All Member States reported information on Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and the mass of cars, together with other vehicle characteristics. This data was used to evaluate the performance in 2012 of the new vehicle fleet, and its progress toward meeting the CO2 emissions target of 130 grams of CO2 per kilometre (gCO2/km) by 2015. The current dataset is provisional, and will now be sent for verification to all car manufacturers responsible for cars registered in the EU in 2012.
Located in Publications
Directive 2001/81/EC, national emission ceilings: Directive 2001/81/EC, on nation al emissions ceilings (NECD) for certain atmospheric pollutants.
Located in Data and maps › Datasets › External datasets catalogue
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).
Located in Data and maps › Maps and graphs
The ecosystem area at risk of eutrophication and the magnitude of exceedance in each country: Located in Data and maps › Data visualisations
European air quality maps of PM and ozone for 2013 and their uncertainty ETC/ACM: The paper provides the annual update of the European air quality concentration maps, probabilities of exceeding relevant thresholds and population exposure estimates for human health related indicators of pollutants PM10 (annual average, 36th highest daily average), PM2.5 (annual average) and ozone (26th highest daily max. 8-hr running average, SOMO35), and vegetation related indicators (AOT40 for crops and for forests for the year 2013. The exposure estimates are compared to the results of previous years 2005-2011. The analysis is based on interpolation of annual statistics of the 2013 observational data reported by EEA Member countries in 2014 and stored in the Air Quality e-reporting database. The paper presents the mapping results and includes an uncertainty analysis of the interpolated maps. These maps, with their spatial exceedance and exposure estimates, are intended to be used for the assessment of European air quality by the EEA and its ETC/ACM, and for (interactive visual) public information purposes through the EEA website.
Located in Data and maps › Datasets › External datasets catalogue
Annual mean NO2 concentrations in 2014_v1: Located in Data and maps › Maps and graphs › Annual mean NO2 concentrations in 2014