Copenhagen,
Tuesday, 18th July, 2006 - Ozone Web, a new internet
tool, released in Copenhagen today by the European
Environment Agency (EEA), offers users the opportunity
to monitor and track ground level ozone incidents
on a pan-European scale, for the first time.
Ground level ozone presents
one of the most prominent air pollution problems
in Europe. Data from more than 500 air quality
monitoring stations is sent to the EEA in Copenhagen
every hour and displayed in (near) real time on
the new web site.
Either by entering a place name
or by clicking on a map of Europe, users will
be able to follow air quality locally and on a
European scale. The web site will also include
information on the health implications of the
ozone values users are experiencing.
"As a joint European project, Ozone Web reflects
the international character of air pollution.
It is produced in one place but may have an impact
in another many hundreds of kilometres away. The
web site is an excellent example of how the EU
can create partnerships with member countries
to serve and empower its citizens," said
Professor Jacqueline McGlade, executive director
of the EEA.
Ozone at high concentrations
is a health hazard. It can irritate airways, causing
breathing difficulties and damaging lungs after
only a few hours of exposure. Up to 30% of Europe's
urban population is exposed to ozone concentrations
above the threshold levels set by the EU. Ozone
pollution is responsible for as many as 20 000
deaths in Europe every year.
In the stratosphere - 10 to
50 km above the Earth’s surface - ozone protects
life on Earth from the sun's ultraviolet rays.
Nearer the earth’s surface human activities lead
to ozone concentrations several times higher than
natural levels.
When levels of ozone and other
air pollutants, such as nitrogen oxides (NOx)
and particulate matter, are high, they can combine
to form a harmful smog. However, the highest concentrations
of ozone are not always found in city centres
where the pollutants that form ozone are usually
emitted. This is because an abundance of nitrogen
oxide from traffic, often suppresses ozone formation.
As ozone may be transported by the wind over distances
of 400-500 km a day, the ozone incident may actually
occur in suburban and rural areas far away from
the source of the pollutants.
"The EU has made it obligatory
for countries to alert citizens on a national
level when ozone levels reach particular levels.
However, Ozone Web goes much further by allowing
you to monitor ozone anytime, from anywhere. You
can monitor ozone levels in a neighbouring country
or at holiday destination, check recent trends
and track the spread of ozone across Europe by
the wind," Professor McGlade said.
Notes to the editor:
Users simply log onto Ozone Web (via the EEA site:
http://www.eea.europa.eu/maps/ozone).
2005 Ozone episodes
In summer 2005, the most important
ozone episodes in Europe occurred between 21-24
June and 14-17 July. During these periods, a number
of exceedances of the alert threshold were reported
in Europe. The ozone episodes covered a large
proportion of Europe including Austria, Belgium,
France, Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands,
Portugal, Romania, Slovenia and Switzerland.
About the European Environment
Agency (EEA):
The EEA is based in Copenhagen.
The agency aims to help achieve significant and
measurable improvement in Europe's environment
through the provision of timely, targeted, relevant
and reliable information to policy makers and
the public.
Mark Grundy
