Published: 13 Nov 2007
- Concentrations of ozone and particulate
matter, two harmful airborne pollutants,
have not improved since 1997 despite substantial
cuts in emissions of air pollutants across
Europe, says a new EEA report, released
today.
The report, Air pollution in Europe, analyses
air pollutant emissions and their possible
health and ecosystem impacts in Europe between
11000–2004.
Man-made emissions of all air pollutants
fell substantially in the 32 EEA member
countries the report says. This was mainly
due to the effectiveness of EU policies
limiting air pollution from the power/heat
generation sector, industry and from road
transport. However, measured concentrations
of particulate matter (PM) and ozone, have
not generally shown any improvement since
1997.
Particulate matter
Particulate matter is an umbrella term
for a 'basket' of potentially harmful chemical
components that form particles in the air
including: organic chemicals, acid aerosols,
trace metals, sea salts and windborne soil
dust. Because of their small size the particles
are easily inhaled by humans and have a
damaging effect on health.
Exposure to PM can shorten life expectancy
and increase the numbers of premature deaths,
hospital admissions and emergency room visits
(e.g. respiratory diseases, increased risk
of heart attack). Fine particulate matter,
with a diameter size below 2.5 micrometer
(PM2.5), is now generally recognised to
be the main threat to human health from
air pollution.
Ozone
Ozone (O3) is formed in the ground-level
atmosphere by reaction between NOX and volatile
organic compounds in the presence of heat
and sunlight. Ozone pollution is thus a
major concern during the summer months.
If inhaled by humans, ozone can be harmful
to the upper respiratory tract and the lungs.
Possible causes of high PM and ozone levels
High PM and ozone levels in the air, as
observed in 2003, can also partly be explained
by weather conditions, the report says.
Reduced precipitation, high springtime temperatures
and stable atmospheric conditions (all conditions
which occurred in 2003) lead to higher pollutant
concentrations in the air.
Other causes of this phenomenon could include
additional pollution coming from natural
sources and pollution transported from countries
outside Europe, the report says.
Key points of the report
• Estimates indicate that up to 43 % of
the European urban population were exposed
to PM10 concentrations in excess of the
EU air quality limit value between 11000–2004.
The worst affected areas were Belgium, the
Netherlands, Luxembourg, Poland, the Czech
Republic and Hungary as well as in the Po
Valley in Italy and southern Spain.
• Up to 60 % of the European urban population
was exposed to ozone concentrations in excess
of the EU air quality limit values between
11000–2004. Exposure of crops and forests
to ozone exceeded limit/critical values
over very large areas of central and southern
Europe.
• Human exposure to certain other potentially
harmful air pollutants, sulphur dioxide
(SO2), carbon monoxide (CO) and lead, has
decreased markedly due to effective European
air quality policies. This is particularly
true with policies reducing emissions of
SO2 from power and heat generation as well
as CO and lead emissions from passenger
cars.
