European Directives
The framework Directive 96/62 on ambient air quality assessment and management.
The framework Council Directive 96/62/EC of 27 September 1996 , on ambient air quality assessment and management has been published on 21/11/96. This Directive defines a global frame with which the European Union expects in the future, not only to assess (measurements and interpretations) air quality but also to manage it (preserve air quality where it is good and improve it where it is bad). The new framework Directive will replace existing Directives for sulphur dioxide and suspended particulates (80/779/EEC), for lead (82/884/EEC), for nitrogen dioxide (85/203/EEC) and for ozone (92/72/EEC). The framework Directive will, together with daughter Directives, propose new quality objectives in the European Union. Daughter Directives propose norms for 13 pollutants (limit values and a set of alarm thresholds). The aim of this Directives is to define the basic principles of a common strategy to :
- défine and establish objectives for ambient air quality in the Community designed to avoid, prevent and reduce harmful effects on human health and the environment as a whole,
The European Union intends to reach those goals by using the following strategy :
The Council framework Directive gives a list of 13 pollutants that have to be surveyed. For the 6 first pollutants of the list : sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, fine particulate matter such as soot (incuding PM10), suspended particulate matter and lead, European Directives are momentarily still applied. As for the other pollutants : ozone, benzene, carbon monoxide, poly-aromatic hydrocarbons, cadmium, arsenic, nickel en mercury, there is no European legislation at the present time.
The Council daughter Directive 1999/30/EC of 22 april 1999 relating to limit values for sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, particulate matter and lead has been published on june,29 1999.
Limit values for sulphur dioxide
Protection | Time basis |
Limit Value (µg/m³) |
Number of accepted exceedances |
Health* | 1 hour |
350 |
24 |
Health* | 24 hours |
125 |
3 |
Ecosystems** | 1
year |
20 |
* into force since 01/01/2005
** in rural area : 2 years after the entry into force of the Directive,
stations should have a representativeness of 1000 km².
Alarm threshold : 500 µg/m³ during 3 consecutive hours.
Limit values for nitrogen oxides
Protection | Time basis |
Limit values (µg/m³) |
Number of accepted exceedances |
Health*(NO2) | 1 hour |
200 |
18 |
Health*(NO2) | 1 year |
40 |
|
Ecosystems**(NO2 + NO) | 1 year |
30 |
* into force since 01/01/2010
**for background rural stations : 2 years after the entry into force of
the Directive, stations should have a representativeness of 1000 km²
Alarm threshold : 400 µg/m³ during 3 consecutive hours.
Limit values for fine particulate matter (PM10)
Protection | Time basis |
Limit values (µg/m³) |
Number of accepted exceedances |
Health* - Stage 1 | 24 hours |
50 |
35 |
Health*- Stage 1 | 1 year |
40 |
|
Health**- Stage 2 | 24 hours |
50 |
7 |
Health**- Stage 2 | 1 year |
20 |
* into force since 01/01/2005
** into force since 01/01/2010; indicative limit value to be reviewed in
the light of further information on health and environment effects, technical feasibility
and experience in the application of Stage 1 limit values in Member States.
Limit values for lead
Protection | Measurement period |
Limit value |
Health* | 1 year |
0,5 µg/m³ |
*into force since 01/01/2005. In area with an historical past of pollution (within a max. distance max. of 1000 m outside the industrial plant) a derogation can be obtained until 01/01/2010.