Exposure to NO2 annual mean

Population exposure to high NO₂ concentrations is decreasing. Between 1998 and 2013, the percentage of the Belgian population exposed to annual mean NO₂ concentrations above the EU limit value of 40 µg/m³ fluctuated between 3% and 9%. After 2013, at the RIO grid cell level, no one was exposed to annual mean concentrations above the EU limit value. The percentage of the population exposed to annual mean concentrations below the WHO air quality guideline of 10 µg/m³ increased from 1 % in 1993 to 24 % in 2022. Population exposure is estimated based on spatial interpolation of measurements and population numbers per grid cell of 4x4 km². Locally, higher or lower concentrations may be measured than the values calculated by the RIO interpolation method. Although the figure shows no exposure to elevated concentrations ( > 40 µg/m³) since 2013, locally parts of the population have been exposed to concentrations above 40 µg/m³.

Percentage of the Belgian population exposed to annual mean NO₂ concentrations. All data were calculated based on the RIO interpolation technique.