Already in 1999, an EU Directive set limit values for five important air pollutants, including particulate matter (PM10) - small airborne particles that can enter our lungs, damage their function and thus increase the risk of illness, in particular heart attacks. As of 1 January 2005, the limit values for PM10 are fully in force. This means concretely that Member States must ensure that the air in their country is in conformity with the limit values of the Directive. This will benefit their citizens, as it will help achieve cleaner and healthier air to breathe.
What is particulate matter or PM10?
PM10 are small airborne particles with a diameter of 10 micrometer or less. As they are so small, they are especially adverse for health since they penetrate deep into our lungs. Airborne particles larger than 10 micrometer in diameter are mainly filtered out in the nose and the upper parts of the respiratory system and do not penetrate to the same extent into the sensitive parts of the lungs.
What effects does particulate matter have on human health?
Particulate matter (PM) is one of many polluting substances that we inhale with the air we breathe and that is harmful to us. It aggravates respiratory diseases and increases mortality by substantially reducing life expectancy mainly through increase risks of cardiovascular disease, including heart attacks.
According to the latest estimates of the Clean Air for Europe Programme average loss of life expectancy in the EU is nine months. This varies from a couple of months in some of the Member States with fairly clean air up to almost two years in the worst ones. [1]
Another recent WHO study, on environmental diseases in children, has found that up to 13,000 deaths per year among children aged 0-4 in the 52 WHO European countries[2] are attributable to PM outdoor pollution. If PM pollution levels in these countries were decreased to the EU limit value for PM, more than 5,000 of these lives could be saved, according to this study.
Where does particulate matter come from?
There are many sources of particulate matter, of man-made origin, but there is also natural particulate matter, for example windblown dust or sea salt. Transport activities generate PM due to the combustion of petrol and diesel in motor vehicles. This is sometimes called diesel soot. Additional sources include installations that burn fossil or other fuels. Examples are power plants and small boilers for domestic heating, wood burning installations, and other industrial processes generating various forms of "dust".
What does EU legislation state?
In 1996, the EU adopted a Framework Directive for assessing and managing outdoor air quality, which was followed in 1999 by a "daughter Directive" setting limit values for PM10 as well as the pollutants nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide and lead. The limit values are to be met by certain dates (1 January 2005, with the exception of nitrogen dioxide).
In order to allow Member States to take the necessary measures to reduce air pollution after the entry into force of the Directive in 1999 (to be implemented in the Member States by 2001), a so called "margin of tolerance" was introduced, which decreased every year to reach zero on 1 January 2005 (2010, for nitrogen dioxide). For all zones and agglomerations where there had been an exceedance of the limit value plus the margin of tolerance, the Member State had to prepare and implement a plan or programme to abate air pollution in order to attain the limit value by the specific date. For PM that date is 1 January 2005.
The Directive requires Member States to meet the air quality objectives set to reduce harmful effects on humans and the environment. Member States have to monitor air quality and if the air pollution level is too high they have to take action to bring down the levels. Each year, they must also send the Commission a list of "zones and agglomerations" where the air quality limit values have been exceeded.
The Commission is, through this Directive, trying to make sure that the air we breathe fulfils a certain standard across the EU. It should be kept in mind that there are also effects below the limit values, and further emission reductions are needed to ensure clean air for the EU citizens.
Where do levels of particulate matter exceed its limits today?
Based on the reporting from the Member States the European Commission has assessed that in 2002, twelve of the 15 Member States had pollution levels which exceeded the limit value and margin of tolerance for that year. The Member States concerned are Austria, Belgium, France, Greece, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Portugal, Spain, UK, the Netherlands and Denmark. Exceedeances are mainly linked with particulate matter, and occur mainly in large cities and in the vicinity of large industrial zones.
What can be done to limit particulate matter PM?
It is necessary to combine local, national and European actions to limit the emissions of particulate matter. At the local and national levels, many initiatives have already been taken, although more are still necessary.
They include measures to reduce polluting traffic (congestion charges, ban on polluting vehicles in the cities, installation of particulate traps on urban buses), strict standards for domestic heating and bans of the use of polluting fuels in cities
What are the next steps taken by the European Commission?
The Commission's action will help achieve cleaner air in European cities to the benefit of their inhabitants. This will partly be done through careful monitoring of how the Member States implement the EU legislation. But the Commission intends to do more and is now preparing an integrated action plan to further improve the quality of the air for Europeans (Clean Air for Europe - CAFE). This plan will be adopted by the Commission by mid-2005.
At the moment, the Commission is consulting European citizens about what they think about the quality of the air they breathe and the measures to improve it. The consultation in the form of a questionnaire on the Internet is open until the end of January.
You are invited to give your views at: http://europa.eu.int/yourvoice/forms/dispatch?form=356&lang=EN
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[1]
See table Table 5.1 of the "Baseline Scenarios for the Clean Air for Europe (CAFE) Programme Final Report" available at http://www.europa.eu.int/comm/environment/air/cafe/general/pdf/cafe_lot1.pdf
[2]
For WHO European members see link: http://www.euro.who.int/AboutWHO/About/MH
The WHO report can be found at : http://www.euro.who.int/mediacentre/PR/2004/20040617_1
Bron : Persberichten Europese Commissie
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