200850ec Articles & Analysis
20 news found
In April 2024, the EU Parliament adopted a provisional agreement with the EU countries on improved air quality in the EU. For a formal adoption, the text needs to be translated and confirmed by the Parliament and approved by the EU Council. These final pieces are expected to fall in place in October 2024. New Air Quality Standards The new directive replaces the current directives on air quality ...
ByOPSIS AB
As part of the European green deal, the European Commission is committed to aligning the air quality standards of the European Union with the WHO recommendations. These were revised in September 2021 by dividing by two the annual guide values for fine particles (5µg/m3) and by four that for nitrogen dioxide (NO2). The proposed revision of the Ambient Air Quality Directives will set ...
ByENVEA
Following continual assessment, it has been confirmed that EarthSense’s novel MappAir® air quality model complies with the data quality objectives required by Directive 2008/50/EC of European Parliament. Compliance with the directive means data from the model is suitable for assessment purposes by local and central governments for public policy decisions to improve air quality and ...
CERC are undertaking a project commissioned by Defra in partnership with the Met Office, the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (UKCEH), the Environmental Research Group at Imperial College London and Ricardo in relation to an intercomparison study between models that have the potential to be used for Defra's compliance reporting commitments. Models involved in the intercomparison exercise ...
Airborne particulate matter is a major problem in many densely populated areas of the world. This pollutant is a mixture of particles of different size and composition, originating from different sources. The finest fraction of these particles, the so-called PM2,5,, is notoriously dangerous because it can penetrate deep into the lungs and may pass into the bloodstream causing respiratory problems ...
Air pollution is one of the main environmental problems to be addressed by cities worldwide. In order to foster sustainable development and mitigate climate change, it is therefore important to provide national and regional authorities with appropriate measures to reduce criteria pollutants (PM 10, PM2.5, O3, CO, SO2 and NOx) concentrations in ambient air. Many cities are not able of meeting ...
ByENVEA
The European Commission recently decided to refer Bulgaria and Spain to the Court of Justice of the EU over poor air quality. Bulgaria is failing to respect limit values of sulphur dioxide (SO2), and Spain is failing to respect limit values for nitrogen dioxide (NO2). Today's decisions are part of reinforced action by the Commission to engage with Member States to protect citizens' health from ...
1. Air quality: ecodesign, operational cost reduction & best metrology, now for sales Leading player in the environmental monitoring, Environnement S.A has launched a new generation of eco-designed analyzers. Dedicated to the measurement of pollutants such as O3, CO and SO2 the e-Series analyzers O342e, CO12e and AF22e are QAL1 certified by the German TÜV and approved by the US EPA. A ...
ByENVEA
Exposure to gaseous and particulate matter pollution have been found to increase the immediate risk of stroke, a review of medical studies has shown. The increased risk is most pronounced the same day as the exposure, and for fine particles the increased risk persists over several days. The authors hope information from this study will help policymakers to develop suitable controls to limit the ...
Careful planting and pruning is needed to ensure that air pollution in tree-lined streets is minimised, new research suggests. While planting trees in urban areas can have many benefits, such as enhancing biodiversity, trees can trap particulate matter pollution, say the study’s authors. Particulate matter (PM) air pollution is a component of vehicle exhaust emissions and PM2.5 (particles ...
1. Why is air pollution a problem? Poor air quality is a major health risk, causing lung diseases, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer. Children, the elderly and citizens suffering from asthma and respiratory conditions are most affected. As well as negative effects on health, air pollution has considerable economic impacts, cutting short lives, increasing medical costs, and reducing ...
1. Why is air pollution a problem? Poor air quality is a major health risk, causing lung diseases, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer. Children, the elderly and citizens suffering from asthma and respiratory conditions are most affected. As well as negative effects on health, air pollution has considerable economic impacts, cutting short lives, increasing medical costs, and reducing ...
Ambient air quality is poor in many EU Member States – despite an obligation for governments to ensure good air quality for citizens. The situation is so serious that the Commission is currently taking action against 17 States with a consistent record of poor air quality. Today, as part of a fresh approach to the problem, Bulgaria, Latvia and Slovenia are being asked to urgently address an ...
The European Directive 2008/50/EC requires the measurement of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) at minima in all agglomerations of more than 100 000 inhabitants. Currently, some of these sites do not meet the limit values and quality objectives set, particularly on sites located in the vicinity of roads (traffic sites), directly impacted by vehicle emissions. The uncertainties related to measurement ...
ByENVEA
Ground-level ozone is one of the most harmful air pollutants in Europe today. A new report by the European Environment Agency (EEA) shows that despite efforts to reduce ozone pollution, in 2010 levels continued to exceed the long-term objective established in EU legislation to protect human health. EU Member States will also face difficulties in meeting the target value, applicable as of 2010. ...
IRMM has released a certified calibration solution reference material for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) analysis: 15 PAHs in toluene (ERM-AC213) PAHs are formed by inappropriate heat treatment of organic matter containing material such as food or in combustion processes. They are carcinogens and therefore need to be monitored in the environment and food, respectively, by the analysis ...
JRC-IRMM has released two new certified reference materials (CRMs), ERM-CZ100 and ERM-CZ120 which are targeted to control the measurements in the frame of quality control of ambient air in Europe. The monitoring of air quality is required by The European Air Quality Directives (2008/50/EC and 2004/107/EC). The two new CRMs have been developed to match requirements of these Directives. It relates ...
The European Commission is urging Cyprus, Italy, Portugal and Spain to comply with EU air quality limit values for airborne particles known as PM10. These Member States have so far failed to effectively tackle excess emissions of PM10. On the recommendation of Environment Commissioner Janez Potočnik, the Commission has therefore decided to take Cyprus, Italy, Portugal and Spain to Court. ...
The European Commission today adopted nine decisions addressed to Austria, Belgium, Germany, Denmark, Greece, Spain, France, Hungary and the Slovak Republic concerning temporary exemptions in 94 zones or agglomerations from the EU's air quality standards for airborne particles known as PM 10. Under the 2008 EU air quality Directive 1, Member States may, under strict conditions and for specific ...
A new computer-based tool has been developed in Sweden to help local authorities evaluate air pollution at street level. It allows the results to be compared easily with EU air quality standards. SIMAIR is a user-friendly, internet-based tool, designed for the road network throughout Sweden. It can assess concentration levels for four pollutants: fine particles (PM10), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), ...