Air pollution

Years of life lost per 100 000 inhabitants attributable to air pollution in European countries, 2015

The maps show the number of years of life lost per country attributable to air pollution (PM 2.5 left, NO2 center and O3 right).

Total projected annual emissions (in kilotonnes per year) in 2021, 2025 and 2030 for SO2, NOx, dust in case current IED limits, upper or lower levels of the new requirements are used to set permit conditions

The three graphs show the progression of total SO2, NOx and dust emissions between 2016 and 2030 given 3 different scenarios: if current IED emission limits are applied, if only the upper emission limits of new requirements are implemented or if implementation is strictly according to the lower emission limits of new requirements.

Level of ambition with respect to SO2, Dust and NOx emission levels in the LCPD, the IPPCD and the IED

The three graphs show the progression of emission limits in EU industrial emission policy over time. The example chosen is that emission limits for SO2, NOx and dust from existing large coal fired power plants.

Indexed SO2, NOx and dust emissions from electricity generation, 2004-2015

Indexed SO2, NOx and dust emissions from electricity generation for 2004 to 2015

Exposure to NO2 mapped against household income, 2013-2014

The map uses a colour gradient to show the average household income per NUTS2 region, classified in quantiles, against the highest exposure to NO2 pollution represented as hatched areas (only the regions in the top 20 % of NO2 exposure are shown as hatched).

Exposure to PM10 mapped against long-term unemployment, 2013-2014

The map uses a colour gradient to show the long-term unemployment rate per NUTS2 region, classified in quantiles, against the highest exposure to PM10 pollution represented as hatched areas (only the top 20 % of PM10 are shown).

Exposure to ozone SOMO35 mapped against long-term unemployment, 2013-2014

The map uses a colour gradient to show the long-term unemployment rate per NUTS2 region, classified in quantiles, against the highest exposure to O3 pollution represented as hatched areas (only the regions in the top 20 % of O3 exposure are shown as hatched).

Spatial distribution of exposure to four air pollutants across Europe, 2013-2014

The maps use a colour gradient to show the population-weighted average PM2.5 (top left), PM10 (top right), NO2 (bottom left) and O3 (bottom right) concentrations (µg/m3) by NUTS 3 region, for the years 2013 and 2014. The colour scale varies from dark green representing low values, purple representing high values.

Peak and 2100 concentration levels of total greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere consistent with keeping the global average temperature increase below 1.5 °C (left) and 2 °C (right), for various probability levels

The number of years within which the peak concentration levels could be exceeded are indicated by the purple arrows, given the trend in total greenhouse gas concentrations over the past 10 years (based on IPCC, 2018)

Rural concentration of the ozone indicator AOT40 for forest, 2016

Accumulated ozone exposure values for forest — over a threshold of 40 parts per billion (AOT40f) — for 2016, as calculated for the fusion maps and as measured at rural background stations.

Rural concentration of the ozone indicator AOT40 for vegetation, 2017

Accumulated ozone exposure values for crops — over a threshold of 40 parts per billion (AOT40c) — for 2017, as calculated for the fusion maps and as measured at rural background stations.

Annual mean cadmium concentrations in 2017

Observed concentrations of cadmium in 2017. The map shows the cadmium annual mean concentrations. The dots in the last two colours categories indicate stations with exceedances of the annual target value (5 ng/m3). Only stations with more than 14 % of valid data have been included in the map.

Annual mean NO2 concentrations in 2017

Observed concentrations of NO2 in 2017. The map shows the NO2 annual mean concentrations. The dots in the last two colour categories indicate stations with exceedances of the annual limit value (40 µg/m3). Only stations with more than 75 % of valid data have been included in the map.

Annual mean BaP concentrations in 2017

Observed concentrations of BaP in 2017. The map shows the BaP annual mean concentrations. The dots in the last colour category indicate stations with exceedances of the annual target value (1 ng/m3). The dots in the first colour category correspond to concentrations under the estimated WHO reference level (0.12 ng/m3). Only stations reporting more than 14 % of valid data, as daily, weekly or monthly measurements, have been included in the map.

Annual mean benzene concentrations in 2017

Observed concentrations of benzene in 2017. The map shows the benzene annual mean concentrations. Dots in the last colour category indicate stations with exceedances of the annual limit value (5 µg/m3). Dots in the first colour category correspond to concentrations under the estimated WHO reference level (1.7 µg/m3). Only stations with more than 50 % of valid data have been included in the map.

93.2 percentile of O3 maximum daily 8-hour mean in 2017

Observed concentrations of O3 in 2017. The map shows the 93.2 percentile of the O3 maximum daily 8-hour mean, representing the 26th highest value in a complete series. It is related to the O3 target value, allowing 25 exceedances over the 120-μg/m3 threshold. At sites marked with the last two colour categories dots, the 26th highest daily O3 concentration exceeded the 120-μg/m3 threshold, implying an exceedance of the target value threshold. Only stations with more than 75 % of valid data have been included in the map.

90.4 percentile of PM10 daily concentrations in 2017

Observed concentrations of PM10 in 2017. The map shows the 90.4 percentile of the PM10 daily mean concentrations, representing the 36th highest value in a complete series. It is related to the PM10 daily limit value, allowing 35 exceedances of the 50 μg/m3 threshold over 1 year. Dots in the last two colour categories indicate stations with exceedances of this daily limit value. Only stations with more than 75 % of valid data have been included in the map.

Ozone indicator SOMO35 in 2016

The map represents the calculated concentrations of O3 (SOMO35) combining monitoring data at regional and urban background stations with results from the European Monitoring and Evaluation Programme (EMEP) chemical transport model and other supplementary data.

Annual mean lead concentrations in 2017

Observed concentrations of lead in 2017. The map shows the lead annual mean concentrations. Dots in the last two categories indicate stations with concentrations above the annual limit value (0.5 µg/m3). Only stations with more than 14 % of valid data have been included in the map.

Annual mean arsenic concentrations in 2017

Observed concentrations of arsenic in 2017. The map shows the arsenic annual mean concentrations. The dots in the last two colours categories indicate stations with exceedances of the annual target value (6 ng/m3). Only stations with more than 14 % of valid data have been included in the map.

PM10 annual mean in 2016

The map represents the calculated concentrations of PM10 (annual mean) combining monitoring data at regional and urban background stations with results from the European Monitoring and Evaluation Programme (EMEP) chemical transport model and other supplementary data.

Rural concentration of the ozone indicator AOT40 for vegetation, 2016

Accumulated ozone exposure values for crops — over a threshold of 40 parts per billion (AOT40c) — for 2016, as calculated for the fusion maps and as measured at rural background stations.

Annual concentrations of PM10 in 2017

Observed concentrations of PM10 in 2017. The map shows the PM10 annual mean concentrations. Dots in the last two colour categories indicate stations with concentrations exceeding the limit value (40 μg/m3). Dots in the first colour category indicate stations reporting values below the WHO air quality guidance for PM10 (20 μg/m3). Only stations with more than 75 % of valid data have been included in the map.

CO maximum daily 8-hour mean in 2017

Observed concentrations of CO in 2017. The map shows the maximum CO daily 8-hour mean. The dots in the last two colour categories indicate stations with concentrations exceeding the limit value and the WHO air quality guidance (10 mg/m3). Only stations with more than 75 % of valid data have been included in the map.

Annual mean PM2.5 concentrations in 2017

Observed concentrations of PM2.5 in 2017. The map shows the PM2.5 annual mean concentrations. Dots in the last two colour categories indicate stations with concentrations exceeding the limit value (25 μg/m3). Dots in the first colour category indicate stations reporting values below the WHO air quality guidance for PM2.5 (10 μg/m3). Only stations with more than 75 % of valid data have been included in the map.

Annual mean nickel concentrations in 2017

Observed concentrations of nickel in 2017. The map shows the nickel annual mean concentrations. The dots in the last two colours categories indicate stations with exceedances of the annual target value (20 ng/m3). Only stations with more than 14 % of valid data have been included in the map.

Years of life lost (YLL) per 100 000 inhabitants attributable to exposure to PM2.5 in European countries (2016)

The map shows the number of years of life lost per 100 000 inhabitants attributable to exposure to PM2.5. Countries are ranked in quintiles.

Peak and 2100 concentration levels of total greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere consistent with keeping the global average temperature increase below 1.5 °C (left) and 2 °C (right), for various probability levels

The number of years within which the peak concentration levels could be exceeded are indicated by the purple arrows, given the trend in total greenhouse gas concentrations over the past 10 years (based on IPCC, 2018)

Country comparison - Reductions in PCB emissions per capita in EEA-33 countries

Different scales between the two figures. No data available for Liechtenstein and Switzerland. Emissions reported by Czechia, Cyprus, Malta and the Netherlands are close to zero, and Turkey reported zero PCB emissions.

EU-28 emissions, 2000-2016 (% of 2000 levels)

Evolution of main air pollutant emissions and of the gross domestic product (GDP) in the EU-28; Values for 2000-2017 are expressed as percentage of 2000 levels. GDP is expressed in chain linked volumes (2010), as percentage of the 2000 level. Methane (CH4) emissions are total emissions (Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control sectors 1-7) excluding sector 5: Land-use, land-use change and forestry. The present emission inventories include only anthropogenic non-methane volatile organic compound (NMVOC) emissions.