19th EIONET Workshop on
Air Quality Assessment and Management
Bern, Switzerland
30 September and 1 October, 2014
Wrap-up of the Workshop
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Thanks to all participants for input and discussions!
A special thanks to the Swiss Federal Office for the Environment
for hosting both the AQ and noise workshops allowing for a common session!
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Air Policy Review
The Clean Air Policy Package was adopted by the European Commission in December 2013,
as the result of a comprehensive review of the EU air quality framework. It contains the
following main elements:
1. Communication from the Commission to the Council, the European Parliament, the
European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions - "A Clean
Air Programme for Europe" : http://ec.europa.eu/environment/air/clean_air_policy.htm;
2. Proposal for a Council Decision on the acceptance of the Amendment to the 1999
Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution to Abate
Acidification, Eutrophication and Ground-level Ozone;
3. Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the reduction
of national emissions of certain atmospheric pollutants, i.e. for a revised National
Emission Ceiling Directive containing updated national ceilings for six key pollutants (PM,
SO2, NOx, VOCs, NH3 and CH4) for 2020 and 2030;
4. Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the limitation
of emissions of certain pollutants into the air from medium combustion plants (1 to 50
MWth).
The identified key compliance obstacles pre-2020 (and solutions) are:
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Transport
 Euro 6 (2014 implementing acts);
 Synergies with sustainable mobility plans;
Small and medium scale combustion
 Ecodesign Directive (< 1MW),
 Medium combustion plant directive (1-50MW)
 Targeted fuels switching programmes, for example in Poland, The Czech Republic,
Slovakia and Bulgaria;
 Synergies with sustainable energy plans.
Background pollution (within the EU Member States, EU-internally, globally)
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 Implementation of existing legislation (e.g. Industrial Emissions Directive:
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/industry/stationary/ied/legislation.htm; Air
Quality Directive:
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/air/quality/legislation/existing_leg.htm; marine
fuels,…;
 Implementation of National Emission Reduction Commitments for 2020 (LRTAP
Convention, 2012 amended Gothenburg Protocol)
Governance
 Co-ordination of AQ and emissions policy, capacity for assessment and management
The Clean Air Quality Package aims to ensure compliance with existing air quality legislation
by 2020 at the latest and to pave the way for achieving the EU long-term air quality objective
of clean air everywhere. In summary, the policy options selected to achieve compliance by
2020 are:
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Full implementation of existing measures, in particular The Euro 6 standards for
vehicles;
Support for national and local action through the LIFE Programme and other EU
funds;
Supporting the implementation of Gothenburg Protocol in neighbouring states;
Reinforced research and innovation agenda in Horizon 2020.
E-reporting
The information expected by 30th Sept 2014, according to the Implementing Rules (IPR) of
the 2008 Air Quality Directive, was: Air Quality Zones (B); Assessment regimes (C);
Assessment methods (D); Primary data (E1a); Modelled data (E1b); and Attainment
information (G). Most of the data was delivered by the Member States (MS) according to
deadline, and 22 MS delivered all the expected data by 02.10.2014, while 6 MS had not
delivered all the expected data flows. Of the additional nine EEA associated countries
outside the EU, five had delivered some data and one had delivered all the expected data.
The data deliveries can be monitored in the AQ portal website
(http://www.eionet.europa.eu/aqportal/datamonitor). Cross-checking between envelopes is
not possible before releasing the report to the Central Data Repository (CDR). The data may,
never the less, be revoked if the file is not correct and resubmitted after correction.
Questions should be mailed to the helpdesk (see under “Services” on the Portal website).
The AQ Portal offers currently several services, which will be further developed, such as:
data viewer for annual assessment and attainment statistics, queries on data, map-viewer
for time series and up to date (UTD) data; instant overview of the data flow delivered by
each country.
Next steps during the weeks the following the EIONET meeting are: priority on missing data,
analysis of inconsistencies and errors; new QA on zones; follow up on aggregations done by
EEA; and follow up on missing attainment and mismatches. The next IPR Pilot meeting will
be on 12-13 November 2014 at EEA.
With the implementation of the new e-Reporting system, the previous priority data flow
scoring criteria (http://www.eionet.europa.eu/dataflows/pdf2013/criteria) require updating.
The new proposed scoring criteria were discussed for the following new priority data flows:
AQDIPR-D (assessment method, sampling points); AQDIPR-E1a (measurement data replacing AQ1-EoI); AQDIPR-E2a (UTD - replacing NRTO3).
Air Quality Networking
Recent AQUILA achievements and ongoing activities:
• The guidance document “Reporting Uncertainty” has been finalised and distributed;
• An “Equivalence check list” has been established and agreed, allowing an AQUILA
opinion on validity of an equivalence claim;
• “Type approval” check list is under preparation;
• The next meeting (on 24-25 November 2014) will focus on the organisation of a PM
inter-comparison campaign in Ispra, Italy (planned for January-March 2015).
FAIRMODE (fairmode.jrc.ec.europa.eu) continues working on benchmarking of methods,
guidance and capacity building in relation to the use of models under the AQ Directives. Four
working groups cover the central topics on: 1) Assessment; 2) Emissions, 3) Source
Apportionment; and 4) Planning. In addition three cross-cutting groups focus on: A) Spatial
representativeness; B) Forecasting; and C) Monitoring & modelling.
FAIRMODE is involved in a standardisation process (CEN/TC 264) in the AQ area, covering:
• Modelling air quality: performance requirements, validation, QA/QC (central
FAIRMODE activity);
• Representativeness, classification, siting of monitoring stations (AQUILA,
FAIRMODE is involved as observer);
• Source apportionment (receptor models) to explain limit value exceedances
(central FAIRMODE activity and JRC initiative).
FAIRMODE will provide advice to the EEA on the e-reporting of modelled data (including
scope of the model parameterisation code list; meta-data profiles; preferred file formats and
additional needs), based on the input from modelling expert teams from Belgium, Spain,
France, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.
Highlights from the WHO-UNECE task force on Heath meeting in May 2014 include:
1. Recent WHO estimates show that exposure to ambient and household air pollution
accounted for 7 million premature deaths worldwide in 2012, including almost 600 000 in
Europe.
2. WHO has recently launched an update of its database on air pollution covering about 1,600
cities worldwide. PM2.5 data is available for about 50% of cities, with measurements of PM10
in the remaining cities. 88% of cities worldwide exceed WHO’s Air Quality Guidelines.
3. The air pollution mixture, as well as PM separately, has been classified as carcinogenic to
humans (Group 1). Estimates for 2010 indicate that in 2010, 223 000 lung cancer deaths
worldwide (15% of all lung cancer deaths) are related to air pollution.
4. The health burden of air pollution is dominated by mortality impacts, while the evidence for
morbidity outcomes is less robust. However, it is important to consider morbidity outcomes
in order to better estimate the true burden of air pollution.
5. The cost-effectiveness analysis of the EU Clean Air Policy package, based on the WHO
HRAPIE recommendations, show that moving from the baseline to a more ambitious policy
scenario costs €3.3 billion/year. However, this choice generates a health benefit 12 to 42
times larger, depending on mortality valuation.
6. Guidelines for indoor air quality for household combustion will be issued by the end of 2014.
The EMEP Chemical Coordination Centre (CCC) has launched major updates and
improvements of the EBAS database and web services (http://ebas.nilu.no/) earlier this year,
including more complex data, meta-data and uncertainties information. CCC will also
develop more automatic data submission tools. The development of the EMEP monitoring
network shows that it is challenging to keep focus and improve data quality and network
development on traditional EMEP compounds (level 1 stations). However, there has been a
positive development for EMEP supersites (level 2), i.e. more sites have been established,
there has been a stronger focus on harmonization of method and more advanced reporting
procedures. Recent assessments show that the regional pollution level is generally
decreasing in Europe, though episodes can still be observed, particularly concerning winter
PM and summer ozone levels. Intensive measurement campaigns improve the
understanding of sources, transport and composition of atmospheric pollutants. A new
EMEP Assessment Report is planned. A workshop focussing on trend studies (TFMM
workshop) is scheduled in Paris for 17-18 November 2014. A meeting of a core group
responsible for compiling the report is scheduled in Oslo for January 2015. EEA is interested
in contributing to this report (to be further discussed).
Air Quality data and assessments in the Member States
Switzerland has its own air quality legislation and policy. As in the EU, it imposes monitoring
of status and trends of ambient air pollutants and the implementation of action plans in case
air quality standards are exceeded. The Swiss standards are long-term standards, similar to
the WHO air quality guidelines, not to be met at a specific date. The main exceedances occur
for ozone, PM and NO2 concentrations.
Poland has complied with the EU requirements for monitoring and annual air quality
assessment since joining the EU 10 years ago. It is currently undertaking a 5 years assessment
and thorough review of its AQ system, in order to adjust it to changing environment and
requirements. In parallel, developments in visualisation and reporting of the AQ data have
been undertaken, including launching of a new air quality database JPOAT2.0. The work and
new equipment acquisition is supported by the European Economic Area Financial
Mechanism. The main AQ challenges in Poland are the high levels of PM, B(a)P and O3.
Croatia is for the first time reporting air quality information as an EU member this year. The
new “Air Quality Portal” has been established in 2014, comprising the national AQ database
and e-reporting system to support the respective competent authorities, as well as a public
AQ information website (http://iszz.azo.hr/iskzl/index.html). Croatia reported exceedances
of PM, B(a)P and O3 for 2013. Croatia is represented in FAIRMODE through the
Meteorological and Hydrological Service, which is developing a system for air quality
modelling both for assessment and forecasting. The emissions inventory is still under
development.
France produces daily exposure maps based on air quality forecasts provided by the Prev’Air
system. The maps support the implementation of short-term air quality management
measures. The goal is to forecast pollution episodes and implement mitigation measures in a
more efficient way. In addition, the system allows a better understanding of the
characteristics and origin of air pollution episodes. Information on the modelled chemical
composition of PM, combined with chemical analyses of the major PM components under
episodes, have helped understanding and characterising the sources of the PM episodes in
France and central Europe in March 2014. The system also allowed identifying the best
short-term measures that were then implemented for traffic, agricultural and some
industrial sources. Ammonium nitrate reached 50% of the PM mass during the episode in
France in March 2014, and a notable increase in asthma attacks was registered in the Paris
region.
The recent Holuhraun volcano eruption in Iceland has emitted large quantities of SO2,
leading to extremely high concentrations measured at ground level in Iceland. The eruption
was also reflected in unusually high SO2 concentrations measured elsewhere in Europe, e.g.
in Norway, Belgium, Austria.
Air Quality assessments
An ETC/ACM study1 shows that the implementation of the emission reductions imposed by
the revised Gothenburg Protocol for 2020 will not suffice to achieve compliance with PM
limit values everywhere in Europe. The study also analyses the impact of further reductions
of NH3 emissions from agriculture to reduce PM levels in Europe.
The ETC/ACM produces annually European concentration maps of several indicators related
to PM2.5, PM10 and ozone levels. The maps are primarily based on the AirBase data,
supplemented by EMEP model data and ancillary information2. The AQ maps are constructed
for the rural and urban background areas separately on 10 x 10 km2 resolution grids. They
are later merged using population density data on 1 x 1 km2 grids. These higher resolution
maps are the basis for estimating population exposure to air pollutants. In addition,
concentration and ecosystem exposure maps for NO2, NOx and SO2 are available for 2011.
Future developments could include the compilation of the first B(a)P concentration and
exposure map for 2012.
The methodology to estimate the Core Set Indicator 004 (CSI004) “Exceedance of air quality
limit values in urban areas” has been updated. The indicators shows the the fraction of the
European urban population exposed to air pollutant levels in exceedance of the EU
limit/target values which were set for the protection of human health. The update aims at a
better estimate of the fraction of urban population living close to major traffic sources, and
1
2
http://acm.eionet.europa.eu/reports/ETCACM_TP_2013_12_NH3emissred_on_PMexc
http://acm.eionet.europa.eu/reports/ETCACM_TP_2014_1_AQQ2012
includes information from traffic stations instead of relying exclusively on measurements at
urban background stations, as the case in the previous method.
The exposure of ecosystems to acidification, eutrophication and ozone is estimated in the
CSI005. A recent EEA report on effects of air pollution on ecosystems (EEA TR 11/20143)
estimates the area at risk of receiving airborne nutrient nitrogen deposition above the
critical load up to 2030. When implementing current legislation, more than 50 % of the
ecosystem areas classified according to the EUNIS habitats classification are expected to be
still at risk of excessive nutrient N deposition in 2030. However, the magnitude of
exceedances will decrease considerably. The relative (%) increase in grasslands' species
richness from 1990 to 2020 also indicates that emission reductions have a positive effect on
biodiversity. This is similarly true for sensitive areas within the Natura 2000 network.
An on-going analysis of air quality success stories shows that much has been achieved in
terms of reducing air pollutant levels, population and ecosystems exposure and reduced
health impacts from air pollution over the last decades/century. Thus, national and
international abatement policies have been effective. This is a positive message, encouraging
efforts to further improve the air quality situation in Europe. The EU is still far short of its
long-term objective to achieve air quality levels that have no significant negative impact on
human health and the environment (7th Environmental Action Programme). The EU is also
far from reaching the air quality levels recommended by WHO.
New low cost sensor technologies for air quality monitoring are currently available and being
developed. Studies show promising performance for O3, NO, NO2 and CO. Data from sensors
may be used to supplement data from ambient air monitoring networks, allow monitoring
personal exposure, allow monitoring at the source, and stimulate public awareness and
participation. On the other hand some challenges remain related to 1) sensor data quality; 2)
information and communication in real-time; 3) data visualisation; 4) engaging with the public.
There is a need to develop guidance on how to operate, calibrate and evaluate accuracy; how
to interpret the data; how to manage large sets of data; and set reasonable expectations and
respond to inquiries from concerned citizens.
The EEA gave an update on recent and on-going Eionet & EEA activities in the area of Air
pollution, transport and noise. The following EEA publications have been produced in 2014:
● Air pollution by ozone across Europe during summer 2013 – Q1
● Good practice guide on noise quiet areas – Q1
● Annual NEC Directive status report 2013 – Q2
● European Union emission inventory report under the UNECE LRTAP Convention – Q2
● Impacts of air pollution on Europe’s ecosystems - acidification and eutrophication – Q2
● Towards integrated assessment of air quality and climate policies – Q4
● Revealing the costs of air pollution from industrial facilities in Europe – Q4
● Air quality in Europe – 2014 report – Q4
● Noise assessment report – 2014 – Q4
● Annual Transport and Environment Reporting Mechanism report (TERM) – Q4
● CO2 emissions performance of car manufacturers in 2013 – Q4
3
http://www.eea.europa.eu/highlights/air-pollution-still-harming-europe2019s
The following Eionet meetings were organised in 2014: 13-14 May Eionet Mitigation of air
pollution and climate change/TFEIP (Gent); 12 June Eionet Transport (EEA, Copenhagen); 30
Sept – 1 Oct Eionet Air Quality (Bern) and 1-3 Oct Eionet Noise (Bern), in addition to Expert
workshops on AQ e-reporting, COPERT, EPON. The processes at the EEA in 2014 comprise: 1)
the review of the Eionet National Reference Centres (NRC); EIONET priority dataflows; and
the European Environment State and Outlook (SOER) 2015 report.
Air quality & Noise
A common session between the AQ and noise EIONET groups was organised in order to
discuss common challenges and solutions covering the following themes: pollution sources;
exposure assessment (e.g. data, methodologies and indicators); regulations at EU level; and
plans and measures.
Air quality and noise have a common major source, traffic, especially in urban areas where
people are most exposed to noise and air pollution. Parallel measurement campaigns and
data collection for both assessments can lead to considerable savings of time and resources
for the national and local authorities. Information available to estimate population exposure
to both AQ and noise pollution could be substantiated by combining both data sources by
modelling approaches. Establishing this at the European level poses several challenges in
terms of uniformity of data used (e.g. population data, definition of “city”) and methods, e.g.
common methods to estimate representative noise and AQ parameters across Europe.
There are several measures that are beneficial to mitigate both air and noise pollution, e.g.
cleaner transport technology, within traffic management, land use and urban planning,
social-economic measures, etc. It is therefore important that the authorities are informed
about effective win-win measures and consider co-benefits when working on the AQ and
noise action plans. The ETC/ACM is currently working on reviewing and compiling such
information, in order to inform and support national and local AQ and noise management
authorities.
EEA is very happy with the countries’ efforts concerning the e-reporting submissions.
Presentations and abstracts are available via the EIONET Workshop websites:
http://www.eionet.europa.eu/events/EIONET%20Workshop/
and the ETC/ACM website:
http://acm.eionet.europa.eu/docs/meetings/140930_eionet_aq_noise_back2back_ws/meeting1409
30.html