Abstract
This paper summarises the annualinformation on ozone monitoring stations andexceedances of ozone threshold values during 1997transmitted by the Member States of the European Unionin the framework of Council Directive 92/72/EEC on airpollution by ozone. In August 1998 information for thecalendar year 1997 was received from all Member Statesand, on a voluntary basis, from 6 other Europeancountries (Switzerland, Czech Republic, Latvia,Norway, Poland and Slovakia).An evaluation of the exceedances and annual statisticsfor 1997 clearly shows that ozone is a severe,Pan-European problem. The threshold value set for theprotection of human health was exceeded substantiallyand in all reporting countries. The threshold value ofdaily average concentrations set for the protection ofvegetation was exceeded substantially (by up to afactor 3), widely (in all reporting countries) andfrequently (at several stations on more than 200days). The threshold value of hourly averageconcentrations set for the protection of vegetationwas exceeded largely and widely (reported by 10 EUMember States and in three out of the six otherEuropean countries) on a limited number of days.The threshold value for providing information to thepopulation was exceeded in 15 countries of which 12 EUMember States during a limited number of days.Exceedance of the threshold value for warning of thepopulation was reported from one station in Greece.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Barrett, K. and Berge, E. (eds): 1996, ‘Transboundary Air Pollution in Europe. Part 1: Estimated Dispersion of Acidifying Agents and of Near Surface Ozone’, EMEP/MSC-W Report 1/96. The Norwegian Meteorological Institute, Oslo, Norway.
Bascom, R., Bromberg, P. A., Costa, D. A., Devlin, R., Dockery, D. W., Frampton, M. W., Lambert, W., Samet, J. M., Speizer F. E. and Utell, M.: 1996, Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. 153, 3.
Beck, J. P. and Grennfelt, P.: 1994, Atmospheric Environment 28, 129.
Beck, J. P., Kryzanowski, M. and Koffi, B.: 1999, Tropospheric Ozone in the European UnionThe Consolidated Report, European Topic Centre Air Quality, Bilthoven, Office for Official Publication of the European Communities, Luxembourg, ISBN 92–828–5672–0.
Borrego, C., Countinho, M. and Barros, N.: 1994, ‘Atmospheric Pollution in the Lisbon Airshed’, in H. Power, N. Moussiopoulos and C. A. Brebbia (eds), Urban Air Pollution, Computational Mechanics Publication, Southampton, UK.
Borrell, P., Builtjes, P. J. H., Grennfelt, P. and Hov, Ø. (eds.): 1997, ‘Photo-Oxidants, Acidification and Tools: Policy Applications of EUROTRAC Results’, in P. Borrel, P. M. Borrel, T. Cvitas, K. Kelly and W. Seiler (eds), Transport and Chemical Transformation of Pollutants in the Troposphere, Vol. 10, Springer Verlag, Berlin.
De Leeuw F., Sluyter, R. and Van Zantvoort, E.: 1997, ‘Air Pollution by Ozone in the European Union, Exceedance of ozone threshold values in 1996 and summer 1997’, EEA-Topic Report 7/1997, European Environment Agency, Copenhagen.
De Leeuw, F., Sluyter, R. and De Paus, T.: 1999, ‘Air Pollution by Ozone in Europe in 1997 and Summer 1998’, EEA-Topic Report 3/1999, European Environment Agency, Copenhagen.
De Saeger, E., Noriega Guerra, A., Gerboles, M., Rau, H., Amantini, L. and Perez Ballesta, P.: 1997, ‘Harmonisation of Directive 92/72/EEC on Air Pollution by Ozone; Inter-Comparisons of Calibration Procedures for Ozone Measurements’, Report EUR 17662, European Commission, Brussels.
Derwent, D. and Van Den Hout, D.: 1995, ‘Computer Modelling of Ozone Formation in Europe’, Doc.Ref XI/364/95, European Commission, Brussels.
EC: 1999, ‘Ozone position paper’, Office for Official Publication of the European Communities, Luxembourg, ISBN 92–828–7865–1.
EMEP: 1999, ‘Transboundary Photo-Oxidants in Europe. EMEP Summary Report, 1999’, Report 2/99, the Norwegian Meteorological Institute, Oslo, Norway.
Feister, U. and Pedersen, U.: 1989, ‘Ozone Measurements January 1985–December 1985’, Report No. 1. Potsdam/Lillestrøm, Meteorological Service of the GDR/Norwegian Institute for Air Research. EMEP/CCC Report 3/89, Lillestrøm, Norway.
Finlayson-Pitts, B. J. and Pitts, J. N.: 1993, J. Air Waste Manage. Assoc. 43, 1091.
Gilbert, R. O.: 1987, ‘Statistical Methods for Environmental Pollution Monitoring’, Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York.
Grennfelt, P. and Schjoldager, J.: 1984, Ambio 13, 61.
Grennfelt, P., Saltbones, J. and Schjoldager, J.: 1987, ‘Oxidant Data Collection in OECD-Europe 1985–87 (OXIDATE). April–Septmeber 1985’, NILU OR 22/87, NILU, Lillestrøm, Norway.
Grennfelt, P., Saltbones, J. and Schjoldager, J.: 1988, ‘Oxidant Data Collection in OECD-Europe 1985–87 (OXIDATE)’, Report on ozone, nitrogen dioxide and peroxyacytyl nitrate, October 1985–March 1986 and April–September 1986, NILU OR 31/88, NILU, Lillestrøm, Norway
Guicherit, R. and van Dop, H.: 1977, Atmospheric Environment 11, 145.
Hjellbrekke, A. G.: 1996, ‘Ozone Measurements 1993–1994’, EMEP/CCC report 1/96, NILU, Kjeller, Norway.
Hjellbrekke, A. G.: 1999, ‘Ozone Measurements 1997’, EMEP/CCC report 2/99, NILU, Kjeller, Norway.
Hov Ø., Kley, D., Volz-Thomas, A., Beck, J., Grennfelt, P. and Penkett, S. A.: 1997, ‘Tropospheric Ozone Research. Tropospheric Ozone in Regional and Subregional Context’, in Borrel, P., Borrel, P. M., Cvitas, T., Kelly, K. and Seiler, W. (eds.), Transport and Chemical Transformation of Pollutants in the Troposphere, Vol. 6, Springer Verlag, Berlin.
Jacob, D. J., Logan, L. A. and Murti, P. P.: 1999, Geophys. Res. Lett. 26, 2175.
Kley, D., Beck, J., Grennfelt, P.I., Hov, Ø. and Penkett, S. A.: 1997, J. Atmospheric Chemistry 28, 1.
Larssen, S., Sluyter, R. and Helmis, C.: 1999, ‘Criteria for EUROAI RNET, the EEA Air Quality Monitoring and Information Network’, Technical Report No. 12, European Environment Agency, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Lee, D. S., Holland, M. R. and Falla, N.: 1996, Atmospheric Environment 30, 1053.
Moussiopoulos, N.: 1994, ‘Air Pollution in Athens’, in Power H., Moussiopoulos, N. and Brebbia, C. A. (eds.), Urban Air Pollution, Computational Mechanics Publication, Southampton, UK.
PORG: 1997, ‘Ozone in the United Kingdom. Fourth Report of the Photochemical Oxidant Review Group’, Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions, London.
Roemer, M. G. M.: 1996, ‘Trends of Tropospheric Ozone over Europe’, Thesis, University of Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Roemer, M. G. M.: 1997, ‘Trend Analysis of Ground Level Ozone Concentrations in Europe’, EMEP/CCC-Note 01/97, NILU, Kjeller, Norway.
Roemer, M.: 1999, ‘There are no Trends Like Ozone Trends’, in Borrell, P. M. and Borrell, P. (eds.), Proceedings of EUROTRAC Symposium '98, WIT press, Southampton, UK.
Sartor, F., Demuth, C., Snacken, R., and Walckiers, D.: 1997, Environmental Research 72, 109.
Scheel, H. E., Areskoug, H., Geiß, H., Gomišcek, B., Granby, K., Haszpra, L., Klasinc, L., Kley, D., Laurila, T., Lindskog, A., Roemer, M., Schmitt, R., Simmonds, P., Solberg, S. and Toupance, G.: 1997, J. Atmospheric Chemistry 28, 11.
Simmonds, P. G., Derwent, R. G., McCulloch, A., O'Doherty, S. and Gaudry A.: 1996, Atmospheric Environment 30, 4041.
Simmonds, P. G., Seuring, S., Nickless, G. and Derwent, R. G.: 1997, J. Atmospheric Chemistry 28, 45.
Sluyter, R. (eds.): 1995, ‘Air Quality in Major European Cities’, Report 722401004, RIVM, Bilthoven, The Netherlands.
WHO: 1996a, ‘Update and Revision of the WHO Air Quality Guidelines for Europe. Classical Air Pollutants: Ozone and other Photochemical Oxidants’, European Centre for Environment and Health, Bilthoven, The Netherlands.
WHO: 1996b, ‘Update and Revision of the WHO Air Quality Guidelines for Europe. Ecotoxic Effects: Ozone Effects on Vegetation’, European Centre for Environment and Health, Bilthoven, The Netherlands.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
de Leeuw, F.A.A.M., de Paus, T.A. Exceedance of EC Ozone Threshold Values in Europe in 1997. Water, Air, & Soil Pollution 128, 255–281 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1010384602697
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1010384602697