Annexes to COM(1997)500 - Limit values for sulphur dioxide, oxides of nitrogen, particulate matter and lead in ambient air - Main contents
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| dossier | COM(1997)500 - Limit values for sulphur dioxide, oxides of nitrogen, particulate matter and lead in ambient air. |
|---|---|
| document | COM(1997)500  |
| date | April 22, 1999 |
LIMIT VALUES AND THE ALERT THRESHOLD FOR SULPHUR DIOXIDE
I. Limit values for sulphur dioxide
Limit values must be expressed in μg/m3. The volume must be standardised at a temperature of 293 °K and a pressure of 101,3 kPa.
>TABLE>
II. Alert threshold for sulphur dioxide
500 μg/m3 measured over three consecutive hours at locations representative of air quality over at least 100 km2 or an entire zone or agglomeration, whichever is the smaller.
III. Minimum details to be made available to the public when the alert threshold for sulphur dioxide is exceeded
Details to be made available to the public should include at least:
- the date, hour and place of the occurrence and the reasons for the occurrence, where known;
- any forecasts of:
- changes in concentrations (improvement, stabilisation, or deterioration), together with the reasons for those changes,
- the geographical area concerned,
- the duration of the occurence;
- the type of population potentially sensitive to the occurrence;
- the precautions to be taken by the sensitive population concerned.
ANNEX II
LIMIT VALUES FOR NITROGEN DIOXIDE (NO2) AND OXIDES OF NITROGEN (NOx) AND THE ALERT THRESHOLD FOR NITROGEN DIOXIDE
I. Limit values for nitrogen dioxide and oxides of nitrogen
Limit values must be expressed in μg/m3. The volume must be standardised at a temperature of 293 °K and a pressure of 101,3 kPa.
>TABLE>
II. Alert threshold for nitrogen dioxide
400 μg/m3 measured over three consecutive hours at locations representative of air quality over at least 100 km 2 or an entire zone or agglomeration, whichever is the smaller.
III. Minimum details to be made available to the public when the alert threshold for nitrogen dioxide is exceedeed
Details to be made available to the public should include at least:
- the date, hour and place of the occurrence and the reasons for the occurrence, where known;
- any forecasts of:
- changes in concentrations (improvement, stabilisation, or deterioration), together with the reasons for those changes,
- the geographical area concerned,
- the duration of the occurrence;
- the type of population potentially sensitive to the occurrence;
- the precautions to be taken by the sensitive population concerned.
ANNEX III
LIMIT VALUES FOR PARTICULATE MATTER (PM10)
>TABLE>
ANNEX IV
LIMIT VALUE FOR LEAD
>TABLE>
ANNEX V
DETERMINATION OF REQUIREMENTS FOR ASSESSMENT OF CONCENTRATIONS OF SULPHUR DIOXIDE, NITROGEN DIOXIDE (NO2), AND OXIDES OF NITROGEN (NOx), PARTICULATE MATTER (PM10) AND LEAD IN AMBIENT AIR WITHIN A ZONE OR AGGLOMERATION
I. Upper and lower assessment thresholds
The following upper and lower assessment thresholds will apply:
(a) SULPHUR DIOXIDE
>TABLE>
(b) NITROGEN DIOXIDE AND OXIDES OF NITROGEN
>TABLE>
(c) PARTICULATE MATTER
The upper and lower assessment thresholds for PM10 are based on the indicative limit values for 1 January 2010.
>TABLE>
(d) LEAD
>TABLE>
II. Determination of exceedances of upper and lower assessment thresholds
Exceedances of upper and lower assessment thresholds must be determined on the basis of concentrations during the previous five years where sufficient data are available. An assessment threshold will be deemed to have been exceeded if during those five years the total number of exceedances of the numerical concentration of the threshold is more than three times the number of exceedances allowed each year.
Where fewer than five years' data are available Member States may combine measurement campaigns of short duration during the period of the year and at locations likely to be typical of the highest pollution levels with results obtained from information from emission inventories and modelling to determine exceedances of the upper and lower assessment thresholds.
ANNEX VI
LOCATION OF SAMPLING POINTS FOR THE MEASUREMENT OF SULPHUR DIOXIDE, NITROGEN DIOXIDE AND OXIDES OF NITROGEN, PARTICULATE MATTER AND LEAD IN AMBIENT AIR
The following considerations will apply to fixed measurement.
I. Macroscale siting
(a) Protection of human health
Sampling points directed at the protection of human health should be sited:
(i) to provide data on the areas within zones and agglomerations where the highest concentrations occur to which the population is likely to be directly or indirectly exposed for a period which is significant in relation to the averaging period of the limit value(s);
(ii) to provide data on levels in other areas within the zones and agglomerations which are representative of the exposure of the general population.
Sampling points should in general be sited to avoid measuring very small micro-environments in their immediate vicinity. As a guideline, a sampling point should be sited to be representative of air quality in a surrounding area of no less than 200 m2 at traffic-orientated sites and of several square kilometres at urban-background sites.
Sampling points should also, where possible, be representative of similar locations not in their immediate vicinity.
Account should be taken of the need to locate sampling points on islands, where that is necessary for the protection of human health.
(b) Protection of ecosystems and vegetation.
Sampling points targeted at the protection of ecosystems or vegetation should be sited more than 20 km from agglomerations or more than 5 km from other built-up areas, industrial installations or motorways. As a guideline, a sampling point should be sited to be representative of air quality in a surrounding area of at least 1000 km2. A Member State may provide for a sampling point to be sited at a lesser distance or to be representative of air quality in a less extended area, taking account of geographical conditions.
Account should be taken of the need to assess air quality on islands.
II. Microscale siting
The following guidelines should be met as far as practicable:
- the flow around the inlet sampling probe should be unrestricted without any obstructions affecting the airflow in the vicinity of the sampler (normally some metres away from buildings, balconies, trees, and other obstacles and at least 0,5 m from the nearest building in the case of sampling points representing air quality at the building line);
- in general, the inlet sampling point should be between 1,5 m (the breathing zone) and 4 m above the ground. Higher positions (up to 8 m) may be necessary in some circumstances. Higher siting may also be appropriate if the station is representative of a large area;
- the inlet probe should not be positioned in the immediate vicinity of sources in order to avoid the direct intake of emissions unmixed with ambient air;
- the sampler's exhaust outlet should be positioned so that recirculation of exhaust air to the sampler inlet is avoided;
- location of traffic-orientated samplers:
- for all pollutants, such sampling points should be at least 25 m from the edge of major junctions and at least 4 m from the centre of the nearest traffic lane,
- for nitrogen dioxide, inlets should be no more than 5 m from the kerbside,
- for particulate matter and lead, inlets should be sited so as to be representative of air quality near to the building line.
The following factors may also be taken into account:
- interfering sources;
- security;
- access;
- availability of electrical power and telephone communications;
- visibility of the site in relation to its surroundings;
- safety of public and operators;
- the desirability of co-locating sampling points for different pollutants;
- planning requirements.
III. Documentation and review of site selection
The site-selection procedures should be fully documented at the classification stage by such means as compass-point photographs of the surrounding area and a detailed map. Sites should be reviewed at regular intervals with repeated documentation to ensure that selection criteria remain valid over time.
ANNEX VII
CRITERIA FOR DETERMINING MINIMUM NUMBERS OF SAMPLING POINTS FOR FIXED MEASUREMENT OF CONCENTRATIONS OF SULPHUR DIOXIDE (SO2), NITROGEN DIOXIDE (NO2) AND OXIDES OF NITROGEN, PARTICULATE MATTER AND LEAD IN AMBIENT AIR
I. Minimum number of sampling points for fixed measurement to assess compliance with limit values for the protection of human health and alert thresholds in zones and agglomerations where fixed measurement is the sole source of information
(a) Diffuse sources
>TABLE>
(b) Point sources
For the assessment of pollution in the vicinity of point sources, the number of sampling points for fixed measurement should be calculated taking into account emission densities, the likely distribution patterns of ambient-air pollution and the potential exposure of the population.
II. Minimum number of sampling points for fixed measurements to assess compliance with limit values for the protection of ecosystems or vegetation in zones other than agglomerations
>TABLE>
In island zones the number of sampling points for fixed measurement should be calculated taking into account the likely distribution patterns of ambient-air pollution and the potential exposure of ecosystems or vegetation.
ANNEX VIII
DATA-QUALITY OBJECTIVES AND COMPILATION OF RESULTS OF AIR-QUALITY ASSESSMENT
I. Data-quality objectives
The following data-quality objectives for the required accuracy of assessment methods, of minimum time coverage and of data capture of measurement are laid down to guide quality-assurance programmes.
>TABLE>
The accuracy of the measurement is defined as laid down in the "Guide to the Expression of Uncertainty of Measurements" (ISO 1993) or in ISO 5725-1 "Accuracy (trueness and precision) of measurement methods and results" (1994). The percentages in the table are given for individual measurements averaged, over the period considered, by the limit value, for a 95 % confidence interval (bias + two times the standard deviation). The accuracy for continuous measurements should be interpreted as being applicable in the region of the appropriate limit value.
The accuracy for modelling and objective estimation is defined as the maximum deviation of the measured and calculated concentration levels, over the period considered by the limit value, without taking into account the timing of the events.
The requirements for minimum data capture and time coverage do not include losses of data due to the regular calibration or the normal maintenance of the instrumentation.
By way of derogation, Member States may apply random measurements instead of continuous measurements for particulate matter and lead if they can demonstrate to the Commission that accuracy within the 95 % confidence interval with respect to continuous monitoring is within 10 %. Random sampling must be spread evenly over the year.
II. Results of air quality assessment
The following information should be compiled for zones or agglomerations within which sources other than measurement are employed to supplement information from measurement or as the sole means of air-quality assessment:
- a description of assessment activities carried out;
- the specific methods used, with references to descriptions of the method;
- the sources of data and information;
- a description of results, including accuracies and, in particular, the extent of any area or, if relevant, the length of road within the zone or agglomeration over which concentrations exceed limit value(s) or, as may be, limit value(s) plus applicable margin(s) of tolerance and of any area within which concentrations exceed the upper assessment threshold or the lower assessment threshold;
- for limit values the object of which is the protection of human health, the population potentially exposed to concentrations in excess of the limit value.
Where possible, Member States should compile maps showing concentration distributions within each zone and agglomeration.
III. Standardisation
For sulphur dioxide and oxides of nitrogen the volume must be standardised at a temperature of 293 °K and a pressure of 101,3 kPa.
ANNEX IX
REFERENCE METHODS FOR ASSESSMENT OF CONCENTRATIONS OF SULPHUR DIOXIDE, NITROGEN DIOXIDE AND OXIDES OF NITROGEN, PARTICULATE MATTER (PM10 AND PM2,5) AND LEAD
I. Reference method for the analysis of sulphur dioxide:
ISO/FDIS 10498 (Standard in draft) Ambient air - determination of sulphur dioxide - ultraviolet fluorescence method.
A Member State may use any other method which it can demonstrate gives results equivalent to the above method.
II. Reference method for the analysis of nitrogen dioxide and oxides of nitrogen:
ISO 7996: 1985 Ambient air - determination of the mass concentrations of nitrogen oxides - chemiluminescence method.
A Member State may use any other method which it can demonstrate gives results equivalent to the above method.
III.A Reference method for the sampling of lead:
The reference method for the sampling of lead will be that described in the Annex to Directive 82/884/EEC until such time as the limit value in Annex IV to this Directive is to be met, when the reference method will be that for PM10 as laid down in Section IV of this Annex.
A Member State may use any other method which it can demonstrate gives results equivalent to the above method.
III.B Reference method for the analysis of lead:
ISO 9855: 1993 Ambient air - Determination of the particulate lead content of aerosols collected in filters. Atomic absorption spectroscopy method.
A Member State may use any other method which it can demonstrate gives results equivalent to the above method.
IV. Reference method for the sampling and measurement of PM10
The reference method for the sampling and measurement of PM10 will be that described in EN 12341 "Air Quality - Field Test Procedure to Demonstrate Reference Equivalence of Sampling Methods for the PM10 fraction of particulate matter". The measurement principle is based on the collection on a filter of the PM10 fraction of ambient particulate matter and the gravimetric mass determination.
A Member State may use any other method which it can demonstrate gives results equivalent to the above method or any other method which the Member State concerned can demonstrate displays a consistent relationship to the reference method. In that event the results achieved by that method must be corrected by a relevant factor to produce results equivalent to those that would have been achieved by using the reference method.
Each Member State must inform the Commission of the method used to sample and measure PM10. The Commission must as soon as possible carry out intercomparison exercises for PM10 sampling and measurement methods in order to provide information for the review of this Directive in accordance with Article 10.
V. Provisional reference method for the sampling and measurement of PM2,5
The Commission will produce guidelines, in consultation with the committee referred to in Article 12 of Directive 96/62/EEC, for an appropriate provisional reference method for the sampling and assessment of PM2,5 by 19 July 2001.
A Member State may use any other method which it considers suitable.
Each Member State must inform the Commission of the method used to sample and measure PM2,5. The Commission must as soon as possible carry out intercomparison exercises for PM2,5 sampling and measurement methods in order to provide information for the review of this Directive in accordance with Article 10.
VI. Reference modelling techniques:
Reference modelling techniques cannot be specified at present. Any amendments to adapt this point to scientific and technical progress must be adopted in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 12(2) of Directive 96/62/EC.