Nitrogen oxides attack the membranes of the respiratory organs and increase the likelihood of respiratory illness.
Nitrogen oxides are also dangerous to plants.
Through the Large Furnaces Ordinance and the measures subsequently taken to transform nitrogen oxides, their emissions were substantially reduced. Industry also, through adapting its furnaces to use fuels with better emissions characteristics, has contributed to a reduction in emissions of pollutants. As a result of the licensing of less heavily polluting automobiles since the start of the 1980s, and despite increasing traffic volumes, a further increase in nitrogen oxides emissions from road traffic was avoided. Public health Guideline Nitrogen dioxide Immissions level Timescale Object Status 22. This ordinance implements the EU guideline in German law.