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Vol. 1985/0 145 
  
 
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In accordance with Council Regulation (EEC, Euratom) No 354/83 of 1 February 1983 
concerning the opening to the public of the historical archives of the European Econom ic 
Communit y and the European Atom ic Energy Communit y (OJ L 43, 15.2.1983, p. 1), as 
amended by Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1700/2003 of 22 September 2003 (OJ L 243, 
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file have been declassified in conformity with Article 5 of the aforementioned regulation.  
In Übereinstimmung mit der Verordnung (EWG, Euratom) Nr. 354/83 des Rates vom  1. 
Februa r 1983 über die Freigabe der historischen Archive der Europäischen  
Wirtschaftsgemeinschaft und der Europäischen Atomgem einschaft (ABI. L 43 vom  15.2.1983,  
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COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
C0MC85) 371 fin a l
Brussels, 1 1  July 1985
C O M M U N IC ATIO N  F R O M  T H E  C O M M ISSIO N  T O  T H E  C O U N C IL
C O N C E R N IN G  T H E  PROPOSITION O F  A  N C ^ LO N G -TE R M  LIMIT VALU E F O R  T H E  PR O TEC TIO N  
O F  TERRESTRIAL A N D  AQ UATIC E C O S Y S T E M S
C0M C85) 371 fin a l

COMMUNICATION OF THE COMMISSION TO THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS CONCERNING  
THE PROPOSITION OF A N02 LONG-TERM LIMIT VALUE FOR THE PROTECTION OF  
TERRESTRIAL AND AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS
1. O n  request of the Council of Ministers of June 28th 1984 , the
Commission has studied in cooperation with an international expert
group the p o s s ib ility  of proposing a  N O ^ long-term lim it value for 
the protection of te rre s tria l and aquatic ecosystems.
2. The expert group studied the follow ing issues in order to examine the
question whether a  long-term lim it value for N O ^ is needed :
i. The effects of N O ^ as a  single compound on vegetation
i i .  The effects on vegetation of N O ^ in combination with other 
pollutants
i i i .  The contribution of N0 2 to effects on soil
iv. The effects of N O ^ on aquatic ecosystems
v. The effects of secondary pollutants on vegetation, in particular 
photochemical oxidants, which are created in processes involving 
N Ox
v i . The need to lay down a  long-term lim it value for adm inistrative 
and a ir qu a lity management purposes
v ii.  The consequences of a  long-term lim it value for the production of 
photochemical oxidants
v i i i .  The consequences of such a  value for emission reduction measures 
and monitoring.
8604/84 E N V  127 of July 24th 1984.

-  2 -
3. The expert group summarized in its  fin a l report, that :
long-term values of N0?  should be kept in winter times under 75
3 ^ 3  ug/m and in summer times under 190 ug/m to protect vegetation
from effects of N 0^ alone,
there is som e evidance of a  no-adverse effect level of 40 ug/m^ N0?
3 d
for more sensitive plants in combination with 40 ug/m SO^; under 
fast growing conditions the sam e species m a y not be adversely 
affected u n til the concentration reaches 130 ug/m^ NO^,
there are prelim inary indications that NO^-levels of 30 ug/m^ can 
damage plants, when such concentrations are associated with S0?  
levels of 60 ug/m and 0^ levels of 30 ug/m ,
very sensitive aquatic communities m ay be adversely affected by a  
supra-optima l nitrogen supply which m ay occur at concentrations of 
N0^ as low as 10 to 20 ug/m^,
due to the lack of knowledge no single and universally ju s tifie d  
value for a  tolerable N 0^ deposition rate can be given.
ozone, a  product of N 0^ in atmospheric reaction cycles, can reduce 
the yield and growth of plants when the 7-hr seasonal average 
concentration exceeds approximately 80 ug/m^.
- the setting of a  N 0^ long-term lim it value is inappropriate for the 
reduction of ozone or other a ir quality mangement purposes.
4. The expert group recommends on the basis of its  studies to take the 
following actions :
i.  the long-term guide value of the N 0 -, D irective should be decreased
3  < ~
to 30 ug/m throughout a  country, in zones of special
environmental protection, a  value of 10 ug/m^ N 0^ m ay be
appropriate.

- 3 -
i i .  consideration should be given to emissions reductions from large 
combustion in s ta lla tio n s  and motor vehicles that would lead to a  
substantial decrease of the overall a ir p o llu tio n , as a  preventive 
measure.
i i i .  more studies of combined effects of a ir pollutants on plants and 
on the to ta l N  budget in the environment should be carried out.
iv . the models of long- and meso-scale transport of a ir pollutants, in 
p a rticu la r of N 02, S 02 and 03, should be improved.
v. multi-component monitoring of a ir pollutants in rural areas should 
be extended.
v i. the question of the need for a  long-term lim it value for N C > 2 
should be reviewed in approximately five  years, with particular 
regard to combined effects.
v i i .  emphasis should be given to the effects of ozone on vegetation.
5. The recommendations of the expert group have to be evaluated in the 
context of the present a ir pollution control policy of the 
Commission2) in order to id e n tify  deficiencies in relation to the 
need and the urgency for taking additional Community measures :
to i) The laying down of any long-term lim it value throughout
the Community seems to be inappropriate at present 
because the s c ie n tific  backup for the fix in g  of such a  
value is s t i l l  in s u ffic ie n t.
Moreover, the d e fin itio n  of a  long-term lim it value 
requires cost/benefit studies which are not available at 
present.
For further information see "Report on the Actions of the Commission 
of the Furopean Community on Acid Depositions", Doc. XI/886/84 EN, 
published in December 1984.

- 4 -
The Commission appreciates the recommendations m ade by 
the experts for a  general guide value of 30 ug/m N O ^ and 
a  value of 10 ug/m 3 N02 which m ay be appropriate for 
zones of special environmental protection, but notes 
that :
- no appropriate and cost- effe ctive  control strategy for 
the combined abatement of N 02, S O ^ and 0^ has been 
developed yet;
- the knowledge of the effects on aquatic ecosystems and
combined effects of N C > 2, S0 2 and 03  on vegetation is
s t i l l  incomplete, but rapidly increasing.
Moreover, in A rtic le  4(2) Member States are requested to 
fix  values which are generally lower than the guide 
values in zones where they consider that special 
environmental protection should be afforded and A rtic le  5  
gives the right to Member States to fix  values more 
stringent than those Laid down in the D irective. In 
p rin c ip le , these two a rtic le s  allow Member States to set 
out long-term goals for the protection of ecosystems, 
where necessary.
In the lig h t of these p o s s ib ilitie s  already foreseen the 
Commission is of the opinion that the adopted N02~  
Directive provides already a  basis for more stringent 
environmental goals. Nevertheless, i t  is understood that 
due to the long range transport the achievement of such a  
goal would require international emission reduction 
measures.

- 5  -
to i i )  The Commission welcomes this statement. I t  can be
expected that the to ta l N O ?-emission reductions which are
3)
achievable by Commission's proposals C 0M C83) 704 fin a l
4)and C 0M C84) 226 fin a l , i f  they were adopted by the
Council, would account for approximately 15 to 3 0 %  by
1996. This would lead to a  reduction of the annual
averaged ambient a ir concentrations by approximately the
sam e percentage. Therefore these measures cannot ensure
that ambient a ir concentrations w ill be lowered to 30
ug/m^ throughout the Member States. However, it  would
most lik e ly  allow 10 to 20 ug/m^ to be achieved in large
parts of rural areas and 40 ug/m^ in suburban areas.
The application of the most advanced technology for the
reduction of automotive N O  -emissions would lead to ax
decrease in to ta l emission by approximately 35 to 48% .
Such a  reduction would bring N 0 -. concentrations most
32lik e ly  below 10 to 20 ug N0?/m in most rural areas,
3 ^
below 30 ug/m in most suburban, and partly in urban 
areas of the Community.
Further reductions would require taking more stringent 
actions against existing larger combustion in s ta lla tio n s  
and diesel-powered vehicles .
The Commission is of the opinion that a  consistent global 
reduction policy is the most appropriate strategy to 
combat a ir p o llu tio n . Therefore, the Commission invites 
a ll Member States to adopt the proposals already on the 
table of the Council.
Proposal for a  Council Directive on the lim ita tio n  of the emissions 
of pollutants into the a ir from large combustion plants.
Proposals relating to lim its  on emissions from motor vehicles and on 
lead in petrol.
O n  the 972nd meeting of the Council the Commission stated, that i t  is 
examining possible additional measures which could be taken 
concerning in p a rticu la r :  particulate emissions from diesel cars,
emissions from passenger or goods vehicles over 3,5 t ,  speed lim its .

-  6 -
to i i i )  The Commission is already carrying out such studies and
plans to reinforce its  a c tiv itie s  in a ll of the mentioned
u *· 2) 6)research fie ld s
to iv) The Commission started to study the a p p lic a b ility  of
models for control purposes in 1984 and hopes to get 
f ir s t  results in 1986. More extended studies on
modelling are in preparation.
to v) The Commission has already taken actions in this
direction by its  proposal C 0M C83) 375 fin a l Further
a c tiv itie s  are planned.
to vi)' The Commission w ill take up this question again in a
couple of years, when the s c ie n tific  results on combined 
effects are more adequate.
to v ii)  The Commission is aware of these effects and is studying 
the p o s s ib ilitie s  of appropriate countermeasures with the 
highest p rio r ity .
6. In conclusion the C om m ission
- is of the opinion that at present neither a  NO^-long-term  limit 
value can be proposed nor the long-term guide value set out in the 
NO^-Directive requires adaptation, but it w ill keep under review 
the ongoing development and m a k e  proposals w h e n  appropriate;
- invites Member States to m ake extensive use of A rticle s 4 and 5  of 
the N0_-Directive;
J.O. L71 of 14th March 1984, page 13.
C O M (83) 375 fin a l
"Proposition de règlement du Conseil instaurant une action 
communautaire destinée à  accroître la protection des forêts dans la 
Communauté contre les incendies et les pluies acides".

- 7 -
- invites Member States to agree on substantial global emission
reductions for N O  as well as for S0?  and hydrocarbons and to X ^ g)
adopt, as a  f ir s t  step, the proposals , m ade by the
Commission;
- invites Member States to stimulate general international reductions 
of transboundary fluxes of N O ^ and other pollutants.
The Commission w ill take the necessary steps to reinforce its  
s c ie n tific  and monitoring a c tiv itie s  and w ill prepare proposals on 
combating photochemical a ir pollutants.
C O M (83) 704 fin a l 
C O M (84) 226 fin a l