15.3.82 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 64/15 
Opinion on the proposal for a Council Decision establishing a reciprocal exchange of 
information and data from networks and individual stations measuring air pollution within 
the Member States 
The text referred to the Committee has been published in Official Journal of the 
European Communities No C 211 of 20 August 1981, page 3. 
A. LEGAL BASIS FOR THE OPINION 
On 11 August 1981 the Council referred the abovementioned proposal to the Economic 
and Social Committee in accordance with Article 198 of the Treaty establishing the 
European Economic Community. 
B. OPINION OF THE ECONIMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE 
The Economic and Social Committee prepared its opinion on the above matter at its 
193rd plenary session held in Brussels on 15 and 16 December 1981. 
The full text of the opinion is as follows: 
THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE, 
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the 
European Economic Community, and in particular 
Article 198 thereof, 
Having regard to the request made by the Council of 
the European Communities on 11 August 1981 for an 
opinion on the proposal for a Council Decision 
establishing a reciprocal exchange of information 
and data from networks and individual stations 
measuring air pollution within the Member States, 
Having regard to the decision taken by its chairman 
on 18 September 1981, instructing the Section for 
Protection of the Environment, Public Health and 
Consumer Affairs to draw up an opinion on the 
matter, 
Having regard to the discussions at the 66th meeting 
of the abovementioned Section on 1 December 
1981, 
Having regard to the oral report made by the 
rapporteur, Mr Bernaert, 
Having regard to the discussions at its 193rd plenary 
session on 15 and 16 December 1981 (meeting of 
15 December), 
HAS ADOPTED THE FOLLOWING OPINION 
by a unanimous vote: 1. The Committee approves the Commission's 
initiative which is designed to extend the scope of the 
1975 Decision on the exchange of information on 
atmospheric pollution in the Member States. 
The draft Decision covers the following pollutants in 
addition to sulphur compounds and suspended 
particulates: 
— lead and other heavy metals in the form of 
particulates, 
— nitrogen oxides, 
— carbon monoxide, 
— ozone. 
2. As it pointed out in its opinion on the 1975 
Decision, which, moreover, remains in force until the 
new proposal is adopted, the Committee considers 
that an initiative of this type deserves to be 
encouraged, particularly as it offers the possibility of 
obtaining regular data in respect of specific areas and 
provides useful information for improving the 
efficiency of measures to combat pollution. 
3. The Commission endeavoured by means of its 
1975 Decision to make comparisons between the 
findings of monitoring stations. The Committee is 
pleased to note that the aim of the present draft 
Decision is to introduce intercomparison 
programmes in cooperation with the Member States 
concerned. The Committee implicitly stressed the 
importance and the urgency of these programmes in 
No C 64/16 Official Journal of the European Communities 15. 3. 82 
its earlier opinion. The Committee also agrees with 
the Commission that, in view of the considerable cost 
of preparing and implementing these programmes, 
account must be taken of the need for improved cost-
efficiency when defining and carrying out the 
programmes. 
4. In the Committee's view it is desirable for the 
exchange of information to lead to something more 
than the collection of data on atmospheric pollution 
with a view, in particular, to comparing the results 
obtained by using different methods of measurement 
at the same station or by using the same method of 
measurement at a number of stations in virtually 
identical locations. The exchange of information 
should also promote harmonization of the various 
methods of measurement. Such harmonization 
would appear to be essential if proper checks are to 
be kept on air quality standards. These standards 
have been determined on the basis of the dose/effect 
relation as regards both man and the environment. 
Done at Brussels, 15 December 1981. 5. With regard to point 1 of Annex I, which sets out 
the method of expressing the measurements, the 
Committee does not wish to deal with the technical 
aspects of the matter but would ask the Commission 
to consider the possibility of moving gradually over 
to more comprehensive methods of measurement. 
6. The Commission does not include hydro­
carbons and asbestos in the draft Decision in view, in 
particular, of the special problems which arise as 
regards sampling and analysis. The Committee 
recognizes that the monitoring of levels of these 
substances in the atmosphere is a matter of prime 
importance to public health protection. Whilst it can 
understand that these substances have been excluded 
from the exchange of information because of 
technical difficulties, the Committee thus insists that 
the Commission should speed up the research being 
carried out in order to enable these substances to be 
covered by an exchange of information as soon as 
possible. 
The Chairmann 
of the Economic and Social Committee 
Tomas ROSEINGRAVE