WRITTEN QUESTION E-1469/96 by Hiltrud Breyer (V) to the Commission (12 June 1996)

Subject: Genetic injury caused by excessive ozone in cities

1. What is the Commission's view of the recent scientific findings of the National Paediatric Institute in Mexico according to which air pollution and increased ozone levels in cities and conurbations cause genetic injury, which is blamed for cancerous tumours in children?

2. Given these recent findings on genetic injury due to excessive ozone, does the Commission intend to initiate studies of its own in the EU?

3. In these circumstances, would it not be appropriate drastically to reduce the maximum permissible ozone levels?

4. Does the Commission agree that, in the light of these new findings, it is extremely important for environmental damage and air pollution to be reduced in EU cities and conurbations as soon as possible? What programmes does the Commission intend to launch to accelerate this process of improving air quality?

5. Can the Commission provide a list of scientific research projects and studies concerning the effects of high ozone levels on humans in the Community?

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission (30 July 1996)

The Commission shares the Honourable Member's concern at the adverse health effects due to air pollution and increasing ozone levels which particularly affect urban areas.

1. The Commission has no information about the study carried out by the National Paediatric Institute in Mexico but would give consideration to peer reviews which look into the question of a dose-effect relationship between elevated ozone levels and gene mutations.

2. The Commission has no intention to initiate studies into the dose-effect relationships of ozone and gene mutations in humans. Research proposals on the dose-effect relationships of ozone and gene mutations in humans can be submitted in response to the next call for proposals under the research programmes.

3. Provision is made within the framework of Council Directive 92/72/EEC on air pollution by ozone ((OJ L 297, 13.10.1992. )) to present by 1998 a new proposal on ozone. It will include, if necessary, more severe thresholds. These will be defined after the evaluation of ozone pollution throughout the Community on the basis of yearly reports and the recommendations of the World Health Organisation.

4. The Commission recently presented to the Council (18 June 1996) two proposals that will result in substantial reductions of ozone precursors from the road transport sector. These are proposals for directives of the Parliament and the Council relating to measures to be taken against air pollution by emissions from motor vehicles and on the quality of petrol and diesel fuels ((COM(96) 248. )). For the industrial sector, a common position has been adopted by the Council with a view to a Council directive concerning integrated pollution prevention and control ((OJ C 165, 1. 7.1995. )). Other directive proposals aiming at reductions of ozone precursors which will follow shortly will be for a Council directive on the limitation of the emissions of organic compounds due to the use of organic solvents in certain processes and industrial installations, and for revision of Council Directive 88/609/EEC on the limitation of emissions of certain pollutants into the air from large combustion plants ((OJ L 336, 7.12.1988. )).

5. No research project concerning the health effects of high ozone levels is at present being conducted under the Biomedicine and Health or Environment and Climate reseach programmes. However, assessment of the impact of environmental factors (including air quality) on health is part of the work programme for the research programmes, and research proposals on this topic can be submitted in response to the next call for proposals in September 1996.

Concerning studies on poor air quality and adverse health effects, the Honourable Member is referred to the Commission's answer to Written Question E-1194/96 by Mr Howitt ((OJ C 322, 28.10.1996, p.40. )) giving an overview of studies and projects supported by the Commission. A list of these projects will be sent directly to the Honourable Member and to the Parliament's Secretariat.