EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 88/325

(2004/C 88 E/0330)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0432/03

by Dorette Corbey (PSE) to the Commission

(18 February 2003)

Subject: Air pollution: exceeding of threshold values for particulate matter

Pursuant to Council Directive 1999/30/EC (1), a report is due to be published before the end of this year based on the experience acquired in the application of this Directive. An initial provisional Commission report (entitled Overview of Methods and Results of the Preliminary Assessment of Air Quality in Europe under Directives 96/62/EC and 1999/30/EC') shows that the threshold values for particulate matter (PM10) have been exceeded in a large number of cases.

Can the Commission indicate the extent to which more recent data have confirmed this alarming picture?

Can the Commission indicate the number of early deaths in the European Union that may be attributed to air pollution caused by particulate matter?

Does the Commission feel that the Member States in which the limits have been exceeded in this way have taken measures which were inadequate to ensure that emissions of particulate matter remained below the threshold values?

Can the Commission indicate what measures it is thinking of taking?

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(1 April 2003)

According to Council Directive 1999/30/EC of 22 April 1999 relating to limit values for sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and oxides of nitrogen, particulate matter and lead in ambient air, Member States were obliged to send data for the year 2001 to the Commission no later than 30 September 2002. The Commission will prepare a summary report based on this data, which will also show the extent of exceedances of limit values. The recent data indicates that, compared to the limit values, PM10 (2) levels in parts of Europe are indeed rather high. Problems are more related to exceedances of the short term limit value (no more than 35 exceedances of the daily average limit of 50 micrograms per cubic metre (μg/m3)), especially at hot spot locations such as traffic-related or industrial sites, rather than the long term limit value of 40μg/m3 (annual mean). At urban background stations, exceedances are more frequently reported in southern Europe than in northern and western regions. It must be noted, however, that these limit values will only become legally binding in 2005.

In order to assess the health impacts of air pollution, including particulate matter, the Commission is giving financial support to a systematic review of health aspects of air quality in Europe being carried out by the World Health Organisation (WHO). According to a final draft report recently available, the long-term exposure to current ambient PM concentrations may lead to a marked reduction in average life expectancy, potentially reaching one to two years. Furthermore, a recent independent study for the combined population of France, Austria and Switzerland (around 75 million people) estimates that some 40 000 deaths per year can be attributed to ambient PM (Kunzli et al. 2000 (3)).

At this stage, it is too early to draw any clear conclusions on whether the Member States are taking adequate measures to ensure compliance with the limit values by 2005, as required by Directive 1999/30/EC. According to the two Directives (96/62/EC (4) and 1999/30/EC), Member States have to report annually on plans and programmes showing how they will achieve compliance, with the first report due in December 2003. At that time the Commission will be in a position to assess the prospects for compliance with the limit values.

However, in view of the urgent need to reduce PM levels, the Commission has already identified PM as one of the core pollutants being dealt with under the Clean Air For Europe (CAFE) programme, launched in May 2001 (5). The aim of CAFE is to prepare the development of the thematic strategy for air pollution foreseen in the Sixth Environmental Action Programme and due to be delivered in 2005. This strategy will include policy options on how to decrease further the health risks from PM. The Commission is supported in this task by several working groups comprising experts from Member States, Accession Countries, industry and environmental non-governmental organisations.

(1) OJ L 163, 29.6.1999, p. 41.

(2) Particulate Matter less than 10 micrometer (μm) in diameter.

(3) Kunzli, Ν. et al. Public-health impact of outdoor and traffic-related air pollution: a European assessment. Lancet 356: 795 - 801 (2000).

(4) Council Directive 96/62/EC of 27 September 1996 on ambient air quality assessment and management, OJ L 296, 21.11.1996.

(5) COM(2001) 245 final.