Proposal for a Council Directive relating to limit values for benzene and carbon monoxide in ambient air
Date: 1998-12-01
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: European Environment Agency, atmospheric pollutant, environmental protection, pollution control, public health

C  53/8

EN

Official  Journal  of  the  European  Communities

24.2.1999

II

(Preparatory  Acts)

COMMISSION

Proposal  for  a  Council  Directive  relating  to  limit  values  for  benzene  and  carbon  monoxide  in
ambient  air

(1999/C  53/07)

(Text  with  EEA  relevance)

COM(1998)  591  final  -  98/0333(SYN)

(Submitted  by  the  Commission  on  20  January  1999)

THE  COUNCIL  OF  THE  EUROPEAN  UNION,

Having  regard  to  the  Treaty  establishing  the  European
Community,  and  in  particular  Article  130s(1)  thereof,

ambient  air  quality  assessment  and  management(cid:216)(ˇ),
the  Council  is  to  adopt  the  legislation  provided  for  in
paragraph  1  as  well  as  the  provisions  laid  down  in
paragraphs  3  and  4  of  that  Article;

Having  regard  to  the  proposal  from  the  Commission,

Having  regard  to  the  opinion  of  the  Economic  and
Social  Committee,

Having  regard  to  the  opinion  of  the  Committee  of  the
Regions,

Acting  in  accordance  with  the  procedure  laid  down  in
Article  189c  of  the  Treaty,  in  cooperation  with  the
European  Parliament,

(1)(cid:217)Whereas,  on  the  basis  of  principles  enshrined 

in
Article  130r  of  the  Treaty,  the  European  Community
programme  of  policy  and  action  in  relation  to  the
environment  and  sustainable  development  (the  Fifth
in
Environment  Action  Programme)(cid:216)(˛)  envisages 
particular 
air
pollutants;  whereas  that  programme  recommends  the
establishment  of  long(cid:220)term  objectives  on  air  quality;
whereas  Article  130r  of  the  Treaty  requires  the
precautionary  principle  to  be  applied  in  relation  to
the  protection  of  human  health  and  the  environment;

legislation  on 

amendments 

to 

(2)(cid:217)Whereas  Article  129  of  the  Treaty  provides  that
health(cid:220)protection 
a
requirements 
constituent  part  of  the  Community’s  other  policies;
whereas  point  (o)  of  Article  3  of  the  Treaty  provides
that  the  activities  of  the  Community  are  to  include  a
contribution  to  the  attainment  of  a  high  level  of
health  protection;

form 

shall 

(3)(cid:217)Whereas,  pursuant 

to  Article  4(5)  of  Council
Directive  96/62/EC  of  27  September  1996  on

(4)(cid:217)Whereas  Article  8  of  Directive  96/62/EC  requires
that  action  plans  be  developed  for  zones  within
which  concentrations  of  pollutants  in  ambient  air
exceed  limit  values,  plus  any  temporary  margins  of
tolerance  applicable  in  order  to  ensure  compliance
with  limit  values  by  the  date  or  dates  laid  down;

that 

(5)(cid:217)Whereas  Directive  96/62/EC  provides 

the
numerical  values  for  limit  values  are  to  be  based  on
the  findings  of  work  carried  out  by  international
in  the  field;  whereas  the
scientific  groups  active 
Commission  is  to  take  account  of  the  most  recent
scientific  research  data  in  the  epidemiological  and
environmental  fields  concerned,  and  of  the  most
recent  advances  in  metrology  for  re(cid:220)examining  the
elements  on  which  limit  values  are  based;

(6)(cid:217)Whereas  in  order  to  facilitate  the  review  of  this
Directive,  the  Commission  and  the  Member  States
should  consider  encouraging  research  into  the  effects
of  the  pollutants  referred  to  herein,  namely  benzene
and  carbon  monoxide;

(7)(cid:217)Whereas  standardized  accurate  measurement  tech(cid:220)
location  of
niques  and  common  cirteria  for  the 
measuring  stations  are  an  important  element  in  the
assessment  of  ambient  air  quality  with  a  view  to
obtaining 
the
Community;

information 

comparable 

across 

(8)(cid:217)Whereas  up(cid:220)to(cid:220)date  information  on  concentrations
of  benzene  and  carbon  monoxide  in  ambient  air
should  be  readily  available  to  the  public,

(˛)(cid:217)OJ  C  138,  17.5.1993,  p.  5.

(ˇ)(cid:217)OJ  L  296,  21.11.1996,  p.  55.

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C  53/9

HAS  ADOPTED  THIS  DIRECTIVE:

Article  1

Objectives

The  objectives  of  this  Directive  shall  be  to:

(a)(cid:217)establish  limit  values  for  concentrations  of  benzene
and  carbon  monoxide  in  ambient  air  intended  to
avoid,  prevent  or  reduce  harmful  effects  on  human
health  and  the  environment  as  a  whole;

(b) assess 

concentrations  of  benzene  and 
carbon
monoxide  in  ambient  air  on  the  basis  of  common
methods  and  criteria;

(c) obtain  adequate  information  on  concentrations  of
benzene  and  carbon  monoxide  in  ambient  air  and
ensure  that  it  is  made  available  to  the  public;

(d) maintain  ambient  air  quality  where  it  is  good  and
improve  it  in  other  cases  with  respect  to  benzene  and
carbon  monoxide.

Article  2

Definitions

The  definitions  in  Article  2  of  Directive  96/62/EC  shall
apply.

For  the  purposes  of  this  Directive:

1.(cid:217)"upper  assessment 

threshold’ 

level
specified  in  Annex  III,  below  which  a  combination  of
measurements  and  modelling  techniques  may  be  used
in  accordance  with
to  assess  ambient  air  quality, 
Article  6(3)  of  Directive  96/62/EC;

shall  mean  a 

2.(cid:217)"lower  assessment 

threshold’ 

level
specified  in  Annex  III,  below  which  modelling  or
objective  estimation  techniques  alone  may  be  used  to
assess  ambient  air  quality  in  accordance  with  Article
6(4)  of  Directive  96/62/EC;

shall  mean  a 

3.(cid:217)"fixed  measurements’  shall  mean  measurements  taken
in  accordance  with  Article  6(5)  of  Directive
96/62/EC.

Article  3

Benzene

1.(cid:218)(cid:217)Member  States  shall  take  the  measures  necessary  to
ensure  that  concentrations  of  benzene  in  ambient  air,  as
assessed  in  accordance  with  Article  5,  do  not  exceed  the
limit  value  laid  down  in  Annex  I.

The  margin  of  tolerance  laid  down  in  Annex  I  shall
apply 
in  accordance  with  Article  8  of  Directive
96/62/EC.

2.(cid:218)(cid:217)Within  zones  and  agglomerations,  within  which
Member  States  can  demonstrate  that  the  application  of
measures  to  meet  the  limit  value  laid  down  in  Annex  I
in  severe  socio(cid:220)economic  problems,  the
would  result 
the
Commission  may,  acting 
in  accordance  with 
procedure 
in  Article  12(2)  of  Directive
96/62/EC,  grant  time(cid:220)limited  extensions  for  meeting  the
limit  value  for  periods  of  up  to  five  years.

laid  down 

Article  4

Carbon  monoxide

Member  States  shall  take  the  measures  necessary  to
ensure 
in
ambient  air,  as  assessed  in  accordance  with  Article  5,  do
not  exceed  the  limit  value  laid  down  in  Annex  II.

that  concentrations  of  carbon  monoxide 

The  margin  of  tolerance  laid  down  in  Annex  II  shall
apply 
in  accordance  with  Article  8  of  Directive
96/62/EC.

Article  5

Assessment  of  concentrations

1.(cid:218)(cid:217)The  upper  and 
lower  assessment  thresholds  for
benzene  and  carbon  monoxide  for  the  purposes  of
Article  6  of  Directive  96/62/EC  shall  be  those  laid  down
in  Section  I  of  Annex  III.

The  classification  of  each  zone  or  agglomeration  for  the
purposes  of  the  same  Article  6  shall  be  reviewed  at  least
every  five  years  in  accordance  with  the  procedure  laid
down  in  Section  II  of  Annex  III.  Classification  should  be
reviewed  earlier  in  the  event  of  significant  change  in
activities  relevant  to  ambient  concentrations  of  benzene
and  carbon  monoxide.

the 

2.(cid:218)(cid:217)The  criteria 
location  of
for  determining 
sampling  points  for  the  measurement  of  benzene  and
carbon  monoxide  in  ambient  air  shall  be  those  listed  in
Annex  IV.  The  minimum  number  of  sampling  points  for
fixed  measurements  of  concentrations  of  each  relevant
pollutant  shall  be  as  laid  down  in  Annex  V,  and  they
shall  be  installed  in  each  zone  or  agglomeration  within
which  measurement  is  required  if  fixed  measurement  is
the  sole  source  of  data  on  concentrations  within  it.

inventories, 

3.(cid:218)(cid:217)For  zones  and  agglomerations  within  which
information  from  fixed  measurement  stations  is  supple(cid:220)
information  from  other  sources,  such  as
mented  by 
emission 
indicative  measurement  methods
and  air  quality  modelling,  the  number  of  fixed  measuring
stations  to  be  installed  and  the  spatial  resolution  of  other
techniques  shall  be  sufficient  for  the  concentrations  of  air
pollutants  to  be  established  in  accordance  with  Section  I
of  Annex  IV,  and  Section  I  of  Annex  VI.

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4.(cid:218)(cid:217)For  zones  and  agglomerations  within  which
measurement  is  not  required,  modelling  or  objective(cid:220)esti(cid:220)
mation  techniques  may  be  used.

Article  7

Report

5.(cid:218)(cid:217)The  reference  methods  for  the  analysis  and  the
sampling  of  benzene  and  carbon  monoxide  shall  be  as
laid  down  in  Sections  I  and  II  of  Annex  VII.  Section  III
of  Annex  VII  sets  out  reference  techniques  for  air  quality
modelling.

6.(cid:218)(cid:217)The  date  by  which  Member  States  shall  inform  the
Commission  of  the  methods  used  for  the  preliminary
assessment  of  air  quality  under  point  (d)  of  Article  11(1)
of  Directive  96/62/EC  shall  be  the  date  set  out  in
Article  9.

7.(cid:218)(cid:217)Any  amendments  necessary  to  adapt  the  provisions
of  this  Article  and  Annexes  III  to  VII  to  scientific  and
technical  progress  shall  be  adopted  in  accordance  with
in  Article  12  of  Directive
the  procedure 
96/62/EC.

laid  down 

Article  6

Public  information

shall 

ensure 

1.(cid:218)(cid:217)Member  States 
that  up(cid:220)to(cid:220)date
information  on  ambient  concentrations  of  benzene  and
carbon  monoxide 
is  routinely  made  available  to  the
public  as  well  as  to  appropriate  organisations,  such  as
environmental  organisations,  consumer  organisations,
organisations  representing  the  interests  of  sensitive  popu(cid:220)
lations  and  other  relevant  health(cid:220)care  bodies  by  means,
for  example,  of  broadcast  media,  press, 
information
screens  or  computer(cid:220)network  services.

Information  on  ambient  concentrations  of  benzene  shall
be  updated  on  at  least  a  monthly  basis.  Information  on
ambient  concentrations  of  carbon  monoxide  shall  be
updated  on  at  least  a  daily  basis.

Such  information  shall  at  least  indicate  any  exceedances
of  the  concentrations  stated  in  the  limit  values  over  the
averaging  periods  laid  down  in  Annexes  I  and  II.  It  shall
also  provide  a  short  assessment  in  relation  to  limit  values
and  appropriate  information  regarding  effects  on  health.

2.(cid:218)(cid:217)When  making  plans  or  programmes  available  to  the
public  under  Article  8(3)  of  Directive  96/62/EC,
Member  States  shall  also  make  them  available  to  the
organisations  referred  to  in  paragraph  1  of  this  Article.

3.(cid:218)(cid:217)Information  made  available  to  the  public  and  to
organisations  under  paragraphs  1  and  2  shall  be  clear,
comprehensible  and  accessible.

the  experience  acquired 

1.(cid:218)(cid:217)No  later  than  31  December  2004  the  Commission
shall  submit  to  the  European  Parliament  and  the  Council
a  report  based  on 
the
application  of  this  Directive  and,  in  particular,  on  the
results  of  the  most  recent  scientific  research  concerning
the  effects  on  human  health  and  ecosystems  of  exposure
to  benzene  and  carbon  monoxide,  and  on  technological
developments  including  the  progress  achieved  in  methods
of  measuring  and  otherwise  assessing  concentrations  of
benzene  and  carbon  monoxide  in  ambient  air.

in 

2.(cid:218)(cid:217)The  report  shall  be  presented  as  an  integral  part  of
an  air  quality  strategy,  designed  to  review  and  propose
develop
Community 
implementing  strategies  to  ensure  the  achievement  of
those  objectives.  The  strategy  shall  take  into  account:

objectives 

quality 

and 

air 

(a)(cid:217)the  implementation  of  existing  requirements  relating
to  air  quality,  acidification  and  eutrophication,
including  progress  in  implementing  limit  values  and
target  values  established  in  accordance  with  Article  4
of  Directive  96/62/EC;

(b) transport  of  pollution  across  national  boundaries;

(c) the  need  for  new  or  revised  objectives  relating  to  air

quality,  acidification  and  eutrophication;

(d) current  air  quality  and  trends  up  to  and  beyond  the

year  2010;

(e) the  broad  scope  for  making  further  reductions  to
polluting  emissions  across  all  relevant  sources,  taking
account  of  their  technical  feasibility  and  cost(cid:220)effec(cid:220)
tiveness;

(f) the  relationships  between  pollutants  and  oppor(cid:220)
for  achieving

tunities 
Community  air  quality  and  related  objectives;

combined 

strategies 

for 

(g) current  and  future  requirements  for  informing  the
public  and  for  the  exchange  information  between
Member  States  and  Commission;

(h) the  experience  acquired  in  the  application  of  this
Directive  in  Member  States  including,  in  particular,
the  conditions  as  laid  down  in  Annex  IV  under
which  measurement  has  been  carried  out.

to  maintaining  a  high 

level  of
3.(cid:218)(cid:217)With  a  view 
protection  of  human  health  and  the  environment,  the
report  shall  be  accompanied  by  proposals 
the
amendment  of  this  Directive  if  appropriate.  In  particular

for 

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the  Commission  shall  propose  an  absolute  limit  to  the
length  of  any  further  extensions  to  the  timetable  for
meeting  the  limit  value  for  benzene  in  Annex  I  which
may  be  agreed  under  Article  3(2).

Article  8

Penalties

Member  States  shall  determine  the  penalties  applicable  to
breaches  of  the  national  provisions  adopted  pursuant  to
this  Directive.  The  penalties 
effective,
proportionate  and  dissuasive.

shall  be 

When  Member  States  adopt  those  provisions,  they  shall
contain  a  reference  to  this  Directive  or  shall  be  accom(cid:220)
panied  by  such  a  reference  on  the  occasion  of  their
official  publication.  Member  States  shall  determine  how
such  reference  is  to  be  made.

2.(cid:218)(cid:217)The  Member  States  shall  communicate 
the
Commission  the  text  of  the  main  provisions  of  national
law  which  they  adopt 
in  the  field  covered  by  this
Directive.

to 

Article  10

Entry  into  force

Article  9

Implementation

This  Directive  shall  enter  into  force  on  the  twentieth  day
following  that  of  its  publication  in  the  Official  Journal  of
the  European  Communities.

laws,
1.(cid:218)(cid:217)Member  States  shall  bring 
regulations  and  administrative  provisions  necessary  to
comply  with  this  Directive  by  31  December  2001  at  the
latest.  They  shall  forthwith 
inform  the  Commission
thereof.

into  force  the 

Article  11

Addressees

This  Directive  is  addressed  to  the  Member  States.

ANNEX  I

LIMIT  VALUE  FOR  BENZENE

The  limit  value  must  be  expressed  in  mg/m3.  The  volume  must  be  standardised  at  a  temperature  of  293(cid:216)K
and  a  pressure  of  101,3  kPa.

Averaging
period

Limit  value

Margin  of  tolerance

Date  by  which  limit
value  is  to  be  met

Limit  value  for
the  protection  of
human  health

Calendar
year

5 (cid:216)mg/m3

5 (cid:216)mg/m3  (100(cid:216)%)  on  the  entry  into  force
of  this  Directive,  reducing  on  1  January
2003  and  every  12  months  thereafter  by
equal  annual  percentages  to  reach  0(cid:216)%
by  1  January  2010

1  January
2010(cid:216)(˛)

(˛)(cid:217)Except  within  zones  and  agglomerations  within  which  a  time(cid:220)limited  extension  has  been  agreed  in  accordance  with

Article  3(2).

ANNEX  II

LIMIT  VALUE  FOR  CARBON  MONOXIDE

The  limit  value  must  be  expressed  in  mg/m3.  The  volume  must  be  standardised  at  a  temperature  of  293(cid:216)K
and  a  pressure  of  101,3(cid:216)kPa.

Averaging
period

Limit  value

Margin  of  tolerance

Limit  value  for
the  protection  of
human  health

eight  hours
(on  a  rolling
basis)

10  mg/m3

5  mg/m3  (50(cid:216)%)  on  the  entry  into  force
of  this  Directive,  reducing  on  1  January
2003  and  every  12  months  thereafter  by
equal  annual  percentages  to  reach  0(cid:216)%
by  1  January  2005

Date  by  which  limit
value  is  to  be  met

1  January  2005

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ANNEX  III

DETERMINATION  OF  REQUIREMENTS  FOR  ASSESSMENT  OF  CONCENTRATIONS  OF
BENZENE  AND  CARBON  MONOXIDE  IN  AMBIENT  AIR  WITHIN  A  ZONE  OR  AGGLOM(cid:220)
ERATION

I.(cid:217)Upper  and  lower  assessment  thresholds

The  following  upper  and  lower  assessment  thresholds  will  apply:

(a) Benzene

Upper  assessment  threshold

70(cid:216)%  of  limit  value  (3,5  mg/m3)

Lower  assessment  threshold

40(cid:216)%  of  limit  value  (2  mg/m3)

Annual  average

(b) Carbon  Monoxide

Upper  assessment  threshold

70(cid:216)%  of  limit  value  (7  mg/m3)

Lower  assessment  threshold

50(cid:216)%  of  limit  value  (5  mg/m3)

Eight(cid:220)hour  average

II.(cid:217)Determination  of  exceedances  of  upper  and  lower  assessment  thresholds

Exceedances  of  upper  and  lower  assessment  thresholds  must  be  determined  on  the  basis  of  concentrations
during  the  previous  five  years  where  sufficient  data  are  available.  An  assessment  threshold  will  be  deemed
to  have  been  exceeded  if  during  those  five  years  the  total  number  of  exceedances  of  the  numerical  concen(cid:220)
tration  of  the  threshold  is  more  than  three  times  the  number  of  exceedances  allowed  each  year.

Where  fewer  than  five  years’  data  are  available  Member  States  may  combine  measurement  campaigns  of
short  duration  during  the  period  of  the  year  and  at  locations  likely  to  be  typical  of  the  highest  pollution
levels  with  results  obtained  from  information  from  emission  inventories  and  modelling  to  determine
exceedances  of  the  upper  and  lower  assessment  thresholds.

ANNEX  IV

LOCATION  OF  SAMPLING  POINTS  FOR  THE  MEASUREMENT  OF  CONCENTRATIONS  OF
BENZENE  AND  CARBON  MONOXIDE  IN  AMBIENT  AIR

The  following  considerations  will  apply  to  fixed  measurement.

I.(cid:217)Macroscale  siting

Sampling  points  directed  at  the  protection  of  human  health  should  be  sited:

(i) to  provide  data  on  the  areas  within  zones  and  agglomerations  where  the  highest  concentrations  occur
to  which  the  population  is  likely  to  be  directly  or  indirectly  exposed  for  a  period  which  is  significant  in
relation  to  the  averaging  period  of  the  limit  value(s);

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(ii)(cid:217)to  provide  data  on  levels  in  other  areas  within  the  zones  and  agglomerations  which  are  representative

of  the  exposure  of  the  general  population.

Sampling  points  should  in  general  be  sited  to  avoid  measuring  very  small  micro(cid:220)environments  in  their
immediate  vicinity.  As  a  guideline,  a  sampling  point  should  be  sited  to  be  representative  of  air  quality  in  a
surrounding  area  of  no  less  than  200(cid:216)m2  at  traffic(cid:220)orientated  sites  and  of  several  square  kilometres  at
urban(cid:220)background  sites.

Sampling  points  should  also,  where  possible,  be  representative  of  similar  locations  not  in  their  immediate
vicinity.

Account  should  be  taken  of  the  need  to  locate  sampling  points  on  islands,  where  that  is  necessary  for  the
protection  of  human  health.

II.(cid:217)Microscale  siting

The  following  guidelines  should  be  met  as  far  as  practicable:

-(cid:217)The  flow  around  the  inlet  sampling  probe  should  be  unrestricted  without  any  obstructions  affecting  the
airflow  in  the  vicinity  of  the  sampler  (normally  some  metres  away  from  buildings,  balconies,  trees,  and
other  obstacles  and  at  least  0,5(cid:216)m  from  the  nearest  building  in  the  case  of  sampling  points  representing
air  quality  at  the  building  line);

-(cid:217)in  general,  the  inlet  sampling  piont  should  be  between  1,5(cid:216)m  (the  breathing  zone)  and  4(cid:216)m  above  the
ground.  Higher  positions  (up  to  8(cid:216)m)  may  be  necessary  in  some  circumstances.  Higher  siting  may  also
be  appropriate  if  the  station  is  representative  of  a  large  area;

-(cid:217)the  inlet  probe  should  not  be  positioned  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  sources  in  order  to  avoid  direct

intake  of  emissions  unmixed  with  ambient  air;

-(cid:217)the  sampler’s  exhaust  outlet  should  be  positioned  so  that  recirculation  of  exhaust  air  to  the  sample  inlet

is  avoided;

-(cid:217)location  of  traffic(cid:220)orientated  samplers:

-(cid:217)for  all  pollutants,  such  sampling  points  should  be  at  least  25  metres  from  the  edge  of  major

junctions  and  at  least  4(cid:216)m  from  the  centre  of  the  nearest  traffic  lane;

-(cid:217)for  carbon  monoxide,  inlets  should  be  no  more  than  5(cid:216)m  from  the  kerbside;

-(cid:217)for  benzene,  inlets  should  be  sited  so  as  to  be  representative  of  air  quality  near  to  the  building  line.

The  following  factors  may  also  be  taken  into  account:

-(cid:217)interfering  sources;

-(cid:217)security;

-(cid:217)access;

-(cid:217)availability  of  electrical  power  and  telephone  communications;

-(cid:217)visibility  of  the  site  in  relation  to  its  surroundings;

-(cid:217)safety  of  public  and  operators;

-(cid:217)the  desirability  of  co(cid:220)locating  sampling  points  for  different  pollutants;

-(cid:217)planning  requirements.

III.(cid:217)Documentation  and  review  of  site  selection

The  site  selection  procedures  should  be  fully  documented  at  the  classification  stage  by  such  means  as
compass(cid:220)point  photographs  of  the  surrounding  area  and  a  detailed  map.  Sites  should  be  reviewed  at  regular
intervals  with  repeated  documentation  to  ensure  that  selection  criteria  remain  valid  over  time.

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ANNEX  V

CRITERIA  FOR  DETERMINING  NUMBERS  OF  SAMPLING  POINTS  FOR  FIXED
MEASUREMENT  OF  CONCENTRATIONS  OF  BENZENE  AND  CARBON  MONOXIDE  IN
AMBIENT  AIR

Minimum  number  of  sampling  points  for  fixed  measurement  to  assess  compliance  with  limit  values  for  the
protection  of  human  health  in  zones  and  agglomerations  where  fixed  measurement  is  the  sole  source  of
information

(a) Diffuse  sources

Population  of  agglomeration  or
zone
(thousands)

If  concentrations  exceed  the  upper
assessment  threshold

If  maximum  concentrations  are
between  the  upper  and  lower
assessment  thresholds

0(cid:220)250(cid:217)

250(cid:220)499

500(cid:220)749

750(cid:220)999

1(cid:216)000(cid:220)1(cid:216)499

1(cid:216)500(cid:220)1(cid:216)999

2(cid:216)000(cid:220)2(cid:216)749

2(cid:216)750(cid:220)3(cid:216)749

3(cid:216)750(cid:220)4(cid:216)749

4(cid:216)750(cid:220)5(cid:216)999

r 6(cid:216)000

1

2

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

1

1

1

1

2

2

3

3

4

4

5

(b) Point  sources

For  the  assessment  of  pollution  in  the  vicinity  of  point  sources,  the  number  of  sampling  points  for
continuous  measurement  should  be  calculated  taking 
likely
distribution  patterns  of  ambient  air  pollution  and  potential  exposure  of  the  population.

into  account  emission  densities,  the 

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ANNEX  VI

DATA  QUALITY  OBJECTIVES  AND  COMPILATION  OF  RESULTS  OF  AIR  QUALITY
ASSESSMENT

I.(cid:217)Data  quality  objectives

The  following  data  quality  objectives,  for  required  accuracy  of  assessment  methods,  and  of  minimum  time
coverage  and  of  data  capture  of  measurement  are  provided  to  guide  quality(cid:220)assurance  programmes.

Continuous  measurement

Accuracy
Minimum  data  capture

Indicative  measurement

Accuracy
Minimum  data  capture
Minimum  time  coverage

Modelling

Accuracy:
eight(cid:220)hour  averages
annual  averages

Objective  estimation

Accuracy:

Benzene

Carbon  Monoxide

25(cid:216)%
90(cid:216)%

15(cid:216)%
90(cid:216)%

30(cid:216)%
90(cid:216)%
14(cid:216)%  (one  measurement  a  week
at  random,  evenly  distributed
over 
the  year,  or  8  weeks
evenly  distributed  over  the  year)

25(cid:216)%
90(cid:216)%
14(cid:216)%  (one  measurement  a  week
at  random,  evenly  distributed
over 
the  year,  or  8  weeks
evenly  distributed  over  the  year)

-
50(cid:216)%

100(cid:216)%

50(cid:216)%
-

75(cid:216)%

The  accuracy  of  the  measurement  is  defined  as  laid  down  in  the  "Guide  to  the  Expression  of  Uncertainty  of
Measurements’  (ISO  1993),  or  in  ISO  5725(cid:220)1  "Accuracy  (trueness  and  precision)  of  measurement  methods
and  results’  (1994).  The  percentages  in  the  table  are  given  for  individual  measurements  averaged,  over  the
period  considered,  by  the  limit  value,  for  a  95(cid:216)%  confidence  interval  (bias  +  two  times  the  standard
deviation).  The  accuracy  for  continuous  measurements  should  be  interpreted  as  being  applicable  in  the
region  of  the  appropriate  limit  value.

The  accuracy  for  modelling  and  objective  estimation  is  defined  as  the  maximum  deviation  of  the  measured
and  calculated  concentration  levels,  over  the  period  considered,  by  the  limit  value,  without  taking  into
account  the  timing  of  the  events.

The  requirements  for  minimum  data  capture  and  time  coverage  do  not  include  losses  of  data  due  to  the
regular  calibration  or  the  normal  maintenance  of  the  instrumentation.

II.(cid:217)Results  of  air  quality  assessment

The  following  information  should  be  compiled  for  zones  or  agglomerations  within  which  sources  other
than  measurement  are  employed  to  supplement  information  from  measurement  or  as  the  sole  means  of  air
quality  assessment:

-(cid:217)a  description  of  assessment  activities  carried  out;

-(cid:217)the  specific  methods  used,  with  references  to  descriptions  of  the  method;

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-(cid:217)the  sources  of  data  and  information;

-(cid:217)a  description  of  results,  including  accuracies  and,  in  particular,  the  extent  of  any  area  or,  if  relevant,  the
length  of  road  within  the  zone  or  agglomeration  over  which  concentrations  exceed  limit  value(s)  or,  as
may  be,  limit  value(s)  plus  applicable  margin(s)  of  tolerance  and  of  any  area  within  which  concen(cid:220)
trations  exceed  the  upper  assessment  threshold  or  the  lower  assessment  threshold;

-(cid:217)for  limit  values  the  object  of  which  is  the  protection  of  human  health,  the  population  potentially

exposed  to  concentrations  in  excess  of  the  limit  value.

Where  possible,  Member  States  should  compile  maps  showing  concentration  distributions  within  each  zone
and  agglomeration.

III.  Standardisation

For  benzene  and  carbon  monoxide  the  volume  must  be  standardised  at  a  temperature  of  293(cid:216)K  and  a
pressure  of  101,3(cid:216)kPa.

ANNEX  VII

REFERENCE  METHODS  FOR  ASSESSMENT  OF  CONCENTRATIONS  OF  BENZENE  AND
CARBON  MONOXIDE

I.(cid:217)Reference  method  for  the  sampling/analysis  of  benzene

The  reference  method  for  the  measurement  of  benzene  will  be  the  pumped  sampling  method  on  a  sorbent
cartridge  followed  by  gas  chromatographic  determination  that  is  currently  being  standardized  by  CEN.  In
the  absence  of  a  CEN  standardized  method,  the  Member  States  are  allowed  to  use  national  standard
methods  based  on  the  same  measurement  method.

A  Member  State  may  also  use  any  other  method  which  it  can  demonstrate  gives  results  equivalent  to  the
above  method.

II.(cid:217)Reference  method  for  the  analysis  of  carbon  monoxide

The  reference  method  for  the  measurement  of  carbon  monoxide  will  be  the  non(cid:220)dispersive  infrared  specto(cid:220)
metric  (NDIR)  method,  that  is  currently  being  standardized  by  CEN.  In  the  absence  of  a  CEN  stan(cid:220)
dardized  method,  the  Member  States  are  allowed  to  use  national  standard  methods  based  on  the  same
measurement  method.

A  Member  State  may  also  use  any  other  method  which  it  can  demonstrate  gives  results  equivalent  to  the
above  method.

III.(cid:217)Reference  modelling  techniques

Reference  modelling  techniques  cannot  be  specified  at  present.