WRITTEN QUESTION E-2061/03 by Stavros Xarchakos (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Pollution and noise pollution levels in Greek schools.
Date: 2003-06-20
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Greece, air quality, degree of pollution, educational institution, noise pollution, pollution control measures, public health

26.2.2004

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Official Journal of the European Union

C 51 E/191

As a result, the courts have already ruled twice against those carrying out the work, on the grounds of the
serious damage caused to the environment and the countryside.

Can the Commission state what stage the above infringement proceedings have reached and whether it has
taken steps to suspend EU cofinancing for the project pending establishment of the facts?

(1) OJ L 206, 22.7.1992, p. 7.

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(31 July 2003)

Article 6 of Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of
wild fauna and flora provides for the protection of Sites of Community Importance that will, according to
the procedure laid down in the Directive, be designated as Special Conservation Areas. The obligations
contained in Article 6 apply to all the authorities of Member States, at national, regional or local level.
In particular, under Article 6(3),
‘any plan or project not directly connected with or necessary to the
management of the site but likely to have a significant effect thereon, either individually or in combination
with other plans or projects, shall be subject to appropriate assessment of its implications for the site in
view of the site’s conservation objectives.’

The provision mentioned above applies to Sites of Community Importance (SCI) under Directive 92/43/
EEC and Special Protection Areas (SPA) under Council Directive 79/409/EEC of 2 April 1979 on the
conservation of wild birds (1).

Italy informed the Commission, in its reply to the letter of formal notice mentioned by the Honourable
Member, that an ‘ex post’ assessment of the project for a 14 kilometre (km) cycling path in the SPA
IT5210070 ‘Lago Trasimeno’ was conducted under Article 6(3) of Directive 92/43/EEC. After examining
the Italian reply, the Commission considers that the project mentioned above is ‘not likely’ to have a
the
significant
implications of the project on the mentioned SPA is not required under Article 6(3) of Directive 92/43/
EEC.

impact on the SPA IT5210070 ‘Lago Trasimeno’. Therefore, a full assessment of

In light of the above, the Commission concludes that no breach of Directive 92/43/EEC can be identified
as regards this specific aspect of the case.

(1) OJ L 103, 25.4.1979.

(2004/C 51 E/212)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2061/03

by Stavros Xarchakos (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Pollution and noise pollution levels in Greek schools

(20 June 2003)

According to research carried out by the Chemistry Department of Athens University which was published
in the Greek press, ventilation is inadequate in 75 % of the school buildings inspected, concentrations of
carbon dioxide were found above the ceiling of 1 800 mg/m3, high levels of formaldehyde were detected
and maximum permissible noise levels were exceeded. The research covered 20 building with natural
ventilation in ten different public schools in Athens. The researchers were particularly concerned by the
fact that concentrations of carbon dioxide were above the highest permissible levels set by the American
guide to indoor air quality (1 800 mg/m3) and in some cases were even in excess of 3 000 mg/m3.

The concentration of formaldehyde was also a cause for concern (in excess of 0,1 mg/m3, the highest
permissible level). This is due to the frequent use of boards made of wood particles (Novopan) in the
construction of desks and partitions between buildings.

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Official Journal of the European Union

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26.2.2004

As regards noise levels, the research concluded that they were very high: 61 decibels inside the buildings
(the ceiling is 45) and 77 decibels outside (the ceiling is 65). Many pupils complained of coughs and
headaches and also mentioned that they were frequently tired and had difficulties concentrating on their
lessons.

What is the Commission’s views of the conclusions of this research carried out by Athens University?

Have the ceilings for atmospheric pollution and noise levels set by Community law been exceeded?

What measures can the Commission take immediately vis-à-vis the Greek authorities to protect the health
of Greek pupils who, according to the same research, spend 14 000 hours in school buildings before
leaving school?

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(13 August 2003)

Several Council Directives are relevant in this context.

to encourage
Council Directive 89/391/EEC of 12 June 1989 on the introduction of measures
improvements in the safety and health of workers at work (1) imposes an obligation on employers to be
in possession of an assessment of the risks to safety and health at work and to decide on the protective
measures to be taken. Employers are required to implement these measures on the basis of several
principles of prevention, among them: avoiding risks, combating the risks at source, and developing a
coherent overall prevention policy.

Although Article 3(a) of Directive 89/391/EEC excludes students, since they are not included in the
definition of worker, unless they are trainees or apprentices, the Directive still applies, because the
Honourable Member’s question concerns the situation in Greek schools in general, thus including the
health and well-being of teachers, who are naturally workers within the meaning of the Directive.

Regarding exposure to carbon dioxide (CO2) at work, Council Directive 98/24/EC of 7 April 1998 on the
protection of the health and safety of workers from the risks related to chemical agents at work (2) requires
the Commission to propose indicative occupational exposure limit values. The one established for CO2 by
Commission Directive 91/322/EEC of 29 May 1991 on establishing indicative
limit values by
implementing Council Directive 80/1107/EEC on the protection of workers from the risks related to
exposure to chemical, physical and biological agents at work (3) is 9 000 milligrams per cubic metre
(mg/m3) or 5 000 parts per million (ppm). There is no EU occupational exposure limit value for
formaldehyde.

In addition, the results of the research carried out by the Chemistry Department of Athens University seem
to show that air exchange rates in schools with high CO2 levels are extremely poor. In the absence of
indoor combustion sources, CO2 concentrations in indoor air can be seen as an indicator of good or poor
ventilation. For formaldehyde the threshold of irritation is reported to be as low as 0,1 mg/m3 after a short
exposure time, but a significant increase in the symptoms of irritation in healthy subjects starts at levels
above 0,3 mg/m3. In order to avoid complaints, in particular from sensitive people (e.g. schoolchildren),
the formaldehyde concentration should remain below 0,1 mg/m3 as a 30-minute average. This is
recommended as an air quality guideline value by the World Health Organisation (WHO). Elimination of
indoor sources of formaldehyde (e.g. wooden products such as particleboard and plywood containing urea-
formaldehyde resins) along with good ventilation should significantly improve indoor air quality in
schools. The Commission has not yet set guide values for air pollutants indoors. In the framework of the
INDEX (Indoor Exposure Limits for Pollutants) project, which is funded by the Directorate-General for
Health and Consumer Protection,
the Commission is investigating the possibilities of setting and
implementing exposure limits for priority pollutants indoors. The project started in December 2002 and
is due to be completed after 24 months.

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Regarding the situation in Greek schools (cid:1) which is the responsibility of the Greek authorities (cid:1) as
presented in the recent studies carried out by Athens University, the conclusions suggest that the Greek
authorities need to ensure better ventilation in schoolrooms and to eliminate materials emitting
formaldehyde and possibly other chemical substances which might have a direct impact on health and
comfort.

As regards noise levels at work, Council Directive 86/188/EEC of 12 May 1986 on the protection of
workers from the risks related to exposure to noise at work (4) provides that where the daily personal
exposure of a worker to noise is likely to exceed 85 A-weighted decibels (dB(A)), personal ear protectors
must be made available to workers. Where the daily personal noise exposure of a worker exceeds 90
dB(A), personal ear protectors must be used. Thus the noise levels recorded by the University of Athens
(61 decibels inside and 77 decibels outside) are below the ceilings laid down in the Directive. The 45 dB
and 65 dB ceilings mentioned in the Athens research are not EU requirements.

However, the Commission does recognise that noise can affect children’s learning capacity, and the
conclusions of the Athens University research reflect this.

Directive 2002/49/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 June 2002 relating to the
assessment and management of environmental noise (5) requires the competent authorities of the Member
States to make strategic noise maps and draw up action plans to reduce noise pollution near major
transport infrastructure and in large towns and cities. However, the Directive does not define harmonised
limit values on the basis of which noise reduction measures should be implemented, the setting of such
limits being left to the discretion of the Member States.

The Commission is taking action in this area. To help the Member States evaluate the damaging effects of
noise on people, Article 6 of Directive 2002/49/EC suggests the use of dose-effect relations. Pursuant to
Annex III to the Directive, specific relations could be defined for vulnerable groups of the population,
including children. To that end, the Commission is currently investigating the feasibility of defining such
specific relations.

(1) OJ L 183, 29.6.1989.
(2) OJ L 131, 5.5.1998.
(3) OJ L 177, 5.7.1991.
(4) OJ L 137, 24.5.1986.
(5) OJ L 189, 18.7.2002.

(2004/C 51 E/213)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2067/03

by Maurizio Turco (NI), Marco Pannella (NI), Marco Cappato (NI),
Benedetto Della Vedova (NI), Gianfranco Dell’Alba (NI)
and Olivier Dupuis (NI) to the Commission

Subject: Violation of the religious freedom of Baptists in Kazakhstan

(20 June 2003)

Two weeks after Easter 2003 the Kazakh authorities raided the home of Pastor Nizhegorodtsev, who was,
at the time, holding a service for 22 parishioners;

On 22 May 2003 Pastor Nizhegorodtsev was informed that criminal proceedings had been opened against
him for violation of the court order banning the conduct of religious services in an unrecognised Baptist
church.

Pastor Nizhegorodtsev’s church had refused official recognition on the grounds that this would have led to
unacceptable interference in its affairs by the state authorities.

These are the umpteenth criminal proceedings opened against members of the Baptist church.