Europe’s air quality status 2022

PM₁₀ stands for particulate matter with a diameter of 10 µm or less. PM₁₀ are emitted mainly by the combustion of fuels for domestic heating, while industrial activities, agriculture and road transport are also important sources. Some also come from natural sources such as sea salt or Saharan dust and some are formed in the atmosphere from the combination of different gases.

Exceedances of the EU daily limit value for PM₁₀ are seen in Italy and some eastern European countries (Figure 2). In most central and eastern European countries, solid fuels such as coal are widely used for heating households and in some industrial facilities and power plants. The Po Valley, in northern Italy, is a densely populated and industrialised area with specific meteorological and geographical conditions that favour the accumulation of air pollutants in the atmosphere.

Figure 3: Percentage of reporting monitoring stations registering PM₁₀ concentrations above the EU limit values and the WHO guidelines in 2020 and 2021

Concentrations of PM₁₀ above the EU daily limit value were measured at 16% of monitoring stations, 84% of which were urban and 11% suburban.

The impact of the COVID-19 lockdown measures on the annual mean level of PM₁₀ was limited, and no greater than a median reduction of 4% across all stations (ETC/ATNI, 2021/16). This may be because increased emissions from residential heating compensated for emission reductions in other sectors. While decreases in annual mean PM₁₀ concentrations were measured predominantly at traffic stations, some other monitoring stations measured a clear increase. There was no clear geographical pattern across Europe. In fact, during April 2020, reductions of up to 35% were found at some traffic stations in Italy and Spain, although some background stations also showed an increase in their April 2020 concentrations (EEA, 2020).

Figure 4. PM₁₀ concentrations in 2020 by country in relation to the EU daily limit value

PM_2.5 stands for particulate matter with a diameter of 2.5 µm or less. These particles are emitted mainly from the combustion of fuels for domestic heating, industrial activities and road transport. As with PM₁₀, they can also come from natural sources and can be formed in the atmosphere. Agricultural emissions of ammonia make a significant contribution to the formation of particulate matter in the atmosphere.

The highest PM_2.5 concentrations were seen in northern Italy and some eastern European countries. As for PM₁₀, the use of solid fuels is the main reason for the situation in central and eastern Europe, together with an older vehicle fleet. In northern Italy, the high concentrations are due to the combination of a high density of anthropogenic emissions and meteorological and geographical conditions that favour the accumulation of air pollutants in the atmosphere.

Figure 5. Concentrations of PM_2.5 in 2020 and 2021 in relation to the EU annual limit value and the WHO annual guideline

Figure 6: Percentage of reporting monitoring stations registering PM_2.5 concentrations above the EU annual limit value and the WHO guidelines in 2020 and 2021

Concentrations of PM_2.5 above the EU annual limit value were registered at 2% of monitoring stations, 69% of which were urban and 21% suburban.

The impact of the COVID-19 lockdown measures on the annual mean level of PM_2.5 was limited, and no greater than a median reduction of 5% across all stations (ETC/ATNI, 2021/16). The average decrease in concentrations was greater at traffic monitoring stations than at urban and rural background stations. As for PM₁₀, increased emissions from residential heating could have negated reductions in other sectors.

In 2020, all EU Member States met the exposure concentration obligation of 20 µg/m³, based on a 3-year average (2018-2020) measured at urban background stations, that was to be attained as of 2015 under the Ambient Air Quality Directive. In contrast, 5 Member States, (Bulgaria, Croatia, Poland, Portugal, and Romania) did not meet their national exposure reduction target, in relation to their Average Exposure Indicator for 2011 (for 2015 in the case of Croatia) level, set for 2020. This indicator assesses the long term exposure of the general population in urban areas.

Figure 7: PM_2.5 concentrations in 2020 by country in relation to the EU annual limit value and the WHO annual guideline

Ozone (O₃) is a pollutant formed in the atmosphere when heat and light cause chemical reactions between nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), including methane. Emissions of these gases occur from anthropogenic sources and, in the case of VOCs, also biogenic. Ozone also is transported to Europe from other parts of the northern hemisphere and from the upper atmosphere. Meteorology plays an important role in the formation of air pollution and in interannual variation in concentrations, and this effect is especially significant for ozone.

Figure 8. Concentrations of O₃ in 2020 and 2021 in relation to the EU target value

Note: Data are presented here for 1 year only, not the average over a 3-year period as stated in the definition of the EU target value for O₃

The highest concentrations in 2020 were found in central parts of Europe, some Mediterranean countries and Portugal. Despite 2020 being the warmest year on record in Europe, ozone levels were lower than in previous years. Two factors may play a role here. Firstly, high temperatures were recorded in winter and autumn, when ozone formation is less intense (CAMS, 2022). Secondly, emissions of ozone precursors, in particular NO₂, fell during the COVID-19 lockdowns.

The decrease in ozone levels due to the COVID-19 lockdowns depends on the metrics used to measure ozone concentrations. For SOMO10^[1], the median decrease was 5% across all stations, while for other health related metrics the decrease was lower (ETC/ATNI, 2021/16). Spain registered the biggest falls in ozone concentrations due to the COVID-19 lockdown.

Figure 9: Percentage of reporting monitoring stations registering O₃ concentrations above the EU target value and the WHO guidelines in 2020 and 2021

The long-term EU objective for ozone of 120 µg/m³ was met at 19% of monitoring stations in 2020, with all 35 reporting countries, except Andorra and Latvia, reporting stations with concentrations above the long-term objective.

Figure 10. O₃ concentrations in 2020 by country in relation to the EU target value

Note: Data are presented here for 1 year only, not the average over a 3-year period as stated in the definition of the EU target value for O₃

In 2021, the long-term EU objective for ozone was met at 20% of monitoring stations, with all 33 reporting countries registering concentrations above the long-term objective.

The main source of nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) is road transport, which emits NO₂ close to the ground, mostly in densely populated areas, contributing to population exposure. Other important sources are combustion processes in industry and energy supply.

The highest concentrations were found across Europe in bigger cities with a high traffic volume. The impact of the COVID-19 related lockdown measures during 2020 is clearly seen for this air pollutant, as its main source — road transport — was significantly reduced. In the 10 EU Member States most affected by the first wave of lockdowns, the average reduction in annual mean concentrations of NO₂ ranged from 10% to 19% (ETC/ATNI, 2021/16). In France, Italy and Spain, NO₂ annual mean levels fell by as much as 25% in large cities and 17% in rural areas. These reductions, estimated throughout the whole year, are smaller than those seen in April 2020 during the first lockdown. In the countries where lockdown measures were stricter, monthly concentrations decreased by up to 70% at traffic stations (EEA, 2020).

Figure 11: Concentrations of NO₂ in 2020 and 2021 in relation to the EU annual limit value and the WHO annual guideline

Figure 12. Percentage of reporting monitoring stations registering NO₂ concentrations above the EU limit values and the WHO guidelines in 2020 and 2021

Concentrations of NO₂ above the EU annual limit value were registered at 2% of all monitoring stations, 69% of which were traffic stations.

Annual mean NO₂ concentrations in 2020 were the lowest on record, with the fewest exceedances of the EU annual limit registered across Europe. NO₂ concentrations at 11% of the traffic stations in (ETC/ATNI, 2021/16) fell from above the EU annual limit value, in a business-as-usual scenario, to below the EU annual limit value as a result of the COVID-19 measures.

Figure 13. NO₂ concentrations in 2020 by country and in relation to the EU annual limit value and the WHO annual guideline

Concentrations of NO₂ above the annual limit value were registered at 1% of monitoring stations, all of which were traffic stations.

Benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) is a carcinogenic pollutant emitted mainly from the combustion of coal and wood for heating and, to a lesser extent, from the combustion of agricultural waste.

The highest concentrations were found in eastern Europe, where the use of coal and other solid fuels for residential heating is widespread.

Figure 14: Concentrations of BaP in 2020

Concentrations above 1.0 ng/m³ were registered at 27% of the reported monitoring stations, the majority of which were urban (79%) or suburban (15%).

Figure 15: BaP concentrations in 2020 by country

Concentrations of sulphur dioxide (SO₂) in 2020:

• 5 out of 36 reporting countries, including two EU Member States, registered levels above the EU daily limit value of 125 µg/m³

• 16 countries registered values above the WHO daily guideline of 40 µg/m^{3 [3]}

In 2020, concentrations above the EU daily limit value were registered at 1% of reporting monitoring stations.

In 2021, concentrations of SO₂ above the EU daily limit value were registered in three out of 34 reporting countries, including two EU Member States. In the same year, concentrations above the WHO daily guideline were registered in 13 countries.