Directive 2008/50/EC explained

Directive 2008/50/EC, or the Ambient Air Quality Directive, is an EU directive which limits sulphur dioxide, NO₂ and other oxides of nitrogen, particulate matter (PM10, PM2.5), lead, benzene and carbon monoxide concentrations from 2010. Hourly average concentrations of NO₂ are limited to 200 μg/m³ and yearly average concentrations to 40 μg/m³.^[1] several EU member states are being sued for violating the limits: France, Spain, Italy, Hungary, Romania, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, the United Kingdom and Germany.^[2]

Directives 96/62/EC, 1999/30/EC, 2000/69/EC and 2002/3/EC were repealed by this directive, with effect from 11 June 2010.

On 15 February 2018, five member countries were urged to safeguard public health.^[3]

On 22 February 2018, Poland was found guilty of violating the emission limits in the Radom, Pruszków-Żyrardów and Kędzierzyn-Koźle and Ostrów-Kępno districts during the eight-year period from 2007 to 2015.^{[4] [5]}

See also

• TA Luft, a set of laws which implement the directive in Germany
• NO_x, a generic term for the nitrogen oxides which are most relevant for air pollution

Notes and References

1. Web site: Directive 2008/50/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 May 2008 on ambient air quality and cleaner air for Europe. eur-lex.europa.eu. 23 February 2018.
2. News: Fahrverbot-Kommentar: Der Diesel, die Luft und das Verbot. Gropp. Martin. 21 February 2018. Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung. 23 February 2018. de. 0174-4909.
3. Web site: Commission warns Germany, France, Spain, Italy and the United Kingdom of continued air pollution breaches. European Commission Press Release Database.
4. Web site: EU court finds Poland guilty of violating air quality norms. jurist.org.
5. Court of Justice of the European Union, The Court of Justice finds that Poland has infringed EU law on ambient air quality: Judgment in Case C-336/16 Commission v Poland, published Luxembourg, 22 February 2018, accessed 24 October 2019