Air quality zone delimitation in Norway. Evaluation and delimitation proposal.

Abstract

An evaluation of the air quality in Norway over the last five years has been performed to set up the basis for a new Air Quality zone (AQ-zone) delimitation for reporting to European Commission concerning compliance of air quality directives. Air pollution levels (i.e. PM10, NO2, SO2, CO, O3, benzene, heavy metals, B(a)P) have been assessed regarding exceedances of limit values, target values, Norwegian national targets, and upper/lower assessment thresholds (UAT/LAT) defined for the protection of human health, vegetation and/or natural ecosystems. The results from this evaluation complemented with information regarding background concentration levels in Norway have been used to define a new delimitation: 1) AQ-zone delimitation for PM10, NO2, NOx, benzene and B(a)P, 2) AQ-zone delimitation for SO2 and heavy metals, 3) AQ-zone delimitation for ozone and 4) AQ-zone delimitation for CO.