Report

Status report of air quality in Europe for year 2023, using validated and up-to-date data

Targa, Jaume; Colina, María; Banyuls, Lorena; Ortiz, Alberto González; Soares, Joana

ETC/HE

European cities air quality ranking: a new methodology

Soares, Joana; Ortiz, Alberto González; Horálek, Jan; Schneider, Philipp; Schreiberova, Marketa

The EEA has introduced the European City Air Quality Viewer, a tool to assess and compare air quality in European cities. However, this method provides an incomplete picture of air quality as it relies solely on PM2.5 data from monitoring stations, excluding cities lacking monitoring stations and other relevant pollutants such as NO2 and O3. A promising alternative to the current methodology is proposed to reduce these limitations, offering a comprehensive approach to assessing and comparing health risks linked to exposure to multiple pollutants in urban settings. Leveraging continuous air quality maps and population-weighted concentrations enhances coverage and consistency in risk estimation across cities. Additionally, it allows for ranking based on multiple pollutants, unlike the current method, which focuses solely on PM2.5 levels. This approach integrates mortality risk assessments associated with PM2.5, NO2, and O3 exposure, aligning with the Environmental Burden of Disease assessments published by the ETC HE, together with the EEA.

ETC/HE

Spredningsberegninger av luftforurensning fra Sunndal Metallverk

Weydahl, Torleif

Rapporten presenterer spredningsberegninger for utslipp til luft fra Hydro Sunndal sitt smelteverk i Sunndalsøra for nåsituasjonen med utslippsmengder som i gjeldende utslippstillatelse, og en situasjon med ny utvidet anodefabrikk. Det er beregnet bakkekonsentrasjoner av SO2, støv, fluorider, PAH og metallkomponenter. Det er også gjort beregninger for utslipp i perioden 23. mai til 15. august 2019 hvor NILU utførte målinger av disse komponentene. Basert på beregningene er det vurdert «lav til moderat» risiko for overskridelse av forskriftens målsettingsverdi for nikkel i området nær anlegget. Ny anodefabrikk har ingen vesentlig betydning for konsentrasjonsnivåer utenfor metallverket som er relevant i forhold til gjeldende grenseverdier eller luftkvalitetskriterier.

NILU

Environmental Contaminants in an Urban Fjord, 2023

Ruus, Anders; Grung, Merete; Bæk, Kine; Rundberget, Thomas; Vogelsang, Christian; Beylich, Bjørnar; Lund, Espen; Allan, Ian; Ribeiro, Anne Luise; Hanssen, Linda; Enge, Ellen Katrin

This report presents data from the third year of a new 5-year period of the Urban Fjord programme. The programme started in 2013 and has since been altered/advanced. In 2023 the programme covers sampling and analyses of sediment, blue mussels and cod from the Inner Oslofjord, as well as water and trout from Alna River. In addition, samples of stormwater, and waste water from Bekkelaget wastewater treatment plant, are analysed. A total of ∼230 single compounds/isomers were analysed, and frequent detection was found of specific PFAS compounds in aqueous phases, other specific PFAS compounds in fish liver, certain QACs in particulate phases, certain benzothiazoles in aqueous phases, chlorinated paraffins (MCCP in particular) in sediment and biota, certain siloxanes in biota and particulate phases, metals in all matrices, and PCBs in sediment and biota.

Norsk institutt for vannforskning (NIVA)

Screening of compounds in tire wear road run off

Hanssen, Linda; Schmidt, Natascha; Nikiforov, Vladimir

Tire related additive chemicals can leach out and enter the environment. Road run-off and recipient waters are particularly prone to contamination by these chemicals, though data from large screening studies is lacking. Here, we present data from water (road run-off & recipients, atmospheric deposition (rain), snow), sediment (marine, snow dumping sites) and biota (blue mussels) samples collected in the Nordic countries. The aim of this study was to provide a first assessment of the presence of tire related chemicals in road run-off and associated samples in the Nordic countries. Tire related additive chemicals were detected in 85 out of 87 samples, with varying concentrations depending on the sample type and location.

Nordic Council of Ministers