New air quality standards - Draft/ New limit values and stricter monitoring. Added pollutants to be measured
The Ministry of Environment has issued for public consultation a new draft decision on air quality assessment and requirements for pollutants, aiming to update the regulatory framework and align it with European Union legislation.
The draft decision aims to completely replace the existing 2015 decision, which according to the authorities no longer reflects the latest developments in the field of air pollution monitoring and management.
The document provides for the definition of limit values, alert thresholds and target levels for a range of pollutants, including fine particles PM2.5 and PM10, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, benzene and carbon monoxide.
According to the draft, by 2030, the average annual concentration of PM2.5 is expected not to exceed 10 μg/m³, while for PM10 the annual limit is 20 μg/m³. An annual limit of 20 μg/m³ is set for nitrogen dioxide, while for benzene 3.4 μg/m³.
An important element of the draft decision is the strengthening of the monitoring system, by defining detailed methods for fixed measurements, indicative measurements and the use of modeling for air quality assessment. The National Environment Agency is tasked with classifying areas according to pollution levels and reviewing them periodically, at least every five years.
The draft also provides for the expansion of monitoring indicators, including new pollutants such as ultra-fine particles and black carbon, as well as the deployment of superstations for long-term data collection.
In addition, the draft decision sets out concrete obligations for central and local institutions to ensure that pollution levels do not exceed permitted limits, as well as to take measures to reduce the population's exposure to pollution, especially PM2.5, by 2030. Top of FormBottom of Form
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