Carbon monoxide concentration in the Netherlands, 1987-2002
The EU standard for peak concentrations of carbon monoxide (CO) was not exceeded in the Netherlands in 2002. The carbon monoxide concentration in the Netherlands was also below the EU limit.
Carbon monoxide concentration on the decrease
Peak concentrations of carbon monoxide (CO) have fallen by an average of 4% a year in the last 10 years. The average peak concentration in the Netherlands was approximately 800 µg/m3 in 2002. The highest values are found in the Randstad urban agglomeration. The Dutch standard for the peak concentration is 6,000 µg/m3. This standard was not exceeded anywhere in the Netherlands in 2002.
The peak concentration is expressed as the 98 percentile of the average concentration during a period of 8 hours.
The Dutch standard for the 99.9 percentile of the hourly average values was not exceeded either. Nor were any exceedances observed of the EU standard for the 8-hourly average concentration.
Standards for brief exposure to carbon monoxide
The limit values for CO concentrations in the European directive for carbon monoxide and benzene (EU, 2000) are intended as safeguards for public health. The directive sets out a standard for carbon monoxide of 10,000 µg/m3 for the 8-hourly average concentration of carbon monoxide. Exceedances of this value are not permitted. Conformity with the limit values is required by 1 January 2005.
The Netherlands is expected to comply with these requirements in the context of the European directive. Implementation of the standard in Dutch legislation was required by 13 December 2002. However, this did not happen. At present, the Dutch standards are 6,000 µg/m3 for the 98 percentile of 8-hourly average concentrations and 40,000 µg/m3 for the 99.9 percentile of hourly average concentrations of carbon monoxide apply (Staatsblad, 2001).
Impact of carbon monoxide on public health
CO reacts with haemoglobin in the blood. As a result, it interferes with the oxygen transport capacity of the blood. High levels of carbon monoxide in the blood constitute a risk for older people with cardiac problems and pregnant women.
References
- EU (2000). Council Directive 2000/69/EG of 16 November 2002 relating to limit values for benzene and carbon monoxide in ambient air (link to PDF file). (Second daughter directive.) Official Journal of the European Communities No L 313/12.
- RIVM (2003). Data based on measurements from the National Air Quality Measurement Network; processed by the Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency. RIVM, Bilthoven.
- Staatsblad (2001). Besluit van 11 juni 2001, houdende uitvoering van de richtlijn 1999/30/EG van de Raad van de Europese Unie van 22 april 1999, betreffende grenswaarden zwaveldioxide, stikstofdioxide en stikstofoxiden, zwevende deeltjes en lood in de lucht (PbEG L 163) en de richtlijn 92/62/EG van de Raad van de Europese Unie van 27 september 1996 inzake de beoordeling van de luchtkwaliteit (PbEG L 296) (Air quality decree). Bulletin of Acts, Orders and Decrees 269, 1-58. (Link naar website overheid.nl; gebruik trefwoord 'Besluit luchtkwaliteit'.)
Relevant information outside of the Environmental Data Compendium
- More information about concentrations of substances in the air can be found on the site of the National Air Quality Measurement Network.
- Working group on carbon monoxide (1999). Ambient air pollution: carbon monoxide. Position paper. March 1999. (http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/air/pdf/pp_co.pdf)
- RIVM (2001). Jaaroverzicht luchtkwaliteit 1998 en 1999. RIVM, report 725 301 006, Bilthoven.
- RIVM (2002). Jaaroverzicht luchtkwaliteit 2000. RIVM, report 725 301 008, Bilthoven.
- RIVM (2002). Jaaroverzicht luchtkwaliteit 2001. RIVM, report 725 301 009, Bilthoven.
- Information about current and future developments relating to local air pollution can be found in the Environmental Balance 2005 and the National Environmental Outlook 2000-2030.
