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Particulate air pollution in the Netherlands: sources, effects and policy

Particulate air pollution includes particulate matter (PM10), benzo[a]pyrene and heavy metals. In high concentrations in air, they constitute a threat to public health. In large sections of the Netherlands, the 24-hour average concentrations of particulate matter exceed the standard.

What is particulate air pollution?


In addition to gases, air also contains particles which are now known to damage health. The particles vary in size and composition. The particles in the atmosphere which are so small that they can be inhaled by humans have a diameter of approximately 10 µm and less. The relevant unit for particulate matter, PM10, is based on this fact. PM stands for particulate matter and 10 for the particle diameter referred to here. Once inhaled, particles can harm health. In addition to particulate matter, there are a number of other substances found on particles in the air, such as benzo[a]pyrene and some heavy metals.

Particulate matter classified according to origin


Particulate matter is a broad term. It refers to a range of substances that reach outside air in various ways. A distinction is therefore made - particularly with a view to policy - between a primary and a secondary fraction:
  • The primary fraction consists of particles that enter the air as a result of human activity and/or natural processes. Most emissions caused by people come from transport, industry and agriculture. In coastal areas, the sea is an important natural source of particulate matter in the form of sea salt particles. Wind-blown ground dust is also often natural in origin.
  • The secondary fraction consists of particles formed in the atmosphere after chemical reactions in the air. Here, both gases and particles that are already present play a role. Ammonia (NH3), oxides of nitrogen (NOx), sulphur dioxide (SO2) and volatile organic hydrocarbons (VOCs) are the main gases involved in the reactions.

Health effects of particulate matter


Inhaling particulate matter can affect human health. It has been estimated that there were 1700 premature deaths before 2000 that were associated with air pollution by particulate matter. In fact, these premature deaths are confined to people with very poor health. Less severe effects, such as respiratory symptoms, can be more widespread.
It is still not known how particulate matter affects health. The chemical composition and particle-size distribution of particulate matter sometimes vary considerably from place to place, and they can also vary over time. However, in terms of the health effects, it is still impossible to fully eliminate any component. Some components of particulate matter would appear to affect health more than others. For example, the components associated with incineration processes are probably more relevant to health than components such as sea salt, inorganic secondary particulate matter and ground dust.

Air quality for particulate matter policy


The standards for particulate matter are set out in the Air Quality Decree. These standards were taken over from the European directive for particulate matter. From 1 January 2005 onwards, compliance is required with the following two standards.
  • The standard for brief exposure of the public is a limit value of 50 µg/m3 for 24-hour average concentrations of particulate matter. This value must not be exceeded more than 35 times a calendar year.
  • The standard for prolonged exposure of the public is a limit value of 40 µg/m3 for annual average concentrations of particulate matter.
The current policy has not been adequate to achieve timely compliance with the European standards for particulate matter (by 2005). That is why the government has decided to take additional measures. But even with these additional measures, it will not be possible to comply with the European standards everywhere in 2010. All this is shown by the National Air Quality Plan (NLP04), which the Netherlands will present to the European Commission and which was submitted to the Lower House on 18 February 2005.
In 2005, the particulate matter limit values will be revised in a European context (CAFE, Clean Air For Europe). It looks as though the aim will be a limit value for PM2.5 (particles with a diameter of less than 2.5 µm) for which compliance will be required from 2015 or 2020 onwards. Because it cannot be said that 'coarse' particulate matter (PM10 - PM2.5) is harmless, it has been proposed to maintain the 2005 limit values for PM10.

Still no emission objectives for primary particulate matter


  • At present, no agreements have been made at either the EU or national levels about setting emission objectives for primary particulate matter. Counter-measures for secondary PM10 are in place in the form of compulsory emission objectives for ammonia, oxides of nitrogen, sulphur dioxide and volatile organic hydrocarbons as formulated in the context of the European directive for national emission ceilings (EU 2001, UNECE, 1999; VROM 2001). The current policy for combating primary particulate matter has a European and a national component.
  • The EU emission objective for road traffic. This has led to a 45% fall in emissions of primary particulate matter by road traffic since 1990, despite an increase in road traffic of 30%.
  • The national policy for combating primary particulate matter is made up of local environmental permits and the standards required for installations by Emission Requirements for Combustion Installations Decree (BEES) and the Dutch Emission Guideline (NER). As a result of this policy, particulate matter emissions from companies in the Netherlands have fallen by 60% since 1990.

References


Relevant sections and indicators in the Environmental Data Compendium


Relevant information outside of the Environmental Data Compendium
This page was last changed on November 28, 2005  (version 01).