Background to the original Ambient Air Quality Directives

Controls on ambient air quality in the EU have been primarily set out in two Directives, Directive 2008/50/EC and Directive 2004/107/EC (together the Ambient Air Quality Directives, or AAQDs), which established similar rules on air quality assessment, air quality management, and the provision of public information on air quality for different sets of pollutants.

Directive 2008/50/EC regulates the following pollutants:

1. •

   particulate matter (PM₁₀ and PM_2.5)

2. •

   nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) and oxides of nitrogen (NO_x)

3. •

   sulphur dioxide (SO₂)

4. •

   benzene

5. •

   carbon monoxide

6. •

   lead, and

7. •

   ozone

Directive 2004/107/EC regulates the following pollutants:

1. •

   arsenic

2. •

   cadmium

3. •

   nickel

4. •

   mercury, and

5. •

   benzo(a)pyrene, and other polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH)

In May 2018, the Commission opened a consultation seeking views from stakeholders on both Ambient Air Quality Directives and their impact on air quality in Europe. The responses were collected and examined to determine whether the provisions of the two Directives continued