Environmental Legislation of Particulate Matter

Abstract

Beside PM10 and PM2.5, the Directive 2008/50/EC on ambient air quality in force imposes regulations concerning sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, lead, benzene, carbon monoxide and the ozone-content of the troposphere. The Directive sets limit values and target dates for the reduction of suspended particulate matter. When the Directive came into force, PM10 got its own limit value in Hungary, first among EU members, following the Swiss model. The new directive extends legislation to PM2.5, although it does not set limit values as the member states found compliance too difficult. As a first step, target values have been set. From 2010, the target value to meet is 25 micrograms/m³ in a calendar year, from 2015, however, 25 microgram/m3 is the obligation value. 20 micrograms/m³ has been set as an indicative limit value, which is to be met by 1st of January, 2020.