SCHEDULE 1LIMIT VALUES, MARGINS OF TOLERANCE ETC.

Regulations 3(1), 8(2), 9(1) and (3), 13(4) and (5)

PART ISULPHUR DIOXIDE

Limit values for sulphur dioxide1.1

Averaging period

Limit value

Margin of tolerance11

Date by which limit value is to be met

1

Hourly limit value for the protection of human health

1 hour

350 μg/m3, not to be exceeded more than 24 times a calendar year

120 μg/m3 on 19th July 2001, reducing on 1st January of each following year by equal annual amounts to reach 0 μg/m3 by 1st January 2005

1st January 2005

2

Daily limit value for the protection of human health

24 hours

125 μg/m3, not to be exceeded more than 3 times a calendar year

None

1st January 2005

3

Limit value for the protection of ecosystems

Calendar year and winter (1st October to 31st March)

20 μg/m3

None

19th July 2001

Alert threshold for sulphur dioxide1.2

500 μg/m3 measured over three consecutive hours at locations representative of air quality over at least 100 km2 or an entire zone, whichever is the smaller.

Minimum details to be made available to the public when the alert threshold for sulphur dioxide is exceeded1.3

Details to be made available to the public should include at least:

  • the date, hour and place of the occurrence and the reasons for the occurrence, where known;

  • any forecasts of:

    • changes in concentration (improvement, stabilisation, or deterioration), together with the reasons for those changes,

    • the geographical area concerned,

    • the duration of the occurrence;

  • the type of population potentially sensitive to the occurrence;

  • the precautions to be taken by the sensitive population concerned.

PART IINITROGEN DIOXIDE (NO2) AND OXIDES OF NITROGEN (NOx)

Limit values for nitrogen dioxide and oxides of nitrogen2.1

Averaging period

Limit value

Margin of tolerance

Date by which limit value is to be met

1

Hourly limit value for the protection of human health

1 hour

200 μg/m3 NO2, not to be exceeded more than 18 times a calendar year

90 μg/m3 on 19th July 2001, reducing on 1st January of each following year by equal annual amounts to reach 0 μg/m3 by 1st January 2010

1st January 2010

2

Annual limit value for the protection of human health

Calendar year

40 μg/m3 NO2

18 μg/m3 on 19th July 2001, reducing on 1st January of each following year by equal annual amounts to reach 0 μg/m3 by 1st January 2010

1st January 2010

3

Annual limit value for the protection of vegetation

Calendar year

30 μg/m3 NOx

None

19th July 2001

Alert threshold for nitrogen dioxide2.2

400 μg/m3 measured over three consecutive hours at locations representative of air quality over at least 100 km2 or an entire zone or agglomeration, whichever is the smaller.

Minimum details to be made available to the public when the alert threshold for nitrogen dioxide is exceeded2.3

Details to be made available to the public should include at least:

  • the date, hour and place of the occurrence and the reasons for the occurrence, where known;

  • any forecasts of:

    • changes in concentration (improvement, stabilisation, or deterioration), together with the reasons for those changes,

    • the geographical area concerned,

    • the duration of the occurrence;

  • the type of population potentially sensitive to the occurrence;

  • the precautions to be taken by the sensitive population concerned.

PART IIIPARTICULATE MATTER (PM10)

Averaging period

Limit value

Margin of tolerance

Date by which limit value is to be met

1

24-hour limit value for the protection of human health

24 hours

50 μg/m3 PM10, not to be exceeded more than 35 times a calendar year

20 μg/m3 on 19th July 2001, reducing on 1st January of each following year by equal annual amounts to reach 0 μg/m3 by 1st January 2005

1st January 2005

2

Annual limit value for the protection of human health

Calendar year

40 μ g/m3 PM10

6.4 μg/m3 on 19th July 2001, reducing on 1st January of each following year by equal annual amounts to reach 0 μg/m3 by 1st January 2005

1st January 2005

PART IVLEAD

Averaging period

Limit value

Margin of tolerance

Date by which limit value is to be met

Annual limit value for the protection of human health

Calendar year

0.5 μg/m3

0.4 μg/m3 on 19th July 2001, reducing on 1st January of each following year by equal annual amounts to reach 0 μg/m3 by 1st January 2005

1st January 2005