WHAT TO DO ABOUT NITROGEN OXIDES POLLUTING OUR CITIES?

摘要

Almost everyone has learned in the current press about the problem of nitrogen oxides in our inner cities. The occurrence of nitrogen oxides, but also e.g. of particulate matter and ozone, is registered permanently by several measuring stations. For Germany, the Federal Environment Agency (UBA) gathers these data and publishes an air quality report annually. The evaluation is usually made according to the limit values set by the German Federal Immission Control Act (BlmSchG), which regulates the protection of humans, animals, plants, soil, water, air and cultural assets. So far, for nitrogen oxides the values developed in 1999 apply. As requested by the European Commission, the German Federal Government amended this act in 2010 with the 39th Ordinance Implementing the Federal Immission Control Act (39. BlmSchV). According to §3 of 39. BlmSchV, the hourly limit value of 200 μg/m~3 NO_2 should not be exceeded more than 18 times per year and an annual mean limit value of 40 μg/m~3 NO_2 has to be complied with. These requirements become obligatory after a 5-year transitional period, that is 01.01.2015, and penalties for non-compliance will be imposed by the European Commission.