# Directive 2008/50/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 May 2008 on ambient air quality and cleaner air for Europe, Division B: Limit values

Extent: E+W+S+N.I.

Already in force since 1 January 2005
The maximum daily eight hour mean concentration will be selected by examining eight hour running averages, calculated from hourly data and updated each hour. Each eight hour average so calculated will be assigned to the day on which it ends i.e. the first calculation period for any one day will be the period from 17:00 on the previous day to 01:00 on that day; the last calculation period for any one day will be the period from 16:00 to 24:00 on that day.
Already in force since 1 January 2005. Limit value to be met only by 1 January 2010 in the immediate vicinity of the specific industrial sources situated on sites contaminated by decades of industrial activities. In such cases, the limit value until 1 January 2010 will be 1,0 μg/m3. The area in which higher limit values apply must not extend further than 1 000 m from such specific sources.
Averaging Period
Limit value
Margin of tolerance
Date by which limit value is to be met
Sulphur dioxide
One hour
350 μg/m3, not to be exceeded more than 24 times a calendar year
150 μg/m3 (43 %)
—
One day
125 μg/m3, not to be exceeded more than 3 times a calendar year
None
—
Nitrogen dioxide
One hour
200 μg/m3, not to be exceeded more than 18 times a calendar year
50 % on 19 July 1999, decreasing on 1 January 2001 and every 12 months thereafter by equal annual percentages to reach 0 % by 1 January 2010
1 January 2010
Calendar year
40 μg/m3
50 % on 19 July 1999, decreasing on 1 January 2001 and every 12 months thereafter by equal annual percentages to reach 0 % by 1 January 2010
1 January 2010
Benzene
Calendar year
5 μg/m3
5 μg/m3 (100 %) on 13 December 2000, decreasing on 1 January 2006 and every 12 months thereafter by 1 μg/m3 to reach 0 % by 1 January 2010
1 January 2010
Carbon monoxide
maximum daily eight hour mean
10 mg/m3
60 %
—
Lead
Calendar year
0,5 μg/m3
100 %
—
PM10
One day
50 μg/m3, not to be exceeded more than 35 times a calendar year
50 %
—
Calendar year
40 μg/m3
20 %
—

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Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/eudr/2008/50/annex/XI/division/B (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/eu-directive-2008-50/annex-XI/division-B
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.