Annual report of air quality measurements in Austria 2008

The report of the Federal Environment Agency is based on the measurements of the offices of the state governments and the Federal Environment Agency and provides an overview of the air quality situation in Austria. In 2008, exceedances of the limit and target values of the Air Immission Protection Act for particulate matter (PM10) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) were registered; occasionally also for sulphur dioxide (SO2), benzo(a)pyrene, arsenic and dust precipitation. Although PM10 had the lowest load since the beginning of the records, higher values were measured, especially in cities. NO2 exceedances occurred on busy roads, SO2 near individual industrial plants. The limit and target values for carbon monoxide, lead, cadmium and nickel in PM10 and for benzene were met. Ozone pollution has been below average compared to recent years.