Annual report of air quality measurements in Austria 2009

The annual 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 2009, numerous ozone exceedances as well as the limit and target values of the Air Pollution Protection Act for particulate matter (PM10) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) were registered; occasionally also for sulphur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), benzo(a)pyrene and dust precipitation. The limit and target values for carbon monoxide, lead, arsenic, cadmium and nickel in PM10 and for benzene were met. Exceeding limit values for NO2 occurred mainly on busy roads, for fine dust, especially in larger cities. Due to the favourable weather conditions in 2009, exceptionally low levels of exposure to ozone, sulphur dioxide and PM10 were observed in 2009.