1.1. Contact organisation
Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union
1.2. Contact organisation unit
E2: Environmental statistics and accounts; sustainable development
1.3. Contact name
1.4. Contact person function
1.5. Contact mail address
e-mail contact: ESTAT-SDG-MONITORING@ec.europa.eu
1.6. Contact email address
Confidential because of GDPR
1.7. Contact phone number
1.8. Contact fax number
2.1. Metadata last certified
7 March 2024
2.2. Metadata last posted
7 March 2024
2.3. Metadata last update
7 March 2024
Air pollution is one of the biggest environmental health risks, as it can reduce people’s life expectancy and perception of well-being, and can lead to or aggravate many chronic and acute respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. Given its close link to economic activities and road transport, the measures taken by many European countries in face of COVID-19 are expected to affect the concentrations of air pollutions. An overview of the air quality standards set by the European Union can be found in the air quality standards summary table.
4.1. Data description
Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) is an air pollutant mainly emitted by road transport. Monthly average NO2 concentrations are based on hourly measurements from air quality measuring stations in EU capital cities, from which a monthly average for each city is calculated. The EU average is the simple arithmetic mean of the European capital cities.
Concentrations of air pollutants are very dependent on local features, such as emission sources, impact of external sources, or meteorological and topographical conditions. Air quality measurement furthermore tends to be hotspot-oriented and the average of air quality stations of the capital is not the average air quality the population is exposed to, neither of the capital nor of the country.
4.2. Unit of measure
µg NO2 per m3
4.3. Reference Period
Month
4.4. Accuracy - overall
Indicator from non-ESS source. Data are experimental and provisional and neither seasonally nor calendar adjusted. For further assessment of accuracy please refer to the original source (see link to external data source and metadata in section “Annexes”).
4.5. Source data
4.5.1. Source data - Organisation
European Environment Agency (EEA)
4.5.2. Source data - Comment
Data source: European Environment Agency (EEA)
Data provider: European Environment Agency (EEA)
5.1. Frequency of dissemination
5.1.1. Frequency of dissemination - Grade
Not Applicable5.1.2. Frequency of dissemination - Comment
The indicator is updated monthly.
5.2. Timeliness
5.2.1. Timeliness - Grade
Not Applicable5.2.2. Timeliness - Comment
New data points are disseminated within one month after the reference month.
6.1. Reference area
6.1.1. Reference Area - Grade
All EU MS6.1.2. Reference Area - Comment
Data are presented for the capitals of all EU Member States plus the capitals of Iceland, Norway and Switzerland..
6.2. Comparability - geographical
6.2.1. Comparability - geographical - Grade
All EU MS6.2.2. Comparability - geographical - Comment
Data are comparable between all EU Member States and the other presented countries.
6.3. Coverage - Time
6.3.1. Time Coverage - Grade
< 5 years6.3.2. Time Coverage - Comment
Presented time series (including EU aggregates) starts in 2018.
6.4. Comparability - over time
6.4.1. Comparability - over time - Grade
> 4 data points6.4.2. Comparability - over time - Comment
Length of comparable time series without methodological break is longer than 4 data points.
7.1. Dissemination format - Publications
The indicator is presented in the European Statistical Recovery Dashboard.
7.2. Dissemination format - online database
See table env_air_no2
7.3. Dissemination format - other
Eurostat's Statistical Recovery Dashboard
Copyrights: Eurostat Copyright/Licence Policy is applicable.
