Particulate matter from natural sources and related reporting under the EU Air Quality Directive in 2008 and 2009

This report is the first evaluation of Member State reporting under the EU's Air Quality Directive. The directive sets legally binding limit values to improve air quality. However, countries can subtract the pollution from natural sources, as they are only obliged to reduce man-made air pollutant emissions. So the report also includes European Union Member States documentation of natural contributions which led to exceedances of air quality limit values set by EU legislation.

The most common natural sources of particulate matter in Europe are desert dust, volcanoes, forest and grassland fires, and salt from sea spray.

EEA: Highlights, 11.7.12: Sahara dust, sea spray and fires contribute to bad air quality http://www.eea.europa.eu/highlights/sahara-dust-sea-spray-and

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