1. Plaça Espanya, Barcelona (1908)
Plaça Espanya, Barcelona (2014)
Gran de Gracia, Barcelona (1908) Gran de Gracia, Barcelona (1908)

2. Qualitat de l’aire i
Ies eines de les que
disposem per a la
seva gestió
Albert Soret
25/11/2022
Informe sobre l'Estat del Medi Ambient a
Catalunya. Període 2016 - 2019​

3. Air pollution
Air pollution can be defined as atmospheric conditions in which air
pollutants are present at concentrations higher than their normal levels
to produce measurable adverse effects on humans, animals, vegetation
or materials (Seinfeld and Pandis, 1998).
Tiananmen square

4. Processes
Emission (anthropogenic and natural): production and release of pollutants into the
atmosphere by emitting sources.
Transport and transformation of pollutants into the atmosphere. Pollutants are
dispersed and are affected by weather factors, terrain relief, etc. They suffer from
chemical reactions that modify their composition and create new pollutants.
Source:
U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service

5. Anthropogenic emissions trends
NOx emissions in the EU.
Share by sector 2019 (EEA, 2021)
NOx emissions in the EU.
Sectorial trends (EEA, 2021)

6. Population exposure, impacts on
health and air quality legislation
Health impacts of
air pollution (EEA, 2019)
Source: EEA, 2020

7. Summary of the
report

8. Comparison between the periods
2011–2015 and 2016–2019
The three most critical atmospheric
pollutants in Catalonia are NO2, PM10 and
O3.
The air quality zones of Barcelona and Vallès-
Baix Llobregat (ZQA 1 and 2) present the
highest concentrations of NO2. Regarding
PM10, the highest values are observed in
ZQ6.
In general, however, it is observed how these
pollutants remain stable or with a particular
downward trend in these areas, and in
Catalonia as a whole. O3, on the other hand,
does not show a clear trend in either period.

9. NO2

10. PM10
During these years the annual limit
value was not exceeded; however, the
daily limit value was exceeded in ZQA 6
(Plana de Vic and Manlleu stations in
certain days).

11. O3

12. Key aspects that
have happened since
2019

13. The COVID-19 related emission reduction
and decreased air pollution in Europe

14. The COVID-19 related emission reduction
and decreased air pollution in Europe

15. The COVID-19 related emission reduction
and decreased air pollution in Europe
Mitjana anual de diòxid de nitrogen. Estat de la
qualitat de l’aire a Catalunya - Anuari 2021

16. WHO guidelines vs to EU standards
The EU air quality standards are less strict for all pollutants than the new health-
based air quality guidelines that were published by the WHO in 2021. In 2019, the
majority of the urban population in the EU was exposed to levels of key air
pollutants that damage health. In particular, 97% of the urban population was
exposed to concentrations of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) above the new WHO
guideline level of 5 µg/m3.
Annual WHO 2021
Annual EC/50/2008

17. WHO guidelines vs to EU standards
The EU air quality standards are less strict for all pollutants than the new health-
based air quality guidelines that were published by the WHO in 2021. In 2019, the
majority of the urban population in the EU was exposed to levels of key air
pollutants that damage health. In particular, 97% of the urban population was
exposed to concentrations of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) above the new WHO
guideline level of 5 µg/m3.
Share of the EU urban population
exposed to air pollutant
concentrations above EU
standards and WHO guidelines in
2019

18. Revision of the EU Ambient Air Quality
Directives
• To define common methods for air quality monitoring and assessment
“…Member States must establish a network of measurement stations and
sampling points based on common criteria as regards the determination of
the minimum number of sampling points, data quality, unacceptable
uncertainty in monitoring and modelling, …“
• To set standards to be achieved across the EU
• To ensure that air quality information is made available to the public
• To maintain good air quality and improve it where it is not good enough

19. Air quality tools

20. Air quality modelling
Fixed sampling points in Europe are situated at different types of stations
following rules for macro- and micro-scale-siting.
Eixample station

21. Earth observations
The spatial gaps of ground monitoring resources are inevitable, and satellite data
are able to fill in air quality information in areas without a ground monitor. There
are numerous satellite data that can indicate criteria air pollutants (e.g., PM2.5
and NO2) and greenhouse gases (e.g., CH4 and CO2).
Tropomi (Sentinel 5) will map a
multitude of trace gases such
as nitrogen dioxide, ozone,
formaldehyde, sulphur
dioxide, methane, carbon
monoxide and aerosols.

22. Air quality modelling

23. Air quality modelling
CALIOPE Urban air quality forecast system

24. Applications and Impact
Past events Forecast Planning

25. Applications and Impact
Past events Forecast Planning

26. Applications and Impact
Past events Forecast Planning

27. Applications and Impact
Past events Forecast Planning
Past events Forecast Planning

28. Applications and Impact
Past events Forecast Planning
Past events Forecast Planning
Past events Forecast Planning
Diagnostic analysis of Santa Cruz de Tenerife
NO2 maxh reductions:
25 - 30 µg m-3
8-16%
PM10 maxh reductions:
< 8 µg m-3
2-5%
Fleet
electrification

29. 28/02/2019
albert.soret@bsc.es