Ozoneweb
Encyclopedia
Ozoneweb is an EEA
website on near real-time ozone
. The website allows the general public to track air quality in a specific region and on a European level. The website displays ozone
levels via a map of Europe. Background information on ozone
and its health impacts are also provided. Users can monitor ozone levels in a neighbouring country or a holiday destination, check recent trends and track the spread of ozone across Europe. The website now includes a module to display exceedances in countries.
In the map, the ozone
level is illustrated by colours. The colour scheme is linked to threshold values in EU legislation. To provide an estimate of the ozone
status in areas between measurement stations, a statistical calculation (interpolation
) is carried out on the ozone
data received by the EEA. Before the result of the calculation is shown on the map, a number of conditions have to be satisfied by the input data and the resulting calculation.
URLs to data providers’ websites are available to users looking for more detailed localised information.
on 'ozone in ambient air' came into force in 2002. The long-term objective is to limit the number of days with average ozone
concentrations above 120 µg/m3 to less than 25 days a year (see table below). The objectives of the directive are in line with the World Health Organization
's guidelines for ozone.
The directive requires national authorities to inform the public – hourly or daily – about any incidence of ozone pollution above 180 µg/m3 (information threshold). Also, Member States should report monthly to the European Commission on all exceedances of the information and alert thresholds (see table below). Each year they must provide additional information on ozone pollution, especially concerning exceedances of the long-term objective.
µg/m3: The concentration of an air pollutant (eg. ozone) is given in micrograms (one-millionth of a gram) per cubic meter air or µg/m3.
at high concentrations is a health hazard because it can irritate airways, cause breathing difficulties and damage lungs. It can cause lung inflammation (irritation) even after only a few hours of exposure.
Ozone exposure has been linked to a number of health effects and is thought to be the cause of the premature deaths of thousands of people in Europe each year.
Some people are more vulnerable than others. Children and people with asthma
or other respiratory illnesses are particularly high-risk groups.
can damage all types of green vegetation, including the foliage of trees. Ozone is absorbed by leaves and impedes plant growth.
Ozone is recognised as the most serious regional air pollution problem for the agricultural sector in Europe. It reduces crop yield
s by hindering plant growth.
In 2000, it was estimated that the overall ozone damage to crops corresponded to an economic loss to farmers across EU-25 of about EUR 2.8 billion.
There are marked differences in damage to crops across Europe, depending on agricultural activity, soil moisture and ozone concentration. Most affected by elevated ozone concentrations are countries that are growing wheat
.
The economic or ecological cost of ozone damage to wild vegetation has not been estimated.
European Environment Agency
European Environment Agency is an agency of the European Union. Its task is to provide sound, independent information on the environment. It is a major information source for those involved in developing, adopting, implementing and evaluating environmental policy, and also the general public...
website on near real-time ozone
Ozone
Ozone , or trioxygen, is a triatomic molecule, consisting of three oxygen atoms. It is an allotrope of oxygen that is much less stable than the diatomic allotrope...
. The website allows the general public to track air quality in a specific region and on a European level. The website displays ozone
Ozone
Ozone , or trioxygen, is a triatomic molecule, consisting of three oxygen atoms. It is an allotrope of oxygen that is much less stable than the diatomic allotrope...
levels via a map of Europe. Background information on ozone
Ozone
Ozone , or trioxygen, is a triatomic molecule, consisting of three oxygen atoms. It is an allotrope of oxygen that is much less stable than the diatomic allotrope...
and its health impacts are also provided. Users can monitor ozone levels in a neighbouring country or a holiday destination, check recent trends and track the spread of ozone across Europe. The website now includes a module to display exceedances in countries.
Features of the site
Key features of the site are:- Live status data on ozone
- Most measurement stations in Europe (over 700)
- Advanced Internet mapping tool
- Interpolated maps
- Comparisons views
- Support factual text
About the data
Data from more than 700 air quality measurement stations across Europe are transmitted to the EEA in Copenhagen on an hourly basis. Since the data must be as 'real-time' as possible, the data are displayed as soon as practical after the end of each hour.In the map, the ozone
Ozone
Ozone , or trioxygen, is a triatomic molecule, consisting of three oxygen atoms. It is an allotrope of oxygen that is much less stable than the diatomic allotrope...
level is illustrated by colours. The colour scheme is linked to threshold values in EU legislation. To provide an estimate of the ozone
Ozone
Ozone , or trioxygen, is a triatomic molecule, consisting of three oxygen atoms. It is an allotrope of oxygen that is much less stable than the diatomic allotrope...
status in areas between measurement stations, a statistical calculation (interpolation
Interpolation
In the mathematical field of numerical analysis, interpolation is a method of constructing new data points within the range of a discrete set of known data points....
) is carried out on the ozone
Ozone
Ozone , or trioxygen, is a triatomic molecule, consisting of three oxygen atoms. It is an allotrope of oxygen that is much less stable than the diatomic allotrope...
data received by the EEA. Before the result of the calculation is shown on the map, a number of conditions have to be satisfied by the input data and the resulting calculation.
URLs to data providers’ websites are available to users looking for more detailed localised information.
The ozone directive
The directiveDirective
Directive may refer to:* Directive , a legislative act of the European Union* Directive , a highly-acclaimed poem by Robert Frost...
on 'ozone in ambient air' came into force in 2002. The long-term objective is to limit the number of days with average ozone
Ozone
Ozone , or trioxygen, is a triatomic molecule, consisting of three oxygen atoms. It is an allotrope of oxygen that is much less stable than the diatomic allotrope...
concentrations above 120 µg/m3 to less than 25 days a year (see table below). The objectives of the directive are in line with the World Health Organization
World Health Organization
The World Health Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations that acts as a coordinating authority on international public health. Established on 7 April 1948, with headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, the agency inherited the mandate and resources of its predecessor, the Health...
's guidelines for ozone.
The directive requires national authorities to inform the public – hourly or daily – about any incidence of ozone pollution above 180 µg/m3 (information threshold). Also, Member States should report monthly to the European Commission on all exceedances of the information and alert thresholds (see table below). Each year they must provide additional information on ozone pollution, especially concerning exceedances of the long-term objective.
| Objective | Value | Measured | Target/action |
|---|---|---|---|
| Information threshold | 180 µg/m3 | Hourly average | National authorities should inform the public and give advice immediately after an exceedance. Countries should report monthly on all exceedances |
| Alert threshold | 240 µg/m3 | Hourly average | National authorities should inform the public and give advice immediately after an exceedance. Countries should report monthly on all exceedances |
| Protect human health | 120 µg/m3 | 8 hour average | Not to be exceeded on more than 25 days per year (to be met by 2010). |
µg/m3: The concentration of an air pollutant (eg. ozone) is given in micrograms (one-millionth of a gram) per cubic meter air or µg/m3.
Ozone and health
OzoneOzone
Ozone , or trioxygen, is a triatomic molecule, consisting of three oxygen atoms. It is an allotrope of oxygen that is much less stable than the diatomic allotrope...
at high concentrations is a health hazard because it can irritate airways, cause breathing difficulties and damage lungs. It can cause lung inflammation (irritation) even after only a few hours of exposure.
Ozone exposure has been linked to a number of health effects and is thought to be the cause of the premature deaths of thousands of people in Europe each year.
Some people are more vulnerable than others. Children and people with asthma
Asthma
Asthma is the common chronic inflammatory disease of the airways characterized by variable and recurring symptoms, reversible airflow obstruction, and bronchospasm. Symptoms include wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath...
or other respiratory illnesses are particularly high-risk groups.
Ozone and environmental impacts
Ground-level ozoneOzone
Ozone , or trioxygen, is a triatomic molecule, consisting of three oxygen atoms. It is an allotrope of oxygen that is much less stable than the diatomic allotrope...
can damage all types of green vegetation, including the foliage of trees. Ozone is absorbed by leaves and impedes plant growth.
Ozone is recognised as the most serious regional air pollution problem for the agricultural sector in Europe. It reduces crop yield
Crop yield
In agriculture, crop yield is not only a measure of the yield of cereal per unit area of land under cultivation, yield is also the seed generation of the plant itself...
s by hindering plant growth.
In 2000, it was estimated that the overall ozone damage to crops corresponded to an economic loss to farmers across EU-25 of about EUR 2.8 billion.
There are marked differences in damage to crops across Europe, depending on agricultural activity, soil moisture and ozone concentration. Most affected by elevated ozone concentrations are countries that are growing wheat
Wheat
Wheat is a cereal grain, originally from the Levant region of the Near East, but now cultivated worldwide. In 2007 world production of wheat was 607 million tons, making it the third most-produced cereal after maize and rice...
.
The economic or ecological cost of ozone damage to wild vegetation has not been estimated.