A report published by the European Environment Agency (EEA) shows that during summer 2012, the percentage of sites exceeding the ‘alert threshold’ was the lowest on record, indicating peak episodes were shorter and maximum ozone concentrations were lower. However, a new report published by the World Health Organization suggests that ozone exposure may be more harmful than previously thought.

The European Environment Agency (EEA) report on ground-level ozone levels in summer 2012 shows that ozone pollution still exceeded target levels in Europe, but the number of exceedances of the alert threshold was lower than in any year since monitoring started in 1997. The report also highlights that the lower levels seen during the summer last year were in part due to weather conditions. In September 2012, the EEA also published a report that showed that one out three European citizens is exposed to harmful air pollutants.

The ‘alert threshold’, a one-hour average ozone concentration of 240 μg/m3 was exceeded on 25 occasions. This occurred in only seven EU Member States: Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Portugal and Spain. During summer 2012, the percentage of sites exceeding the ‘alert threshold’ was the lowest on record, indicating peak episodes were shorter and maximum ozone concentrations were lower.

Ozone pollution can travel great distances, meaning that it is both a local air quality issue and also a global, cross-border problem. The pollutant can cause respiratory problems and other severe illnesses, also damaging crops and the wider environment. A new report published by the World Health Organization suggests that ozone exposure may be more harmful than previously thought.