Definitions
Article 3
For the purposes of this Directive, the following definitions apply:
1. ‘emission’ means the release of a substance from a point or diffuse source into the atmosphere;
2. ‘anthropogenic emissions’ means atmospheric emissions of pollutants associated with human activities;
3. ‘ozone precursors’ means nitrogen oxides, non-methane volatile organic compounds, methane, and carbon monoxide;
4. ‘air quality objectives’ means the limit values, target values and exposure concentration obligations for air quality set out in Directive 2008/50/EC and Directive 2004/107/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council ;
5. ‘sulphur dioxide’ or ‘SO2’ means all sulphur compounds expressed as sulphur dioxide, including sulphur trioxide (SO3), sulphuric acid (H2SO4), and reduced sulphur compounds such as hydrogen sulphide (H2S), mercaptans and dimethyl sulphides;
6. ‘nitrogen oxides’ or ‘NOx’ means nitric oxide and nitrogen dioxide, expressed as nitrogen dioxide;
7. ‘non-methane volatile organic compounds’ or ‘NMVOC’ means all organic compounds other than methane, that are capable of producing photochemical oxidants by reaction with nitrogen oxides in the presence of sunlight;
8. ‘fine particulate matter’ or ‘PM 2,5’ means particles with an aerodynamic diameter equal to or less than 2,5 micrometres (μm);
9. ‘black carbon’ or ‘BC’ means carbonaceous particulate matter that absorbs light;
10. ‘national emission reduction commitment’ means the Member States' obligation in the reduction of emissions of a substance; it specifies the emission reduction that as a minimum has to be delivered in the target calendar year, as a percentage of the total of emissions released during the base year (2005);
11. ‘landing and take-off cycle’ means the cycle that includes taxi in and out, take-off, climb out, approach, landing and all other aircraft activities that take place below the altitude of 3 000 feet;
12. ‘international maritime traffic’ means journeys at sea and in coastal waters by water-borne vessels of all flags, except fishing vessels, that depart from the territory of one country and arrive in the territory of another country;
13. ‘pollution control zone’ means a sea area not exceeding 200 nautical miles from the baselines from which the breadth of the territorial sea is measured, established by a Member State for the prevention, reduction and control of pollution from vessels in accordance with applicable international rules and standards;
14. ‘Union source-based air pollution control legislation’ means Union legislation which aims at reducing the emissions of air pollutants covered by this Directive by undertaking mitigation measures at the source.
Directive 2004/107/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 December 2004 relating to arsenic, cadmium, mercury, nickel and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in ambient air (OJ L 23, 26.1.2005, p. 3).