Regulations 6(5) and 7(1)

SCHEDULE 2 E+W UPPER AND LOWER ASSESSMENT THRESHOLDS AND EXCEEDANCES

PART I E+W Upper and lower assessment thresholds

The following upper and lower assessment thresholds will apply:

SULPHUR DIOXIDE

(a)  

	Health protection	Ecosystem protection
Upper assessment threshold	60% of 24-hour limit value (75μg/m3, not to be exceeded more than 3 times in any calendar year)	60% of winter limit value (12μg/m3)
Lower assessment threshold	40% of 24-hour limit value (50μg/m3), not to be exceeded more than 3 times in any calendar year)	40% of winter limit value (8μg/m3)

NITROGEN DIOXIDE AND OXIDES OF NITROGEN

(b)  

	Hourly limit value for the protection of human health (NO2)	Annual limit value for the protection of human health (NO2)	Annual limit value for the protection of vegetation (NOx)
Upper assessment value	70% of limit value (140μg/m3, not to be exceeded more than 18 times in any calendar year)	80% of limit value (32μg/m3)	80% of limit value (24μg/m3)
Lower assessment value	50% of limit value (100μg/m3, not to be exceeded more than 18 times in any calendar year).	65% of limit value (26μg/m3)	65% of limit value (19.5μg/m3)

PARTICULATE MATTER M1

(c)  

	24-hour average	Annual average
Upper assessment threshold	60% of limit value (30μg/m3, not to be exceeded more than seven times in any calendar year).	70% of limit value (14μg/m3)
Lower assessment threshold	40% of limit value (20μg/m3, not to be exceeded more than seven times in any calendar year).	50% of limit value (10μg/m3)

LEAD

(d)  

	Annual average
Upper assessment threshold	70% of limit value (0.35μg/m3)
Lower assessment threshold	50% of limit value (0.25μg/m3)

BENZENE

(e)  

	Annual average
Upper assessment threshold	70% of limit value (3.5μg/m3)
Lower assessment threshold	40% of limit value (2μg/m3)

CARBON monoxide

(f)  

	Eight-hour average
Upper assessment threshold	70% of limit value (7 mg/m3)
Lower assessment threshold	50% of limit value (5 mg/m3)

Marginal Citations

M1 The upper and lower assessment thresholds for PM

₁₀

are based on the indicative limit values for 1 January 2010, which will be reviewed in the light of further information on health and environmental effects, technical feasibility and experience in the application of the existing “Stage 1" limit values.See Article 10 of Directive 99/30/EC.

PART II E+W Determination of exceedances of upper and lower assessment thresholds

Exceedances of upper and lower assessment thresholds must be determined on the basis of concentrations during the previous five years where sufficient data are available. An assessment threshold will be deemed to have been exceeded if it has been exceeded during at least three separate years out of the previous five years.

Where fewer than five years’ data are available, measurement campaigns of short duration during the period of the year and at locations likely to be typical of the highest pollution levels may be combined with results obtained from emission inventories and modelling to determine exceedances of the upper and lower assessment thresholds.