Air Quality Measurements and Meteorological Measurements Annual Report Background Monitoring Network 2008

The Federal Environment Agency operates eight air quality centres, which form the Austrian background measuring network. These determine background pollution, distance transport and air quality trends in Austria. The report reflects the results of the measurements in 2008 and the trend over the last 15 years. The statutory limit values for air pollutants were complied with at all measuring points. Exceedances of ozone target levels for the protection of human health and vegetation occurred at all measuring points but were below the average of the last 15 years; the information threshold was not exceeded for the first time at any measuring point in 2008. Overall, in Austria in 2008 a lower level of pollution was found in fine particulate matter (PM10) and sulphur dioxide than in recent years.