Ozone pollution in Switzerland too high
The current measurement results of the National Air Pollution Monitoring Network NABEL show that ozone, particulate matter and nitrogen immissions were exceeded in some cases in 2015. Overall, however, air pollution has decreased significantly over the last 25 years.
The report of the Air Pollution Monitoring Program NABEL documents the state of the air in Switzerland and shows the development of air pollution since the beginning of the 1980s.
The currently published report for 2015 reflects the special weather of the past year, with an unstable winter with windy conditions and a lot of precipitation and an above-average sunny and warm summer.
Accordingly, ozone pollution was higher than in the past five years. Especially in the canton of Ticino and at medium altitudes on the northern side of the Alps, the most frequent limit value exceedances were recorded.
The immission limit value for nitrogen dioxide was exceeded on an annual average only along heavily trafficked main roads. In urban and suburban areas, pollution levels were close to or below the limit value, while in rural areas away from the roads they were well below.
No limit value exceedances were observed in 2015 for sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, dust precipitation and heavy metals. The majority of these pollutants are far below the limit values.
Air pollution has decreased significantly
Over the past 25 years, air pollution with most pollutants has decreased significantly: For example, particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide levels are significantly lower than in 1990, while sulfur dioxide levels are now less than one-tenth of those measured in the early 1980s. Carbon monoxide, volatile organic compounds, heavy metals in particulate matter, and the carcinogen benzene are also on the decline.
Only in the case of ozone no significant decrease could be observed.
Target not yet reached
Although significant progress has been made in keeping the air clean in recent years, the statutory goal of clean air is still far from being achieved. In particular, the health risks posed by excessive levels of particulate matter, ozone, nitrogen dioxide and carcinogenic air pollutants, as well as excessive nitrogen inputs into sensitive ecosystems, should be borne in mind.
Source: NABEL /BAFU
