Air quality index

The air quality ( air quality ) describes the condition of the air relative to the amount of air contaminants. The air quality is determined by conditions laid down in laws or regulations limit or guide values ​​. The air quality monitoring is carried out with immission whose stations, among others, on busy streets ( hot spots) or in forests (background levels ) may lie.

For the indoor air quality of buildings see indoor air.

• 2.1 Vienna Air Quality Index
• 2.2 Air quality indices Baden- Württemberg

Monitoring networks

To monitor the air quality monitoring networks operated by the competent authorities, which consist of a different number of individual stations. The individual stations typically work independently and can have even within a monitoring network on a different equipment. Modern single stations transmit the measurement results automatically to a central computer.

Monitoring networks in Germany, Austria and Switzerland

The following compilation shows selected measurement networks in Germany, Austria and Switzerland:

Assessment of air quality

The criteria for the assessment of air quality in Europe are not only nationally, but across Europe set for several years. This happens in so-called directives or regulations. Referred to in these guidelines or regulations limit or guide values ​​must then be met within defined periods also there. Thus, for example, wrote before the EU Directive on particulate matter that from 1 January 2005, the concentration of particulate matter ( PM10) 50 ľg/m3 can be exceeded 35 times. The main provisions of the EU are summarized in the Air Quality Directive (Directive 2008/50/EC ).

A fine example of understandable criteria for assessing air quality is the Vienna Air Quality Index.

Vienna Air Quality Index

The Vienna Air Quality Index contains an evaluation scheme that allows very easy through the use of smileys in appropriate colors and an explanation of the importance of each assessment is the air quality monitoring stations in Vienna ( Austria ).

The assignment of measured values ​​to the air pollution index is made using a simple evaluation scheme:

Air quality indices Baden- Württemberg

An enhanced current approach comes from Baden- Württemberg. This state uses a specific day and one year related air quality index in order to inform the population on understandable to the school grading system on the short- and longer-term trends in air quality. The choice of air pollutants and the associated assessment system take into account the legal limits, the effects on humans and relevance to the environment. A corresponding data service since February 2007 online. The annual values ​​can be retrieved for the past 10 years. For the metropolitan areas are representations for the period before 1985.