Air quality  
         

Air

Climate change

Ozone depletion

Transboundary air pollution

Air quality
 Indicators
Emissions of pollutants 
Concentrations of pollutants in air:
     Sulphur dioxide
     Nitrogen dioxide
     Ozone
     Benzene
     Particulates PM10
 Natural resource tax for emissions of pollutants
Air quality is affected by emissions from combustion of fossil fuel, evaporation of volatile organic compounds, and by photochemical and other processes in Latvia and beyond its borders. The largest part of the emissions is produced by the energy and transport sectors.
Air-borne pollution cause changes in environmental conditions, affects life processes, causes various diseases, and causes damage to building and monuments.

The main urban issue regarding in air quality in Latvia is the formation of ground level ozone. Ozone is formed in the presence of nitrogen dioxide and volatile organic compounds, including benzene.

The air quality standards, procedure for abatement of air pollution, and actions for air protection, which are given in the Cabinet of Ministers Regulations on Air Quality, are in accordance with European Union Directives. There are also margins of tolerance given for the limit values given for some substances, expressed as percent of the concentration tolerated above the limit value. These allowances will be lowered each year until their removal in 2010.

Air quality standards

Type of limit value Observation time Limit value Margin of tolerance Level for warning the public Emergency level
Limit values for  sulphur dioxide
Hour limit value for human health protection (Rh) One hour 350 µg/m3 can not be exceeded more than 24 times yearly 43% 350 µg/m3 350 µg/m3 (3-h period)
Day limit value for human health protection (Rd) 24 hours 125 µg/m3 can not be exceeded more than 3 times yearly No 125 µg/m3  
Limit value for ecosystem protection (REg) Calendar year; winter 20 µg/m3 No 20 µg/m3  
Limit values for nitrogen oxide and nitrogen dioxide
Hour NO2 limit value for human health protection (Rh) One hour 200 µg/m3 can not be exceeded more than 18 times yearly 50% 200 µg/m3 400 µg/m3 (3-h period)
Year NO2 limit value for human health protection (Rg) Calendar year 40 µg/m3 50% 40 µg/m3  
Year NO2 + NO limit value for ecosystem protection (REg) Calendar year 30 µg/m3 NO+NO2 No    
Air quality standards for ozone
Limit value for human health protection (R8h) Eight hours 110 µg/m3      
Limit value for protection of vegetation Rh One hour 200 µg/m3   180 µg/m3 360 µg/m3
Limit value for protection of vegetation Rd 24 hours 65 µg/m3      
Air quality standards for particulates
Limit values for particulates PM10 (phase 1, year 2001-2005)
Day limit value for human health protection (Rd) 24 hours 50 µg/m3 can not be exceeded more than 35 times yearly 50% 50 µg/m3  
Year limit value for human health protection (Rg) Calendar year 40 µg/m3 20% 30 µg/m3  
Limit values for particulates PM10 (phase 2, year 2005-2010)
Day limit value for human health protection (Rd) 24 hours 50 µg/m3 can not be exceeded more than 7 times yearly No    
Year limit value for human health protection (Rg) Calendar year 20 µg/m3 50%    
Limit values for particulates PM 2,5
Day limit value for human health protection (Rd) 24 hours 40 µg/m3 can not be exceeded more than 14 times yearly 50%    
Year limit value for human health protection (Rg) Calendar year 20 µg/m3 20%    
Air quality standards for lead
Year limit value for human health protection (Rg) Calendar year 0.5 µg/m3 100% 0.5 µg/m3