Exceedances of the NO2 limit value in the Netherlands partly due to higher than expected real-world emissions from cars and trucks
Since the 1990s, 'Euro' standards have been in effect to reduce air pollutants in exhaust emissions from passenger cars and trucks. National and international research has shown that the actual nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions from road transport have decreased less than expected under these Euro standards. For 2015, the limit value for nitrogen dioxide (NO2) is expected to be exceeded in the Netherlands at approximately 150 locations (along a 15 km road length). If the exhaust emissions from passenger cars and trucks had decreased as expected on the basis of the Euro standards, there would be virtually no exceedance by 2015. The uncertainty in the estimates is large, however, because concentration levels are just above or below the limit value at hundreds of locations.
These are the conclusions of a joint study by the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), PBL Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency and the Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research (TNO). The Euro standards are important tools to bring the European nitrogen dioxide concentrations below the limit value. These standards have become increasingly stringent over the years. To check whether emissions from cars and trucks meet the Euro emission standards, the vehicles are tested under laboratory conditions. Measurements over the past few years have shown that diesel passenger cars and trucks usually emit much more nitrogen oxide in actual practice than during laboratory testing.
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- Publication title
- Exceedances of the NO2 limit value in the Netherlands partly due to higher than expected real-world emissions from cars and trucks
- Publication date
- 17 December 2013
- Publication type
- Publication
- Product number
- 1264