МакедонскиLimit values for health protection and critical levels for protection of vegetation
Limit values are the strictest regulations for the levels of air pollution by the EU legislation. When the limit values are exceeded, the authorities are obliged to define measures to reduce the levels of pollutant concentrations. The most important limit values for health protection are those set for particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide concentrations. In Macedonia, the limit values for PM10 are exceeded widely and the exceedances of NO2 limit values are possible in traffic environments. For other pollutants the exceedances of limit values are not common.
In addition for the protection of human health, critical levels have been set for protection of vegetation. These are valid on rural agricultural and forest areas and are aimed at protection from the effects of pollution to trees, other plants and ecosystems. In Macedonia, the concentrations are below the critical levels.
Limit values for health protection
|
Pollutant |
Averaging period |
Limit values |
Allowed number of exceedances in a year |
Date by which the limit value should be met |
| Sulphur dioxide
SO2 |
1 hour 24 hours |
350 µg/m3 125 µg/m3 |
24 3 |
2012 |
| Nitrogen dioxide
NO2 |
1 hour 1 year |
200 µg/m3 40 µg/m3 |
18 – |
2012 |
| Particulate matter with size less than 10 µm
PM10 |
24 hours 1 year |
50 µg/m3 40 µg/m3 |
35 – |
2012 |
| Particulate matter with size less than 2.5 µm
PM2.5 |
1 year |
25 µg/m3 20 µg/m3 |
– |
2020 2025 |
| Lead
Pb |
1 year |
0.5 µg/m3 |
– |
2012 |
| Benzene
C6H6 |
1 year |
5 µg/m3 |
– |
2012 |
| Carbon monoxide
CO |
Maximum daily 8 hourly mean value |
10 mg/m3 |
– |
2012 |
Critical levels for protection of vegetation
|
Pollutant |
Averaging period |
Limit values |
| Sulphur dioxide
SO2 |
1 year
Winter period |
20 µg/m3 |
| Nitrogen oxides
NOx |
1 year | 40 µg/m3 |
The Law on ambient air quality and all relevant sub-legislation acts can be found on the following link from the web page of the Ministry of environment and physical planning:
