Legislation Explorer | UNEP Law and Environment Assistance Platform

Search Global Air Quality Laws

PM2.5 (10 μg/m3 annual mean 25 μg/m3 24-hour mean)
The WHO Air quality guidelines are a set of evidence-based recommendations of limit values for specific air pollutants developed to help countries achieve air quality that protects public health. The first release of the guidelines was in 1987. Since then, several updated versions have appeared. This toolkit currently assesses countries against the 2005 guideline values (see here). The guidelines were updated more recently in 2021 (see here) and the legislation and policies presented in this toolkit will in the future be reassessed against these updated values.
PM10 (20 μg/m3 annual mean)
The WHO Air quality guidelines are a set of evidence-based recommendations of limit values for specific air pollutants developed to help countries achieve air quality that protects public health. The first release of the guidelines was in 1987. Since then, several updated versions have appeared. This toolkit currently assesses countries against the 2005 guideline values (see here). The guidelines were updated more recently in 2021 (see here) and the legislation and policies presented in this toolkit will in the future be reassessed against these updated values.
- Compliant with WHO guideline
- Weaker than WHO guideline
PM10 (50 μg/m3 24-hour mean)
The WHO Air quality guidelines are a set of evidence-based recommendations of limit values for specific air pollutants developed to help countries achieve air quality that protects public health. The first release of the guidelines was in 1987. Since then, several updated versions have appeared. This toolkit currently assesses countries against the 2005 guideline values (see here). The guidelines were updated more recently in 2021 (see here) and the legislation and policies presented in this toolkit will in the future be reassessed against these updated values.
- Compliant with WHO guideline
- Weaker than WHO guideline
Ozone (100 μg/m3 8-hour mean)
The WHO Air quality guidelines are a set of evidence-based recommendations of limit values for specific air pollutants developed to help countries achieve air quality that protects public health. The first release of the guidelines was in 1987. Since then, several updated versions have appeared. This toolkit currently assesses countries against the 2005 guideline values (see here). The guidelines were updated more recently in 2021 (see here) and the legislation and policies presented in this toolkit will in the future be reassessed against these updated values.
- Compliant with WHO guideline
- Weaker than WHO guideline
NO2 (40 μg/m3 annual mean)
The WHO Air quality guidelines are a set of evidence-based recommendations of limit values for specific air pollutants developed to help countries achieve air quality that protects public health. The first release of the guidelines was in 1987. Since then, several updated versions have appeared. This toolkit currently assesses countries against the 2005 guideline values (see here). The guidelines were updated more recently in 2021 (see here) and the legislation and policies presented in this toolkit will in the future be reassessed against these updated values.
- Compliant with WHO guideline
- Weaker than WHO guideline
NO2 (200 μg/m3 1-hour mean)
The WHO Air quality guidelines are a set of evidence-based recommendations of limit values for specific air pollutants developed to help countries achieve air quality that protects public health. The first release of the guidelines was in 1987. Since then, several updated versions have appeared. This toolkit currently assesses countries against the 2005 guideline values (see here). The guidelines were updated more recently in 2021 (see here) and the legislation and policies presented in this toolkit will in the future be reassessed against these updated values.
- Compliant with WHO guideline
- Weaker than WHO guideline
SO2 (20 μg/m3 24-hour mean)
The WHO Air quality guidelines are a set of evidence-based recommendations of limit values for specific air pollutants developed to help countries achieve air quality that protects public health. The first release of the guidelines was in 1987. Since then, several updated versions have appeared. This toolkit currently assesses countries against the 2005 guideline values (see here). The guidelines were updated more recently in 2021 (see here) and the legislation and policies presented in this toolkit will in the future be reassessed against these updated values.
- Compliant with WHO guideline
- Weaker than WHO guideline
SO2 (500 μg/m3 10-minute mean)
The WHO Air quality guidelines are a set of evidence-based recommendations of limit values for specific air pollutants developed to help countries achieve air quality that protects public health. The first release of the guidelines was in 1987. Since then, several updated versions have appeared. This toolkit currently assesses countries against the 2005 guideline values (see here). The guidelines were updated more recently in 2021 (see here) and the legislation and policies presented in this toolkit will in the future be reassessed against these updated values.
- Compliant with WHO guideline
- Weaker than WHO guideline
Newly acknowledged pollutants
The WHO Air quality guidelines are a set of evidence-based recommendations of limit values for specific air pollutants developed to help countries achieve air quality that protects public health. The first release of the guidelines was in 1987. Since then, several updated versions have appeared. This toolkit currently assesses countries against the 2005 guideline values (see here). The guidelines were updated more recently in 2021 (see here) and the legislation and policies presented in this toolkit will in the future be reassessed against these updated values.
- Yes

Showing 61 - 70 of 85 results

Regulation

| 2007 |

Cyprus

Air Quality (Arsenic, Cadmium, Mercury, Nickel and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Ambient Air) Regulations, 2007 (P.I. 111/2007).

The objectives of this Directive shall be to: (a) establish a target value for the concentration of arsenic, cadmium, nickel and benzo(a)pyrene in ambient air so as to avoid, prevent or reduce harmful effects of arsenic, cadmium, nickel and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons on human health and the environment as a whole; (b) ensure, with respect to arsenic, cadmium, nickel and polycyclic aromatic...

Keywords

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, Ambient air, Air quality, Concentrations, Legislation, Future standards, Benzo(a)pyrene

Regulation

| 2006 |

United Arab Emirates

Cabinet Decree No.12 of 2006 concerning the Protection of Air from Pollution.

This Decree consisting of 16 articles and VIII Annexes establishes that (i) the emission or the leakage of the gaseous and solid pollutants and vapors to the ambient air shall not exceed the maximum allowable limits; (ii) car and vehicle emissions may not exceed the maximum allowable limits; (iii) during the combustion of any sort of hydrocarbon fuels for any purposes, smoke, gases, and vapor...

Keywords

Pollutants, Air pollution, Industrial sources, Concentration-based standards, Legislation, Burning, Ambient air, Air quality monitoring, Zoning, Monitoring stations, Permitting, Public health, Concentrations, Compliance, Benzene, Fixed point sources, Workers, Waste burning, Ambient air quality standards

Regulation

| 2005 |

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Regulation on emissions of volatile organic compounds.

This Regulation defines the necessary measures and procedures for preventing or reducing the direct or indirect consequences of emissions of volatile organic compounds in the environment (particularly for air emissions) and in order to reduce the concrete or potential risk to human health (on the territory of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina). The Annex is an integral part of this...

Keywords

Industrial sources, Legislation, Best available techniques, Air quality monitoring, Air pollution, Volatile organic compounds

Regulation

| 2005 |

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Regulation on air quality limit values.

This Regulation defines the limits of air quality and air quality targets as indicators for planning the specific area air quality, and thresholds and alert thresholds/alarm limits for timely action in case of short-term occurrence of illegal air pollution on the territory of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Keywords

Legislation, Nitrogen dioxide, Sulphur dioxide, Air quality, Nitrogen oxides, Carbon monoxide, Concentration-based standards

Regulation

| 2005 |

North Macedonia

Decree on limit values for levels and types of pollutants in ambient air and alert thresholds, deadlines for reaching limit values, margins and tolerance for limit value, target values and long-term goals.

This Decree, based on the provisions of the Law on ambient air quality, prescribes limit values for levels and types of pollutants in the ambient air and sets alert thresholds, deadlines for reaching these limit values, tolerance margins for limit values, target values and long-term ozone targets. Target values for ozone are levels of ozone concentrations in ambient air which are fixed in order to...

Keywords

Ambient air, Concentration-based standards, Concentrations, Air quality, Future standards, Ozone, Pollutants, Alert thresholds, Air quality monitoring, Agglomerations, Zones, Zoning, Air quality plans, Ambient air pollution

Regulation

| 2004 |

Norway

Regulation No. 931 on Pollution Control (Pollution Control Regulation).

The present Regulation addresses measures to limit and manage pollution to protect the environment and public health. It includes provisions on waste management, emissions to air and water, noise control, and soil contamination. The regulation sets standards and requirements for businesses and other entities to prevent and reduce pollution, ensure proper waste disposal, and manage environmental...

Keywords

Legislation, Permitting, Air pollution, Concentration-based standards, Industrial sources, Elemental carbon, Compliance, Air quality, Volatile organic compounds, Public health, Zoning, Concentrations, Enforcement, Stakeholders, Air quality monitoring, Access to information, Inspection, Pollutants, Workers

Regulation

| 2003 |

Azerbaijan

Ministerial Decree No. 59 approving the Regulation on hygienic and environmental standards of quality of and permissible level of physical impact on atmospheric air (Air Quality Regulation).

This Decree approves the Air Quality Regulation (annexed). The Regulation lays down rules on determining hygienic and environmental standards and assessment for air quality in order to ensure protection of human health and the environment. The Ministry of Health, in cooperation with the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources, shall determine and approve the maximum permissible levels of...

Keywords

Legislation, Air quality, Concentrations, Air quality standards

Regulation

| 2003 |

Syrian Arab Republic

Resolution No. 67 on the air quality standards and maximum consented limits for air pollution.

The aim of this Resolution is to fight air pollution. It's composed of 4 articles, 7 Lists and 1 Annex. This Resolution provides for the Syrian Standardization and Metrology for: air quality; maximum consented limits for water pollution caused by industrial drainage; maximum consented limits for air pollution at the pollution source; and classification of hazardous solid industrial waste and for...

Keywords

Air quality standards, Concentration-based standards, Air pollution

Regulation

| 2002 |

Belgium

Arrêté du Gouvernement de la Région de Bruxelles-Capitale relatif à la fixation d'objectifs à long terme, de valeurs cibles, de seuil d'alerte et de seuil d'information pour les concentrations d'ozone dans l'air ambiant

Keywords

Concentrations

Regulation

| 2002 |

Nicaragua

NTON 05 012-01: Norma Técnica Obligatoria Nicaragüense sobre calidad del aire.

La presente Norma establece los límites máximos permisibles de inmisión de los principales contaminantes atmosféricos en el aire ambiente sobre el territorio nicaragüense, los métodos de monitoreo para la vigilancia del cumplimiento de la norma y los plazos de revisión para la actualización de los límites máximos permisibles establecidos a través de la misma, con el fin de proteger el ambiente y...

Keywords

Nitrogen dioxide, Carbon monoxide, Sulphur dioxide, PM10, Particulate matter, Nitrogen monoxide, Organic carbon

Search Global Air Quality Laws

Year

Ambient Air Quality Standards

Responsibility for air quality standards

Indoor Air Quality Standards

Type of instrument

Nature of legal obligations

Exceedances

Compliance with WHO Air Quality Guidelines (2005)

Legal requirement to monitor

Procedural and substantive rights

Legal coordination of policy to achieve AAQS

Enforcement mechanisms

Provisions for transboundary air pollution

Search Global Air Quality Laws

Country

UN regional group

Year

Ambient Air Quality Standards

Responsibility for air quality standards

Indoor Air Quality Standards

Type of instrument

Nature of legal obligations

Exceedances

Compliance with WHO Air Quality Guidelines (2005)

Legal requirement to monitor

Procedural and substantive rights

Legal coordination of policy to achieve AAQS

Enforcement mechanisms

Provisions for transboundary air pollution