II.4.3 Areas with deteriorated air quality

II.4.3.1 Areas with deteriorated air quality with regard to health protection

To delineate zones and agglomerations with deteriorated air quality in line with the Act No.86/2002 Coll. as amended (Clean Air Act), and pursuant to the Government Order No. 597/2006 Coll. on monitoring and assessment of ambient air quality, exceedances of air pollution limit values for annual average concentrations of PM₁₀, NO₂, lead, benzene, were assessed for each station, as well as the frequencies of exceedance of CO 8-hour limit values, the exceedance frequencies of daily limit values for PM₁₀ and SO₂, exceedance frequencies of hourly limit values for SO₂ and NO₂. Also assessed was the exceedance of target values for annual average concentrations of benzo(a)pyrene, cadmium, arsenic and nickel and frequencies of exceedance of 8-hour limit values of ground-level ozone.

The above mapping procedures were used for the preparation of the maps of spatial distribution of the respective air pollution characteristics presented in the previous subchapters, both for the exceedance of the limit values and for the exceedance of the target values. Areas with the values of air pollution characteristics higher than the respective (target) limit values (areas for the exceedance of the limit value plus the margin of tolerance marked in red or brown) delineate the areas with deteriorated air quality. Table II.4.2.26 brings the overview of the areas in the Czech Republic, in which the level of the limit values, and especially of the target values for human health protection were exceeded in 2008, based on the results of mapping air pollution characteristics distribution. The exceedance percentage in the respective territory is also presented. Table II.4.2.25 summarises the areas of exceedances of limit values+the margins of tolerance for human health protection in 2008. The tables show the exceedance percentage of the respective limit values/target values in the given territory for individual components and air pollution characteristics, and summarize the areas in which at least one limit value/target value of the given components was exceeded. The percentages of exceedances presented in the overview in Table II.4.2.26 correspond to the percentages of the territories of the given administrative unit in which at least one limit value of the set of limit values for the protection of human health was exceeded. The map in Fig. II.4.2.57 depicts the delineation of the areas with deteriorated air quality with regard to limit values, and the map in Fig. II.4.2.58 shows the delineation of the areas with the exceedance of the target values for the protection of human health, ground-level ozone excluded, and in Fig II.4.2.59, ground-level ozone included.

Table II.4.2.27 shows the list of administrative units with exceedances of the O₃ target value for the protection of health within the areas of the Czech Republic and the share (%) of the area of exceedance of the respective unit. Ground-level ozone is presented separately, as it is evident that the measures aimed at the decrease of ozone concentrations exceeding the target value or the long-term objectives, should be taken at the regional and national level.

II.4.3.2 Areas with deteriorated air quality with regard to the protection of ecosystems and vegetation

Based on the mapping of air pollution characteristics distribution for the year 2008 with regard to ecosystems and vegetation protection (Chapter II.4.2.2.1, II.4.2.2.2 and II.4.2.2.3) the distribution for annual and winter average concentrations of SO₂ and annual average NO_x concentrations for the protection of ecosystems and vegetation is depicted.

In 2008 none of the localities with monitoring stations, classified as rural, recorded the exceedances of the limit values for SO₂ and NO_x for the protection of ecosystems/vegetation.

Table II.4.2.28 is presented for information. It shows the exceedances of the SO₂ and NO_x limit value and the AOT40 target value for the protection of ecosystems and vegetation within the national parks and protected areas (% of the territory) in 2008. The values were calculated on the basis of the respective maps of air pollution characteristics.

Tab. II.4.2.25 LV+MT exceedances in the zones/agglomerations and municipalities with extended competencies of the Czech Republic, % of area of the administrative unit, 2008

Tab. II.4.2.26 Limit value (LV) and target value (TV) exceedances in the zones/agglomerations and municipalities with extended competencies of the Czech Republic (excluding the ground-level ozone), % of area of the administrative unit, 2008

Tab. II.4.2.27 Exceedances of the ozone target value for the protection of health in the zones/agglomerations and municipalities with extended competencies of the Czech Republic, % of the area of the administrative unit, 2008

Tab. II.4.2.28 Exceedances of the limit value (SO₂, NO_x) and target value (AOT40) for the protection of ecosystems and vegetation within NP and CHKO, % of the territory of NP and CHKO, 2008

Fig. II.4.2.57 Areas with deteriorated air quality with regard to health protection limit values, 2008

Fig. II.4.2.58 Areas with deteriorated air quality with regard to health protection target values, ground-level ozone excluded, 2008

Fig. II.4.2.59 Areas with deteriorated air quality with regard to health protection target values, incl. ground-level ozone, 2008

Fig. II.4.2.60 Areas with deteriorated air quality with regard to ecosystems/vegetation protection limit values in national parks and protected landscape areas, ground-level ozone excluded, 2008

Fig. II.4.2.61 Areas with deteriorated air quality with regard to ecosystems/vegetation protection limit values in national parks and protected landscape areas, including ground-level ozone, 2008