In adopting the report by Mrs Anita POLLACK (PSE, UK) Parliament called for clear information
to be provided to the public and the relevant organizations. Information on ambient concentrations
of sulphur dioxide, oxides of nitrogen and particulate matter should be updated on an hourly basis
and, in the case of lead, on a three-monthly basis.
Alert thresholds were set for nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter. In the event of the alert
thresholds being exceeded, the minimum information to be supplied to the public should include: date,
hour and place of the occurrence, forecasts as regards the change in concentrations, the geographical
area concerned and the duration, the type of population potentially sensitive to the occurrence and
lastly the precautions to be taken. Parliament also strengthened certain requirements with regard to
sulphur dioxide.
Sampling points should be situated in such a way as to include information on small islands.
Parliament called for the sampling points provided for the protection of ecosystems and the
vegetation to be sited beyond 20 km from agglomerations or 5 km from a built-up area, an industrial
installation or major road.
Exceptionally Member States might designate zones within which the limit value for lead could not
be met by 1 January 2005 owing to concentrations of lead due to industrial processes. However these
limit values had to be attained by 1 January 2010. Parliament called on the Commission to review the
directive before 30 September 2003. In order to facilitate this review the Commission and the
Member States should encourage and support research into the effects of pollutants such as sulphur
dioxide, oxides of nitrogen, particulate matter and lead.
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