Elemental Carbon (EC) concentrations in the Netherlands

Abstract

Elemental Carbon (EC, soot) can be used as an indicator of health effects resulting from to traffic emissions. So far, the particulate matter concentrations (PM10 and PM2.5) are being used which results in an incomplete picture of the situation. Therefore, soot concentrations at all addresses in the Netherlands haven been determined. Information on these concentrations may help when selecting (traffic) measures to improve air quality. If the results of policies are only based on the total amount of particulate matter in the air, the health effects of traffic pollution will be underestimated. If air quality is assessed using the soot concentrations, the negative effects of the emissions will be more evident. Long-term exposure to soot will lead to a shorter life expectancy, the more so with increasing concentrations. Traffic is a relatively large source of soot. Near busy roads, soot concentrations are fairly high. Presently, these high soot concentrations cannot be observed in air quality maps. No legal limits have been set for soot, as opposed to particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide, where limits have been set. As a result, air quality assessments only focus on these two substances when assessing health effects. As soot only makes up a small part of particulate matter, differences in soot concentrations only have a very limited influence on particulate matter concentrations. Furthermore, negative health effects also occur when particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide concentrations are below their legal limit values. On request of the Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment, the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) and the environmental protection agency of the province of South Holland (DCMR) have developed a national soot-map for the Netherlands.