EU regulations and guidelines

EU Legislative Framework on Indoor Air Quality

IAQ is recognised as a critical determinant of health by the World Health Organization, highlighting the potential health risks from indoor pollutants¹²¹. However, while there are comprehensive regulations for outdoor air quality, there is no specific European Union directive exclusively addressing IAQ (RL20). Pre-legislative initiatives, research, standards, and guidelines have been introduced, but a unified policy on IAQ is yet to be established in the European Union.

Initiatives like the European Collaborative Action have studied IAQ's impact on human activities, but a cohesive approach remains elusive. Despite the absence of an integrated IAQ policy, the Zero Pollution Action Plan, European Parliament resolutions, and European Commission communications emphasise the importance of considering IAQ alongside outdoor air quality. Furthermore, projects like the Evidence Drive Air Quality Improvement (EDIAQI), funded under the Horizon Europe programme, are currently underway with the aim to support the formation of European level action and legislative development and implementation vis-à-vis IAQ.

Member State Level Legislation

In various European Union member states, diverse approaches have been taken to address IAQ through a series of actions and national level legislative measures. This patchwork of efforts aims to improve IAQ standards and protection across different countries. Measures by member states include the establishment of national IAQ plans, drafting legislative acts specifically tailored for indoor environments, and the implementation of mandatory indoor air monitoring activities. Additionally, training and informational programs target technical offices, managers, and staff to enhance their awareness and understanding of IAQ matters. In some countries member states specific legislations and reference ISO standards have been introduced for each pollutant¹²².

However, a prevailing challenge in this process has been the absence of dedicated IAQ sampling and analysis standards. The confusion stemming from the utilisation of standards designed for industrial environments, such as those by National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and Occupational Safety and Health Administration, which have milligram per cubic meter (mg/m³) sensitivities that differ significantly from indoor microgram per cubic meter (µg/m³) concentrations¹²³. The adoption of the ISO 16000 standard represents a notable improvement in this regard, enhancing the study and control activities related to IAQ and facilitating a more coherent and comprehensive approach to IAQ management¹²⁴.

European Union Indoor Air Quality Legislative Framework

Within the European Union's legislative framework, there are key directives that touch upon maintaining certain standards for IAQ. However, these references are rather vague and not specifically focused on IAQ in an explicit manner.

The 1989 Council Directive concerning the minimum safety and health requirements for the workplace mandated sufficient fresh air to accommodate the working conditions and physical demands placed on workers. It emphasised the need to maintain working ventilation systems, including forced ventilation, and addressed issues related to air-conditioning or mechanical ventilation installations to ensure workers' comfort and health. Similarly, Regulation EU No 305/2011 outlines conditions for the marketing of construction products, including aspects related to hygiene, health, and the environment. While this regulation touches on the release of toxic gases, emissions of dangerous substances, and particles into indoor and outdoor air, it does not explicitly delve into comprehensive standards for IAQ¹²⁵.

Both directives acknowledge the importance of IAQ in their broader contexts, such as worker health and safety and environmental impact, yet they lack specific, detailed guidelines exclusively dedicated to IAQ. As such, while these directives set a foundation for addressing related concerns, they do not offer comprehensive and focused guidance for maintaining optimal IAQ standards.

EU Ambient Air Quality Directives

The European Union's Ambient Air Quality Directives address outdoor air quality within the troposphere, excluding indoor environments and workplaces subject to health and safety at work regulations. These directives, implemented since the 1980s, set air quality standards in the European Union for 12 pollutants, including sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, particulate matter (PM10, PM2.5), ozone, benzene, lead, carbon monoxide, arsenic, cadmium, nickel, and benzo(a)pyrene (RL9). The core objectives of these directives aim to avoid, prevent, or reduce harmful effects on human health and the environment, with a focus on providing safe and healthy outdoor air.

The EU proposed revisions to the Ambient Air Quality Directives in 2022, aligning air quality standards with World Health Organisation recommendations, and aiming to achieve zero pollution for air by 2050. The revisions involve regular reviews of air quality standards, enhanced legal clarity, and support for local authorities in achieving cleaner air. The proposal is designed to provide greater clarity, access to justice, and better public information on air quality, alongside strengthening air quality monitoring and modelling efforts. While these directives have significantly improved outdoor air quality, they specifically pertain to outdoor air quality and not IAQ¹²⁶, although the Zero Pollution Action Plan does allude to IAQ.

Despite extensive policies, the European Union lacks a comprehensive European level legislative framework specifically addressing IAQ¹²⁷. Recognising the need for a more holistic approach to air pollution, there is a call for coherent and mutually reinforcing policies, ensuring health, safety, chemical, and building regulations are effectively aligned¹²⁸. While these directives contribute significantly to outdoor air quality improvement, they remain separate from any EU-wide initiatives addressing IAQ challenges.

Timeline of Ambient Air Quality Directives

•Directive 2004/107/EC relating to arsenic, cadmium, mercury, nickel and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in ambient air.

•Directive 2008/50/EC on ambient air quality and cleaner air for Europe.

•2011/850/EU: Commission Implementing Decision of 12 December 2011 laying down rules for Directives 2004/107/EC and 2008/50/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards the reciprocal exchange of information and reporting on ambient air quality.

•Commission Directive (EU) 2015/1480 amending several annexes to Directives 2004/107/EC and 2008/50/EC.

EU Ambient Air Quality Directive Revision (2022)

On 26 October 2022, as part of the European Green Deal, the Commission proposed a revision of the Ambient Air Quality Directives, which focuses exclusively on outdoor air quality standards. This revision aligns air quality standards more closely with the recommendations of the World Health Organization, including a reduction by over half in the annual limit value for fine particulate matter (PM2.5) (RL9). It's important to note that, similar to the existing Ambient Air Quality Directives, this revision specifically addresses outdoor air quality and does not encompass indoor air quality regulations. The proposal sets the EU on a path to achieve zero air pollution by 2050 and includes provisions for regular air quality standard reviews based on the latest scientific evidence. The revision also enhances the legal framework for access to justice, damage redress, penalties, and public information related to air quality. It aims to better support local authorities by strengthening air quality monitoring, modelling, and plans, while streamlining and simplifying the directives¹²⁹. It's worth mentioning that while this revision doesn't cover indoor air quality directly, the broader Zero Pollution Action Plan alludes to the significance of indoor air quality considerations.

References

121 Gaetano Settimo et al, “Indoor Air Quality: A Focus on the European Legislation and State-of-the-Art Research in Italy,” MDPI, 1 March 2020. Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/11/4/370#B6-atmosphere-11-00370

122 Gaetano Settimo et al, “Indoor Air Quality: A Focus on the European Legislation and State-of-the-Art Research in Italy,” MDPI, 1 March 2020. Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/11/4/370#B6-atmosphere-11-00370

123 Gaetano Settimo et al, “Indoor Air Quality: A Focus on the European Legislation and State-of-the-Art Research in Italy,” MDPI, 1 March 2020. Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/11/4/370#B6-atmosphere-11-00370

124 Gaetano Settimo et al, “Indoor Air Quality: A Focus on the European Legislation and State-of-the-Art Research in Italy,” MDPI, 1 March 2020. Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/11/4/370#B6-atmosphere-11-00370

125 Tyler a Jacobson et al, “Direct Human Health Risks of Increased Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide,” Nature, 08 July 2019. Available online: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41893-019-0323-1

126 The European Commission, “Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, The European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions Empty: Pathway to a Healthy Planet for All: EU Action Plan: Towards Zero Pollution for Air, Water and Soil,” the European Commission, 12 May 2021. Available online: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A52021DC0400&qid=1623311742827

127 European Parliament resolution of 25 March 2021 on the implementation of the Ambient Air Quality Directives: Directive 2004/107/EC and Directive 2008/50/EC (2020/2091(INI)). Available online: https://environment.ec.europa.eu/topics/air/air-quality/revision-ambient-air-quality-directives_en

128 European Parliament resolution of 25 March 2021 on the implementation of the Ambient Air Quality Directives: Directive 2004/107/EC and Directive 2008/50/EC (2020/2091(INI)). Available online: https://environment.ec.europa.eu/topics/air/air-quality/revision-ambient-air-quality-directives_en

129 The European Commission, “Revision of the Air Quality Directive,” European Commission, 26 October 2022. Available online: https://environment.ec.europa.eu/topics/air/air-quality/revision-ambient-air-quality-directives_en