Abstract

Every year, RIVM calculates the amount of nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter in ambient air along Dutch roads. Additionally, particulate matter levels have also been calculated near livestock farms. The results are compared with the limit values permitted by law. When pollution levels exceed the limit values, public authorities are required to adapt existing plans for the area concerned. Alternatively, they can make new plans to improve air quality. Cleaner air is good for people's health.

RIVM considers data from the previous year, in this case 2024. For road traffic, the standard for nitrogen dioxide was exceeded once, near the town of Velp (municipality of Rheden). The standard for particulate matter was not exceeded anywhere along the Dutch roads.

Around livestock farms, particulate matter concentrations exceeded the limit value at eight locations in five municipalities in 2024. The municipalities concerned are in the Gelderse Vallei and the provinces of North-Brabant and Limburg. Limit values have been exceeded there for several years.

RIVM also looks ahead towards 2030. From that year, new and more stringent European rules will apply under which air pollution levels must comply. The purpose of those new standards is to further improve air quality. As a result, some locations in the Netherlands that comply with the rules today may no longer do so from 2030.

In 2030, RIVM expects to find 956 sites where roadside nitrogen dioxide levels are exceeded. This number is far lower than in earlier reports. This is because the expected nitrogen dioxide emissions from cars are falling much faster than previously anticipated. Among other things, this is due to the huge increase in electric vehicles expected for 2030.
Additionally, it appears that a number of sites doesn't meet the criteria for compliance assessment against the Air Quality Directive.

RIVM also expects to find roadside concentrations of particulate matter in excess of the limit values in 2030, but fewer than for nitrogen dioxide. The exceedances do not seem to be primarily caused by traffic, so measures aimed at reducing traffic-related emissions are probably not sufficiently effective. For effective measures, RIVM recommends identifying the other emission sources that cause particulate matter standards to be exceeded.