ANNEX III

A. Minimum number of sampling points for fixed measurement to assess compliance with limit values and target values for the protection of human health, ozone target values, long-term objectives, alert thresholds and information thresholds Table 1 – Minimum number of sampling points for fixed measurement to assess compliance with limit values and target values for the protection of human health, and alert thresholds and information thresholds (for all pollutants except ozone) Population of zone (thousands) | Minimum number of sampling points if concentrations exceed the assessment threshold NO2, SO2, CO, benzene | | PM10 | PM2,5 | Pb, Cd, As, Ni in PM10 | Benzo(a)pyrene in PM10 0 – 249 | 2 | | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 250 – 499 | 2 | | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 500 – 749 | 2 | | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 750 – 999 | 3 | | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 1 000 – 1 499 | 4 | | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 1 500 – 1 999 | 5 | | 3 | 4 | 2 | 2 2 000 – 2 749 | 6 | | 4 | 4 | 2 | 3 2 750 – 3 749 | 7 | | 5 | 5 | 2 | 3 3 750 – 4 749 | 8 | | 5 | 6 | 3 | 4 4 750 – 5 999 | 9 | | 6 | 7 | 4 | 5 6 000 + | 10 | | 7 | 8 | 5 | 5 Table 2 – Minimum number of sampling points for fixed measurement to assess compliance with ozone target values, long-term objectives and alert thresholds and information thresholds (for ozone only) Population of zone (thousands) | Minimum number of sampling points (1) < 250 | 1 < 500 | 2 < 1 000 | 2 < 1 500 | 3 < 2 000 | 4 < 2 750 | 5 < 3 750 | 6 ≥ 3 750 | 1 additional sampling point per 2 million inhabitants Table 3 – Minimum number of sampling points for fixed measurement to assess compliance with limit values and target values for the protection of human health, and alert thresholds and information thresholds in zones where a 50 % reduction of such measurements applies (for all pollutants except ozone) Population of zone (thousands) | Minimum number of sampling points if the number of sampling points is reduced by up to 50 % NO2, SO2, CO, benzene | | PM10 | PM2,5 | Pb, Cd, As, Ni in PM10 | Benzo(a)pyrene in PM10 0 – 249 | 1 | | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 250 – 499 | 1 | | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 500 – 749 | 1 | | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 750 – 999 | 2 | | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 1 000 – 1 499 | 2 | | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 1 500 – 1 999 | 3 | | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 2 000 – 2 749 | 3 | | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 2 750 – 3 749 | 4 | | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 3 750 – 4 749 | 4 | | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 4 750 – 5 999 | 5 | | 3 | 4 | 2 | 3 6 000 + | 5 | | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 Table 4 – Minimum number of sampling points for fixed measurements to assess compliance with ozone target values, long-term objectives and alert thresholds and information thresholds in zones where a 50 % reduction of such measurements applies (for ozone only) Population of zone (thousands) | Minimum number of sampling points if the number of sampling points is reduced by up to 50 % (2) < 250 | 1 < 500 | 1 < 1 000 | 1 < 1 500 | 2 < 2 000 | 2 < 2 750 | 3 < 3 750 | 3 ≥ 3 750 | 1 additional sampling point per 4 million inhabitants For each zone, the minimum number of sampling points for fixed measurements set out in Tables 1–4 of this Point shall include at least one background location sampling point and one sampling point at an air pollution hotspot according to Point B of Annex IV provided this does not increase the number of sampling points. For nitrogen dioxide, particulate matter, benzene and carbon monoxide, this shall include at least one sampling point focused on measuring contribution from transport emissions. However, in the cases where there is only one sampling point required, this shall be located at an air pollution hotspot. For each zone, for nitrogen dioxide, particulate matter, benzene and carbon monoxide, the total number of urban background location sampling points and the total number of sampling points required at air pollution hotspots shall not differ by more than a factor of 2. The number of PM2,5 and nitrogen dioxide sampling points at urban background locations shall meet the requirements set out in Point B. For the assessment of pollution in the vicinity of point sources, the number of sampling points for fixed measurement shall be calculated taking into account emission densities, the likely distribution patterns of ambient-air pollution and the potential exposure of the population. Such sampling points may be sited such that the application of BAT (Best Available Techniques) as defined in Directive 2010/75/EU can be monitored. B. Minimum number of sampling points for fixed measurement to assess compliance with the PM2,5 and NO2 average exposure reduction obligations for the protection of human health For each of PM2,5 and NO2, at least one sampling point per average exposure territorial unit, and at least one sampling point per million inhabitants calculated over urban areas in excess of 100 000 inhabitants shall be operated for this purpose. Those sampling points may coincide with sampling points under Point A. C. Minimum number of sampling points for fixed measurements to assess compliance with critical levels for SO2 and NOx, and with long-term objectives for ozone If maximum concentrations exceed the critical levels | one sampling point every 20 000 km2 If maximum concentrations exceed the assessment threshold | one sampling point every 40 000 km2 In island zones, the number of sampling points for fixed measurement shall be calculated taking into account the likely distribution patterns of ambient air pollution and the potential exposure of vegetation. For rural background measurement, Member States shall ensure at least one sampling point per 50 000 km2 as an average density over all zones per country. For complex terrain, one sampling point per 25 000 km2 is recommended. D. Minimum number of sampling points for fixed measurements of ultrafine particles where high concentrations are likely to occur Ultrafine particles shall be measured at selected locations in addition to other air pollutants. Sampling points to measure ultrafine particles shall coincide, where appropriate, with sampling points for particulate matter or nitrogen dioxide referred to in Point A of this Annex, and be sited in accordance with Section 4 of Annex VII. For that purpose, at least one sampling point per 5 million inhabitants shall be established at a location where high UFP concentrations are likely to occur. Member States that have fewer than 5 million inhabitants shall establish at least one sampling point for fixed measurements at a location where high UFP concentrations are likely to occur. For Member States with more than 2 million inhabitants, monitoring supersites at urban background or rural background locations established in accordance with Article 10 shall not be included for the purpose of meeting the requirements on the minimum number of sampling points for UFP set here.

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Source: EUR-Lex (Cellar) · retrieved 2026-10-16 · Text as adopted (Official Journal); later amendments are not incorporated in this text.