Air Quality in Voorschoten

Human health benefits from good air quality. European standards apply to permissible pollutant concentrations in ambient air. Although these standards are periodically tightened, concentrations that meet the standards do not completely eliminate health effects. Health damage can occur even upon exposure to low concentrations.

Determining air quality

The main sources of air pollution in the Netherlands are traffic, industry, households, and agriculture. Determining air quality in the Netherlands is a combination of measurement and calculation. Background concentrations are measured, and calculated emissions from local traffic sources are added to them.

National Collaborative Programme Air Quality

Air quality in the Netherlands has already improved significantly over the past few decades, thanks to European policies such as cleaner vehicles and fuels. The Netherlands meets the applicable standards for most air pollutants. However, concentrations of nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter were so high at some locations that the Netherlands requested a delay from Brussels in meeting the standards for these pollutants. To this end, the National Air Quality Cooperation Program (NSL) was established. This programme consists, on the one hand, of a list of major spatial projects that worsen air quality and, on the other hand, of measures that more than compensate for the negative effects of those projects.

Air quality in Voorschoten

The NSL monitor is used annually to determine how air quality is evolving in the Netherlands. In Voorschoten, the air quality meets the applicable standards.

The municipality assesses spatial development plans for their effects on air quality.