Air pollution in the Rhine–Ruhr-area

During the last decades air pollution could be effectively reduced in the Rhine–Ruhr area, a highly industrialized region in western Germany. Today the concentrations of the most important pollutants are far lower than the limit values of the German technical instructions for air quality control (TA Luft, 1986). For some carcinogenic substances, however, German target values (State Committee for Emission Control, 1992. Raumordnung und Landwirtschaft des Landes Nordhein-Westfalen, LAI, Düsseldorf) are still exceeded. Furthermore the concentrations of fine particles are higher than values discussed in the European union. The main sources of these pollutants are road traffic, certain industries concentrated in the area and secondary aerosols. To achieve lower pollutant concentrations a combined reduction of the emissions of road traffic, industry and agriculture is necessary.