The Eixample of Barcelona and the plain of Vic were the only two places in Catalonia that last year exceeded the permitted limits of some pollutant, according to the 2022 air quality yearbook published by the Department of Climate Action.
The Generalitat’s Air Pollution Monitoring and Forecasting Network has 63 measurement points throughout Catalonia. The one in Eixample recorded 42 micrograms per cubic meter of NO2 in the annual limit value, when the limit is 40.
As regards the Vic plain, the Manlleu measurement point recorded an exceedance of the limits for particles with a diameter of less than 10 microns, in this case the daily limit value.
According to the document, with the exception of these two cases, during the past year the reference values ​​set by the legislation for particles with a diameter less than 2.5 microns, for sulfur dioxide, for hydrogen sulfide, were met. by carbon monoxide and benzene.
Acció Climà tica explains as a whole, during the winter, the meteorological conditions dominated by stability have favored periods of stagnation of atmospheric pollutants in a general way and in a prominent way in hollows and valleys of the territory.
The heat episodes of June and July were key to an increase in the generation of secondary pollutants such as tropospheric ozone. During last year’s campaign, between the months of May and September, there were 42 hours of exceedances of the limit of ozone hourly information at 14 measurement points.
On the other hand, Acció Climà tica recalls that a few weeks ago the citizen participation process was launched to prepare the Draft decree for the approval of the Air Quality Plan, Horitzó 2027. The new Plan, which for the first time transcends the conurbation of Barcelona is throughout Catalonia and establishes 84 measures and 374 actions to improve air quality and the health of the inhabitants.
