Annual Air Quality Assessment for Spain 2021 Update

The 2021 Air Quality Assessment report from the Ministry of Ecological Transition and Demographic Struggle presents a stable picture from 2020 for nitrogen dioxide NO2 and PM2.5, with a noted improvement in ozone O3 levels. Across the board, the data show a slight uptick in information collected in 2019, despite mobility recovering after the pandemic. In terms of exceedances, the annual NO2 limit was surpassed in Madrid and in the Avilés region of Asturias, while daily and annual PM10 limits were exceeded in those same areas. The health protection target for PM2.5 was exceeded in 18 zones. The analysis aims to offer a comprehensive view of air quality, explain the assessment framework, and outline how management decisions are made. The report also includes a climatological summary of the year and a review of Saharan dust intrusion events, prepared with data from the State Meteorological Agency. This document, which is set to be communicated to the European Commission before the end of September, details the status of each air quality zone against the legal values. In this edition, air quality standards are aligned with the World Health Organization guide values issued in September 2021, reflecting the global shift in air quality guidelines.