The reason for the exceedances of the guideline value is, firstly, man-made pollution from motor vehicles, power plants and heating systems. Secondly, it is due to natural processes because Saharan dust and other dust particles from forest fires, mainly in Mediterranean countries, are transported to our region.

Newsletter No. 53 also has information about the status of European air quality control policy, news on various projects on particulate matter in Europe, and reports on selected international conferences in the first half of 2014. It also lists new publications on air hygiene and features a list of coming events for 2014/2015.

The WHO Collaborating Centre for Air Quality Management and Air Pollution Control (WHO CC) at the Federal Environment Agency in Berlin acts as the interface for national and international panels and institutions of all 53 WHO European Member States. The newsletter is published biannually in English.