Critical analysis of the new Environmental Quality Primary Regulation for Fine Breathable Particulate Matter PM 2,5*

Abstract

The various air pollutants present in the breathable particulate matter PM2.5, which represents approximately 50% of PM10, cause various adverse health effects and increase mortality. The recently approved regulation for urban PM2.5 presents advantages when compared with the current MP10 regulation, but nevertheless the allowed threshold of MP 2,5 is twice that recommended by WHO. Further, the levels at which pre-emergency or emergency measures would be taken are very permissive, and the concentrations allowed would be similar to those that result from the application of the current PM10 regulation. With the new PM2.5 regulation we will have an improved norm but with authorized levels similar to those resulting from the current regulation. Therefore the health of exposed people will not improve and pollution caused mortality will not diminish.